Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for December 2012

Olney On Saunders, Hairston, Hanrahan, Howell

By | at

In today's column, Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) looks at the best second-tier and third-tier free agents remaining.  Here's a look at the highlights..

  • Joe Saunders is receiving interest from four clubs and the Orioles have ramped up their efforts to retain him.  It seems Saunders would be in position to get more than the two-year, $15MM deal signed by Joe Blanton.
  • Scott Hairston is looking for a significant raise over the $1.1MM he earned last season and he might wind up being too rich for the Mets' blood.  Jonny Gomes is a similar player and got $10MM over two years from the Red Sox.
  • Some teams see the significant increase in walks allowed last season by Joel Hanrahan as a red flag.  After posting a 2.1 BB/9 rate in 2011, Hanrahan jumped to 5.4 in 2012.  There is also some concern among rival evaluators that his diminished control is a sign of an arm issue.  Hanrahan would argue that the control problems may have stemmed from the inconsistent save chances that a Bucs closer gets.
  • Free agent reliever J.P. Howell should sign soon, perhaps with the Nationals.  Other interested clubs include the Phillies, Cubs, Mariners, and Rangers.
  • Travis Hafner would be a classic make-good guy to bring to spring training, but he won't fit all rosters because he can't play a position.
  • Executives have reservations about Lance Berkman, including his health, overall shape, and motivation to play.
  • Some have said that the Cubs overpaid for Edwin Jackson ($52MM over four years), but new financial restraints in the draft and international market have forced clubs to pay more.  In short, the Cubs basically paid the going rate for a 29-year-old healthy pitcher of his caliber.

Minor Moves: Figueroa, McPherson, Bocock, Bush

By | at

Tonight’s minor moves, courtesy of Baseball America’s Matt Eddy (all links go to Twitter)..

Indians To Sign Scott Kazmir

By | at

The Indians have reached a minor league deal with Scott Kazmir, according to Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer (on Twitter).  Cleveland is taking a low-risk chance on the left-hander following his strong performance in Puerto Rico this winter.

The left-hander displayed great stuff during his time in PR, throwing a 90-94 mph fastball.  The 28-year-old missed the 2012 major league season but did spend some time with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, the same club made nationally famous by their signing of Roger Clemens. 

The 28-year-old had a disappointing 2011 season that included time on the disabled list, one appearance for the Angels and a 17.02 ERA with more walks than strikeouts at Triple-A.  He last pitched at an All-Star level in 2008, when he posted a 3.49 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9.

Mariners Sign Jeremy Bonderman

By | at

Jeremy Bonderman has agreed to a minor league deal with the Mariners, with an invitation to spring training, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (on Twitter).  The Washington native is coming off of elbow reconstruction surgery.

Bonderman fielded calls from a dozen clubs this offseason with the Tigers and Nationals also showing serious interest.  The right-hander dropped 35 pounds from his frame and is set to start throwing again in January.  For his career, Bonderman owns a 4.89 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 across eight seasons with Detroit.

Nationals Aim To Resolve LaRoche Talks

By | at

The Nationals want to settle their negotiations with Adam LaRoche, and could press for resolution soon, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports. Though general manager Mike Rizzo wouldn’t issue the free agent first baseman an ultimatum, he might deliver “something close to it.”

The Nationals made LaRoche a two-year offer earlier in the offseason after he declined a qualifying offer. Rizzo could tell LaRoche that the Nationals intend to proceed with internal options if he doesn’t accept their offer, Kilgore writes. If LaRoche signs elsewhere — teams such as the Orioles and Rangers could be interested — the Nationals would rely on Michael Morse at first base. If LaRoche accepts the Nationals’ offer, Morse would become a trade candidate. LaRoche wants a three-year deal, but he’s tied to draft pick compensation, which could be limiting his free agent value.

The Nationals aren’t worried about the possibility of another team offering LaRoche a three-year deal, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio reported today (Twitter links). In that scenario the Nationals would obtain a compensatory draft pick from the signing team. The Nationals won’t give LaRoche a three-year deal, according to Bowden, the team’s former GM.

Astros Sign Jose Veras

By | at

4:10pm: The Astros plan to give Veras the chance to close, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. The right-hander’s contract includes significant incentives based on games finished that could increase his $1.85MM salary by $500K. Depending on Veras’ games finished total next year, the value of the 2014 option could increase to the $4-5.5MM range, Rosenthal reports.

1:17pm: The Astros announced that they have signed right-handed reliever Jose Veras to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $2MM, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes, who first reported the agreement (on Twitter). The deal includes a 2013 salary of $1.85MM and a 2014 option worth $3.25MM with a $150K buyout. Praver/Shapiro represents Veras.

Veras, 32, elected to become a free agent last month after the Brewers outrighted him off of their 40-man roster. The move amounted to an early non-tender for Veras, who had a projected salary of $2.6MM.

