Giants add pair of relievers

The Giants announced that Right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim and left-hander Horacio Ramirez have signed Minor League deal. Kim owns a 54-60 record, a 4.42 ERA and 86 saves in nine Major League seasons with Arizona, Boston, Colorado and Florida. He has not pitched in the Majors since 2007. Kim retired from baseball after Pittsburgh released him in 2008 during Spring Training. He was a National League All-Star in 2002, when he compiled an 8-3 record with a 2.04 ERA and 36 saves for Arizona.

Ramirez is 39-35 in seven big league seasons with Atlanta, Seattle, Kansas City and the Chicago White Sox. He was at his best as a rookie with Atlanta in 2003, when he finished 12-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 29 starts. Hope both of them can play well in the giants jerseys.

Tracy agrees to join in Cubs

The Cubs agreed to a Minor League deal with veteran corner infielder Chad Tracy, who received an invitation to Spring Training camp, and will earn $900,000 if he makes the Major League roster, plus up to an additional $525,000 if he reaches 450 plate appearances. He will also earn $100,000 if he wins the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Tracy batted .237 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 98 games with the D-backs last season, with 66 appearances at first base and eight at third base. The veteran has battled injuries the past three seasons, including a right oblique strain last year, and hasn't played in more than 100 games since 2006. His best season came in 2005, when he batted .308 with 27 home runs, 73 runs scored and 72 RBIs.

Tracy is expected to compete with Micah Hoffpauir as the club's left-handed bat off the bench and can serve as both a backup first baseman and third baseman. The Mets, Orioles and Rockies were also reportedly after Tracy. Hope he can play well in his new cubs jersey.

Nationals add reliever Walker

According to two baseball sources, right-hander Tyler Walker agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Nationals. The club also signed outfielder Chris Duncan and left-hander Chuck James to Minor League deals with an invitation to Spring Training. Walker is expected to be part of the new relief corps which includes Brian Bruney, Matt Capps and Eddie Guardado. He is a seven-year veteran who has played with the Mets, Giants and Rays.

Duncan is coming off one of his poorest seasons in the big leagues, hitting .227 with five home runs and 32 RBIs all in the cardinals jersey. On July 22, St. Louis traded Duncan to the Red Sox for infielder Julio Lugo, but Duncan never saw Major League action with Boston.

As for James, he missed the entire 2009 season due to left shoulder surgery. He was signed by the Nationals on the recommendation of assistant general manager Roy Clark, who was impressed by James when they were with the Braves. James' best season was in 2006.

Nationals and Dunn start extension talk

The Nationals and first baseman Adam Dunn talked about a contract extension on Friday, but Dunn said the talks are at stage zero at this point. "It's something I want to do and it's something, hopefully, they are interested in doing," Dunn said. "We haven't had any talks. It's good to know that we are on the same page as far as me wanting to be here and them wanting me here."

Dunn, who attended the team's second annual Hot Stove Luncheon, said he is pleased that both sides are on the same page. Dunn and Rizzo did not talk about years or dollars. Rizzo just wanted Dunn to know that the team would like to have him this year.Dunn is coming off one better season this career, hitting a career high .267 with 38 home runs and 105 RBIs.

Pirates and Donnelly reach a deal

A Major League source confirmed that the Pirates agreed to term on a one-year Major League contract with right-handed reliever Brendan Donnelly on Saturday. ESPN.com reported that the Major League deal gives Donnelly a base salary of $1.5 million. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the signing. They signed D.J. Carrasco to a Minor League deal and are closing on adding Octavio Dotel.

After posting a 1.75 ERA in 24 games with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate at the start of the 2009 season, Donnelly signed as a free agent with the Marlins in July. Over his eight-year career, the right-hander is 29-9 with a 3.02 ERA. Hope he can play well in the pirates jersey.

Red Sox acquire Shouse

According to multiple media, the Red Sox recently signed left-handed reliever Brian Shouse to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The club is expected to send out a complete list of Minor League signings by Friday.

Shouse posted a 4.50 ERA in 45 games for the Rays this past season. For his 10-year career, the 41-year-old, who was a member of the Red Sox in 1998, owns a lifetime 3.72 ERA with a 1.97 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hope he can play well in the red sox jersey.

Rangers ink with Jorge Alfaro

According to industry sources, the Rangers have signed Jorge Alfaro, a highly regarded 16-year-old catcher from Colombia. He is a right-handed hitter known for his raw power and strong arm. He is currently batting .250 with two RBIs in six games for Los Montaneros Del Sur in the Dominican Prospect League. The Phillies, Mariners, Indians, Giants and Yankees also expressed interest in this outfielder.

