MLBTR Apps, Features, Functions
An explanation of the many ways to enjoy MLB Trade Rumors:
- Be sure to pick up the MLBTR apps for the latest news and rumors, for iPads, iPhones, and Android devices.
- If you want only the hard news in the form of transactions, our transactions page is the ticket. You can also get only the transactions via Twitter or RSS.
- To return to the main page at any time, just click on the title or the Home button on the navigation bar below the title.
- The navigation bar will cover many of your needs. Use the About dropdown to learn about this site or any of its writers.
- The Contact button takes you to a page where you can write an email message to the MLBTR writers. If you have a link to a rumor we've missed, please send it in through the Contact page! Also use the Contact page to inquire about advertising on MLBTR.
- The Archives dropdown shows you 15 months worth. If you need to go back further, click on Site Map at the very bottom of the page. Site Map also lists out every MLBTR post category, including players, teams, and features.
- The Tools dropdown takes you to a number of different places. The MLBTR Widget allows website owners to easily add a constantly updated box with all of MLBTR's headlines to their sites.
- Also under the tools tab is our Transaction Tracker, which enables you to search about anything and everything to do with baseball trades, signings and extensions.
- Our DFA Tracker helps you monitor the many players who are designated for assignment throughout the year.
- We also have an Extension Tracker, with details on all contracts that include at least one arbitration year.
- MLBTR's Agency Database lets you know which agencies represent which players. It's searchable by team, agency or player, so be sure to check it out.
- Follow Teams is a very useful dropdown. Hover over it to see all 30 teams. Click on the team name to bring up a page of every post containing information about that team, with the latest on top. These are the same pages you'll find if you go to the Rumors By Team section on the sidebar and select A's Rumors, Angels Rumors, etc.
- Also under the Follow Teams dropdown, you'll find RSS and Twitter buttons. Those links allow you to follow a single team's rumors via RSS or Twitter. Did you know we have a separate Twitter account for each of the 30 teams? For example you can follow @mlbtrtigers, where you would get the latest Tigers updates.
- You can also follow Tim Dierkes on Twitter for more MLBTR content.
- On the far right of the Navigation bar, you'll see buttons for Twitter, Facebook, and RSS. MLBTR has over 301,000 Twitter followers, over 79,000 Facebook fans, and over 61,000 RSS subscribers. Sign up for these and you'll be the first to receive all of our posts.
- Be sure to check out your favorite team's MLBTR page on Facebook so you can receive and comment on the latest rumors.
- On to the sidebar. It begins with a list of our Top Stories, which our writers update any time major hard news occurs. Go here for a quick update on the most important stories. Below that is the site's Search Box, where you can type in any player's name and get the latest on him.
- MLBTR Features has all kinds of goodies, including our free agent lists. Many of the MLBTR Features are constantly updated by our writers, so be assured that our free agent lists are always fresh.
- Below Features you've got headlines for all the Recent Posts, in case you'd rather not scroll to see all the headlines. Then there's a box for our Mailing List, where you can sign up to receive a daily email containing MLBTR's posts. Use this option if you don't need the news as soon as possible.
- Next we have Featured Posts, where you'll find original work from MLBTR writers we consider noteworthy.
- If the main site doesn't load perfectly on your cell phone, try the more mobile-friendly mlbtraderumors.mobi. It's a simple page that shows you just the headlines and lets you click through to what you want to read.
- MLBTR is available on the Kindle as well.
Reactions To Ricky Nolasco Signing
Last night, the Twins inked Ricky Nolasco to a four-year, $49MM deal after weeks of being linked to the free agent hurler. The pact eclipses Josh Willingham's three-year, $21MM contract, the Twins' previous record contract for a free agent. Here's the latest reactions and fallout to Nolasco's deal..
- Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet breaks down the Nolasco signing and what it means for the Twins. Nolasco may not be a true ace, but he does project as Minnesota's top starter. The price tag (and years) may have surprised some, but ultimately, Minnesota addressed their biggest need.
- The Twins are still in on other starting pitchers, tweets LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune. It'll be interesting to see what Minnesota's next move will be, because one in not going to cut it in Neal's opinion.
