Archive for November, 2006

« Older Entries

Counsell Returns to Brewers

Thursday, November 30th, 2006

Craig Counsell decided he’d rather be a backup for his hometown team than a starter someplace else. Counsell played for Milwaukee in 2004. The 36-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Counsell returned to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, agreeing to a $6 million, two-year contract. Counsell is a native of the Milwaukee area and played for the Brewers in 2004.

He drew interest from the San Diego Padres, potentially as a starting second baseman. But his decision became easy when Brewers general manager Doug Melvin called.

A member of two World Series championship teams, Counsell has a .260 career batting average of with 31 home runs, 283 RBI and 90 stolen bases over 11 major league seasons with Colorado (1995, 97), Florida (1997-99), Los Angeles (1999), Arizona (2000-03, 2005-06) and Milwaukee (2004).

Tags:
Posted in Brewers | No Comments »

Jays agree to one-year, $1.5M deal with Clayton

Thursday, November 30th, 2006

The Toronto Blue Jays and shortstop Royce Clayton have come to an agreement on a one-year deal worth about $1.5 million, pending a physical, which Clayton is expected to take Wednesday night.

It is expected that Aaron Hill, who bounced between second base and shortstop last season, will switch back to second base with the addition of Clayton.

Clayton, who was traded from the Reds to the Nationals last season in the blockbuster trade that also sent Austin Kearns to Washington, batted .258 with two home runs and 40 RBI in 137 games.

Tags:
Posted in Blue Jays | No Comments »

Braves, Glavine still talking

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006

Braves general manager John Schuerholz still won’t publicly comment on the club’s potential interest in Glavine. But the veteran pitcher’s agent, Gregg Clifton, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution late Tuesday night that there has been some dialogue.

There is a general consensus that Glavine wants to return to Atlanta where he can be close to his wife and children, who still reside in one of the city’s suburbs.

Glavine would also like the opportunity to be wearing a Braves uniform as he chases the possibility of becoming the 23rd pitcher in Major League history to reach the hallowed 300-win milestone. His 15-win 2006 season leaves him just 10 shy of that mark.

If Glavine returns to Atlanta, he’ll likely need to accept a one-year offer in the neighborhood of $7 million. The Mets will likely offer an annual salary of at least $11 million.

Tags:
Posted in Braves | No Comments »

Zaun re-signs, will be Jays’ starting catcher

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006

Gregg Zaun stayed with the Blue Jays by agreeing to a $7.25 million, two-year contract Tuesday, a day after catcher Rod Barajas backed out of an apparent deal.

Zaun was said to have drawn interest from Boston and New York, where he would have been a backup.

Zaun hit .272 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI last season as the backup to Bengie Molina, whom Ricciardi is not interested in re-signing.

Tags:
Posted in Blue Jays | No Comments »

Drew closer to Red Sox deal

Tuesday, November 28th, 2006

The Boston Red Sox are making progress toward signing free agent J.D. Drew, a move that could give them enough outfield options to be in a better position to trade Manny Ramirez.

The Red Sox and Drew are getting closer to a contract agreement, a person familiar with the negotiations said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing.

Tags:
Posted in Red Sox | No Comments »

Cardinals close to bringing back Adam Kennedy

Tuesday, November 28th, 2006

The Cardinals, bringing back one of their former prospects, are on the verge of signing free-agent second baseman Adam Kennedy to a three-year, $10 million contract.

Kennedy, 30, will replace free agent Ron Belliard, whom the Cardinals acquired from the Indians last July for infielder Hector Luna.

The Blue Jays, who also had been interested in Kennedy, remain in need of a second baseman or shortstop.

Kennedy, the Cardinals’ first-round pick in 1997, made his debut in ‘99, then was traded to the Angels along with pitcher Kent Bottenfield for center fielder Jim Edmonds on March 23, 2000.

A career .280 hitter, Kennedy spent the past seven seasons with the Angels, and was the starting second baseman for the team’s World Series championship club in 2002.

Tags:
Posted in Cardinals | No Comments »

Giants talking to Red Sox about a deal for Manny Ramirez

Monday, November 27th, 2006

As the Giants work to complete a three-year contract with center fielder Dave Roberts, they are talking to the Red Sox about acquiring one of Roberts’ former teammates in Boston, a big fish named Manny Ramirez.

Sources on Sunday confirmed that the Giants are among the teams talking seriously to the Red Sox about their disgruntled, temperamental yet unquestionably talented slugger.

There are many obstacles to such a deal, although money might be the least of them. A bigger potential obstacle for the Giants acquiring Ramirez is his right to veto any deal because he has more than 10 years of major-league tenure and five with the same club. He would have to approve San Francisco, and 10 months ago, after he reportedly demanded a trade, he told MLB.com, “I know the American League system. That’s one reason I don’t want to go to the National League.”

Tags:
Posted in Giants, Red Sox | No Comments »

Dodgers near deal with Randy Wolf

Monday, November 27th, 2006

Dodgers, angling to protect themselves against the possible loss of free-agent right-hander Greg Maddux, are the front-runners to sign free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf.

Wolf, 30, has informed at least one of his suitors that he is close to signing with another club. Rival executives say that club is the Dodgers, and the proposed deal is believed to be for one year with a club option for 2008.

The Dodgers remain interested in Maddux, but possibly not at his desired price; they also are in the mix for other free-agent starters, including right-hander Jason Schmidt. The Padres, believed to be the only other club for which Maddux would pitch, are expected to intensify their pursuit of him this week.

Tags:
Posted in Dodgers | No Comments »

Baez, Orioles agree on $19M deal

Monday, November 27th, 2006

Free-agent reliever Danys Baez and the Baltimore Orioles reached a preliminary agreement on a $19 million, three-year contract Sunday night, a move that further solidifies a bullpen that finished with the second-worst ERA in the major leagues last season.

Baez went 5-6 with nine saves and a 4.53 ERA for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers this year. The right-hander made the All-Star team in 2005 for Tampa Bay, going 5-4 with 41 saves and a 2.86 ERA.

Baltimore last week signed Jamie Walker, a left-handed reliever. The Orioles entered the offseason intent upon overhauling an erratic bullpen that was 19-25 with a 5.25 ERA and 35 saves in 56 opportunities.

Baez also was pursued by the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Indians, Genske said. The pitcher made $4 million in 2006.

Tags:
Posted in Orioles | No Comments »

Diamondbacks, Brewers involved in six-player swap

Saturday, November 25th, 2006

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired left-hander Doug Davis from Milwaukee on Saturday in a six-player deal that sent catcher Johnny Estrada to the Brewers. Right-handers Greg Aquino and Claudio Vargas also went to Milwaukee, while the Diamondbacks obtained a pair of youngsters, left-hander Dana Eveland and outfielder Dave Krynzel.

The 31-year-old Davis is 62-63 with a 4.35 ERA in eight major league seasons. He was 11-11 with a 4.91 ERA in 34 starts last season with Milwaukee and, like Estrada, is arbitration eligible.

The 30-year-old Estrada hit .301 with 11 home runs and 71 RBIs during his only season with Arizona. The switch-hitting former All-Star had the sixth-best batting average among NL catchers.

Posted in Brewers, Diamondbacks | No Comments »

« Older Entries