| Nyjer Morgan (OF) - Washington Nationals |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 5:54pm ET)
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According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Nyjer Morgan took 30 swings off a tee on Wednesday.
Morgan missed the last month of the season with a fractured left hand, however he is now feeling 100 percent. "The hand feels good," said Morgan. "Even though the injury is in the back of my mind, I said, 'Don't push it. But I wanted to push it. I know it's November. It was something I really want to feel. I really feel good about everything." The 29-year-old speedster batted .307/.369/.388 with three home runs, seven triples, 15 doubles, 42 stolen bases and 74 runs scored in 120 games between the Pirates and Nationals in 2009. Fantasy owners hope he can be the same spark plug in 2010.
Source: MLB.com
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| Josh Johnson (S) - Florida Marlins |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 4:47pm ET)
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Talks on an extension for Josh Johnson broke down when the Marlins failed to guarantee a fourth year, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.
"We disagreed on the years, which is fair," Johnson's agent Matt Sosnick said. "As far as our feelings are concerned, and I feel very strongly that this is true, that Josh either signs a long-term deal now with the Marlins, which is not going to happen, or he gets traded after this year and the Marlins can get some value back." Though Sosnick didn't reveal specific dollar figures, he said the Marlins offered Johnson three years with an option for a fourth. According to the report, Johnson's camp hoped the deal would at least match Zack Greinke's four-year, $38 million contract. Johnson remains under team control through 2011.
Source: MLB.com
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| Laynce Nix (OF) - Cincinnati Reds |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 4:33pm ET)
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Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said the Reds made an offer to Laynce Nix, however he opted to become a free agent.
"They still may take it," Jocketty said. "But they want to see what's out there. We weren't comfortable with what the arbitration figure would be. With Gomes, we wanted to keep some protection. I still thinks there's a chance we'll get something done with him." Nix, 29, hit .239/.291/.476 this past season with a career-high 15 homers, 26 doubles and 46 RBI in 309 at-bats with the Reds in 2009. It's clear the Reds prefer Gomes, so Nix will likely latch on with another club.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
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| Juan Abreu (S) - Kansas City Royals |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 3:35pm ET)
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Royals re-signed RHP Juan Abreu to a minor league contract.
Abreu, 24, recently became a minor league free agent. Armed with an impressive heater, Abreu posted a 1.69 ERA and 28/14 K/BB ratio in 20 relief appearances with Class A Wilmington, but struggled to a 5.75 ERA in 16 games upon a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
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| Brad Bergesen (S) - Baltimore Orioles |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 3:23pm ET)
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Brad Bergesen (shin) began a running program this week, reports Roch Kubato of MASNSports.com.
"It's going great," Bergesen told Kubato. The 24-year-old right-hander ran twice this week to kick off an offseason conditioning program. Bergesen's season came to an end on July 31 after he was hit in the left shin by a Billy Butler line drive. He's had a few bumps in the road with his rehab, but looks to be back on track for spring training.
Source: MASNSports.com
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| Jose Contreras (S) - Colorado Rockies |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 2:24pm ET)
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Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker reports that Jose Contreras is seeking employment in Japan.
There was a report of Contreras reaching out to the Hanshin Tigers earlier this week, but the rumors hold more weight now that we learn his 16-year-old son is hoping to take part in an exchange program with a high school in Japan. The 37-year-old right-hander is expected to visit Japan next week, with the SoftBank Hawks and Hiroshima Carp as the most likely landing spots, based on geography, according to Newman.
Source: NPB Tracker
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| Matt Nevarez (S) - Houston Astros |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 2:04pm ET)
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Astros purchased the contracts of RHPs Matt Nevarez, Evan Englebrook and Henry Villar.
The three are protected from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Nevarez, a 22-year-old reliever, was acquired in the Ivan Rodriguez trade in August. He posted a 2.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 50/15 K/BB ratio in 35 innings between Class A Hickory (Texas) and Class A Lexington (Astros) in 2009.
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| Jose Valdez (S) - Houston Astros |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 1:57pm ET)
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Astros signed RHP Jose Valdez to a minor league contract.
He was also added to Houston's 40-man roster. Valdez, 26, was 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 43 relief appearances between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre in the Yankees organization in 2009. Though he has pitched in the minor leagues for parts of seven seasons, 2009 was his first at the Triple-A level.
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| John D. Gaub (S) - Chicago Cubs |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 1:22pm ET)
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Cubs purchased the contracts of LHP John Gaub, RHPs Blake Parker and Rafael Dolis, OF James Adduci and C Welington Castillo.
The five are now protected from December's Rule 5 draft. Armed with a fastball clocked as high as 100 mph, the 21-year-old Dolis surely would have been chosen had he been exposed. That said, he's still a bit of a project, posting a 3.79 ERA and 75/53 K/BB ratio in 99 2/3 innings with Class A Daytona in 2009.
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| Roy Halladay (S) - Toronto Blue Jays |
(Sat, Nov 21 - 1:11pm ET)
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Blue Jays President and CEO Paul Beeston told the New York Post that Roy Halladay is "not inclined" to re-sign with Toronto.
"We would like to sign him, he is an original Blue Jay and we have never had a pitcher as good as him," Beeston said. "But he is not inclined to sign with us." New general manager Alex Anthopoulos has already been aggressive in talking to other clubs about Halladay, with an intent to move him this offseason.
Source: New York Post
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