Archive for November, 2007

Tori Hunter Signs with Angels

Thursday, November 22nd, 2007

The Los Angeles Angels, who have been trying to land another strong hitter for several years, agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal Wednesday with free agent Torii Hunter, who hit .297 with 28 homers and drove in 107 runs for Minnesota this year.

A seven-time Gold Glove winner, the 32-year-old Hunter will be the everyday center fielder and hit in the middle of the lineup, making it tougher for opposing pitchers to pitch around Guerrero.

Although Hunter’s arrival would appear to make Matthews the odd man out in an outfield with Guerrero in right and Garret Anderson in left, manager Mike Scioscia said it gives him more opportunity to use Guerrero and Anderson to DH.

Indians reach deal with Kobayashi

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

The Indians, continuing the run on Japanese relievers, have reached an agreement with right-hander Masahide Kobayashi on a two-year deal. The deal for Kobayashi, who has recorded at least 20 saves in each of the past seven seasons, includes a club option for 2010.

Kobayashi, 33, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Chiba Lotte Marines, the team managed by Bobby Valentine. He has averaged 31 saves the past seven seasons.

Kobayashi will move into the back end of Cleveland’s bullpen as a setup man for closer Joe Borowski, who led the AL with 45 saves last season. The Indians recently exercised Borowski’s $4 million option for 2008.

The Royals are close to an agreement with another Japanese free-agent right-hander, Yasuhiko Yabuta, 34. A third Japanese reliever, right-hander Kazuo Fukumori, 31, also is drawing interest.

Last season, Kobayashi went 2-7 with a 3.61 ERA and 27 saves in 49 appearances. He was on the disabled list in September with a neck injury but finished the regular season on the active roster and pitched in the playoffs.

Kobayashi went 36-34 with a 2.79 ERA and 227 saves in 303 games for Chiba Lotte. In 2005, he led the Pacific League with 34 saves. He was a member of Japan’s Olympic baseball team in 2004.

Glavine, Braves reach one-year deal

Monday, November 19th, 2007

The 303-game winner returned to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, agreeing to an $8 million, one-year contract. The agreement between the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner and the Braves was hammered out during weekend talks, said Glavine’s agent, Gregg Clifton. The pitcher already has taken a physical for Atlanta, the final formality in the deal.

The Braves needed less than a week to lure Glavine back after an acrimonious split in 2002 that led to him spending five seasons with the New York Mets.

The Braves were eager to add depth to a rotation that relied heavily on John Smoltz and Tim Hudson and never settled on reliable options in the fourth and fifth slots. In addition to landing Glavine, they hope for a return to health by Mike Hampton, who missed the last two seasons with injuries. He has started another rehab stint in the Arizona Fall League.

Glavine, who will turn 42 before the start of next season, went 13-8 with a 4.45 ERA in 200 1-3 innings for the Mets this year.

Oakland deals Scutaro to Blue Jays

Sunday, November 18th, 2007

Oakland Athletics super-sub Marco Scutaro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday for a pair of minor league pitchers, right-handers Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey. The 32-year-old Scutaro did a fabulous job filling in for both second baseman Mark Ellis and shortstop Bobby Crosby when they were hurt in recent seasons. But the A’s, who missed the playoffs in 2007 after reaching the AL championship series last year, want to give Donnie Murphy a chance to be a utility infielder.

Scutaro, who developed quite the knack for game-winning hits during his four years with the A’s, batted .260 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 104 games this past season. He made 86 starts at five different positions, including 38 at shortstop, 33 at third base, 12 at second base, two in right field and one in left field.

Murphy, 24, has played parts of three seasons in the majors, his first two with the Kansas City Royals in 2004 and ’05. This year for the A’s, he batted .220 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 42 games. He also had eight doubles and drew 10 walks.

Bell went 3-7 with a 5.33 ERA in 22 appearances and 11 starts for Single-A Dunedin last season. Godfrey had a 6-7 record and 3.98 ERA in 21 starts for Single-A Lansing in his first year of professional ball.

