Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Fantasy baseball players in the news

January 17, 2012 @ 08:41:50

First Baseman

1B | Prince Fielder | free agent | Free Agents, Fantasy
Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum downplayed the team's chances of signing free-agent 1B Prince Fielder (Brewers). "There haven't been any discussions with us for Prince, that's just not going to happen," Sveum said. "We have our first baseman in Bryan LaHair and (Anthony) Rizzo waiting in the wings as well. We're doing OK with big power left-handed hitters right now." Executive Theo Epstein wasn't as quick to shoot down the notion that Chicago could still be in the running for Fielder.

1B | Albert Pujols | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Fantasy
St. Louis Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. said the team made every effort to try to re-sign 1B Albert Pujols this winter, but he eventually signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. DeWitt said the team made a substantial offer to Pujols. "You do get to a certain point financially where you get to certain limits, where it can be hard to manage. But having said that, we hoped he would take our offer and come back. And it was a very strong offer, as you all know, but one that we felt we could still compete with over a long time. And that's the bottom line," DeWitt said.

Second Baseman

2B | Chris Getz | Kansas City Royals | Transaction
Updating previous reports, Kansas City Royals 2B Chris Getz signed a one-year deal worth $967,500.

2B | Chris Nelson | Colorado Rockies | Fantasy
The Colorado Rockies could be in a position to pursue a second baseman. They have pursued Atlanta Braves 2B Martin Prado and are also interested in Boston Red Sox SS Marco Scutaro and New York Mets 2B Justin Turner. If the season started today, INFs DJ LeMahieu or Chris Nelson would be the starter.

2B | Skip Schumaker | St. Louis Cardinals | Fantasy
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Skip Schumaker will be a utility option for manager Mike Matheny this year, and he could push INFs Tyler Greene and Daniel Descalso for the majority of playing time at second base.

Shortstop

SS | Craig Counsell | Retired Players | Transaction
The Milwaukee Brewers hired former SS Craig Counsell, who has retired as a player, to an undisclosed front-office position.

SS | Tsuyoshi Nishioka | Minnesota Twins | Fantasy
Minnesota Twins SS Tsuyoshi Nishioka will receive a chance to win a spot in spring training as a backup infielder.

Third Baseman

3B | Mark Reynolds | Baltimore Orioles | Fantasy,
The Baltimore Orioles had discussions at the winter meetings about trading for Seattle Mariners RP Brandon League. The team also had talks regarding SP Jason Vargas. SP Jeremy Guthrie and 3B Mark Reynolds were brought up in the trade discussions, but the talks didn't go very far.

3B | Jorge Vazquez | New York Yankees | Fantasy
New York Yankees 3B Jorge Vazquez will compete for a spot in spring training, and the Yankees are interested in seeing if he can become the team's designated hitter if they don't sign a free agent for that spot.

Catcher

C | Jesus Flores | Washington Nationals | Fantasy
Washington Nationals C Jesus Flores will make $815,000 in 2012 and can earn an extra $50,000 based on games played.

C | Corky Miller | Cincinnati Reds | Transaction
The Cincinnati Reds re-signed C Corky Miller to a minor league deal Monday, Jan. 16.

C | Dioner Navarro | Cincinnati Reds | Transaction
The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent C Dioner Navarro (Dodgers) to a minor league deal with a spring training invite Monday, Jan. 16.

C | Wilson Ramos | Washington Nationals | Fantasy
Updating a previous item, Washington Nationals C Jesus Flores signed a one-year deal to avoid arbitration. He is expected to serve as the backup to C Wilson Ramos. Financial terms weren't given.

C | Brayan Pena | Kansas City Royals | Fantasy
Kansas City Royals C Brayan Pena agreed to a one-year, $875,000 deal to avoid arbitration Monday, Jan. 16. He earned $660,000 last season. Pena is expected to back up C Salvador Perez this year.

C | Hector Gimenez | Chicago White Sox | Transaction
The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent C Hector Gimenez (Dodgers) to a minor league deal Sunday, Jan. 15.

Outfielder

OF | Mitch Maier | Kansas City Royals | Transaction
The Kansas City Royals avoided arbitration with OF Mitch Maier by signing him to a one-year, $865,000 deal.

OF | Melky Cabrera | San Francisco Giants | Transaction
The San Francisco Giants avoided arbitration with OF Melky Cabrera by signing him to a one-year, $6 million deal.

OF | Don Kelly | Detroit Tigers | Transaction
The Detroit Tigers avoided arbitration with IF/OF Don Kelly by signing him to a one-year, $900,000 deal.

