Archive for March, 2008

Orioles cut Gibbons, owe him $11.9 million

Sunday, March 30th, 2008

Jay Gibbons was released Sunday by the Baltimore Orioles, who lost patience waiting for the oft-injured outfielder to regain the form that enabled him to hit 26 home runs in 2005.

Gibbons batted .189 with no homers and four RBIs in 16 games this spring training after playing in only 84 games last season. Baltimore owes him $11.9 million for the next two seasons as part of a $21.1 million, four-year contract he agreed to in January 2006.

Gibbons is owed $5.7 million this year from the Orioles and $6.2 million for 2009.

Selected from the Toronto Blue Jays in the winter-meeting draft on Dec. 11, 2000, Gibbons hit .260 with 121 home runs and 405 RBIs in 779 games over seven seasons for the Orioles.

He batted .230 with six homers and 28 RBIs last season before surgery on his left shoulder on Aug. 14. It was the fourth time in seven seasons that injuries prevented him from appearing in 100 games.

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Astros put Williams on waivers, owe pitcher $6.5M

Saturday, March 29th, 2008

Woody Williams was put on unconditional release waivers Saturday by Houston Astros, who owe

The 41-year-old right-hander was 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA last season and had an 11.32 ERA in spring training this year. He gave up five runs and five hits in three innings during Friday’s 10-0 exhibition loss to Detroit.

Williams signed a $12.5 million, two-year contract with the Astros before last season and is owed a $6.25 million salary for this year and a $250,000 buyout of a 2009 club option worth $6.75 million. He had a $6 million base salary last year and earned $250,000 in performance bonuses.

Williams is 132-116 with a 4.19 ERA in a 15-year career that includes stints with Toronto, St. Louis and San Diego. He had a career-high 18 wins with the Cardinals in 2003.

According to reports Williams plans to retire.

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Twins hand Joe Nathan $47M, 4-year deal

Monday, March 24th, 2008

Nathan and the Twins agreed to terms Monday on a $47 million, four-year contract, a deal that includes a 2012 club option on the 33-year-old closer. The Twins weren’t going to get rid of the two-time All-Star, not after deciding to deal Santana and watching Hunter and Silva depart as free agents during the offseason.

Nathan was slated to make $6 million in 2008, far less than several ace relievers around the majors. Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees got a $45 million, three-year contract in November, and Francisco Cordero signed a $46 million, four-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds after becoming a free agent. With Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels eligible for free agency after this season, the price for closers could soar even higher.

Antony and Nathan’s agent, Dave Pepe, tore up the existing contract and worked out a new one. Nathan gets $11.25 million in each of the next four seasons, starting with 2008, and the Twins have a $12.5 million option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout.

The price of the option can rise to $14 million — going up by $500,000 each for 55 games finished in 2010, 55 games finished in 2011 and 110 games finished in 2010 and 2011 combined. Also, Nathan said the deal contains a limited no-trade clause.

Nathan’s 160 saves over four seasons as Minnesota’s closer are tied with Rivera for most in the AL. Nathan’s ERA since joining the Twins is 1.94. He has converted 90 percent of his 179 career save opportunities.

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Blue Jays sign Benitez to minor-league deal

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

Relief pitcher Armando Benitez agreed to Tuesday to a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 35-year-old right-hander went 2-8 with a 5.37 ERA and nine saves in 55 games with Florida and San Francisco last season.

Benitez has 289 saves over a 14-year, including a career-high 47 with Florida in 2004. He has struggled with injuries in the past three years, including a torn hamstring and arthritis in both knees. The Blue Jays would be his seventh team.

Toronto lost left-hander B.J. Ryan to season-ending elbow surgery last April. Ryan is expected to make his spring training debut this week and hopes to be ready for opening day.

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Rockies, Hawpe reach $17.5M deal

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

The National League champion Rockies, locking up another of their homegrown players, have agreed to a three-year contract worth just under $17.5 million with right fielder Brad Hawpe. The deal covers Hawpe’s arbitration years and includes a club option for his first free-agent year that could raise the total value of the package to approximately $28 million. Hawpe, 28, reached agreement last month on a one-year, $3.925 million contract. The new deal replaces that one.

The contract also is expected to include a limited form of no-trade protection; if Hawpe were traded, he would gain the right to void the option and become a free agent after the third year.

Hawpe established career highs last season with a .387 on-base percentage, .539 slugging percentage, 29 home runs and 116 RBIs.

They continue to pursue a long-term agreement with left fielder Matt Holiday, who is under contract through 2009 with his new two-year, $23 million deal.

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Reds sign Patterson, Hairston

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

The Reds, adding another center fielder to an already crowded mix, have signed free agent Corey Patterson to a minor-league contract, according to major-league sources. Patterson, who played for new manager Dusty Baker with the Cubs, will compete with Ryan Freel, Norris Hopper and top prospect Jay Bruce for the Reds’ center-field job.

The Reds also signed free-agent infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. on Monday, but it is unclear how Hairston — another former Cub under Baker — would fit on the Cincinnati roster, if at all.

Hairston, 31, has appeared in only six career games at short, getting most of his playing time at second base and in the outfield. He spent 2007 with the Rangers after making the team on a minor-league contract, but hit only .189 in 73 games.

Patterson, 28, batted .269 for the Orioles last season with eight home runs, 45 RBIs and 37 steals in 46 attempts. He lingered on the free-agent market in part because his career on-base percentage is .298.

The Reds also considered signing free-agent center fielder Kenny Lofton, who could have filled their void in the leadoff spot. But Lofton wanted a major-league deal.

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Cardinals sign Wainwright, rest of roster

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

St. Louis pitcher Adam Wainwright, who won 14 games in his first season in the rotation, on Tuesday agreed to a terms on a one-year contract. The 26-year-old Wainwright got a split contract that will pay him $438,000 if he makes the team and $246,000 if he’s in the minors — an unlikely scenario considering he’s expected to be the ace and opening day starter.

Wainwright was 14-12 with a 3.70 ERA in 32 starts and pitched 202 innings. He filled in as the closer while Jason Isringhausen was sidelined following hip surgery for the Cardinals’ World Series championship team in 2006. Wainwright recorded three saves in the Series, including the clincher in Game 5 against Detroit.

The Cardinals also agreed to terms with pitchers Anthony Reyes, Brad Thompson, Blake Hawkesworth, Kelvin Jimenez, Tyler Johnson, Josh Kinney, Kyle McClellan, Jason Motte, Mike Parisi and Mark Worrell; infielders Brian Barden, Jarrett Hoffpauir and Brendan Ryan; and outfielders Chris Duncan, Brian Barton, Cody Haerther, Ryan Ludwick, Joe Mather and Skip Schumaker.

The Cardinals have their entire roster under contract for this season.

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