FREE AGENT ACTIVITY

RELIEF PITCHERS

	Player	Position	Former Team	New Team	Signing Date	Notes
1.	Aardsma, David	RP	BOS	SEA	1/20/09	Acquired for a minor league pitcher
2.	Affeldt, Jeremy	RP	CIN	SF	11/17/08	2-year contract
3.	Aquino, Greg	RP	BAL	CLE	12/02/08	ST invitee
4.	Ayala, Luis	RP	NYM	---	---	---
5.	Bauer, Rick	RP	TOR	TOR	11/20/08	ST invitee
6.	Bautista, Denny	RP	PIT	PIT	12/19/08	ST invitee
7.	Bazardo, Yorman	RP	DET	PHI	1/07/09	ST invitee
8.	Beimel, Joe	RP	LAD	---	---	---
9.	Beltran, Francis	RP	DET	SF	1/09/09	ST invitee
10.	Bootcheck, Chris	RP	LAA	PIT	12/22/08	ST invitee
11.	Borkowski, Dave	RP	HOU	PHI	12/17/08	ST invitee
12.	Bowers, Cedrick	RP	COL	COL	1/14/09	ST invitee
13.	Brazoban, Yhency	RP	LAD	LAD	1/08/08	ST invitee
14.	Britton, Chris	RP	NYY	SD	12/24/08	ST invitee
15.	Brocail, Doug	RP	HOU	HOU	12/02/08	1-year, $2.5 mil deal; club option for 2010
16.	Brown, Andrew	RP	OAK	---	---	Was released
17.	Bukvich, Ryan	RP	BAL	---	---	MiL FA
18.	Calero, Kiko	RP	TEX	FLA	1/29/09	Non-roster invitee to Spring Training
19.	Cameron, Kevin	RP	SD	OAK	11/24/08	ST invitee
20.	Capellan, Jose	RP	KC	HOU	1/14/09	ST invitee
21.	Chulk, Vinnie	RP	SF	CLE	2/03/09	Minor League contract with invitation to Spring Training
22.	Colome, Jesus	RP	WSH	WSH	1/15/09	ST invitee
23.	Cordero, Chad	RP	WSH	---	---	MiL FA
24.	Corey, Bryan	RP	SD	TEX	2/03/09	Minor league contract
25.	Cormier, Lance	RP	BAL	TB	1/16/09	One-year contract
26.	Cruceta, Francisco	RP	DET	---	---	MiL FA
27.	Cruz, Juan	RP	ARI	---	---	---
28.	Dessens, Elmer	RP	ATL	---	---	---
29.	Diaz, Joselo	RP	TEX	---	---	MiL FA
30.	Dohmann, Scott	RP	TB	---	---	MiL FA
31.	Donnelly, Brendan	RP	CLE	---	---	---
32.	Elarton, Scott	RP	CLE	---	---	---
33.	Embree, Alan	RP	OAK	COL	12/13/08	One-year contract
34.	Falkenborg, Brian	RP	SD	---	---	MiL FA
35.	Farnsworth, Kyle	RP	DET	KC	12/13/08	Two-year contract with club option for 2011
36.	Flores, Randy	RP	STL	---	---	Non-tendered
37.	Fossum, Casey	RP	DET	NYM	1/19/09	ST invitee
38.	Foulke, Keith	RP	OAK	---	---	---
39.	Fox, Chad	RP	CHC	CHC	12/03/08	ST invitee
40.	Fuentes, Brian	RP	COL	LAA	12/31/08	Two-year contract
41.	Fukumori, Kazuo	RP	TEX	TEX	10/31/08	Re-signed to a minor league contract
42.	Gagne, Eric	RP	MIL	---	---	---
43.	Gardner, Lee	RP	FLA	---	---	MiL FA
44.	German, Franklyn	RP	CWS	CWS	1/12/09	ST invitee
45.	Glover, Gary	RP	DET	WSH	1/16/09	Minor league contract
46.	Gonzalez, Enrique	RP	SD	BOS	12/12/08	ST invitee
47.	Gordon, Brian	RP	TEX	TEX	12/11/08	ST invitee
48.	Gordon, Tom	RP	PHI	---	---	Club option declined
49.	Gregg, Kevin	RP	FLA	CHC	11/13/08	Traded for Minor League RHP Jose Ceda
50.	Guardado, Eddie	RP	MIN	TEX	2/03/09	Minor League contract with invitation to Spring Training