OF | Andre Ethier | Los Angeles Dodgers | Transaction
The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided arbitration with OF Andre Ethier and signed him to a one-year, $10.95 million deal. The deal includes undisclosed performance bonuses.

OF | Ryan Ludwick | Cincinnati Reds | Free Agents
The Cincinnati Reds agreed with free-agent OF Ryan Ludwick (Pirates) on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.

OF | Jonny Gomes | free agent | Free Agents, Fantasy
The Oakland Athletics are looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder, with free-agent OFs Jonny Gomes (Nationals) and Ryan Ludwick (Pirates) as possibilities. Oakland isn't ruling out free-agent OF Johnny Damon (Rays), either.

OF | Angel Pagan | San Francisco Giants | Transaction, Fantasy
The San Francisco Giants avoided arbitration with OF Angel Pagan Monday, Jan. 16, by agreeing to a one-year, $4.85 million deal. The contract includes $150,000 in incentives; $50,000 each for 550, 600 and 650 plate appearances.

OF | Carlos Beltran | St. Louis Cardinals | Fantasy
St. Louis Cardinals OF Carlos Beltran is optimistic that he will be healthy in 2012 after undergoing surgery on his knee in January of 2010. "Right now he says he feels great, and the doctors have confirmed that he looks good," manager Mike Matheny said. "It's going to be a juggling act to see how he progresses through the spring. Spring is really a good test."

OF | Jon Jay | St. Louis Cardinals | Fantasy
St. Louis Cardinals OF Carlos Beltran could hit second in the team's lineup this year depending upon the health of his legs. Manager Mike Matheny hasn't decided on a set lineup and prefers to evaluate his players in spring training. OF Jon Jay could also hit second.

OF | Nyjer Morgan | Milwaukee Brewers | Fantasy
Milwaukee Brewers OF Nyjer Morgan agreed to a one-year, $2.35 million deal to avoid arbitration. He can make an extra $50,000 in incentives based on plate appearances; $25,000 each for 500 and 525.

OF | Seth Smith | Oakland Athletics | Fantasy
Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane sees OF Seth Smith as the team's regular left fielder this season, with OF Josh Redding in right field. OF Collin Cowgill will be in the mix as the fourth outfielder. "He's always hit right-handers very, very well. He'll also get an opportunity to play against left-handers more here, probably, than he did in Colorado. Hopefully, with more playing time, we'll see some improvement against left-handers," Beane said.

OF | Allen Craig | St. Louis Cardinals | Injury, Fantasy
Updating previous reports, St. Louis Cardinals OF Allen Craig (knee) has not been cleared to run but is taking part in light strength exercises and has no restrictions while walking. "I feel great," Craig said. "Standing here now I have full range of motion. I'm walking fine. I'm doing light body squats. I didn't expect to be doing that at this point. Obviously, time tables are tough because you don't know what's going to happen in the future. I'm just taking it one day at a time, but I am kind of surprised with how good I feel at this point."

Starting Pitcher

SP | Mike Pelfrey | New York Mets | Transaction
The New York Mets avoided arbitration with SP Mike Pelfrey by signing him to a one-year, $5.675 million deal.

SP | Jordan Zimmermann | Washington Nationals | Transaction
The Washington Nationals avoided arbitration with SPs Jordan Zimmermann and Tom Gorzelanny by signing them to one-year deals.

SP | Jamie Moyer | free agent | Free Agents, Fantasy,
The Colorado Rockies have made a minor league offer to free-agent SP Jamie Moyer (Phillies). He would compete for a rotation spot and be a mentor to the team's younger pitchers.

SP | Jason Vargas | Seattle Mariners | Fantasy,
The Baltimore Orioles had discussions at the winter meetings about trading for Seattle Mariners RP Brandon League. The team also had talks regarding SP Jason Vargas. SP Jeremy Guthrie and 3B Mark Reynolds were brought up in the trade discussions, but the talks didn't go very far.

SP | Phil Hughes | New York Yankees | Transaction, Fantasy,
The New York Yankees signed SP Phil Hughes to a one-year, $3.2 million deal Monday, Jan. 16, to avoid arbitration. He can make an extra $225,000 in incentives; $50,000 for 20 starts and $25,000 each for 23, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 starts. His deal is not guaranteed.

SP | Kevin Millwood | free agent | Free Agents,
The Colorado Rockies are close to signing a veteran pitcher that will compete for a rotation spot in spring training, but it is not free-agent SP Kevin Millwood (Rockies).

