Yankees Sign Angel Berroa
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees have signed infielder Angel Berroa to a minor-league contract.
Rather than having his $5.5MM option picked up, Berroa was bought out for $500K and non-tendered by the Dodgers in December. It was anticipated they would attempt to re-sign him. He’ll compete with Cody Ransom to be the Yankees utility infielder.
Phillies Sign Marcus Giles
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Phillies signed second baseman Marcus Giles to a minor league deal worth $600K. He can help while Chase Utley is out.
Additionally, the Tigers signed Alexis Gomez for $415K and the Yankees signed John Rodriguez for $450K.
Pettitte Rejects Yankees’ Offer
4:39pm: Joel Sherman says the Yankees are "strongly inclined to lower the $10MM offer" made to Pettitte now that he’s rejected it. A deal seems unlikely, though moving some salary might compel the Yanks to put the $10MM offer back on the table.
3:34pm: Sam Borden, attending the Mark Teixeira press conference, said Hal Steinbrenner "did not seem particularly optimistic" about re-signing Pettitte.
TUESDAY, 10:17am: John Harper and Ken Rosenthal are both saying the Yankees haven’t closed the door on signing Pettitte. Brian Cashman has talked to Pettitte’s agents recently, according to Harper. He adds that the Yanks "seem determined to draw the line at $10 million."
MONDAY, 10:18pm: According to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, Andy Pettitte rejected the Yankees’ one-year, $10MM offer. The Yanks could certainly find a useful free agent arm for a similar price, or else just go with internal options. But one more veteran in the rotation could go a long way.
Nationals Rumors: Wolf, Dunn, Hudson
Rounding up Nationals rumors…
- According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals are interested in free agent lefty starter Randy Wolf. The Mets and Dodgers are also known to be in on him, while we haven’t heard much about the Brewers, Cardinals, or Orioles lately.
- The Washington Post’s Chico Harlan says the Nats want to acquire players who will still be in their primes in 2010 or 2011. Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson make sense, at the right price.
- The Nationals aren’t interested in Xavier Nady and don’t believe they "have a legitimate shot at trading for Nick Swisher."
- Odalis Perez remains under consideration, but isn’t a priority.
Yankees Sign Jason Johnson, DFA Duncan
According to Sam Borden, the Yankees signed pitcher Jason Johnson to a minor league deal. He will compete for the fifth starter job. Johnson, 35, is known for his ability to get groundballs.
Also, the accompanying move to the Mark Teixeira signing: Shelley Duncan was designated for assignment.
Odds and Ends: Saito, Teixeira, LaRoche
More Tuesday links…
- Over at RotoAuthority, David Chase examines more of the optimistic Spring Training reports of ’08. Particularly interesting: did pitchers follow up on their intention to use a new pitch?
- The Marlins’ Scott Proctor signing is official. Also, Chan Ho Park with the Phillies.
- Carl Pohlad’s three sons will take over for their father.
- McCovey Chronicles trade idea: Randy Winn for Xavier Nady.
- Add Randy Choate to the minor league deals for the Rays.
- Economist J.C. Bradbury says "the economic downturn cannot explain the magnitude of Pat Burrell‘s discount." He believes teams are exaggerating the recession effect.
- Keith Law says the risk in giving Milton Bradley a three-year deal "seems excessive" but notes that Bradley is an excellent hitter and above-average defender.
- Patrick Newman learned that Takashi Saito received almost ten offers last month, including proposals from the Cardinals and Red Sox. Newman also has new reports of various minor league-level Japanese players who want to join MLB organizations.
- Tony Massarotti has all kinds of questions about Boston’s failure to sign Mark Teixeira. Craig Calcaterra offers analysis on the team’s Boras relationship. Check out stuff from today’s Yankees press conference here and here.
- Sox Machine on how Jim Thome staying healthy messed up Ken Williams’ plans.
- Dejan Kovacevic says Adam LaRoche would like to stay in Pittsburgh past ’09, but the team is not considering an extension.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Swisher, Nady, Kapler, Zaun
The latest from Ken Rosenthal.
- A recent Ned Colletti-Scott Boras conversation about Manny Ramirez didn’t result in progress. Boras still has his sights on at least $100MM over four years. Rosenthal adds that Manny is "cool to the idea of playing in San Francisco."
- Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady are drawing "significant interest." Rosenthal speculates that the Giants, Braves, or Pirates would make sense.
- The door is not closed with the Yankees and Andy Pettitte. Pettitte recently rejected the Yanks’ one-year, $10MM offer.
