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 LHP Matt Thornton finalized a two-year, $7 million contract with
the Yankees on Jan. 10. The Yankees were in need of bullpen help
after RHP Mariano Rivera retired following last season and RHP Joba
Chamberlain and LHP Boone Logan left via free agency.
Thornton, 37, was limited by injury late last season, including an
oblique issue, while with the Boston Red Sox. He appeared in 20
games for Boston, throwing 15 1/3 innings. He acquired by the Red
Sox from the Chicago White Sox last season but was left off Boston's
playoff roster. He finished the year with a 3.74 ERA in 60
appearances spanning 43 1/3 innings.
New York Yankees: Rodriguez, Alex 3B Alex Rodriguez won't play a game for the Yankees in 2014, but
that might not stop him from causing a scene in spring training.
Rodriguez's 211-game suspension, handed down Major League Baseball
for his connection to the Biogenesis performance-enhancing-drug
scandal, was shortened to 162 games by an arbitrator Jan. 11.
Rodriguez also would be ineligible to play if the Yankees make the
postseason.
The three-time American League Most Valuable Player vowed to fight
the ruling in federal court, and he said he planned to show up for
the Yankees' spring training. According to a report by
ESPNNewYork.com, the Yankees might move A-Rod to their minor league
camp if he reports to Tampa, Fla., in February, and they could tell
their minor league coaches to shun him.
Anthony Bosch, founder of Biogenesis, told "60 Minutes" he
personally injected Rodriguez with banned PEDs.
Colorado Rockies: Gonzalez, Carlos OF Carlos Gonzalez had an emergency appendectomy Jan. 10 in Denver.
The 28-year-old went to the hospital after experiencing intense
stomach pain. Gonzalez made the announcement on Twitter and the team
later confirmed the news.
Gonzalez is moving from left field to center field this season after
trading Dexter Fowler to the Houston Astros in December.
Gonzalez had 26 home runs and 70 RBIs in 110 games last season, and
he won a Gold Glove. He was limited by a finger injury the second
half of the season.
New York Yankees: Wells, Vernon
OF Vernon Wells was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Jan.
10.
Wells, 35, had a batting line of .233/.282/.349 with 11 home runs
and 50 RBIs in 424 at-bats in 2013. His batting line over the last
three seasons is .226/.267/.387. He is still owed $21 million for
2014: $18.6 million by the Los Angeles Angels and $2.4 million by
the Yankees. He played one season with the Yankees after getting
traded by the Angels. This year is the final one on his $126 million
contract he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008.
The Yankees no longer need Wells after adding Jacoby Ellsbury and
Carlos Beltran to their crowded outfield that also includes Brett
Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki.
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Texas Rangers: Holland, Derek
LHP Derek Holland underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery Jan.
10, and he is likely to be sidelined until midseason.
Holland was injured while playing at home with his dog, Wrigley.
There was no ACL or or MCL damage. He denied reports that he was
injured during a hockey game.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels described Holland's
long-term prognosis as good.
Holland, 27, went 10-9 with a 3.42 ERA in 33 starts for the
Rangers in 2013. Baltimore Orioles: Casilla, Alexi 2B Alexi Casilla re-signed with the Orioles on Jan. 10, getting
a minor league contract. The 29-year-old will receive an
invitation to spring training as part of the deal.
He joined the Orioles last season as a waiver pickup and batted
.214 with one home run, 10 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 62
games. Late in the season, he sustained a concussion in a
collision with Orioles RF Nick Markakis during a game against
the Tampa Bay Rays.
In November, the Orioles declined Casilla's contract option and
instead brought him back with a lower-risk deal.
New York Mets: Hefner, Jeremy
RHP Jeremy Hefner, whom the Mets non-tendered Dec. 2, reportedly
agreed to return to the organization on a minor league contract.
Hefner underwent Tommy John surgery in August and will miss
most, if not all, of the 2014 season. However, he will be able
to use the Mets' facilities in Florida as he rehabs from
surgery.
Washington Nationals: Strasburg, Stephen
RHP Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals agreed to a one-year,
$3,975,000 contract on Jan. 10. The deal includes incentives and
allows the Nationals to avoid arbitration with the 25-year-old.
Strasburg made $3.9 million in 2013 when he finished with a 8-9
record and a 3.00 ERA with 56 walks and 191 strikeouts in 183
innings. In parts of four seasons with the Nationals, Strasburg
has a 29-19 record with a 2.96 ERA and 504 strikeouts. He ended
the 2012 season with a 15-6 record.
Strasburg underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips
from his right elbow in October, and he is doing well. Strasburg
complained of forearm tightness after starts in September.
Manager Matt Williams told the Washington Post in December that
Strasburg's rehab is "going phenomenal."
Arizona Diamondbacks: Rodriguez, Santos
LHP Santos Rodriguez, designated for assignment by the White Sox
on Jan. 2, was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks on Jan.
10. Rodriguez, 26, went a combined 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA over 33
relief appearances in Double-A and Triple-A last season. He has
no major league experience.
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