The Rangers, under the guidance of A.J. Preller, have been among the most aggressive teams in Latin America over the past few years, concentrating much efforts on premium players. Among the organization's top prospects are Tomas Tellis, an 18-year-old catcher from Venezuela who hit .322 in the Arizona Rookie League last summer and catcher Leonel De Los Santos, who hit .272 in 65 games at Class A Hickory last season. Hope Alfaro will put on the rangers jersey and play for the club.

Negron will miss 50 games after positive substance test

The Commissioner's Office announced last weekend that Miguel Negron, a Minor League outfielder in the White Sox, was one of three players to receive 50-game suspensions after tested positive for substances in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Negron has been suspended for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. The left-handed hitter batted .279 with four home runs, 38 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 103 games for Triple-A Charlotte during the 2009 season. He played for Double-A Birmingham as part of the White Sox organization in white sox jersey in 2008.

Pitcher Rony Bautista of the New York Yankees organization was suspended after testing positive for a metabolite of Boldenone. Pitcher Roberto Toribio of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.

Braves come to terms with Hinske

After introducing Troy Glaus as his new first baseman last week, Braves general manager Frank Wren indicated that he was close to a deal that would essentially end his offseason roster reconstruction. It seems that the process has been completed with the signing of Eric Hinske, who is expected to primarily be used off the bench. A Major League source confirmed that Hinske has agreed to term on a one-year contract with the Braves.

Hinske combined to hit .242 with eight homers in 190 at-bats with the Pirates and Yankees this past season. The veteran has been a member of each of the past three American League teams that competed in the World Series. While hitting .247 with 20 homers for the Rays in 2008, Hinske made 84 of his 115 starts as an outfielder. He hit .300 with three doubles and seven walks in 38 appearances in 2009. Hope he can still play well in the braves jersey.

Brian Wolfe signs with Ham Fighters in Japan

According to an article in the Kyodo News, former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Brian Wolfe has signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. Wolfe becomes the third U.S. Major League pitcher to sign in Japan this offseason and the second player in the last 24 hours.

In 2009 Wolfe posted an 8.22 ERA in 14 games with the Jays and had a 5.05 ERA in 34 games at Triple-A Las Vegas. He also pitched in the big leagues with Toronto in 2007 and 2008 in the blue jays jersey, giving him a lifetime Major League ERA in 72 games.

Nationals has termed with Whitesell and Bruntlett

According to a report, the Nationals agreed to terms with first baseman Josh Whitesell and infielder Eric Bruntlett on 2010 Minor League contracts. Both of them have been invited to Spring Training. Whitesell, who returns to his original organization, was drafted by the Expos in the sixth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. He posted a .346 on-base percentage in 46 games with the D-backs last year and has two home runs and 15 RBIs in 53 career games with Arizona. Whitesell has hit 113 home runs and posted .394 on-base in seven Minor League seasons.

Bruntlett joins Washington after playing the past two seasons with the Phillies. Bruntlett is a .231 hitter with 11 home runs and 72 RBIs in 512 career games in seven seasons with Philadelphia and the Astros. He can play all four infield positions and all three outfield spots. Bruntlett is best known for turning a triple play in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Mets on Aug. 23. Hope both of them can play well in the nationals jerseys.

Tigers' Laird brothers were arrested

According to Phoenix police, Tigers catcher Gerald Laird and his younger brother, Brandon were arrested on suspicion of assault and disorderly conduct last Wednesday in Phoenix. The two ballplayers, plus another man, were arrested after a Phoenix Suns game at U.S. Airways Arena. Gerald Laird was cited for assault, while Brandon was cited for disorderly conduct. Also arrested was Gregory Scott Collins on suspicion of assault after the Suns beat the Boston Celtics.

"While security guards were trying to arrest the suspect for disorderly conduct, the Laird brothers interfered and assaulted the security guards," Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill said. Brandon Laird is an infield prospect with the Yankees. He played for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. It seems that Gerald Laird will take off his tigers jersey for a while because of this incident.

Rockies negotiate with Tim Redding

According to a Major League source, the Rockies are negotiating with one of their past targets, right-handed pitcher Tim Redding. Last winter, the Rockies intended to acquire Redding from the Nationals before he was non-tendered. Redding signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Mets as a free agent and went 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA in 30 games, including 17 starts in his mets jersey.

The Rockies were not a finalist in the chase for former Pirates reliever Matt Capps, who is deciding between the Nationals and the Cubs. Redding could be asked to add the energy and experience to the bullpen.

