CF Jacoby Ellsbury is a Yankee, for 7 years and $153 million. Justin Morneau is with the Rockies for 2 years and $13 million. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a Marlin for 3 years and $21 mill.
Those signings now are official.
Salty's move was either a reaction to or a done deal before Boston's signing of free-agent C A.J. Pierzynski. That should be a short-term improvement for the Red Sox. Pierzynski is not the player he was half a decade or more ago. Before he came to Texas to play, I'd heard all of the talk about his prickly personality. He may have mellowed, but he seemed like nothing but a positive influence in the Rangers' clubhouse.
The team with a surplus of catchers now is the Rays. They made a three-way trade in which they acquired C Ryan Hanigan from the Reds and RHP Heath Bell from the Diamondbacks. Cincinnati, which had signed C Brayan Pena to join C Devin Mesoraco, could afford to part with Hanigan. The Reds obtained just LHP David Holmberg. Arizona obtained RHP Justin Choate and a player to be named or cash.
Tampa Bay seemed to benefit most. Hanigan had the second-best success rate in the majors throwing out base stealers in 2013, behind Cardinals C Yadier Molina. Hanigan can't hit, but he and 38-year-old C Jose Molina, re-signed for 2 years and $4.5 million, have at least known how to throw out runners. The Rays extended Hanigan's contract for 3 years. The question is where younger C Jose Lobaton, a better hitter, fits in. Could he be trade bait to fill another need, possibly to attract a larger cache of prospects from the Rangers for LHP David Price? Or could he go to the White Sox, whose catchers averaged .196 this season? Can they keep three catchers, and use Lobaton at times as a DH or first baseman? Believe me, the Rays have a plan. We just don't know what it is yet.
The Mariners are making the most news about their as-yet-unrequited desire for free-agent 2B Robinson Cano. They did, however, agree to reacquire free-agent utilityman Willie Bloomquist for 2 years and $5.8 million, according to CBSSports.com. Who is his agent? I want him representing me. Bloomquist is a hustling crowd-pleaser, but also the kind of player who's just good even to help your team lose. Kind of a 21st-century Tom Brookens. Bloomquist doesn't really matter in fantasy baseball, where he would have a negligible impact.
The Phillies joined a list of teams re-signing bench players who would be eligible for arbitration. Infielder Kevin Frandsen signed for $900,000 to return to Philadelphia. He needs just a position, or maybe a little better glove, to challenge for serious playing time. Frandsen is worth watching.
No comments:
Post a Comment