After the huge signing of Masahiro Tanaka yesterday, there have been many minor moves made today by teams looking to contend in 2014. Here is a recap:
As I reported earlier this week, three time all-star Grady Sizemore has been gaining interest from many teams. The Cincinnati Reds were looking as the front-runners then, but he was signed today by the Red Sox. The deal is for one year and $750,000, but Sizemore can make 6 million with incentives. According to mlb.com, Sizemore has a chance to win the starting job in center field, with Jackie Bradley Jr. being the main competition. The injury-prone Sizemore hasn't played in the big leagues since 2011, but still is only 31 years old.
One of the many big starting pitchers still left on the market, Matt Garza finally found a home with the Milwaukee Brewers. Garza will make 52 million over 4 years, after playing last season with the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers. He went 10-6 with a 3.82 ERA in an injury-shortended 2013 and has been on the DL in the past 3 seasons, but has been a strong starter when healthy . The Brewers struggled last season with a 74-88 record, but they played well in the second half of the year, and their pitching staff was stable all year long. The signing of Garza strengthens their pitching staff even more, so look for the Brewers to have a bounce-back season in 2014.
After his 2-year deal with Baltimore fell through due to failing his physical, closer Grant Balfour signed a 2-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. At 12 million, he is making 3 million less than the 15 million he would have made with the original contract with Baltimore. Balfour saved 38 games with a 2.59 ERA in 2013 with Oakland, who he played for since 2011. Before that, he played with Tampa, from 2007 to 2010. He seems to be the closer on the depth chart, but has competition with Heath Bell, who the Rays traded for this offseason.
The Oakland Athletics signed southpaw relief pitcher Eric O'Flaherty to 2 year deal for 7 million. O'Flaherty underwent Tommy John surgery in May, and pitched only 18 innings all year. The surgery will also keep him out until midseason. By then, O'Flaherty could be the closer in Oakland, despite never having experience at that position and there being many candidates for the A's to close, such as Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson, who the A's have also acquired this offseason. Before his injury-plagued 2013, O'Flaherty was a lights-out relief pitcher for the Braves, setting up for Craig Kimbrel. His best season was in 2011, when he pitched 73.2 innings and had a remarkable 0.98 ERA. He also had a 1.73 ERA in 57.1 innings in 2012.
In some unrelated news, according to outfielder Johnny Gomes, the famous beards of the 2013 world champion Red Sox will be gone by spring training.
As I reported earlier this week, three time all-star Grady Sizemore has been gaining interest from many teams. The Cincinnati Reds were looking as the front-runners then, but he was signed today by the Red Sox. The deal is for one year and $750,000, but Sizemore can make 6 million with incentives. According to mlb.com, Sizemore has a chance to win the starting job in center field, with Jackie Bradley Jr. being the main competition. The injury-prone Sizemore hasn't played in the big leagues since 2011, but still is only 31 years old.
One of the many big starting pitchers still left on the market, Matt Garza finally found a home with the Milwaukee Brewers. Garza will make 52 million over 4 years, after playing last season with the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers. He went 10-6 with a 3.82 ERA in an injury-shortended 2013 and has been on the DL in the past 3 seasons, but has been a strong starter when healthy . The Brewers struggled last season with a 74-88 record, but they played well in the second half of the year, and their pitching staff was stable all year long. The signing of Garza strengthens their pitching staff even more, so look for the Brewers to have a bounce-back season in 2014.
After his 2-year deal with Baltimore fell through due to failing his physical, closer Grant Balfour signed a 2-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. At 12 million, he is making 3 million less than the 15 million he would have made with the original contract with Baltimore. Balfour saved 38 games with a 2.59 ERA in 2013 with Oakland, who he played for since 2011. Before that, he played with Tampa, from 2007 to 2010. He seems to be the closer on the depth chart, but has competition with Heath Bell, who the Rays traded for this offseason.
The Oakland Athletics signed southpaw relief pitcher Eric O'Flaherty to 2 year deal for 7 million. O'Flaherty underwent Tommy John surgery in May, and pitched only 18 innings all year. The surgery will also keep him out until midseason. By then, O'Flaherty could be the closer in Oakland, despite never having experience at that position and there being many candidates for the A's to close, such as Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson, who the A's have also acquired this offseason. Before his injury-plagued 2013, O'Flaherty was a lights-out relief pitcher for the Braves, setting up for Craig Kimbrel. His best season was in 2011, when he pitched 73.2 innings and had a remarkable 0.98 ERA. He also had a 1.73 ERA in 57.1 innings in 2012.
In some unrelated news, according to outfielder Johnny Gomes, the famous beards of the 2013 world champion Red Sox will be gone by spring training.
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