Reds 2B Brandon Phillips Eyeing RBIs

By his own admission, Reds 2B Brandon Phillips is NOT a power hitter, but more of "a hitter with power," but that's enough to punch his ticket to a key spot on the middle of this year's batting order.

"I'm the best person for the job," Phillips eagerly told WLW Radio, who queried him regarding the front office's failure to land a big right-handed bat during the offseason. Look for him to bat 4th or 5th at least as long as manager Dusty Baker has so few other options.

Phillips hit 21 homers last year, and 30 in 2007. Sandwiched between 1B Joey Votto and OF Jay Bruce, Phillips can easily be expected to see his share of fastballs and to knock in more than 100 RBI.

Transactions Report - 2/10/09

Baltimore Orioles: Signed Ty Wigginton to a two-year contract. Two years for $6 million total. Nice price for a multi-position player who had 23 homers in 380 ABs last year, to go with .285/.350/.526. Expected to get some starts at first and back up at third and in the outfield.

Houston Astros: Agreed to terms with outfielder Michael Bourn and pitchers Sammy Gervacio, Polin Trinidad and Wesley Wright on one-year contracts.

San Francisco Giants: Signed pitcher Ramon Ortiz to a minor-league contract. I love minor-league contracts. They are the ultimate in hope-springs-eternal baseball optimism. And it takes a lot of optimism to sign Ramon Ortiz.

Texas Rangers: Signed outfielder Andruw Jones and pitcher Brendan Donnelly to minor league contracts. If this last chance for Jones turns out to really be his last chance in baseball, he can always turn to the professional eating circuit.

Toronto Blue Jays: Acquired pitcher Matt Bush from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named or cash considerations.

Angels Now Favorite for Abreu?

Earlier today we posted the New York Daily News report that the New York Mets have rekindled their interest in free agent outfielder Bobby Abreu.

Now FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Los Angeles Angels may well be Abreu's destination, according to his sources.

Rosenthal writes:

The Angels have asked outright waivers on right-hander Nick Green to create a spot on their 40-man roster, according to a major-league source.

That roster currently is full, so the Angels could be trying to create a spot for a free-agent hitter. They prefer Abreu to Adam Dunn, another source said.

In addition, one GM pursuing Abreu said Tuesday that he was told Abreu was close to signing with an Amercian League team. The Mariners, the other AL team with interest, are believed to be more focused on Ken Griffey Jr. and Garret Anderson.

Rosenthal does provide this we're-not-really-sure-what-it-all-means caveat, however: " it is not known whether the Angels and Abreu are close to a deal, or merely in the talking stages."

Update: Yahoo's Tim Brown says an agreement between Abreu and the Angels is near, and it's for one year at $5 million.

Matt Bush Goes Blue Jay Way

The expected trade of Matt Bush went down today, with the Toronto Blue Jays announcing they have acquired the former No. 1 draft pick from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Or maybe just a bag of balls.

Bush was the first overall selection in the 2004 draft. He was drafted as a shortstop, but after failing to progress switched to pitcher during the 2007 season. But he then underwent Tommy John surgery and did not pitch in 2008 - although he struck on 16 batters in the 7.2 innings he did manage to pitch in 2007 before the injury.

To clear space on their 40-man rosters, the Jays released pitcher Dirk Hayhurst.

Amber Alert: Ken Griffey Jr.

(Update: Griffey to the Mariners looking like it will happen.)

Is Ken Griffey Jr. retired? And if so, is that voluntarily or because no team in baseball wants him?

The only job Griffey has right now is the largely ceremonial one with the title of American Public Diplomacy Envoy. He was named to the position last year by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. And considering the lackluster reaction to Griffey's baseball free agency, Condi may be getting more interest in front offices than Griffey is.

But that could soon change. The Mariners are known to be mulling over a Griffey homecoming, and Griffey's former Seattle teammate Harold Reynolds has been quoted as saying that Griffey wants to head back to Seattle.

