Minor Moves: Dodgers, Tolbert, Hernandez, Hill
Here are today's minor league transactions, with the latest at the top of the page…
- The Dodgers have invited 17 non-roster players to Spring Training, including infielder Brian Barden and catchers Ramon Castro and Eliezer Alfonzo, the club announced. The trio were signed to minor league contracts within the last two months.
- The Phillies have signed infielder Matt Tolbert to a minor league contract, Baseball America's Matt Eddy reports (and also recaps the rest of the week's minor league transactions). Tolbert hit .230/.288/.319 in 680 PA with the Twins from 2008-11 and spent the bulk of his time playing second, third and shortstop. Tolbert played for the Cubs' Triple-A team in 2012.
- The Mariners have signed right-hander Moises Hernandez (Felix's older brother) to a new minor league contract, reports Chris Harris, broadcaster for the Mariners' Double-A affiliate (Twitter link). The elder Hernandez has a 4.83 ERA over eight minor league seasons in the Mariners', Braves' and Orioles' farm systems.
- The Indians have signed left-hander Rich Hill to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, the club announced. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011, Hill returned to action to post a 1.83 ERA, a 9.6 K/9 and a 5.0 BB/9 in 19 2/3 relief innings for the Red Sox last season but was non-tendered in November. The 32-year-old southpaw has a career 4.59 ERA over eight Major League seasons with the Red Sox, Orioles and Cubs.
NL East Links: Boras, Loria, Phillies, Chipper
It was on this day in 1999 that Dennis Martinez announced his retirement from baseball. The first Major League player from Nicaragua, Martinez enjoyed a 23-year career with five teams, including spending his final season with Atlanta and eight years with Montreal from 1986-93. "El Presidente" is best remembered for throwing the 13th perfect game in Major League history, shutting down the Dodgers on July 28, 1991.
Here's the latest from around the NL East…
- Scott Boras has denied an accusation that he planted a rumor that the Marlins were close to signing Jose Valverde, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports. Spencer reported on Monday that the Marlins/Valverde rumor was false, with one source suspecting that Boras planted the rumor to generate interest in his client. Boras said he had "no motive" for creating the rumor since "what benefit would it be for me and my client to do that" when the false information could be so easily disproven.
- Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria has turned down several offers to buy the team in recent months, The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reports, including a group led by former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Loria has no intention to sell the team, though Jackson hears from an unnamed league official that Major League Baseball would prefer if Miami had an owner more willing to spend.
- The additions of Mike Adams and Chad Durbin will improve the Phillies bullpen, but the team also needs one of their young relievers to fill key roles in 2013, David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News writes.
- Chipper Jones discussed the Braves' offseason moves and his upcoming visit to the team's Spring Training camp with MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Though he accepted the Braves' invitation to spend five days at camp, Jones said he is enjoying retirement and has "not had the itch whatsoever" to play again.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Carpenter, Mattison, Ramirez
We'll keep track of tonight's outright assignments in this post..
- The Red Sox announced that they have outrighted right-hander Chris Carpenter to Triple-A Pawtucket. Carpenter, who was DFA'd to make roster space for Mike Napoli, missed significant time in 2012 after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. He posted a 2.08 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 in 21 2/3 minor league innings and pitched just six major league innings last season.
- Marlins outfielder Kevin Mattison cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans, according to Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post (on Twitter). Mattison will still be among the 72 players in major league camp with Miami. The 27-year-old was DFA'd earlier this week to make room for Sam Dyson.
- The Phillies announced that right-hander J.C. Ramirez has been outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after clearing waivers. Ramirez, 24, spent time in Double-A and Triple-A last season, posting a combined 4.01 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9.
NL East Notes: McCann, Phillies, Oswalt, Mets
Here's the latest from around the NL East…
- Though the Braves and Brian McCann have agreed to put extension talks on hold until the end of the season, GM Frank Wren said the team won't rule out re-opening talks during the season, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. McCann is entering his last contracted year with Atlanta.
- Over 19% of the Phillies' 2012 payroll was lost to time spent the disabled list, David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News observes. Murphy notes that the Phils have lost over $100MM to injuries over the last five seasons, with approximately $64.5MM of that total coming from 2011 and 2012.
- We heard last week that the Mets were interested in Roy Oswalt, and the club "flirted with the idea" of using Oswalt as a late-game reliever and possible closer, Metsblog.com's Matthew Cerrone reports. If the Mets are indeed looking for a veteran swingman, Cerrone suggests that Derek Lowe or Daisuke Matsuzaka could be possible fits.
- Shaun Marcum's Mets contract contains up to $4MM in incentive bonuses, which are outlined by the Associated Press (via ESPN New York's Adam Rubin).
- If Gio Gonzalez ends up facing a PED-related suspension, there aren't many optimal left-handed starting options left for the Nationals in free agency, MASNsports.com's Byron Kerr writes. A Gonzalez suspension would put added pressure on Ross Detwiler as Washington's only current left-handed starter, and Kerr lists a few other internal options. Earlier this offseason, the Nats non-tendered southpaw John Lannan, who signed with the Phillies.
