Valverde, Astros Reach One-Year Deal
Jose Valverde and the Houston Astros avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $8MM, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.
Valverde, who made $4.7MM in 2008, made 44 saves last season (Houston’s single-season record). He had a 3.38 ERA from 74 appearances. The 30-year-old will be a free agent after the season.
Dunn Back To Reds Unlikely; Reds Looking At OFs
The Cincinnati Reds are still looking for outfield help, and a left-handed bat isn’t off the table.
Mark Sheldon of MLB.com wrote that much of the Reds’ search has focused on a right-handed bat, but since the market is drying up, the Reds are willing to look toward the other side of the plate.
“We’re open minded about it,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told Sheldon.
One slugger who could be on that list is former Red Adam Dunn, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in August 2008, though Jocketty is pessimistic.
“I doubt it,” Jocketty told Sheldon when asked about the possibility of Dunn returning to Cincinnati. “Especially at the price he’s looking for.”
One name Sheldon listed was right fielder Bobby Abreu, but Jocketty said he hasn’t recently spoken with Abreu’s agent.
Royals Add Five To Spring Training Invite List
Dick Kaegel of MLB.com lists five players who have been invited to the Kansas City Royals’ Spring Training Major League camp.
The five, all minor leaguers, are Derrick Robinson (he won the Royals’ baserunner of the year award), outfielder Jose Duarte, and catchers Cody Clark, Jeff Howell and John Suomi, taken in the Rule 5 Draft from the Phillies’ organization.
Hardy, Brewers Avoid Arbitration
The Milwaukee Brewers and shortstop J.J. Hardy avoided arbitration by completing a $4.65MM, one-year deal, The Associated Press reports.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more on it here.
Hardy, 26, made $2.65MM in 2008. He batted .283 with 24 home runs and 74 RBI over 146 games.
Giants Invite 16 To Big League Camp
Including a couple of Giants prospects, catcher Buster Posey and right-hander Kevin Pucetas, San Francisco has invited 16 players to its Spring Training camp, Chris Haft of MLB.com reports.
The rest of the list: third baseman Jesus Guzman; infielders Scott McClain and Ivan Ochoa; right-handers Francis Beltran, Brandon Medders and Justin Miller; catcher Eli Whiteside; first baseman-outfielder Josh Phelps; outfielder Andres Torres; catcher Todd Jennings; infielder Jake Wald; catcher Jackson Williams; right-hander Ronnie Ray; infielder Matt Downs.
Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14.
Twins Not ‘In’ On Crede
La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes that the Minnesota Twins are not going after free-agent third baseman Joe Crede, despite an earlier report.
Neal believes that the Twins aren’t interested because of Crede’s balky back and its susceptibility while playing on turf in the Metrodome. Neal adds that the Twins do want to upgrade their third base options, but with a healthy player.
Neal writes that a healthy Crede would be an option, though he describes it as a longshot.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Friday
San Francisco Giants beat writer Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle isn’t buying that the Giants are about to expedite the process to acquire left fielder Manny Ramirez.
I am told that (agent) Scott Boras is spreading word that the Giants are going to make a big push for Ramirez in the next day or two. The Giants’ reaction to that was laughter on the other end of the phone line, Schulman writes.
Schulman believes the Giants’ brass because of logistics. He doesn’t think there is a rush to force the issue, especially when, he thinks, the Giants would be looking for a short-term deal with Ramirez. Plus, Schulman adds that the Giants aren’t looking to overspend on Ramirez, another sign the organization would likely remain patient in the process.
Cubs’ New Owner Might Push For Peavy
Barry Rozner of the Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.) believes a new Chicago Cubs owner might increase general manager Jim Hendry’s payroll budget, which would make room to acquire Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres. Especially if that new owner is Tom Ricketts.
Ricketts will want to win and win fast, so if it’s him and it happens soon his first call might be to GM Jim Hendry with the news that he can up the payroll and get Peavy out of San Diego, Rozner writes.
Ricketts is the CEO of a Chicago investment bank named Incapital. Rozner wrote that Ricketts is a local guy who loves the Cubs and will have only their "best interests at heart. He even, reportedly, met his wife in the bleachers at Wrigley."
Peavy has been the subject of trade rumors since the offseason began, and the Cubs have been mentioned often in the same sentence.
Marquis To Rockies Deal Finalized
TUESDAY, 3:21pm: The Marquis for Vizcaino swap has been finalized. Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs are sending $875K to the Rockies. Jim Hendry said today he hopes to add another pitcher before Opening Day.
MONDAY, 9:55pm: The Chicago Tribune’s Dave van Dyck says the Cubs are "actively seeking more live arms, whether it be Jake Peavy or another starter to replace the innings of Marquis."
5:05pm: Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis is close to becoming a Colorado Rockies starter, according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.
Muskat believes the deal, which will ship Rockies reliever Luis Vizcaino to the Cubs, will be finalized Tuesday. The move will free up Cubs money for the newly-acquired Milton Bradley.
Marquis (11-9, 4.53 ERA) is scheduled to make $9.875MM in 2009, the final year of the three-year contract he signed with the Cubs in December 2006. The Cubs are expected to pay $1MM of Marquis’ ’09 salary; Vizcaino will make $4MM this year, Muskat continued.
Muskat also notes that moving Marquis does not mean the Cubs will resume talks with the Padres regarding Jake Peavy, but more likely, Sean Marshall will fill the fifth spot in the Cubs’ rotation.
Cardinals Rumors: Smoltz, Carpenter, Lyon
11:53pm: More from Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Strauss suggests GM John Mozeliak hopes to swap an outfielder for a closer-quality arm. Any suggestions?
Strauss adds that the Cardinals inquired on John Smoltz. At least seven teams have shown some level of interest in Smoltz, who most expect to return to Atlanta.
8:20pm: The Associated Press has a slightly different take on the Cardinals’ approach to a closer. La Russa told the AP that Chris Carpenter could return to the bullpen if the club deems that move will be the best scenario for both parties:
"We want Chris pitching for us, and if I was told he couldn’t be healthy throwing 100 pitches every five days and he could be a reliever, I’d take him as a reliever."
6:36pm: St. Louis Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa told Matthew Leach of MLB.com that the Cardinals will likely look at Chris Perez or Jason Motte to close games in 2009, but La Russa also hinted that the team could sign a starter with the thoughts of moving the addition to a ninth-inning role.
La Russa said he’d like to give Perez and Motte more time to mature in the minor leagues before moving them into the role of closer for the Cardinals.
La Russa also mentioned that the list of starters who could be converted into a closer’s role is short, Leach writes. La Russa noted that the Cardinals do not want to convert one of their current starters into the closer.
La Russa said that Jason Isringhausen will not probably return to the Cardinals. The Cardinals could sign a free-agent reliever such as Juan Cruz or Brandon Lyon. Cruz is unlikely due to his Type A status, however. The Cards remain cool to the possibility of signing Trevor Hoffman.
La Russa did not shut the door on a closer with health issues, such as Takashi Saito or Chad Cordero. Leach also noted that club’s front office has expressed significant reservations about signing any players who are health risks.