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Quick Hits: Beltran, Yanks, Marlins, Valverde

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MLBTradeRumors readers will be sure to note that longtime MLBTR writer Mike Axisa has become the newest contributor to the Eye on Baseball blog at CBSSports.com. Congrats to Mike, who started things off today with a look at the Yankees’ core pieces. As always, Mike’s latest piece is worth your time. Mike’s by-line won’t be appearing at MLBTR anymore, but Zach Links has become a full-time writer and he’ll be taking over the site’s Baseball Blogs Weigh In feature from now on. You can reach Zach here with your submissions: ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

Here are some links from around MLB…

Steve Adams contributed to this post.

West Notes: Torrealba, Pavano, Ankiel

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We've seen a couple of Minor League signings in the AL West tonight, with the Astros adding Erik Bedard and the Rangers adding Nate Robertson. Here's some more news coming out of baseball's two western divisions…

  • The Rockies have offered Yorvit Torrealba a Minor League contract, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding (via Troy Renck on Twitter). Torrealba hit .227/.293/.330 in 218 plate appearances between the Rangers, Blue Jays and Brewers. He hit .258/.316/.394 over the course of four seasons with the Rox from 2006-09.
  • Renck believes that the Rockies have a good chance at landing Carl Pavano, but suspects that the veteran righty has at least one other offer (Twitter link). Colorado is said to be aggressively pursuing Pavano.
  • There's a "definite opportunity" for Rick Ankiel to make the Astros' 25-man roster this Spring, manager Bo Porter told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. The team is looking for a left-handed complement to J.D. Martinez and Justin Maxwell. Ankiel inked a Minor League deal with Houston earlier this month. Porter was his third base coach with the Nationals.
  • In that same piece, Porter says that he spoke with recently suspended prospect Jonathan Singleton and told Singleton the organization is behind him as he looks to atone for his mistake.

Rangers, Murphy Have Talked Long-Term Deal

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The Rangers have had discussions with Mike Moye, the agent for David Murphy, assistant general manager Thad Levine tells MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Murphy agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.775MM earlier today, avoiding arbitration for the final time before hitting free agency. According to Levine, the team preferred to "get through [arbitration] first and then continue that dialogue later."

"Later" could mean Spring Training, writes Sullivan. As he points out, the Rangers have hammered out significant extensions for both Derek Holland and Ian Kinsler during Spring Training in recent years. That line of thinking also allows the Rangers to have a better sense of their long-term outfield picture. As it stands, the team is still interested in both Justin Upton and Michael Bourn. Acquiring either could impact potential extension talks for Murphy.

According to Sullivan, the team is also interested in discussing a long-term deal for Nelson Cruz, but no talks have taken place as of yet. Those, much like talks with Murphy, are likely to occur during Spring Training. Cruz signed a two-year, $16MM contract with the Rangers last offseason that bought out his final two years of arbitration. The 32-year-old is eligible to become a free agent following the 2013 season.

Astros Sign Erik Bedard

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The Astros have announced the signing of left-hander Erik Bedard to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training via press release. The 33-year-old is represented by SFX.

Bedard was the Opening Day starter for the Pirates last season after signing a one-year deal worth $4.5MM. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, Bedard's season wasn't nearly as strong as the 2011 campaign he split between the Mariners and Red Sox. He managed just a 5.01 ERA in 125 2/3 innings before being released in August. He displayed his typical high strikeout rate (8.5 K/9) but was also plagued by sub-par command (4.0 BB/9).

Bedard has a 3.85 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 1,077 career innings between the Orioles, Mariners, Red Sox and Pirates. Following his best season in 2007, he was traded from Baltimore to Seattle for a package highlighted by Adam Jones and Chris Tillman. Since that time, he's managed just 419 innings, although his 3.89 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in that span are all very close to his career numbers.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow told reporters, including MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, that there's a "strong chance" Bedard will crack Houston's rotation (Twitter link). In addition to Bedard, Luhnow has added several rotation options to his team this offseason. As MLBTR's Transaction Tracker shows, the Astros have claimed Philip Humber on waivers and acquired both John Ely and Alex White via trade.

Rangers To Sign Nate Robertson

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The Rangers have signed Nate Robertson to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The 35-year-old southpaw is a client of Steve Canter.

Robertson's last Major League action came back in 2010 when he spent most of the season with the Marlins and also pitched one ill-fated inning for the Phillies. He was a staple in the Tigers' rotation from 2004-07, starting 126 games and totaling 779 2/3 innings of work.

