The Oakland A's today agreed to terms with free agent designated hitter Frank Thomas. To clear a spot for Thomas on the roster, the A's placed outfielder Travis Buck on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19 with shin splints. To clear a spot for Thomas on the 40-man roster, the A's transferred Eric Chavez to the 60-day DL.   more »

The New York Mets and Johan Santana have agreed to a contract extension of 6 years and $137.5 million. Santana will play the 2008 season under his current contract with New York adding in another $7 million for good measure.

The Mets originally had until 5:00 PM Eastern Time to complete the contract but were granted a 2 hour extension to finish off the details.

Source: AP and WFAN Radio in New York

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a four-year, $4.75-million contract with free agent infielder/outfielder Alexei Ramirez. Under terms of the deal, Ramirez will receive a $500,000 signing bonus and be paid $950,000 in 2008 and $1.10 million each season from 2009-11.   more »

The St. Louis Cardinals announced today they have signed right-handed pitcher Matt Clement to a one-year contract for 2008 with a club option for 2009. Clement, 33, has a career 87-86 record with a 4.47 ERA while pitching nine-plus seasons in the Major Leagues with San Diego, Florida, Chicago Cubs and Boston.   more »

The Kansas City Royals have signed catcher Miguel Olivo to a one-year contract for 2008 with a mutual option for the 2009 season.   more »

The San Diego Padres announced today that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Mark Prior. Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Towers made the announcement.    more »

The Los Angeles Dodgers today signed Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a 3 year, $35.3 million contract (as per my source with the Dodgers). Kuroda will be introduced at Dodger Stadium tomorrow.   more »

The San Francisco Giants have signed Gold Glove center fielder Aaron Rowand to a five-year contract, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced.   more »

While I was out enjoying myself at my company's holiday party, the second biggest signing of the past two weeks occurred in MLB. Foxsports.com is reporting that Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome has agreed to a 4 year deal with the Chicago Cubs worth approximately $50 million!   more »

More signings...or official signings in some cases. Paul Lo Duca and the Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year contract pending a physical. The Milwaukee Brewers signed right-handed pitcher Eric Gagne to a one-year contract...   more »

MLB.com is reporting that the New York Yankees have reached an agreement on a one year deal with LaTroy Hawkins worth $3.75 million. Hawkins was 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 62 games with the Rockies in 2007. He allowed 52 hits in 55 1/3 innings while walking 16 and striking out 29.   more »

Don't you just love that terminology...who are those sources???!!! For once I'd like to see them identified. Anyway, it looks like Eric Gagne will be suiting up with the Brewers after agreeing to a one year, $10 million deal while Milton Bradley takes his game to Texas for a $5 million contract in 2008.   more »

It was a rather quiet session this winter in Nashville with only 2 big deals of note. The trade of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers and the signing of Andruw Jones by the Dodgers stole the headlines. There were a number of minor moves, however. Here's a recap...   more »

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms on a three-year Major League contract with free agent outfielder Jose Guillen. "In Jose, we feel we have acquired an impact bat from the right side of the plate," Royals General Manager Dayton Moore said. "He has a proven Major League track record of success and we are looking forward to seeing him in the lineup in Kansas City."   more »

The LA Times and a source close to the Dodgers have confirmed that Andruw Jones has agreed to a 2 year, $36 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers pending a physical. More details as they emerge!

The Milwaukee Brewers today signed right-handed pitcher David Riske to a three-year contract worth a reported $13 million.

Riske, 31, spent last season with Kansas City, where he went 1-4 with a 2.45 ERA and 4 saves in 65 relief appearances.  After struggling with a 6.97 ERA in April (10.1ip, 8er), he went on to post a 1.67 ERA the rest of the season (59.1ip, 11er).  His overall 2.45 ERA ranked 11th among American League relievers in 2007 (minimum 50.0 innings).

Also...

The Reds traded OF Buck Coats to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.

Coats, 25, last season appeared in 127 games at Class AAA Iowa and Louisville and in 20 games for the Reds. He was claimed off trade waivers from the Cubs on August 28.

The Associated Press is reporting that Jake Peavy and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $52 million, three-year extension that will run from 2010-12. The team also holds a $22 million option for 2013.

Including 2008-09, for which Peavy already is under contract, he could make $87.5 million during the next six seasons.

The extension is contingent on the 26-year-old Peavy passing a physical. Look for no-trade provisions to be added as well.

The Cardinals announced that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract for 2008 with free agent infielder Cesar Izturis. The deal officially ends the term of David Eckstein in St. Louis.

Elsewhere, the Colorado Rockies announced today that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free agent right-handed pitcher Matt Herges. The deal also includes a club option for 2009. Herges, 37, went 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA (48.2 ip, 16 er) in 35 relief appearances for Colorado in 2007.

The Detroit Tigers announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with lefthanded pitcher Kenny Rogers and righthanded pitcher Francisco Cruceta.

Rogers posted a 3-4 record and 4.43 ERA (63.0IP/31ER) in 2007 as he was limited to 11 starts with the Tigers due to two stints on the disabled list.  He finished 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA (204.0IP/87ER) in 34 games (33 starts) during his first season with Detroit in 2006.

...And the Tampa Bay Rays have officially signed veteran right-handed relief pitcher Troy Percival to a two-year major league contract through the 2009 season worth a reported $8 million.

Percival, 38, ranks 12th on Major League Baseball's all-time save list with 324.  A four-time All-Star, he owns a career mark of 33-41 with a 3.02 ERA in 639 games over 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. 

From ESPN via MLB Trade Rumors, the Houston Astros have reportedly signed Kaz Matsui to a 3 year contract worth approximately $15 million. Wow! Elsewhere today, Yorvit Torrealba returned to Colorado, agreeing Thursday to a two-year deal worth about $7 million with a mutual option for 2010.   more »