Brewers Sign Mike Gonzalez
The Brewers have officially announced the signing of Mike Gonzalez to a one-year contract. The veteran left-hander is a client of the MVP Sports Group and is guaranteed $2.25MM with incentives that can increase the value of his contract.
Gonzalez, 34, pitched to a 3.03 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 35 2/3 innings for the Nationals last season after signing in early-May. He held left-handed batters to a .179/.257/.269 batting line with 23 strikeouts in 75 plate appearances. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes did not rank Gonzalez as one of the offseason's Top 50 Free Agents.
Relief help was a priority for the Brewers this offseason after their bullpen posted a MLB-worst 4.66 ERA in 2012. Earlier this month they acquired Burke Badenhop from the Rays and signed Tom Gorzelanny, another former Nationals left-hander. ESPN's Jim Bowden says (on Twitter) the Nats and Reds were also in on Gonzalez.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first broke news of the agreement (Twitter links). Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM tweeted the financial details, and MLB.com's Adam McCalvy tweeted that Gonzalez's physical would take place after New Year's Day (on Twitter).
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Quick Hits: Vazquez, Webb, Rockies, Lohse, Kubel
Here's the latest from around the league as Friday turns into Saturday…
- The Red Sox, Rays, Nationals, and Royals scouted Javier Vazquez during his Puerto Rican League outing tonight, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The right-hander was said to be pitching at 93 mph with the fastball.
- The Rockies will scout Brandon Webb's throwing session, which will take place in the coming weeks according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. The Twins will also be in attendance.
- "Obviously, it's been a little slow, a little slower than anticipated … It's going to eventually work itself out. It's not like I'm not going to be out of baseball," said Kyle Lohse to MLB.com's Mike Bauman. The right-hander has yet to receive an offer other than the qualifying offer he rejected.
- "I haven't really thought other than that … If something happens, it happens, but I'm looking forward to getting back to that beautiful facility again and start going," said Jason Kubel to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert when asked about trade rumors. The Diamondbacks are expected to move one of their spare outfielders before Spring Training.
- The Brewers will probably announce the Mike Gonzalez signing on Monday, reports Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel (on Twitter). The holidays delayed the finalization of the contract.
Minor Moves: Diaz, Hamilton, Garner
Here are Friday's minor moves…
- The Red Sox have signed infielder Jonathan Diaz to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). The 27-year-old hit .221/.339/.284 in 563 plate appearances in the Blue Jays' system last year.
- The Red Sox have also signed first baseman/outfielder Mark Hamilton to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training according to Abraham. Hamilton, 28, is a .197/.258/.246 career hitter in 66 plate appearances with the Cardinals over the last two seasons.
- The Brewers signed outfielder Cole Garner to a minor league deal that does not include an invitation to Spring Training, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The 28-year-old hit .258/.311/.398 in 255 Triple-A plate appearances with the Yankees last season.
NL Central Notes: Cubs, Bourn, Reds, Rolen
The Cubs had interest in both Edwin Jackson and Anibal Sanchez this winter, but General Manager Jed Hoyer said that signing both was never in the cards, tweets Jordan Bernfield of WGN Radio. Hoyer and Sveum met with Jackson in California while Theo Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts met with Sanchez in Florida. Here’s more on the Cubs and other items out of the NL Central..
- Based on comments Epstein made on WEEI’s Hot Stove Show (audio link), it doesn’t sound like the Cubs will be targeting impact players like Michael Bourn, Rafael Soriano, Kyle Lohse, and Adam LaRoche since they are tied to draft pick compensation. Epstein explained that the changes to the draft and international spending mean that high draft picks are more valuable than ever, writes Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com.
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that Reds GM Walt Jocketty expects a decision from Scott Rolen on whether he will play in 2013 in the next seven-to-ten days. Fay personally expects Rolen to call it a career.
- Earlier today, Jocketty said that he is looking to sign Mat Latos and Homer Bailey to multiyear deals.
- The Brewers still haven’t made their signing of left-hander Mike Gonzalez official, but that’s likely to happen on Friday, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Gonzalez agreed to a one-year, $2.25MM deal plus incentives late last week.
Minor Moves: Indians, Reds, Brewers, Rockies
We’ll keep track of tonight’s minor moves right here..
- The Indians signed second baseman Matt Antonelli to a minor league deal, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter). The 27-year-old had a rough Triple-A season for the Yankees and Orioles, but hit .297/.393/.460 for the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate in 2011.
- The Reds signed right-hander Jeff Marquez, outfielder Derrick Robinson, and right-handed reliever Kevin Whelan, Eddy tweets. Whelan posted a 3.55 ERA with 12.8 K/9 and 5.7 BB/9 with the Yankees’ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Triple-A partner last season.
- The Brewers signed right-hander Jim Hoey, shortstop Ozzie Chavez, and outfielder Rene Tosoni to minor league deals. Tosoni is a former Futures Game MVP and spent 60 games on the Twins big league roster in 2011.
- The Rockies inked left-hander Erick Threets and right-hander Tim Gustafson to minor league deals, according to Eddy (on Twitter).
Quick Hits: LaRoche, Marlins, Delmon Young, Brewers
The Mills Commission published its final report on this date in 1907 concluding Abner Doubleday invented the game of baseball in Cooperstown, NY in 1839 and had invented the word "baseball," designed the diamond, indicated fielders' positions, and written the rules. The commission's report remained the authoritative work on the origins of baseball for over a half a century before being scrutinzed by historians. It is now believed baseball did indeed evolve from rounders. Here's a round up of the latest news from around baseball:
- The Red Sox should be hesitant about parting with their second round draft choice as compensation to sign Adam LaRoche, according to Tim Britton of the Providence Journal. Britton points out Boston's second round draft pick will be the 44th overall because the free agent compensation rule changes have reduced the number of supplemental first round selections. Joey Votto and highly-regarded Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos have been tabbed at number 44 in past drafts.
