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02.06.12
The Cardinals have signed Alex Cora to a minor-league deal, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Impact:
Cora hit just .224 for the Nationals in 2011, but he brings versatility and experience to the Cards' infield mix in his projected utility role.
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
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
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.
02.04.12
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.
02.03.12
Jason Castro (foot) is on track to be ready for the start of spring training, the Astros' official site reports.
Impact:
"I've been really happy so far," Castro said. "I've been doing quite a bit of work on the rehab, physical therapy side, and the whole healing process and everything has actually gone really well. I'm pretty much ahead of schedule as far as the way it's been healing and the progress I've made in my rehab and everything." Previously, there was concern he'd be behind the team's other position players when spring training began, but it sounds like Castro may be ready to roll when Grapefruit League action begins next month.
02.03.12
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that the No. 5 starter spot is Barry Zito's lose, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Impact:
Barring an injury to the rotation or a complete meltdown from Zito, it sounds like Eric Surkamp is the odd-man out for the time being. Zito landed on the DL for the first time in his career last season, and was pounded to the tune of a 5.87 ERA and 1.398 WHIP over 53.2 innings over 13 appearances (nine starts) for the Giants. With just two years remaining on his albatross of a deal, the Giants may be increasingly willing to acknowledge him as a sunk cost and pull the plug if his struggles persist.
02.03.12
Jeff Niemann lost his salary arbitration hearing that took place Friday, the Associated Press reports.
Impact:
Niemann will make $2.75 million instead of the $3.2 million salary he submitted. Last season, Niemann was 11-7 with a 4.06 ERA in 23 starts, striking out 105 batters and walking 37 in 135.1 innings. Niemann will remain in the rotation for the Rays, but his lack of strikeouts will limit his fantasy value to deeper formats.
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