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Nationals Re-Sign Ron Villone

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The Nationals re-signed lefty reliever Ron Villone to a minor league deal, tweets NatsTown News.  Villone, 40, posted a 4.25 ERA, 6.1 K/9, and 5.4 BB/9 in 48.6 innings for the Nationals last year.  The veteran was unable to shut down lefties in '09, but he did a decent job against them the two previous years.

Other non-roster pitching invites by the Nats include Miguel Batista, Eddie Guardado, Joel Peralta, and Ryan Speier.

Nationals Win Arbitration Hearing Against Bruney

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WEDNESDAY, 12:12pm: The Nationals won their hearing against Bruney, reports the AP.  He'll be paid $1.5MM, saving the team $350K over his request.

TUESDAY, 5:13pm: The Nationals and reliever Brian Bruney were unable to come to an agreement on a contract for 2010, so the two sides went to an arbitration hearing today according to the AP (via The Miami Herald). Bruney filed for $1.85MM, the team $1.5MM.

Bruney, who turns 28 tomorrow, was acquired from the Yankees in December for the rights to the first overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft. He posted a 3.92 ERA with an 8.3 K/9 in 39 innings last year, battling elbow trouble in the first half. Bruney's fastball routinely sits in the mid-90's, but he often doesn't know where it's going (6.2 BB/9) and has trouble staying on the field (three DL trips since 2008).

The Nationals only other remaining arbitration case is lefty Sean Burnett, who filed for $925K. The team countered with $775K.

Odds & Ends: Lincecum, Cashman, Orioles, Wang

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Links for Tuesday…

  • Tim Lincecum passed his physical according to Henry Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Presumably his two-year, $23MM deal is official now.
  • Yankees' GM Brian Cashman sat down for an interview with NoMaas.org. He discussed what went into some of their decision making this offseason, among other things.
  • Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun projected the Orioles' Opening Day roster. 
  • Chien-Ming Wang has already passed his physical with the Nationals, reports Chico Harlan of The Washington Post. Given the righty's recent shoulder surgery, it was far from a formality.  
  • Joe Torre tells Mike Francesa of WFAN that the Dodgers are on the lookout for a fifth starter (audio here). Torre says the Dodgers could find that starter within their organization. He also says he and the Doders are talking about adding a year onto his contract, which expires after this season.
  • Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told Batter's Box that the Blue Jays will draft the best players available this June. Anthopoulos also said the Jays will be open to dealing from their pitching depth.
  • MLB.com's Doug Miller shows that baseball's executives are getting younger as owners take a business-first approach to winning.
  • Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says he'd be willing to guarantee Joe Mauer eight or ten years if that's what it takes to keep the catcher in Minnesota, despite the fact that Mauer would almost certainly be playing another position by the end of a contract that long. 
  • Padres GM Jed Hoyer tells MLB.com's Corey Brock that he's pleased with his first offseason as a GM and the process that the Padres used this winter.
  • Giants officials believe "the day is coming when legions of talented hitters will follow" Pablo Sandoval's path to the majors, according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney says Felipe Lopez would be a "great, great fit" for the Mets. 

Nationals Have Interest In Kris Benson

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TUESDAY, 7:33pm: Ladson reports (via Twitter) that the team and Benson's agent haven't spoken yet because both sides have been busy working on Brian Bruney's arbitration case. Bruney and Benson share an agent.

SATURDAY, 12:01pm: The Nationals have not confirmed their interest in Benson according to Ladson, however they did attend his "impressive workouts" over the last few weeks.

FRIDAY, 3:18pm: The Nationals have some interest in free agent righty Kris Benson, tweets MLB.com's Bill Ladson. GM Mike Rizzo and Benson's agent Gregg Clifton are hoping to meet early next week after a snow storm got in the way this week (link goes to Twitter).

Benson, 35, is apparently 100% after battling arm injuries for the better part of the last three seasons. In 22.1 innings for the Rangers last season, he allowed 23 runs with more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). It was his first big league action since 2006. As long as they don't guarantee him a roster spot, there's nothing wrong with seeing what Benson has to offer in Spring Training.

Nationals DFA Doug Slaten

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The Nationals designated Doug Slaten for assignment to make room for new acquisition Adam Kennedy, according to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post (via Twitter). The Nationals picked the 30-year-old Slaten up off waivers from the D'Backs in November. 

The lefty pitched just 6.1 innings in the majors last year. He pitched more in 2008, logging 32.1 innings for the D'Backs with 3.9 BB/9 allowed and 5.6 K/9. Slaten added 43.2 Triple A innings last year and his rates were better in the minors. He walked just 3.1 BB/9 with 8.1 K/9 for a 3.09 ERA. 

It has been a busy day for the Nats, who agreed to sign Chien-Ming Wang.

Odds & Ends: Maya, Sheffield, Rays, Yankees

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Monday night linkage..

