2014-2015 MLB Offseason Moves Thread

Kirby_waved_at_me · January 7, 2015

Yankees signed Stephen Drew - 1 year deal $5MM (up to $7MM if he meets certain criteria)

JB_Iowa · January 7, 2015

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS · 5m5 minutes ago
nick punto agrees to deal with #diamondbacks

Nick Piecoro ‏@nickpiecoro · 7m7 minutes ago
Dbacks have agreed to terms with infielder Nick Punto on a minor league deal that includes an invite to spring training.

Twins Twerp · January 7, 2015

Nick punto...NO

Otto von Ballpark · January 7, 2015

Bonifacio is definitely an improvement over the 25th Man. I would have liked Bonifacio over Nuñez for the Twins, for instance.

It's possible that Bonifacio ends up the starting 2B for Chicago this season, which I guess could be better than the options they currently have. I don't think he's good enough with the bat to be a regular starter - his best role would be as a super sub, giving various starters days off throughout the year. It could be 100 games or more played, but all over the field.

It would be great if Escobar could handle an outfield corner, Super-sub would really be an ideal role for him given the log-jam in the Twins' infield right now. Being competent in the OF is really the best asset that Bonifacio brings to the table.

Bonifacio is no star, but he's about as thorough and proven as a super-sub can be. In one roster spot, they've got a backup infielder, backup outfielder, not-embarrassing starter at 2B or CF if necessary, potential defensive sub at about 4 positions, pinch-runner, etc. Now they can more easily start a bat-first 2B, 3B, and/or corner OF if they want, and they can also afford to carry more one-dimensional bench guys (i.e. Viciedo).

And no worries that they're stunting development by using a younger player in that role, or wasting surplus value like the Twins might face with Escobar in a similar role.

biggentleben · January 8, 2015

Tigers sign Tom Gorzelanny to a 1 year, $1M deal. Amazingly cheap signing. Either his medicals are putrid, or the Tigers just got one of the best bargains of the offseason.

JB_Iowa · January 8, 2015

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS · 22m22 minutes ago
Josh Johnson: $1M base, $6.25M incentives based on games started, beginning with 5. Maxes out at 33 GS. #padres

JB_Iowa · January 9, 2015

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS · 8m8 minutes ago
Delmon Young deal done. Breakdown: $2.25M base, 750K incentives. #orioles

JB_Iowa · January 10, 2015

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal · 5m5 minutes ago
Sources: Zobrist and Y. Escobar going to #Athletics, Jaso and Daniel Robertson going to #Rays. First reported: @susanslusser.

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal · 4m4 minutes ago
#Rays also expected to get one other piece. Robertson is top prospect, became top SS in #Athletics’ system after team sent Russell to #Cubs.

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw · 15m15 minutes ago
Third player going from Oakland to Tampa Bay in the Escobar/Zobrist deal is A-ball outfielder Boog Powell.

Kirby_waved_at_me · January 12, 2015

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS · 8m8 minutes ago
Delmon Young deal done. Breakdown: $2.25M base, 750K incentives. #orioles

Orioles banking on that Delmon playoff luck charm!

biggentleben · January 14, 2015

Diamondbacks sign highly-regarded Cuban pitcher Yoan Lopez, only needing an $8.27M bonus to get the deal done.

Ned Yost gets a contract extension, but only for one year.

The Dodgers re-signed A.J. Ellis

...and lastly, in one that involves my favorite team but is rather odd, Wandy Rodriguez reportedly fails his physical with Philadelphia and signs a minor-league deal with the Braves, who promptly state that his surgically-repaired knee shows nothing outside of what would be expected from a knee post-surgery.

biggentleben · January 14, 2015

Jamey Carroll was named to the front office of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Based on recent former Twin history in Pittsburgh, he will now become the greatest GM in the game.

Mike Sixel · January 14, 2015

Lopez costs twice that though, really, right? Because they'll have to pay a 100% penalty, iirc.

biggentleben · January 14, 2015

Lopez costs twice that though, really, right? Because they'll have to pay a 100% penalty, iirc.

Yeah, they're also now limited for two years in international signings, just like what whomever signs Moncada will have.

biggentleben · January 15, 2015

The Oakland A's have swapped recently-acquired Yunel Escobar and reliever Tyler Clippard with the Nationals. I guess they were okay with Semien at short, then?

Kirby_waved_at_me · January 15, 2015

The Oakland A's have swapped recently-acquired Yunel Escobar and reliever Tyler Clippard with the Nationals. I guess they were okay with Semien at short, then?

The sheer volume of moves being made this offseason (With the A's, Braves, White Sox and Padres being the most active) has been a lot of fun to witness.