SP | Dana Eveland | Baltimore Orioles | Transaction, Fantasy,
The Baltimore Orioles avoided arbitration with RP Darren O'Day Monday, Jan. 16, agreeing to a $1.35 million deal. SP Dana Eveland agreed to a one-year, $750,000 deal.

SP | Guillermo Moscoso | Colorado Rockies | Fantasy,
Colorado Rockies SPs Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman will compete for rotation spots in spring training this year.

SP | Charlie Morton | Pittsburgh Pirates | Transaction, Fantasy,
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed SP Charlie Morton to a one-year, $2.445 million deal to avoid salary arbitration Monday, Jan. 16.

Relief Pitcher

RP | Ramon Ramirez | New York Mets | Transaction
The New York Mets avoided arbitration with RP Ramon Ramirez by signing him to a one-year, $2.65 million deal.

RP | Santiago Casilla | San Francisco Giants | Transaction
The San Francisco Giants avoided arbitration with RP Santiago Casilla by signing him to a one-year, $2.2 million deal.

RP | Juan Carlos Oviedo | Miami Marlins | Transaction
The Florida Marlins avoided arbitration with RP Juan Carlos Oviedo by signing him to a one-year, $6 million deal.

RP | Brandon League | Seattle Mariners | Transaction
The Seattle Mariners avoided arbitration with CL Brandon League by signing him to a one-year, $5 million deal.

RP | Glen Perkins | Minnesota Twins | Transaction
The Minnesota Twins avoided arbitration with RP Glen Perkins by signing him to a one-year, $1.55 million deal.

RP | Mark Lowe | Texas Rangers | Transaction
The Texas Rangers avoided arbitration with RP Mark Lowe by signing him to a one-year, $1.7 million deal.

RP | Brian Wilson | San Francisco Giants | Injury, Fantasy
Updating previous reports, San Francisco Giants CL Brian Wilson (elbow) is playing hard catch from about 90 feet, which is what he normally does at this point in the offseason. He's expected to begin throwing bullpen sessions when the rest of the pitchers do.

RP | Franklin Morales | Boston Red Sox | Transaction
The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration with RP Franklin Morales and signed him to a one-year, $850,000 deal.

RP | Jim Johnson | Baltimore Orioles | Transaction
The Baltimore Orioles avoided arbitration with SP Jim Johnson by signing him to a one-year, $2.625 million deal.

RP | Eric O'Flaherty | Atlanta Braves | Transaction
The Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration with RP Eric O'Flaherty and signed him to a one-year, $2.49 million deal.

RP | J.P. Howell | Tampa Bay Rays | Transaction
Updating a previous report, the Tampa Bay Rays avoided arbitration with RP J.P. Howell by signing him to a one-year, $1.35 million deal.

RP | Kevin Gregg | Baltimore Orioles | Fantasy,
The Baltimore Orioles are willing to trade RP Kevin Gregg and are even willing to eat a large chunk of his $5.8 million salary for the 2012 season.

RP | Francisco Cordero | free agent | Free Agents, Fantasy,
The Baltimore Orioles are interested in signing free-agent RP Francisco Cordero (Reds), according to an industry source. However, the two sides aren't believed to be deep into talks. Cordero would likely be accepting a one-year deal.

RP | Kyle McClellan | St. Louis Cardinals | Fantasy,
St. Louis Cardinals RP Kyle McClellan is expected to enter the 2012 season in the bullpen after throwing a career-high 141 2/3 innings last year.

RP | Joel Hanrahan | Pittsburgh Pirates | Fantasy,
Pittsburgh Pirates RP Joel Hanrahan can make $10,000 each for 40 and 45 games finished in 2012 and another $15,000 each for 50 and 60 games finished.

RP | Vicente Padilla | Boston Red Sox | Fantasy,
Updating a previous report, the Boston Red Sox signed RP Vicente Padilla to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to spring training. Padilla will battle for the No. 5 starting spot. Ps Carlos Silva, Aaron Cook and Alfredo Aceves are other candidates to crack the rotation.

RP | Francis Beltran | Baltimore Orioles | Transaction,
The Baltimore Orioles signed free-agent RP Francis Beltran (Mexican League) to a minor league deal Sunday, Jan. 15.

RP | Phil Coke | Detroit Tigers | Transaction
The Detroit Tigers avoided arbitration with RP Phil Coke by signing him to a one-year, $1.1 million deal with $50,000 in appearance incentives.