Some More Updates

The stove is still hot and players are still on the move here at the midpoint of the offseason in the MLB. Yet the most of the bigger names with the hottest rumors, have not changed their address as of yet. Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, Scott Rolen, Livan Hernandez and Mike Cameron are still out there, waiting for deals to get done. But let's take a look at some of the deals that have been made in recent days.

• In the most recent of news, on Friday, the Cincinnati Reds dealt outfielder Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Edinson Volquez and a prospect. Hamilton was the first overall pick by the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays in the 1999 amateur draft. Despite years of battling personal issues and substance abuse, Hamilton put up a nice rookie season in 2007. Before a bout of gastroenteritis and a sprained wrist ruined his season, Hamilton smashed 19 home runs and hit a crisp .292 in 90 games. Volquez was among several candidates to be the Rangers' 5th starter in 2008, and should find a spot in a somewhat talented Reds rotation.



• The Phillies filled some holes on Thursday, signing slugging outfielder Geoff Jenkins to a 2-year contract, and pitcher Chad Durbin to a 1-year deal. Jenkins will likely play right field for the Phils, giving them another hard-hitting left-handed bat (assuming he can stay healthy for an entire season). Durbin will likely compete with incumbent Adam Eaton for the fifth spot in the Phils' rotation.


• One of the most wanted free agent pitchers this offseason found himself a home. Carlos Silva and the Seattle Mariners signed off on a 4-year, $48 million contract on Thursday. And rumors have it that the Mariners are not done trying to improve their rotation. They are very much in the stakes for Bedard, and even have some toes in the waters for Santana. Silva is a dependable righty who can log innings and does not walk (or strikeout) very many batters, as seen by his 89/36 K/BB ratio in 2007.


• If starting pitchers are the hottest commodity in baseball, relievers are certainly number two. If you have an arm, and it works, you are going to make some money. This can be seen in Kansas City, as the Royals signed free agent reliever Ron Mahay to a 2-year $8 million contract on Thursday. The lefty was one of the most coveted reliever on the market this season, and is just one of a handful of relievers in the past couple of years to command a multi-year contract, upwards of $4-10 million annually (see Justin Speier and Jamie Walker last offseason).


• Speaking of relievers, the New York Mets found one of their own. In a wise move, the Metropolitans signed right-hander Matt Wise to a 1-year contract on Tuesday. Wise was non-tendered by the Milwaukee Brewers last week, and the Mets happily scooped him up in efforts to improve a bullpen that really wore down towards the end of the season in 2007.
• The Mets and Brewers seem to have a strange relationship this offseason: last month, the Mets sent reliever Guillermo Mota to the Brew Crew for catcher Johnny Estrada. The Mets wound up non-tendering Estrada, making him a free agent, and consequently signed Wise, a non-tender himself, who will most likely play the role the Mets were hoping Mota would succeed in when they acquired him before the 2006 season. Funny how this game works, isn't it?


• Journeyman reliever Luis Vizcaino agreed to a 2-year contract with the Colorado Rockies on Friday. Vizcaino pitched for the New York Yankees last season, and provides the Rocks with a strong right-handed strikeout pitcher out of the bullpen to compliment lefty Brian Fuentes in the late innings.