Thanks to everyone who has helped make Hot Stove Report the No. 1 baseball blog in page views over the past offseason. It accounted for more than 80 percent of all MLBlogs Network traffic for most of the winter, and the good news is that (a) baseball is back and (b) all 30 of your favorite MLB.com beat writers now have their own MLBlogs. Here is where to find them, or just refer to the side panel of MLBlogosphere or Jen Langosch's blog. They also are all indexed in the PRO BLOGS drop-down menu on the MLBlogs homepage.

First baseman Mike Jacobs agreed to a one-year, $3.275-million  contract with the Royals on Tuesday night.
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Jacobs asked for $3.8 million, the Royals offered $2.75 million and they agreed on the exact midpoint. An arbitration hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
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The signing continued a streak for general manager Dayton Moore, who has never had an arbitration case advance to a hearing in his Royals tenure. Jacobs was the last remaining case for the Royals.
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This was the first shot at a multi-million dollar salary for Jacobs, who was traded by the Florida Marlins to the Royals this winter with that in mind. The Marlins paid him $395,000 last year.
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The Royals previously signed the three other players who exchanged figures in the arbitration process: Pitcher Zack Greinke to a four-year, $38-million contract; infielder-outfielder Mark Teahen to a one-year, $3.575 million contract, and pitcher Brian Bannister to a one-year, $1.7375-million deal.
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Five others who were eligible for arbitration also signed one-year contracts: Catcher John Buck, $2.9 million; pitcher Jimmy Gobble, $1.35 million; pitcher Kyle Davies, $1.3 million; infielder Esteban German, $1.2 million, and pitcher Joel Peralta, $640,000.

-- Dick Kaegel

The Cardinals avoided what would have been their first arbitration hearing since 1999 when they reached a last-minute settlement on a one-year contract with outfielder Rick Ankiel on Thursday. Cardinals assistant general manager John Abbamondi confirmed that an agreement had been reached.

The deal is worth a reported $2.825 million, which is the exact midpoint of the figures submitted by Ankiel and the club last month. Ankiel requested $3.3 million in the last season before he is eligible for free agency, while the club countered with an offer of $2.35 million.

Ankiel and the Cardinals were literally down to a couple of hours to get a contract done. Their hearing was scheduled for 3 p.m. CT, and the involved parties had all made their way to Arizona to take part.

St. Louis still has one remaining arbitration-eligible player who has not signed. Ryan Ludwick would have a hearing on Tuesday if no deal can be reached before that time. Ludwick has asked for $4.25 million, while the club has offered $2.8 million.

--Matthew Leach

The Brewers continued to stockpile starting pitchers on Thursday, claiming right-hander Nick Green off waivers from the Angels on the same day club officials expected to finalize a deal with free agent pick-up Braden Looper.

Green, 24, who was placed on waivers by the Angels on Tuesday to make room for free agent addition Bobby Abreu, was once considered a top Angels pitching prospect but is coming off a so-so season at Triple-A Salt Lake. He was 8-8 with a 5.32 ERA in 28 starts and surrendered 31 home runs in 158 innings.

He was better in 2007, going 10-8 with a 3.68 ERA in 178 innings for Double-A Arkansas and earning a spot on the Angels' 40-man roster. With Milwaukee, Green, who has Minor League options remaining, will probably join the starting rotation at Triple-A Nashville along with recently-acquired left-hander Chase Wright.

The Brewers needed a 40-man roster spot for Green so they designated right-handed reliever Luis Pena for assignment. Pena, a power pitcher who struggled in 2008 (6.93 ERA in 52 games at Nashville), had been a Brewers farmhand since 1999, when he signed out of Venezuela.

The Brewers will have to make another move to clear a spot for Looper, whose one-year contract should be finalized by the end of the day Thursday.

-- Adam McCalvy

Even before reporting to Spring Training, Dan Uggla has collected a big hit. On Thursday, the Marlins' two-time All-Star second baseman won his arbitration case, meaning he will earn $5.35 million in 2009.

On Wednesday, Uggla and the Marlins enduring a hearing that lasted between four and five hours.

Because neither side could agree on a salary figure by the Jan. 20 exchange of numbers deadline, Uggla's salary went to a hearing before three arbitrators in Arizona. Uggla was seeking $5.35 million, while the Marlins countered at $4.4 million. The three arbitrators had to decide which of those two figures the two-time All-Star would make.

