The Indians continue to deal first basemen, one day after acquiring Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers in separate trades, as they send incumbent Yonder Alonso to the White Sox for OF Alex Call.
The last vacant managerial slot in the majors is filled as the Orioles, coming off the worst season in franchise history which led to the firing of both GM Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter, announce that the job will go to Brandon Hyde, bench coach of the Cubs.
In other happenings on the final day of the winter meetings, the Twins sign 40-something reliever Fernando Rodney to a one-year contract while the Cardinals send OF Stephen Piscotty to Oakland in return for a pair of prospects, one day after acquiring OF Marcell Ozuna from Miami.
At the annual Rule 5 Draft, OF Victor Reyes is the first pick, by the Tigers from the Diamondbacks, but after that it’s a pitching smorgasbord as 15 of the other 16 players taken in the major league phase are pitchers. The most recognizable names are Ps Burch Smith and Albert Suarez, who both have major league experience, and former major league OF Anthony Gose who is hoping to make it back to the Show as a pitcher.
The Phillies sign C J.P. Arencibia and RP Ernesto Frieri to minor league contracts with spring invites.
The Giants sign P Johnny Cueto to a free agent deal worth $130 million over six years.
“Mr. Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life either by an honest acceptance by him of his wrongdoing, so clearly established by the Dowd Report, or by a rigorous, self-aware and sustained program of avoidance by him of the circumstances that led to his permanent eligibility in 1989. Absent such credible evidence, allowing him to work in the game presents an unacceptable risk of a future violation by him of Rule 21, and thus to the integrity of our sport. I, therefore, must reject Mr. Rose’s application for reinstatement.”- COMMISSIONER MANFRED, stating his case for the denial of Pete Rose’s reinstatement. In one of his first major actions since becoming commissioner, Rob Manfred denies Pete Rose’s application for reinstatement to baseball, citing a reversal of the lifetime ban would risk the sport’s integrity. The four-page decision concludes the career hits leader had continued to gamble legally on horse racing and professional sports, including baseball, disregarding all the circumstances which led to his permanent ineligibility in 1989.
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.
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.
Aníbal Sánchez agrees to a five-year, $80 million deal to remain with the Detroit Tigers, helping keep their 2012 World Series rotation intact.