This most recent flurry of moves is interesting - I hadn't noticed that the A's were looking that hard for late inning relief, but Clippard is a good pick-up for them.

biggentleben · January 15, 2015

The sheer volume of moves being made this offseason (With the A's, Braves, White Sox and Padres being the most active) has been a lot of fun to witness.

This most recent flurry of moves is interesting - I hadn't noticed that the A's were looking that hard for late inning relief, but Clippard is a good pick-up for them.

He basically replaces the lost Luke Gregerson in their bullpen, which was quite good last year.

ashbury · January 15, 2015

He basically replaces the lost Luke Gregerson in their bullpen, which was quite good last year.

At higher salary, probably, than the Astros will be paying Gregerson. And for roughly similar reliable results, but maybe Beane likes him better (Fangraphs projection for him is a little better too). EIther that or Gregerson simply would not consider re-signing with the A's, which I suppose a player might do if he doesn't like the ultra-small market dynamic there.

Kind of a loss for Beane, all told, considering he gave up Seth Smith to get Gregerson, whom the Padres flipped for starter prospect Brandon Maurer. With perfect hindsight, and ignoring the 2014 contributions of the players, Beane could have acquired Maurer, and still had the salary room to obtain the ~~Yankee~~ Nat Clippard.

Kirby_waved_at_me · January 16, 2015

Perhaps lost in all the Arbitration news, Nori Aoki has signed a deal with the San Fran Giants to take over in Left Field, it's a one year deal.

TheLeviathan · January 17, 2015

That Tyler Clippard move by Oakland is fantastic.

Kirby_waved_at_me · January 19, 2015

Already covered extensively elsewhere, but for completeness sake:

Max Scherzer signs with the Washington Nationals

Yovanni Gallardo traded to Texas

Dexter Fowler traded to the Cubs for Dan Straily and Luis Valbuena

TheDean · January 20, 2015

Perhaps lost in all the Arbitration news, Nori Aoki has signed a deal with the San Fran Giants to take over in Left Field, it's a one year deal.

Aoki with the Giants in LF ($4.75 MM), and now Rasmus with the Astros in CF ($4 MM).

Boy, hard not to play the "what if" game here. I gotta say that I like the sound of Aoki-Rasmus-Arcia a bit better than Arcia-???-Hunter, and at a lower total cost too. Oh well.

Otto von Ballpark · January 20, 2015

Aoki with the Giants in LF ($4.75 MM), and now Rasmus with the Astros in CF ($4 MM).

Boy, hard not to play the "what if" game here. I gotta say that I like the sound of Aoki-Rasmus-Arcia a bit better than Arcia-???-Hunter, and at a lower total cost too. Oh well.

If it's anything close to $4 mil, that's cheap. MLBTR predicted Rasmus at 1/12 or 3/30. I am guessing the Twins never seriously inquired.

JB_Iowa · January 20, 2015

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi · 8m8 minutes ago
Colby Rasmus' deal is one year at $8 million, source says. No club or player options included.

TheDean · January 21, 2015

If it's anything close to $4 mil, that's cheap. MLBTR predicted Rasmus at 1/12 or 3/30. I am guessing the Twins never seriously inquired.

Yeah, that's what I had thought. Granted, as JB said, the actual contract is double the $4 MM that had been originally reported on MLBTR. Either way, if the Twins had known he would have come in under $10 MM on a one-year deal, you'd think they would have made an offer.

Kirby_waved_at_me · January 21, 2015

Ichiro may be headed to the Marlins - he's been reportedly offer a one year deal for $2MM

Dontrelle Willis has agreed to a minor league deal with the Brewers - The former Marlin has been pitching in independent leagues and has had several stints with minor league teams since his last big league action in 2011.

Thegrin · January 21, 2015

Yes... that Colby Rasmus, the one that some Twins fans were clamoring for, before we signed Hunter.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/01/astros-talking-with-colby-rasmus.html

biggentleben · January 21, 2015

Yes... that Colby Rasmus, the one that some Twins fans were clamoring for, before we signed Hunter.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/01/astros-talking-with-colby-rasmus.html

Not to be a jerk, but this has been discussed in this thread already.

Kirby_waved_at_me · January 22, 2015

The White Sox have just signed Catcher Geovany Soto. He's going to have to compete with Tyler Flowers, Adrian Nieto and others for the starting job on the South Side.

Kirby_waved_at_me · January 23, 2015

Braves sign Jonny Gomes - deal inludes a vesting option for 2016.

biggentleben · January 23, 2015

Braves sign Jonny Gomes - deal inludes a vesting option for 2016.

Pairing him with Zoilo Almonte would be a good platoon in left field if Fredi can actually do it right.

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