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Yankees Sign Mark Prior

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It's not Cliff Lee, but the Yankees have added a big-name pitcher. They signed Mark Prior to a minor league deal, the team announced today. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick first reported the deal (on Twitter). Prior will earn $750K in the major leagues and could earn $750K more in incentives, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).

The Rangers and Yankees were the finalists for Prior, who pitched in Texas' system last year, but has not appeared in a major league game since 2006. He'll be reunited with former Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild in New York.

The Yankees selected Prior 43rd overall in the 1998 draft, but were unable to sign him. The Cubs drafted him second overall in 2001 and he soon became one of the National League's best pitchers. He posted a 2.43 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 as a 22-year-old just a year and a half after being drafted. 

A series of shoulder problems derailed Prior's career, but he has tried to resurrect it with stints in the Padres' and Rangers' systems.

Pedro Martinez Is “Most Likely” Finished

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3:35pm: Martinez sounded far from returning in an interview with Justo de la Cruz at the Domincan paper El Dia today (links in Spanish), saying he's very happy to be away from the stress and travel of a player's life, which is to say, "I'm realizing what it is to be a normal person." An expanded version of the interview in the Puerto Rican paper Primera Hora further lowered expectations of a return in 2011, as Martinez added, "It's most likely that I don't return to active baseball… but honestly I don't know if I'll definitively announce my retirement." ESPN Deportes' Enrique Rojas pegged Martinez's odds of returning at 30% in a tweet this morning, but in light of the pitcher's quotes even that seems optimistic. – Nick Collias

8:29am: The Phillies haven’t ruled out adding a third Cy Young Award winner to a rotation that already includes Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay. Philadelphia GM Ruben Amaro Jr. inquired about Pedro Martinez’s availability at last week's Winter Meetings, according to Christian Red of the New York Daily News. It’s unclear whether the Phils are seriously interested in the three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Martinez, now 39, said at David Ortiz’s celebrity golf tournament that he’s open to pitching in 2011. He missed the 2010 season, but didn’t rule out a return to the major leagues. Back in 2009, the right-hander joined the Phillies for part of the season and posted a 3.63 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 44 2/3 innings.

Fausto Carmona Drawing Heavy Trade Interest

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Fausto Carmona is drawing heavy trade interest – perhaps as much as Zack Greinke - according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Carmona, 27, drew lots of trade interest leading up to the July 31st deadline, but GM Mark Shapiro held on.

Now in his first offseason as the Tribe's GM, Chris Antonetti must determine whether to trade Carmona or hold on. Morosi hears that the Indians are now in “listen and explore” mode and are not eager to move the right-hander.

Carmona returned to form in 2010, making the All-Star team and posting a 3.77 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 210 1/3 innings. He struggled through the 2008-09 seasons after breaking out in 2007. An extreme ground ball pitcher, he has a career 59.7% ground ball rate.

Not only is Carmona coming off a strong campaign, he will be affordable for the next four seasons. After they pay Carmona $6.1MM in 2011, the Indians have a series of club options that run through 2014. It would only cost the Tribe $28MM to exercise all three options.

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Phillies Sign Cliff Lee

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The wait is over. In a surprising development that leaves two top American League teams empty-handed, Cliff Lee has signed a five-year, $120MM deal with the Phillies, the team announced today. The contract includes a $27.5MM vesting option for 2016 with a $12.5MM buyout, plus partial no-trade clause. 

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan first reported the deal, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reported on the terms and vesting option (on Twitter). Agent Darek Braunecker represents the left-hander.

After months of rumors that suggested he'd sign with the highest bidder, Lee turned down tens of millions in guaranteed money to sign in Philadelphia. Crasnick hears the Yankees offered a deal that guaranteed Lee $132MM over six years, plus a $16MM player option for a seventh year (Twitter link).  At $148MM guaranteed, that was the highest bid.  The Rangers offered $138MM over six years, and their proposal included a vesting option that could have brought the value of the deal to $161MM, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown (Twitter links).  That offer included huge deferrals, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.

Almost exactly a year after they traded Lee for Roy Halladay, the lefty is back in Philadelphia. Like Halladay, who signed an extension that delayed his free agency, Lee opted to play for the Phillies instead of looking for the biggest contract possible. The Phils could have a historically good rotation if Lee, Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels stay healthy.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. proves once again that he has a knack for acquiring ace pitchers. He has traded for Lee, Halladay and Oswalt and signed Lee since becoming the team's GM after its 2008 World Series title.

Another Philadelphia pitcher, Joe Blanton, is on the trading block, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). Amaro could deal Blanton, who earns $17MM through 2012, and/or left fielder Raul Ibanez, who will earn $11.5MM in 2011 before his contract expires.

The Rangers get the Phillies' 33rd overall pick, plus a supplementary first round selection in next year's draft, but they lose out on their primary offseason target. Though the Rangers have been linked to Zack Greinke and other possible trade targets, this is undeniably a blow for the team, which is in the midst of its first offseason under new ownership.

But it's the Yankees who might be the biggest losers of all. They miss out on a pitcher they coveted just days after the division rival Red Sox acquired Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. Now that Crawford and Jayson Werth have signed, the Yankees will try to convince Andy Pettitte to return and determine whether to make a run at Greinke.

Their projected rotation still includes Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre, so it's fair to expect GM Brian Cashman to acquire an arm. The next best free agent starter available is Carl Pavano, but it would be a shock to see the Yankees express interest in him.

