Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Dodgers Rumors

Dodgers Sign Eugenio Velez

By | at

The Dodgers signed Eugenio Velez, the team announced today.  They also confirmed minor league signings of Juan Castro and J.D. Closser.

Velez, 28, was non-tendered by the Giants earlier this month even though he wasn't arbitration eligible yet.  He owns a .256/.300/.388 line in 678 career plate appearances.  He's logged time at all three outfield positions as well as second base.  This year the speedy utility man hit .302/.353/.439 at Triple-A.  Velez comes much cheaper than the other infielder the Dodgers signed away from the rival Giants, Juan Uribe.

Rosenthal On Werth, Bill Hall, Cliff Lee

By | at

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports leads his latest column by contrasting the value of Zack Greinke and Matt Garza.  Though Greinke is widely viewed as the superior pitcher, Garza comes with an extra year of control at similar overall money.  Either righty would require a huge trade bounty.  On to Rosenthal's other rumors…

  • Jayson Werth's contract includes decent-sized bonuses for strong finishes in the MVP voting.
  • The Dodgers are in discussions with Bill Hall to be their primary left fielder.  Rosenthal feels that such a signing would be the team's last significant move.  Hall's last strong season as a regular was 2006, the 35 home run campaign for the Brewers that earned him a $24MM contract.
  • Rosenthal tweets that the lack of state income tax in Texas has minimal impact in the Cliff Lee talks, since Lee would reside in Arkansas instead.  Rosenthal feels that the income tax-related savings the Rangers could promote would be balanced by a higher salary from the Yankees plus endorsements.  George A. King III of the New York Post offers a similar take.

Odds & Ends: Rivera, Mets, Bruce, Orioles, Dodgers

By | at

Links for Sunday….

Spanish Links: Viciedo, Padilla, Dessens

By | at

Lest we forget, there are still eight million more native Spanish-speakers in the world than English-speakers…

  • Dayan Viciedo is "well-viewed" within the White Sox organization and will fight it out with Brent Morel for the starting third base job this spring, a source from Chicago told Luis Rangel at Miami-based El Nuevo Herald. The source said Viciedo is working daily with third base coach Joey Cora to improve his mobility and fielding at the hot corner, though his appeal to the organization remains primarily through offense, as evidenced by a .308/.321/.519 line in 106 PAs last summer. Kenny Williams indicated in August that the 21-year-old Cuban prospect was untouchable, though rumors of his availability have revived recently.
  • The Dodgers signed Vicente Padilla to do a little of everything, but if he becomes a full-time starter, the deal he signed last week could end up looking a lot different. Gerald Hernandez at the Nicaraguan paper La Prensa detailed Padilla's contract, which stipulates that if he matches his career high of 33 starts, his $2MM salary will jump to $8MM. Against Padilla's favor: Each of the Dodgers' front five started at least 30 games in 2010.
  • Reliever Elmer Dessens hasn't received an offer to re-sign with the Mets, a source close to the pitcher told Fernando Ballesteros at the Mexican blog Puro Beisbol. The source added that Dessens, who will turn 40 in early January, is currently in negotiations with one team from each league. He posted a 2.30 ERA for the Mets in 47 innings last season while both walking and striking out 3.06 per nine, and he has said he is only interested in a guaranteed major league deal.

Dodgers Sign Juan Castro

By | at

The Dodgers have signed infielder Juan Castro to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. It's his fourth stint with the organization.

Castro, 38, hit just .194/.237/.233 in 140 plate appearances for the Phillies and Dodgers in 2010. He's a career .228/.268/327 hitter, but has carved a 16-year big league career out of versatility and solid glovework. If he makes the team, Castro will earn $500K in 2011.

Odds & Ends: Guerrier, McCutchen, Blue Jays, Punto

By | at

As the baseball world says goodbye to Cubs great Ron Santo, here are some news tidbits heading into the weekend…

Dodgers Sign Vicente Padilla

By | at

The Dodgers signed Vicente Padilla to a one-year deal, the team announced today. The right-hander, who was nearing a $2MM deal with the Dodgers earlier in the week, has passed his physical. WMG represents Padilla.

The Dodgers already have Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda and Jon Garland, so Padilla figures to be a swingman for manager Don Mattingly. That versatility appealed to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti.

“Vicente’s flexibility and willingness to be in whatever role we may need him in was very important to us,” Colletti said in a statement. “We believe he is capable of filling practically any role on our staff and we are very glad to have him back.”

The 33-year-old missed time with forearm and neck injuries in 2010, but still managed a respectable season. Padilla posted a 4.07 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 95 innings.

