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Rangers Sign Lance Berkman

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After losing Josh Hamilton to free agency, the Rangers have turned to Lance Berkman to add some thunder to the lineup.  The team officially announced the signing of the Big Puma to a one-year deal with vesting option for 2014. The Moye Sports Associates client reportedly will receive a $10MM salary with, and his $13MM vesting option triggers at 550 plate appearances. If he fails to reach 550 plate appearances, the club can still exercise a $12MM option or elect a $1MM buyout.

Lanceberkman

Berkman will bring offense to a Texas team that lost a good amount of pop this winter and missed out on some of its favorite targets.  After the departures of Hamilton, Mike Napoli, and Michael Young, Berkman will be expected to be more than a feel-good story in his return to the Lone Star State.

Last week it was reported that the Rangers along with the Orioles, Yankees, and Astros were all interested in the veteran's services.  Berkman wasn't sure if he wanted to play in 2013, but it would appear that a pitch spearheaded by team president Nolan Ryan was enough to lure him away from retirement.

Berkman, who turns 37 in February, played in just 32 games for the Cardinals last season thanks to a left calf injury and a torn meniscus in his right knee.  In his one season and change in St. Louis, Berkman posted a .295/.408/.533 slash line with 33 homers in 177 games.

The Rays and the Red Sox also had documented interest in Berkman this winter.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first first reported that an agreement was being finalized, with Jon Heyman of CBS Sports confirming the financial details of the contract (on Twitter). Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (all Twitter links) and ESPN's Richard Durrett (via Twitter) added details surrounding Berkman's 2014 option.

Mike Axisa and Steve Adams contributed to this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Brewers Designate Arcenio Leon For Assignment

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The Brewers announced that they have designated right-hander Arcenio Leon for assignment in order to make roster space for the recently signed Mike Gonzalez.

Milwaukee claimed the 26-year-old Leon on waivers from the Astros back in November. The Venezuelan hurler has spent his entire professional career with the Astros. He pitched to a 4.38 ERA, 8.2 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9 in 63 2/3 innings at Double-A in 2012. He has a 4.40 ERA, 7.9 K/9 and 5.2 BB/9 over the course of 435 1/3 minor league innings, but has thrown only two innings at the Triple-A level — both coming in 2011.

Brewers Sign Mike Gonzalez

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The Brewers have officially announced the signing of Mike Gonzalez to a one-year contract. The veteran left-hander is a client of the MVP Sports Group and is guaranteed $2.25MM with incentives that can increase the value of his contract.

Gonzalez, 34, pitched to a 3.03 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 35 2/3 innings for the Nationals last season after signing in early-May. He held left-handed batters to a .179/.257/.269 batting line with 23 strikeouts in 75 plate appearances. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes did not rank Gonzalez as one of the offseason's Top 50 Free Agents.

Relief help was a priority for the Brewers this offseason after their bullpen posted a MLB-worst 4.66 ERA in 2012. Earlier this month they acquired Burke Badenhop from the Rays and signed Tom Gorzelanny, another former Nationals left-hander. ESPN's Jim Bowden says (on Twitter) the Nats and Reds were also in on Gonzalez.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first broke news of the agreement (Twitter links). Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM tweeted the financial details, and MLB.com's Adam McCalvy tweeted that Gonzalez's physical would take place after New Year's Day (on Twitter).

Steve Adams contributed to this post.

Adam Kennedy Drawing Interest

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Free agent infielder Adam Kennedy is drawing interest as a left-handed bench bat and super utility player. Agent Tim Trafficanda of TWC Sports told MLBTR discussions are taking place with three to four teams.

Kennedy, who turns 37 on Thursday, played in 86 games for the 2012 Dodgers, posting a .262/.345/.357 batting line in 201 plate appearances. The 14-year MLB veteran spent considerable time at second base and third base, and made appearances at first base and in left field. Kennedy posted a .268/.361/.377 batting line in 170 plate appearances against right-handed pitching in 2012, a reasonable approximation of his career .278/.333/.400 line against righties.

Kennedy obtained a one-year, Major League deal worth $800K plus incentives when he signed with the Dodgers last offseason. He’s in the process of opening a baseball development facility in Anaheim.