Reds, Miguel Olivo Nearing Deal
The Reds are nearing a deal with free agent catcher Miguel Olivo, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). The Phillies, Astros and Dodgers also inquired on Olivo, who's represented by agent Martin Arburua.
Olivo, 34, played for the Mariners in 2012, appearing in 87 games. The right-handed hitter posted a .222/.239/.381 batting line with 12 home rune in 323 plate appearances. He hit for more power against left-handers than right-handers last year, which isn't surprising considering his career line of .270/.303/.477 against southpaws.
Olivo, an 11-year MLB veteran, earned $3.5MM in 2012. If the deal goes through he'll join a Reds roster that includes Ryan Hanigan and Devin Mesoraco. The free agent market for catchers won't include much depth if Olivo signs. Rod Barajas, Chris Snyder and Matt Treanor are among the remaining options, as MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker shows.
This post was first published February 1st, 2013.
Phillies Designate J.C. Ramirez For Assignment
The Phillies announced that they designated right-hander J.C. Ramirez for assignment. The move creates roster space for right-hander Chad Durbin, whose one-year deal with the Phillies is now official.
Ramirez has yet to appear at the big league level. The 24-year-old has a 4.31 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in seven minor league seasons. The Phillies originally acquired Ramirez from the Mariners in the 2009 deal that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle.
Minor Moves: Coello, Mather, Bass
We'll keep track of tonight's minor transactions right here…
- The Angels have signed right-hander Robert Coello to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times. The 28-year-old has allowed 12 runs in 12 big league innings, but he has a 4.05 ERA, 9.7 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 202 1/3 Triple-A innings. He's spent time in the Red Sox, Cubs and Blue Jays organizations.
- The Phillies have signed both Joe Mather and Brian Bass to a minor league contracts, according to the CBS Sports Transactions page. The 30-year-old Mather hit just .209/.256/.324 for the Cubs last season but still appeared in 103 games. He's a career .219/.271/.357 hitter. Bass, 31, has a 5.16 ERA over 183 Major League innings between the Twins, Orioles and Pirates. The right-hander spent last season with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate and posted a 5.56 ERA in 77 2/3 innings. Bass hasn't appeared in the Majors since 2010.
Phillies Sign Yuniesky Betancourt
The Phillies announced that they have signed infielder Yuniesky Betancourt to a minor league deal with an invite to major league spring training. Betancourt is represented by Alex Esteban of Miami Sports Management.
Betancourt, who turns 31 on Thursday, hit .228/.256/.400 with seven home runs in 57 games with the Royals last season. The veteran also drew interest from the Twins and the Cubs at different points this winter.
Phillies To Sign Chad Durbin
9:50am: Durbin's deal includes a base salary of $1.1MM and $350K in incentives, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter).
9:33am: The Phillies have agreed to sign free agent reliever Chad Durbin to a one-year contract that includes a club option for 2014, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. All Bases Covered Sports represents the 35-year-old right-hander, who pitched for the Phillies from 2008-10.
Durbin appeared in 76 games for the Braves in 2012, pitching 61 innings. He posted a 3.10 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 and a 47.7% ground ball rate out of the Atlanta bullpen and drew interest from the team earlier in the offseason. In 13 seasons at the MLB level, Durbin has a 4.95 ERA with 6.2 K/9, 3.9 BB/9 and a 41.9% ground ball rate. Those totals include a 3.62 ERA in 194 games with the Phillies from 2008-10. Durbin has pitched at least 60 innings in every one of the last six seasons.
GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said entering the offseason that he intended to add non-closing relievers for 2013. The Phillies signed Mike Adams to a two-year, $12MM contract earlier in the winter.
NL East Notes: Marlins, Mets, Phillies
Two NL East teams, the Nationals and Phillies, have projected payrolls surpassing $100MM for the 2013 season. Meanwhile, the Mets and Braves project to spend $80MM and $83MM on payroll, respectively. The Marlins will round out the division with a payroll in the $30-40MM range. Here are some links from the NL East, starting in Miami
- Tension exists between Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and some MLB players, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald explains. “Players don’t trust him,” one prominent agent told Jackson following the Marlins’ recent trade with Toronto. Players say the owner gets too close for comfort. “He’s always looking in the dugout,” one former Marlin told Jackson. “Mind your business!"
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson sounds more optimistic about adding a reliever than acquiring an outfielder, Dan Martin of the New York Post writes. The Mets are hesitant to hand Frank Francisco the closer job again and have expressed interest in Brian Wilson and others.
- Alderson discussed his offseason plans in detail on MLB Network Radio yesterday. For the latest on closers around the league follow @closernews throughout the fantasy baseball season.
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. expects his team will compete in the NL East, even as division rivals make improvements, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. "Absolutely. It's up to the players to prove me right, I guess," the GM said.