Technically, the Marlins could have kept negotiation with Uggla's agent, Jeff Borris, up until the hearings began. But the team has a policy where they stop contract talks if an agreement isn't be reached by the exchange deadline.

"You never want to go to a hearing, win or lose," Borris said. "You try to settle, but the Marlins have a policy. ... Bottom line is the team is trying to make the best deal for them, and you can't fault them for that. And the player is looking for the best deal for him, and you can't fault him for that."

Uggla was still in Arizona on Thursday. Marlins position players are slated to report to Jupiter, Fla., for Spring Training on Feb. 17.

-- Joe Frisaro

 

There is still no official confirmation, but it appears that the Angels and Bobby Abreu are hammering out a one-year deal worth $5 million plus incentives, according to multiple reports. Abreu would provide left-handed balance in a heavily right-handed offense and would join a four-man rotation for the three outfield spots and designated hitter role with Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera.

This will give the Angels another crowded outfield,with Gary Matthews Jr. (recovering from knee surgery) and Reggie Willits pushed down the depth chart. Both are versatile outfielders with talents that could play in other cities if the Angels decide to shop them. Matthews will have to prove he's fully recovered from the knee operation, and Willits also needs a good spring to reestablish himself as a quality Major Leaguer after an injury-riddled 2008.

The upshot of the Abreu move is that it pretty much slams the door on any chance of Garret Anderson returning after 14 years as the club's most productive career hitter. With Adam Dunn going to Washington, Anderson is the most attractive hitter left in free agency not named Manny Ramirez.        

Free agent right-hander Braden Looper was scheduled to undergo his physical exam late Wednesday, but his one-year pact with the Brewers probably will not be made official until Thursday, the day before pitchers and catchers report to Maryvale Baseball Park for the start of Spring Training.

Looper, 34, came to terms with the Brewers on Monday and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported those terms on its website Tuesday night. It's a one-year contract that guarantees $4.75 million in 2009, according to the newspaper, and includes a mutual option for 2010.

If Looper declines that option, the terms of which are not yet known, he goes back to the free agent market. If the Brewers decline the option and Looper exercises it, the team must buy him out. It was not clear whether incentives could push up Looper's '09 salary; he earned $5.5 million from the Cardinals last season.

Looper's agent, Alan Hendricks, has not responded to phone calls or e-mails this week for clarification of the pending deal. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has followed instructions from Major League Baseball to avoid discussing specifics of free agent signings until they become official.

-- Adam McCalvy

The Dodgers continued collecting pitchers Tuesday by signing veteran left-hander Eric Milton to a Minor League contract. Milton missed the last 1 1/2 seasons recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction.

A former All-Star, Milton's contract calls for a $650,000 salary if he makes the club and has incentives for both starting and relieving. He becomes another candidate for the fifth starter job, along with Jason Schmidt, Eric Stults, Claudio Vargas, Shawn Estes and Ramon Troncoso.

The signing comes a day after the Dodgers signed Jeff Weaver, who will contend for a bullpen job. -- Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers signed Jeff Weaver to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League training camp. Weaver, 32, will receive a $500,000 salary if he makes the club.

Weaver, a starter throughout his Major League career, will vie for a bullpen role. He contacted the Dodgers and said he was pleased with his transition to relief in the Minor Leagues in 2008 and wanted to continue.

Weaver pitched for the Dodgers in 2004-05, winning 27 games and making 68 starts. Since leaving the Dodgers, his composite ERA is 6.00 and he pitched in the Minor Leagues for Cleveland and Milwaukee last year, without reaching the Major Leagues. -- Ken Gurnick

Five days before the start of Spring Training, the Cardinals made perhaps their most eye-catching move of the offseason, granting second baseman Adam Kennedy his unconditional release on Monday.

As a provision of releasing Kennedy, the Cardinals are required to pay the remainder of his contract. He is free to sign with any team. Typically, when a released player signs with another club, the new team pays him the Major League minimum, and the original team picks up the rest of the contract. Kennedy is owed $4 million in 2009, the final season of a three-year contract with St. Louis.