A-Rod, Yanks have outline for deal

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees have agreed to the outline of a record $275 million, 10-year contract, a deal that potentially would allow him to earn millions more if he sets the career home-run record. The amount of the guaranteed money was revealed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been finalized. A-Rod and his wife met Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., with brothers Hal and Hank Steinbrenner, but the parameters of the agreement were set in place last weekend.

The Yankees still must draft the agreement with Rodriguez’s agent, Scott Boras. Asked whether the only remaining details were putting the deal on paper, Steinbrenner responded: “pretty much so.” Boras wasn’t a part of the negotiations, in which Goldman Sachs managing directors John Mallory and Gerald Cardinale conducted shuttle diplomacy.

Yankees, A-Rod discussing new deal

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

After opting out of the final three years of his contract with the Yankees, it appears Alex Rodriguez has had a change of heart. In a startling turn of events, Alex Rodriguez and his wife met with New York Yankees executives Hal and Hank Steinbrenner on Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., and the star third baseman told the team he wants to stay in pinstripes.

The two sides are currently working toward a 10-year, $275 million contract, a source with knowledge of the talks told FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal. The deal also would include incentives that could push the total value higher. Rodriguez’s longtime agent, Scott Boras, is not involved in the talks.

Cubs ship Monroe to Minnesota

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

Outfielder Craig Monroe was acquired by the Minnesota Twins from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for a player to be named later. The 30-year-old hit .219 with 12 homers and 59 RBIs this year from the Tigers and the Cubs, who obtained him Aug. 23 after Detroit designated him for assignment.

Minnesota has been seeking outfield help, a need that may grow if free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter signs with another team.

Yanks sign Posada to stay in pinstripes

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

The New York Yankees and Jorge Posada agreed Monday night to a $52.4 million, four-year contract that keeps the catcher off the free-agent market.

Posada’s $13.1 million average salary becomes the highest for a catcher, topping the $10 million Detroit’s Ivan Rodriguez and Boston’s Jason Varitek currently are guaranteed.

Posada hit a team-high .338 this year with 20 homers and 90 RBIs. He set career highs for average, slugging percentage (.543) and on-base percentage (.426).

Phils re-sign relief pitcher Romero

Monday, November 12th, 2007

The Phillies, continuing to fortify their pitching staff, have re-signed free-agent left-hander J.C. Romero to a three-year, $12 million contract. The deal includes a club option for a fourth year that could bring the total value of the deal to $16.75 million.

Romero would continue in the role he filled after joining the Phillies last season, joining right-handers Ryan Madson and Tom Gordon and newly acquired closer Brad Lidge in the late innings.

The 30-year-old left-hander went 2-2 with one save and a 1.92 ERA in 74 games with the Phillies and Boston Red Sox last season. Romero had a 3.15 ERA in 23 games with Boston before being released on June 18.

Romero had a 1.24 ERA in 51 games with the Phillies. He worked 15 2-3 scoreless innings in his last 20 appearances of the regular season and went 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three playoff games.

Tigers ship Infante to Cubs for Jones

Monday, November 12th, 2007

The Detroit Tigers addressed another need, acquiring outfielder Jacque Jones Monday from the Chicago Cubs for utility player Omar Infante.

In acquiring Jones, the Tigers are seeking a one-year stopgap in left field until Cameron Maybin is ready for the majors.

Infante, a right-handed hitter, likely will play second base, shortstop and center field for the Cubs. His addition will not preclude the Cubs from pursuing second baseman Kaz Matsui as a free agent, but the team’s greater priority is finding a left-handed hitting outfielder.

The Rockies remain hopeful of re-signing Matsui, a switch-hitter, before Tuesday, the first day that teams can negotiate with other clubs’ free agents. If the Cubs signed Matsui, they still would plan to play Mark DeRosa five days a week.

DeRosa could alternate with Matsui, spell third baseman Aramis Ramirez and also play right against certain left-handed pitchers. He could also start at first on occasion, giving Derrek Lee an occasional day off.

Jones, 32, batted .285 last season with a .335 on-base percentage, but had only five home runs in 453 at-bats. The Cubs want better production out of right field, but Jones’ left-handed bat could fit in nicely with the Tigers, whose offense is more high-powered.

The Tigers filled their No. 1 need two weeks ago, trading for All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria from Atlanta for two prospects.