Indians Sign Vinnie Chulk
According to MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, the Indians have signed righty reliever Vinnie Chulk to a minor league contract.
Chulk, who has experience with the Blue Jays and Giants, has been invited to spring training and will compete for the final spot in the Cleveland ‘pen.
Odds And Ends: Garland, Selig, Arbitration
Links for Thursday night:
- Nick Piecoro thinks the D’Backs could use Jon Garland to provide some solid innings, but their chances of acquiring him are much lower now that he’s rejected their offer.
- Yahoo’s Tim Brown passes along a bizarre Scott Boras quote: "Baseball markets are like breakfast." More specifically, Boras called this market "an Aunt Jemima market."
- Bud Selig talked economics with MLB owners and admitted that baseball’s not "recession proof."
- Ryan Howard leads an impressive class of players who filed for arbitration.
- Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi hasn’t gone to an arbitration hearing yet, and MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian doesn’t expect that streak to end soon.
- Rob Neyer likes the depth in the Boston rotation, but he thinks the Mets still need another arm and maybe two.
Zaun Agrees To Terms With Orioles
Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reports that Gregg Zaun has agreed to a one year contract with the Orioles that includes a team option for 2010. Zaun will earn $1.5MM in 2009 and the Orioles have the option of paying him $2MM in 2010 or buying him out for $500K.
A physical is scheduled for Tuesday.
Orioles president Andy MacPhail said he expects Zaun to do the "lion’s share of the catching" at first, even with top prospect Matt Wieters around.
Padres Claim Jae Kuk Ryu Off Waivers
The Padres claimed 25-year-old righty Jae Kuk Ryu off waivers from the Rays; here’s the MLB.com story.
On his personal blog, Padres executive Paul DePodesta writes that he likes the pickup because Ryu’s got good enough stuff to compete for a job in the Padres’ rotation or in their bullpen.
DePodesta writes that there’s "more activity forthcoming." Ken Rosenthal heard the Padres are likely to pass on Omar Vizquel.
Nats To Sign Colome, Invite Dozens To Camp
The AP reports that Jesus Colome has agreed to a minor league contract with the Nationals. They released him last month.
Here’s the entire list of Nationals spring training invitees, via Pete McElroy of MASN Sports.
Dodgers Release Andruw Jones
Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Andruw Jones has been released by the Dodgers.
As MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick points out, any team that signs Jones to the major league minimum will pay only $400K and the Dodgers will pay the rest of the $21MM he’s owed. We know the Braves are reluctant to bring Jones back unless he signs a minor league contract.
Braves Reluctant To Bring Back Jones?
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves appear reluctant to offer Andruw Jones a major league contract if he’s released by the Dodgers. If the Braves offer him a contract they would have to clear a space on their 40 man roster and risk losing a player, which could set them back more than the $400k they’d owe Jones.
Bowman writes that "all indications are [Jones] would have to sign a minor league contract" to have the chance to play in Atlanta again. However, he has interest in returning, so he could accept a minor league deal.
Tigers Interested In Isringhausen, Lyon
The Tigers are interested in Jason Isringhausen and Brandon Lyon, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck.
Four teams with closer needs are considering Isringhausen, according to his agent, Dan Horwits. Isringhausen could make a decision by next week. Ken Rosenthal had a similar report yesterday that suggested the Cardinals could be interested and the Dodgers aren’t.
Beck writes that Lyon’s on a "similar timetable." Lyon’s agent, Barry Meister, says his client has drawn interest from four or five teams. Some teams view him as a setup man and others can see him pitching in the eighth and ninth innings. The Tigers have talked with Meister about Lyon recently.
Cards Could Pursue Free Agent Pitchers
According to MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, the Cardinals would love to upgrade their rotation and could do so via free agency. Ideally they would trade an outfielder for pitching, but the Cards are interested in pitchers with limited health risks willing to sign a short-term contract.
Leach confirmed with Jon Garland‘s agent that the Cardinals "have called," but nothing has happened beyond that. Leach breaks down the chances that Andy Pettitte, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Odalis Perez, Ben Sheets or even Oliver Perez ends up in St. Louis.
The Cardinals appear unlikely to add a reliver or a second baseman.
Indians, Red Sox Complete Byrd Trade
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Red Sox have sent outfielder Mickey Hall to the Indians to complete the trade that sent Paul Byrd to the Red Sox last season.
The news comes the day after we heard that Byrd will sit out the first half of the 2009 season.
Hall, who turns 24 in May, hit .232/.333/.456 in 82 AA games last year in the Boston organization.