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| The Astros avoided arbitration by re-signing Brandon Backe to a one-year, $800,000 contract Friday. The deal also includes incentives. Backe held a 3.77 ERA in five September starts last year after returning from Tommy John surgery. He's expected to be part of the team's rotation in 2008. |
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| As expected, the Red Sox re-signed Doug Mirabelli Friday. Mirabelli will get a $550,000 base salary and can make $275,000 more in roster bonuses, $150,000 in conditioning bonuses and $1.25 million in performance bonuses based on games and games started, according to the AP. Tim Wakfield's personal catcher hit just .202 in 114 at-bats last year. |
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| Emil Brown, RF, Oakland Athletics | Friday 1/11, 9:24 PM CT |
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| The A's signed Emil Brown to a one-year, $1.45 million deal Friday. Brown can also make up to an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses. He hit .257 with six homers and a team-leading 62 RBI in 113 games last season with the Royals. The A's are loaded with left-handed hitters, so the right-handed hitting Brown should certainly get plenty of playing time against southpaws. |
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| Bill Hall, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers | Friday 1/11, 3:04 PM CT |
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| Now that Mike Cameron is slated to be Milwaukee's starting center fielder, Bill Hall will spend most of his time in 2008 at third base. Hall played exclusively in center field last season, but he's played plenty of third in the past, so the adjustment shouldn't be too difficult. |
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| Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers | Friday 1/11, 3:00 PM CT |
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| With the Mike Cameron acquisition, Ryan Braun will spend most of his time in 2008 in left field - although he'll still open the year at the hot corner with Cameron being suspended for the first 25 games. It remains to be seen just how well Braun can handle the outfield, but the general thought is that his defense there can't be any worse than it was at third base. |
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| FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal reports the Brewers have reached a one-year agreement with Mike Cameron. The deal is pending a physical and will be for $7 million in 2008 with a $10 million club option for 2009. Cameron, who batted .242 with 21 homers and 18 steals last year, will be the Brewers' everyday center fielder, meaning Bill Hall will move to third base and Ryan Braun will shift to left field. It's worth noting, though, that Cameron will miss the first 25 games of the 2008 season for testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant, so the year will begin with Braun at the hot corner and Hall in center. |
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| Eddie Guardado agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Rangers on Friday. The contract allows him to make an additional $4 million in performance bonuses. Guardado pitched in only 15 games last year (7.24 ERA) after coming back from elbow surgery, but he should be in better shape in the spring. Guardado may be an early favorite to handle the closing duties in Texas, although C.J. Wilson figures to receive some consideration, as well. |
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| Chad Cordero, P, Washington Nationals | Friday 1/11, 1:35 PM CT |
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| The Nationals avoided arbitration with Chad Cordero by signing him to a one-year deal on Friday. The contract is worth $6.2 million, according to the AP. Cordero posted a 3.36 ERA with 37 saves last year. He has more job security than most closers in the game, but he has been the subject of trade rumors in the past, so his fantasy value would obviously take a huge hit if was dealt and ended up in a setup role somewhere else. |
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| The Marlins are interested in brining in veteran free agent Luis Gonzalez. The 40-year-old would back up Josh Willingham in left field and Mike Jacobs at first base. "There has been some significant dialogue," Gonzalez's agent, Gregg Clifton, told the Miami Herald. "He's very interested and it's reciprocal. He's got a lot left in the tank. He's a Florida guy." Gonzalez hit .278 with 15 homers and 68 RBI last year for the Dodgers. |
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| The Red Sox and Doug Mirabelli are closing in on a one-year deal, MLB.com reports. Mirabelli has been Tim Wakefield's personal catcher in recent years, and this news suggests the Red Sox want to keep Wakefield in the rotation this year. Mirabelli has very little fantasy value. |
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| The Rangers are close to signing free agent Jason Jennings, a source informs the Dallas Morning News. He battled elbow issues in 2007 and made only 18 starts. Jennings is a decent middle or back-end starter when he's healthy, but fantasy owners should have zero interest in him after last year. |
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| The Mariners signed Chris Reitsma to a minor league deal on Thursday, MLB.com reports. He has battled injuries the last two years and has no fantasy value. |
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| Jason Lane, OF, Boston Red Sox | Friday 1/11, 10:24 AM CT |
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| The Yankees signed Jason Lane to a minor league deal on Thursday. Lane will be asked to play first base, MLB.com confirms. He had a breakout year in 2005 but has been dismal since that time. At best, he's looking at a platoon role, and we don't foresee much fantasy value here. |
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| Aubrey Huff, DH, Baltimore Orioles | Friday 1/11, 10:21 AM CT |
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| Aubrey Huff will undergo hernia surgery on Friday, MLB.com reports. He will be back at full speed in about six weeks, which means he may be limited early in spring training. |
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