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02.06.12
Hong-Chih Kuo (elbow) has signed a one-year deal with the Mariners, Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times reports.
Impact:
When he is right, Kuo can be dominating, but he is bouncing back from his fifth elbow operation, and his work was limited in 2011 by an anxiety disorder, so he's no sure thing. Assuming his health and improved command -- he had a 36/26 K/BB ratio in 27 innings last year -- he'll open the season in the M's setup mix behind closer Brandon League.
02.06.12
Clay Rapada has been designated for assignment by the Orioles, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports.
Impact:
The Orioles needed a roster spot in the wake of the 2-for-1 deal that netted the team Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom from the Rockies for Jeremy Guthrie. Rapada had an unsightly 6.06 ERA in 16.1 innings last season, but he has held lefties to a .153 average in his career (18-for-136) which suggests future deployment as a lefty specialist once the dust settles.
02.06.12
Anibal Sanchez has been awarded a one-year, $8 million contract with Miami in arbitration, the Palm Beach Post reports. The Marlins had proposed a figure of $6.9 million deal.
Impact:
Sanchez, who can qualify for free agency after the coming season, was just 8-9 in 2011, but he did notch a 3.67 ERA and set career-highs for innings (196.1) and strikeouts (202) while walking 64 batters en route to compiling a 1.28 WHIP. Sanchez slots in as the Marlins' No. 3 starter behind Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle.
02.06.12
Matt Lindstrom and Jason Hammel have been traded from the Rockies to the Orioles, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Impact:
There's always been a disconnect between Lindstrom's 96 mph fastball and his lack of strikeouts, and that's prevented him from getting a bigger role at the back end of the bullpen in his previous stops. With the O's closer situation somewhat unsettled, it's possible that Lindstrom could be part of that picture.
02.06.12
Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom have been traded from the Rockies to the Orioles, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Impact:
Hammel's strikeout rate dropped sharply last season, which isn't a formula for success no matter the venue. He'll be in the O's rotation, so in AL-only leagues he'll have his moments, but there's too many starts against AL-East teams for him to have too much value.
02.06.12
Jeremy Guthrie has been traded to the Rockies for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Impact:
While Guthrie desperately needed a move out of the AL East, going to Coors Field doesn't really help much, given that he's a pitch-to-contact pitcher that doesn't get an especially high number of grounders.
02.05.12
Garin Cecchini's wrist is healthy and is expected to begin the 2012 season at Low-A Greenville, SoxProspects.com reports.
Impact:
Cecchini's professional career has been stunted by a torn ACL in 2010 and then a wrist injury in 2011. He was a full participant in the Fall Instructional League and will continue his transition from shortstop to third base with the Drive.
02.05.12
Rick Ankiel has signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals, Amanda Comak of the Washington Post reports.
Impact:
Ankiel will have a shot to make the Nationals' opening day roster, and his chances probably depend on whether or not the Nationals' give a roster spot to Bryce Harper.
02.05.12
Koji Uehara has drawn interest from the Athletics, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.
Impact:
Uehara has a no-trade clause and has already invoked it to nix a trade sending him to Toronto. The 36-year-old reportedly wants to return to Baltimore, but he appears to have a diminished role in Texas and may be inclined to leave elsewhere as well.
02.05.12
Alex Cora is nearing a minor-league deal with the Cardinals, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports.
Impact:
Cora struggled mightily with Washington, hitting just .224 with a .562 OPS. He will likely serve as minor-league organizational depth in St. Louis.
02.05.12
The Tigers have signed Brent Dlugach to a minor league contract, Dlugach announced on Twitter Friday.
Impact:
Dlugach's only time in the bigs came in 2009, when he played in just five games for Detroit. The Tigers then traded him to the Red Sox in 2010. In 2011, he batted .222 and hit six home runs in 63 games for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. It's unlikely that he'll reach the big league level in 2012.
02.05.12
Kyle Seager is expected to open the season as the Mariners' starting third baseman, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.
Impact:
Seager finished the 2011 season with just a .258 average and three home runs in 201 plate appearances. However, he started eight games at shortstop, which means he will have eligibility there in many leagues (and could even have it at second base in a few, where he started thrice). Even though Seager would be an unimpressive option at third base in all likelihood, he could serve as a solid shortstop, particularly in AL-only leagues.
02.05.12
The Angels have signed Greg Smith to a minor league contract, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.
Impact:
Smith spent all of 2011 in the minors and he'll likely spend 2012 there as well, barring several injuries to the rotation.
02.05.12
Brad Penny signed a one-year contract with the Softbank Hawks, the Kyodo news service reports.
Impact:
Penny will try to fill the void in the Hawks' rotation as Tsuyoshi Wada, Toshiya Sugiuchi and D.J. Houlton all left via free agency.
02.05.12
Alfredo Aceves has signed a one-year, 1.2 million deal with the Red Sox, the Boston Globe reports.
Impact:
Aceves, who was 10-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 55 appearances last season, will head to camp in the team's starting mix, but depending on how things shake out with the team's rotation, the versatile hurler could end up in the Red Sox bullpen in a swingman role.
02.04.12
The Giants are talking about using Buster Posey at first base "at least once a week, and possibly more", the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Impact:
It seems like this make too much sense not to happen, but the Giants do already have a crowd at first base with Brandon Belt and Aubrey Huff competing for the starting spot. Regardless of how this plays out, Posey should see enough time both behind the plate and at first base to qualify for both positions in fantasy leagues.
02.04.12
The acquisition of Marco Scutaro means Chris Nelson will not have a starting job this season, and he is not guaranteed to make the roster, MLB.com reports
Impact:
Jonathan Herrera, Brendan Harris, and Brandon Wood are considered his primary competition for a utility infielder role. Nelson hit well at the Triple-A level last year, but posted a .250/.280/.383 line in 189 plate appearances for the Rockies.
02.04.12
C.J. Cron is still working his way back from surgery to repair a dislocated kneecap, but he should be cleared for baseball activities before minor league camp opens in March, the Ahwatukee Foothills News reports.
Impact:
The knee injury limited Cron to just 34 games in his first professional season, but it should not be a long-term issue on the heels of a successful surgery. Cron was selected 17th overall by the Angels in 2011, but with Albert Pujols entrenched at first base in Anaheim for the next decade, Cron could develop into more of a trade chip than a prospect for the Angels.
02.04.12
Although Stephen Drew (ankle) continues to work out regularly with a trainer, the D-Backs are unsure if he'll be ready to play by Opening Day, the Arizona Republic reports.
Impact:
"I don't think his swing and his bat are as big of a concern as planting, stopping, turning on bases," D-Backs general manager Kevin Towers said. "Those are the areas where he's probably really going to be tested. The challenges probably will be more in the field -- fielding and running." Drew has been hitting for at least the last three weeks, so the big tests will be similar to what Angels first baseman Kendrys Morales had to overcome last spring in that he'll need to show lateral agility and the ability to effectively run around the bases before he'll get a full green light for game action again.
02.04.12
Joba Chamberlain threw off a half-mound at the Yankees' complex on Friday, the New York Post reports.
Impact:
Chamberlain, who's recovering from Tommy John surgery last June 16th, said the session went well. If his recovery continues down its current course, he should join the Yankee bullpen around midseason.
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