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| Andy Phillips became a free agent Friday after declining an assignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to the AP. Phillips, who hit .292 in 185 at-bats in 2007, will catch on somewhere this offseason, but he's unlikely to be viewed as anything more than a role player by potential suitors. |
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| Timo Perez, OF, Detroit Tigers | Friday 12/7, 3:12 PM CT |
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| The Tigers sent Timo Perez to Triple-A Toledo on Friday. Perez hit .389 with 13 RBI in 29 games last season. |
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| The Brewers acquired Salomon Torres from the Pirates Friday in exchange for a pair of minor-league pitchers, according to the AP. Torres is coming off a bad year, holding a 5.47 ERA in 56 games for the Pirates, but he does have closing experience, so it's at least possible he gets a look in the ninth inning at some point next year following the departure of Francisco Cordero. |
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| Rule 5 pick Callix Crabbe will compete for the second base job in spring training, GM Kevin Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Crabbe can play multiple positions and could also stick around as a utilityman. "He's a nice little player," Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik said. "He's a pretty good little hitter, has got surprising power. He just does a lot of nice things. There's not a jump-out tool." |
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| Ray King, P, Houston Astros | Friday 12/7, 11:30 AM CT |
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| Ray King agreed to a minor-league deal with the Nationals Thursday. He will receive an invite to spring training. King held a 4.54 ERA in 55 games for the Nats last year before being dealt to the Brewers in September. |
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| Kevin Mench, LF, Toronto Blue Jays | Friday 12/7, 11:26 AM CT |
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| The Brewers unsuccessfully tried to deal Kevin Mench during the Winter Meetings. If they're unable to trade him prior to the Dec. 12 deadline for offering contracts, Mench could be non-tendered, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The team wants to either find a left fielder or find a third baseman and move Ryan Braun to left field. Either way, it doesn't appear that Mench is in their plans for next season. |
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| Mark Loretta is leaning towards accepting arbitration from the Astros. "If we had to decide today, we would accept arbitration," Loretta's agent, Bob Garber said in the Houston Chronicle. "But there's a couple of teams we're still talking to that would offer him a little more playing time. But if Mark goes back to the Astros, he's confident he'll end up with his typical amount of at-bats he somehow finds a way to end up with." Loretta hit .287 with four homers and 41 RBI in 460 at-bats with Houston in 2007. |
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| Wes Helms, 1B, Florida Marlins | Friday 12/7, 11:11 AM CT |
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| Florida's search for Miguel Cabrera's replacement could lead them to a former Marlin. The Fish are talking to the Phillies about bringing Wes Helms back to South Beach to man the hot corner, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Helms hit .329 with 10 homers in 240 at-bats with the Marlins in 2006, but he batted only .246 with five bombs in 280 at-bats with Philly in '07. |
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| Barry Bonds, OF, San Francisco Giants | Friday 12/7, 10:50 AM CT |
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| Despite the legal trouble, the A's are still thought to be the team that will eventually sign Barry Bonds, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "There is no doubt in my mind that Oakland will sign Bonds," one major-league executive said Thursday at the winter meetings. "I'd be shocked if it didn't happen." Bonds has reportedly received interest in two other clubs, but it's unclear who they are. And if he does return, he'll likely wind up in the American League so he can DH on regular basis. |
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| Carlos Pena, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays | Friday 12/7, 10:44 AM CT |
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| Agent Scott Boras doesn't expect Carlos Pena to receive a multi-year contract offer from Tampa Bay this offseason, according to the Tampa Tribune. "He's got two years to go before he's a free agent, and normally those types of situations are one where they end up doing a one-year deal," said Boras, who added that he would be "all ears" if the Rays came up with a longer-term proposal he found suitable. Pena hit .282 with 46 homers and 121 RBI in 2007, and Boras would obviously like to turn that into a big contract down the road. |
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| The Rays have become more serious in their pursuit of Michael Barrett, according to the Tampa Tribune. Signing Barrett would mean Tampa would have to forfeit its second-round pick next year. |
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| The Yankees are open to trading Hideki Matsui, and they've reportedly talked to the Giants about a potential deal, according to Newsday. A source close to situation indicated that Matsui and a prospect could be enough to net either Noah Lowry or Jonathan Sanchez, but that seems to be a very light return for the Japanese slugger. |
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| Eric Gagne, P, Milwaukee Brewers | Friday 12/7, 10:25 AM CT |
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| The Boston Herald reports Eric Gagne could accept arbitration from the Red Sox. If the former closer does elect to go to arbitration with the Sox, he would make no less than 20 percent below the $6 million salary he made last season. In the event Gagne doesn't return to Boston, Texas and Milwaukee are two likely destinations. |
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| Erik Bedard, P, Seattle Mariners | Friday 12/7, 10:21 AM CT |
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| While the Red Sox are still pursuing a Johan Santana deal, they've also thrown their hat into the Erik Bedard sweepstakes, according to the Baltimore Sun. Bedard won't be eligible to be a free agent until after the 2009 season (Santana will be a free agent after '08), so acquiring him could make a bit more sense. The thought now is that the Red Sox and Yankees are the leaders to acquire Bedard, although it remains to be seen if the Orioles are willing to trade him within the divison. |
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