STARTING PITCHERS

	Player	Position	Former Team	New Team	Signing Date	Notes
1.	Armas, Tony	SP	NYM	NYM	1/29/09	MiL contract
2.	Bale, John	SP	KC	KC	12/16/08	re-signed for 1.2 mil
3.	Belisle, Matt	SP	CIN	COL	1/14/09	ST invitee
4.	Burnett, A.J.	SP	TOR	NYY	12/18/08	Agreed to five-year deal with Yankees
5.	Byrd, Paul	SP	BOS	---	---	---
6.	Cabrera, Daniel	SP	BAL	WSH	12/29/08	1-yr, $2.6M
7.	Capuano, Chris	SP	MIL	MIL	12/16/08	MiL contract
8.	Clement, Matt	SP	STL	TOR	12/11/08	MiL deal
9.	Colon, Bartolo	SP	BOS	CWS	1/15/09	1-year contract
10.	Correia, Kevin	SP	SF	SD	12/24/08	ST invitee
11.	Davis, Jason	SP	PIT	PIT	1/21/09	ST invitee
12.	De Los Santos, Valerio	SP	COL	NYM	1/29/09	MiL Contract
13.	DeSalvo, Matt	SP	ATL	NYM	1/29/09	MiL Contract
14.	Dempster, Ryan	SP	CHC	CHC	11/18/08	4-year contract
15.	DiNardo, Lenny	SP	OAK	KC	12/17/08	ST invitee
16.	Dickey, R.A.	SP	SEA	MIN	1/14/09	ST invitee
17.	Estes, Shawn	SP	SD	---	---	Minor league fa
18.	Figueroa, Nelson	SP	NYM	NYM	12/03/08	ST invitee
19.	Fogg, Josh	SP	CIN	---	---	---
20.	Garcia, Freddy	SP	DET	NYM	1/22/09	ST invitee
21.	Garland, Jon	SP	LAA	ARI	1/29/09	1-year contract
22.	Germano, Justin	SP	SD	---	11/28/08	Signed with Hawks of Japan
23.	Ginter, Matt	SP	CLE	---	---	Minor league fa
24.	Glavine, Tom	SP	ATL	---	---	---
25.	Gonzalez, Edgar	SP	ARI	---	---	Minor league fa
26.	Hampton, Mike	SP	ATL	HOU	12/03/08	1-year contract
27.	Hendrickson, Mark	SP	FLA	BAL	12/29/08	1-yr contract
28.	Hennessey, Brad	SP	SF	BAL	11/17/08	Spring training invitee
29.	Hensley, Clay	SP	SD	---	---	Non-tendered
30.	Hernandez, Livan	SP	COL	---	---	---
31.	Hernandez, Orlando	SP	NYM	---	---	---
32.	Hernandez, Runelvys	SP	HOU	---	---	Minor league fa
33.	James, Chuck	SP	ATL	---	---	Non-tendered
34.	Jennings, Jason	SP	TEX	---	---	---
35.	Johnson, Jason	SP	LAD	NYY	1/14/09	ST invitee
36.	Johnson, Randy	SP	ARI	SF	12/26/08	One-year contract
37.	Lackey, John	SP	LAA	LAA	10/28/08	Club exercised option
38.	Lieber, Jon	SP	CHC	---	---	---
39.	Looper, Braden	SP	STL	---	---	---
40.	Lowe, Derek	SP	LAD	ATL	1/--/09	4-year, $60M contract
41.	Maddux, Greg	SP	LAD	---	---	---
42.	Martinez, Pedro	SP	NYM	---	---	---
43.	Mathis, Doug	SP	TEX	TEX	12/15/08	ST invitee
44.	Moyer, Jamie	SP	PHI	PHI	12/15/08	2-year deal
45.	Mulder, Mark	SP	STL	---	---	Club option declined
46.	Mussina, Mike	SP	NYY	---	---	Retired Nov. 20
47.	Olsen, Scott	SP	FLA	WSH	11/11/08	Acquired for Emilio Bonifacio
48.	Palmer, Matt	SP	SF	---	---	Minor league fa
49.	Parrish, John	SP	TOR	BAL	2/04/09	MiL Contract
50.	Pavano, Carl	SP	NYY	CLE	1/06/09	1-yr contract

Updated

Updated

12/14/08 10:00 AM EST
Shortstops remain available in market
Though teams have found bargains, Furcal, Cabrera are unsigned

By Corey Brock / MLB.com

Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin was talking recently about his unwillingness to trade shortstop J.J. Hardy, even though the team has a young and talented shortstop-in-waiting in Alcides Escobar.

"That's a premium position ... it's hard to find shortstops," Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Which is why teams have been scooping up available shortstops this winter and doing so without breaking the bank, as Major League teams have found some bargains during this offseason.

All while two of the biggest names left remaining on the free-agent market are shortstops -- Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera, who probably didn't anticipate the Winter Meetings passing without finding a new home for 2009.

Furcal, who appeared in only 36 games last season with the Dodgers because of a back injury, turned down a four-year, $36 million offer from the Oakland A's before the start of the Winter Meetings.

The A's still appear to be in the running for Furcal, who might be kicking himself for passing on a deal the length of what Oakland was offering. The Dodgers are said to be offering a two-year incentive-laden deal. The Royals and Blue Jays are also in the running.

If the A's can convince Furcal to sign, Bobby Crosby would likely be looking for a job.

As for Cabrera, he accepted a risk when he declined the White Sox arbitration offer last week. Cabrera, who showed he could handle hitting leadoff for Chicago last season, hit .281 with 19 stolen bases, 93 runs scored and 57 RBIs while playing in 161 games.

