Misc. Free Agent News

[davell]

Ian Stewart IS going to be tendered a contract. That said, teams have inquired and he's available via trade.

[imb]

http://deadspin.com/5859724/meet-the-minor-leaguer-and-scam-artist-who-sold-a-pittsburgh-pirate-to-australia

 

this is somewhat miscellaneous

 

Check out this article written by his hometown when he signed with the Yankees. They make it seem like he's their next star and ready to play at Yankee Stadium after signing a minor league deal. And they keep calling the Rangers "Dallas" which pisses me off.

 

http://www.nola.com/west-bank/index.ssf/2010/12/harvey_resident_signs_with_new.html

 

Yes, the New York Yankees! In just one year, Brown has signed with two major league baseball teams.

[Guest]

Theo now meeting with Sydney Ponson's agent according to CST's twitter.... Uh what, he's got to represent someone else right?

 

 

Ponson's agent is Barry Praver...Zambrano's agent.

 

Although Ponson could be one of Theo's crazy reclamation projects....ha

[Brian]

Theo now meeting with Sydney Ponson's agent according to CST's twitter.... Uh what, he's got to represent someone else right?

 

 

Ponson's agent is Barry Praver...Zambrano's agent.

 

Although Ponson could be one of Theo's crazy reclamation projects....ha

 

I saw somewhere where the As also met with him, did he get some of Bartolo's stem cells?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Clint Barmes getting a 2/11.5 deal from the Pirates? What the hell. Maybe if we were talking a team with money to burn and closer to contention, but this doesn't make much sense.

 

I guess it makes me wonder that if teams are willing to give guys like Barmes and Caroll multi year deals what kind of trade value Darwin Barney has. He could certainly produce as much as Carroll and throw little meat on his bones Barmes as well.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The Pirates signed utility player Jake Fox and right-hander Shairon Martis, Eddy reports. Baltimore outrtighted Fox off of its 40-man roster last month. The 29-year-old posted a .756 OPS in 67 plate appearances this year, appearing behind the plate, in left field and at first base. Martis, who hasn't appeared in the Major Leagues since 2009, posted a 3.05 ERA with 9.9 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 133 innings as a starter at Double-A last year.

 

Looks like the Pirates will be the latest team to try and juice Jake Fox for anything he may have.

[Clem Fandango]

Not a FA, but caught my eye...

 

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that the Orioles "would be willing" to trade Chris Tillman this offseason.

Tillman is still just 23 years old, but with a 5.58 career ERA over 180 2/3 innings and struggling even at Triple-A this season (5.19 ERA), he's running out of chances. If he isn't dealt, Tillman would be in line to compete for a spot in the starting rotation next spring but would likely begin 2012 back at Triple-A. Perhaps the former top prospect would be best served with a fresh start in another organization.

 

Tillman was a highly regarded prospect just a couple years ago and hasn't stuck at the MLB level yet, but it seems the O's had their expectations too high. Like it says, he's still just 23, and has performed poorly in the toughest division in baseball.

 

Would Tillman be a possible buy low trade candidate worth looking into? He was supposed to be a future cornerstone of that rotation along with Matusz, Britton, and Arrieta... but all of them have been so-so thus far in the majors, with Tillman having the worst of it. He intrigues me, and is still very young so it's not like his career is done for.

[rawaction]

Not a FA, but caught my eye...

 

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that the Orioles "would be willing" to trade Chris Tillman this offseason.

Tillman is still just 23 years old, but with a 5.58 career ERA over 180 2/3 innings and struggling even at Triple-A this season (5.19 ERA), he's running out of chances. If he isn't dealt, Tillman would be in line to compete for a spot in the starting rotation next spring but would likely begin 2012 back at Triple-A. Perhaps the former top prospect would be best served with a fresh start in another organization.

 

Tillman was a highly regarded prospect just a couple years ago and hasn't stuck at the MLB level yet, but it seems the O's had their expectations too high. Like it says, he's still just 23, and has performed poorly in the toughest division in baseball.

 

Would Tillman be a possible buy low trade candidate worth looking into? He was supposed to be a future cornerstone of that rotation along with Matusz, Britton, and Arrieta... but all of them have been so-so thus far in the majors, with Tillman having the worst of it. He intrigues me, and is still very young so it's not like his career is done for.

 

Heck yeah. Looks like he hasn't been able to find the strikezone consistently, but he's 6-5 and his scouting report says plus fastball and plus curve. Be well worth a look, given his age.

[davell]

I doubt he'll come THAT cheaply, but if he could be had for a Nick Struck and Steve Clevenger or something like that, I'd be in for sure.

[MSG T]

I didn't think this was big enough for it's own thread, but this was linked from Bleacher Nation. Chris Capuano? Good xFIP the last couple of years, but nowhere near the actual results.

 

It's Wittenmeyer, so, you know...

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/9164009-573/dejesus-fits-cubs-mold.html

[BCVM22]

Angels trade catcher Jeff Mathis to Toronto for LHP Brad Mills.

