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 Ezequiel Carrera-OF- MarinersNov. 20 - 8:37 pm et
Mariners purchased the contracts of OF Ezequiel Carrera, RHPs Anthony Varvaro, Danny Cortes, Ricky Orta, J.C. Ramirez and LHP Edward Paredes.
The players are now safe from being selected during December's Rule 5 draft. Carrera, who was acquired from the Mets in the J.J. Putz trade last December, batted .337/.441/.416 with two homers, 38 RBI, 27 stolen bases and 68 runs scored in 91 games for Double-A West Tennessee in 2009. Varvaro, 25, will be the starting pitcher for Peoria in Saturday's Arizona Fall league title game.
 Dustin Ackley-1B- MarinersNov. 20 - 8:22 pm et
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said 2009 second overall pick Dustin Ackley will start working out at second base.
"We are not etching this into stone to say this guy will be the second baseman of the future," Zduriencik said. "It's just something we do." Ackley's work at second base should give Zduriencik a better indication of what to do personnel-wise going forward, since the 21-year-old is expected to arrive in the majors rather quickly. Ackley was a first baseman with North Carolina, but has played in the outfield during his pro debut in the Arizona Fall League.
Source: Seattle Times
 Chris Heisey-OF- RedsNov. 20 - 7:54 pm et
Reds purchased the contracts of OF Chris Heisey, IF Chris Valaika, RHPs Enerio Del Rosario, Logan Ondrusek, Jordan Smith and LHPs Phillippe Valiquette and Travis Wood.
The seven were added to the team's 40-man roster in preparation for December's Rule 5 draft. Heisey, who turns 25 in December, is the most highly-regarded, batting .314/.379/.521 with 22 home runs and 77 RBI between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Louisville in 2009. Depending on whether the Reds tender a contract to Jonny Gomes, Heisey could open next season in the major leagues.
 Stephen Strasburg-S- NationalsNov. 20 - 7:33 pm et
Stephen Strasburg will not need surgery on his left knee, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
An entire fanbase exhales. Strasburg made a visit to Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles as a precaution, but was told that some therapy and rest should do the trick. Strasburg was scratched from Saturday's start in the Arizona Fall League championship game because of a twisted left knee, suffered while shagging flyballs on Thursday. An initial MRI showed some inflammation in the knee, but the Nationals looked to have dodged a bullet on this one. He should be on track for spring training.
Source: MLBlogs.com
 Steve Garrison-S- PadresNov. 20 - 7:28 pm et
Padres purchased the contracts of LHP Steve Garrison, RHP Craig Italiano and OF Chad Huffman.
Each are now protected from December's Rule 5 draft. Garrison, 23, was one of the three players the Padres received from the Brewers in the Scott Linebrink trade during the 2007 season. That they chose to protect him is a bit of a surprise since he suffered a serious injury to his right knee in the Arizona Fall League that will require surgery. He likely won't begin a throwing program until June of next year. Garrison was 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) between three stops in the San Diego organization in 2009.
 Josh Johnson-S- MarlinsNov. 20 - 7:12 pm et
Josh Johnson and the Marlins have reached an "impasse" on contract talks, leaving the chances of a multi-year agreement in doubt.
"Based on our conversations, there's no chance of doing a long-term deal with the Marlins," Johnson's agent Matt Sosnick said. "We made it clear that it was going to be this year or it wasn't going to happen. It was now or never. And the Marlins agreed." According to Sosnick, the Marlins weren't comfortable offering anything more than a three-year deal. Johnson, under team control through 2011, is due to make $4 million as an arbitration-eligible player next season.
Source: ESPN.com
 Austin Jackson-OF- YankeesNov. 20 - 6:49 pm et
Yankees purchased the contracts of OF Austin Jackson, INFs Reegie Corona, Eduardo Nunez, Kevin Russo and RHPs Hector Noesi, Ivan Nova and Romulo Sanchez.
The seven are now protected from December's Rule 5 draft. Jackson, 22, batted .300/.354/.405 with four home runs, nine triples, 23 doubles, 65 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 132 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009, and is often mentioned as New York's center fielder of the future.
 Matt Holliday-OF- CardinalsNov. 20 - 6:36 pm et
Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox have expressed interest in four of Scott Boras' clients -- Matt Holliday, Mike Gonzalez, Rick Ankiel and Adrian Beltre.
The Red Sox are looking at Holliday as a more expensive alternative should they fail to re-sign Jason Bay. Gonzalez, a left-hander, could presumably take the role of Billy Wagner if he signs as a closer elsewhere. Ankiel is a surprising name, but since they just acquired Jeremy Hermida, also a left-handed outfielder, it's hard to see a fit. Lastly, Beltre would only make sense if the Red Sox find a suitor for Mike Lowell, who has one year and $12 million left on his contract. It's important to understand that this is just the first day of free-agency, so look for the Red Sox to be linked to most, or all, of the major free agents.
