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Astros Sign Jose Veras

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4:10pm: The Astros plan to give Veras the chance to close, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. The right-hander’s contract includes significant incentives based on games finished that could increase his $1.85MM salary by $500K. Depending on Veras’ games finished total next year, the value of the 2014 option could increase to the $4-5.5MM range, Rosenthal reports.

1:17pm: The Astros announced that they have signed right-handed reliever Jose Veras to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $2MM, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes, who first reported the agreement (on Twitter). The deal includes a 2013 salary of $1.85MM and a 2014 option worth $3.25MM with a $150K buyout. Praver/Shapiro represents Veras.

Veras, 32, elected to become a free agent last month after the Brewers outrighted him off of their 40-man roster. The move amounted to an early non-tender for Veras, who had a projected salary of $2.6MM.

In 72 appearances for Milwaukee in 2012, Veras posted a 3.63 ERA with 10.6 K/9, 5.4 BB/9 and a 43.8% ground ball rate in 67 innings. The seven-year veteran has a career ERA of 4.01 with 9.4 K/9, 4.9 BB/9 and a 39.4% ground ball rate. He averaged 93.8 mph with his fastball this past season, generating swings and misses 9% of the time.

Outrighted To Triple-A: Miller, Beato, Nunez, Pearce

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The latest outright assignments from around MLB…

  • The Astros outrighted infielder Brandon Laird and outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin to Triple-A after the players cleared waivers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).
  • The Yankees announced that they outrighted right-hander Jim Miller to Triple-A. They had designated him for assignment two days ago to create 40-man roster space for Ichiro Suzuki.
  • The Red Sox outrighted Pedro Beato to Triple-A after he cleared waivers, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports (on Twitter). The Red Sox designated the right-hander for assignment two days ago to create roster space for Ryan Dempster. 
  • The Diamondbacks outrighted shortstop Gustavo Nunez to Detroit's Triple-A affiliate, the Tigers announced. Nunez, a 2011 Rule 5 Draft selection, spent the 2012 season on the Pirates' disabled list recovering from right ankle surgery. The Diamondbacks claimed him off of waivers from Pittsburgh on October 26th before returning him to Detroit today. 
  • The Orioles announced that they outrighted outfielder Steve Pearce to Triple-A. The club now has one open 40-man roster spot.
  • The Cubs announced that they outrighted Gerardo Concepcion to Class A Kane County after the left-hander cleared waivers. Chicago's 40-man roster now includes 39 players.
  • The Blue Jays announced that they outrighted right-hander Mickey Storey to Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto had claimed Storey off of waivers earlier in the week.

Blue Jays Claim Russ Canzler

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The Blue Jays announced that they claimed Russ Canzler off of waivers from the Indians. The Indians had designated Canzler for assignment earlier in the week.

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.

Brewers Sign Tom Gorzelanny

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The Brewers have signed free-agent left-hander Tom Gorzelanny to a two-year contract, the team announced. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who first reported the agreement between the Brewers and the SFX client, reports that it's a $5.7MM deal. Gorzelanny obtains a $300K signing bonus and will earn $2.6MM in 2013 and $2.8MM in 2014.

The Nationals non-tendered Gorzelanny last month instead of offering him arbitration. Gorzelanny had a projected salary of $2.8MM entering his final year of arbitration eligibility, but he hit free agency a year early instead. He also drew interest from the Pirates after the Nationals cut him loose.

Gorzelanny, 30, joins a Brewers pitching staff that previously lacked left-handed pitching. Other than left-handed starter Chris Narveson, the Brewers don't have an established southpaw on their pitching staff after non-tendering Manny Parra. Haudricourt reports that it's unclear how the Brewers plan to use Gorzelanny. He pitched out of the bullpen in 2012, but does have extensive experience starting.

Gorzelanny appeared in 45 games for the Nationals this past season, posting a 2.88 ERA with 7.8 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 and a 42.9% ground ball rate in 72 innings. The eight-year MLB veteran started 23 games for the Cubs in 2010 and 15 games for the Nationals in 2011, before making one spot start in 2012.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported that the deal would fall in the $6MM range (Twitter link).

Giants Claim Sandy Rosario

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Sandy Rosario's offseason journey continued today, as the Giants claimed the right-hander off of waivers from the Cubs, Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com reports (on Twitter).

