Archive for March, 2007

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Dodgers get Clark from Brewers for Dessens

Monday, March 26th, 2007

The Los Angeles Dodgers, seeking a right-handed hitting outfielder because of a potential season-ending injury to Jason Repko, acquired Brady Clark and cash from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday for reliever Elmer Dessens.

The 33-year-old Clark has a .278 career batting average over seven seasons. He hit .263 with four homers and 29 RBIs in 138 games last season – a year after batting .306 with 183 hits.

The Dodgers will pay Clark the $1.7 million they were set to pay Dessens, and the Brewers gave them $2.1 million to cover the difference from what Clark would have made in Milwaukee. Clark has appeared in 286 games in center field, 238 in right and 75 in left during his career.

The 36-year-old Dessens has a 46-59 record and 4.41 ERA with Pittsburgh, Arizona, Los Angeles and Kansas City. In parts of three seasons with the Dodgers, he appeared in 59 games, six of them starts, and went 2-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 108 2-3 innings.

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Diamondbacks send Julio to Marlins

Monday, March 26th, 2007

The Arizona Diamondbacks have traded reliever Jorge Julio for right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and an undisclosed amount of cash. The Diamondbacks wanted any team that acquired Julio to pay his entire $3.6 million salary, but they made an exception for the low-revenue Marlins in order to get a better prospect.

The deal could mean that the Giants will keep right-handed closer Armando Benitez, who also had been targeted by the Marlins.

Petit, 22, came to the Marlins in the Carlos Delgado trade with the Mets after the 2005 season. He appeared in 15 games for the Marlins last season, posting a 9.57 ERA.

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Braves send Tony Pena Jr. to Royals

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

The Royals, seeking a shortstop to possibly replace Angel Berroa, have acquired Tony Pena Jr. from the Braves for minor-league pitcher Erik Cordier.

Pena, 26, could take over at short until prospect Angel Sanchez is ready for the majors. He is a gifted defender, but might not hit well enough to remain a major-league regular.

Pena, the son of Yankees coach Tony Pena Sr., is out of minor-league options. The Braves boast a surplus of young middle infielders, including Yunel Escobar, who has had a brilliant spring.

Cordier, 21, underwent elbow-ligament transplant surgery in December and is not expected to pitch this season. The Braves are gambling that he eventually will regain his 97-mph fastball.

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McCann agrees to 6-year, $26.8 million deal

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

The Atlanta Braves made a long-term commitment to Brian McCann, agreeing Thursday to a $26.8 million, six-year contract with the All-Star catcher. The deal with McCann, who has less than two years of major league service, includes a club option for 2013. McCann, just 23, hit a team-high .333 with 24 homers and 93 RBIs last season.

McCann gets a $1 million signing bonus, $500,000 this year, $800,000 in 2008, $3.5 million in 2009, $5.5 million in 2010 and $6.5 million in 2011. He earns $8.5 million in 2012 and can make $3 million more in escalator provisions, but if he fails to win certain awards, his salary that season becomes a club option.

Because of complicated provisions in the contract, McCann likely would make at least $27.8 million under the deal, with the possibility of earning up to $29.8 million.

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Nationals want equal return for Cordero

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

The Rockies, seeking to acquire a setup man, are interested in Nationals closer Chad Cordero, but a trade appears unlikely.

The Nationals have told the Red Sox and other clubs that they would want multiple high-end prospects in any trade for Cordero, who will not be a free agent until after the 2009 season.

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Yankees won’t boost offer for A-Rod

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

The Yankees don’t intend to offer Alex Rodriguez a contract extension, leaving him the option of opting out of his deal after the season and becoming a free agent.

Rodriguez has four seasons left in the record $252 million, 10-year agreement he signed with Texas before the 2001 season. He is owed $27 million in each of the final three seasons – with the Yankees responsible for $50.7 million and the Rangers owing $30.7 million, including $9 million in deferred money.

Under the terms of the deal, Rodriguez can terminate it after this season. He also can stay for 2008 and have the right to opt out of the final two seasons if the Yankees don’t boost his salary to $32 million annually for the final two years.

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Orioles will pursue Teixeira for ’09

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

The Baltimore Orioles can’t wait to make a play for Texas Rangers’ first baseman Mark Teixeira, who could become a free agent after the 2008 season.

But Teixeira, a native of Severna Park, Md., will have another option if he wishes to play close to home – the Washington Nationals, who open their new ballpark in ’08 and could score a public-relations coup by trumping the Orioles.

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Rockies trying to improve Starting Rotation

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

The Colorado Rockies are trying to upgrade the back of their rotation even as they’re shopping right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim.

The Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in Kim as a reliever while the Oakland A’s are pursuing him as a starter.

The Rockies like Dodgers lefty Mark Hendrickson, and they’re in a flexible position with righty Josh Fogg; they could release Fogg in spring training and pay one-fourth of his salary ($906,000).

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Tribe steps up to plate with Westbrook

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

The Cleveland Indians have begun talks on a multiyear deal with the agent for pitcher Jake Westbrook, who is scheduled to become a free agent in 2007.

Westbrook has recorded at least 200 innings and 14 wins in each of the last three seasons for the Tribe.

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Giants undecided on Benitez

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

The San Francisco Giants remain split over whether to trade Armando Benitez or allow him to open the season as their closer. It’s by far the biggest issue the club faces with two weeks until opening day.

Because Benitez has appeared healthy and pitched well this spring, his trade value has risen. But it also becomes more difficult for the Giants to justify shipping him out, since they have no experienced candidates to replace him.

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