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Central Links: Royals, Ludwick, Reds, Hafner

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The Royals improved their rotation earlier today by acquiring Ervin Santana from the Angels in what amounted to a salary dump trade. Here is the latest from baseball's two Central divisions…

  • Royals GM Dayton Moore says the team is "not done" following the Santana pickup, reports Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star (on Twitter). The club figures to continue seeking upgrades for their rotation.
  • The Reds and Ryan Ludwick continue to talk after the outfielder declined his half of a mutual option, reports John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter). GM Walt Jocketty said the club is unlikely to offer more than two years, however.
  • Jocketty also told Fay that the Reds have interest in retaining free agents Ryan Madson, Jonathan Broxton, and Dioner Navarro (Twitter link). "I don't know if we'll sign them all," added Jocketty.
  • "We remain open to it," said Indians GM Chris Antonetti when asked about re-signing Travis Hafner, reports MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. Cleveland declined the slugger's option earlier today but seem poised to go in a different direction at DH.

West Links: Haren, Greinke, Hunter, Scutaro, Affeldt

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The Angels traded Ervin Santana to the Royals earlier today, the first of what figures to be many moves out of Anaheim this offseason. Here's the latest on baseball's two West divisions…

  • The Angels are still working to trade Dan Haren and expect to move him by Friday, reports ESPN's Jim Bowden (Twitter links). Haren will bring a much bigger return that what they received for Santana, adds Bowden.
  • Angels GM Jerry Dipoto acknowledged that "in all likelihood we weren't going to exercise (Santana's) option … We got piece we didn't have," reports Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times (on Twitter).
  • Re-signing Zack Greinke is a "huge priority" for the Angels, says Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Part of the club's motivation to move Santana (and Haren) was to free up money for Greinke.
  • The Angels are showing no inclination of making Torii Hunter a $13.3MM qualifying offer by this Friday's deadline, reports USA Today's Bob Nightengale (on Twitter). The Halos will not receive draft pick compensation if Hunter signs elsewhere in that case.
  • Marco Scutaro told Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com that his first choice this offseason is to re-sign with the Giants (Twitter link). When asked what kind of contract he was seeking, the infielder joked "15 years, three thousand million dollars."
  • "There's a market established," said Jeremy Affeldt to Baggarly in reference to Brandon League's new contract (Twitter link). The veteran southpaw said he will cherish his time with the Giants if he doesn't re-sign with them.
  • Oliver Perez pitched to a 2.12 ERA in 29 2/3 relief innings for the Mariners this year, and he told MLB.com's Josh Liebeskind that he enjoyed his new role and would like to remain in the bullpen going forward. Perez will be a free agent this offseason.
  • The Dodgers will hire Bob Engle as their Latin America scouting director, reports Bob Elliott of The Toronto Sun (on Twitter). Engle left the Mariners this month and had previously worked with the Blue Jays as well. He's responsible for signing Roy Halladay and Felix Hernandez as amateurs, among others.

Kinzer Fired By WMG Following K-Rod Settlement

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9:07pm: K-Rod will receive over $2MM in the settlement, reports USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

7:48pm: Liz Mullen of The Sports Business Journal reports (on Twitter) that WMG settled a case brought against firm by Francisco Rodriguez, then fired Kinzer for failing to file the reliever's no trade list while the Mets.

7:24pm: Agent Paul Kinzer has parted ways with the Wasserman Media Group, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Long-time agent Arn Tellem will continue to lead WMG's sports practice.

Kinzer represents high-profile players like Starlin Castro, Aramis Ramirez, Alex Rios, and Carlos Correa (the first overall pick in this year's draft), though Morosi says it's unclear what will happen to his clients.

Ryan Madson Declines Mutual Option

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Ryan Madson has declined his half of a mutual option for 2013, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The option was worth $11MM, and he'll instead receive a $2.5MM buyout.