Cabrera has drawn interest from the Twins, Royals and A's, which is, not surprisingly, the same teams Furcal has drawn interest from, meaning there could be a fair amount of scrambling in the coming days for these teams to find shortstops.

One potential deterrent for a team considering signing Cabrera is that he's a Type A free agent and has been offered arbitration from the White Sox, meaning the team that signs him would lose a Draft pick to Chicago for doing so.

While Furcal and Cabrera will likely command big contracts, several teams have filled their need at shortstop with under-the-radar moves that could well pay off big in 2009.

The Orioles agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract with defensive-minded shortstop Cesar Izturis at the Winter Meetings. Izturis, who still needs to pass a physical in order for the deal to be complete, would give the team stability at a position where they used six players in 2008.

"We're happy with where we are at shortstop," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said.

The Tigers didn't offer their 2008 shortstop Edgar Renteria arbitration, but he wasn't without a job for long, as the Giants signed him to a two-year, $18.5 million deal last week.

Detroit answered by signing Adam Everett to a one-year, $1 million deal. The Tigers later retained Ramon Santiago to a one-year, $825,000 deal to give them flexibility at shortstop for 2009.

On Friday, the Pirates inked Ramon Vazquez to a two-year, $4 million deal, perhaps a precursory move to a potential deal involving Jack Wilson.

Two Major League veterans with impressive track records -- Omar Vizquel and David Eckstein -- could be a fit for team looking for a short-term fix, teams like the Padres, who traded their shortstop Khalil Greene to the Cardinals.

"There are some people we have identified as free agents who could be potential guys at the position," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said.

Based on the way the market has gone, Towers had better hurry.

Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Wonder what will become of Pudge.

laprimamirala wrote:

Wonder what will become of Pudge.

Retirement?

I really don't see too many teams clamoring for him!

Hot-stove scoreboard

213: Free agents to star the offseason (plus the 42 players non-tendered by last Friday's deadline).

167: Free agents remaining (approximately).

Free-agent movement from the past week:

* SP John Bale, re-signed with Royals, one year, $1.2 million.

* IF Aaron Boone, Nationals to Astros, one year, $750,000.

* SP A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays to Yankees, five years, $82.5 million.

* SP Chris Capuano, re-signed with Brewers, one year, minor league contract.

* SP Matt Clement, Cardinals to Blue Jays, one year, minor league contract.

* SP Jairo Cuevas, re-signed with Royals, one year, minor league contract.

* SS Rafael Furcal, re-signed with Dodgers, three years, $30 million (agreement reached; pending physical).

* OF Raul Ibanez, Mariners to Phillies, three years, $31.5 million.

* IF Jonathan Herrera, re-signed with Rockies, one year, minor league contract.

* OF Joey Gathright, Royals to Cubs, one year, $800,000.

* SP Doug Mathis, re-signed with Rangers, one year, minor league contract.

* OF Jason Michaels, Pirates to Astros, one year, $750,000.

* SP Jamie Moyer, re-signed with Phillies, two years, $13 million.

* OF Trot Nixon, Mets to Brewers, one year, minor league contract.

* RP Chan Ho Park, Dodgers to Phillies, one year, $2.5 million.

* RP Arthur Rhodes, Marlins to Reds, two years, $4 million.

* C Matt Treanor, Marlins to Tigers, one year, $750,000 (approximately).

* IF Ramon Vazquez, Rangers to Pirates, two years, $4 million.

* IF Dayan Viciedo, White Sox, four years, $10 million.

Trade from the past week:

* RP Scott Schoeneweis from Mets to Diamondbacks for RP Connor Robertson.

Anybody hear anything about Manny or Pudge?

laprimamirala wrote:

Anybody hear anything about Manny or Pudge?

Nothing so far. Not even a hint at Pudge, except one quick reference that the Marlins would like him back.... but at a big discount!

Heard the Yankees were interested in Manny...hey, while they're on their big spending spree, they might as well blow it ALL!!

Yankmees make me sick! They are the reason that MLB needs team salary caps!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Yankmees make me sick! They are the reason that MLB needs team salary caps!

Consider that Steinbrenner paid 10 million in 1973 for the entire team

They gotta be worth at least a billion in 2008

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Anybody hear anything about Manny or Pudge?

Nothing so far. Not even a hint at Pudge, except one quick reference that the Marlins would like him back.... but at a big discount!

Wonder when we'll find out...

iluvpudge7 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Anybody hear anything about Manny or Pudge?

Nothing so far. Not even a hint at Pudge, except one quick reference that the Marlins would like him back.... but at a big discount!

Wonder when we'll find out...

Hi!!! Glad to see you!!
You still diggin' that nice warm weather?

Hi Lap!!! Yeah, the weather's awesome. It was 81 when I left and 29 when I got here...just a slight difference lol. FL natives think it's cold when it's in the 50's sometimes in the mornings and I laugh...

*sigh* The storm we had yesterday was AWFUL! Rain/sleet/snow/ice all within about 3 hours. Two more storms this week predicted.
Go outside for me and enjoy how WARM it is!