A Few Notable Signings

January 24, 201016 yr

Tigers Sign Jose Valverde

http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/01/tigers_formally_announce_valve.html

Phillies Sign Jose Contreras

By Zach Links [January 22, 2010 at 2:24pm CST] The Phillies have reached an agreement with Jose Contreras to a one-year deal, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN. The deal is pending a physical.

The righty posted a 5.42 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 21 starts for the White Sox before getting traded to the Rockies in late August. The 38-year-old posted a 1.59 ERA in seven games for Colorado in the regular season, including two starts. The veteran also made two appearances for the club in the postseason.

Mets add Gary Matthews Jr.

The Mets will acquire Gary Matthews Jr. and cash from the Angels for Brian Stokes. Matthews, who receives $500K for being traded, is set to make $11MM in 2010 and $12MM in 2011. The Angels will pick up all but $2MM of the $23.5MM remaining on the deal.

Matthews joined the Angels before the 2007 season, signing a $50MM deal. He leaves without much fanfare, as he's coming off a season in which he combined poor defense with a .250/.336/.361 line. That's far from the .866 OPS he posted in his 2006 walk year.

The 30-year-old Stokes allowed 72 hits and 38 walks in 70.1 innings last year, striking out 45 for a 3.97 ERA.

Jon Heyman of SI.com first reported the deal. Heyman, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports and ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick followed up with details, all via Twitter.

Royals sign Rick Ankiel

The Royals reached an agreement with outfielder Rick Ankiel on a one-year, $3.25MM deal, tweets Yahoo's Tim Brown. The contract has a second-year mutual option worth $6MM and, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, Ankiel can earn up to $500K in incentives this year.

Back on December 10th, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweeted that Scott Boras wanted three years and "big money" for Ankiel, but ultimately he settled for an unsurprising contract. Ankiel also drew interest from the Cubs, Pirates, and Red Sox this winter.

Ankiel will try to rebuild value in Kansas City after slipping to a .231/.285/.387 line for the Cardinals in 2009. The 30-year-old's maladies included a sore Achilles tendon, a deep shoulder bruise, and a groin strain. The shoulder injury, suffered in May, came from a headfirst collision with a wall and lingered most of the season.

A converted pitcher, Ankiel has experience at all three outfield positions but predominantly played center field. He'll join Scott Podsednik and David DeJesus in the Royals' outfield, with Jose Guillen presumably serving as designated hitter.

Rockies Sign Jason Giambi

DENVER -- The Rockies have reached a one-year agreement with first baseman Jason Giambi to be a key left-handed hitter off their bench, and to spell veteran Todd Helton.

The club is withholding an official announcement until Giambi, 39, has passed a physical, Rockies officials said Saturday.

For much of the offseason the Rockies have sought a right-handed bat for a reserve role, but all along they considered bringing back Giambi, who hit .292 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 19 late-season games in 2009 and helped the club into the playoffs. Giambi had been seeking a contract as a designated hitter and first baseman for an American League club, but he and the Rockies were open to reuniting if such work was not available.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy made a personal appeal to Giambi in December.

Giambi began last season with the Athletics and hit .193 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 83 games before being released. He had been signed to play mostly DH, and said his legs wore down when injuries to teammates forced him into more duty at first base than he was prepared to handle.

In case the Rockies want to add a right-handed hitter, they've invited outfielder Jay Payton and catcher Paul Lo Duca to camp under Minor League deals to compete for a roster spot. Switch-hitting Eric Young Jr., who hit .246 during a late-season callup last year, is penciled into a utility role, as well. Giambi served as a mentor to Young, 24, last season.

Helton, 36, overcame back problems to hit .325 in 151 games last season. However, even Helton, who throughout his career has fought the concept of days off, admitted he wore down late last season.

"Last year was one of the first years I really felt tired at the end of the season," Helton said during a visit to Coors Field on Friday. "I was worn out. I'd like to have something left at the end of the season, feel like I'd be able to go out there and hit a home run, do something crazy at the of the season, instead of just slapping stuff the other way, trying to get by.

"Some of that is my fault. I need to take care of myself a little bit better, and work a little bit harder so I can be ready for the end of the season."

As for less regular playing time being an option, Helton said, "We'll see. There are a lot of circumstances that go into how much I play."

Before landing Giambi, the Rockies said they would use right fielder Brad Hawpe in limited duty at first base. Hawpe played first early in his Minor League career and in college at LSU.

The Rockies are down to one available spot on the 40-man Major League roster, presumably for a pitcher. One it won't be used on is right-hander Jose Contreras, another vet who helped the Rockies with their late push in 2009. Contreras, who helped the club out of the bullpen after spending his career as a starter, has agreed to join the Phillies' bullpen, according to an ESPNDeportes report.

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

Brewers sign Doug Davis for a 2nd stint

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100122&content_id=7956744&vkey=hotstove2009&fext=.jsp

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