Free agent tracker

[TON]

Just heard on the AM radio, White Sox and Konerko were very close to a deal, but that is no longer the case. Kenny is on to plan B ????:shrug:

Wondering who would take Konerko ? I cant see him going to a non-contender

 

[shawn555]

I think Konerko could end up in Arizona but most likely he ends up back with white sox.



The Pirates signed Matt Diaz
http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/12361230987558912

The orioles almost sent Reimold to tampa for Bartlett but sounds like it stalled when Tampa wanted Simon added to the deal.

Orioles also have offers out to Kevin Gregg and Koji Uehara.

The Rockies signed Ty Wigginton to a two year 7.5 million deal.

 

[IE]

The Cubs sign Carlos Pena to a one-year deal


Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports that the Cubs have agreed to a deal with Carlos Pena. It?s believed to be for $10 million.

This makes sense for Pena, I think, who can use a year in the friendly confines to build up value and then return to the market next winter when there won?t be as many other first basemen around as there are this year. For the Cubs? Well, they need a first baseman because the other infielders need someone to throw the ball to. If Pena rebounds, great, everyone is happy. If not, hey, one year.

I think he?ll bounce back a bit, however, because (a) the NL Central is way, way easier than the AL East; and (b) his line of .196/.325/.407 was horrible, but he was really unlucky, hitting only .222 on balls in play. The average should tick up a bit, and his plate discipline is excellent, so there?s a good chance he?ll be a useful first baseman next year.

 

[Lee]

Thank you sir. Love the Diaz signing. I have heard several more signings are very close for my Buccos. No idea why they are spending money for once. :mj07:

 

[IE]

Royals to announce deal later today with OF Jeff Francoeur.

 

[IE]

White Sox land Paul Konerko for 3 years


The Chicago White Sox agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million deal Wednesday with free-agent first baseman Paul Konerko.

The contract breaks down as follows: $12 million in the first year; $12 million, second year; $6.5 million, third year; seven years deferred at $1 million each."We have made no secret of the fact that re-signing Paul Konerko was our top offseason priority," White Sox general manger Ken Williams said in a statement. "Paul's value to the organization on the field and in the clubhouse can never be overstated. He is one of the greatest players in franchise history, and we hope he finishes his career in a White Sox uniform."

Williams said Tuesday that negotiations were at a standstill, prompting him to seriously start considering other options.

But that standstill didn't last long. Movement toward an agreement started after a sushi dinner on Tuesday, Williams said.

"We were very, very close to going a different direction," Williams said. "And I'm sure they were, as well.

"So for it to come together at the end, which a lot of times this is how things get done, is a bit of good fortune on both parts I think, because I think he would have looked awfully funny in another uniform at this point."

Konerko, who will be 35 on Opening Day, is coming off one of his best seasons, batting .312 with 39 home runs and 111 RBIs. He has six 30-homer seasons and has driven in 100-plus runs five times in his 14-year career.

Konerko, who took less money to return to the White Sox the last time he was a free agent, following their World Series season in 2005, is 35 home runs shy of 400 for his career.

The White Sox also signed free agent Adam Dunn this offseason to form a very potent lineup.

The Sox now will look to fortify their bullpen after J.J. Putz signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Bobby Jenks was non-tendered by the Sox. Kerry Wood's name has been linked to the White Sox.

"So we've got some work cut out for us, and we certainly I think are at a point where we have got to get a little creative, because we are about tapped out right now," Williams said. "So we need to either get creative or we need to get a flood at the ticket counter pretty quickly."

 

[IE]

The Braves have agreed to a one-year contract with George Sherrill.

The deal is only pending a physical and should be finalized by the end of this week. Sherrill, 34 next April, posted an ugly 6.69 overall ERA in 2010, but he was still highly effective against left-handed batters. His new contract with Atlanta carries a base salary of $1.2 million and $200K in incentives.

 

[shawn555]

Orioles resign Koji Uehara.

The Red sox have gone the yankee route this offseason they sign Crawford 7 yrs 142 million

http://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/12725805905879040

Jason Bartlett dealt to padres for Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos.

 

[IE]

Royals signed OF Melky Cabrera to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.

