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| The New York Post reports that the Mets have an interest in Craig Wilson, a veteran reserve who could serve as a righty bat and offer defensive versatility. Wilson primarily has played first base and right field during his career, but he's also experienced in left and behind the plate. The 31-year-old Wilson hit .172 with one homer in 58 at-bats for Atlanta last year and offers little to fantasy owners outside of deep NL-only formats. |
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| Odalis Perez, P, Washington Nationals | Thursday 2/7, 10:46 PM CT |
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| Former KC starting pitcher Odalis Perez was recently scouted by the Phillies during a staged workout in the Dominican Republic, according to the Kansas City Star. Philadelphia assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told the Philadelphia Daily News the club’s interest was “lukewarm.” The Phillies are more interested in right-hander Kris Benson and plan to make the free agent an offer sometime in the next week. |
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| Mike Sweeney, 1B, Oakland Athletics | Thursday 2/7, 10:33 PM CT |
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| Mike Sweeney worked out Tuesday for the Padres at Petco Park near his home in San Diego, according to the Kansas City Star. The Padres are in search of a power hitting backup for starting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. With Sweeney's chronic back issue, the former Royal would have more fantasy value in the American League where he could occasionally fill the role of designated hitter. |
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| Jose Contreras overcome mechanical flaws and off-field issues late last year posting a 3-0 record with a 3.15 ERA over 34.1 innings of work in September. Contreras is expected to carry his 2007 September into April and turn around his 17-loss season. Sources close to the team report that Contreras has put in extra work this winter so he can come into Spring Training, and eventually April, with better command of his arsenal. |
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| Clay Buchholz, who was shutdown in late September with a shoulder injury, continues to progress in his rehab. The young right-hander, who was 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA in four big league games last year, will be limited to 180 innings this season. |
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| Curt Schilling will not have shoulder surgery for what appears to be a partial tear of his rotator cuff according to the Boston Globe. Schilling will reported follow the more conservative course recommended by Sox medical director Thomas Gill, after the club and player agreed to submit to today's recommendation by an outside medical expert. The veteran will start the season on the disabled list and be out at least until the All Star break. This ends any fantasy value Schilling had entering this season and he's now nothing more than a draft day flier. |
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| Tony Clark, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday 2/7, 5:33 PM CT |
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| Tony Clark and the San Diego Padres are deep into negotiations on a contract according to a report from the Union Tribune. Clark, 35, hit 17 home runs and batted .249 in 221 at-bats with the Diamondbacks last season. In 2005, when he was Arizona's regular first baseman, Clark hit 30 home runs. Clark's fantasy value will rest in deep NL only formats unless an untimely injury strikes starting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. |
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| Erik Bedard, P, Seattle Mariners | Thursday 2/7, 5:11 PM CT |
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| Erik Bedard reportedly flew to Seattle on Thursday to take a physical that will complete the much anticipated trade between the Orioles and Mariners.
Yahoo Sports reported that Bedard had been due to land in Seattle early afternoon to expedite a deal that will swap Bedard for outfielder Adam Jones, reliever George Sherill and a package of prospects. The teams had hoped to announce the trade by Thursday evening but it's likely the official announcement won't come until Friday at the earliest. |
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| The Phillies inked Eric Bruntlett to a one-year, $600,000 deal Thursday, avoiding arbitration with the utilityman. Bruntlett hit .246 with 14 runs batted in during 80 games with the Astros last season. He was sent to Philly in November as part of the Brad Lidge package. |
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| Troy Patton, P, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 2/7, 3:41 PM CT |
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| Troy Patton signed a one-year deal with the Orioles Thursday, avoiding arbitration with the team. Financial terms weren't available. The left-hander came over from Houston in the Miguel Tejada trade. He'll compete for a job in the rotation. |
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| Jim Hoey, P, Baltimore Orioles | Thursday 2/7, 3:37 PM CT |
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| The Orioles avoided arbitration with Jim Hoey by signing the right-hander to a one-year deal Thursday. Financial terms aren't available at this time. Hoey struggled in his time with the O's last year, posting a 7.30 ERA in 23 games, but he has a terrific minor-league track record and is an option for the team's vacant closer spot. |
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| Daniel Cabrera inked a one-year deal with the Orioles Thursday, avoiding arbitration. Financial terms of the deal aren't known at this time. Cabrera went 9-18 with a 5.55 ERA in 2007. |
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| The Yankees finalized their four-year, $30 million contract with Robinson Cano Thursday. The deal avoids salary arbitration for the upcoming season and will take Cano through the remainder of years he is arbitration-eligible, according to Sports Network. |
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| Joe Blanton, P, Philadelphia Phillies | Thursday 2/7, 3:19 PM CT |
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| The Reds are talking to the A's about pitcher Joe Blanton, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Reds GM Wayne Krivsky would not comment specifically on Blanton, but he did not rule out a trade before camp starts. "You're always looking to improve," he said. "That never stops. We'll improve the team any way we can." The Enquirer also speculates that the Dodgers are interested in Blanton, but FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal have shot down those rumors, and LA doesn't appear to need another starter, anyway. |