Minor Deals: Oxspring, Oeltjen, Ryal

By | at

The latest minor transactions….

  • MLB.com's Jason Beck reports that the Tigers signed Chris Oxspring, who made five appearances for the Padres in 2005. Oxspring, 33, has spent time pitching in Japan, Korea, and Australia since then.
  • The Dodgers have re-signed Trent Oeltjen to a minor league deal, according to CBS Sports. The 27-year-old outfielder got some big league playing time over the season's final month, making 30 plate appearances in 14 games. He was non-tendered by the Dodgers last week.
  • Rusty Ryal appears to be headed to a Japanese club, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. While it's not official yet, "there's a pretty good possibility" it'll happen (Twitter links).

Rangers Continued Discussing Potential Young Deals

By | at

9:18pm: The Rangers discussed Young with the Angels, Cardinals and Dodgers, though they're pushing hardest to make a deal with the Rockies, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The infielder tells Rosenthal that he wants to stay in Texas.

7:05pm: Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he will consider every possible way of improving the team, even if that means discussing big name players. However, Daniels said it's unlikely that the club trades Young.

6:35pm: The Rangers continued discussing potential Young trades today, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. One GM told Morosi that the Rangers are sending mixed signals about the infielder's availability. The Rangers have continued talking about possible moves after telling Young he's staying put. The Rockies still appear the likeliest landing spot, according to Morosi's sources and Colorado outfield prospect Charlie Blackmon interests the Rangers.

WEDNESDAY, 1:10am: USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweets that the Rangers have told Young he won't be traded.

TUESDAY, 11:33pm: Though Young can block trades to 22 teams, the Rockies are not one of them, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Young says he would accept a trade to Colorado, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).

11:09pm: A Rockies source tells Troy Renck of the Denver Post that it's "just talk" at this point, but wonders if there could be a fit (Twitter link).

10:03pm: The Rockies and Rangers have not yet discussed the players that would go from Colorado to Texas, according to Ringolsby.

9:30pm: The Rockies have expressed interest in Young as a second baseman, according to Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Young last played second base in 2003 and the Rockies just acquired Jose Lopez as an option at second. The Rockies have a crowded infield, with Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Stewart and, now, Ty Wigginton. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News confirms (on Twitter) that the Rockies and Rangers are talking and says the Rangers would pursue Beltre if they trade Young.

6:40pm: Rangers president Nolan Ryan says the team is not "shopping" Young, but will listen when his name comes up in conversation, according to Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.

5:58pm: The Rangers are gauging interest in Young and willing to pay a small portion of his salary, according to Rosenthal (on Twitter).

4:52pm: The Rangers will listen to trade offers for Michael Young, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The 34-year-old is under contract for $48MM through 2013, so not all teams can afford him. Young batted .284/.330/.444 in 2010, his 11th season with the Rangers.

No deal is close for Young, who has a limited no-trade clause that enables him to block trades to all but eight teams. Young picks up ten and five rights in May, at which point he'll have the right to veto any trade. The market for Adrian Beltre could pick up if the Rangers do move Young.

Zack Greinke Rumors: Wednesday

By | at

Yesterday we learned that teams may be upping their offers for Royals ace Zack Greinke, though the Royals' asking price remains high.  The latest:

  • An executive of an interested team hears that the Royals won't deal Greinke before Cliff Lee signs, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark (on Twitter). The Royals may not have to wait long, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports Lee will sign by the end of the weekend.
  • The Phillies have discussed Greinke with the Royals, reports CSNPhilly's Jim Salisbury, but it's a long shot.
  • The Dodgers haven't heard back from the Royals about Greinke, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (on Twitter).
  • MLB.com's Joe Frisaro hears that the Marlins did not discuss Greinke with the Royals (Twitter link).
  • One of the Marlins' attempted three-team trades would have sent Greinke to Florida, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Talks are lukewarm, but still alive, Rosenthal reports.
  • The asking price on Greinke has gone up since last summer, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). The deal will be "very hard to get done," according to one interested executive.
  • The Nationals are being aggressive, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse. MLB.com's Bill Ladson heard earlier that Washington was not pursuing the right-hander, however.
  • Five teams are seriously pursuing Greinke and another three are on the periphery, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports – in an article, not a tweet!  The Royals are specific with their request – pitching to replace Greinke and up-the-middle help.  The Royals are moving slowly and there is no frontrunner.  The Rangers, Dodgers, Nationals, and Blue Jays have shown some measure of interest.
  • The Cubs called on Greinke but a mid-rotation addition is more likely for them, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top