- It is looking like the Marlins will start Donovan Solano at second base and Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop, tweets the Sun Sentinel's Juan C. Rodriguez.
- In a separate tweet, Rodriguez doesn't see any major additions to the Marlins' bullpen.
- Don't expect the Braves to address their opening in left field with Delmon Young, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- MLB.com's Adam McCalvy writes the only lock for the Brewers' 2013 starting rotation is Yovani Gallardo and breaks down the candidates competing for the other four spots.
- The kidnapping threat faced by Venezuelan MLB players in their homeland and how they deal with it is outlined in an excellent piece by Didier Morais for ESPNBoston.com.
Quick Hits: Indians, Matsui, Ethier, Sanchez
The Indians are the latest team to get a financial boost from a new TV contract, as the club announced that it has sold SportsTime Ohio (and the broadcasting rights to Indians games) to FOX Sports Media Group. The Tribe's contract with FOX will run for at least 10 years and the team will receive at least $400MM over the course of the deal, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Indians will get $40MM from FOX in 2013, up from the $33MM the team received from STO in 2012. While it isn't the multi-billion dollar deal that other teams have received in recent TV rights deals, the extra funds have already played a role in the Indians' operations, namely the $56MM contract given to Nick Swisher.
Here are some items from around baseball as we head into the final weekend of 2012…
- Hideki Matsui told reporters (including Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News) that he received offers from several Japanese teams but decided to retire since he felt he wasn't able to play up his standards. Amongst Major League clubs, only the Astros were known to have shown any interest in Matsui this winter.
- The Mariners could be in on Andre Ethier, tweets CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, though there is "no real evidence" that the Dodgers have any interest in dealing the right fielder.
- Matt Sosnick, agent for infielder Freddy Sanchez, tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his client is healthy and has received some interest from teams, though no offers. Sanchez, 35, has been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons and was limited to just 10 minor league plate appearances in 2012.
- The Brewers signed righty Alfredo Figaro to a minor league deal last week but they were unaware that Figaro's rights were still controlled by the NPL's Orix Buffaloes, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Milwaukee assistant GM Gord Ash said that the Brewers have told Orix that they will retract their offer if the Buffaloes choose to retain Figaro.
- ESPN's Jim Bowden lists five possible transactions that he thinks make sense for contending teams, such as the Cardinals trading for Carlos Gonzalez or the Orioles signing Kyle Lohse.
- Twins assistant GM Rob Antony tells La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the team could still make further additions to its pitching depth. "I wouldn't say we're done," Antony said. "I wouldn't say were pushing hard. We have our feelers out there. If the situation is right, we could do something else. If not, we're OK too.'' Minnesota has already added Kevin Correia, Rich Harden, Mike Pelfrey and Vance Worley this winter but Neal doesn't think the team is willing to give a two-year, $14-$15MM contract to the likes of Joe Saunders, Shaun Marcum or Brett Myers.
Minor Moves: Gordon, Hoey, Quinowski
Here are the day's minor moves…
- The Athletics have signed Brian Gordon to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Ken Davidoff of The New York Post (on Twitter). The 34-year-old made two starts with the Yankees in 2011 before heading to Korea, where he pitched in 2012.
- The Brewers have signed right-hander Jim Hoey to a minor league deal, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy (Twitter links). The 29-year-old righty owns a 7.02 ERA in 59 career big league innings with the Orioles and Twins. Hoey was part of the trade that sent J.J. Hardy to Baltimore.
- The Orioles have purchased the contract of David Quinowski from the independent Lincoln Salt Dogs, reports Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com (on Twitter). The 26-year-old left-hander spend six seasons in the Giants' system before spending last year on the indy circuit.
- Baseball America's Matt Eddy posted a full recap of last week's minor league moves.
Quick Hits: Mariners, Bonderman, Athletics
On this date in 2007, the Reds traded Josh Hamilton to the Rangers for Danny Herrera and Edinson Volquez. Here’s tonight’s look around baseball..
- Jeremy Bonderman told Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times (on Twitter) that he’ll get a shot at cracking the Mariners‘ starting rotation. He adds that the M’s did not go out to see him throw prior to signing him.
- The Athletics asked to remain in the Oakland Coliseum for five more years in a proposed agreement that would delay the target for their move to San Jose until 2018, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. The A’s lease is currently set to expire after this season. The club has waited almost four years for Commissioner Bud Selig to approve or reject the proposed move to San Jose.
- Cuban prospects Aledmys Diaz and Dariel Alvarez are working out in Mexicali, Mexico and will audition for scouts on January 5th, a source tells Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (on Twitter). Alvarez, a 24-year-old outfielder, and 22-year-old shortstop Diaz were profiled by Sanchez in November.
Central Notes: White Sox, Floyd, Brewers, Lohse
Items out of the AL and NL Central..
- The White Sox are looking around for a left-handed hitter, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The club has also made it known once again that Gavin Floyd is available. Interest in the right-hander is said to be high and the Orioles are one of the clubs who have him on the radar.
- It doesn't sound like the Brewers are going to be making a run at Kyle Lohse after GM Doug Melvin explained that the team is "getting down to the end" of adding players, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com tweets. Lohse looks to be the top starter available following Edwin Jackson's four-year deal with the Cubs.
- Twins General Manager Terry Ryan isn't sure if Rich Harden will be slotted in as a starter or a reliever, tweets Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. “It depends on how he responds. We could go either way with him," said the GM. Harden signed a minor league deal with Minnesota this morning that includes a MLB spring training invite.