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Adrian Beltre Rumors: Tuesday

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5:36pm: A source insisted to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick that the Angels still want to sign Beltre.

2:35pm: The Angels pulled their offer to Beltre but have not shut any doors on him, reports DiGiovanna.

1:13pm: We learned Friday that the Angels' offer to free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre is believed to be in the five-year, $70MM range, with the player seeking a sixth year.  The Halos' offer is "not likely to be increased," Mike DiGiovanna wrote at the time.  Beltre himself told Scott Lauber earlier this month that the years are the most important factor.

Scott Boras seeks the sixth year, or at least something in the $85-90MM range on a five-year deal according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Rosenthal says the Angels "are not angry to the point they were two years ago, when they publicly withdrew from the negotiations for Mark Teixeira."

Rosenthal adds that the Rangers are not active in the bidding, making the Angels' competition unclear.  A month ago Beltre was said to have a dozen suitors, but many teams have filled third base holes since then.  I think Boras could probably find several clubs willing to go to five years and $60MM or so, but there is no evidence the Angels need to increase their offer.

Poll: Which Team Will Sign Brandon Webb

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Brandon Webb is drawing serious interest from the Rangers and Nationals and the Cubs are in the mix, too. Best of all, there's a mystery team involved. Either the Cardinals, Reds, Brewers, Pirates or Astros also entered the bidding for Webb, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

The right-hander made just one start in the past two seasons because of shoulder troubles, but he was one of the league's top pitchers from 2006-08, when he posted a 3.13 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 while averaging 233 innings per season. Some team is going to get a high-risk, high-reward starter – which one will it be?

Rangers, Others Still In Play For Webb

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4:27pm: The Rangers and Nationals are still showing strong interest in Webb and a mystery NL Central team expressed late interest in the right-hander, but the Cubs’ pursuit has slowed, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. GM Jon Daniels, who is looking for a starter, has already spoken to Webb.

Webb's Ashland, Kentucky home is not far from Cincinnati, the Brewers could look to bolster their already revamped rotation and the Cardinals and Pirates seem like possible fits. It seems unlikely that the Astros are the mystery team, however.

2:11pm: The Rangers' interest in Webb has intensified, writes Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Wilson says there are plans for Webb to speak later today on the phone with Washington and Maddux.

8:54am: Webb is not in Texas and "other clubs are very much in play," a source tells MLBTR.  Sullivan now has an update saying Ron Washington has not met with Webb.  While the Rangers are in the mix, they have not met with the pitcher and have no plans to do so.  Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports that Webb is not expected to decide on a team today.

8:50am: The Rangers and Brandon Webb "could be getting close to a deal," reports MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  Sullivan hears Webb is in Texas and has met with Ron Washington and Mike Maddux.  Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer is expected to have further conversations with the Rangers today "to try to hammer out a deal."

The Cubs appear to be the Rangers' main competition for Webb, but Sullivan expects a deal with Texas to get done.

O’s Renew Discussions With Derrek Lee

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Talks between Adam LaRoche and the Orioles have not progressed and the team has renewed discussions with Derrek Lee, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.

As recently as yesterday, the Orioles appeared to be focused on LaRoche, who seeks a three-year deal, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. Lee won't be cheap, either. Like LaRoche, he has drawn interest from the Nationals and Padres and, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, he seeks a deal worth $8-10MM.

Zrebiec points out that the O’s could pursue a designated hitter and move Luke Scott or Nolan Reimold to first base. However, the club may prefer to add a more experienced defender, such as LaRoche or Lee.

Regardless of who ends up playing first for the O's, their infield will look considerably different in 2011. Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy are pencilled in as regulars and Brendan Harris is a new competitor for a backup infield job.

Dodgers Sign Scott Nestor

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The Dodgers signed right-handed pitching prospect Scott Nestor to a minor league deal, MLBTR has learned. The 26-year-old reliever has struck out more than a batter per inning in his eight-year minor league career, but has struggled to limit walks.

In 67 innings split between Triple-A and A ball last year, Nestor posted a 5.91 ERA with typically high strikeout (8.6 K/9) and walk (7.1 BB/9) rates. Though he allows lots of walks, Nestor has limited hits throughout the minors (career 7.8 H/9). The California native pitched for Giants affiliates last year after spending time in the Pirates, Phillies and Marlins organizations. 