 

[IE]

Rule 5 draft begins


UPDATE, 9:02 a.m.: Josh Rodriguez, a Cleveland infielder, is the first pick going to Pittsburgh.



:The infielder showed promise in the Indians' minor league system last year and could be seen in the majors before too long, but doesn't possess the tools to be a star.

 

[shawn555]

Results of the 2010 Rule 5 Draft:
Acquiring teams in bold; former organizations in parentheses

Major League Phase

PIT: Josh Rodriguez, SS, Columbus (CLE)
SEA: Jose Flores, RHP, Columbus (CLE)
ARI: Joe Paterson, LHP, Fresno (SF)
BAL: Adrian Rosario, RHP, Nashville (MIL)
KC: Nathan Adcock, RHP, Indianapolis (PIT)
WAS: Elvin Ramirez, RHP, Buffalo (NYM)
CHC: Mason Tobin, RHP, Salt Lake (LAA)
HOU: Aneury Rodriguez, RHP, Durham (TB)
MIL: Patrick Egan, RHP, Norfolk (BAL)
NYM: Bradley Emaus, 2B, Las Vegas (TOR)
SD: George Kontos, RHP, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY)
MIN: Scott Diamond, LHP, Gwinnett (ATL)
NYY: Robert Fish, LHP, Salt Lake (LAA)
TB: Cesar Cabral, LHP, Pawtucket (BOS)
PHI: Michael Martinez, IF, Syracuse (WAS)
WAS: Brian Broderick, RHP, Memphis (STL)
HOU: Lance Pendleton, RHP, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY)
NYM: Pedro Beato, RHP, Norfolk (BAL)
NYY: Daniel Turpen, RHP, Pawtucket (BOS)

Triple-A Phase

PIT: Bradley Chalk, OF, San Antonio (SD)
ARI: Jose Rivero, OF, West Tenn (SEA)
BAL: Dale Mollenhauer, 2B, Birmingham (CWS)
KC: Lewis Rollins, RHP, Montgomery (TB)
WAS: Michael Allen, RHP, New Britain (MIN)
NYM: Ronny Morla, RHP, Tennessee (CHC)
FLA: Jaime Ortiz, IF, Chattanooga (LAD)
LAA: Daniel Sattler, RHP, Midland (OAK)
OAK: Jeiler Castillo, RHP, Corpus Christi (HOU)
TOR: Ivan Contreras, 2B, Arkansas (LAA)
STL: Jean Mijares, LHP, New Britain (MIN)
SD: Jacob Blackwood, 3B, Richmond (SF)
TEX: Fausto Mier, C, Chattanooga (LAD)
ATL: Eliecer Cardenas, RHP, New Britain (MIN)
SF: Justin Dowdy, LHP, Montgomery (TB)
PHI: Christopher Frey, OF, Tulsa (COL)
PIT: Travis Scott, C, Arkansas (LAA)
BAL: Casey Lambert, LHP, Tennessee (CHC)
NYM: Richard Brooks, RHP, Birmingham (CWS)
TEX: Starling De La Rosa, LHP, Northwest Arkansas (KC)
ATL: Rowdy Hardy, LHP, Northwest Arkansas (KC)
SF: Dashenko Ricardo, C, Bowie (BAL)
PHI: Justin Friend, RHP, Midland (OAK)
SF: Matthew Sartor, RHP, Chattanooga (LAD)

Double-A Phase

BAL: Jacob Rasner, RHP, Winston-Salem (CWS)
NYM: Quintin Berry, OF, Lake Elsinore (SD)
FLA: Brent Allar, RHP, Frederick (BAL)
TOR: Roan Salas, IF, VSL Rays (TB)

 

[shawn555]

Orioles get Hardy, Harris in trade with Twins

The Associated Press
Thursday, December 9, 2010; 12:47 PM

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Trying to add more pop up the middle, the Baltimore Orioles acquired former All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.

The Orioles also got infielder Brendan Harris and $500,000 in the trade that sent minor league right-handers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson to the AL Central champion Twins.

The 28-year-old Hardy hit .268 with six home runs and 38 RBIs last season. He was an All-Star in 2007 with Milwaukee when he hit .277 with 26 homers and 80 RBIs.

