The Tampa Bay Rays and free agent left-handed reliever Brian Shouse have agreed to a two-year deal. Shouse, 40, had a 2.81 in 51.1 innings pitched last season.
The Rays have a pretty crowded bullpen now, but they needed a lefty. Rays Index compiled a nice list of the relievers:
- Troy Percival
- Dan Wheeler
- Grant Balfour
- JP Howell
- Joe Nelson
- Chad Bradford
- Brian Shouse
- Lance Cormier
- Jason Hammel
- Jeff Niemann
The Chicago Cubs signed free agent catcher Paul Bako to a one-year deal. Bako had a .626 OPS in 99 games last season.
The Cubs needed a backup catcher after the departure of Henry Blanco. Bako should be able to handle the job.
The Boston Red Sox have come to terms with free agent catcher Jason Varitek. Varitek will make $5 million in 2009. The club has an option for $5 million in 2010, and if that is not exercised, Varitek has an option for $3 million. Varitek had a .672 OPS in 131 games last season.
Too bad. Varitek was horrible last year, but the Sox feel his “intangibles” are too valuable to the team to be let go. Saltalamacchia, Teagarden, and Montero would all be better options than the 36-year-old.
The Pittsburgh Pirates and free agent outfielder Eric Hinske have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. Hinske, 31, had a .798 OPS in 133 games last season.
Not a bad deal for Pittsburgh. Hinske may benefit from moving to the NL. If Hinske has any value at the trade deadline the Pirates need to deal him (that is assuming Pittsburgh is not in contention, which, I think, is a safe assumption).
No need to worry about the New York Yankees signing your favorite free agents anymore. The Yankees can no longer sign a Type A or Type B free agent since they have filled the quota.
I think the Yankees have pretty much accomplished what they wanted to this offseason anyway.
This deal does not make too much sense for Seattle. Cedeno would play second base since Bettancourt is the better shortstop. Would that mean Jose Lopez moves to first? Not a good idea. If Seattle was getting Fontenot instead of Cedeno, I would be singing a different tune.
I agree with Rotoworld. Seattle should build up Heilman’s value by putting him in the closer role instead of trading him now.
UPDATE: Garrett Olson is the pitcher in the deal. I still don’t think this is a very good deal for Seattle.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are close to agree to a deal with pitcher Jon Garland. Garland previously rejected an offer made by Arizona.
The D-Backs need someone to fill the void left by Randy Johnson. Garland is a metiocre pitcher, but he eats a lot of innings which makes him an asset.
UPDATE: Garland has agreed to a one-year deal with Arizona, with an option for 2010. Garland will get somewhere between $6 million to $8 million.
Interested in what the Flordia Marlins’ new ballpark is going to look like. The Sun Sentinel lets us know. The ballpark will be built at the site of the old Orange Bowl.
Or you can just click here: http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2009/01/27/05/Miami_Ball_Park_January_2009.source.prod_affiliate.56.pdf
According to Mack’s Mets’ sources, the Mets will sign Oliver Perez by Saturday to a four-year deal with an option for a fifth year.
I’m not sure how reliable these sources are, but if the report is accurate, then Mets fans can breathe a sigh of relief. New York needed Ollie pretty badly. With Maine likely to spend time on the DL (since he usually does), the Mets need more than just back of the rotation starters like Pelfrey and Redding to follow Santana. The Mets should have an OK rotation, unless Freddy Garcia gets back to form.
The Kansas City Royals signed pitcher Zack Greinke to a four-year contract worth $38 million. Greinke, 25, would have been a free agent after 2010.
Finally Dayton Moore makes a good move. Greinke is a stud. The Royals might need to trade him before he hits free agency, but with this new deal, they won’t have to worry about that for a while.
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