Yankees Acquire Javy Vazquez

The Yankees are the rich getting richer, and re-acquired solid #2 starter Javy Vazquez from the Braves for Melky Cabrera. New York also got left-hander Boone Logan as part of the trade, and the Braves obtained a pair of pitching prospects, left-hander Mike Dunn and right-hander Arodys Vizcaino, along with about $500,000.

The Yankees' payroll for next year now tops $200 million, which is more than the #2 Los Angeles Angels were purchased for a few years ago.

Phillies, Blue Jays Looking at Plan B re Halladay

Both the Phillies and the Blue Jays are looking at their other options vis a vis Roy Halladay, according to many reports. Although it woul benefit both teamms to do a deal, apparently the Phillies have determined that the asking price is too much. In response, the Phillies are eyeing a deal for Cliff Lee of the Indians, and the Blue Jays may be in talks with the Yankees...stay tuned...Friday is the trading deadline...

Phillies sign Pedro Martinez to One Year Deal

The Phillies, somewhat desperate for starting pitching in their run for the defense of their world title, signed three time Cy Young Award pitcher Pedro Martinez to a one year deal worth $1 million guaranteed, plus $1.5 million in incentives.

Milwaukee Brewers Sign Braden Looper

Braden Looper, the former St. Louis Cardinal RHP, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers with a one year, $4.75 million guaranteed, plus $1 million in incentives for 2009, plus a club option for 2010 for $6 million or $6.5 million (depending on incentives) plus a $750,000 buyout (or $1 million, depending on incentives). The Brewers were in dire need of starting pitching after CC Sabathia bolted for NY and Ben Sheets rejected arbitration. Looper was 12-14 with the Cardinals in 2008, pitching nearly 200 innings with a 4.16 ERA.

Diamondbacks and Jon Garland Agree to Terms

The Diamondbacks and free agent right-hander Jon Garland have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with an option for 2010, according to major league sources, worth between $6-8 million.

It appears the contract is similar to one of the proposals the sides discussed a few weeks ago, in which the deal would include an option that could be exercised by either the player or team. The value of the buyout would vary depending on which side declines the option.

This will probably lead to other free agent signings of starters on the free agent market.

Felix Hernandez signs one year deal with Mariners

The Seattle Mariners re-signed 22 year old RHP Felix Hernandez to a one year, $3.8 million contract to avoid arbitration. Hernandez showed ace-like signs last year, finishing with a 3.45 ERA with 175 strikeouts in 200 2/3 innings. In his 11 no decisions for the lowly Mariners he had a 2.72 ERA.

Uehara Signs with Baltimore Orioles

Right-hander Koji Uehara finalized a $10 million, two-year contract with Baltimore, making him the first Japanese-born player in franchise history. The 33-year-old Uehara, who agreed to terms last week, gets $5 million a year and could make more in incentives. Reportedly if Uehara makes 34 starts and pitches 200 innings in each season, he would earn $16 million.

Astros Agree to Minor League Deal with Russ Ortiz

Russ Ortiz, who has struggled with injuries over the past couple of years, agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training to compete for a roster spot with th Houston Astros. Ortiz, 34, missed all of 2008 with Tommy John surgery, but was last with the San Francisco Giants.

Mark Prior signs with San Diego Padres

Mark Prior, the former Cubs ace that has had massive injury problems (and missed all last year due to an additional arm surgery), has signed with the San Diego Padres with a minor league deal. Prior will be paid $1 million if he makes the Padres roster.

Atlanta Braves and Derek Lowe Talks Getting Serious

There are many reports that the Atlanta Braves, after feeling much fan blowback after letting John Smoltz sign with the Red Sox, are showing some real Benjamins to try to land Derek Lowe. Reportedly the Braves have offered Lowe 4 years, $60 million in an attempt to bring the former Red Sox and Dodger pitcher into the fold. The 35 year old right handed Lowe was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA last year with the Dodgers.

UPDATE: Many reports that Lowe has agreed to the four year deal, pending physical.

Braves Nearing Deal with Kenshin Kamakawi

The Atlanta Braves, clearing becoming a little more active after John Smoltz took the deal with the Boston Red Sox, are reportedly nearing a deal with 33 year old Kenshin Kamakawi from Japan to be a starter in their rotation. No rumors yet on the size of the deal (although original reports that the demand was in the 3 year, $30 million plus range). Previously the Mets, Orioles, Angels, Cardinals and Twins had been rumored to have been previously interested in Kamakawi's services. Kamakawi's fastball is supposed to be clocked around 92 with a nasty splitter, 2 seam fastball and curve that keeps batters off guard. He also, apparently, can handle a bat, which is definitely helpful in the National League.

Mets sign Tim Redding to One Year Deal

Home-state boy Tim Redding, a former top prospect in the Astros organization who spent all of 2006 in the minors, only to seem to find his way last year, signed a one year, $2.25 million contract with the New York Mets to be a starter with that organization. Redding, 30, was 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA with the Washington Nationals last year but was non-tendered by that team. Redding likely will battle rookies Jonathon Niese and Bobby Parnell for the fourth or fifth spot in the Mets' rotation. The Colorado Rockies had been showing interest in Redding over the last few weeks before the Mets got it done.

John Smoltz to sign with Boston Red Sox

Reports abound that John Smoltz's days with the Atlanta Braves may be over, as the 41 year old right handed pitcher will sign with the Boston Red Sox. Smoltz, formerly a starter, had been moved to the pen in Atlanta (a team he has been with since he broke into the majors), and is coming off shoulder surgery. The deal is reportedly worth a guaranteed $5.5 million with incentives that could reach $10 million, and they are projecting him to be in the rotation when his rehab is complete.