"We're looking for a little more offense to our regular shortstop position, and we're confident he can provide that," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "We also talked to other shortstop targets."

Cesar Izturis was Baltimore's starting shortstop last season. He hit .230 with one homer and 28 RBIs and since become a free agent.

The trade was the Orioles' second of the winter meetings aimed at getting more production from the left side of the infield. They got strikeout-prone slugger Mark Reynolds from Arizona for two relievers.

Hardy played in just 101 games in his lone year with the Twins while dealing with several injuries.

The 30-year-old Harris hit .157 in a limited role. The utilityman fell out of favor with the Twins and spent much of last season in the minor leagues.

Hoey and Jacobson are two hard-throwing minor leaguers who could eventually help replenish Minnesota's bullpen.

The 27-year-old Hoey was 4-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 21 1-3 innings at Triple-A Norfolk. He pitched for Baltimore in 2006-07, going 3-5 with an 8.13 ERA.

The 24-year-old Jacobson was 8-1 with one save and a 2.79 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 71 innings at Class A Frederick. The Orioles got him in August 2009 from Detroit in a trade for Aubrey Huff.

The Orioles also reached a preliminary agreement with pitcher Koji Uehara on a one-year contract for $3 million. The deal is pending a physical.

The 35-year-old Japanese righty was 1-2 with 13 saves and a 2.86 ERA in 43 games for Baltimore last season.

 

[IE]

Astros Reach Agreement With Ryan Rowland-Smith


The Astros reached an agreement on a one-year deal with lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith, reports Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle. Rowland-Smith will join Nelson Figueroa and others in a competition for the team's fifth starter job. The Astros will have the opportunity to control Rowland-Smith through 2013 as an arbitration eligible player.

Rowland-Smith, 28 in January, posted a 6.75 ERA, 4.0 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 2.1 HR/9, and 37.1% groundball rate in 109 1/3 innings this year before being non-tendered by the Mariners. The Australia native spent time on the DL with a lower back strain this year after battling a triceps injury in '09.

 

[IE]

A's quiet at meetings, but now ready for action



Oakland's winter meetings experience might appear quiet from the outside, but the A's laid plenty of groundwork for future transactions.

Assistant general manager David Forst said everyone will be back in the office today, ready to "move forward."

The first move for Oakland might involve Hideki Matsui. Matsui's agent, Arn Tellem, told The Chronicle that proposals might start coming in this weekend, which points to a decision by the designated hitter/outfielder soon, maybe even early in the week.

There was some speculation Thursday among Japanese media that the Angels might join the teams interested in Matsui after losing top free-agent target Carl Crawford to Boston, but that seems unlikely. Opportunities for playing time still would be more limited in Anaheim, given that the team plans to use Mike Napoli at DH more often. The Angels are also expected to go after third baseman Adrian Beltre with gusto now that Crawford is gone.

Oakland is looking very much like the potential landing spot for Matsui, and one major-league executive said that such an addition would improve the A's.

"They need offense, and he's got power," the executive said. "He'll help them. But the problem for a team like the A's is they're always looking at their third or fourth choice rather than their No. 1 choice."

Much was made of the teams who missed out on their main targets, and Baltimore and even the Angels might be ahead in that derby; Baltimore has seen numerous free agents go elsewhere, while the Angels lost out on the biggest remaining free agent among the position players.

Forst spent much of the four days at the Dolphin Hotel in meetings with agents and teams, and he believes the team is in a good spot to start making some decisions. Oakland has explored adding a fourth or fifth starter through free agency and also has looked at the market for relievers, but the team's focus remains on adding a big bat.

"We feel like we learned a lot while we were here," Forst said. "Because we were not likely to complete anything before we left doesn't mean it wasn't a productive few days. ... We're committed to making upgrades, and we're confident we'll be able to do that."

As expected, the A's did not select or lose any players in the major-league Rule 5 draft. In the minor-league portion, they selected right-handed pitcher Jeiler Castillo from Houston and lost right-hander Daniel Sattler to the Angels and right-hander Justin Friend to the Phillies.

 

[IE]

One major-league source is certain Rays trade Matt Garza and predicted he winds up with Cubs.