Source: Boston Herald
 Roy Halladay-S- Blue JaysNov. 20 - 6:26 pm et
The Blue Jays have contacted the Cubs regarding Roy Halladay, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
Don't get too excited, Cubs fans. Muskat writes that Chicago can't afford Halladay's $15.10 million salary in 2010 without including Milton Bradley in the deal. Unfortunately for the Cubs, Bradley isn't on Toronto's wishlist. In addition, the Blue Jays will likely ask for top prospect Starlin Castro, a player the Cubs are hesitant to part with. Either way, the Blue Jays told the Cubs that they intend to move Halladay this winter.
Source: MLBlogs.com
Related: Cubs
 Tug Hulett-2B- RoyalsNov. 20 - 6:16 pm et
Royals designated infielder Tug Hulett for assignment.
The Royals cut Hulett to make room on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old infielder spent most of the season at Triple-A Omaha, but batted .111/.158/.111 with one RBI in 18 at-bats with the big club. Hulett hasn't done much at the major league level, but he has shown good on-base skills while playing all over the diamond in the minors.
 Danny Valencia-3B- TwinsNov. 20 - 5:37 pm et
Twins purchased the contracts of INFs Danny Valencia and Estarlin De Los Santos, and RHPs Deolis Guerra, Alex Burnett, Loek Van Mil and Rob Delaney.
The players are now on Minnesota's 40-man roster and are safe from selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Valencia, 25, could compete for the Twins' third base job this spring if they don't find a solution on the open market. He hit .286 in '09 with seven homers and 41 RBI in 71 games at Triple-A Rochester.
 Cole Gillespie-OF- DiamondbacksNov. 20 - 5:25 pm et
Diamondbacks purchased the contracts of OF Cole Gillespie, RHPs Roque Mercedes and Daniel Stange and LHP Jordan Norberto.
The players are now safe from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. Gillespie, 25, hit .304/.418/.514 in 42 games for Triple-A Reno this season and was invited to the prestigious Arizona Fall League. The D'Backs nabbed him from Milwaukee this past summer in a trade for Felipe Lopez.
 Chris Waters-R- OriolesNov. 20 - 5:14 pm et
Orioles designated LHP Chris Waters for assignment.
Waters appeared in five games (one start) this season on the major league level, posting a 5.40 ERA and 5/5 K/BB ratio in 11 2/3 innings. He had a 4.49 ERA in 29 appearances (20 starts) at Triple-A.
 Robert Manuel-R- Red SoxNov. 20 - 5:10 pm et
Red Sox claimed RHP Robert Manuel off waivers from the Mariners.
Maneul, 26, posted a 2.88 ERA and 49/16 K/BB ratio in 65 2/3 innings this season at the Triple-A level. His numbers are strong, but he has sub-par stuff and may be destined for a career in middle relief.
 Jeff Bianchi-2B- RoyalsNov. 20 - 4:55 pm et
Royals purchased the contracts of INF Jeff Bianchi, OF Jordan Parraz, OF Jarrod Dyson, C Manny Pina and RHP Blake Wood.
The roster moves protect the players from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Bianchi hasn't exactly built on his impressive professional debut in 2006, but he managed a respectable .308/.358/.435 batting line this season between two different minor league levels and is only 23 years of age.
 Chris Jakubauskas-R- PiratesNov. 20 - 4:48 pm et
Pirates claimed RHP Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from the Mariners.
Jakubauskas posted a 5.32 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 35 appearances (eight starts) with the Mariners this season while battling a few shoulder issues. He turns 31 in December, but the Bucs are desperate for pitching.
 Brad Lincoln-S- PiratesNov. 20 - 4:46 pm et
Pirates purchased the contracts of RHP Brad Lincoln, RHP Ramon Augero, RHP Bryan Morris and OF Gorkys Hernandez.
The players are now protected from the Rule 5 Draft and are also members of the Pirates' 40-man roster. Lincoln, 24, posted a 3.37 ERA and 107/28 K/BB ratio this season between Double-A and Triple-A.
 Daryl Thompson-S- RedsNov. 20 - 4:14 pm et
Reds sent RHP Daryl Thompson outright to Triple-A Louisville.
It's somewhat surprising that Thompson was able to pass through waivers unclaimed. He's had some arm troubles, but allowed just 105 hits and posted a 99/30 K/BB ratio in 127 minor league innings just one year ago.
 Paul Phillips-C- RockiesNov. 20 - 4:09 pm et
Rockies signed C Paul Phillips to a minor league contract.
Phillips, 32, hit .311/.396/.422 this season with a homer and nine RBI in 45 at-bats on the major league level. The new deal comes with a clause that will grant him $450,000 if he reaches the bigs again next year.
 Laynce Nix-OF- RedsNov. 20 - 3:48 pm et
Reds OF Laynce Nix has elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Louisville.
Nix, 29, hit .239/.291/.476 this past season with a career-high 15 homers, 26 doubles and 46 RBI in 309 at-bats. He'll no doubt draw interest this winter from teams looking for a reliable utility outfielder.
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