On the free agent front, San Diego signs P Joaquin Benoit for two years and $15.5 million, while the Phillies sign P Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona.

ByTom

On the free agent front, San Diego signs P Joaquin Benoit for two years and $15.5 million, while the Phillies sign P Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona.

There is a flurry of trades today, as the Red Sox trade P Franklin Morales back to the Rockies for 2B Jonathan Herrera, the Rockies in turn send P Josh Outman to Cleveland for OF Drew Stubbs, the Orioles trade 3B Danny Valencia to Kansas City for OF David Lough, the Braves acquire C Ryan Doumit from Minnesota for P Sean Gilmartin, and the Astros get 1B Jesus Guzman from San Diego for IF Ryan Jackson.

ByTom

There is a flurry of trades today, as the Red Sox trade P Franklin Morales back to the Rockies for 2B Jonathan Herrera, the Rockies in turn send P Josh Outman to Cleveland for OF Drew Stubbs, the Orioles trade 3B Danny Valencia to Kansas City for OF David Lough, the Braves acquire C Ryan Doumit from Minnesota for P Sean Gilmartin, and the Astros get 1B Jesus Guzman from San Diego for IF Ryan Jackson.

In other deals, the Orioles sign P Grant Balfour for two years and $15 million as a replacement for Jim Johnson and the Cubs sign P Jose Veras for one year. However, Balfour’s deal will be cancelled on December 20th when he fails his physical exam.

ByTom

In other deals, the Orioles sign P Grant Balfour for two years and $15 million as a replacement for Jim Johnson and the Cubs sign P Jose Veras for one year. However, Balfour’s deal will be cancelled on December 20th when he fails his physical exam.

The Yankees continue their off-season spending spree, signing free agent 2B Brian Roberts for one year and P Matt Thornton for two years. While those two deals are not particularly large, the team gets hit once again with the largest luxury tax payment in Major League Baseball at $28 million; the Dodgers are the only other team which has to pay the tax, being assessed at $11.4 million, while the Red Sox manage to just squeeze under the $178 million payroll threshold.

ByTom

The Yankees continue their off-season spending spree, signing free agent 2B Brian Roberts for one year and P Matt Thornton for two years. While those two deals are not particularly large, the team gets hit once again with the largest luxury tax payment in Major League Baseball at $28 million; the Dodgers are the only other team which has to pay the tax, being assessed at $11.4 million, while the Red Sox manage to just squeeze under the $178 million payroll threshold.

In free agent signings today, the Cardinals sign 2B Mark Ellis, who will compete with rookie Kolten Wong for the starting job, the Indians sign Ps Shaun Marcum and John Axford, while the Braves ink P Gavin Floyd to a contract.

ByTom

In free agent signings today, the Cardinals sign 2B Mark Ellis, who will compete with rookie Kolten Wong for the starting job, the Indians sign Ps Shaun Marcum and John Axford, while the Braves ink P Gavin Floyd to a contract.

Warren Cromartie, a former outfielder and first baseman with the Expos in the 1970s and ’80s, shares a $400,000 feasibility studywhich reveals that the return of major league baseball to Montreal would be feasible if a team plays its home games in a government-financed downtown stadium with an owner with deep pockets. The report suggests that MLB’s national television deal and revenue-sharing scheme, which has changed radically since the franchise moved to Washington in 2004, would ensure the team having a competitive $75-million payroll before a single ticket is sold, with the government subsidy repaid within eight years.

ByTom

Warren Cromartie, a former outfielder and first baseman with the Expos in the 1970s and ’80s, shares a $400,000 feasibility studywhich reveals that the return of major league baseball to Montreal would be feasible if a team plays its home games in a government-financed downtown stadium with an owner with deep pockets. The report suggests that MLB’s national television deal and revenue-sharing scheme, which has changed radically since the franchise moved to Washington in 2004, would ensure the team having a competitive $75-million payroll before a single ticket is sold, with the government subsidy repaid within eight years.

After inking Curtis Granderson to a four-year, $60 million contract earlier in the week, the Mets sign Bartolo Colon to a two-year, $20 million free-agent pact. The 40 year-old All-Star right-handed starter, who is slated to replace the innings the team will need as Matt Harvey recovers from Tommy John surgery, compiled an 18-6 record with a 2.65 ERA in 30 starts for the A’s last season.

ByTom

After inking Curtis Granderson to a four-year, $60 million contract earlier in the week, the Mets sign Bartolo Colon to a two-year, $20 million free-agent pact. The 40 year-old All-Star right-handed starter, who is slated to replace the innings the team will need as Matt Harvey recovers from Tommy John surgery, compiled an 18-6 record with a 2.65 ERA in 30 starts for the A’s last season.

The Mariners land the most sought-after free agent when the team signs Robinson Cano to a 10-year, $240-million contract, a value that equals Albert Pujols’ deal with the Angels for the third largest in baseball history. The Yankees, the 32 year-old’s former team who did not want to commit those kinds of dollars or years for their All-Star second baseman, recently inked outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury for $153 million (7 years) and catcher Brian McCann for $85 million (5 years).

ByTom

The Mariners land the most sought-after free agent when the team signs Robinson Cano to a 10-year, $240-million contract, a value that equals Albert Pujols’ deal with the Angels for the third largest in baseball history. The Yankees, the 32 year-old’s former team who did not want to commit those kinds of dollars or years for their All-Star second baseman, recently inked outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury for $153 million (7 years) and catcher Brian McCann for $85 million (5 years).