Kapler un-retires, signs with Brewers

Gabe Kapler had called it a career until the Milwaukee Brewers came calling. Kapler will sign a 1-year deal with the Brewers, though the details of the contract have not been released.

Rangers out of bidding for Mark Prior

12.21.07 1:00pm PST

The Rangers, after reviewing Prior's medical records, have pulled out of the bidding, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

The Rangers had been said to be serious contenders for him prior to this.

12.20.07 7:51pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Padres are the front runners to land former Cub Mark Prior, who is currently a San Diego County resident.
The Padres, says Olney, have offered a 1-year deal with a modest base salary that includes incentives to Prior, who could make his decision in the next 24-48 hours.

12.18.07 10:44pm PST

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Phillies in or out on Lohse?

This morning, reading Ben Maller's MLB Rumors from Fox Sports, I came across two different articles on the bidding for pitcher Kyle Lohse.





The first one, from Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press, says Lohse is pondering a 4-year $40M offer from Philadelphia Phillies. Contrary to that report, George King of the NY Post says the Phillies have backed out of the running.





In the George King article, Phillies assistant GM, Ruben Amaro, says "We talked to his agent Scott Boras a few times and from all indications it looked like it would take four years. We let him know that we wouldn't go higher than three. He indicated he could get four, and we bowed out gracefully"


I guess we'll get the real story in a few days.

Furcal recovering in native Dominican Republic

After an ankle injury in Colorado ended his season, Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal headed back his native Dominican Republic. Not only to play winter ball, but to spend time with his young son and wife.

If you haven't read this article by Kevin Baxter of the LA Times, take a few minutes, it's actually a good read.

Mariners finalize 4-year deal with Silva

12.20.07 7:55pm PST

The Seattle Mariners, according to an AP report on Thursday, finalized the 4-year $48M contract for free agent right-hander Carlos Silva.

12.19.07 8:24pm PST

According to Jim Street of MLB.com, the Mariners have signed Carlos Silva to a 4-year $44M deal pending the outcome of Silva's physical.

12.18.07 10:12pm PST

Tim Booth of Yahoo! Sports checks in, the Mariners are apparently closing in on a deal with Silva.

12.18.07 1:09pm PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Seattle Mariners are in "serious talks" with free agent Carlos Silva and have apparently offered a 4-year $44M deal.

Padres front-runners for Mark Prior

12.20.07 7:51pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Padres are the front runners to land former Cub Mark Prior, who is currently a San Diego County resident.

The Padres, says Olney, have offered a 1-year deal with a modest base salary that includes incentives to Prior, who could make his decision in the next 24-48 hours.

12.18.07 10:44pm PST

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Rockies sign Wells, Redman

12.20.07 11:10am PST

The Rockies put the finishing touches on 1-year deals with right-hander Kip Wells and left-hander Mark Redman.

Wells' deal is a 1-year $3.1M, with an additional $1.5M in incentives. The details of Mark Redman's deal have not been released.

12.12.07 10:08pm PST

The Rockies finalized a 1-year $3M deal with Kip Wells according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.

12.12.07 7:54am PST

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News reports the Colorado Rockies are close to a 1-year deal with free agent right-hander Kip Wells.

Willis signs 3-year extension

12.20.07 11:01am PST

Dontrelle Willis and the Detroit Tigers have come to an agreement on a 3-year $29M deal according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.

12.20.07 7:45am PST

Not even a month removed from the Winter Meetings, new Tiger Dontrelle Willis is in negotiations for a contract extension with Detroit.

The extension is rumored to be 3-years and in the neighborhood of $25M - $30M.

Brewers interested in Lofton?

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Brewers could be looking into acquiring Kenny Lofton if they are able to move Bill Hall to 3rd and Ryan Braun to left field.

Padres sign Fick, Davanon

The San Diego Padres have signed catcher/1st baseman Robert Fick and outfielder Jeff Davanon to minor league deals with an invitation to spring training.

Fick was a member of the Padres in 2004 and spent the last 2 seasons with the Nationals. Davanon also has San Diego ties, he's an alumni of San Diego State and his father was a member of the original major league Padres in 1969.

Phillies land Chad Durbin

According to Dejan Kovacevic reports that the Philadelphia Phillies have signed, former Tigers starter, Chad Durbin, though the terms of the contract have not been released.

Phillies sign Geoff Jenkins

The San Diego Padres have lost out on the 3rd free agent they were after. After losing to the Cubs for Kosuke Fukudome, Milton Bradley to the Rangers and now the most recent being Geoff Jenkins who just signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, Jenkins signed a 2-year $13M deal with a vesting option based on plate appearances that could make the total deal worth $20M. Jenkins is expected to platoon in right field with current Philly Jayson Werth.

Tigers, Willis talking extension

Not even a month removed from the Winter Meetings, new Tiger Dontrelle Willis is in negotiations for a contract extension with Detroit.

The extension is rumored to be 3-years and in the neighborhood of $25M - $30M.

Schilling speaks on Roger Clemens

If I'm Curt Schilling, I'd be careful of what dog I choose to mess with, especially if that dog is Roger Clemens.

Schilling, posting on his website 38pitches.com, believes that if Clemens did in fact take performance enhancing drugs, that his 4 Cy Young Awards should be stripped and given to the rightful winner.

"From that point on the numbers were attained through using [performance-enhancing drugs]. Just like I stated about Jose Canseco, if that is the case with Roger, the four Cy Youngs should go to the rightful winners, and the numbers should go away if he cannot refute the accusations."

Clemens said yesterday, in a statement through his agent, that he didn't want people rushing to judgement....I guess Schill missed that part of the statement.

Mahay signs with Royals

Left-handed pitchers seem to get a lot of interest around baseball and 36-year-old Ron Mahay is no different.

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Mahay has agreed to a 2-year $8M deal with the Kansas City Royals. In 58 games, split between the Rangers and Braves, Mahay had a combined 2.55 ERA last season.

Padres, Barrett avoid arbitration

According to an AP report, the Padres have avoided arbitration with catcher Michael Barrett and have signed him to a 1-year $3.5M deal.

Barrett could also earn another $750,000 in performance bonuses.

Silva signs with Mariners

12.19.07 8:24pm PST

According to Jim Street of MLB.com, the Mariners have signed Carlos Silva to a 4-year $44M deal pending the outcome of Silva's physical.

12.18.07 10:12pm PST

Tim Booth of Yahoo! Sports checks in, the Mariners are apparently closing in on a deal with Silva.

12.18.07 1:09pm PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Seattle Mariners are in "serious talks" with free agent Carlos Silva and have apparently offered a 4-year $44M deal.

Giants interested in Tony Clark

According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants have expressed interest in free agent 1st baseman Tony Clark.

The Giants would use the left-handed hitting Clark to share time at 1st with incoming rookie Dan Ortmeier.

In the same article, Schulman also confirms that the Giants were among 10 other teams that were in Arizona to watch free agent right-hander Kris Benson throw. Benson is coming off season ending shoulder surgery, but there's word that Benson looked impressive during his workout.

San Diego is a logical destination for Mark Prior?

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Mariners close to deal with Silva

12.18.07 10:12pm PST

Tim Booth of Yahoo! Sports checks in, the Mariners are apparently closing in on a deal with Silva.

12.18.07 1:09pm PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Seattle Mariners are in "serious talks" with free agent Carlos Silva and have apparently offered a 4-year $44M deal.