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.

Marlins to get new ballpark?

The Marlins are getting a new ballpark? Yep, you read that correctly. The Miami-Dade County commissioners approved a public works project that will include a new, 37,000 seat, retractible roof, ballpark where the Orange Bowl site is now.

The estimated cost of the new stadium is now $515 million.

So let me get this straight. The Marlins, who barely draw 15,000 fans per game and even that is highballing it, get a brand new ballpark, yet one of the best teams in the AFC (San Diego Chargers) are still waiting for their new stadium? Yeah, ok.

Javy Lopez back in Atlanta

Javy Lopez, a fan favorite from his earlier years, has come back to Atlanta. The Braves signed the 37-year-old catcher to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

If Lopez makes the team out of Spring Training, he will backup current starter Brian McCann.

Padres will not match Phillies offer for Jenkins

Free agent outfielder Geoff Jenkins has still yet to decide between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Diego Padres.

The Phillies have offered a 3-year deal and it's unlikely that the Padres will attempt to match it according to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union Tribune.

Mets sign Matt Wise

According to an AP Report, the New York Mets have signed free agent right-hander Matt Wise to a 1-year 1.2M deal.

Wise was 3-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 56 appearances last season with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Astros acquire RHP Paronto

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Houston Astros have signed right-hander Chad Paronto to a 1-year $500,000 deal that could be worth up to $675,000 after incentives.

Paronto will move into the bullpen already set with guys like Doug Brocail, Oscar Villareal and Geoff Geary to set the table for newly acquired closer Jose Valverde.

Bradley says he'll be ready for Rangers' opener

New Rangers' outfielder Milton Bradley, during a conference call this afternoon, says he'll be ready for Opening Day, whether that be as the DH or as the starting right fielder.

Asked where he was in his rehab process and if he was running yet, Bradley responded "I'm ahead of pace of the average person. I'm where I need to be. I'll be ready for the start of the season."

Bradley, if we all remember, tore his ACL while being held back by Padres' manager Bud Black during a confrontation between Bradley and umpire Mike Winters towards the end of last season.

Orioles' Roberts admits HGH use

Orioles 2nd baseman, Brian Roberts after having his name show up in the Mitchell Report, admitted to using HGH during the 2003 season, but says he only used it once.

In a statement, made by Roberts himself, he said "In 2003, when I took one shot of steroids, I immediately realized that this was not what I stood for or anything that I wanted to continue doing. I never used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing drugs prior to or since that single incident."

He finished by saying "I know that by being a professional athlete, I am held to a very high standard. I never have and never will take that for granted. However, I am also human and I have made mistakes."

Mariners in "serious talks" with Silva

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.

ARod dumps Boras?

There was a story that has surfaced from Variety reporting that Yankees' 3rd basemen Alex Rodriguez had dumped long time agent Scott Boras and had signed with Guy Oseary.

Oseary represents people like Lenny Kravitz, Madonna and magician David Blaine.

Contrary to that report, Journal News beat writer Peter Abraham says ARod signed Oseary to handle non-baseball issues such as marketing and image.