Four Clubs Offer Minor League Deal To Takahashi
9:01pm: The Pirates have emerged as a destination for Takahashi, according to a report from Sanspo passed along by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. The report also notes that the Dodgers are targeting other pitchers and the Mets were "moving towards an MLB contract," but couldn't agree on money.
Meanwhile, Takahashi was set to throw for teams today in Arizona, according to an article from Sponichi passed along by Newman.
2:32pm: Japaneseballplayers.com reports that Takahashi has turned down the Mets' offer as well. NPB Tracker tweets that Takahashi prefers to play on the West coast.
SUNDAY, 11:01pm: Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun reports that Takahashi has turned down the Orioles' offer of a minor league deal, but that doesn't mean the two sides can't work something out down the road.
SATURDAY, 4:53pm: Takahashi is being considered by the Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, Pirates, and Padres tweets Jon Heyman of SI. Heyman also writes that Takahashi will pick his team soon.
Meanwhile, Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News reports (via Twitter) that the Giants are assuming that Takahashi will sign elsewhere.
FRIDAY, 7:19pm: NPB Tracker passes along a report (via Twitter) from the Japanese publication Sponichi Annex saying that the Giants and Dodgers are in the lead for Takahashi's services, however Henry Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle tweets that the the Giants are still waiting to hear back about their minor league offer.
THURSDAY, 2:38pm: Free agent lefty Hisanori Takahashi has minor league offers from the Red Sox, Giants, Padres, and Dodgers, according to a Sports Hochi report passed along on Twitter by NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman.
Last week, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick wrote that Takahashi seeks a big league deal and has drawn interest from the Orioles, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, and Giants. Takahashi, 35 in April, profiles as a flyball/command pitcher who can fill a swingman role.
Dodgers Sign Brian Giles
The Dodgers signed outfielder Brian Giles to a minor league deal, reports MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. In a pair of tweets, ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Giles would get a $550K base salary with another $200K in performance bonuses. If the Dodgers aren't going to keep him on the roster at the end of Spring Training, he can ask for his release. Giles will compete for a fifth outfielder or pinch-hitter role.
Giles, 39, hit .191/.277/.271 in 253 plate appearances for the Padres last year, struggling defensively as well. His season ended in June with a knee injury. Giles had a strong season in 2008 - his .398 OBP ranked sixth in the league. Former Padres GM Kevin Towers picked up his $9MM option for '09, despite the outfielder's off-the-field concerns.
Interesting note from Gurnick – "Giles nearly was general manager Ned Colletti's first acquisition after he took over the Dodgers in the winter of 2005, but the San Diego native re-signed with the Padres and Colletti turned to shortstop Rafael Furcal." This time around Giles reportedly drew interest from eight to ten teams, including the Yankees and Reds.
Mariners Re-Sign Erik Bedard
The Mariners officially re-signed Erik Bedard today to a one year deal worth $1.5MM guaranteed with a mutual option for 2011 worth $8MM. Incentives based on games and time in the majors could bring the total payout in 2010 close to $8.5MM, and there are similar escalators for 2011 as well. The southpaw started throwing at his Navan, Ontario home last month, and said the Mariners were his "first choice."
Bedard, 31 in March, believes he could be pitching in May after having surgery last August to repair a frayed labrum and inflamed bursa in his throwing shoulder, though a June or July return may be more realistic. He'd previously had a shoulder procedure in September of '08 to remove a cyst. The Mariners were satisfied enough with his physical to go forward with the deal.
Hip and arm injuries have limited Bedard to just 30 starts and 164 innings since initially coming to Seattle in a six-player blockbuster with the Orioles two years ago, however those were high quality innings: 3.24 ERA, 8.9 K/9, 3.87 FIP. Once healthy, he'll slot in behind Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee to form a potent 1-2-3 punch in the Great Northwest.
GM Jack Zduriencik has been a very busy man this winter. In addition to bringing back Bedard, he also imported in Lee, Chone Figgins, Milton Bradley, Eric Byrnes, Brandon League, Ryan Garko, and Casey Kotchman while locking up Hernandez and Franklin Gutierrez to long-term deals. The Orioles, Royals, and Red Sox also had varying degrees of interest in Bedard this offseason.
MLB.com's Jim Street initially reported the agreement, while Marc Brassard of Le Droit confirmed the deal and the terms. Kirby Arnold of The Everett Herald, Larry LaRue of The News Tribune, Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com (Twitter), and Larry Stone of The Seattle Times (Twitter) added details along the way.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Marlins Interested In Russell Branyan
FRIDAY, 5:22pm: MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets that he was told the team "never even spoke with him," meaning Branyan. So that's the end of that.
TUESDAY, 9:19pm: Two sources tell the Miami Herald that the Marlins have not made Branyan an offer. The Marlins have some interest in Branyan, but the Herald's sources say the club has not yet made an offer. They have merely contacted the first baseman's agent.