Reliever Baez may join in Phillies

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. of Phillies said last week that the club probably would sign a reliever in a couple weeks. It is unlikely to be right-handers John Smoltz, Chan Ho Park and Mike MacDougal. The Phillies have some concerns about Smoltz's durability, which might not be an issue except closer Brad Lidge and setup man J.C. Romero are recovering from elbow surgeries. The Phillies have expressed interest in MacDougal, but talks are not believed to be serious.

CSNPhilly.com reported that the Phillies have reached an agreement with a reliever. A good bet is right-hander Danys Baez, who has closing experience. That is something the Phils might need if Lidge and Romero are not ready to start the season. Baez went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 59 appearances last season in the orioles jersey.

Yankkees add catcher Rivera

FOXSports.com reported that the Yankees have agreed on a Minor League contract with backstop Mike Rivera. The web site added that Rivera will be invited to Spring Training for the Yankees, who have catchers Jorge Posada and Francisco Cervelli on the 40-man roster.

Rivera batted .228 with two home runs and 14 RBIs while appearing in 41 games in 2009 in his brewers jersey.Considered an offense-minded catcher, Rivera missed 14 games with an ankle injury in his fourth season in Milwaukee.He originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Tigers in 1997, and is a career .244 hitter with 69 home runs in seven seasons in the big leagues.

Pirates term with Taschner to Minors deal

According to ESPN.com, the Pirates signed reliever Jack Taschner to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Wednesday. If he makes the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Taschner will earn $835,000, plus $465,000 in incentives based on appearances.

Taschner made 24 relief appearances for the Phillies this past season, posting a 4.91 ERA while striking out 19 batters and walking 20 in 29 1/3 innings in the phillies jersey. The left-hander also pitched in 20 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and posted a 2.08 ERA in 21 2/3 frames. Originally a second-round Draft pick by the Giants in 1999, Taschner spent his first four seasons in San Francisco.

Mariners sign Pedro Okuda to a Minor deal

It is announced that the Mariners signed 19-year-old amateur Pedro Okuda to a Minor League contract on Wednesday.
Okuda is expected to join the Mariners' Venezuela Academy after he graduates from high school this spring and will play during the 2010 season in the mariners jersey. Okuda was born and raised in Brazil but attended high school in Japan. Yasushi Yamamoto and Pat Kelly, the Mariners scouts first found Okuda in a youth tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in May 2006.

"Pedro is a player that we have been scouting for several years, beginning when he participated in the Brazilian Baseball Confederation Academy in Brazil and most recently in Japan, where he is concluding his high school education," Mariners vice president of international operations Bob Engle said. "Thanks to the efforts of Yasushi Yamamoto and Pat Kelly, we have added a player who has proven to be an action player with a line-drive swing and plus speed. Pedro is a player who has a lot of spirit and enthusiasm, and we look forward to watching him develop in the Seattle Mariners' organization."

D-backs sign Rodrigo Lopez

The D-backs signed right-hander Rodrigo Lopez to a Minor League contract last Wednesday and invited the veteran to Spring Training. Lopez has spent parts of eight seasons in the big leagues with the Padres, Orioles, Rockies and Phillies and has a career record of 68-66 in 194 games, including 166 starts.

Last season, Lopez appeared in seven games for the NL champion Phillies. Lopez's best seasons came in 2004-05 when he was 14-9 and then 15-12 for the Orioles. Lopez joins right-hander T.J. Beam, outfielder Drew Macias and catcher Carlos Corporan in Spring Training. Now he is going to wear the diamondbacks jersey and play for the team.

Harper will manage Giants' affiliate

It is reported that Harper will lead the Giants' Class A California League affiliate in San Jose named its 2010 field staff.
Harpe spent the previous two seasons as the Giants' roving Minor League catching instructor. Before that, he managed for seven seasons in the Angels' Minor League system, including two seasons at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2006-07. Harper has played 16 Major League seasons and was the No. 1 catcher for the 1991 world champion Minnesota Twins in the twins jersey.

Gary Davenport will return to San Jose as hitting coach while Jerry Cram will serve as pitching coach. Andy Skeels, who managed San Jose to a 93-47 regular-season record and the California League title last season, is expected to receive a promotion quite possibly to Double-A Richmond.

Phillies add veteran Gload

It is announced at the Winter Meetings that the Phillies had signed free-agent outfielder Ross Gload to a two-year contract. Gload hit .261 with six home runs and 30 RBIs in 230 at-bats last season with the Marlins. He has also hit .283 with a .328 on-base percentage in an eight-year career with the Cubs, Rockies, White Sox, Royals and Marlins.

Gload joins a Philadelphia bench that includes outfielder Ben Francisco, catcher Brian Schneider and infielders Greg Dobbs and Juan Castro. It is cool for him to put on the phillies jersey.