[Guest]

Angels trade catcher Jeff Mathis to Toronto for LHP Brad Mills.

lol - new gm Sciocia-proofing the roster.

[BCVM22]

Phillies sign OF Laynce Nix to a 2-year contract.

[Post Count Padder]

Phillies sign OF Laynce Nix to a 2-year contract.

Gotta see what the dollar amounts are. He's a decent platoon partner/bat off the bench but is futile against lefties, has awful plate discipline and isn't much of a defender. Phillies are just throwing money at band-aids and their offense could be pretty bad next year.

[BCVM22]

I guess this goes here, even if it is the Cubs:

 

aroundthehornkc Official Royals Blog

 

#Royals announce that infielder Jeff Bianchi has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs

 

Numbers: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Jeff-Bianchi

 

A LeMahieu by any other name.

[CubColtPacer]

I guess this goes here, even if it is the Cubs:

 

aroundthehornkc Official Royals Blog

 

#Royals announce that infielder Jeff Bianchi has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs

 

Numbers: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Jeff-Bianchi

 

A LeMahieu by any other name.

 

Looks like 2011 was his return from TJS, so apparently the Cubs are taking a flier to see if he can return to his pre TJS numbers. On first glance, can't see his future as much more than a backup middle infielder though.

[SouthSideRyan]

I guess this goes here, even if it is the Cubs:

 

aroundthehornkc Official Royals Blog

 

#Royals announce that infielder Jeff Bianchi has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs

 

Numbers: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Jeff-Bianchi

 

A LeMahieu by any other name.

 

This DJL can at least play the middle infield.

[Rob]

It might be nice to have an actual backup SS on the roster instead of just shifting Barney back over on days we need to give Castro off.

[bukie]

It might be nice to have an actual backup SS on the roster instead of just shifting Barney back over on days we need to give Castro off.

I disagree, I think Barney makes a fantastic backup SS.

[Clem Fandango]

Rays lock up Matt Moore for guaranteed 5-year/$14 million deal, with options/incentives to push it to 8 year deal.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7335303/source-matt-moore-tampa-bay-rays-reach-five-year-14-million-deal

 

The Tampa Bay Rays have reached agreement with rookie pitcher Matt Moore on a guaranteed five-year, $14 million contract, according to a baseball source.

 

The deal includes multiple club options and could extend to eight years for $37.5 million and buy out two years of Moore's free agency, the source said. It includes escalator clauses based on innings pitched and games started that could raise the overall value to $40 million.

 

This is what I wish the Cubs would do with Castro

[Little Slide Rooter]

I guess this goes here, even if it is the Cubs:

 

aroundthehornkc Official Royals Blog

 

#Royals announce that infielder Jeff Bianchi has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs

 

Numbers: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Jeff-Bianchi

 

A LeMahieu by any other name.

 

Looks like 2011 was his return from TJS, so apparently the Cubs are taking a flier to see if he can return to his pre TJS numbers. On first glance, can't see his future as much more than a backup middle infielder though.

 

Waiting for Kyle to take issue with this one. Surely it will ruin us somehow.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Waiting for Kyle to take issue with this one. Surely it will ruin us somehow.

 

As long as he's not being installed as the starting 1b, we're good.

[javy knows my name]

Rays lock up Matt Moore for guaranteed 5-year/$14 million deal, with options/incentives to push it to 8 year deal.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7335303/source-matt-moore-tampa-bay-rays-reach-five-year-14-million-deal

 

The Tampa Bay Rays have reached agreement with rookie pitcher Matt Moore on a guaranteed five-year, $14 million contract, according to a baseball source.

 

The deal includes multiple club options and could extend to eight years for $37.5 million and buy out two years of Moore's free agency, the source said. It includes escalator clauses based on innings pitched and games started that could raise the overall value to $40 million.

 

This is what I wish the Cubs would do with Castro

 

That is an awesome, awesome contract.

[CubColtPacer]

It might be nice to have an actual backup SS on the roster instead of just shifting Barney back over on days we need to give Castro off.

I disagree, I think Barney makes a fantastic backup SS.

 

Yeah, I'm thrilled with the arrangement of having Barney being the backup SS. With only 5 bench spots and no real way to get around having a backup C, any way to increase the flexibility of who you can carry on a bench is good with me. With Barney starting at 2B and Baker and Dewitt as backups off the bench, that means the Cubs just have to carry 1 player who can cover CF and then they have options with their last bench player.

[Guest]

It might be nice to have an actual backup SS on the roster instead of just shifting Barney back over on days we need to give Castro off.

I disagree, I think Barney makes a fantastic backup SS.

 

Yeah, I'm thrilled with the arrangement of having Barney being the backup SS. With only 5 bench spots and no real way to get around having a backup C, any way to increase the flexibility of who you can carry on a bench is good with me. With Barney starting at 2B and Baker and Dewitt as backups off the bench, that means the Cubs just have to carry 1 player who can cover CF and then they have options with their last bench player.

 

And if Byrd and Jackson are both starting OFs, then there's even more flexibility.