Laynce Nix Elects Free Agency
Outfielder Laynce Nix has been outrighted by the Reds and elected free agency, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Nix was considered a non-tender candidate, as the Reds have plenty of outfielders already. In a few weeks they must decide whether to tender Jonny Gomes a contract (seems like a good idea to me).
Nix, 29, received the most playing time of his career since 2004 this year. He hit .239/.291/.476 in 337 plate appearances, knocking 15 home runs and playing left field. Reds manager Dusty Baker shielded him from left-handed pitching most of the year.
Red Sox Claim Robert Manuel From Mariners
The Red Sox claimed pitcher Robert Manuel off of waivers from the Mariners, according to a team press release. The 26-year-old righty made his MLB debut with the Reds this year, recording 13 outs without allowing an earned run. His Triple A numbers were good, too; Manuel had a 49K/16BB ratio and an overall 2.88 ERA for the Reds and Mariners.
Pirates Claim Jakubauskas; Karstens Designated
The Pirates claimed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from the Mariners, according to a team press release. Jakubauskas, 31 next month, allowed 91 hits and 27 walks in 93 innings for the Mariners last year, striking out 47 for a 5.32 ERA.
The Pirates designated Jeff Karstens for assignment to clear roster space. Karstens, 27, was pretty well-regarded by the Pirates when he arrived as part of the Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte trade with the Yankees in July of 2008. He pitched well in his nine starts that year but was bumped from the rotation in June for Charlie Morton.
Rockies Sign Phillips; Interest In Torrealba
The Rockies signed catcher Paul Phillips to a minor league deal today, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Phillips will make $450K if he's on the big league roster. Last year, he posted an .818 OPS in 54 major league plate appearances. Phillips has a .702 OPS in nearly 2800 minor league plate appearances,
This doesn't necessarily mean that the Rockies won't bring back free agent Yorvit Torrealba, however. Two other teams have expressed interest in Torrealba so far, but the Rockies could re-sign him. One of the interested clubs plays in the American League and the other is in the NL West.
Orioles Claim Tatum From Reds
The Orioles claimed catcher Craig Tatum off of waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, according to a team press release. The O's designated lefty Chris Waters for assignment to clear space for Tatum.
The 26-year-old catcher posted a .471 OPS in 77 plate appearances with the Reds this year; a considerable dropoff from his .638 OPS in Triple A. In 2008, Baseball America named Tatum the best defensive catcher in the Reds' organization.
Cubs To Sign Grabow To Two-Year Deal
FRIDAY, 2:15pm: Wittenmyer hears that the deal is worth $7.5MM. The Cubs have officially announced it.
THURSDAY, 10:53am: Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says the deal is believed to be worth at least $7MM in total. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs calls it a "waste of cash."
9:47am: Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Cubs have agreed to sign Grabow to a two-year deal. Sullivan's sources say the deal could be announced today.
8:13am: The Cubs are nearing an agreement with lefty John Grabow on a two-year deal, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the two sides finalize a deal soon; we heard last week that an agreement wasn't far off.
Levine reports that the deal will be worth nearly $7.5MM over two years. His source says the deal should be completed today. Grabow struck out 7.1 per nine innings and walked 5.0 per nine with the Pirates and Cubs last year for a 3.36 ERA.
Quinlan Drawing Preliminary Interest
Robb Quinlan's representatives say the utility man has drawn interest from two National League teams and one American League team, according to MLB.com's Lyle Spencer. The Phillies are known to be looking for bench help and Spencer suggests the Twins could be a fit, too. We heard earlier in the week that Quinlan will not be back in Anaheim next year.
Latest Milton Bradley Scenario
1:36pm: MLB.com's Carrie Muskat hears from a Cubs official that there's nothing to the rumored three way deal between the Cubs, Rangers and Mets. However, four to six teams are interested in Bradley to varying degrees.
10:58am: The latest Milton Bradley trade scenario comes courtesy of Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, who considers Bradley going to the Rangers, Kevin Millwood to the Mets, and Luis Castillo to the Cubs.
We talked to a source familiar with the situation who said that this deal is not being discussed. Backing that up, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan talked to a Rangers official who said it's "not happening." So for our purposes it's more of a discussion piece.
Does this satisfy the needs of all three teams? The Rangers add a bat and trade from an area of depth, the Mets free up second base for other pursuits and get a veteran for the rotation, and the Cubs unload Bradley while getting a piece they can use. The money: Bradley is owed $21MM over two years, Millwood $12MM over one, and Castillo $12MM over two.
Odds & Ends: Atkins, Twins, Carlyle
Links for Friday, as the free agent market officially opens…
- As Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports points out, the Angels' lack of interest in Matt Holliday bodes well for the Cardinals, but not for Scott Boras.
- Scott Boras tells FOX Sports that interest in Adrian Beltre and Mike Gonzalez is strong so far. The agent says he's fielded offers for eight players already.
- The Nippon Ham Fighters signed minor league free agent pitcher Buddy Carlyle, says NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman. Newman also says the Yokohama BayStars are working to sign Chris Bootcheck, Jose Castillo, and Terrmel Sledge.
- The Nats hired former Mariners manager John McLaren as a bench coach, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan ranks 131 free agents and provides capsules. We've also got SI's Jon Heyman and AOL FanHouse's Frankie Piliere with Top 50 lists.
- Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch breaks down the market for Mark DeRosa.
- ESPN's Buster Olney notes five arbitration-eligible players who could be traded, including Russell Martin and Kevin Correia.
- SI's Jon Heyman tweets that the Mariners and Tigers continue to discuss Edwin Jackson.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel tweets a comment from Brewers GM Doug Melvin: the team will fill current needs before discussing a Prince Fielder extension.
- Garrett Atkins to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post: "I know that I will be on another team next year."
- Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune feels that free agents Carl Pavano, Jarrod Washburn, and Rich Harden are potential fits for the Twins.
- Christensen's colleague Sid Hartman wonders if catcher Mike Redmond "could wind up with a job in the [Twins] organization." However, Redmond told MLB.com's Kelly Thesier a month ago that he plans on playing in 2010.
- Paul Hagen's Phillies source shot down a story that Pat Gillick could be heading back to the Blue Jays.
- Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball has a Winter Meetings primer.
- Chico Harlan is moving on from the Washington Post's Nationals beat, once a replacement is found.
Non-Tender Candidates Revised
Remember our October 5th list of non-tender candidates? Since then, Jeremy Hermida, Mark Teahen, Aaron Heilman, Boof Bonser, Brian Bruney, and Matt Lindstrom have been traded, while John Bale, Mike Jacobs, and Ryan Church have been cut. Others have been outrighted or eliminated from consideration. The non-tender deadline is December 12th at 11pm CST. Here's a revised list.
Jeremy Accardo
Alfredo Amezaga
Brian Anderson
Garrett Atkins
Jose Bautista
Taylor Buchholz
John Buck
Dave Bush
D.J. Carrasco
Kevin Correia
Neal Cotts
Jack Cust
Mike Fontenot
Ryan Garko
Chad Gaudin
Jody Gerut
Jonny Gomes
Gabe Gross
Conor Jackson
Bobby Jenks
Kelly Johnson
Logan Kensing
Ryan Langerhans
John Maine
Andy Marte
Seth McClung
Brandon Medders
Sergio Mitre
Dioner Navarro
Scott Olsen
Tim Redding
Jeremy Reed
Jason Repko
Cory Sullivan
Brian Tallet
Chien-Ming Wang
The full list of arbitration-eligible players can be found here; let me know who needs to be added to the non-tender candidates.