In 1,152 1/3 career innings, Robertson has a 5.01 ERA, 6.1 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9. We heard earlier this month that he was looking for a Minor League contract with a chance to come to a big league camp and compete for a bullpen spot. Crasnick adds in a second tweet that Robertson will do just that.

Nats Open To Extensions For Zimmermann, Desmond

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The Nationals have agreed to 2013 contracts with six of their seven arbitration-eligible players. Jordan Zimmermann is the lone exception, and Adam Kilgore and James Warner of the Washington Post report that the Nationals are interested in multi-years deal for Zimmermann and teammate Ian Desmond. Desmond agreed to a $3.8MM salary last week, avoiding arbitration in his first year of eligibility.

Zimmermann, 26, filed for $5.8MM, and Washington countered with a $4.6MM offer. General manager Mike Rizzo said he's hopeful of avoiding an arbitration hearing with Zimmermann but will go to hearing if it's necessary. As a Super Two player, Zimmermann is eligible for arbitration for the second time this offseason. He earned $2.3MM this past season as a first-time eligible player.

Zimmermann pitched to a 2.94 ERA with a 7.0 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 195 1/3 innings in 2012. Rizzo told Kilgore and Warner that he approached Zimmermann about an extension prior to the 2012 season, but there have been no negotiations since. Zimmermann is under team control through 2016.

Desmond, 27, enjoyed a breakout 2012 season in which he batted .292/.335/.511 with 25 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He, like Zimmermann, is under team control through the 2016 season. The Nationals approached Desmond about a long-term deal midseason but were told by the shortstop that he'd prefer to table discussions until the offseason.

Cardinals Notes: Carlos Beltran, David Freese

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Cardinals legend Stan Musial died on the weekend at the age of 92, and the seven-time batting champion will be remembered as one of the best hitters of all-time. Here are some notes about the present-day Cardinals as they prepare for the 2013 season…

  • As Carlos Beltran enters the final season of his two-year contract, he’d like to know if he’s part of the club’s long-term plans, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. However, Beltran won’t try to accelerate talks unless the Cardinals want to do the same. “They don't really have to come to me, explain it to me,” Beltran said. “It depends how this year will go. We'll see what happens. I really love playing here.” Beltran will earn $13MM in 2013 before hitting free agency next offseason.
  • David Freese said he has decided not to discuss his contract talks publicly, Goold reports. The arbitration eligible third baseman asked for $3.75MM with the Cardinals countering at $2.4MM. He acknowledged that he’s aware of talks between the team and his agent, adding that he’d like to reach an agreement if possible. "If you can get it done, the quicker the better." CAA represents Freese, who’s arb eligible for the first time this winter.

Indians Sign Ben Francisco

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The Indians announced that they signed outfielder Ben Francisco to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training. The team also confirmed the signing of utility player Ryan Raburn.

Francisco played for the Blue Jays, Astros and Rays in 2012. The 31-year-old began the year in Toronto and joined the Astros in a July trade before being dealt to Tampa Bay in August. He posted a .240/.285/.385 batting line with four home runs in 207 total plate appearances, playing both corner outfield positions.

The Yankees and Mets were among the other teams interested in the John Boggs & Associates client. Francisco, a right-handed hitter, has a career line of .252/.329/.414 against left-handed pitching. 

Rangers, David Murphy Avoid Arbitration

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The Rangers and David Murphy have avoided arbitration with a one-year contract, the team announced. It's a one-year, $5.775MM contract, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (on Twitter). Moye Sports Associates represents the 31-year-old outfielder.

Murphy had filed for $6.5MM and the Rangers had countered at $5.05MM, as MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows. The sides settled at the midpoint, avoiding a potential hearing. This is Murphy's final time through the arbitration process; he's eligible for free agency following the 2013 season. All arbitration eligible Rangers now have contracts for 2013, the team confirmed.

Mets Sign Pedro Feliciano

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The Mets announced that they have signed Pedro Feliciano to a minor league deal.  The deal includes an invite to major league spring training.

Feliciano, 36, is coming off a two-year, $8MM deal he signed with the Yankees.  Unfortunately, injury problems kept him from throwing a single big league inning for the Bombers during that time.  Yankees GM Brian Cashman said in 2011 that the Mets "abused" Feliciano by relying on him to pitch constantly.  Over his eight years spent with the Mets, the left-hander posted a 3.31 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9.  He led the National League in appearances each year from 2008-10, averaging 89 games per season for that three-year span.

The reliever is represented by MDR Sports Management.

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