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Braves considering calling up C Bethancourt

According to MLB.com's Mark Bowman, the Braves are considering calling up Christian Bethancourt.

Bethancourt has been hot in June at Triple-A Gwinnett after a sluggish first few months and could take over as the Braves' starting catcher with Evan Gattis shifting to left field. Justin Upton would play right, Jason Heyward would play center, and B.J. Upton would move to the bench. It's a move that might hurt Atlanta defensively (Gattis is not a steady outfielder) but could spark the offense. B.J. Upton has hit .194/.274/.312 in a Braves uniform.

Source: Braves.mlb.com

Mon, Jun 16, 2014 10:37:00 AM

Brewers haven't talked Papelbon for two days

The Brewers and Phillies haven't talked about a possible Jonathan Papelbon trade in two days, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"It doesn’t appear there’s any momentum to it right now," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. "It could be revived later, I guess, but right now there’s nothing happening. "Whatever traction there was seems to have dissipated." Haudricourt said the main issues remain Papelbon's no-trade clause and a vesting $13 million option in 2016, part of which the Brewers would ask the Phillies to pick up. At this point, someone will have to give some ground to make a deal work.

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Jan 24 - 6:56 PM

Doolittle to miss opener with shoulder issue

The Athletics announced Friday that Sean Doolittle is dealing with a slight tear in his rotator cuff, as well as inflammation and irritation in his throwing shoulder.

The hard-throwing southpaw had a PRP injection in an attempt to alleviate the issue and at the moment isn't expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. The recently acquired Tyler Clippard is likely to begin the season as the A's closer and has tremendous appeal for those speculating on saves in early fantasy drafts.

Source: Melissa Lockard on Twitter

Jan 23 - 7:43 PM

Vogelsong back with Giants for one year, $4M

Giants re-signed RHP Ryan Vogelsong to a one-year, $4 million contract.

He'll have the chance to earn more through incentives. Vogelsong chose the Giants over the Astros even though he'll likely enter the season as a long reliever if Matt Cain (elbow) and Tim Hudson (ankle) progress as hoped. The 37-year-old held a 4.00 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 32 starts with the defending champs last year.

Jan 23 - 5:05 PM

Marlins 'still discussing' SP James Shields

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Marlins are "still discussing" James Shields.

It appears that the Marlins' front office wants Shields, but Rosenthal says they need to convince owner Jeffrey Loria it's an investment worth making. Those talks are "ongoing," Rosenthal notes. Shields is said to prefer the West Coast and is shooting for a five-year, $125 million contract, but some executives believe he might have to wind up settling for a four-year deal in the $70-80 million range.

Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter

Jan 23 - 1:04 PM

Cubs, Dexter Fowler settle at $9.5 million

Cubs and OF Dexter Fowler avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $9.5 million contract.

It's $150,000 below the midpoint of figures exchanged last week between Fowler and the Astros. Fowler hit .276/.375/.399 with eight homers, 35 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 116 games last season for Houston and is expected to patrol center field in Chicago. He's currently slated to hit free agency next offseason.

Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter

Jan 23 - 12:50 PM

Marlins agree to deal with Ichiro Suzuki

SiriusXM's Craig Mish reports that the Marlins have agreed to a contract with Ichiro Suzuki.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal says it's a one-year deal for around $1 million, which are the terms Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported on Wednesday. Ichiro, who will serve as the club's No. 4 outfielder, batted .284/.324/.340 with one homer and 15 steals last season for the Yankees. He's 156 hits away from 3,000 for his major league career.

Source: Craig Mish on Twitter

Jan 23 - 12:20 PM

Brewers moving closer to deal for Papelbon?

ESPN's Jayson Stark reports that the "last remaining obstacle" to a trade sending Jonathan Papelbon to the Brewers is deciding how much money from the reliever's $13 million 2016 option the Phillies would pick up.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal indicated earlier Friday that a deal wasn't close, but based on Stark's report it appears it could be coming together quickly. Papelbon would need to waive his no-trade clause in order to be shipped to Milwaukee, but Stark says that won't be an issue. Papelbon is owed $13 million in 2015 and has a $13 million vesting option for 2016 should he finish 48 games, but the reliever would want the option picked up in order to agree to a trade.

Source: Jayson Stark on Twitter

Jan 23 - 9:55 AM

Jonny Gomes gets one-year deal from Braves

Braves signed OF Jonny Gomes to a one-year, $4 million contract.

The deal also contains a $3 million vesting option for 2016, which turns into a team option if it doesn't vest. Gomes traditionally has been on contending teams but apparently got the best offer from the rebuilding Braves. The 34-year-old batted just .234/.327/.330 with six homers last season, but he has a career .861 OPS versus lefties and is expected to platoon in left field with Zoilo Almonte.

Jan 22 - 10:19 PM

White Sox sign Geovany Soto to minors deal

White Sox signed C Geovany Soto to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Soto drew quite a bit of interest this winter, but no team was apparently willing to offer a guaranteed major league contract to the 32-year-old catcher, who appeared in just 24 games last season due to injuries. Soto hasn't been an effective major league hitter since 2011, but he plays above-average defense behind the plate. He could see a decent amount of action as Tyler Flowers' backup in Chicago.

Source: Bruce Levine on Twitter

Jan 22 - 2:53 PM

Jesus Montero already down to camp weight

Mariners trainer Rick Griffin said Thursday morning that Jesus Montero has already met his recommended spring training reporting weight of 235 lbs.

Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune says Montero was playing at around 275 lbs. in 2014, so this is a big drop. A scout famously sent Montero ice cream last year at Triple-A -- a nod to the former top prospect's recent issues with weight and determination that resulted in that scout's firing. Montero threw the ice cream back at the scout and wound up on suspension for the final few weeks of the minor league season. Maybe he's gotten his act together at age 25, but Montero is not even worth a flier in standard fantasy leagues for the 2015 season.

Source: Ryan Divish on Twitter

Jan 22 - 1:40 PM

Jeff Hoffman compensation for Dan Duquette?

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, 2014 first-round pick Jeff Hoffman has been discussed as compensation in the Blue Jays' possible acquisition of executive Dan Duquette.

Duquette has had tremendous success as the Orioles' general manager, but the Jays asked him to become their new CEO and Duquette reportedly wants the job. This has been a story since the week before the Winter Meetings and it seems a resolution may finally be coming. Hoffman, a well-polished right-hander out of East Carolina, was considered one of the top players in the 2014 draft class before he underwent Tommy John surgery. He wound up going ninth to Toronto. It'd be a nice get for Baltimore.

Source: Buster Olney on Twitter

Jan 22 - 1:32 PM