It appeared for most of the offseason that the Yankees or Rangers would sign Lee, but rumblings of a mystery team persisted until it became apparent that the Phillies were also bidding on the left-hander. The Red Sox, Nationals and Angels were among the other teams to show some interest in Lee.

Phillies fans are surely thrilled to have Lee back in Philadelphia, but the MLB Players Association won't necessarily like his decision to leave so much money on the table instead of setting a precedent for other pitchers. However, this offseason has seen two free agents (Werth and Crawford) sign nine-figure contracts, so players are doing well in general.

Lee becomes the sixth pitcher in baseball history to sign for more than $100MM. He signed for more than Kevin Brown, the first pitcher to sign a $100MM deal, but less than C.C. Sabathia, Johan Santana, Barry Zito or Mike Hampton. Bargain or not, Lee's new contract is the 23rd most lucrative in baseball history.

D’Backs To Sign Henry Blanco

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The D'Backs have agreed to sign Henry Blanco for $1MM, according to Jack Magruder of FOX Sports Arizona (Twitter link). The deal is pending a physical and should be official by tomorrow. Elite Sports group represents the catcher.

It's the second time Kevin Towers has signed Blanco; the GM signed him to play for the Padres before the 2009 season. The 39-year-old hit .215/.271/.300 in 144 plate apperances for the Mets last year. The D'Backs aren't bringing him in for offensive thump, though. Blanco should be a steady backup for Miguel Montero and he can still throw out opponents on the basepaths. He has caught 43% of would-be base stealers in his 13-year MLB career.

Astros Sign Dopirak, Gervacio

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The Astros announced that they have signed first baseman Brian Dopirak and right-hander Sammy Gervacio. Both players receive minor league contracts and invitations to big league Spring Training.

Dopirak is a former second round pick who has spent nine seasons sluggling his way through the minor leagues. Baseball America ranked him 21st among all MLB prospects before the 2005 season, but the first baseman has yet to appear in the majors. He has 156 minor league homers to his name and hit .274/.309/.454 for the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate in 2010. He'll provide the Astros with insurance in case another former Blue Jays farmhand, Brett Wallace, needs time to develop.

The Astros non-tendered Gervacio earlier in the month. He encountered shoulder problems and didn't pitch much in 2010, but he showed promise in a 21 inning cameo in 2009, when he struck out 25 batters.

Olney On Pettitte, Rendon, Blanton, Hoffman

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C.C. Sabathia can opt out of his contract with the Yankees after next season, but ESPN.com’s Buster Olney points out that the team could be proactive and ensure that the lefty stays in the Bronx. They could offer to add a couple years to his current deal in exchange for Sabathia’s right to opt out. Here’s the latest on another Yankee lefty and a few more rumblings from around the league:

  • For the first time this winter, a Yankees person spoke to Olney optimistically about the chances that Andy Pettitte returns in 2011.
  • One talent evaluator says he might take Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon ahead of Bryce Harper if both players were in the same draft. The Pirates select first overall next year and may be tempted by Rendon, the consensus top player available.
  • Multiple GMs confirmed to Olney that the Phillies will have to eat some of Joe Blanton’s salary if they decide to move him. The right-hander will earn $17MM over the course of the next two seasons.
  • Trevor Hoffman is still telling teams that he wants to be a closer. The all-time saves leader is coming off of a rough season, but he pitched better in the second half.

Rosenthal On Cubs, Greinke, Beltre, Pavano

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The Mariners could presumably ask for a king’s ransom in exchange for Felix Hernandez, but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports thinks Seattle should build around the reigning Cy Young Award winner, not trade him. Here are the rest of Rosenthal's rumors:

  • The Cubs are still willing to trade Kosuke Fukudome, but they’d likely have to cover some of the $13.5MM the outfielder is set to earn in 2011.
  • Were it not for his salary, the Reds might be a more serious suitor for Zack Greinke. However, a rival executive says Cincinnati is “tapped out,” payroll-wise.
  • The Nationals’ pursuit of Greinke has slowed and one source says it’s because of the team’s reluctance to include Jordan Zimmermann in a potential deal.
  • Adrian Beltre remains a “focus” for the Angels.
  • The Rangers, however, are more inclined to re-sign Vladimir Guerrero and add a first baseman than pursue Beltre, according to Rosenthal’s sources.
  • Don’t expect Texas to spend on a top free agent reliever, even if Neftali Feliz moves to the rotation.
  • Kerry Wood wants a two-year, $12MM deal, Rosenthal reports.
  • Another former Yankee, Carl Pavano, is searching for considerably more. He wants a three-year deal worth $10-11MM per season, one GM says. The Rangers are not pursuing Pavano right now.

Yankees Sign Russell Martin

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The Yankees' $4MM deal with Russell Martin is official now that he has passed his physical, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter links).  With Jorge Posada moving into a designated hitter role next year, Martin should be the Yankees' starting catcher.  Since Martin has less than five years of service time, he's under team control for 2012 as an arbitration eligible player.

Martin, 28 in February, hit .248/.347/.332 in 387 plate appearances for the Dodgers before being non-tendered this month.  His season ended in August due to a hairline fracture in his right hip, so his Yankees physical is not a formality.  Martin was once a rising star for the Dodgers, but he turned down a $4.2MM offer (an $850K pay cut) to return in 2011, so he'll earn less guaranteed money in New York.  The Red Sox and Blue Jays also bid for his services, though Boston's interest was limited.  Martin is represented by Matt Colleran.

MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez first reported the agreement.

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