Kennedy, 33, batted .280 with a .321 on-base percentage and .372 slugging percentage in 2008. He saw his playing time dwindle as the 2008 season went on, and requested a trade late in the year. Unable to work out a deal, the Cards held onto Kennedy until Monday.

"We have exhausted all trade possibilities for Adam, and have decided that it was within both the club and the player's best interests to give Adam his unconditional release," general manager John Mozeliak said in a release issued by the team. "As stated last year, it has been our intention -- at Adam's request -- to try and seek a trade. As we move forward, we feel that it is best to try and fill the second base position with other players from within our organization."

With Kennedy gone, the Cardinals have no clear-cut favorite to man second base in 2009. Among the candidates for playing time are Brendan Ryan, Brian Barden, Joe Thurston and possibly outfielder Skip Schumaker, who will be working out at second base this spring.

--Matthew Leach

Veteran Morgan Ensberg is swapping A.L. East squads.

Ensberg has agreed to a Minor League deal with the Rays, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

The 33-year-old third baseman, who was formerly an All-Star while with the Astros, will earn $650,000 if he makes the squad, Crasnick reports.

Ensberg provides a veteran presence to backup Evan Longoria at third base and Carlos Pena at first base.

Tampa Bay, which reached the World Series last year, continues to add veteran depth.

"I haven't had a lot of success lately, so I'm really excited about this," Ensberg said in the ESPN.com story. A career .263 hitter, Ensberg has 110 career home runs and 347 RBIs.

-- Joe Frisaro

 

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers officials might have changed their minds about adding payroll.

A Milwaukee sports radio station reported Monday, based on a tip from a listener, that the team was likely to sign right-handed free agent Braden Looper to bolster the starting rotation. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin did not answer his cell phone on Monday morning to discuss the veracity of the report, which first aired on ESPN Radio 540 and also appeared on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's website.

Looper's agent, Alan Hendricks, did not immediately return a call to his office.

Looper, 34, is one of a number of veteran free agent pitchers to draw some interest this winter from Milwaukee, a list that also included at various points Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, Randy Wolf and Jamie Moyer. By Monday, only Looper remained on the free agent market.

-- Adam McCalvy

Reliever Chad Cordero, rebounding from arm surgery last July, is scheduled to throw for clubs on Feb. 18.

According to the MLB Trade Rumors web site, the Royals are said to be taking a long look at the right-hander, who turns 27 in March. While with the Nationals, Cordero underwent surgery last July to repair tears in his right labrum and biceps.

A number of teams have shown interest in Cordero, including the Nationals, Brewers, Dodgers, Twins, Angels, Marlins, Mets, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Rangers.

-- Joe Frisaro

The Nationals trimmed their arbitration list by one player on Sunday, when they agreed to terms on a one-year, $2.8 million contract with left-handed starter Scott Olsen. When figures were exchanged on Jan. 20, Olsen was asking for $3.5 million, while the Nationals countered with $2.5 million.

Olsen, acquired along with outfielder Josh Willingham in a five-player deal with the Marlins on Nov. 11, was one of just 18 National League pitchers to reach the 200-inning plateau last season, when he went 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA. Over his last three seasons, the 25-year-old has pitched at least 175 innings, has eclipsed 30 starts and ranks in the top five among NL left-handers in wins (tied for fifth, 30), starts (first, 97), innings (second, 559), strikeouts (fourth, 412) and quality starts (tied for fifth, 46).

For his four-year career, Olsen - a sixth-round Draft pick of the Marlins in 2002 - is 31-37 with a 4.63 ERA in 102 appearances - 101 starts.

Remaining for the Nationals in terms of potential arbitration cases are Willingham and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Shawn Hill won his arbitration hearing on Saturday, and will make $775,000 in 2009.

-- Alden Gonzalez

Infielder-outfielder Mark Teahen on Sunday signed a one-year contract with the Royals, avoiding salary arbitration.

Teahen had filed for $3.85 million and the Royals countered with $3.05 million. The midpoint was $3.45 million. He earned $2.3375 million last season. Terms of the new deal were not announced.

Last year Teahen batted .255 with 15 home runs and 31 doubles and 59 RBIs in 149 games. He shifted between right field (84 starts) and left field (31) and also started games at third base (19) and first base (13). His role this season has not been defined.