Carl Pavano to sign with the Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a one year, incentive laden contract with the much injured former New York Yankee Carl Pavano. If anyone thinks that the New York Yankees are guaranteed to win the Series, one need only look at how much the Yankees paid for Pavano. Pavano was paid $40 million over four years with the Yanks and made a total of 26 starts in those four years, 7 last year, or almost $1 million a strikeout. The Indians deal is reported to be $1.5 million guaranteed with incentives that could bring the deal to $6.8 million.

Jason Marquis to Rockies?

It appears as if Jason Marquis, long rumored to be in need of a new home to save Chicago Cubs payroll, is going to be headed to Colorado in exchange for middle reliever Luis Vizcaino (although reportedly details are still being worked out). Although many may surmise this means the Cubs are back in the Jake Peavy hunt, likely the Cubs ownership situation (and all of the political hub-bub surrounding criminal investigations related thereto with the Illinois Governor) will need to be resolved before committing to Peavy's $60 million left on his multi-year deal. The longer that goes on, the less likely that Peavy will swap teams prior to pitchers and catchers reporting.

Now if this had been done by the Winter Meetings, it would have been a completely different story. How quickly things can change.

Nationals Sign Daniel Cabrera

The Washington Nationals signed free agent Daniel Cabrera, RHP, to a $2.6 million deal for the 2009 season. Cabrera was 8-10 with a 5.25 ERA for Baltimore in 2008 and was shut down last year due to elbow pain. The contract is actually less than Cabrera made last year, despite logging 30 starts before the injury surfaced. The Nats required an MRI before making it official, but apparently he passed inspection.

Report: Brad Penny to sign one year deal with Red Sox

WEEI.com is reporting that RHP Brad Penny has confirmed a one year contract with the Boston Red Sox. The big right hander had previously shown a promise for top of the rotation stuff before going down with an injury, missing much of last year. Penny has previously confirmed he wanted a deal with Red Sox, despite other suitors, since he wanted to play for a team with a likely chance to be in the post season. If this is, indeed, a $5 million base salary deal, as is being reported, this is a decent investment on a guy with large upside and has shown the ability to throw 200 plus innings as a hard thrower.

Cold Stoves That Should Be Hot Stoves

This has been an interesting offseason, to be sure. With some ballclubs, like the New York Yankees spending like it is going out of style (after dumping nearly $85 million in payroll) while others like my beloved Houston Astros cutting quality mid level players to desperately try to reduce payroll to prepare for the economic collapse, it certainly has not been dull. There are, however, many free agent names that are barely getting press that should, in my opinion, have signed by now or at least had front runners/news to report. With that in mind, here is my list of "where are they now?":

1. Ben Sheets - Yes, there have been health issues,, but the guy is a #1 starter and is not that old...clearly there is a team that could use him.

2. Manny Ramirez - In a normal offseason, there would be a dozen teams looking to add his bat to their lineup, offseason problems or not. Granted, Scott Boras clients are likely out of the question for smaller market clubs, but for the Dodgers, Angels, Mets or Cubs not to sign this guy by now is pretty amazing to me.

3. Derek Lowe - There has been some scuttle here and there for Lowe, but normal offseason you would, I think, see a clear front runner with some piping hot small market clubs in the running.

4. Randy Wolf - This guy had a phenomenal second half of the season and is left handed yet he remains unsigned and was even not offered arbitration by the Astros, who really needed his services.

5. Ty Wiggington - Like Wolf, Wiggington had a great second half an actually held his own fielding at 3B in Houston last year. Granted, he's getting a raise from the bargain the Astros got him for, but it is still fairly in line with 3B salaries for a guy that can play every day.

6. Brad Penny - Yes he's been hurt and can be wild, but he's a big dude, throws hard, and has shown he can be a top of the rotation kind of guy. As far as I've heard, only the Red Sox are seriously talking to him at this point, normally there would be a dozen teams talking to him.

7. Adam Dunn - yes, the Red Sox nation started to talk about Dunn after Teixeira signed, but so far Boston has not pulled the trigger. He's another guy that was not offered arbitration, something that would probably have been unheard of last year.

8. Pat Burrell - I mean, he only was the starting OF for a World Series club with 33 HR. Granted, he's pricey if he wants to make what he did last year.

9. Brian Fuentes - 30 saves and a 2.73 ERA while pitching in Colorado. Hellllllooooo?

Anyway, check out the free agent tracker at ESPN and see for yourself. Weird year for the Hot Stove League and us at the Hot Stove Report.

Astros Sign RHP Clay Hensley to Minor League Deal

In clearly the Houston Astros' management's response to the Mark Teixeira signing by the New York Yankees, the Astros went out and signed former Lamar University and Beaumont native Clay Hensley, RHP, to a one year, $550,000 deal to compete for a rotation spot or a place in the bullpen. The Astros had apparently inquired about the pitcher a few years ago at the trading deadline, but signed him directly this year after getting the thumbs up from Hensley's former bullpen mate Doug Brocail.

Phillies Sign Jamie Moyer to 2 Year Deal

I'm imagining that the Phillies waited to sign Jamie Moyer, 46, simply because of the second year of the deal, but apparently they have finalized a deal for two years, terms as yet undisclosed. Moyer is third now on the active win list with 246, and will likely end his career in his hometown. The agreement to sign was announced today by the team's VP, Ruben Amaro, Jr.