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Re: The MLB Thread
Reunited and it feels so good: Carlos Pena returns to Rays for one-year
by Evan Drellich / MLB.com
Carlos Pena is returning to the Rays after spending a year away, according to multiple reports Friday.
The 33-year-old first baseman's one-year contract is worth $7.25 million, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Pena spent the 2007-10 seasons with Tampa Bay before joining the Cubs as a free agent last offseason, and his two best seasons came in Florida (46 home runs in '07, 39 in '09).
Pena's home run total for the Cubs last year (28) matched his output with the Rays in 2010. He hit .225 with a .357 on-base percentage in 2011, marks that are in line with his respective .239 and .352 clips lifetime.
Pena is taking a pay cut from his $10 million salary a year ago.
Re: The MLB Thread
Rockies get Marco Scutaro from the Red Sox for Clayton Mortensen
by AP
DENVER (AP)—The Colorado Rockies acquired infielder Marco Scutaro from the Red Sox for right-hander Clayton Mortensen on Saturday in a surprising trade that could pave the way for top Boston prospect Jose Iglesias to take over at shortstop sooner than expected.
The 36-year-old Scutaro hit a career-high .299 for the Red Sox last season, when he had seven homers, 26 doubles, 54 RBIs and a .358 on-base percentage. Boston picked up his $6 million option in October, a month after the team missed the playoffs following a record collapse down the stretch.
Scutaro was expected to remain Boston’s starting shortstop this season but he will play second base and bat second in Colorado, where the Rockies also have added Michael Cuddyer and Ramon Martinez in an offseason makeover following last year’s disappointing slide.
Mortensen, 26, went 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 games between the Rockies’ rotation and their bullpen last season. He provides depth for a Boston rotation that will be without injured starters John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka next season.
The Rockies targeted Scutaro for months and taking on his $6 million contract gives the Red Sox financial flexibility to make a run at free-agent pitcher Roy Oswalt.
Shortstop has been a trouble spot in Boston since Nomar Garciaparra was traded during the World Series championship season of 2004. Orlando Cabrera filled the position the rest of that year, but he was followed by Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez, Julio Lugo and Gonzalez again; Jed Lowrie, Nick Green and Alex Cora were also in the mix.
Scutaro provided two years of stability after signing with Boston as a free agent following the 2009 season. Now he’s gone, too.
The 22-year-old Iglesias appeared in 10 games for the Red Sox last year, getting two hits in six at-bats. A slick fielder who has struggled at the plate as a pro, he batted .235 with a homer and 31 RBIs in 101 games for Triple-A Pawtucket last year. In two minor league seasons since he defected from Cuba, Iglesias has a paltry .308 on-base percentage and .316 slugging percentage.
Still, his defense is considered outstanding and the Red Sox have been grooming him as their shortstop of the future.
Other options for Boston include versatile veterans Mike Aviles and Nick Punto. Both have plenty of big league experience at shortstop, but they were expected to fill utility roles off the bench this season.
Re: The MLB Thread
This is a nice pickup for both teams, not shocking at all. Colorado gets a veteran infielder, and Boston gets another decent arm to strengthen that bullpen.
Scutaro had a good season last year and is a solid player, but he's 36 and obviously just gonna get older. My guess is the Rox put him at 2B.
Re: The MLB Thread
Not really any major news to report, but apparently the Dodgers are now "in" on Fielder, despite the sale of the team looming. Fielder also continues to wait for offers to come in.
It would be interesting if the Dodgers did sign Fielder. Not only would it give them real power that they need, but the LA teams were the teams who would've made the big splash.
Angels sign Pujols, Dodgers counter and sign Fielder.
How funny. 
Re: The MLB Thread
Red Sox signed Cody Ross for 1 year, 3 million. Should fit in nicely as a platoon OF against lefties. They certainly were in need of a right handed bat, so he should help. Especially early in the season with Ryan Kalish out, and Carl Crawford possibly not ready for opening day. They're also still interested in Roy Oswalt, looking for another 1 year deal for around 8 million. If that doesn't work out they could try for Edwin Jackson or explore the trade route. Gavin Floyd, Matt Garza, John Danks, or Wandy Rodriguez are names that have been floated around.
