Baseball Digest Daily

The Arizona Diamondbacks released the following statement from Senior Vice President and General Manager Josh Byrnes regarding Randy Johnson.

“Earlier today we came to an agreement in principle with the New York Yankees regarding Randy Johnson. We have now been granted a 72-hour window from Major League Baseball to discuss Randy’s contract status with his representatives, Barry Meister and Alan Nero. We will respectfully decline any comment during the negotiating window but will do so when there is news to announce.”

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Big Unit Headed Back to Arizona

by Joe Hamrahi on Thu 04 Jan 2007 04:15 PM EST

According to Sweeny Murti on WFAN, the Yankees have traded Randy Johnson back to the D’Backs in exchange for Luis Vizcaino and minor leaguers RHP Steven Jackson, RHP Ross Ohlendorf and OF Alberto Gonzalez.
According to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus, all D-Backs minor leaguers are lower level prospects but are interesting nonetheless. They all certainly have big league potential.

In 70 relief appearances for Arizona last season, the 32–year-old Vizcaino posted a 3.58 ERA with 72 K’s in 65 innings pitched. In each of the last three years he has made no fewer than 65 appearances with an ERA no higher than 3.75.

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Catching Up

by Joe Hamrahi on Thu 04 Jan 2007 02:41 PM EST

- The Red Sox signed Joel Pineiro, and word has it that he will have a chance to close. I’ll believe it when I see it.

- The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent Keith Foulke to a one-year Major League contract with a mutual option for 2008.

Foulke, 34, owns a career Major League record of 41-34 with a 3.30 ERA and 190 saves in 588 appearances/8 starts over 10 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s and Boston Red Sox since 1997 (755.2IP, 624H, 277ER, 181BB, 695K). The Huffman, Texas native was originally selected by the SF Giants in the 9th round of the 1994 draft and was later acquired by the White Sox in a 9-player deal in July of 1997. He pitched for the White Sox for six seasons from 1997-2002 and finished 3rd in the American League with 42 saves in 2001.

- Sidney Ponson agreed to an incentive laden minor league contract with the Twins. He gets $1MM for making the team and can earn another $2MM in bonus money.

- The Rockies signed Jamey Carroll to a 2 year, $4 million contract.

- The New York Post is reporting that the Yankees have a tentative agreement with first basemen Doug Mientkiewicz and the details should be announced in the next day or so.

- Seattle Mariners Director of Player Development Frank Mattox announced yesterday that the Mariners have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with infielder Sean Burroughs.

“Sean was limited due to injuries last season, but has always been a high-rated prospect at third base,” Mattox said. “He is a solid left-handed hitter who has had success over the years and it’s clear he wants to get back on track as quickly as possible. It’s a matter of getting him going in the right direction.”

Burroughs, 26, was originally drafted by San Diego in the first-round (ninth overall) in the June 1998 draft and made his Major League debut with the Padres in 2002. Over parts of five Major League seasons with the Padres (2002-05) and Devil Rays (2006), Burroughs has a career batting average of .280 (431-for-1537) with 11 home runs, 63 doubles, 134 RBI and 179 runs scored in 440 games. He led all National League third basemen in 2003 with a .286 average and set career highs in nearly every major offensive category. He batted a career-best .298 the following season.

- The Chicago Cubs also announced yesterday that the club has agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Neal Cotts for the 2007 season. Cotts, 26, was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for relief pitcher David Aardsma and minor-league pitcher Carlos Vasquez on November 16, 2006.

The Lebanon, Ill., native was originally selected in the second round by Oakland in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft and is 10-7 with a 4.52 ERA (97 ER/193.0 IP) in 199 career games (five starts). He led the White Sox and was tied for eighth in the American League with a career-high 70 relief appearances last season.

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Loretta Set to Sign with the Astros

by Joe Hamrahi on Thu 04 Jan 2007 11:23 AM EST

According to ESPN.com, Mark Loretta will sign with the Houston Astros on Thursday.

The agreed-to deal is for one year at $2.5 million, but could be worth as much as $3.5 million with incentives, said Loretta's agent, Bob Garber.

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