| Recent Player News |
| Date |
Player |
News |
| 1/6/2009 |
Luis Vizcaino, RP (ChC) |
The Cubs acquired Vizcaino from Colorado for right-hander Jason Marquis.
Analysis: Vizcaino struggled in his first year with Colorado, going 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA in 43 relief appearances. |
| 1/6/2009 |
Jason Marquis, SP (Col) |
The Rockies have bolstered their starting rotation, acquiring Marquis from the Chicago Cubs for reliever Luis Vizcaino.
Analysis: The 30-year-old Marquis was 11-9 with a 4.53 ERA last season for the Cubs. The Rockies also receive cash as part of the deal. |
| 1/6/2009 |
Pedro Lopez, SS (Tor) |
The Pirates signed Lopez to a minor league contract Tuesday with an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Lopez played last season for the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A club, batting .236. The 24-year-old shortstop has played 16 games in the majors. |
| 1/6/2009 |
Anderson Machado, SS (NYM) |
The Pirates signed Machado to a minor league contract Tuesday with an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: The 28-year-old Machado has played 24 games in the majors, but none since 2005. He spent last season in the New York Mets' system and has a .228 career average in the minor leagues. |
| 1/6/2009 |
Chan Ho Park, RP (Phi) |
Park and Phillies finalized their $2.5 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.
Analysis: "We've acquired a veteran guy who can pitch in either a starting role or as a reliever," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "He will come to spring training and be given every opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting rotation." The 35-year-old right-hander went 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 54 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. He was 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA as a starter and 3-4 with a 3.84 ERA in relief. |
| 1/6/2009 |
Scott Proctor, RP (Fla) |
Proctor's one-year deal with the Florida Marlins has been finalized after the reliever passed his physical, the team said Tuesday. Proctor reached an agreement last week on a $750,000, one-year contract with an additional $250,000 in incentives.
Analysis: "Scott brings experience to our staff and provides us with depth at the back of the bullpen," general manager Larry Beinfest said. "He gives us another live arm to help finish games." Proctor underwent surgery in October for repair of a partially torn flexor tendon and is expected to be healthy for spring training. He went 2-0 with a 6.05 ERA in 41 games for the Dodgers in 2008, but missed two months of the season and was left off the postseason roster. |
| 1/6/2009 |
Carl Pavano, SP (Cle) |
The Indians have signed free agent pitcher Carl Pavano, who was a four-year bust with the New York Yankees because of injuries.
Analysis: Pavano, who will turn 33 on Thursday, signed a one-year deal with the Indians, who have been looking to add starting depth and hope the right-hander has put his injury problems behind him. Pavano spent most of the past four years on the disabled list with shoulder and elbow issues. He made only 26 starts and went 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA with the free-spending Yankees, who signed him to a deal worth nearly $40 million before the 2005 season. |
| 1/6/2009 |
Mark Teixeira, 1B (NYY) |
Teixeira and the Yankees have completed their $180 million, eight-year contract,
Analysis: The deal was agreed to Dec. 23, but both sides had to settle contract language and the first baseman had to pass a physical. New York has committed $423.5 million on three free-agent additions during the offseason after its streak of 13 consecutive postseason appearances ended. On Dec. 18, the Yankees completed a $161 million, seven-year contract with left-hander CC Sabathia and an $82.5 million, five-year deal with right-hander A.J. Burnett. |
| 1/6/2009 |
Jason Giambi, 1B (NYY) |
Giambi might just finish his career where it began more than a decade ago. The free-agent first baseman was nearing a deal Tuesday to return to the Oakland Athletics nearly 14 years after making his debut with the club, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
Analysis: The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The AP because the contract hasn't been completed. The addition of Giambi would be the second big offseason acquisition by general manager Billy Beane, who made a trade with Colorado for star outfielder Matt Holliday back in November. Giambi, who turns 38 on Thursday, spent the past seven seasons with the Yankees. Giambi, who batted .247 with 32 home runs and 96 RBIs in 2008 for the Yankees, won the AL MVP for the A's. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Claudio Vargas, RP (LAD) |
Vargas agreed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year contract Monday.