1:32pm: The Marlins offered a one-year deal to free agent first baseman Russell Branyan, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark. The offer contains a "low base and lots of incentives," and Branyan would have to pass rookies Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison on the depth chart for a starting job.
Branyan's options are dwindling, as the Orioles added Miguel Tejada, the Mariners acquired Casey Kotchman, and the Mets don't appear to be interested. One possibility could be a return to Cleveland, as Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer recently hinted. Why the lack of interest in a 31-home run free agent slugger? Branyan is 34 now, and most of his '09 production came in the first half. Back troubles ended his season on August 28th.
Blue Jays Sign Kevin Gregg
The Blue Jays officially signed Kevin Gregg to a one-year $2.75MM deal that includes a pair of club options. The Blue Jays will have ten days after the 2010 World Series to choose between three options:
- Allow Gregg to become a free agent
- Pick up a $4.5MM option for 2011
- Pick up an $8.75MM option for 2011-12
Gregg spent much of 2009 closing for the Cubs, and he managed to trim his walk rate and increase his strikeouts. However, he allowed a disastrous 13 home runs in 68.6 innings. Gregg, who was drawn to Toronto because of the chance to close games, will compete with Scott Downs and Jason Frasor for Toronto's closing job. The Blue Jays have a number of relievers competing for jobs, so some have speculated that the club could deal Downs or Frasor, both free agents after the season.
Agent Dan Horwits told Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun that the Rockies, Padres and Marlins were all interested in Gregg.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the sides were close to a deal. Jon Heyman of SI.com and MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweeted details.
Twins Sign Orlando Hudson
The Twins signed Orlando Hudson to a one-year $5MM deal. The contract, which doesn't include incentives, dictates that the Twins can't offer Hudson arbitration if he is a Type A free agent.
Hudson will take over at second base for Nick Punto, who played the position from mid-June until the end of the season. Punto posted a solid 9.4 UZR/150 as the Twins' second baseman, but hit just .228/.337/.284 with one homer on the year.
In 149 games for the Dodgers last season, the 32-year-old Hudson hit .283/.357/.417 with 9 HRs. While he holds a career UZR/150 of 2.6, he posted a -7.6 in 2008 and -3.7 in 2009.
The Nationals and Indians were also pursuing Hudson. Washington promptly agreed to a deal with Adam Kennedy once Hudson agreed to a contract with the Twins.
Curtis Kitchen of WHB Radio in Kansas City first tweeted that Hudson had reached an agreement with the Twins. ESPN.com's Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweeted contract details.
Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
Odds & Ends: Garciaparra, Jackson, Barajas, Branyan
Links for Thursday…
- Nomar Garciaparra told Lou Merloni of WEEI.com that he would like to play in 2010, if the right situation presents itself. Garciaparra played in 65 games for the A's last season, hitting .281/.314/.388 with 3 homers.
- RotoAuthority discusses the fantasy prospects of Rangers starter Colby Lewis.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says that while an arbitration hearing is likely for Edwin Jackson and the Diamondbacks, "the team has broached the idea of a two-year deal."
- Piecoro also says the D'Backs are considering bringing recently-designated lefty Dana Eveland back.
- Talking to agents who dealt with the Mets this winter, Murray Chass believes the team was incapable of multitasking. On a related note, MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone believes the team remains interested in free agent catcher Rod Barajas.
- ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says Russell Branyan was seeking a three-year deal in the $20-30MM range earlier this offseason. At this point I'd say he's looking at a one-year deal at maybe $3MM.
- Unlike CEO Jeff Moorad, Padres GM Jed Hoyer said all the right things regarding Adrian Gonzalez (Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reporting).
- Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says the Twins are in a position of strength in that they don't need Orlando Hudson or Jarrod Washburn. He doesn't feel they'd still be willing to offer $5MM to Washburn. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports notes that if the Mariners re-sign Erik Bedard, as has been rumored, they probably wouldn't sign Washburn.
- Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times says the grievance has been settled regarding the Ramirez Provision, involving forced charity donations as part of contracts.
Join The MLBTR Forums
The MLBTR discussion forums are hopping, with over 2,700 current members. Sign up now and debate about your favorite team, trade scenarios and rumors, free agents, the amateur draft, fantasy baseball, and more.
Cubs Sign Kevin Millar
The Cubs officially signed first baseman Kevin Millar to a minor league deal today. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick first reported the agreement on Monday. The Cubs signed Chad Tracy last week, so Millar will compete with him for a backup job.
Millar, 38, hit .223/.311/.363 in 283 plate appearances for the Blue Jays last year.
Players Avoiding Arbitration: Thursday
Here's a list of players avoiding arbitration hearings…
- The Cubs reached an agreement with closer Carlos Marmol, according to a team press release. MLB.com's Carrie Muskat tweets that they settled at the midpoint, $2.125MM. Ryan Theriot ($800K gap) represents the Cubs' lone remaining arbitration case. Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald wrote yesterday that he feels the Cubs are headed toward their first hearing since '93, given a difference of opinion with their shortstop.