What might Griffey get? At age 39, coming off another injury-addled season in which he batted only .249 with 18 homers for the Reds and White Sox, Griffey isn't asking for much: a one-year, incentive-laden deal.

And what might a team that signs Griffey get? He's a poor outfielder now, and needs to go to the AL and DH. But at least one person is convinced Griffey will be much better on the field in 2009 than in 2008, assuming a team comes along that's willing to put him on the field.

Reds team doctor Tim Kremchek is quoted thusly in the Cincinnati Enquirer (he was actually talking to ESPN's Buster Olney when Kremchek gave this quote):

"I told the Reds this - he's going to be a different player (in 2009) than he was last year. He's got a lot to prove to people, that he can still put up good numbers and help a team."

In 2007, Griffey batted .277 with 30 homers, a quite respectable season. Dr. Kremchek's contention is that Griffey can put up those numbers again now that the meniscus and cartilage damage Kremchek repaired in October has healed. (But what part of Griffey's body will give out next?)

If Andruw Jones can still find a job, then surely somebody will take a shot in the dark with Griffey, too.

Mets Taking Another Look at Abreu?

The New York Daily News offers this, their full report on the matter, as a note at the bottom of an article about Johan Santana withdrawing from the WBC:

A Mets official did not rule out signing free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu, but indicated that any contract likely would have to be for one year at less than $4 million. Abreu, 34, hit .296 with 20 homers and 100 RBI for the Yankees last season.

Bobby Abreu at less than $4 million? If it's reached the point where Abreu will consider that kind of deal, then the Mets should be all over it. Heck, every team in the majors should be all over that. Think about it: Just last week, the Royals avoided arbitration with Mark Teahen with a 1-year agreement at $3.85 million. Mark Teahen.

Abreu at $4 million should be a no-brainer for the Mets - if, in fact, the outfielder would actually consider that price range (and he might have to, or he'll soon be missing Spring Training time).

Transactions Report - 2/9/09

Los Angeles Dodgers: Agreed to terms with pitchers Jeff Weaver, Shawn Estes, Ronald Belisario, Charlie Haeger and Tanyon Sturtze on minor league deals. Eric Milton wasn't available.

Oakland Athletics: Agreed to terms with pitcher Edgar Gonzalez on a minor-league contract.

St. Louis Cardinals: Released second baseman Adam Kennedy. Who needs a second baseman? Or at least a cheap bench player. The team picking up Kennedy - who hit .280 in 2008 - will owe him only $400,000. Kennedy was on the bench quite a bit down the stretch as the Cards turned to Felipe Lopez, but Lopez won't be back in St. Louis, either. So who will play second for the Cards? Skip Schumaker is already in the Cardinals' camp working at second base. Schumaker batted .302 in 540 ABs in 2008, with a .359 OBP. But he's never played anywhere but the outfield.

San Francisco Giants: Signed infielder Rich Aurilia to a minor-league contract. Batted .283, 10 HR, 52 RBI in 2008. Solid choice for multi-position, off-the-bench player - especially coming cheap.

Randy Johnson Vows 15- to 20-Win Season

Randy Johnson is 45 years old, and in the eyes of many fans and many mainstream media members, he's ready for the scrap heap. Fortunately, the Giants didn't believe that. Fortunately, Johnson doesn't believe that. Because he remains a very effective pitcher, if no longer an ace.

And Johnson, saying his back feels good, has pledged big things to Giants fans. Fifteen to 20 big things.

"I'm riding off into the sunset in a lot of people's eyes, but not mine, because I'm still motivated to go out there and win," Johnson said at the press conference. "I'm surely not about five wins. I'm about winning anywhere between 15 and 20 games."

Johnson also vowed he'd retire if he runs up another 5.00 earned run average, as he did three seasons ago. But Johnson winning 15 games is probably more likely than Johnson recording a 5.00 ERA.

In the two seasons since Johnson's ERA ballooned, he posted much better ERAs. While out of action most of 2007, Johnson, then 43, had a 3.81 ERA in 52 innings. In 184 inning last year, Johnson's ERA was 3.91. His ERA+ was 117, and his K's to walks number was outstanding - 173 to 44.