His signing leaves the Royals with one pending arbitration case, first baseman Mike Jacobs.

-- Dick Kaegel.

Nationals pitcher Shawn Hill became the first Major League player to go to an arbitration hearing on Friday.

On Saturday, he was the first player to win his case.

Hill, who earned $402,000 in 2008, was awarded the $775,000 he requested from the Nationals, which had countered with $500,000, according to The Washington Post. During an arbitration hearing, a three-person panel in Phoenix sides with one figure or the other - there is no middle ground.

With Hill's case decided, the Nationals still have three arbitration-eligible players remaining in outfielder Josh Willingham, left-hander Scott Olsen - both acquired via trade from the Marlins this offseason - and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. According to The Post, Olsen's hearing date is scheduled for Tuesday, while Willingham's date is Feb. 18.

Hearings will run until Feb. 20, and clubs can agree on a contract with their players until their respective hearing dates.

During an injury-plagued '08, Hill went 1-5 with a 5.83 ERA in 12 starts. The 27-year-old right-hander didn't pitch past June 24 and had arthroscopic surgery on his elbow performed by Dr. James Andrews on Sept. 5.

-- Alden Gonzalez

The Dodgers reportedly have agreed in principle to a one-year deal with free

agent pitcher Randy Wolf. The Dodgers could not comment, and rarely do on contract talks

until a free agent passes a physical exam.

But the return of Wolf, who pitched for the Dodgers in 2007, has been a winter-long goal of

the club to bolster a young rotation.

Wolf, 12-12 last year splitting time between San Diego and Houston, pitched well for the

Dodgers in the first half of 2007 (9-6), but missed the second half of the season with

lingering shoulder problems that required surgery. -- Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers are believed close to a deal with free-agent pitcher Randy Wolf, who pitched for the club in 2007 and has been a winter-long target of the club to bolster a young rotation.

Wolf, 12-12 last year splitting time between San Diego and Houston, pitched well for the Dodgers in the first half of 2007 (9-6), but missed the second half of the season with lingering shoulder problems.

The veteran would be expected to bolster a young rotation that lost free agents Derek Lowe and Brad Penny. Wolf had been a possibility for the Mets, who instead re-signed Oliver Perez this week.

-- Ken Gurnick

The Nationals agreed to terms on a Minor League contract with 31-year-old left-hander Odalis Perez on Thursday, granting the veteran an invitation to Spring Training in Viera, Fla., next week.

While making $850,000 with the Nationals last season, Perez was the Opening Day starter, logging 159 2/3 innings and ending up 7-12 with a 4.34 ERA in 14 quality starts. For his 10-year career, Perez -- signed as an amateur free agent by the Braves in 1994 -- is 73-82 with a 4.46 ERA.

Perez will get a chance to compete for a spot in a starting rotation that is projected to include John Lannan, Daniel Cabrera, Scott Olsen, Jordan Zimmerman and Collin Balester

-- Alden Gonzalez

The Reds are still talking with the agent for third baseman Edwin Encarnacion in efforts to avoid arbitration, general manager Walt Jocketty said on Thursday.

Encarnacion's hearing was scheduled for Feb. 17. He is seeking $3.7 million while the club offered $2.55 million. Assistant GM Bob Miller has been the point-man for the club in negotiations and had talks as recently as Wednesday with Encarnacion's agent.

-- Mark Sheldon

The Reds signed outfielder Jacque Jones and first baseman Daryle Ward to Minor League contracts on Thursday. The deals came with invites to big league Spring Training. Both will compete for one of the final bench spots on the 25-man roster.

Since the deals aren't guaranteed, the moves are no-risk ones for the Reds.

"Talking with [manager] Dusty [Baker], we wanted to strengthen our bench with experienced guys and guys with good character that would fit our club and contribute," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said.

Jones, who had his best years with the Twins from 1999-2005, played for Baker on the Cubs in 2006. The 33-year-old, played 42 games last season combined with the Marlins and Tigers and batted .147 and was out of baseball after June 17.

Ward, a pinch-hitting specialist, played 89 games for the Cubs last season and batted .216. He has 11 career pinch-hit home runs.

