Mariners Release Chone Figgins
The Mariners have officially released Chone Figgins, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). Figgins had been designated for assignment last week.
Figgins signed a four-year, $36MM deal with the Mariners after the 2009 season but hit just .227/.302/.283 in three seasons with the team. He is still owed $8MM for 2013, a sum that the Mariners will be responsible for. If another team signs Figgins, that team would only be responsible for paying him the MLB minimum salary, so the Mariners can't hope to save more than $490K.
Mark Polishuk contributed to this post.
Orioles Acquire Danny Valencia
The Orioles have acquired infielder Danny Valencia from the Red Sox for cash considerations, the teams announced. Baltimore designated infielder Joe Mahoney for assignment in a related move.
Acquired from Minnesota this past August, Valencia appeared in 44 total games in 2012. He struggled, posting a .188/.199/.299 batting line in 161 plate appearances for the Red Sox and Twins. However, in 2011, he hit 15 home runs and posted a .246/.294/.383 as Minnesota's starting third baseman.
Mahoney debuted with the Orioles this past season, appearing in two games. In 536 plate appearances at Triple-A, the 25-year-old posted a .265/.319/.389 batting line.
A’s Acquire Sandy Rosario; Designate Mitchell
The A's acquired right-hander Sandy Rosario from the Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations, the teams announced. In a related move, the A's designated outfielder Jermaine Mitchell for assignment.
Rosario, 27, has yet to appear in a game with the Red Sox, who claimed him off of waivers from Miami last month. He 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.
Mitchell, Oakland's fifth round selection in 2006, has yet to appear at the MLB level. The 28-year-old posted a .252/.345/.386 batting line in 474 plate appearances at Triple-A this past season.
Cubs Designate Casey Coleman For Assignment
The Cubs designated right-hander Casey Coleman for assignment, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports (on Twitter). The move creates 40-man roster space for newly signed right-hander Scott Feldman.
Coleman appeared in 17 games for the Cubs this past season, posting a 7.40 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 24 1/3 innings. Coleman, a third generation big leaguer, has a 5.76 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 165 2/3 innings at the MLB level. The 25-year-old has spent his entire three-year career with the Cubs.
Rangers Acquire Cory Burns
The Rangers have acquired right-handed reliever Cory Burns from the Padres for a player to be named later, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter). The Padres had designated Burns for assignment eight days ago.
Burns made his MLB debut in 2012, appearing in 17 games out of the San Diego bullpen. The 25-year-old posted a 5.50 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 in 18 innings at the MLB level. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he pitched to a 3.14 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 66 innings of relief.
Angels To Sign Ryan Madson
WEDNESDAY: The deal is expected to be worth $3.5MM in guaranteed money, plus $2.5MM in roster bonuses and $1MM in incentives for games finished, Yahoo's Tim Brown writes (Twitter link). Madson passed his physical, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports (on Twitter).
TUESDAY: The Angels have agreed to sign Ryan Madson to a one-year contract, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports. The deal is pending a physical.
Madson, a client of the Boras Corporation, missed the 2012 season to undergo Tommy John surgery. In parts of nine seasons with the Phillies from 2003-11 the 32-year-old posted a 3.59 ERA with 7.8 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and a 47.7% ground ball rate. His numbers improved once he settled into a late inning relief role, and he evolved into an impact closer by 2011, when he posted a 2.37 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 48.8% ground ball rate in 60 2/3 innings. The Long Beach, California native had an average fastball velocity of 94.0 mph in 2011, his last full season before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The Angels had been looking for relief help, but didn't want to commit significant long-term dollars for a closer. GM Jerry Dipoto told the LA Times earlier this offseason that spending big on relievers is like "going to Las Vegas and throwing it down on double-zero green." Assuming the Angels rely on Madson as their closer, Ernesto Frieri would move into a setup role.
The Phillies and Reds also showed interest in Madson, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Madson's contract with the Reds included an $11MM mutual option for 2013, which he declined in favor of a $2.5MM buyout. Madson ranked 36th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents this offseason.
Heyman first reported the Angels were nearing a one-year deal with Madson.
Boesch Drawing Interest; Tigers Like Drew
Brennan Boesch has drawn trade interest from multiple teams, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). While one of Morosi’s sources believes a trade could be completed during next week’s Winter Meetings, the Tigers might prefer to trade the non-tender candidate before Friday’s deadline for tendering contracts to arbitration eligible players. With a projected salary of $2.1MM, it’s hard to imagine Boesch has substantial trade value.
The Tigers are interested in free agent shortstop Stephen Drew on a short-term deal, Morosi reports (on Twitter). If the Tigers acquire Drew, they'd be positioned to trade Jhonny Peralta to a team such as the Diamondbacks. Jon Heyman reported eight days ago that the Tigers, Red Sox and Yankees are interested in Drew.
Braves, B.J. Upton Nearing Deal
4:05pm: The Braves have spent most of the day in negotiations with Upton's representatives at Reynolds Sports Management, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (on Twitter). The sides had no serious obstacles remaining by mid-afternoon.
3:55pm: The Braves are nearing a deal with Upton, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).
3:42pm: The Braves and B.J. Upton are in serious talks about a multiyear deal, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports. The Braves and Phillies are known to be targeting Upton.
The 28-year-old ranked fifth on MLBTR’s list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents. In 633 plate appearances for the Rays this past season, Upton hit 28 home runs and posted a .246/.298/.454 batting line. The right-handed hitter would add balance to the Braves' lefty-heavy lineup.
This post was first published at 3:42pm CDT on November 28th.
Pirates Acquire Vin Mazzaro, Clint Robinson
The Pirates announced that they acquired right-hander Vin Mazzaro and first baseman Clint Robinson from the Royals for minor league pitchers Luis Rico and Luis Santos. The Pirates designated Yamaico Navarro and Matt Hague for assignment in a related move.
Mazzaro and Robinson had been designated for assignment on November 20th. Mazzaro, 26, posted a 5.73 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 44 innings with the Royals this past season. Robinson made his MLB debut in 2012, but spent most of the year at Triple-A, where he posted a .292/.393/.452 batting line in 570 plate appearances.
Rico, a 19-year-old left-hander, has a 5.29 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 5.8 BB/9 in 20 appearances as a professional. Santos, a 21-year-old right-hander, has a 2.51 ERA with 10.2 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 24 minor league appearances.
Navarro, 25, appeared in 29 games for the Pirates this past season, posting a .160/.232/.220 batting line as a utility player. Hague, 27, appeared in 30 games for the Pirates, posting a .229/.270/.257 batting line in 74 plate appearances and playing first base.
Pirates Acquire Zach Stewart
The Pirates acquired right-hander Zach Stewart from the Red Sox for a player to be named later, the teams announced. The Red Sox had designated Stewart for assignment on November 20th.
Stewart, 26, has pitched at the MLB level in both of the past two seasons. This is already the fourth time he has been traded since the Reds selected him in the third round of the 2008 draft. The Blue Jays acquired him in the deal that sent Scott Rolen to Cincinnati; Toronto traded him to the White Sox in the three-team trade that sent Colby Rasmus to the Blue Jays; the Red Sox acquired him in the deal that sent Kevin Youkilis to Chicago. In 103 innings at the MLB level, Stewart has a 6.82 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9.