Ten Teams Interested In Aledmys Diaz

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At least ten teams have expressed strong interest in Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz, MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez reports (all Twitter links). Diaz, who turns 23 tomorrow, is a free agent. More teams appear to have expressed interest once they realized that signing him wouldn’t count against their caps for international bonuses.

The showcase for Diaz and fellow Cuban prospect Dariel Alvarez has been pushed back to the end of January, Sanchez reports. Alvarez, a 24-year-old outfielder, is also a free agent. The Cardinals are among the teams monitoring the two players, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported last week. The Twins also appear to have interest. Sanchez introduced us to Diaz and Alvarez in detail back in November.

Rosenthal On Berkman, Sizemore

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The latest notes from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • The Yankees were in on Lance Berkman before he signed a one-year, $11MM contract with Texas, Rosenthal reports (on Twitter). Two people tell Rosenthal the Yankees made Berkman an offer, while a third source says the sides simply talked.
  • Free agent outfielder Grady Sizemore doesn’t want to sign a new contract until he’s ready to play again, agent Joe Urbon told Rosenthal. The 30-year-old underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee in September, and isn’t ready to commit to a team just yet. “It could be Opening Day. It could be midseason,” Urbon said. “Midseason is more likely.” The CAA agent added that a number of teams have expressed interest in Sizemore. Some of those teams have offered to sign the 30-year-old and let him rehab on his own schedule.

Teams Have Called Chipper; He’ll Stay Retired

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Several teams have called to see if Chipper Jones can be persuaded to come out of retirement and play another season, agent B.B. Abbott told Mark Hale of the New York Post (Twitter links). However, Jones will stay retired. The Yankees didn’t call about the 40-year-old, Hale reports.

Jones' 19-year MLB career ended after yet another strong offensive season and a memorable farewell tour. The switch hitter posted a .287/.377/.455 batting line and hit 14 home runs in 448 plate appearances as Atlanta's starting third baseman last year. Jones, an All-Star in 2012, will presumably be enshrined in baseball's Hall of Fame once he’s eligible for induction. He said in August that he won't reconsider his decision to retire.

New York Notes: Hairston, Pavano, Francisco

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Mark Hale of the New York Post has a number of updates related to New York’s two teams. Here’s the latest (all links go to Twitter)…

  • The Mets remain interested in Scott Hairston, Hale reports. GM Sandy Alderson has checked in on a number of outfielders, including Jason Kubel and Justin Upton of the Diamondbacks.
  • Agent Dave Pepe, who represents free agent right-hander Carl Pavano, said there’s some mutual interest between the Mets and his client. "We clearly have an interest and I think they do too,” Pepe told Hale. “We’ll see where it goes.” The agent added that Pavano’s workouts are going well and that he’s drawing interest from multiple teams.
  • The agent for Scott Podsednik said the Mets haven’t shown any interest in the free agent outfielder, Hale reports.
  • Agent John Boggs said the Yankees and Mets are among five teams to express interest in free agent outfielder Ben Francisco. Playing time will figure into Francisco’s decision, according to Boggs. The right-handed hitting Francisco has a career line of .252/.329/.414 against left-handed pitching.
  • The Yankees don’t have interest in Jim Thome, Hale reports.

Yomiuri Giants Sign Jose Lopez

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12:20pm: Lopez obtained a $1.2MM guarantee plus $500K in performance bonuses, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The deal includes a team option for 2014.

10:17am: The Yomiuri Giants have signed infielder Jose Lopez, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). Lopez, a client of agent Martin Arburua, was close to a deal with the 2012 Japan Series winners last month. 

Lopez spent the 2012 season with the Indians and White Sox, playing mostly at the infield corners. The 29-year-old hit .246/.270/.356 in 248 total plate appearances for the AL Central teams. A right-handed hitter, Lopez made the All-Star team in 2006 and hit 25 home runs three seasons later.

Cubs Sign Zach Putnam

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The Cubs signed free agent right-hander Zach Putnam to a minor league contract, according to the transactions page at CBSSports.com. The Cubs had claimed Putnam off of waivers from Colorado in early November, but non-tendered him later in the month.

The 25-year-old appeared in two games for the Rockies in 2012. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.15 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 60 2/3 innings.

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