If Johnson's back really is fixed, as he claims it is, expect Big Unit to have a very good season in San Francisco. Like Nolan Ryan before him, Johnson is a freak of nature.

Padres to Trade Jake Peavy to Cubs by July?

The stalled talks between the Padres and the Cubs over Jake Peavy may have yielded a secret subtext that might see the San Diego ace in Chicago at midseason

Noises from the two camps seem to hint that when the sale of the Cubs is complete, a sizable chunk of undesignated cash will be left on the balance sheets for the express purpose of acquiring a major free agent at midseason, more specifically before the end of July.

The prime candidate, of course, is Peavy, whose value will have reached his probable apex as various midseason contenders accelerate a rush for a playoff berth.

By holding onto Peavy for now, Padres front office executives in addition to collecting a significant midseason trade premium also are enabled to convince boxseat buyers, corporate sponsors, broadcasters, season-ticket holders, the general gate and others that the team is making a legitimate effort to compete out of spring camp, even if in their heart of hearts they know the effort may be perceived as something not entirely unlike a sham.

Whatever the outcome, the deal will likely hurt Peavy's stats if he leaves the friendly confines of San Diego.

Rangers Take Chance on Andruw Jones

Well, somebody had to do it. That somebody turns out to be the Texas Rangers, who are expected to announce within the next two days the signing of outfielder Andruw Jones.

Jones was once a champ, a good hitter and great centerfielder. Now he's a chump. Last year, one of the worst players to appear on a major-league roster.

Whether he appears on the Rangers' major-league roster is up in the air. The deal Jones and the Rangers have agreed to is a minor-league deal. Even if Jones makes the big-league roster, the Rangers will be on the hook for only $500,000. Another $1 million is possible in incentives, but unless those incentives are along the lines of "eat 12 tacos in under 12 minutes," the Rangers probably needn't have their checkbook at the ready.

But Jones is only 32 years old. Given his past glories, and the paltry dollars (by major league baseball standards) involved, the shot in the dark the Rangers are taking is one worth taking.

Transactions Report - 2/8/09

Kansas City Royals: Signed infielder-outfielder Mark Teahen to a one-year contract. $3.85 million lets both sides avoid arbitration.

Philadelphia Phillies: Signed first baseman Ryan Howard to a three-year contract. $54 million, with a few million of potential incentives thrown in.

Transactions Report - 2/7/09

(Readers: Add your insight into today's transactions via comments.)

Baltimore Orioles: Agreed to terms with pitcher George Sherrill on a one-year contract. Sherrill got $2.75 million and the deal nixes the pending arbitration hearing. Sherrill is a poster child for why closers are overrated and overpaid. He's a mediocre pitcher, but bring him into the game in just the right circumstances and he can record 31 saves.

Minnesota Twins: Signed free agent pitcher Luis Ayala to a one-year contract. Worth $1.3 million with another $600,000 in incentives. He'll compete for the setup role. If he pitches like he did from 2003-07, it's good value.

Toronto Blue Jays: Agreed to terms with pitcher Shawn Camp on a one-year contract. After signing Ken Takahashi yesterday, the Jays decide to double-down on ineffective - but cheap! - relievers.

A-Rod or A-Roid?

Sports Illustrated has a doozie of a report on its Web site today: Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003, according to the magazine. Its report begins thusly:

In 2003, when he won the American League home run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated.

Rodriguez's name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball's '03 survey testing, SI's sources say. As part of a joint agreement with the MLB Players Association, the testing was conducted to determine if it was necessary to impose mandatory random drug testing across the major leagues in 2004.

When approached by an SI reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results. "You'll have to talk to the union," said Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."

If Rodriguez (and 103 other players) tested positive, why weren't they disciplined? Because the 2003 testing was part of a deal with players to conduct the testing but have the results remain anonymous. So nobody who tested positive in this process was punished.

The list of 104 players testing positive was obtained by federal investigators looking into the BALCO mess via a search warrant served on the lab that conducted some of the testing.