Analysis: The 30-year-old went 3-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 11 appearances last season for the New York Mets, including four starts. Vargas averaged 11 wins per season from 2005-07 and won a career-high 12 games for Arizona in 2006. The following year, he was 11-6 with a 5.09 ERA for Milwaukee. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Andruw Jones, CF (LAD) |
According to a source with knowledge of the discussions, the Dodgers have agreed to trade or release Jones in exchange for the center fielder deferring much of the $22 million remaining on his contract.
Analysis: The agreement is expected to cut $12 million off the Dodgers' payroll. If Los Angeles releases Jones, it would owe him all but the minimum $400,000 salary. Jones agreed to a $36.2 million, two-year contract in December 2007. He hit .158 with three home runs in 75 games last season. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Royce Ring, RP (StL) |
Ring became the third left-hander in the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen, agreeing Monday to a $475,000. one-year contract.
Analysis: The 28-year-old was 2-1 with an 8.46 ERA in 42 games for the Atlanta Braves last season after making an opening-day roster for the first time in his career. He was 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA through June, then faded and was cut by the Braves in early August. In addition to his salary, Ring can earn $25,000 in performance bonuses based on games. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Elizardo Ramirez, RP (Tex) |
Ramirez agreed to a minor league contract with the Rangers.
Analysis: The 25-year-old Ramirez had one appearance out of the bullpen last season for the Rangers. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Oklahoma, going 10-7 with a 4.50 ERA. He has appeared in the majors in each of the last five seasons with Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Texas. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Casey Daigle, RP (Tex) |
Daigle agreed to a minor league contract with the Rangers.
Analysis: Daigle, 27, was 1-5 with a 3.78 ERA at Triple-A Rochester in the Minnesota organization. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Derrick Turnbow, RP (Tex) |
Turnbow agreed to a minor league contract with the Rangers.
Analysis: The 30-year-old Turnbow was an All-Star in 2006 and was with the Milwaukee organization for the past four seasons. He has a career 17-16 record with a 4.30 ERA with the Brewers and Angels. He spent most of the 2008 season with Triple-A Nashville, where he was placed on the disabled list in July for the duration of the season with right shoulder tendinitis. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Milton Bradley, DH (ChC) |
The Cubs and free agent Milton Bradley reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $30 million, three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The deal is subject to a physical scheduled for Thursday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
Analysis: Adding Bradley was one of the top priorities this offseason for the Cubs, who got swept out of the playoffs for the second-straight year after a lineup loaded with right-handers struggled against the Dodgers. A switch-hitter Bradley, batted .321 with 22 homers for Texas while leading the American League with a .436 on-base percentage. He made the All-Star team while serving primarily as the designated hitter. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Pat Burrell, LF (TB) |
The Rays added a big bat for the middle of their batting order, agreeing to a $16 million, two-year contract with Burrell.
Analysis: The 32-year-old spent the past nine seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, who defeated the Rays in the World Series a little over two months ago. He hit .250 with 33 homers, 33 doubles and 86 RBIs last season and has averaged 31 homers, 99 RBIs and 103 walks over the past four seasons. A left fielder throughout his career, Burrell is expected to be used mostly as the designated hitter with Tampa Bay. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Jason Smith, 3B (Hou) |
Smith agreed Monday to minor league contract with the Astros.
Analysis: Smith, 31, hit .214 in 22 games with the Kansas City Royals last year and .253 with seven triples and 62 RBI at Triple-A Omaha last season. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Clay Hensley, RP (Hou) |
Hensley agreed Monday to minor league contract with the Astros.
Analysis: Hensley, 29, went 1-2 with a 5.31 ERA in 32 games last season with the San Diego Padres. He is 15-18 with a 4.09 career ERA in 106 games over four seasons with the Padres. |
| 1/5/2009 |
Reggie Abercrombie, CF (Hou) |
Abercrombie agreed Monday to minor league contract with the Astros.
Analysis: The 27-year-old Abercrombie hit .309 with two home runs and five RBIs in 34 games with the Astros last season. He is a career .223 hitter in 180 games with Houston and the Florida Marlins. |
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