Reliever Brian Shouse Retires
Longtime relief pitcher Brian Shouse is retiring after 21 seasons in professional baseball, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
“It has been a long and fun career,” the 42-year-old said. “It lasted much longer than I anticipated.”
By age 33, Shouse had just 13 major league games to his credit. After spending some time with Kansas City in 2002, the reliever hooked on with Texas and established himself as a major-league caliber pitcher. He arguably enjoyed his best season in 2008 when at age 39 he registered a 2.81 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 69 games for the Brewers.
Shouse signed a minor-league deal with Boston in January but was cut before the start of the season. He then secured a minor-league contract with Tampa Bay in July but couldn't find his way back to the majors.
Rays Sign Brian Shouse
The Rays have signed reliever Brian Shouse to a minor league deal, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (via Twitter). Shouse will rehab his injured knee with the club's affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.
In 45 appearances for the Rays in 2009, the 41-year-old posted a 4.50 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9.
The lefty was released by the Red Sox in March, months after signing a deal that would have paid him $800K had he made the big league roster.
Odds & Ends: Kearns, Lowell, Dye, Strasburg
Links for Tuesday, as Hanley Ramirez digs himself into an even bigger hole after last night's jog…
- R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs examines Austin Kearns' resurgent season and says it's possible that the outfielder appears in trade rumors this summer. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise to see the Indians shop Kearns.
- FOX Sports Arizona profiled agent Jonathan Maurer, who represents Brandon Webb, among others.
- Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post has a profile of top amateur Bryce Harper that's well worth reading. Baseball America's Nathan Rode chatted with Harper and found that the prospect loves to catch and play the outfield.
- Mike Lowell doesn't see a role for himself on the Red Sox and wonders if the team would be better off without him, according to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald (via Twitter). Lowell explained his frustration to Rob Bradford of WEEI earlier today.
- I joined Jeff & Jeff on KFNS St. Louis earlier today; click here to listen.
- Jeff Fletcher of AOL FanHouse (Twitter link) talked to Eric Chavez, who said Jermaine Dye is "at peace being at home" and is not working out. This counters a quote from Dye's agent Bob Bry from May 11th, when Bry said Dye "continues to work out every morning and hits most days and is still waiting for an opportunity with a team that has a chance to advance to the playoffs."
- Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider wonders if Stephen Strasburg will make his big league debut June 4th against the Reds at Nationals Park. SI's Tom Verducci contrasts the Nats' careful handling of Strasburg to the Reds' approach with Mike Leake.
- Jim Margalus of Sox Machine presents his guide to a White Sox fire sale.
- AOL FanHouse's Steve Phillips explains the many responsibilities of a general manager.
- David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News notes that "the possibility of Cliff Lee falling into the hands of a rival faction [of the Phillies] is something that, at the very least, is worth pondering."
- Free agent lefty Brian Shouse hopes to continue his Major League career, writes Stan Morris of The Journal Star.
Red Sox Release Brian Shouse
The Red Sox released Brian Shouse, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). Back in January, the club signed Shouse to a minor league deal that would have paid him $800K had he made the major league roster.
The 41-year-old lefty posted a 4.50 ERA in 28.0 innings for the Rays last year, with 5.5 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9. For what it's worth, Shouse posted a 0.96 ERA in ten outings this spring. Lefty reliever J.C. Romero won't likely be ready for Opening Day and the Phillies are looking for pitching, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they have some interest in Shouse.
Odds & Ends: Grudzielanek, Royals, Fielder, Calero
Links for Sunday….
- In his latest mailbag, MLB.com's Jim Street writes that he could see Chad Cordero hooking on with a major league club if he continues to stay healthy and perform well in Spring Training. Cordero is in camp with the Mariners and competing for a job, but is unlikely to make the team as the bullpen is already stocked with quality right-handers.
- Mark Grudzielanek is eager to hook on with the Indians, writes Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com. The 39-year-old second baseman, who was absent from the majors in 2009, says he has his eye on the starting job.
- MLB.com's Dick Kaegel reports that Royals shortstop prospect Jeff Bianchi will miss the 2010 season with elbow surgery. Danny Duffy, a left-handed pitcher and the organization's #8 prospect according to Baseball America, will be shut down as well for the time being due to elbow stiffness.
- Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talks to Brewers GM Doug Melvin about Prince Fielder's future. Melvin reiterates that the team hopes to keep Fielder around for many years, and revisits an instance during his stint as the Rangers' GM when he had to trade a heavy hitter.
- Questions about Kiko Calero's health might have kept him on the market longer than expected this winter, but Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News says that the righty has been throwing off a mound and looks okay for now. "Conditioning-wise he's pretty good," pitching coach Dan Warthen said. "He just hasn't seen hitters."
- Newly-acquired Melvin Mora could end up playing nearly every position on the diamond for the Rockies this year, writes Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post.
- WEEI's Alex Speier reports that Brian Shouse's minor league contract will earn him $800K if he makes the Red Sox' major league roster.
Red Sox Sign Brian Shouse, Six Others
FRIDAY: The Red Sox signed six others to minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training, according to a team press release. Fernando Cabrera, Edwin Moreno, Jorge Sosa, Angel Sanchez, Gil Velazquez, and Darnell McDonald will all join the Red Sox organization. Sosa is perhaps the most recognizable addition of the bunch. The eight-year MLB veteran pitched in 18 games for the Nats last year.
THURSDAY: Brian Shouse signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox on January 4th, according to the club's transactions page. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald confirmed the deal today, noting that more minor league signings for the Red Sox should be revealed soon.
Shouse, 41, posted a 5.5 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, and 4.50 ERA in 28 innings for the Rays last year, missing a chunk of the season with an elbow strain. He's quietly been a force against left-handed hitters the last few years. On December 7th, the Type B free agent declined arbitration from the club. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times writes that Tampa Bay will not receive compensation for the reliever, as he did not ink a major-league contract.
Brian Shouse Turns Down Arbitration
Brian Shouse has turned down arbitration from the Rays, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. The Type B free agent will net the Rays a supplemental round pick next year if he signs elsewhere.
Rays Rumors: Bradley, Shouse, Lindstrom
8:48am: Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that the "Rays are growing less hopeful of swapping Burrell to the Cubs."
12:28am: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has a few pieces of info from Indianapolis as we approach the early stages of the Winter Meetings:
- Joe Maddon has arrived in Indianapolis, but executive VP Andrew Friedman won't arrive until tomorrow, so don't look for any moves just yet.
- The Cubs are confident that they'll move Milton Bradley and his attitude out of Chicago, but if it's going to be to Tampa Bay for Pat Burrell, it will require "serious negotiation." Topkin notes that there's a near $15MM difference between the money owed to the two.
- Brian Shouse is unlikely to accept arbitration.
- The Rays are interested in Matt Lindstrom, as we've heard, but as of Sunday night, nothing is close between the Marlins and Tampa Bay.
Rays Offer Arb To Zaun And Shouse, Not Springer
10:31pm: Topkin tweets that the Rays declined to offer arbitration to Springer.
6:53pm: Tampa Bay has made arbitration offers to two of its three Type B free agents, reports Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. Topkin tweets that catcher Gregg Zaun and reliever Brian Shouse were given offers, while no decision has yet been made about pitcher Russ Springer. Topkin notes that "it appears unlikely" the Rays will make an offer to the veteran right-hander.
The offers to Zaun and Shouse come as a bit of a surprise, though both players had decent years. Shouse's innings were limited due to an elbow strain, but he continued to shut down lefties.
Rays Pick Up Crawford’s Option, Decline Options On Zaun and Shouse
2:47pm: The team picked up Crawford's option, but declined Zaun's and Shouse's according to Smith. Zaun will received a $500K buyout, Shouse $200K.
11:35pm: The Rays have three player options they must make decisions about in the not too distant future, and Joe Smith of The St. Petersburg Times reports that those decisions may come as soon as today.
Carl Crawford's $10MM option appears likely to be picked up according to Smith, but he says "an even bigger question is whether Crawford and the Rays can come to an agreement on an extension during the offseason." The longest tenured Ray has already indicated that he's open to signing a long-term extension.
The two other club options of interest belong to Gregg Zaun and Brian Shouse. If Tampa picks up Zaun's $2MM option, he has the right to void it as per a clause in his contract, However, Zaun has already said that he hopes to return to the team in 2010, and $2MM isn't unreasonable for a veteran catcher that can give you a .340 OBP and a .400 SLG.
With the emergence of Randy Choate late last season, Shouse's $1.9MM option might be a little rich for Tampa. Buying him out for $200K seems likely.