Re: The MLB Thread
OF Cody Ross agrees to sign with Red Sox
by Janie McCauley / AP Baseball
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Cody Ross agreed to sign with the Boston Red Sox, giving them an experienced hitter with postseason success on his resume to help replace J.D. Drew in right field.
Foxsports.com and ESPN.com reported the contract is for one year and $3 million. Ross told The Associated Press in a text message late Monday that the deal won’t be finalized until he takes a physical.
The 31-year-old Ross batted .240 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants last season while playing at least 22 games at every outfield position.
Ross was the 2010 NL championship series MVP for the Giants and helped them win the World Series that year after they picked him up off waivers in August. He expressed his thanks on Twitter to San Francisco fans and wrote: “Looking fwd to meeting the (hash)redsoxnation fans!!”
The right-handed hitting Ross and newly acquired Ryan Sweeney provide the Red Sox with a righty-lefty tandem to fill right field. Drew is a free agent after completing a $70 million five-year contract. He played only 81 games last year, batting .222 with four homers and 22 RBIs in an injury-plagued season.
Ross and Sweeney also give Boston insurance in left field as Carl Crawford recovers from surgery on his left wrist. Crawford might not be ready for opening day.
With the Red Sox, Ross would join a team in transition after manager Terry Francona was let go and replaced by Bobby Valentine. Boston went 7-20 in September last year, missing the playoffs with a record collapse.
Now, Valentine’s roster is taking shape.
Late last month, the Red Sox landed a new man for the back of the bullpen when they acquired All-Star closer Andrew Bailey and Sweeney from the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Josh Reddick, infield prospect Miles Head and minor league pitcher Raul Alcantara.
Reddick spent much of last season filling in for Drew and occasionally Crawford.
Bailey gives the Red Sox a reliable ninth-inning reliever to replace Jonathan Papelbon, who signed a $50 million, four-year contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in November.
Last January, Ross avoided salary arbitration and signed a $6.3 million, one-year contract with San Francisco.
It was a hefty raise for the former kid rodeo clown, who earned $4.45 million in 2010 and joined the Giants on a waiver claim from Florida on Aug. 22 that year.
Ross then became one of the Giants’ most reliable players—and a fan favorite—down the stretch and during an improbable title run. The franchise won its first championship since 1954 and first since moving West in 1958.
He hit three of his five postseason home runs during the NLCS against Philadelphia, and the Giants won in six games against the favored Phillies as Ross received MVP honors. He drove in 10 runs during the 2010 postseason, two in San Francisco’s five-game World Series win over the Texas Rangers.
But Ross—son of a team roper and steer wrestler—never found a steady groove in 2011 and the Giants failed to return to the playoffs.
It became clear the team was going in a different direction this winter. In November, general manager Brian Sabean acquired Melky Cabrera in a trade with the Royals.
Re: The MLB Thread
Red Sox signed Cody Ross for 1 year, 3 million. Should fit in nicely as a platoon OF against lefties. They certainly were in need of a right handed bat, so he should help. Especially early in the season with Ryan Kalish out, and Carl Crawford possibly not ready for opening day. They're also still interested in Roy Oswalt, looking for another 1 year deal for around 8 million. If that doesn't work out they could try for Edwin Jackson or explore the trade route. Gavin Floyd, Matt Garza, John Danks, or Wandy Rodriguez are names that have been floated around.
Yeah that's a good pickup for the Red Sox. And I know first hand from Ross time with the Marlins that his personality will fit in well with the Red Sox, barring any unforseen total bust situation.
As for Garza, I think at this point the Cubs are gonna hold on to him unless the PERFECT deal comes along. They're holding on to him tight because he's the last "big ticket" trade piece they have left. After that it's signing money and hoping the prospects they have work out.