 

-- Mark Sheldon

 

 

Free agent pitcher Ben Sheets is looking at probable surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow. That has ended the possibility of a two-year deal with the Rangers. The two sides had reached an agreement late last week pending a physical. But that unraveled when it was discovered that Sheets had a torn flexor tendon and might need surgery...

-- T.R. Sullivan

The Dodgers resumed negotiations Wednesday with representatives of free agents Manny Ramirez and Randy Wolf, but no agreements were reached.

 

General manager Ned Colletti confirmed he spoke with Scott Boras about Ramirez and Arn Tellem about Wolf.

 

On Ramirez, Colletti said he and Boras "agreed to continue to stay in touch these next few days."

 

The talks on Ramirez resumed two days after Boras rejected the Dodgers' one-year, $25 million offer for the outfielder. Talks have been ongoing with Wolf in recent weeks as Colletti seeks to add a veteran starting pitcher to a rotation that has lost veteran starters Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Greg Maddux.

-- Ken Gurnick

The Nationals agreed to non-guaranteed Minor League contracts with catcher Javier Valentin and shortstop Alex Cintron on Tuesday. Both will get invitations to Spring Training.

Valentin, a 33-year-old switch-hitter, appeared in 94 games for the Reds last season, batting .256 with four home runs and 18 RBIs. Throughout his 10-year Major League career, Valentin - a former third-round Draft pick of the Twins in 1993 - is a career .251 hitter.

Currently, the Nationals have youngster Jesus Flores penciled in as the starting catcher, with Wil Nieves the expected backup. Valentin has mostly served as a backup since making his debut in 1997, and he sports a career .207 batting average as a pinch-hitter.

Cintron, 30, spent 2008 with the Orioles and batted .286 with a home run and 10 RBIs in 133 at-bats. For his eight-year career, the switch-hitting infielder has hit .277 and, along with shortstop, has also had experience playing second and third base.

-- Alden Gonzalez

Manny Ramirez's rejection of a one-year contract offer from the Dodgers does not mean either side has given up on a deal. In fact, the two sides are scheduled to continue talks on Wednesday.

Agent Scott Boras said a call is scheduled Wednesday with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. Boras also rejected the suggestion from club chairman Frank McCourt that poor communication has contributed to the lack of an agreement.

McCourt said Boras has not given the Dodgers specifics of what it would take to get a deal done, but Boras counters that by saying the Dodgers know exactly what he's looking for. That's believed to be a four- or five-year deal. Ramirez rejected a one-year, $25 million offer Monday night. The likely settlement would be three years.

The Dodgers have shown no interest in bidding against themselves with no other bidder coming forward publicly, while Ramirez apparently has no interest in a one-year deal coming off a phenomenal season at age 36, especially after the mult-year contracts given this offseason to impact free agents like Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, Ryan Dempster, Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez. -- Ken Gurnick

 

Pitcher Brian Bannister agreed Tuesday night to a one-year contract with the Royals, avoiding salary arbitration.

Bannister signed for the midpoint figure, $1.7375 million, between the two salaries submitted.

He asked for $2.025 million and the Royals countered with $1.45 million. Last season his salary was $421,000.

Bannister, in 32 starts last season, had a 9-16 record and 5.76 ERA. His 16 losses were the fourth-most in the Majors. He got away to a 3-0 start with a 0.86 ERA before tailing off.

It was a disappointing season after his superb rookie year of 2007 when he was 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA. He was acquired prior to that season in a trade with the New York Mets.

The Royals have two more arbitration cases pending with outfielder-infielder Mark Teahen and first baseman Mike Jacobs. The other player to file, pitcher Zack Greinke, signed a four-year, $38-million contract.

--Dick Kaegel.

Don't expect free agent Manny Ramirez to don a Nationals uniform in 2009.

When asked on Tuesday night if Ramirez is a possibility to make Washington, D.C., his fourth home since making his Major League debut in 1993, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden told MLB.com it wouldn't happen, saying, "We are not pursuing Manny Ramirez."

Rumors began to surface about a possible Ramirez-Nationals connection after he rejected a one-year, $25 million offer from the Dodgers.

Ramirez hit a combined .332 with 37 home runs and 121 RBIs for the Red Sox and Dodgers in '08. But coming off a 102-loss season, the Nationals aren't ready to give big money to a 36-year-old outfielder, preferring to go instead with players for the long term.