  • Jon Heyman of SI writes that the Dodgers and Rockies have watched Eric Gagne throw and both teams have shown the willingness to take a chance.  A few weeks ago we learned that Colorado was thinking about extending a non-roster invite to the 34-year-old.
  • The Red Sox might not be close to signing Cuban pitcher Yuniesky Maya, a source familiar with the negotiations tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.  There's a good chance that Maya will instead choose a team that offers a better opportunity to immediately enter its starting rotation.
  • MLB.com's Bill Ladson writes that Gary Sheffield would not be a good fit for the Nationals as he wants to play every day.  Ladson spoke to a major league source who believes that Sheffield will not accept a role as a backup.
  • Jason Beck of MLB.com fielded a question from a reader, asking why the Tigers dealt Curtis Granderson, only to pursue Johnny Damon instead.  Beck says that the Granderson trade brought Detroit financial flexibility and prospects.  He also credits agent Scott Boras for helping to create an opportunity for Damon.
  • Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg told 620-AM WDAE that the club's payroll will drop below $60MM in 2011, despite having a payroll north of $70MM this season.  Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times points out that while the club didn't plan to make any big additions this year, they found room for Rafael Soriano after dealing Scott Kazmir and Akinori Iwamura.
  • If Mike Jacobs doesn't make the Mets major league roster, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News doesn't expect him to play for the club's Triple-A affiliate.  Even though his minor league deal doesn't have an out-clause, Rubin is "virtually positive" that the Mets would accommodate him with a trade or release.
  • In his latest mailbag, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch supports Yankees GM Brian Cashman's decision to wait to negotiate with upcoming free agents Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.  Hoch believes that both players should be confident that they'll both be taken care of eventually.

Nationals Sign Willy Taveras

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The Nationals signed center fielder Willy Taveras to a minor league deal, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson.  Taveras had been released by the A's on Tuesday, not long after Oakland received him from the Reds to faciliate their Adam Rosales trade.  The Nats will presumably pay Taveras the league-minimum $400K if he makes the team, with the A's paying his remaining $3.6MM.

Taveras, 28, hit .240/.275/.285 for the Reds in 437 plate appearances last year.  The Reds signed Taveras to a two-year, $6.25MM after he was non-tendered by the Rockies.  Defensively, based on UZR, Taveras graded well in 2009 and was slightly below-average the two years prior.

In addition to Taveras, the Nationals signed outfielders Chris Duncan, Kevin Mench, and Jerry Owens to minor league deals this winter.

Odds & Ends: Rangers, Wang, Indians

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A few links to pass along….

Odds & Ends: Upton, Jackson, Tigers, Lopez

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Friday night linkage..

  • B.J. Upton and the Rays had their arbitration hearing today and the decision from that hearing is expected tomorrow, writes Bill Chastain of MLB.com.  Tampa Bay is offering $3MM while Upton wants $3.3MM.
  • Steve Gilbert of MLB.com tweets that there is still no movement in talks between the D-Backs and Edwin Jackson.  Jackson is seeking $6.25MM while Arizona is offering $4.6MM.
  • If the Tigers ink Johnny Damon, the club may look make a trade to free up their glut in the outfield, writes James Schmehl of MLive.com.  Ryan Raburn and Clete Thomas could be shipped elsewhere in order to make room for Damon in the lineup.  Schmehl also writes that GM Dave Dombrowski may try to move Nate Robertson and Carlos Guillen, though their hefty contracts will be an impediment.
  • Phil Wood of MASNSports.com fails to understand the Nats' interest in pitcher Kris Benson.  The 35-year-old has not pitched a full season since 2006, when he posted a 4.82 ERA with 4.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 for the Orioles.
  • Australian catcher Guy Edmonds has signed with the Texas Rangers, according to Christian Nicolussi of The Daily Telegraph.  Nicolussi writes that the 16-year-old has the potential to outperform the country's greatest baseball export, Dave Nilsson.
  • ESPN's Rob Neyer defends Tim Lincecum's signing of a two-year deal with the Giants.  Tiny Tim was seeking $13MM in arbitration with the club.
  • Rangers pitchers Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando – banned for the past five years due to their involvement in a visa fraud scandal – have received their visas and are expected in Spring Training, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.  In total, the Rangers are expecting 56 players in camp.
  • On his website, MetsBlog.com founder Matthew Cerrone was asked by a reader if reporters in the mainstream media "make up" hot stove rumors.  While he says that this is not the case, the seriousness of talks between clubs are, at times, not communicated effectively.  Because of the strange nature of the baseball rumor mill, Cerrone says that he and Tim Dierkes provide an important service to fans by adding context to hot stove rumblings.

Nationals Sign Adam Kennedy

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The Nationals officially signed second baseman Adam Kennedy to a one-year $1.25MM deal today, which includes a $2MM club option for 2011. Kennedy's fate was known to be tied to Orlando Hudson, who signed with the Twins the day before Kennedy agreed to terms with the Nats.

Kennedy, 34, hit .289/.348/.410 in 586 plate appearances for the Athletics last year.  In his career he's been a strong defender at second base, though that was not evident in 2009's 421-inning sample.

The Cardinals released Kennedy in February of '08, eating most of the $4MM owed to him.  The Rays signed him to a minor league deal and traded him to Oakland for a player to be named later in May.  The Rays later received Joe Dillon in that deal.

MLB.com's Bill Ladson first reported the agreement and ESPN.com's Buster Olney added the terms of the deal.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

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