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| Curt Schilling's 2008 season could be over before it even starts. The Boston Herald is reporting that the veteran has a significant shoulder injury that's caused friction between the player and the team. The Herald hasn't reached Schilling or the Sox for comment, but baseball sources have indicated that the club has at least inquired about the possibility of voiding the one-year, $8 million contract Schilling signed last November. The two sides are also at odds on whether the pitcher needs to have the operation. It is believed that the right-hander is suffering from an injury to the rotator cuff and/or labrum that might require surgery. If Schilling does opt for surgery, he almost certainly wouldn't be able to pitch this year, and his career could be over. |
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| Livan Hernandez is interested in returning to the Nationals. "I was the Opening Day starter when the Nationals came to Washington [in 2005]. It would be nice to have that same feeling [at the new park]. Sometimes, it's not about the money. It's how you feel," Hernandez said by phone to MLB.com. "I would love to go to Washington. There are things to do over there. Maybe the [Nationals'] budget [is low]. I'm willing to work with anything." The Nats are interested in Hernandez, but they are apparently willing to offer only one year, while Livan would like three. |
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| Jeff Kent, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers | Thursday 2/7, 9:36 AM CT |
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| Jeff Kent, who is in the last year of his contract with the Dodgers, would not say Wednesday if this will be his last season. "I won't even approach that. It's not the time or the place," he said in the LA Times. Kent will turn 40 next month but is still a very productive player. |
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| Doug Slaten, P, Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday 2/7, 9:27 AM CT |
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| Doug Slaten, recovering from microfracture surgery on his right knee, has already been throwning off a mound. Manager Bob Melvin said he believes there is a "good chance" that the pitcher will be ready by opening day, according to the Arizona Republic. |
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| Randy Johnson threw off the mound Tuesday for the first time since his back surgery last summer, tossing 25 fastballs and reporting no problems afterwards, according to the Arizona Republic. The lefty is on track to participate fully in spring training. |
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| Chris Carpenter, who had Tommy John surgery last July, plans on being part of the Cardinals' rotation for a significant portion of the coming season. "The question is whether it's going to be before the All-Star break, after the All-Star break or somewhere in between," Carpenter said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Carpenter made three sets of 25 tosses from 90 feet Wednesday. He plans to reach 120 feet next week and 150 feet in early March before throwing off a mound before the end of camp. If the former Cy Young winner's rehab goes perfectly, he could return in June, but it's nearly unheard of for someone to go through the recovery process without having a minor setback or two. "They say 10-12 months (recovery) depending on how many times you slow down," he said. "There might be some soreness here and there that causes you to miss a few days. That's to be expected. What you want to avoid is missing a week or more." |
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| The Pirates outrighted Sean Burnett to Triple-A Indianapolis Wednesday after the left-hander cleared waivers. The former first-round pick was designated for assignment last Friday. Burntett will be one of 65 players invited to the major-league portion of spring training that begins next week, and GM Neal Huntington said the lefty still has a chance to make the team, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, the Pirates have also expressed concern about the lack of velocity Burnett has shown while pitching in Venezuela this winter. |
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| Manager Willie Randolph isn't sure whether he will start new acquisition Johan Santana or Pedro Martinez on opening day. He said a decision wouldn't be made until spring training. "I have two legitimate stoppers, so I have a choice to make," Randolph said in the NY Post. "But I'm sure it will be a pleasant choice. I've got a month to think about that." Randolph may have more loyalty to Pedro, but we've got a hunch that he'll end up going with the lefty. |
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| The shoulder discomfort that Kelvim Escobar experienced while throwing this offseason is expected to force the right-hander to begin the year on the DL. Escobar had inflammation in the shoulder late in September that caused him to miss a start, and it flared up over the winter. An MRI showed no significant changes in the shoulder from last fall, but manager Mike Scioscia acknowledged that the rehab program the team has mapped out won't have Escobar ready by the season opener. "It's doubtful he'll be ready for the start of the season, but if the strength comes back in the shoulder, he has a good chance to be very strong early in the year and come back and do what he did last year," Scioscia said in the LA Times. "You can't rush it. There is some weakness in some areas that need to be strengthened, and once they are, [the Angels' medical staff] will feel more comfortable with him throwing." |
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| Russell Branyan faces a trial on domestic violence charges next month. Branyan's wife, Jill, alleges that the veteran assaulted her in a car on Jan. 31, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. According to Jill, Russell reached over and grabbed his wife's mouth to stop her from talking when the two were in an argument. The force of the grab caused her to develop a swollen lip and some bleeding. Branyan, who plead not guilty, is still currently looking for a job, and this charge certainly doesn't help his chances at landing one. |
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| Eric Hinske, RF, Tampa Bay Rays | Thursday 2/7, 8:35 AM CT |
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| The Rays signed Eric Hinske to a minor-league deal Wednesday. Hinske batted just .204 in 84 games while filling in at first base, right field and left field for the Red Sox last season. He came up as a third baseman, though, and if Tampa decides Evan Longoria isn't ready and Willy Aybar continues to have off-the-field problems, Hinske could get a look at the hot corner. |
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| Brendan Donnelly agreed to a minor league contract with the Indians on Wednesday and was invited to spring training, according to the AP. Donnelly, who was alleged in the Mitchell Report to have purchased steroids, went on the 15-day disabled list last June with a forearm injury and underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in August. Although he can't help them immediately, the Indians are hoping the right-hander may be able to bolster the back end of their bullpen at some point. |
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