- A source close to a couple free agent pitchers, including Matt Garza, doesn't think that the Twins are done with bolstering the rotation, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. The Twins still have the money to make that happen.
- Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter) spoke with Willingham, Nolasco's teammate of three years. The outfielder is happy to be reunited with the hurler, but he didn't give him a recruiting pitch before he signed.
This Date In Transactions History: November 28th
Expecting a quiet day on Thanksgiving? it's true that things tend to slow down on the major holidays, but the business of baseball never stops. Thanksgiving itself might not have a lengthy trade history, but we've had some notable transactions go down on November 28th..
- The Rays and Twins completed a six-player trade on this date in 2007. The Rays received Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Eddie Morlan while Minnesota received Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie. The Rays were the winners of the trade with Garza and Barlett helping their new team to its first World Series in 2008. The Twins didn't come away totally empty-handed, however. It's easy to forget now, but Young had a career season in 2010, hitting .298/.333/.493 with 21 homers. Today, Garza finds himself as one of the most desirable starting pitchers on the free agent market.
- On the same day, the Reds signed Francisco Cordero to a four-year, $46MM deal. Cordero pitched to a 2.96 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in four seasons with Cincinnati, but he's had a rough time ever since. Cordero has been derailed by injuries and at last check, the reliever is shooting for a return in 2014.
- On this date in 2003, the Red Sox acquired Curt Schilling from the Diamondbacks for Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, Jorge de la Rosa, and minor leaguer Michael Gross. Schilling helped Boston to World Championships in 2004 and 2007, and other than Lyon (4.03 ERA in 232 IP), Arizona didn't get much out of this trade.
- The Mariners signed David Ortiz, a young slugger out of the Dominican Republic, on this date in 1992, and eventually traded him to the Twins four years later. Of course, Big Papi would go on to find his greatest success in Boston.
Mike Axisa's post from 2010 was used in the creation of this post.
Giants Designate Guillermo Moscoso For Assignment
TODAY: Moscoso has elected free agency, per the MLB transactions page, indicating that he cleared waivers and declined to accept an outright assignment in the San Francisco system.
NOVEMBER 20: The Giants announced that they have designated pitcher Guillermo Moscoso for assignment. In related news, San Francisco added center fielder Gary Brown, right-hander Kendry Flores, third baseman Adam Duvall and right-hander Hunter Strickland to the 40-man roster.
The Giants acquired Moscoso from the Cubs in exchange for cash or a player to be named back in July. Moscoso had a 3.93 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 with Triple-A Iowa but didn't fare quite as well in his short time on the Giants' varsity squad. Moscoso turned in a 5.10 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 6.3 BB/9 in 30 innings of work.
Diamondbacks Designate Tony Sipp For Assignment
TODAY: Sipp has elected free agency, according to MLB.com's transactions page. Presumably, that means he cleared waivers and refused an outright assignment.
NOVEMBER 20th: The Diamondbacks announced that they have designated Tony Sipp for assignment. The move will allow Arizona to select the contracts of outfielder Ender Inciarte and right-handed pitcher Bo Schultz from Triple-A Reno.
Sipp, 30, pitched to a 4.78 ERA with 10.0 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in 56 relief outings last season. Across five big league seasons, four of which were spent in Cleveland, Sipp posted a 3.84 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9. This marks the second time that Sipp has been designated for assignment by Arizona this year. He was DFA'd by the D'Backs and subsequently optioned to Triple-A in August.
Giants Claim Jose De Paula
The Giants have claimed Jose De Paula off outright waivers from the Padres, tweets Corey Brock of MLB.com. The left-hander was designated for assignment by San Diego last week along with Brad Brach, Miles Mikolas, and Jaff Decker.
In his first season at the Double-A level, De Paula posted a 3.86 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9 across 14 starts. With San Francisco claiming De Paula, all four players from last week's roster shuffle are now out of DFA iimbo. Decker and Mikolas were traded to the Pirates while Brach was shipped to the Orioles.
