|
 RHP Kyle Farnsworth signed a minor league contract with the Mets
on Feb. 3, and he received an invitation to spring training.
Farnsworth, who turns 38 in April, pitched for the Rays and Pirates
in 2013, combining to post a 4.70 ERA in 48 appearances. Farnsworth
has a 4.26 career ERA over stints with seven major league clubs.
Free agent: Cruz, Nelson
OF Nelson Cruz was in talks with the Mariners, CBSSports.com
reported Feb. 4.
Seattle was viewed as a front-runner for Cruz throughout the
offseason. Discussions may have heated up, and the Mariners
reportedly were willing to hand out a multiyear deal for the
33-year-old slugger.
Cruz is one of five remaining free agents with a draft choice
attached to his signing by virtue of his being extended the
qualifying offer by his old team, the Rangers. He had 27 home runs,
76 RBIs and a .266 batting average for Texas last year before
accepting a 50-game PED suspension tied to the Biogenesis scandal.
Free agent: Rodney, Fernando
RHP Fernando Rodney, a free agent, is being looked at by the
Mariners, CBSSports.com reported Feb. 4. Rodney, 37, was 5-4 with a
3.38 ERA and 37 saves in 66 2/3 innings last season for the Rays. In
2012, he had a 0.60 ERA and finished fifth in American League Cy
Young Award voting.
Miami Marlins: Baker, Jeff
INF Jeff Baker agreed to a two-year, $3.7 million deal with the
Marlins, multiple media outlets reported Feb. 4. Baker, 33, hit .279
with 11 homers in 175 plate appearances for the Rangers last year.
Baker has played for six teams over the past five seasons.
Oakland Athletics: Fuld, Sam
OF Sam Fuld signed a minor league contract with the A's on Feb. 4,
and he was invited to spring training. The deal is valued at
$800,000 if Fuld spends the full season on the major league roster,
and he could earn another $100,000 in bonuses for games played.
The left-handed-hitting Fuld spent the past three seasons with the
Rays. Last year, he batted just .199 with two home runs and 17 RBIs
in 119 games. The 32-year-old is known more for his speed and
defense. Fuld has a career .234 batting average with six home runs
and 54 RBIs in parts of six seasons with the Rays and the Cubs.
Seattle Mariners: Morrison, Logan
1B/OF Logan Morrison and the Mariners avoided arbitration by
agreeing to a one-year, $1.75 million contract on Feb. 4. Morrison
sought $2.5 million, and the Mariners offered $1.1 million in
negotiations. The deal includes a potential $350,000 in incentives.
The Mariners acquired Morrison from the Marlins in December for RHP
Carter Capps.
Morrison, 25, struggled with injuries the past two years. He batted
.242 with six home runs in 85 games for the Marlins last season. But
he does have some pop in his bat, as he hit 23 homers for the
Marlins in 2011.
Morrison is expected to share duty in the Seattle outfield, at first
base and at designated hitter with Corey Hart, who also was acquired
by the Mariners during the offseason, and Justin Smoak.
[to top of second column] |
San Diego Padres: Luebke, Cory
LHP Cory Luebke appears headed for a second reconstructive elbow
surgery that would sideline him for a second consecutive season. An
MRI on Jan. 31 of Luebke's left elbow detected a tear in the ulnar
collateral ligament. The 28-year-old pitcher had Tommy John
reconstructive elbow surgery on May 23, 2012, and did not pitch last
season.
"This is a real setback," Padres general manager Josh Byrnes told
MLB.com.
Luebke made 25 career starts and pitched in 55 games for the Padres
from 2012 until May 2012, posting a 10-12 record with a 3.25 ERA. In
2012, he was off to a 3-1 start with a 2.61 ERA in five starts when
he was injured.
The Padres were hoping that Luebke could return to their rotation in
2014, but it now looks as if he will not be back until at least
2015. Luebke is under contract in 2014 for $3 million and in 2015
for $5.25 million.
Colorado Rockies: Janish, Paul
INF Paul Janish finalized a minor league deal with the Rockies on
Feb. 4. Janish, 31, hit .171 in 52 games for the Braves in 2013.
Atlanta Braves: Freeman, Freddie
1B Freddie Freeman and the Braves agreed to an eight-year, $135
million contract extension on Feb. 4, avoiding salary arbitration.
Freeman's contract, the richest in franchise history, averages
$16,875,000 annually and could extend through the 2021 season.
Freeman, who broke into the major leagues in 2010, has improved
every year. The 24-year-old All-Star is coming off a 2013 season in
which he hit .319 with 23 home runs, 109 RBIs and 89 runs in 147
games.
"Freddie has established himself as one of the best young talents in
the game," Braves GM Frank Wren said in a written statement. "We are
excited to sign one of our own homegrown players to a contract that
will keep him in a Braves uniform for the next eight seasons."
Atlanta Braves: Heyward, Jason
RF Jason Heyward and the Braves avoided arbitration, agreeing to a
two-year, $13.3 million deal on Feb. 4.
Heyward, 24, hit .254 with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs in 104 games for
the Braves in 2013, his fourth season in the majors. He batted .333
over his final 31 games of the season, including .322 in 29 games
from the leadoff spot.
Heyward twice went on the disabled list, as he underwent an
appendectomy in late April and then sustained a fractured jaw when
he was hit by a pitch in late August. The DL stints cost him a total
of 49 games.
"Jason is an important part of our organization and we're glad that
we were able to agree on a multiyear contract," Braves GM Frank Wren said
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