Rosario’s offseason began when the Red Sox claimed him from the Marlins on October 17th. Boston then traded him to Oakland for a player to be named later or cash considerations on November 28th. The A's then designated Rosario for assignment at which point the Red Sox claimed him a second time. His stay in Boston didn’t last long, however; the Cubs claimed him on December 12th.

Rosario, 27, pitched in four games for this year's Marlins team, but spent most of the season in the minor leagues. He posted a 1.99 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9 in 31 2/3 total innings for three of Miami's affiliates.

Rangers Claim Jeff Beliveau

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The Rangers have claimed Jeff Beliveau off of waivers from the Cubs, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The Cubs designated the left-hander for assignment four days ago to create 40-man roster space for Ian Stewart.

Beliveau, 25, made his MLB debut this past season, appearing in 22 games. He posted a 4.58 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 6.1 BB/9 in 17 2/3 innings. The Cubs originally selected Beliveau in the 18th round of the 2008 draft.

Rangers Interested In Michael Bourn

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The Rangers are starting to look into free agent outfielder Michael Bourn, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Rangers officials are asking around about Bourn, but they’re still early on in the process.

The Mariners like Bourn, the Red Sox appeared to have interest earlier in the winter, and the Cubs have had conversations about Bourn with agent Scott Boras. When I previewed the market for Bourn earlier in the week, I suggested teams such as the Indians, Phillies and Dodgers could also be interested under the right circumstances.

The Rangers recently agreed to sign A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year deal. They also met with free agent outfielder Cody Ross this week and are staying in touch with him, Heyman reports. They could use an outfielder now that Josh Hamilton has signed with the Angels, and might also be in the market for starting pitching.

Braves Interested In Scott Hairston

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The Braves are among the teams interested in free agent outfielder Scott Hairston, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (on Twitter). Hairston could address the Braves’ need for a left fielder, but he might be too expensive for Atlanta.

Hairston hit 20 homers and posted a .263/.299/.504 batting line for the Mets this past season. The 32-year-old played all three outfield positions, spending most of his time in the two corner spots. He faced left-handed pitching in precisely half of his 398 plate appearances and, as usual, he excelled against lefties with a .286/.317/.550 batting line and 11 home runs. 

The Braves appear to prefer right-handed hitters such as Hairston given their lefty-heavy lineup. However, he wouldn’t be a natural complement to Braves outfielder Reed Johnson, another right-handed hitter who hits lefties better than he hits righties.

Hairston, an Excel Sports Management client, earned $1.1MM in each of the past two seasons. He could be looking for a two-year deal in the $10MM range following Jonny Gomes’ deal with the Red Sox. The Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Tigers and Indians have all been linked to him at various points this offseason.

Rakuten Eagles To Sign Casey McGehee

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10:33am: McGehee obtained a $1.5MM guarantee, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The deal includes easily attainable incentives that can bring the value of the contract past $2MM.

7:27am: Free agent infielder Casey McGehee has agreed to play in Japan for the Rakuten Eagles, according to multiple Japanese reports (via Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker). Within this Sankei/MSN report Rakuten scouting director Hiroshi Abei acknowledges the sides have agreed to a deal, pending a physical. McGehee, a Meister Sports Management client, will earn $1.3MM on a one-year contract.

McGehee spent this past season with the Pirates and Yankees, appearing in 114 games. The 30-year-old posted a .217/.284/.358 batting line with nine home runs and 16 doubles in 352 plate appearances while playing first base, second base and third base. He earned $2.54MM in 2012 and elected free agency in October.

Earlier in the offseason, the Eagles added another prominent former MLB player, agreeing to a deal with Andruw Jones.

Padres Sign Cody Ransom

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The Padres have signed infielder Cody Ransom to a minor league deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Meister Sports Management represents Ransom, who became a free agent last month.

Ransom started this past season with the Diamondbacks, but the Brewers claimed him off of waivers in May. Three months later, the Diamondbacks claimed him back from Milwaukee and he spent the final month of the season in Arizona. In 282 total plate appearances, Ransom posted a .220/.312/.411 batting line with 11 home runs and 14 doubles. The 36-year-old played all four infield positions.

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