Re: The MLB Thread
Kevin Millwood, Mariners agree to minor league / spring invite deal
by AP
SEATTLE (AP)—Kevin Millwood and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said during a conference call Monday that Millwood will have a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation.
The 37-year-old Millwood gets a $1 million salary if he makes Seattle’s 40-man roster and he can earn an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses.
An All-Star in 1999, the right-hander has a 163-140 career record with a 4.10 ERA. Millwood’s major league time last year was limited to a late-season stint with Colorado. He went 4-3 with a 3.98 ERA in nine starts.
In Seattle, Millwood will be reunited with manager Eric Wedge and pitching coach Carl Willis. They were with Cleveland when Millwood pitched for the Indians in 2005.
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I can't even believe this guy is still around.
Re: The MLB Thread
Houston Astros owner Jim Crane considering name, uniform changes
by Kristie Rieken / AP Sports
HOUSTON (AP)—New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is considering changing the name of the franchise as well as its uniforms.
Crane said Monday the team will conduct a study to decide whether or not to switch the name.
“We’re going to study the information both from the fans and from all sorts of marketing people,” Crane said. “I’m not saying we’re going to change. We haven’t made the decision yet whether we’re going to change.”
The team was established in 1962 as the Colt .45s and has been called the Astros since 1965 when it was changed to coincide with the move to the Astrodome.
Crane said switching uniforms is something they are “highly considering.” Any changes wouldn’t happen until 2013 when Houston makes the move from the National League to the American League.
“We had the Colt .45s and everybody liked that one,” Crane said. “So you can imagine how upset they were when we switched that. What you get when you look at the fan base is the older we get and I’m old, you don’t like to change. But the younger fans are very receptive to change and the older ones aren’t, so that’s what we saw with the American League.”
Crane’s comments came at an event to announce several fan initiatives. The biggest move is a 5 percent rebate on full-season and 27-game season ticket accounts that are renewed by Jan. 31. The cheapest at the park will be cut from $7 to $5. Children’s tickets in the lowest priced sections will remain $1.
They also have a new $35 ticket located on the club level that includes a $15 credit for food, beverages and retail items. These tickets cost $46 last season and did not include any food or retail credit.
The Astros will also allow fans to bring water and a small amount of food inside the stadium.
Crane and his staff met with many fans before deciding on these initiatives. He has been looking into ways to improve the team, which finished a franchise-worst 56-106 last season, and the fan experience since the sale from Drayton McLane was completed in late November.
“We felt that with the new ownership and the way the team performed in the last couple of years that we needed to step forward and try to get the interest back with the fans,” he said.
“We’re making some very positive moves to put a better product on the field, and we wanted to get people in the ballpark to experience that.”
The Astros name is a nod to Houston’s role in the space program as the site of NASA’s Mission Control. Aerospace is a major industry in the metropolitan area, but now that the space shuttle program has ended, the city may be less likely to base its identity on the space program.
Still, Crane wanted to make clear that no decisions have been made yet.
“We haven’t said we’re going to do that, so don’t jump to any conclusions,” he said of a possible name change. “Sometimes change is good.”
He said they haven’t hired a marketing firm yet, but they are considering doing that soon. There isn’t a lot of to make a decision. Crane said they must inform the league by the beginning of the season if they are going to make a change. They wouldn’t be allowed to announce the new name or release the logos until the season is over.
“Baseball has to approve all of those logos and all of those changes and there is a lot of expense to it. We’ve got signs here and if we do change it, it’s going to be expensive,” Crane said.
The Astros have had several uniform styles in their history, including the shooting star jerseys and the now infamous rainbow ones. They’ve had their current uniforms, which include road grays and primarily home reds since 2000. They also have alternate home white and white with black pinstriped jerseys.
Crane said some past uniforms could be incorporated into a new design.
“We’ve been studying the uniforms and we think there are some good ideas with the past,” he said. “We have had baseball’s people in to talk to them about what needs to be done. We’re trying to follow the proper protocol. They have very tight rules. We’re going to get some fan input together and put a study group together.”