- Some Mets people prefer Oliver Perez to Derek Lowe. The Braves have yet to speak to Boras about Lowe, while the Brewers and Phillies have financial concerns about fitting him in.
- Trevor Hoffman has a West Coast preference (the Dodgers or maybe a Padres reconciliation) but interest with the Brewers is mutual. Other relievers on the Dodgers’ radar: Juan Cruz, Guillermo Mota, and Dennys Reyes.
- Brian Fuentes‘ agent had serious talks with the Yankees, but no offer was made. Fuentes would’ve been Mariano Rivera‘s set-up man and perhaps taken over upon his retirement.
- Rosenthal notes that MLB kicked in a small part of the $10MM owed to Sidney Ponson from their luxury tax pool, which is not uncommon.
- If they can afford it, the Rays would like to sign Gabe Kapler.
- The Orioles, Red Sox, and A’s are interested in Gregg Zaun.
- Perhaps because of the cool market for his services, Orlando Cabrera is willing to play second base. The Yankees did not have interest.
- That Gavin Floyd for Brian Roberts rumor "seemingly arose from internal discussions among Orioles officials."
Sergio Mitre Gets 50 Game Suspension
A second pitcher will receive a 50 game PED suspension, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. New Yankee signing Sergio Mitre had a trace amount of andro in his system. It was another "thought to be legal" supplement purchased at GNC. Mitre will serve the suspension while rehabbing from elbow surgery in the first few months of the season.
A question for the readers. In the past, MLBTR has mostly been a PED-free zone. However, with all the emails pouring in, it’s often harder to ignore a story than it is to post a few lines about it. Plus, I know suspensions sometimes have roster-building implications. Should we do brief posts on breaking steroid news, or try to continue to ignore the stories?
Odds and Ends: Burrell, Bradley, Abreu
Links for Tuesday…
- RotoAuthority asks for your #1 fantasy baseball bust for 2009.
- Keith Law calls the Pat Burrell signing a "major bargain," panning the Raul Ibanez contract by comparison. River Ave. Blues says the recent Burrell and Milton Bradley deals prove that Brian Cashman was wise not to offer arbitration to Bobby Abreu.
- Will the Rays have enough money to re-sign Rocco Baldelli now? Buster Olney still thinks he will land with Boston.
- Gordon Edes says Jim Hendry had a stealth dinner with Bradley during the November GM Meetings. Edes adds that the Cubs believe Derek Lowe is too expensive.
- Cool story about a guy trying to get an autograph on each card in the 1983 Fleer baseball card set.
- Baseball America’s Jim Callis has the updated ’09 draft order. Callis also weighs in on the broken free agent compensation system, which is up for discussion after the 2011 season.
Odds and Ends: Andruw, Marquis, Coonelly
Links for Monday…
- In his first post for RotoAuthority, David Chase looks at players who were said to have lost weight or gained muscle during Spring Training ’08. How did they perform in ’08?
- The Red Sox inked infielder Nick Green to a minor league deal.
- Murray Chass explains why the New York Times Company’s purchase of a share of the Red Sox was a conflict of interest.
- Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik: "We’ve got an offer out right now for a piece of the puzzle, and I’d hope to hear in the next few days."
- David Laurila talked to new Mariners exec Tony Blengino. One of many interesting quotes (in reference to the Bill Bavasi regime and the ’07 club): "I thought that it was clear going in that, with all due respect, they overrated their team from the last year."
The Yankees will introduce Mark Teixeira tomorrow. He passed his physical today. - River Ave. Blues and Peter Abraham ask whether the Yankees should consider Andruw Jones. Evan Brunell looks at other possible fits.
- The Dodgers talked to the Cubs about Jason Marquis, according to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick.
- Pirates president Frank Coonelly joins Mark Attanasio (Brewers) and Drayton McLane (Astros) in supporting a salary cap.
- Jeff Moorad might be aggressive in the draft if he takes over the Padres. Tom Krasovic adds that the Padres have already discussed spending up to $6MM on their #3 pick this June.
- Keith Law likes the Angels’ Brian Fuentes signing, and doesn’t think the Indians gave up much for Mark DeRosa.
- If the Indians are to add another significant player, they’ll have to get creative with contracts.
- RAB and In Mo We Trust discuss Kevin Kernan’s recent suggestion that the Yanks sign Oliver Perez over Andy Pettitte.
- A couple of recent Hot Stove Dailies from Jeff Passan: the Braves and A’s.
- Athletics Nation asks whether Brian Sabean is "out-GMing" Billy Beane this winter.
- Sox Machine on why the Gavin Floyd–Brian Roberts rumor makes no sense.