Twins Sign Burroughs, Rivera, Walters
The Twins signed infielder Sean Burroughs and catcher Rene Rivera to minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training, according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The Twins also signed right-hander P.J. Walters, according to Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune (on Twitter). Terry Ryan's busy offseason continues with the depth moves.
Burroughs, 31, appeared in 78 games for the Diamondbacks this past season after a four-year absence from the Major Leagues. The former ninth overall selection overcame substance abuse problems to post a .273/.289/.336 line in 115 plate appearances with Arizona. Wasserman Media Group represents Burroughs.
Rivera, 28, appeared in 45 games for the Twins in 2011. The longtime minor leaguer posted just a .412 OPS but did prevent 10 of 25 attempted steals against him (40%). Walters, 26, appeared in four games for the Cardinals and one more for the Blue Jays in 2011. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a 5.17 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9.
Giants To Sign Guillermo Mota
The Giants have agreed to re-sign Guillermo Mota, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). It's a $1MM deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reported the sides were nearing a deal last week.
Mota pitched 80 1/3 innings for the Giants in 2011, posting a 3.81 ERA with 8.6 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and a 40.8% ground ball rate. In 13 big league seasons, the native of the Dominican Republic has a 3.91 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9. Wasserman Media Group represents the 38-year-old right-hander.
Blue Jays, Four Others In On Carlos Beltran
4:01pm: The Cardinals are a "serious entity" in the Beltran talks, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
8:10am: At least five clubs are seriously talking with Carlos Beltran, reports Scott Miller of CBS Sports, including the Blue Jays, Cardinals, Rockies, and two others. Most are discussing multiyear deals for the right fielder, who turns 35 in April. Miller's colleague Jon Heyman first noted the Rockies' interest in Beltran yesterday.
My guess: most teams are probably reluctant to guarantee Beltran a third year. The Jays are an interesting new suitor; I assume they'd use Beltran in left field. He'd certainly represent a win-now acquisition for them.
D’Backs To Sign Takashi Saito
The Diamondbacks announced that they have agreed to sign right-handed reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal. The contract is for $1.75MM, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, who first reported the agreement (on Twitter). The D'Backs were known to be targeting the CAA client, who drew interest from at least six teams this offseason.
Saito, who turns 42 in February, posted a 2.03 ERA with 7.8 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and a 45.9% ground ball rate for the Brewers in 2011. However, a left hamstring strain limited him to just 26 2/3 innings of work. In six MLB seasons with the Brewers, Braves, Red Sox and Dodgers he has a 2.18 ERA with 10.7 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9.
Saito joins David Hernandez, J.J. Putz, Joe Paterson, Brad Ziegler, Craig Breslow and others in Arizona's projected 2012 bullpen. D'Backs GM Kevin Towers successfully turned a dismal 'pen around last offseason, when he acquired the likes of Hernandez, Putz and Paterson.
Though Saito was a Type A free agent this offseason, the Brewers were contractually prohibited from offering arbitration. They won't obtain a draft pick for losing the right-hander and the D'Backs won't have to surrender one.
Angels, Blue Jays Interested In Darren Oliver
Add the Angels and Blue Jays to the list of American League teams interested in Darren Oliver. Those two clubs, plus the Red Sox and Rangers have shown interest in the veteran left-hander, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
Oliver, 41, posted a 2.29 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 51 innings for the Rangers in 2011. The Jeff Frye client is one of the top left-handed relievers available in free agency. It's worth noting that the Angels signed former Rangers left-hander C.J. Wilson earlier this offseason.
The Blue Jays' interest is no surprise. They dealt Marc Rzepczynski last summer and Evan Crawford and Luis Perez are the only left-handed relievers on their 40-man roster at the moment. I'd be surprised if the team hasn't shown interest in most of the competent, available left-handers this offseason and I expect them to acquire one by Opening Day.
Removed From 40-Man: Jesse Chavez, Brian Bixler
We'll keep track of which players are removed from 40-man rosters right here…
- Right-hander Jesse Chavez cleared waivers and the Blue Jays outrighted him to Triple-A, the team tweeted.
- The Astros designated Brian Bixler for assignment, according to Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Astros, who needed roster space because of today's trade, had claimed Bixler from the Nationals last month. The 29-year-old appeared in 79 games for the Nationals in 2011, playing all three outfield positions, shortstop, third base and first base. He posted a .205/.267/.265 line in 94 plate appearances.
Reds Info: Pitching, Saunders, Theriot, Cuddyer
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer talked to Reds GM Walt Jocketty; here's the latest.
- Jocketty says his pursuit of starting pitching has been "very frustrating" and he's not close on anything. The Reds have been linked in rumors to Gio Gonzalez and Jair Jurrjens in recent weeks.