Padres Acquire Rob Johnson

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The Padres acquired catcher Rob Johnson from the Mariners for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to the team.  Johnson had been designated for assignment on December 13th to create a spot for Jack Cust.  He'll serve as Nick Hundley's backup in San Diego, presumably.  The Padres now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.

Johnson, 27, has a .200/.282/.302 line in parts of four seasons with the Mariners.  Last offseason, he underwent labrum surgery on both hips and had left wrist surgery. Johnson appeared in 61 games in 2010, batting .191/.293/.281 in 209 plate appearances. He threw out 35% of would-be base stealers, a career high (he has a 30% career mark).  In their 2009 Handbook, Baseball America called Johnson the best defensive catcher in the Mariners' farm system.

Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.

Red Sox Sign Bobby Jenks

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The Red Sox deepened the back end of their bullpen, adding reliever Bobby Jenks on a two-year, $12MM deal.  Jenks passed his physical recently.

The White Sox non-tendered Jenks earlier in the month after a season in which he posted a career-high 4.44 ERA with otherwise strong numbers. His 58.3% ground ball rate placed him tenth among relievers with at least 50 innings of work, and he posted a 10.4 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 52 2/3 innings. He picked up 27 saves, his lowest total since becoming the team's full-time closer in 2006.  Jenks' 173 lifetime saves still would have resulted in a 2011 salary over $7MM, causing the non-tender from Chicago.

The Red Sox are familiar with Jenks' representatives at Legacy Sports after working out this deal and the one that brought Carl Crawford to Boston.  The Red Sox have signed many relievers this winter: Dan Wheeler, Matt Albers, Andrew Miller, Randy Williams, Rich Hill, Jason Bergmann and Lenny DiNardo.

ESPN's Buster Olney and SI's Jon Heyman reported on this story as it developed.

Brewers Claim Roque Mercedes

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The Brewers claimed righty reliever Roque Mercedes off waivers from the Diamondbacks, tweets MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.  This gives the Brewers 37 players on the 40-man roster.  Mercedes had been designated for assignment by Arizona on Friday along with Rusty Ryal's release to clear spots for Henry Blanco and Xavier Nady.

Mercedes, 24, came up through the Brewers' system and was traded to Arizona in July of last year in the Felipe Lopez deal.  This year at Double-A he posted a 4.36 ERA, 7.5 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, and 0.8 HR/9 in 53 2/3 innings.  Heading into the season, Baseball America ranked Mercedes 28th among D'Backs prospects, saying, "he could develop into a seventh-inning reliever."

Indians To Sign Travis Buck

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The Indians officially announced an agreement today with outfielder Travis Buck on a minor league deal with a spring training invite.  MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports that Buck would earn $625K in the Majors.

Buck, 27, hit .298/.364/.463 in 141 Triple-A plate appearances, also making a couple of brief appearances with the Athletics this year.  He was non-tendered earlier this month, as he would have been arbitration eligible for the first time.  The Indians will have the opportunity to control him past 2011.  Buck is represented by CAA. 

Buck authored a promising rookie campaign in 2007 – .288/.377/.474 in a half-season – but he's battled elbow surgery, shin splints, post-concussion syndrome, and shoulder and oblique injuries since. 

Chris Antonetti's first offseason as Indians GM has been a quiet one, with five minor league deals to his credit so far.

Nationals To Sign Rick Ankiel

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The Nationals officially agreed to terms with outfielder Rick Ankiel on a one-year, $1.5MM deal.  He can earn another $1.25MM in performance bonuses.

Ankiel, a Scott Boras client, signed a one-year deal with the Royals a year ago but failed to deliver.  The 31-year-old former pitcher still provides pop against righties and can play all three outfield positions, but has had difficulty hitting lefties, getting on base, and staying healthy.

Earlier this month, Boras and the Nationals hammered out an agreement worth 84 times as much for right fielder Jayson Werth.  The Nats shipped out Josh Willingham, but still have Nyjer Morgan, Roger Bernadina, and Michael Morse in the outfield mix.  Bernadina and Ankiel will compete for the left field job, tweets MLB.com's Bill Ladson.

SI's Jon Heyman broke the news of Ankiel's agreement.

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