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Bryan Bullington To Sign With Hiroshima Carp

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The Royals announced that they have released Bryan Bullington so he can sign with the Hiroshima Carp. Kansas City designated the former first overall pick for assignment over the weekend.

The Pirates selected the right-hander first overall in the 2002 draft, but he has not produced at the major league level. Now 30, Bullington has a 5.62 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 81 2/3 innings for the Pirates, Royals, Indians and Blue Jays.

In 102 innings at Triple-A Omaha last year, Bullington showed some of the promise that the Pirates saw earlier in the decade. He posted a 2.82 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9, allowing just eight homers.

Minor Deals: Sborz, Huber, Royals, Ruiz

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We'll keep track of all of the day's minor deals right here:

  • Righty reliever Jay Sborz, 26 in January, signed a minor league deal with the Braves with a Spring Training invite, MLBTR has learned.  Sborz was outrighted by the Tigers on November 4th after posting a 4.74 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 4.9 BB/9, and 1.6 HR/9 with 19 saves in 43 2/3 Triple-A innings this year.
  • The Twins signed Justin Huber to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, tweets Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  Huber last played in the majors with Minnesota in 2009, and has a .580 OPS in 175 career plate appearances.
  • The Royals announced that four players have been designated for assignment: Jordan Parraz, Victor Marte, Gaby Hernandez and former #1 overall pick Bryan Bullington.
  • The Rays released first baseman Jose Ruiz, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (on Twitter).
  • The Tigers announced that they signed Al Alburquerque to a major league deal for 2011. GM Dave Dombrowski says the team has been impressed with the right-hander's winter ball performance and expects him to compete for a bullpen job in Spring Training. The 24-year-old has struck out 191 batters in 174 1/3 minor league innings in the Cubs and Rockies organizations.
  • The Yankees have released Jonathan Albaladejo, who signed with a Japanese team, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).
  • The Diamondbacks claimed right-hander Juan Jaime from the Nationals, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (on Twitter). The 23-year-old right-hander didn't pitch in 2010, but he has a 2.42 ERA with 11.8 K/9 and 5.7 BB/9 in 111 2/3 minor league innings.
  • The Blue Jays signed Mike Hinckley, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America. The lefty posted a 1.93 ERA in 28 games with the Nationals from 2008-09. Last year he posted 6.8 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 46 2/3 innings in the upper minors.
  • Josh Barfield, Ryan Feierabend and Brandon Moss all got Spring Training invitations from the Phillies according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.

Royals Rumors: Greinke, Gordon, Francoeur

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Royals GM Dayton Moore told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that he doesn't expect to trade Zack Greinke any time soon. “There’s nothing in the works, and I don’t anticipate anything happening real quick unless someone calls and just blows us away," Moore said. "I haven’t made any calls to clubs.” Here's the latest on Greinke and the Royals:

  • The Blue Jays aren't the only AL East team to inquire on Greinke; the Red Sox have also expressed interest.
  • The Blue Jays are one of many teams with interest in Alex Gordon, but Royals officials say they won’t dump the former top prospect for a small return.
  • Moore says “Jeff [Francoeur] is a winning-type baseball player who brings a lot of energy.” It sounds like the Royals have some interest in the free agent, but Moore cautioned that a potential deal would have to work for both sides.
  • Japanese clubs are interested in Phil Humber and Bryan Bullington, but the players would have to approve any deal.
  • The Royals allowed former prospect Chris McConnell to become a minor league free agent over the winter.

 

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Lee, Feliz, Braves, Kershaw

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On this date two years ago, umpires agreed to the use of instant replay to help determine boundary calls, such as fair or foul, on home runs. Expanded use of instant replay remains a hot topic in baseball, and even though Commissioner Bud Selig continues to dance around the subject, more replay feels inevitable at this point.

Here are a bunch of links from around the baseball blogosphere…

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Revenue Sharing, Bullington, Halladay, Mauer

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On this date 18 years ago, Eddie Murray signed a two-year, $7.5MM deal with the Mets, the third of six teams he would play for in 21 seasons. In those two years, he would hit 43 home runs and post seasons of 115 and 111 OPS+. A week into this year's free agency, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • The Biz of Baseball looks at revenue sharing in baseball and why baseball no longer releases revenue sharing figures.
  • DC Sports Plus evaluates the list of minor league free agent pitchers and who might get shots to stick with a big league club in the Spring.
  • Royals Authority looks at what the signing of Bryan Bullington could mean for the Royals and whether he can contribute as a big league relief pitcher.
  • River Ave Blues speculates on what the Yankees and Red Sox would have to give up to land Roy Halladay.
  • MLB Notebook examines why the Tigers are looking to trade Edwin Jackson.
  • UmpBump breaks down the Padres off-season needs and what San Diego needs to bring back should Adrian Gonzalez be traded.
  • Jorge Says No! speculates on an extension that could work for both the Twins and Joe Mauer.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Royals Sign Bryan Bullington

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The Royals have signed righthander Bryan Bullington to a minor league contract, according to The KC Star's Bob Dutton.

The 29-year-old Bullington was the first overall pick of the 2002 draft, but he's appeared in just 13 big league games during his career. He's allowed 24 runs and 63 baserunners in 39 career innings, bouncing around from the Pirates to the Indians to the Blue Jays.

Kansas City has also signed Wilson Betemit, Jorge Campillo, and Brad Thompson to minor league deals this offseason.

Jays Add Loewen, Bullington

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3:01pm: Loewen is a Blue Jay, according to the Globe and Mail. The Jays also claimed Bryan Bullington off waivers from the Indians.  Loewen talked to Kubatko today about his tough decision.

1:57pm: It sounds like Gaston’s pitch worked – Orioles president Andy MacPhail expects Loewen to sign with the Blue Jays.  It’s not about money, but rather Loewen’s lifelong dream to play ball in Canada.

FRIDAY, 10:02am: Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says Jays manager Cito Gaston called Loewen to sell him on the organization.  Elliott says the Mariners and Orioles also want to sign the converted outfielder.  Roch Kubatko is convinced Loewen will re-sign with Baltimore.

THURSDAY: Loewen cleared waivers; he’s now a free agent.  He’s receiving more interest than anticipated.

TUESDAY: According to Roch Kubatko at  MASN Online, the Orioles released Adam Loewen yesterday.  Loewen was chosen fourth overall in the 2002 draft.

Loewen reached the Majors and tallied 164 innings, but elbow problems prompted him to reinvent himself as an outfielder this summer.  According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles hope Loewen will clear waivers today so they can sign him to a minor league deal.  He is out of options, but the Orioles want to be able to send him to the minors.  If claimed, Loewen would need to remain on the 40-man roster and would earn $700K.  Orioles GM Andy MacPhail doesn’t expect that to happen, nor does he expect Loewen to ink a minor league deal with another club.

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