The Cardinals sign free agent 1B Lance Berkman from the Yankees. He will move to LF in St. Louis, as 1B Albert Pujols is very much entrenched at his position.

ByTom

The Cardinals sign free agent 1B Lance Berkman from the Yankees. He will move to LF in St. Louis, as 1B Albert Pujols is very much entrenched at his position.

The Red Sox have found their new shortstop, after struggling with Jed Lowrie, Julio Lugo, Nick Green and Alex Gonzalez in 2009. Free agent Marcos Scutaro signs a two-year deal worth $11 million, with an option for a third year. Ironically, Gonzalez signed with the Blue Jays earlier this week, where he will fill Scutaro’s shoes.

ByTom

The Red Sox have found their new shortstop, after struggling with Jed Lowrie, Julio Lugo, Nick Green and Alex Gonzalez in 2009. Free agent Marcos Scutaro signs a two-year deal worth $11 million, with an option for a third year. Ironically, Gonzalez signed with the Blue Jays earlier this week, where he will fill Scutaro’s shoes.

San Diego names Jason McLeod as the team’s assistant general manager. The former Red Sox director of amateur scouting is hired by the team’s new GM Jed Hoyer, who also comes from Boston and served in the same capacity working as Theo Epstein’s assistant before joining the club

ByTom

San Diego names Jason McLeod as the team’s assistant general manager. The former Red Sox director of amateur scouting is hired by the team’s new GM Jed Hoyer, who also comes from Boston and served in the same capacity working as Theo Epstein’s assistant before joining the club

The Seattle Mariners also dip into the free agent pool, signing infielder Chone Figgins to a four-year, $36 million deal. It’s still not certain whether Figgins will play 2B or 3B for his new team, as this hinges on whether Seattle re-signs 3B Adrian Beltre. While the deal is announced today, it will only be finalized on December 8th. However, Figgins will be a huge disappointment and will be released before the end of his contract.

ByTom

The Seattle Mariners also dip into the free agent pool, signing infielder Chone Figgins to a four-year, $36 million deal. It’s still not certain whether Figgins will play 2B or 3B for his new team, as this hinges on whether Seattle re-signs 3B Adrian Beltre. While the deal is announced today, it will only be finalized on December 8th. However, Figgins will be a huge disappointment and will be released before the end of his contract.

The San Francisco Giants sign free agent Edgar Renteria to replace Omar Vizquel at shortstop. The deal is for $18.5 million over two years.

ByTom

The San Francisco Giants sign free agent Edgar Renteria to replace Omar Vizquel at shortstop. The deal is for $18.5 million over two years.

Junichi Tazawa becomes the first blue chip Japanese prospect to skip the NPB draft and sign directly with a Major League Baseball team. He inks a three-year, $3.3 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. A member of Japan’s squad in the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he is projected to start 2009 at AA.

ByTom

Junichi Tazawa becomes the first blue chip Japanese prospect to skip the NPB draft and sign directly with a Major League Baseball team. He inks a three-year, $3.3 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. A member of Japan’s squad in the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he is projected to start 2009 at AA.

In other shortstop news, the St. Louis Cardinals acquire Khalil Greene, a star in 2007 who struggled in 2008, from the San Diego Padres for Mark Worrell and a player to be named later.

ByTom

In other shortstop news, the St. Louis Cardinals acquire Khalil Greene, a star in 2007 who struggled in 2008, from the San Diego Padres for Mark Worrell and a player to be named later.

The Atlanta Braves acquire pitchers Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan from the Chicago White Sox in a deal for Tyler Flowers, Jon Gilmore, Brent Lillibridge and Santos Rodriguez.

ByTom

The Atlanta Braves acquire pitchers Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan from the Chicago White Sox in a deal for Tyler Flowers, Jon Gilmore, Brent Lillibridge and Santos Rodriguez.

The Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers pull off a blockbuster deal for 3B Miguel Cabrera 

ByThis Day in Baseball

2007 – The Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers pull off a blockbuster deal. Florida sends 3B Miguel Cabrera (an All-Star in four of his five seasons) and two-time All-Star P Dontrelle Willis for prospects Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and Dallas Trahern. The Marlins also get Mike Rabelo, Eulogio De La Cruz and Burke Badenhop in the deal. Maybin and Miller had been Detroit’s first-round picks in 2005 and 2006 respectively.