Astros Re-Sign Jason Michaels
5:09pm: A "slight update" from Alyson Footer (via Twitter) – the deal includes a club option for 2011.
4:39pm: The Astros re-signed outfielder Jason Michaels to a one-year deal worth $800K, tweets Alyson Footer. Michaels, 34 in May, hit .237/.322/.430 in 152 plate appearances while playing all three outfield positions. He gets a $50K raise over last year.
Pirates, Cards, Astros Interested In Kelly Johnson
Earlier today we learned that the Diamondbacks have interest in free agent second baseman Kelly Johnson, and now we're able to add three more clubs to the list of suitors. MLBTR learned from an industry source that the Pirates, Cardinals, and Astros have interest in Johnson.
It seems possible that Johnson might have to settle for a super-utility job, in that clubs are hoping he'll bounce back both offensively and defensively. He's still a decent gamble for a few million, and if he signs a one-year deal he'll be arbitration-eligible after the 2010 season.
Odds & Ends: Jacobs, Bradley, Lackey, Lyon
Some links to start the weekend…
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says that Mike Jacobs isn't a fit to return to the Marlins. The team's second best prospect is first baseman Logan Morrison, who is on the cusp of the big leagues after spending most of 2009 in Double-A.
- Milton Bradley continues to hamstring the Cubs this offseason, writes Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune.
- Tommy Bennett at Beyond The Box Score compared John Lackey to A.J. Burnett, and doesn't think he deserves a bigger contract than the Yanks' hurler.
- The Astros will make the Brandon Lyon signing official today, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
- Curious about what the 2010 draft order looks like following the recent signings? Check it out.
Odds & Ends: Beltre, Lyon, Nats, Rangers
Some more links for your Thursday night…
- John Tomase of the Boston Herald says the Red Sox believe Adrian Beltre to be "one of the most game-changing defenders in the majors."
- Two GMs tell Tom Verducci of SI.com that they were shocked to see the Astros commit $15MM to Brandon Lyon.
- Verducci reports that the Yankees called the Tigers about Curtis Granderson before the World Series began.
- The Nats still plan on adding multiple veteran starters, according to Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post.
- Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News says the Rangers have to be "extremely selective with multi-year deals, stock a good farm system, fill in with low-risk, high-reward short-timers and churn regularly." So far, Sherrington likes Jon Daniels' strategy.
- MLB.com's Ian Browne expects Mike Lowell to be a positive presence in the Texas clubhouse.
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti tells MLB.com's Ken Gurnick that he's "not close" on any deals.
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told Steve Kornacki of MLive.com that there's a chance Phil Coke starts in Detroit.
- The D'Backs don't appear to have much money to spend, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
- Marlins president Larry Beinfest tells MLB.com's Joe Frisaro that "there is still some stuff simmering." The club hopes to trade Dan Uggla, according to Frisaro.
- Orioles starter Brian Matusz told Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun that he grew up watching Kevin Millwood pitch for the Braves. Now, the two will be teammates.
- Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times reports that the Dodgers turned down a Japanese club that wanted to buy Eric Stults' contract.
- Brian Cashman told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News that Juan Miranda could potentially DH for the Yanks next year.
Rays Acquire Rafael Soriano
7:18pm: Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times says it's a "done deal." It'll be announced tomorrow.
6:29pm: David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the deal hasn't been finalized yet. The doctors didn't look at all the reports today, but it should go through tomorrow.
4:38pm: MLB.com's Mark Bowman says the medical reports have been reviewed and the Rafael Soriano–Jesse Chavez swap has been finalized.
11:00am: Rosenthal and Morosi say the Rays will sign Soriano for one year and $7MM or slightly more; the deal will be official after medical records are exchanged. They say Soriano's contract will be non-guaranteed.
Odds & Ends: Wolf, Stammen, Lackey
Post-Winter Meetings links for Thursday…
- ESPN's Keith Law calls the Astros' signing of Brandon Lyon "hobbling," but likes the Rays impending acquisition of Rafael Soriano. He says the Soriano situation shows that if a team has a borderline call with a Type A free agent, they should offer arbitration.
- ESPN's Buster Olney says Randy Wolf would've re-signed with the Dodgers for a two-year deal in the $14-16MM range.
- Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says the Blue Jays talked to the Nationals about pitcher Craig Stammen but "he does not appear to be available."
- The Cardinals touched base with Scott Boras before leaving Indianapolis, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cards still haven't made an offer to Matt Holliday.
- ESPN's Mike Salk heard that John Lackey is the Mariners' top priority.
- The Hanshin Tigers signed reliever Randy Messenger for about $600K, says NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman. Messenger will replace Scott Atchison, who signed with the Red Sox.
- The Big Lead did a Q&A with new Yankee Curtis Granderson.