Mets Notes: Wheeler, Syndergaard, Johan, Byrdak
The Mets didn't exactly dazzle fans with their signing of Chris Young but they could be planning to do something a little more exciting in the weeks to come. The Mets are among the clubs that have been connected to Nelson Cruz and they are still said to have interest in Curtis Granderson. If GM Sandy Alderson & Co. want to get in on Cruz, however, it could prove to be costly. The former Rangers outfielder is said to be seeking a four-year, $75MM deal. More out of Queens..
- Andy Martino of the New York Daily News wonders if the Mets are going to make a big splash this winter. Martino hears that the Mets were scared by the two-year, $16MM deal that Marlon Byrd landed. At the same time, the Mets have decided to hold a hard line on trading young pitchers like Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard. It's hard to see how they can land an impact bat without dealing one of their desirable impact arms. Martino adds that there is "gossip" around the Mets about GM Sandy Alderson engaging clubs in talks for three-way deals.
- Agent Chris Leible tells Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet (via Twitter) that client Johan Santana is now throwing from 90 feet in Florida and his shoulder feels much better. There's currently no timeline set for the one-time Mets ace to sign.
- More from B-NS, who hears from agent Mike Mosa that Tim Byrdak wants to continue pitching. Byrdak recovered from left shoulder surgery to pitch in eight games for the Mets in September. The 40-year-old has a 4.32 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 across parts of three seasons with the Mets. MLBTR's TIm Dierkes noted ten days back (via Twitter) that two clubs had asked for medicals on the southpaw.
Angels Designate Juan Gutierrez For Assignment
The Angels announced that they have designated right-hander Juan Gutierrez for assignment. The move will create space on the 40-man for fellow right-hander Joe Smith.
Gutierrez, 30, began the year with Kansas City before being plucked off waivers by the Halos. The reliever pitched to a 3.38 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in KC but saw his ERA rise to 5.19 with 9.7 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 in 28 games for the Angels. For his career, the veteran owns a 4.65 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 over parts of five big league campaigns.
Gutierrez was eligible for arbitration this year and was projected to earn $1.1MM by MLBTR's Matt Swartz.
Jose Mijares Elects Free Agency
WEDNESDAY: Mijares has elected free agency, according to the MLB.com transactions page.
TUESDAY: The Giants have outrighted Jose Mijares to Triple-A Fresno, according to Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Mijares was arbitration eligible and was due $2.1MM, making him a non-tender possibility. The re-signing of Javier Lopez, made official earlier this evening, made him expendable. Rough outings against right-handed hitters gave the 29-year-old a 4.22 ERA, but he still turned in a solid 9.9 K/9 rate (with 3.7 BB/9).
Quick Hits: Peralta, Saltalamacchia, Molina
The Cardinals' four-year, $53MM deal with Jhonny Peralta has an interesting twist: it's frontloaded. The shortstop will earn $15.5MM in 2014, $15MM in '15, $12.5MM in '16, and $10MM in '17, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Here's tonight's look around the majors..
- Peralta's deal raises the uncomfortable issue of PED usage paying off, writes Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. Diamondbacks relief pitcher and team union representative Brad Ziegler took his dissatisfaction with the deal to Twitter, but he's far from the only player who has an issue with players linked to PEDs getting major paydays.
- Heyman looks at the market for Jarrod Saltalamacchia and wonders if the Blue Jays, Twins, or Rockies could steal him away from the Red Sox. The Rangers look like another possibility to some, but one person connected with the club says a return for Salty isn't too likely at the moment. Texas has looked at free agent catchers, but they've also suggested that Geovany Soto will be their fulltime backstop.
- The Rays' are still waiting on results of Jose Molina's physical and therefore won't have an announcement on his signing until early next week, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Molina is expected to ink a two-year, $4.5MM pact to stay with Tampa Bay.
- The opportunity to win attracted Skip Schumaker to the Reds, writes MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Schumaker said his decision came down to the Reds and one other unspecified playoff-caliber team.
- In today's inbox, MLB.com's Corey Brock touches on the possibility of star third baseman Chase Headley being moved and other matters surrounding the Padres.