Madson, 32, did not pitch at all in 2012 due to Tommy John surgery after signing a one-year, $8.5MM deal with the Reds last winter. From 2009-2011 he pitched to a 2.78 ERA with 9.6 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9, however. The Phillies have some interest in bringing Madson back for next year according to Heyman, but the right-hander will seek a job closing.

Scott Boras Seeking Four Years For Rafael Soriano

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Rafael Soriano opted out of the final year of his contract with the Yankees today, passing up a guaranteed $14MM in favor of a potential multiyear deal. Team president Randy Levine and agent Scott Boras told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the two sides did discuss a new contract, but they didn't see eye to eye.

"Randy and I had a discussion," said Boras. "He requested us to make an offer. At this time, we thought it best to file before making any proposals to the Yankees … I never make promises as to what the free-agent market might bear. I'm in the business of providing information to my clients and negotiating on their behalf. I'm not in the business of promising my clients contracts."

Levine told Heyman that Boras told Soriano he "could get $60 million for four years" on the open market this offseason, which would be the richest contract for a reliever in history. "People can make logical conclusions. I am happy he feels he has a feel for the value of the player," added Boras of Levine.

Soriano, 32, pitched to a 2.26 ERA with 9.2 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 this season, and he went 42-for-46 in save chances after Mariano Rivera injured his knee. Jonathan Papelbon signed a four-year, $50MM contract with the Phillies last offseason, which appeared to set the market for high-end closers.

Brewers Place Jose Veras On Waivers

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7:41pm: McCalvy hears that Veras is still going through the waivers process, so he is not a free agent just yet (Twitter link).

7:10pm: Right-hander Jose Veras has elected free agency after being outrighted off the Brewers' 40-man roster, agent Bryce Dixon told MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The right-hander would have remained under team control in 2013 as an arbitration-eligible player.

Veras, 32, pitched to a 3.63 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 in 67 innings for Milwaukee this season. They acquired him from the Pirates last winter for Casey McGehee, who, coincidentally enough, also elected free agency today.

Diamondbacks Decline Option For Matt Lindstrom

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The Diamondbacks have declined their 2013 club option for Matt Lindstrom, the team announced (on Twitter). He'll receive a $200K buyout rather than a $4MM salary for next season.

Lindstrom, 32, pitched to a 2.68 ERA in 47 innings for the Orioles and D'Backs this year. Arizona acquired the right-hander from Baltimore in the Joe Saunders trade back in August.

Jorge De La Rosa Exercises Player Option

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Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa has exercised his player option for 2013, the Rockies announced (on Twitter). He'll earn $11MM in 2013, the club now holds an $11MM option for his services in 2014.

De La Rosa, 31, allowed 14 runs in 10 2/3 innings across just three starts this year after missing most of the season due to Tommy John surgery. He's pitched to a 4.39 ERA in just 69 2/3 innings for Colorado due to the elbow surgery since re-signing with the club two offseason ago.

Blue Jays Exercise Option For Oliver, Re-Sign Davis

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The Blue Jays have exercised their 2013 option for left-hander Darren Oliver, the team announced. The club also declined their option for Rajai Davis, but re-signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.5MM.

Oliver, 42, pitched to a 2.06 ERA in 56 2/3 innings this season. He'll earn $3MM next year. The 32-year-old Davis hit .257/.309/.378 with 46 stolen bases this year. His club option was worth $3MM.

Yankees Return Brad Meyers To Nationals

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The Yankees have returned Rule 5 Draft pick Brad Meyers to the Nationals, the team announced. The 27-year-old right-hander spent the entire season on the DL after suffering a shoulder injury during an offseason workout last winter. Meyers pitched to a 3.18 ERA in 138 2/3 innings in Washington's farm system last year.

The Rule 5 Draft rules would have carried over to next season because Meyers did not spend at least 90 days on the active roster this year, meaning the Yankees would have had to keep him on their 25-man active roster or place him on waivers and offer him back to the Nationals.

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