Blue Jays Designate Sam Dyson For Assignment
The Blue Jays announced that they designated right-hander Sam Dyson for assignment. The move creates roster space for Mark DeRosa, who signed with the team today.
Dyson, 24, made his MLB debut this past season. He appeared in two games at the MLB level but spent most of the season in the minor leagues. In 74 innings at Class A and Double-A, he posted a 3.04 ERA with 4.6 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9. The 2010 fourth round pick made his pro debut this past season.
Blue Jays Sign Mark DeRosa
The Blue Jays announced that they signed infielder Mark DeRosa to a one-year, $750K contract for 2013. The deal with the CSE client includes a $750K club option for 2014.
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has said he'd like to add a versatile right-handed hitting player to round out the club's active roster. DeRosa, who turns 38 next month, bats from the right side and has experience at a variety of positions.
He played in 48 games for the Nationals last year, posting a .188/.300/.247 batting line in 101 plate appearances and playing every infield position plus both corner outfield positions. Most of DeRosa's MLB experience comes at third base, second base and right field. In 15 seasons at the MLB level he has a .270/.340/.412 batting line.
Reds Sign Armando Galarraga
The Reds have signed free agent right-hander Armando Galarraga to a minor league contract, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). SFX represents Galarraga, who turned 31 last week.
Galarraga, who's best known for his near-perfect game in 2010, pitched for the Astros in 2012. He posted a 6.75 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 18 walks in 24 innings for Houston before being removed from the MLB roster in August. He also started ten games at the minor league level, posting a 3.97 ERA in 47 2/3 innings. Galarraga posted a 4.55 ERA in 466 2/3 innings as a member of the Tigers' rotation from 2008-10.
Phillies Seriously Considering Delmon Young
The Phillies are seriously considering signing free agent Delmon Young, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports. GM Ruben Amaro said he hopes to add a corner outfielder and acknowledged that the club has considered signing Young. Players with off-field questions won't necessarily deter the Phillies if they can contribute on the field.
“We have to keep our minds open on everything,” Amaro said, speaking in general terms. “Of course I have reservations about guys who have had some issues. But we’ve got to keep our minds open also.”
Darin Ruf, John Mayberry Jr., Domonic Brown and Laynce Nix are the Phillies’ primary internal options for left and right field. The club has also considered signing Scott Hairston and trading for Vernon Wells. Young, a right-handed hitter like Hairston and Wells, spent the 2012 season with the Tigers. He posted a .267/.296/.411 batting line with 18 home runs in 608 plate appearances.
The Mariners checked in on Young earlier in the winter, before adding Kendrys Morales, Raul Ibanez and Michael Morse. Offseason reports suggest the Tigers, Braves, Yankees and Indians don't seem interested in Young. Wasserman Media Group represents the 27-year-old, who is recovering from ankle surgery.
Reds Sign Jacob Constante
We’ll track the day’s international signings here…
- The Reds signed Dominican left-hander Jacob Constante for $730K, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. The Reds watched Constante pitch in the International Prospect League All-Star Game last week, when he showed good life on a fastball that registered in the 92-94 mph range. Constante turns 19 in March and has a potentially above-average slider, according to Badler. The prospect's signing marks the biggest bonus for the Reds during the 2012-13 international signing period.
Rosenthal On Felix, Upton, Rangers, Nationals
The Mariners continue discussing an extension with Felix Hernandez, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. The sides aren’t close to a deal, and are now “dancing.” However, Seattle is at least considering a four-year, $100MM offer, according to Rosenthal. It’s not clear if the Mariners have offered a nine-figure deal to Hernandez, whose current contract expires at the end of the 2014 season. The 26-year-old Octagon client would presumably want a longer commitment, as Rosenthal points out. Here are more of Rosenthal’s notes from around MLB…
- The Mariners’ willingness to add veterans approaching free agency suggests GM Jack Zduriencik senses an urgency to win now in the view of some rival executives.
- Justin Upton won’t be traded for Chase Headley, an official from one of the teams involved told Rosenthal. Headley is two years away from free agency, however, and Rosenthal suggests that the Padres figure to move him eventually. Upton, another trade candidate, is under contract through 2015.
- The Diamondbacks and Rangers haven’t revived Upton-centered trade talks since the Mariners’ failed attempt at acquiring the 25-year-old right fielder. Rosenthal reports that the sides agreed to “move on.” When the teams were last in contact the Rangers offered a four-played package led by Mike Olt that would have included shortstop prospect Leury Garcia and either Martin Perez or Cody Buckel plus a fourth prospect.
- The Rangers continue pondering one significant move. They are viewed as possible destinations for Kyle Lohse and Michael Bourn, and could also pursue relief help. The Rangers discussed right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard with the Nationals earlier this offseason, Rosenthal reports.
- The Nationals could trade Clippard or Drew Storen now that they’ve signed Rafael Soriano. One rival executive suggested Washington could sign Lohse, but Rosenthal writes that a deal with free agent right-hander Javier Vazquez seems more likely.
Quick Hits: Beltran, Yanks, Marlins, Valverde
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…
- Carlos Beltran's preference is to return to the Cardinals following the 2013 season, writes MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. However, the presence of Matt Holliday, Jon Jay and top prospect Oscar Taveras might leave Beltran without a spot on St. Louis' roster.
- In a piece at River Ave. Blues, Mike previews a potential extension for Yankees right-hander David Robertson, suggesting a three-year, $15MM deal could work for both sides. That said, cost certainty isn't a huge priority for the Yankees, so "working out a multi-year contract with Robertson probably isn’t worth the hassle" from the standpoint of the club.
- The Marlins are hearing from the agents for several veteran free agents who would love to play in Miami, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. Freddy Garcia and Bobby Abreu are among the players who would like to join the Marlins, Jackson writes.
- Agent Scott Boras expects increased interest in free agent right-hander Jose Valverde now that Rafael Soriano has signed with the Nationals, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports. The Tigers, Valverde's most recent team, seem confident in the ability of 22-year-old Bruce Rondon.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Cardinals Notes: Carlos Beltran, David Freese
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
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
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.