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Archives for February 2013

Reds Sign Parra, Designate Redmond

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4:34pm: Parra obtained a Major League deal with a base salary of $1MM, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). Parra can earn another $400K in appearance bonuses.

4:06pm: The Reds announced that they signed left-hander Manny Parra to a one-year contract (Twitter link). The club designated right-hander Todd Redmond for assignment in a corresponding move.

Parra appeared in 62 games for the Brewers in 2012, posting a 5.06 ERA with 9.4 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 in 58 2/3 innings of relief work. The Brewers non-tendered the 30-year-old earlier in the offseason instead of paying him a projected $1.6MM salary. Parra, a CAA Sports client, also drew interest from the Cardinals, Pirates and Mets this winter. He joins a Reds bullpen that includes left-hander Sean Marshall. 

Redmond made his MLB debut in 2012, starting one game at the big league level. The 27-year-old spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a 3.63 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 148 2/3 innings. The Reds acquired him from the Braves for Paul Janish last July.

Yankees Sign Travis Hafner

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4:33pm: Hafner can earn up to $4MM in incentives beyond his $2MM salary, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter).

3:11pm: The Yankees have officially signed Travis Hafner to a one-year, Major League contract. The deal is worth $2MM plus incentives, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The Legacy Agency represents Hafner.

The Yankees plan to use Hafner as a platoon designated hitter who only plays against right-handers, Chad Jennings of the Journal News writes. Hafner, a left-handed hitter, has a career batting line of .287/.391/.534 against right-handed pitching.

Hafner hit free agency after the Indians chose a $2.75MM buyout over a $13MM option earlier in the offseason. The 35-year-old hit .228/.346/.438 with 12 home runs in 263 plate appearances for Cleveland last year. 

Hafner has averaged only 85 games a season over the past five years due of injuries. Despite his past health issues, he drew interest from the Indians this winter. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com first reported the Yankees could be nearing a deal with Hafner and Jennings first reported the agreement.

Heyman On Abreu, Blue Jays, Rays

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The latest from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links)…

  • The Marlins and Rays are among the possibilities for Bobby Abreu, Heyman reports. Abreu, 38 in March, hopes to extend his career following an unremarkable offensive season in 2012.
  • The Blue Jays are still in the bullpen market along with the Mets, Heyman reports. The Marlins, Astros and Dodgers might also be involved in pursuit of relievers, Heyman adds. Here are the details on the Mets’ bullpen targets.
  • The Rays will likely officially announce their deals with Kyle Farnsworth, Luke Scott and Kelly Johnson next week, Heyman reports.

Yankees Designate Russ Canzler For Assignment

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The Yankees designated first baseman/outfielder Russ Canzler for assignment, the team announced. The move creates roster space for Travis Hafner, whose deal with the Yankees is now official.

Canzler has been claimed off of waivers three times this winter, and it won't be surprising if a team picks him up again before he clears waivers. The Yankees claimed Canzler on January 4th, the Indians claimed him on January 2nd and the Blue Jays claimed him on December 21st.

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.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Hafner, Dodgers, Giants

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On this date in 2008, the Mets gave Johan Santana the richest contract ever for a southpaw pitcher.  Santana's deal was worth $137.5MM over six years and completed the blockbuster trade with the Twins.  The Mets got the two-time Cy Young award winner in exchange for pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, and outfielder Carlos Gomez.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.  

White Sox Claim Lars Anderson

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The White Sox announced that they claimed first baseman Lars Anderson off of waivers from the Diamondbacks. Chicago's 40-man roster is now full. Arizona had designated Anderson for assignment last week.

The Diamondbacks originally acquired Anderson from Cleveland in a three-team trade earlier in the offseason. The 25-year-old appeared in six games for the Red Sox last year, but Boston traded him to the Indians for Steven Wright at the non-waiver trade deadline last July. Anderson, a left-handed hitter, spent most of the 2012 season at Triple-A, where he posted a .250/.353/.396 batting line in 470 plate appearances.

Reds Sign Miguel Olivo

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The Reds announced that they signed catcher Miguel Olivo to a minor league contract with an invitation to MLB Spring Training (Twitter link). Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, who first reported the sides were nearing a deal, reports that the Phillies, Astros and Dodgers also inquired on Olivo (Twitter links).

Olivo, 34, played for the Mariners in 2012, appearing in 87 games. The right-handed hitter posted a .222/.239/.381 batting line with 12 home rune in 323 plate appearances. He hit for more power against left-handers than right-handers last year, which isn't surprising considering his career line of .270/.303/.477 against southpaws. 

Agent Martin Arburua represents Olivo, an 11-year MLB veteran, who earned $3.5MM in 2012. He joins a Reds roster that includes Ryan Hanigan and Devin Mesoraco. The free agent market for catchers no longer features many options for interested teams. Rod Barajas, Chris Snyder and Matt Treanor are among the remaining options, as MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker shows.

Cardinals, Marc Rzepczynski Avoid Arbitration

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We'll track the day's arbitration agreements under $3MM right here. MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker has the details on this year's cases. Be sure to check out MLBTR's guide to Arbiration Basics as well. Now for Friday's deals…

  • The Cardinals avoided arbitration with left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski, Jenifer Langosch ‏of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). It's a $1.1MM deal, the AP reports (via ESPN.com). Rzepczynski, a client of John Boggs & Associates, filed for $1.3MM with the Cardinals countering at $900K. David Freese is now St. Louis' lone unsigned arb eligible player, as MLBTR's Arb Tracker shows.

Martin Prado Talks Extension

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Martin Prado didn’t expect Frank Wren to call last week, so he was surprised to hear the Braves general manager explain that he’d been traded to Arizona for Justin Upton. But now that he’s had a week to adjust to the chance, Prado says he’s happy to be on board with the Diamondbacks. Yesterday the sides agreed to a four-year, $40MM contract extension, so he can expect to be in Arizona for a while.

“Since I got to the big leagues I’ve been looking to be secure, to be in the right spot and not have to worry about going to free agency” he said on a conference call with reporters yesterday afternoon. “The way I am right now I’m happy.”

Prado’s deal covers his final arbitration season and delays his free agency by three years. The versatile 29-year-old said he has heard good things about the Diamondbacks and was comfortable accepting the deal before playing his first game with the the team. Arizona will use him at third base after sending Chris Johnson to Atlanta in the Upton deal.

The Braves generated considerable excitement with the trade, which places Upton alongside his older brother B.J. in Atlanta’s outfield. While Wren said giving up Prado “was the most difficult part” of the deal, some have said the Diamondbacks didn’t get enough in return. Prado acknowledged that Upton is a “superstar caliber” player and said both teams stand to benefit from the deal. But he certainly doesn’t expect it’ll look lopsided in the future.

"Maybe in a couple of years, people will think a different way," he said.

Angels Sign Hiroyuki Kobayashi

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We’ll track the day’s minor moves here…

  • The Angels signed Hiroyuki Kobayashi to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports. The 34-year-old didn't pitch for an MLB or NPB team in 2012, but he posted a 3.00 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 39 innings of relief for the Hanshin Tigers in 2011. He first moved to the bullpen in 2010, saving 29 games for the Chiba Lotte Marines. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times first reported the sides were close to a deal. The Pirates and Diamondbacks were linked to Kobayashi following the 2010 season.

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