2010-2011 MLB Offseason Thread

[Miamarlin21]

Giants to sign right-handed pitcher Jeff Suppan to a minor league deal.

[Ramp]

Yanks to sign Andruw Jones, 1 year $2mil + incentives

[Miamarlin21]

Seattle signs outfielder Jody Gerut and left-handed pitcher Nate Robertson to minor league deals.

[DColts]

Jays, Angels Swap Vernon Wells For Napoli, Rivera
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 21 at 6:17pm CST]

6:17pm: The trade is Wells for Napoli and Rivera, according to Mike Wilner of Sportsnet Radio The FAN 590. Rosenthal adds that the Jays will be sending the Angels some money in the deal. (Twitter link)

5:41pm: Wells has waived his no-trade clause and underwent a physical in Anaheim today, according to Rosenthal and Morosi. Juan Rivera could also be headed to Toronto along with Napoli.

5:22pm: Rosenthal hears from a source that Toronto will send Vernon Wells to the Angels in exchange for Napoli. (Twitter link) Wells is under contract through 2014, earning $23MM in 2011 and then $21MM in each of the remaining three years. Wells would presumably take over in center field for L.A. now that Torii Hunter has been shifted to right, though Hunter (-6.2 UZR/150) was a bit better than Wells (-7.0 UZR/150) in center last season.

4:36pm: The Angels have agreed to send Mike Napoli to the Blue Jays, pending a physical, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Rays appeared to be targeting the catcher/first baseman earlier this evening, but their division rivals ended up acquiring him instead.

The Blue Jays could combine Napoli with Jose Molina and J.P. Arencibia behind the plate or with Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind at first base.

Napoli hit 26 home runs last year, reaching the 20-homer plateau for the third consecutive season. He hit .238/.316/.468 overall, with a career-high 137 strikeouts. The right-handed hitter has a .931 OPS against southpaws in his career, so he is a potential complement to the lefty-hitting Lind at first base.

Would-be base stealers were successful 73% of the time they tried stealing off of Napoli in 2010; they've been successful 76% of the time in his career.

Napoli, 29, is arbitration eligible this year and eligible for free agency after 2012. He asked for $6.1MM in 2011 and the Angels countered with a $5.3MM offer, as MLBTR's Arb Tracker shows. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes used Napoli as an example of the arbitration process in this October post, predicting his agent could ask for $6-7MM.

The Angels dealt from a position of strength; along with Napoli, the Halos have backstops Jeff Mathis, Hank Conger and Bobby Wilson on their 40-man roster.

The Angels would like to move Juan Rivera and his $5.25MM salary, according to Rosenthal and Morosi. They have explored one-year deals with players such as Scott Podsednik and Vladimir Guerrero.

-MLBTR

[Ramp]

Rays sign Damon and Manny

[Valid]

Damon gets $5.25 million and Ramirez gets $2 million? Huh?

[FishFanInPA]

Wow. 2004 Red Sox ftw?

[jOOj]

It could work.

[DColts]

Hopefully it doesn't

[Swifty]

Man, I'd love to be a Rays fan.

That team could be all kinds of fun.

[Beef]

Maybe we can be fun!

[Fritz]

Not gonna lie, I'm pumped for the signings. Should be fun if they're good or they suck.

[Erick]

Isn't anyone going to say something funny about what the Angels did today? Please tell me that someone realizes just how horrible that trade was...

I'm thinking Tony Reagins received a death threat from the Blue Jays organization, or something.

[Ralph]

Isn't anyone going to say something funny about what the Angels did today? Please tell me that someone realizes just how horrible that trade was...

I'm thinking Tony Reagins received a death threat from the Blue Jays organization, or something.

Yea terrible for Angels. Jays are looking pretty good if they spend there money wisely.

[jOOj]

Rumours is saying Vlad to the O's on a one year deal is almost done.