In 72 appearances for Milwaukee in 2012, Veras posted a 3.63 ERA with 10.6 K/9, 5.4 BB/9 and a 43.8% ground ball rate in 67 innings. The seven-year veteran has a career ERA of 4.01 with 9.4 K/9, 4.9 BB/9 and a 39.4% ground ball rate. He averaged 93.8 mph with his fastball this past season, generating swings and misses 9% of the time.

Outrighted To Triple-A: Miller, Beato, Nunez, Pearce

By | at

The latest outright assignments from around MLB…

  • The Astros outrighted infielder Brandon Laird and outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin to Triple-A after the players cleared waivers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).
  • The Yankees announced that they outrighted right-hander Jim Miller to Triple-A. They had designated him for assignment two days ago to create 40-man roster space for Ichiro Suzuki.
  • The Red Sox outrighted Pedro Beato to Triple-A after he cleared waivers, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports (on Twitter). The Red Sox designated the right-hander for assignment two days ago to create roster space for Ryan Dempster. 
  • The Diamondbacks outrighted shortstop Gustavo Nunez to Detroit's Triple-A affiliate, the Tigers announced. Nunez, a 2011 Rule 5 Draft selection, spent the 2012 season on the Pirates' disabled list recovering from right ankle surgery. The Diamondbacks claimed him off of waivers from Pittsburgh on October 26th before returning him to Detroit today. 
  • The Orioles announced that they outrighted outfielder Steve Pearce to Triple-A. The club now has one open 40-man roster spot.
  • The Cubs announced that they outrighted Gerardo Concepcion to Class A Kane County after the left-hander cleared waivers. Chicago's 40-man roster now includes 39 players.
  • The Blue Jays announced that they outrighted right-hander Mickey Storey to Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto had claimed Storey off of waivers earlier in the week.

Blue Jays Claim Russ Canzler

By | at

The Blue Jays announced that they claimed Russ Canzler off of waivers from the Indians. The Indians had designated Canzler for assignment earlier in the week.

Canzler appeared in 26 games for the Indians this past season. The 26-year-old posted a .269/.299/.398 batting line in 97 MLB plate appearances while playing first base and left field. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a .265/.328/.487 batting line with 22 home runs and 36 doubles in 539 plate appearances.

Cubs To Sign Nate Schierholtz

By | at

The Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with outfielder Nate Schierholtz, the team announced. The deal is worth $2.25MM with $500K in incentives, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, who first reported the agreement.  Schierholtz, 29 in February, was non-tendered by the Phillies last month.  He's represented by Lapa/Leventhal.

Uspw_6133046

Schierholtz hit .257/.321/.407 in 269 plate appearances for the Giants and Phillies this year, playing mostly right field.  He could assume that position for the Cubs, as they could use David DeJesus in center field.  Schierholtz has less than five years of Major League service time, so the Cubs will have the opportunity to retain him for 2014 as an arbitration eligible player if he has a solid campaign.  He's generally regarded as a strong defender, and the Cubs are in a position to give him 500 big league plate appearances for the first time in his career.  He was popular at the Winter Meetings, generating interest from the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, Orioles, and Mets, according to Crasnick.  Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says Schierholtz even turned down a two-year offer in the $5MM range.

With Schierholtz, the Cubs have committed $90.05MM to nine free agents.  They have also agreed to sign Kyuji Fujikawa, Scott Feldman, Scott Baker, Dioner Navarro, Shawn Camp, Ian Stewart, Carlos Villanueva and Edwin Jackson.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.

Brewers Sign Tom Gorzelanny

By | at

The Brewers have signed free-agent left-hander Tom Gorzelanny to a two-year contract, the team announced. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who first reported the agreement between the Brewers and the SFX client, reports that it's a $5.7MM deal. Gorzelanny obtains a $300K signing bonus and will earn $2.6MM in 2013 and $2.8MM in 2014.

The Nationals non-tendered Gorzelanny last month instead of offering him arbitration. Gorzelanny had a projected salary of $2.8MM entering his final year of arbitration eligibility, but he hit free agency a year early instead. He also drew interest from the Pirates after the Nationals cut him loose.

Gorzelanny, 30, joins a Brewers pitching staff that previously lacked left-handed pitching. Other than left-handed starter Chris Narveson, the Brewers don't have an established southpaw on their pitching staff after non-tendering Manny Parra. Haudricourt reports that it's unclear how the Brewers plan to use Gorzelanny. He pitched out of the bullpen in 2012, but does have extensive experience starting.

Gorzelanny appeared in 45 games for the Nationals this past season, posting a 2.88 ERA with 7.8 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 and a 42.9% ground ball rate in 72 innings. The eight-year MLB veteran started 23 games for the Cubs in 2010 and 15 games for the Nationals in 2011, before making one spot start in 2012.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported that the deal would fall in the $6MM range (Twitter link).

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top