Astros Sign Gary Majewski
1:49pm: Credit on the Majewski signing goes to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, who had it on Tuesday. At that time he mentioned that the Astros also signed Ryan Sadowski, Roy Corcoran, Casey Daigle, Chris Shelton, Alex Romero, Drew Meyer, and Oswaldo Navarro. Romero, 26, hit .248/.306/.338 in 157 plate appearances for the D'Backs this year.
10:11am: Add one more reliever to the Astros' pickups – they've seen Gary Majewski to a minor league deal, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Majewski can earn $650K in the Majors. Majewski, 30 in February, spent the season with the Phillies' Triple A club. He posted a 4.02 ERA, 6.2 K/9, and 3.4 BB/9 in 62.6 innings.
Astros Sign Pedro Feliz
12:02pm: A tweet from MLB.com's Brian McTaggart: "Astros sign Pedro Feliz." The Astros' Alyson Footer confirms, and says the contract is worth $4.5MM.
11:53am: The Astros are close to signing Pedro Feliz to a one-year deal worth about $4MM, writes ESPN's Enrique Rojas. Rojas notes that the Twins and Orioles also showed interest. For the Astros, that's more than $10MM in 2010 contracts added by the Astros during the Winter Meetings, with Matt Lindstrom and Brandon Lyon plugged into to the bullpen. Perhaps the club had a little more to spend than we thought.
Feliz, 35 in April, hit .266/.308/.386 in 625 plate appearances for the Phillies this year. He continued to play above-average defense, based on UZR/150. The Phils bought out Feliz's $5MM club option in November, preferring to sign Placido Polanco instead.
Twitter Rumors: Smoltz, Damon, Mulder, Felix, Counsell
Twitter madness…
- Surprisingly, Ken Davidoff of Newsday writes of an "increasing expectation around MLB" that the Yankees will eventually re-sign Hideki Matsui.
- Crasnick talked to one exec who says Scott Boras wants three years and big money for outfielder Rick Ankiel.
- The Royals talked to the Dodgers about Juan Pierre, writes ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, but the Dodgers would have to eat too much money to make it work.
- ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Phillies are now looking hard at John Smoltz as a possible "back-of-the-bullpen weapon." Smoltz's agent apparently told the Phils that the pitcher has no problem with Citizens Bank Park.
- ESPN's Buster Olney heard "the Yankees are in the process of negotiating with Johnny Damon's camp." He adds that the Yanks "intend to use market forces to pressure Damon to make a decision quickly." I'm sure Scott Boras will love that.
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin plans to visit free agent lefty Mark Mulder in January to discuss a possible contract, says Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says there have been no Felix Hernandez negotiations this week after an initial four-year offer from the Mariners.
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times that they'll tender contracts to all of their arbitration-eligible players. No big surprise, though it's a large group of players.
- Scott Lauber of the News Journal talked to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said Astros GM Ed Wade stole Brandon Lyon from the Phillies. The Astros committed three years and $15MM to Lyon despite holes at shortstop and third base.
- MLB.com's Adam McCalvy says the Brewers upped their offer to Craig Counsell this morning and GM Doug Melvin is confident they'll get it done. The Reds are still in the mix for Counsell, says MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
- La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune heard last night that Twins infielder Alexi Casilla is available.
Rule 5 Draft Preview
THURSDAY, 12:10am: Yankees' GM Brian Cashman said that four teams have called about the first pick, however they'll keep it for themselves according to Mark Feinsand of The NY Daily News. Ben Goessling of The Washington Times says that the Yanks will have Washington take Kroenke, with the idea of him replacing the recently departed Phil Coke.
WEDNESDAY, 11:13pm: Mayo says the Royals will make a selection, which means we'll see a roster move soon. And it's now looking like the Pirates will take a right-hander instead of a position player.
9:16pm: Johan Santana, Dan Uggla and Shane Victorino were all Rule 5 Draft selections, so we could see some unheralded talent change teams tomorrow morning when this year's draft takes place. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo has the latest on the draft, which he calls something of a "crapshoot:"
- The Nats will select first for the Yankees, followed by the Pirates, the Orioles for the Rangers, the Royals and the Indians.
- The Royals have a full 40-man roster so they can't make a selection unless that changes. They may create space to make a pick, though.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington says there's a good chance he'll select someone. Mayo expects the Pirates to take a position player.
- Marlins outfielder John Raynor is gathering lots of attention; he has a career .299/.383/.452 line.
- D'Backs pitcher Hector Ambriz could also be an early pick, perhaps for the Indians.
- The Yankees might have the Nats take one of their own players, Zach Kroenke, to make sure no one else does. Ed Price of AOL FanHouse agrees: there's a chance the Yankees will have the Nats select Kroenke.
- Remember, Florida has Houston's eighth overall pick, from the Matt Lindstrom deal.
- Check Mayo's article for the complete draft order and some more intriguing names.