Ramirez also wouldn't be a fit with the Nationals because he's a right-handed-hitting outfielder, like Josh Willingham, Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge -- the expected starting outfield for '09.

-- Alden Gonzalez 

Despite a slow-moving free-agency period for slugger Adam Dunn, SI.com, citing a baseball source, is reporting he did receive a contract offer from the Nationals. But, according to the Web site, Dunn isn't very eager to sign with Washington, saying "the Nationals' offer has sat there so long he's sent a clear message he'd prefer to go elsewhere."

MLB.com reported a couple of weeks ago that the Nationals remain interest in Dunn and second baseman Orlando Hudson, but those two have currently exceeded the team's price range. After Manny Ramirez reportedly turned down a one-year, $25 million offer from the Dodgers, Los Angeles is also reported to be in the market for Dunn and Hudson, according to ESPN.com.

Nationals general manager Jim Bowden wasn't available for comment.

Dunn, 29, has hit at least 40 home runs while driving in no less than 92 runs over the last five seasons but, over his eight-year career, he is a .247 hitter with a .518 slugging percentage. Dunn has spent most of his time in left field, but he can fill two significant holes in the Nationals' lineup because he is a left-handed power hitter, and he has registered 127 games at first base -- an unsure position going into Spring Training because of Nick Johnson's injury concerns.

-- Alden Gonzalez 

The Dodgers confirmed that Manny Ramirez rejected their one-year offer Monday night.

Team spokesman Josh Rawitch wrote an in email that agent Scott Boras notified general manager Ned Colletti of the decision. Colletti made the offer Sunday, reportedly for one year and $25 million.

Colletti has been non-committal about what he would do for offense if Ramirez does not re-sign. From the current roster, the Dodgers could start Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Juan Pierre in the outfield. He also had touched base earlier in the winter with the agents for free-agent outfielders Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn, but the club's interest in them apparently had cooled in the past month. -- Ken Gurnick

The signing of Oliver Perez by the Mets Monday might enable the Dodgers to finally shore up their starting rotation.

 

The Dodgers continued talks over the weekend with agents for free-agent pitchers Randy Wolf and Braden Looper. With less than two weeks before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, the club was cautiously optimistic that getting Perez off the board -- and removing the Mets as negotiating leverage -- will spur remaining pitchers like Wolf and Looper to reach agreements.

 

Wolf, who pitched well for the Dodgers in 2007 until he injured his shoulder, has long been the club's preferred choice to stabilize a staff that has lost veterans Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Greg Maddux, Chan Ho Park, Takashi Saito and Joe Beimel.

 

In addition to his experience, Wolf would be a second left-handed arm in a rotation that includes Clayton Kershaw. Also in the rotation are Chad Billingsley (healing from a broken leg) and Hiroki Kuroda. A signing of Wolf or Looper for the fourth spot would leave competition for the fifth slot among Jason Schmidt, Eric Stults, Ramon Troncoso, Shawn Estes and Claudio Vargas.

-- Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers tried to break the negotiating logjam with Manny Ramirez over the weekend by making him a new offer, according to general manager Ned Colletti.

 

Colletti wouldn't detail the offer, but baseball sources say it is for one year and $25 million. Colletti confirmed he met with agent Scott Boras Sunday night, when the offer was made. Colletti said he hopes to get a response to the offer later this week.

 

"We still want to sign Manny," said Colletti. "We still want to make him a Dodger. That hasn't changed." -- Ken Gurnick

 

The Reds signed catcher Humberto Cota to a Minor League contract on Monday and invited him to big league camp. Another catcher was needed after camp invite Ryan Jorgensen decided to retire.

Cota was with the Pirates over parts of 2001-07 and was a .233 career hitter in the Majors. He did not play in the big leagues in 2008 and was with Triple-A Colorado Springs in the Rockies organization and batted .319 with four home runs, 26 RBIs and a .342 on base percentage.

 

-- Mark Sheldon

The Rangers are working hard to close a deal with reliever Eddie Guardado to fill one of their setup roles. Guardado pitched for the Rangers last year until being traded to the Twins on Aug. 25 and the club still has a high regard for him. A deal should get done in the next day or two.

-- T.R. Sullivan