- The Reds have made some progress on an extension for Brandon Phillips.
- Jocketty has contacted the agents for recently non-tendered players Joe Saunders and Ryan Theriot, and the Reds also have some interest in Michael Cuddyer depending on his asking price. They won't be submitting a bid on Yu Darvish.
Red Sox Notes: Melancon, Lowrie, Closer Search
Earlier today, the Red Sox shipped shortstop Jed Lowrie and starter Kyle Weiland to Houston for reliever Mark Melancon. Here's a look at some items out of Boston with plenty of talk about the trade..
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter) likes the trade for the Red Sox but stresses that Melancon can't be the team's closer. In his view, Boston still needs to acquire someone for the ninth inning.
- ESPN's Keith Law thinks the Astros won the deal.
- Melancon's power arm and mental toughness are definite positives, but Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe tweets that the 26-year-old projects as a set-up man in the AL rather than a closer.
- Meanwhile, one talent evaluator told Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he loves what Melancon has to offer and believes that he has what it takes to be a closer. The right-hander finished 47 games for the Astros last season.
- The Red Sox are still in on multiple starters and closers, tweets Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. It's a good bet that they'll land either the starter or closer that they're after and may get both.
- More from Speier (via Twitter) who notes that the deal should be a good opportunity for both Weiland and Lowrie. Lowrie has largely been blocked by Marco Scutaro and now would have had Jose Iglesias in front of him. Meanwhile, Weiland was set to start the year in Triple-A but will now get to pitch for the Astros' varsity squad.
Red Sox Acquire Melancon For Lowrie, Weiland
The Red Sox acquired reliever Mark Melancon from the Astros for shortstop Jed Lowrie and starter Kyle Weiland, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick first tweeted that Weiland was traded to Houston in a deal that involved a reliever going to Boston. The deal marks the first trade involving Major Leaguers by both Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and Red Sox GM Ben Cherington since taking over their respective roles.
Melancon, 26, turned in a 2.78 ERA, 8.0 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 0.61 HR/9, and 56.7% groundball rate in 74 1/3 innings this year, saving 20 games in 25 tries. The right-hander won't be arbitration eligible until after the 2013 season and won't hit free agency until after the 2016 campaign. Acquiring Melancon will bolster Boston's bullpen, but they're unlikely to stop here, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Boston has reportedly been after A's closer Andrew Bailey and Rosenthal says that they can't be ruled out on Ryan Madson.
Lowrie has been drawing a good deal interest from clubs this offseason. The infielder's name also came up during the Winter Meetings when the Red Sox met with the Rangers and discussed possible trades. In 341 plate appearances for Boston last season, the oft-injured Lowrie hit .252/.303/.382 with six homers. Lowrie has been used all around the infield, but he's likely to take over as the Astros' starting shortstop. He's arbitration eligible for the first time this winter and MLBTR projects a $1.2MM salary.
Weiland, 25, struggled in 24 2/3 innings in his Red Sox debut this year. At Triple-A, he posted a 3.58 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, and 0.70 HR/9 in 128 1/3 innings. A third-round pick in 2008, Baseball America ranked Weiland 20th among Red Sox prospects prior to the season. BA says the former Notre Dame closer "relishes pitching inside" and his "best pitch is a low-90s fastball that peaks at 95 but is most notable for its hard sink." The Astros plan to use Weiland as a starter in 2012, tweets Alex Speier of WEEI.com.
The Astros will have to clear a spot on their 40-man roster, as it was full prior to the trade.
How Many Years Will Prince Fielder Get?
One team tells Scott Miller of CBS Sports Prince Fielder is looking for a ten-year deal. As Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes, isn't Fielder entitled to an Albert Pujols-like contract, as a 27-year-old coming off a monster season?
The problem is the marketplace, however, writes Morosi. The teams with the biggest payrolls don't appear to be fits for Fielder. Over 38,000 MLBTR readers responded to our poll last week about Fielder's destination. While the Cubs led with 24% of the vote, they almost seem to be the default pick for Fielder since there is no obvious favorite.
I doubt the Cubs would do an eight, nine, or ten-year deal for Fielder. I'm having trouble finding any team that would do so, assuming an average annual value around $25MM is required. It's time for Scott Boras to work his magic. That brings us to today's poll question: how many years will Fielder get?
How many years will Prince Fielder get?
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7 28% (7,732)
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6 27% (7,494)
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8 18% (5,027)
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5 15% (4,174)
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10 5% (1,246)
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4 2% (646)
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1 2% (482)
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9 1% (318)
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3 1% (292)
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2 0% (89)
Total votes: 27,500