Scott Elarton, a 17-game winner with Houston in 2000 who hasn't pitched in the majors in three years, was among eight non-roster players the Phillies have invited to spring training. Elarton last pitched professionally in 2010 with Triple-A Charlotte. He's 56-61 with a 5.29 ERA in 232 career games. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/11/30/phillies-moves.ap/index.html#ixzz1fIgHUJXj
The best thing that could happen for baseball this offseason is Albert Pujols signing with the Chicago Cubs. Few inside the game believe Pujols’ flirtation with the Cubs is anything more than both parties willfully using one another, but they are talking, and they are going to meet, and so it remains possibility enough to explore how St. Louis’ devastation would be worthwhile collateral damage for the rest of the sport. The NBA last season delivered the best example yet of a phenomenon that today must be called the LeBron Corollary: When someone with deep emotional ties to a city not only betrays that bond but does so in cruel fashion, it catalyzes interest in him and his sport. Pujols doesn’t cut the polarizing figure of LeBron. He is, by and large, a milquetoast persona whose ability to hit a baseball harder than anybody places him in a similar stratosphere. Still, leaving baseball’s self-proclaimed greatest fans for their archrival would constitute an act perhaps more treasonous than LeBron James trading Northeast Ohio for Florida. Cleveland thought nothing of Miami. St. Louis despises Chicago. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-passan_pujols_cubs_free_agent_113011
With baseball’s winter meetings just a couple of days away, the hot stove is already heating up with plenty of rumors. The latest one has free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez signing with the Giants. ESPN Deportes reporter Fernando Alvarez tweeted this afternoon that Gonzalez, 34, has had discussions with the Giants. Alvarez says he recently spoke to Gonzalez, who is supposedly in top physical shape. http://22gigantes.com/2011/12/giants-in-discussions-with-alex-gonzalez.html
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired Jeff Mathis from the Angels, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports reports. In exchange, the Angels will receive Brad Mills. Mathis who is known for his defensive ability and his game calling, became expendable when the Angels acquired Chris Iannetta from the Rockies earlier this week. Mathis is now slated to back up J.P. Arencibia in Toronto. Mathis made $1.7mm (could have made $100k more for 110 and 120 games started) and again is arbitration eligible http://www.prorumors.com/2011/12/rumors/blue-jays-acquire-jeff-mathis?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Yu Darvish is likely to be posted for MLB teams following the Winter Meetings, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. There was some speculation that Darvish wouldn't be made available this offseason, but his posting period is now expected to take place sometime after next week's meetings. Rosenthal cautions that it's still not official, and that issues with his Japanese club still need to be worked out, though his divorce settlement is reportedly not a factor. The Yankees, Nationals, Red Sox, and Blue Jays are potential landing spots for Darvish, who could require $50 million in order to secure exclusive negotiating rights - http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/346104/baseball-headlines?r=1
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Now is the time to go hard after Travis d'Arnaud. With Arencibia and Mathis on the MLB roster and other top catching prospects beneath him, d'Arnaud is prime trade bait. He would make an excellent catcher of the future and could be in MLB as early as July of 2012.
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