What impact might this have on Rodriguez? Probably none. If the guy can survive rumors he was fooling around with the married, 50-year-old Madonna, he can survive this hit, too.

Padres Trying to Trade Ex-Top Pick Matt Bush

Though the Padres always respected former No. 1 pick Matt Bush's ability to throw a strike from shortstop to first base, his conversion to pitcher so far had been a virtual failure, thus complicating the prospect of trading him.

Even if the team fails to find someone willing to take him, Bush is finished as as a Padre after yet another off-field incident that has made his status with the team untenable. Bush's roster spot has been given to free agent journeyman Cliff Floyd, who signed a $750,000 one-year contact to fill the roll of a left-handed bat off the bench.

The loss to the team is marginal, given recent reports that Bush's rigorous rehabilitation regimen so far had failed to bring back his arm more than a year after reconstructive elbow surgery. With Bush's fastball tangibly short of the 90-mph mark, one can speculate that pressure over the collapse of his career may have been a factor in Bush's most recent drinking binge.

It can be expected, however, that one or more organizations may give him consideration to resume his career in the minors if his recent legal difficulties are clarified.

Police in the Southern California casino venue of El Cajon are investigating potential public drunkenness and other charges against Bush stemming from his alleged participation in an assault involving high school athletes.

It's a familiar story for Bush, who after being drafted in the first round in 2004 was suspended by the Padres after being arrested in connection with a nightclub disturbance near Phoenix, where he was to have reported to camp. His recovery from surgery was again interrupted at mid-season last year after he allegedly participated in another disturbance at a Phoenix area nightspot.

Update: Bush dealt to Blue Jays.

Rangers Give Jennings Shot at Comeback

Jason Jennings spent six years in Colorado and somehow emerged with a positive record and a positive ERA+. But not unscathed. A torn flexor tendon cropped up, and Jennings crapped out.

In Houston in 2007, Jennings went 2-9 with 6.45 ERA before surgery mercifully ended his season. At Texas in 2008, he was 0-5 with an 8.56 ERA before going under the knife a second time.

This time, Jennings and the Rangers believe, the repaired tendon will hold. Jennings says he feels better than he did at any point in 2008. And he'll get a chance to prove it when pitchers and catchers report to Rangers camp next week. On Friday, the Rangers signed Jennings to a minor-league contract.

Jennings may start the season in the minors, working his way back into shape. But the Rangers believe he can win back a place in the rotation. For a minor-league deal, it's worth finding out.

Transactions Report - 2/6/09

(Readers: Add your insight into today's transactions via comments.)

Arizona Diamondbacks: Signed pitcher Tom Gordon to a one-year contract. The contract is for $500,000 with $2.5 million in incentive clauses. "Flash" missed the second half of 2008 with elbow inflammation. Plus he's 41-years-old, so he's just plain creaky. Apparently, Jesse Orosco wasn't available.

Boston Red Sox: Signed catcher Jason Varitek to a one-year contract with club and player options for a second year. $5 million in 2009. Batted .220 with 13 homers in '08.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Signed pitcher Randy Wolf to a one-year contract. For the Dodgers, $5 million is a drop in the bucket. Which is probably what Wolf's impact will be, too.

Texas Rangers: Re-signed pitcher Jason Jennings to a minor league contract.

Toronto Blue Jays: Signed pitcher Ken Takahashi to a minor league contract. A 39-year-old with a losing record in Japan. A "what the hell, why not" move by the Jays.

Ben Sheets to the Wind

Free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets - late of the Milwaukee Brewers and the All-Star Game starter for the National League in 2008 - was closing in on a deal with the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers were offering a 2-year contract with only $10 million in guaranteed money but lots of incentives.

Then they had to go and do a physical exam. What they found scared the Rangers away from the proposed contract with Sheets, and will send Sheets under the knife.

Sheets' right elbow bothered him down the stretch last season and he didn't pitch in the playoffs. The MRI ordered by the Rangers showed a torn flexor tendon.

