How To Use MLB Trade Rumors
For those new to MLB Trade Rumors, here's a primer on how to use the site.
- Subscribe to our main Twitter and RSS feeds. One benefit of Twitter is that you will be notified if posts are updated.
- If you'd like rumors on just your favorite club, we have Twitter and RSS feeds by team. That link also shows you how to sign up for our Transactions-only feeds, in case you only want to see the moves.
- We also have a Facebook fan page.
- If you just arrived at MLBTradeRumors.com and want a quick overview, check out our Top Stories section on the righthand sidebar.
- The sidebar also includes the site search box and links for rumors by team.
- More interesting stuff: our list of current free agents, another list containing free agents after the 2010 season, and our GM Trade History spreadsheets. The free agent lists are constantly updated.
- Check out the mobile version of MLB Trade Rumors.
- Looking to start a discussion? Try the MLBTR Forums.
Reds Sign Miguel Cairo
The Reds signed infielder Miguel Cairo to a minor league deal, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Cairo, 36 in May, played briefly for the Phillies last year and hit .287/.325/.392 for their Triple A club. He's capable of playing all around the diamond.
Bowden Interviews Rizzo
Those hoping for drama might be disappointed upon reading the transcript of Jim Bowden's interview with his Nationals GM successor Mike Rizzo. Still, a few hot stove nuggets emerged from the XM Radio program, which Bowden co-hosted with Seth Everett. Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post has the details.
- Rizzo thinks the Nationals will eventually be able to compete for top free agents "once the revenues catch up with the city." In his defense, they've had some sizeable offers rejected over the last few years.
- Rizzo said he's talked to the agents for Orlando Hudson and Orlando Cabrera, among others, as the team seeks to improve defensively. Rizzo described his rotation as "kind of a pitch-to-contact group." Rotation locks Jason Marquis and John Lannan certainly fit that mold.
- The Nationals were close on a couple of deals for Josh Willingham, Rizzo indicated. The Nats GM would consider a trade for a young starter, but is in "no hurry to trade Willingham."
Odds & Ends: Street, Nelson, Prospects, Mets
Links for Wednesday…
- Check out Huston Street's contract extension details, courtesy of Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.
- Free agent reliever Joe Nelson has expressed an interest in pitching for the Cubs, reports Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. Nelson seemed like a bargain signing by the Rays at $1.3MM, but his control and flyball rates took a turn for the worse and he was designated for assignment in September.
- ESPN's Keith Law ranks the farm systems, from the Rangers at #1 to the White Sox at #30. Law's Top 100 Prospects list comes out tomorrow.
- Baseball America is also kicking into gear, with their Prospect Handbook coming out soon. They're holding an all-day chat Friday, with BA editors as well as prospects Tim Alderson, Ryan Westmoreland, Logan Morrison, and Casey Crosby available for your questions.
- ESPN's Tim Kurkjian has a must-read article on Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos and his plan to bring the team back to prominence.
- Scott Lauber of The News Journal tweets that while the Phillies like Chien-Ming Wang, but he might not be a fit because he won't be ready for the start of the season.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Mets are on a "Pollyanna streak," currently regarding their rotation. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports seems to believe the Mets are a total mess, and suggests they start over.
- Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News that he wouldn't have made the Billy Wagner deal last August without the shot at two draft picks.
- Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says that the A's agreed not to offer arbitration to Ben Sheets if he's a Type A free agent after the season. Achieving that status seems impossible anyway after he missed all of '09 and did not receive DL days. Slusser also notes that Coco Crisp received a $250K signing bonus, bringing his deal to $5.5MM guaranteed.
Brewers Claim Joe Inglett Off Waivers
The Brewers claimed infielder Joe Inglett off waivers from the Rangers, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. McCalvy says the Brewers designated reliever Chris Smith for assignment to make room.
Inglett had been designated by the Rangers Monday to make room for Colby Lewis. He'd joined Texas on a December waiver claim from the Blue Jays.
Smith, 29 in April, posted a 6.8 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, and 4.11 ERA in 46 innings out of Milwaukee's pen this year. He also tossed a very strong 42.6 innings in Triple A – 1.27 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 1.3 BB/9. Smith had hooked on with the Brewers as a free agent after being outrighted by Boston in October of '08.
Rockies Sign Tim Redding
The Rockies signed righty Tim Redding to a minor league deal, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Renck notes that the Rockies nearly acquired Redding from the Nationals in a deal involving Willy Taveras, prior to the '09 season.
The Nats non-tendered Redding after he chewed up 182 innings for them in '08. The Mets signed him for $2.25MM in January, but his season was marred by shoulder and toe injuries. Redding, 32 in February, posted a 5.10 ERA, 5.7 K.9, and 3.8 BB/9 in 120 innings and was non-tendered once again.
The Rockies' 2010 rotation stacks up as Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jason Hammel, Jorge de la Rosa, and Jeff Francis, with Redding providing insurance.
Players Avoiding Arbitration: Wednesday
The latest arbitration-eligible players agreeing to 2010 contracts can be found below. Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball has a nice table with the results for the 44 who filed.
- Cubs lefty Sean Marshall agreed to a one-year deal, according to a team press release. Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says Marshall will earn $950K, a bit short of the midpoint. Marshall had filed at $1.175MM in his first arbitration year, the Cubs at $800K. Ryan Theriot and Carlos Marmol are the team's two outstanding cases.
Orioles Make Offer To Will Ohman
The Orioles offered a minor league deal to lefty reliever Will Ohman, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Ohman will throw for the O's and other clubs this week. Ohman, 32, had a lost 2009 season after signing with the Dodgers on March 30th. Shoulder problems led to September surgery. When he's right, Ohman can shut down lefties. Connolly adds that the Orioles are still in talks with southpaw Mark Hendrickson.
Connolly also notes that Miguel Tejada's one-year, $6MM deal to return to Baltimore is official. Connolly speculates that reliever Dennis Sarfate could be designated for assignment to make room for Tejada. You may recall that Sarfate came to the Orioles from the Astros in the December '07 Tejada trade.
Three Teams In On Orlando Hudson
Last offseason was disappointing for second baseman Orlando Hudson. He signed with the Dodgers on February 20th, accepting one year and a $3.38MM guarantee. He had a decent '09 season, managing to stay healthy and hit most of his incentives. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports have the latest on Hudson's search for a new team.
The Nationals and Rays are known to be pursuing Hudson, with the Nats possibly offering more money. The writers say a mystery team is also in the mix, and speculate on the Twins. The Rockies could be another match, but Minnesota and Colorado would be looking for a bargain.
ESPN's Buster Olney first reported the Rays' interest in Hudson yesterday, but Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times finds a signing unlikely. And in an interview with MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Hudson alluded to the Indians and Padres. Those clubs are considered longshots.
Padres Designate Mike Ekstrom For Assignment
The Padres designated reliever Mike Ekstrom for assignment to make room for Jon Garland, tweets MLB.com's Corey Brock. Ekstrom, 26, was done in by hits and home runs allowed in an 18.3-inning big league stint last year. At Triple A, he had a 1.73 ERA, 6.2 K/9, and 2.3 BB/9 in 62.3 innings. Ekstrom was designated for assignment once before, in April of '09.