 

[IE]

The Angels sign Scott Downs to a three-year, $15 million contract


Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com confirms it. The Angels have signed Downs to a three-year, $15 million contract. He could earn an additional $1 million based on games finished.

Downs, who turns 35 in March, posted a 2.64 ERA and 48/14 K/BB ratio over 61 1/3 innings this past season. The southpaw has a 2.36 ERA over 262 appearances since the beginning of the 2007 season.

Updating my previous entry, the Angels? first-round pick (#14 overall) is protected in next year?s draft, so signing Downs (a Type A free agent) would cost them their second-round pick. If they signed Adrian Beltre ? who has a higher Elias ranking ? that pick would go to the Red Sox and the Blue Jays would receive the Angels? third-round pick.

This isn?t exactly sticking it to the Red Sox for losing out on Crawford, but it?s obviously a little better than I originally thought. That being said, you would think this would have to take them out of the market for Rafael Soriano, right?

 

[IE]

Rumor: The White Sox are shopping Carlos Quentin


According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the White Sox are shopping Carlos Quentin for bullpen help, but ?are asking a lot so far.?

Just last month at the GM Meetings, a White Sox source told Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago that the club wasn?t shopping Quentin, but that was, well, last month. The club may be more willing to part with him now that they have successfully secured Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn for the middle of their lineup.

Quentin, 28, batted .243/.342/.479 with 26 homers, 87 RBI and an 821 OPS this past season, but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. He made $3.2 million in 2010 and figures to earn somewhere around $5 million through the arbitration process this winter.

Quentin still has plenty of value since he offers some thump from the right side of the plate, but concerns about his durability will likely have an impact on the quality of the players the White Sox would receive in return.

 

[IE]

Orioles To Sign Jeremy Accardo


The Orioles agreed to sign Jeremy Accardo to a one-year, $1.08MM deal, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Accardo, 29 this weekend, saved 30 games and posted a 2.14 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 as the Blue Jays' closer in 2007. He has since bounced between the majors and minors and spent most of last season at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he posted a 3.48 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9.

The Twins, Rays, White Sox, Dodgers and Pirates all expressed interest in Accardo, who became a free agent after the Blue Jays non-tendered him last month. It was not surprising to see Toronto cut Accardo loose, since he said last season that the Blue Jays lied to him. Scott Leventhal and Damon Lapa represent the right-hander.If the Orioles are happy with Accardo's production, they'll be able to retain him through arbitration in 2012. Another former Blue Jay, Kevin Gregg, is also in discussions with the Orioles.

 

[IE]

Pirates Sign Lyle Overbay


The Pirates signed first baseman Lyle Overbay to a one-year, $5MM deal, the team announced. Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review provided the amount. The statement from GM Neal Huntington:

"Lyle Overbay is solid major league player and we expect him to have a positive impact on our club offensively, defensively, and in the clubhouse."

The Pirates primarily used Garrett Jones at first base in 2010, but they expressed a desire to add a right-handed hitting complement. Overbay doesn't fit that description; GM Neal Huntington told MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch the new plan is to have Jones could pair up with new acquisition Matt Diaz in right field. Overbay will be the everyday first baseman.

Overbay, 34 in January, hit .243/.329/.433 in 607 plate appearances for the Blue Jays this year. His performance picked up after a rough start. Overbay is represented by Octagon.

 

[IE]

Harden returns to A's as candidate for bullpen


Rich Harden, once one of the aces of Oakland's rotation, has agreed to a one-year deal with the club worth $1.5 million plus incentives, but the deal is pending a physical later in the week.

That is not insignificant. Harden has been to the disabled list nine times in his career, and he went from starter to reliever to released by the Rangers last year. He was not on the postseason roster.

The A's are looking at Harden primarily as a bullpen option, with recently signed former Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy signed earlier in the week as a fifth-starter possibility. Many in baseball believe that Harden's fastball/changeup combo works best in relief and that that role also will help keep him healthy.

Harden, 29, went 36-19 in five-plus seasons with the A's, but he was on the DL six times.

Harden received multiple offers, including at least one that was for more than the A's offer, but he is close to A's pitching coach Ron Romanick. Harden is also close to his sister, Kristin, who has lived in the Bay Area since he first joined the A's.