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 Arizona Diamondbacks: Parra, Gerardo RF Gerardo Parra signed a one-year, $4.85 million contract on
Feb. 3 to enable the sides avoided the messy arbitration process.
Parra sought $5.2 million, and the D-backs' figure was $4.3 million,
and the sides settled just about in the middle. Parra set career
highs in virtually every offensive category while hitting .268 with
43 doubles and 10 home runs in 156 games last year. It was his first
season as the starting right fielder after the offseason trade that
sent Justin Upton to Atlanta.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Trumbo, Mark LF Mark Trumbo was the D-backs lone remaining arbitration-eligible
player as of Feb. 6. The sides were far apart in their offers —
Trumbo asked for $5.85 million, and the D-backs offered $3.4 million — but general manager Kevin Towers was optimistic that an agreement
would be reached before a hearing. "I'm sure we can get something
done," Towers said before self-editing to say, "I'm hopeful we will
get it done."
Arizona Diamondbacks: Ross, Cody OF Cody Ross was taking batting practice and jogging in the outfield
grass at Salt River Fields, manager Kirk Gibson said, six months
after suffering the Bo Jackson injury — a fractured and dislocated
hip — while attempting to beat a play at first base Aug. 4. The
final step will be sliding, and both Gibson and general manager
Kevin Towers said in early February that it is possible Ross could
be ready for the start of the regular season. "His progress has been
outstanding," Gibson said.
The D-backs play two regular-season games against the Los Angeles
Dodgers in Sydney, Australia — oddly, both are scheduled for March
22, U.S. time — and Ross is unlikely to return by then, but Gibson
would not rule out a return by the opening home series against the
San Francisco Giants, March 31-April 2.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Bradley, Archie
RHP Archie Bradley, the seventh player taken in the 2011 draft, will
get a long look in spring training as a possible addition to the
rotation. Most baseball people feel he has to-of-the-rotation stuff
and makeup, and that it is only a matter of time before he arrives.
He throws in the high-90 mph range and went 14-5 with a 1.84 ERA and
162 strikeouts in 152 innings in 2013, mostly at Double-A Mobile.
But Bradley, 21, will not be rushed, and if he needs another few
months in the minor leagues, so be it.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin, Patrick
LHP Patrick Corbin worked his way from candidate for the fifth spot
in the rotation in spring training to staff ace, with a stop-off at
the All-Star Game highlighting his first full season in the majors.
One early-season start against Atlanta prompted this tweet for
Chipper Jones: "This Corbin dude is pretty nasty!"
Arizona Diamondbacks: Reed, Addison
RHP Addison Reed enters spring training as the closer after posting
69 saves in his first two seasons with the Chicago White Sox. Reed
was 40-for-48 in save conversions last season. His arrival will push
former closer Putz and fill-in closer Ziegler into setup roles.
Houston Astros: Williams, Jerome
RHP Jerome Williams finalized a one-year, $2.1 million contract with
the Astros on Feb. 6. The contract also includes performance
bonuses. Williams, 32, was 9-10 with a 4.57 ERA in 37 games (25
starts) over a career-high 169 1/3 innings for the Angels in 2013.
Williams has a 4.35 career ERA in 155 games (117 starts) in eight
seasons with the Angels, Nationals, Cubs and Giants.
Houston Astros: Wallace, Brett
1B/3B Brett Wallace was designated for assignment by the Astros on
Feb. 6 to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for newly signed RHP
Jerome Williams. Wallace, 27, hit .221/.282/.431 with 13 homers and
36 RBIs in 79 games with Houston last season. He has a career
.242/.313/.391 hitting line with 29 homers and 102 RBIs in 311 games
for the Astros the past four seasons.
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Miami Marlins: Marmol, Carlos
RHP Carlos Marmol and the Marlins reached a one-year, $1.25 million
agreement, multiple media outlets reported Feb. 6. The 31-year-old
reliever spent the 2013 season with the Cubs and Dodgers, pitching
in a combined 49 innings and posting a 2-4 record with a 4.41 ERA
and two saves. He finished the season with the Dodgers and had a
2.53 ERA in 21 outings.
Marmol was with the Cubs for eight seasons, primarily as their
closer, and had 117 saves with a 23-32 record and a 3.50 ERA.
Control has always been an issue for Marmol. He has issued 385 walks
in 563 2/3 career innings.
RHP Steve Cishek is expected to be the Marlins' closer in 2014,
leaving Marmol to compete for a middle-relief or setup role and
provide backup to Cishek.
Seattle Mariners: Rodney, Fernando RHP Fernando Rodney agreed to a two-year, $14 million contract with
the Mariners, multiple media outlets reported Feb. 6. Incentives in
the deal could boost its value to $15 million. Rodney could move
into the Mariners' closer role ahead of RHP Danny Farquhar.
Rodney, 36, converted 37 of 45 save chances with a 3.38 ERA in 66
2/3 innings for the Rays last season. In 2012, Rodney notched 48
saves in 50 games with a 0.60 ERA in a sterling season for Tampa
Bay, finishing fifth in American League Cy Young Award voting.
Baltimore Orioles: Wieters, Matt C Matt Wieters and the Orioles avoided arbitration, agreeing to a
one-year, $7.7 million deal on Feb. 6. Wieters asked for $8.75
million and the Orioles offered $6.5 million during an exchange of
salary figures in January. Wieters, 27, batted .235/.287/.417 with
22 home runs and 79 RBIs in 148 games last season.
Chicago Cubs: Barney, Darwin
2B Darwin Barney and the Cubs avoided salary arbitration Feb. 6,
agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million deal. Barney's salary is the
exact midpoint of figures filed by each side last month. Barney
sought $2.8 million, and the Cubs countered at $1.8 million. The
28-year-old won a Gold Glove Award in 2012 and was a finalist in
2013 after committing only four errors in 141 games. In his third
full season, he batted a career-low .208 with a .266 on-base
percentage, seven home runs and 41 RBIs.
Chicago Cubs: Ruggiano, Justin
OF Justin Ruggiano and the Cubs agreed to a one-year, $2 million
deal on Jan. 29, avoiding arbitration. Ruggiano was seeking a $2.45
million salary, while the Cubs previously offered him $1.6 million.
Ruggiano, 31, was obtained by Chicago in a December trade that sent
OF Brian Bogusevic to Miami. He hit .222/.298/.396 with 18 homers
and 50 RBIs in 128 games with the Marlins last season.
Tampa Bay Rays: Betemit, Wilson
INF Wilson Betemit, who was released by the Orioles last September,
signed a minor league deal with the Rays on Feb. 6. Betemit, 32,
went 0-for-10 in six games with Baltimore last year. He has a career
.267/.332/.442 hitting line with 75 homers and 283 RBIs in 805 games
for the Braves, Dodgers, Yankees, White Sox, Royals, Tigers and
Orioles.
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