Diamondbacks Issue Statement on RJ

The Arizona Diamondbacks released the following statement from Senior Vice President and General Manager Josh Byrnes regarding Randy Johnson.

“Earlier today we came to an agreement in principle with the New York Yankees regarding Randy Johnson. We have now been granted a 72-hour window from Major League Baseball to discuss Randy’s contract status with his representatives, Barry Meister and Alan Nero. We will respectfully decline any comment during the negotiating window but will do so when there is news to announce.”

posted by Joe Hamrahi at 6:05 PM 0 comments

Big Unit Headed Back to Arizona

According to Sweeny Murti on WFAN, the Yankees have traded Randy Johnson back to the D’Backs in exchange for Luis Vizcaino and minor leaguers RHP Steven Jackson, RHP Ross Ohlendorf and OF Alberto Gonzalez.

According to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus, all D-Backs minor leaguers are lower level prospects but are interesting nonetheless. They all certainly have big league potential.

In 70 relief appearances for Arizona last season, the 32–year-old Vizcaino posted a 3.58 ERA with 72 K’s in 65 innings pitched. In each of the last three years he has made no fewer than 65 appearances with an ERA no higher than 3.75.

posted by Joe Hamrahi at 4:15 PM 0 comments

Catching Up

- The Red Sox signed Joel Pineiro, and word has it that he will have a chance to close. I’ll believe it when I see it.

- The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent Keith Foulke to a one-year Major League contract with a mutual option for 2008.

Foulke, 34, owns a career Major League record of 41-34 with a 3.30 ERA and 190 saves in 588 appearances/8 starts over 10 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s and Boston Red Sox since 1997 (755.2IP, 624H, 277ER, 181BB, 695K). The Huffman, Texas native was originally selected by the SF Giants in the 9th round of the 1994 draft and was later acquired by the White Sox in a 9-player deal in July of 1997. He pitched for the White Sox for six seasons from 1997-2002 and finished 3rd in the American League with 42 saves in 2001.

- Sidney Ponson agreed to an incentive laden minor league contract with the Twins. He gets $1MM for making the team and can earn another $2MM in bonus money.

- The Rockies signed Jamey Carroll to a 2 year, $4 million contract.

- The New York Post is reporting that the Yankees have a tentative agreement with first basemen Doug Mientkiewicz and the details should be announced in the next day or so.

- Seattle Mariners Director of Player Development Frank Mattox announced yesterday that the Mariners have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with infielder Sean Burroughs.

“Sean was limited due to injuries last season, but has always been a high-rated prospect at third base,” Mattox said. “He is a solid left-handed hitter who has had success over the years and it’s clear he wants to get back on track as quickly as possible. It’s a matter of getting him going in the right direction.”

Burroughs, 26, was originally drafted by San Diego in the first-round (ninth overall) in the June 1998 draft and made his Major League debut with the Padres in 2002. Over parts of five Major League seasons with the Padres (2002-05) and Devil Rays (2006), Burroughs has a career batting average of .280 (431-for-1537) with 11 home runs, 63 doubles, 134 RBI and 179 runs scored in 440 games. He led all National League third basemen in 2003 with a .286 average and set career highs in nearly every major offensive category. He batted a career-best .298 the following season.

- The Chicago Cubs also announced yesterday that the club has agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Neal Cotts for the 2007 season. Cotts, 26, was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for relief pitcher David Aardsma and minor-league pitcher Carlos Vasquez on November 16, 2006.

The Lebanon, Ill., native was originally selected in the second round by Oakland in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft and is 10-7 with a 4.52 ERA (97 ER/193.0 IP) in 199 career games (five starts). He led the White Sox and was tied for eighth in the American League with a career-high 70 relief appearances last season.

posted by Joe Hamrahi at 2:41 PM 0 comments

Loretta Set to Sign with the Astros

According to ESPN.com, Mark Loretta will sign with the Houston Astros on Thursday.

The agreed-to deal is for one year at $2.5 million, but could be worth as much as $3.5 million with incentives, said Loretta's agent, Bob Garber.

posted by Joe Hamrahi at 11:23 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

"Back to Work" Roundup

It was a pretty quiet day as most of baseball got back to business. There were a few signings and a minor trade though...

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have acquired infielder Brendan Harris from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a player to be named later or cash, it was announced today.

Harris, 26, split last season between the Washington and Cincinnati organizations batting .238 in 25 major league games. He owns 110 career at-bats over parts of the last three seasons appearing in 52 games with the Cubs, Expos/Nationals and Reds. In 2004, he was involved in the four-team deal that sent Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs and Orlando Cabrera to the Red Sox. Last season, he was acquired by Cincinnati in an eight-player deal with Washington. With Harris’ addition, the Rays roster now stands at 40.

Elsewhere, the Indians signed Luis Rivas and Keith Ginter to Minor League deals on Tuesday with invites to Spring Training camp, and the Royals designated infielder Jeff Keppinger for assignment.

posted by Joe Hamrahi at 11:13 PM 0 comments

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Orioles Close to Signing Huff

According to Fox Sports, the Orioles are close to signing free agent Aubrey Huff to a three-year contract worth at least $18 million. The Orioles plan to use Huff mostly in left field, but he also could get at-bats at first base and designated hitter.

posted by Joe Hamrahi at 12:40 PM 0 comments

Friday, December 29, 2006

News and Notes for the Last Friday of 2006

Hanley Ramirez, this year's top rookie in the National League, will miss the rest of the Dominican winter league season because of a left shoulder strain. The Marlins shortstop is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

The Florida Marlins today announced the signing of infielder Aaron Boone to a one-year contract. The announcement was made by Marlins Executive Vice President and General Manager Larry Beinfest.

Boone, 33, spent the past two seasons with Cleveland, batting .251 with seven home runs and 46 RBI in 104 games last year. He has played 969 ML games with Cincinnati (1997-2003), New York-AL (2003) and Cleveland(2005-06) and was named to the NL All-Star team in 2003. He missed the 2004 season recovering from a pair of left knee surgeries. Primarily a third baseman, Boone has also appeared at second base and shortstop in the Majors, and owns a career .264 average with 115 home runs and 499 RBI.

The Milwaukee Brewers today officially signed RHP Jeff Suppan to a four-year contract with a club option for 2011. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin. Suppan passed a physical earlier today in Milwaukee and will be introduced during a press conference to take place at Miller Park at a time to be determined on January 11.

Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels announced yesterday the club has signed C Guillermo Quiroz to a major league contract. The club also announced the signing of right-handed pitchers Mike Wood and Willie Eyre to minor league contracts with invites to major league spring training.

posted by Joe Hamrahi at 4:33 PM 0 comments

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Murcer Resting Comfortably

Now for some news that really matters...

Bobby Murcer, New York Yankees broadcaster and former star outfielder, is awake and resting comfortably following surgery for a brain tumor at The University of Texas.

Murcer had been having headaches and feeling a loss of energy, and the tumor was discovered following an MRI on Christmas Eve.

Murcer played 17 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1965-83 and was a five-time All-Star and a Gold Glove-winning outfielder. In his career with the Yankees, Giants and Cubs, he batted .277 with 252 homers and 1,043 RBIs.

After his retirement, Murcer won three Emmy Awards for live sports coverage as the voice of the Yankees.

posted by Joe Hamrahi at 8:52 PM 0 comments