What awaits Sheets now is surgery. After that? He'll likely sign a two-year deal with someone - the Rangers haven't ruled out this possibility - that provides minimal pay for 2010 while Sheets rehabs, then an incentive-laden pay structure for 2011.

Options Shrinking for Manny Ramirez

Where will Manny Ramirez wind up? It's starting to look as though - barring something crazy like going to Japan for a year - Ramirez will be back with the Dodgers, and likely for less money than he hoped to get at the start of the free agent season.

The biggest reason that Ramirez appears wedded to the Dodgers at this point is that nobody else seems to want him. The Yankees and Mets have stated they aren't interested. The Red Sox? Not bloody likely. Who else has the money? There had been some reports that the Nationals - the Nationals! - might make a run. But who's kidding whom?

Ramirez wants a 4-year deal worth $100 million. The Dodgers are holding the line at two years. They've offered Ramirez $45 million for two years, and agent Scott Boras rejected it. They've offered Ramirez one year at $25 million, and Boras rejected that, too.

In this game of chicken, who blinks first? The Dodgers need Ramirez - but Ramirez needs the Dodgers, because they're his only good option.

Radio Broadcaster Mark Patrick's Career on Hold

Fans continue to await news of former XM Radio star Mark Patrick -- one of the most gifted sports broadcasters ever to wait by a telephone for months.

Though earlier rumored to have been the beneficiary of a customary, 90-day, contractual severance package since he being fired by the network in November -- which would have provided him income through much of this month -- the supposed arrangement has been called into question.

For all appearances, Patrick is languishing in his Brownsburg, Ind., "trailer" as major league catchers and pitchers prepare to report to spring camps in Florida and Arizona.

Ironically, Patrick and former "Baseball this Morning" broadcast partner Buck Martinez had reached the apex of their satellite radio endeavor when the struggling network pulled the plug on Patrick. Patrick's dismissal came even as he and Martinez had perfected an informative, entertainingly bright and yet often mockingly self deprecating and sarcastic repartee that held fans in rapt attention.

But program developer Charles 'Chuck' Dickemann -- with a more limited understanding of major league baseball than his two morning hosts -- reportedly had his share of disagreements with Patrick over form and content, with Patrick none too shy about speaking his mind, according to knowledgeable sources.

While the talent shined, the network failed to take advantage of its entree with key baseball sources to respond to tips or develop exclusives that would have greatly advanced XM Channel 75. Even the channel's hourly sports news breaks, for example, were especially repetitive, untimely and wholly unoriginal -- sometimes bordering on illiterate.

Wall Street analysts urged speculators and investors to sell their interests in XM as the network's descent into the realm of penny stocks threatened its listings on major stock exchanges. At the same time, Patrick found his contract renewal on the endangered species list.

Why haven't the powers-that-be given Patrick another chance as the new baseball season approaches? Why is it that decision making lies with all the wrong people?

(By the way it is widely accepted that Charles "Chuck" Dickemann is no relation to Charles "Bud" Dickman, talk show host Phil Hendrie's intern formerly on XM Channel 152. It was Bud, not Chuck, who was the one with the steel plate in his head, or was it the other way around?)

Kerry Wood Deal Shifts Focus to Indians Backups

Given free agent Kerry Wood's history of chronic injuries -- his $20.5 million two-year agreement to become the Indians closer tends to magnify the importance of backups Jensen Lewis, Adam Miller and others.

To some, former Angels free agent Francisco Rodriguez might have seemed a better value when he signed with the Mets at $37 million for three years, but the Indians were content to take Wood, perhaps because their bullpen has plenty of insurance.

Lewis was 13-0 in save situations near the end of last year, and Miller is throwing nearly in triple figures in winter ball, Cleveland Plain Dealer baseball writer Paul Hoynes recently reported.

Former closer candidate Rafael Betancourt is on board, as is left-handed strikeout specialist Rafael Perez, former Mets setup man Joe Smith and highly regarded, potential swingman Masa Kobayashi.