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The Orioles and right-hander Jeremy Gutrhie avoided arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. He requested $3.625 million and was offered $2.3 million when arbitration figures were exchanged last month, so they just about split the difference here. Guthrie, who turns 31 in April, eclipsed the…

We’ve spent a lot of time this winter talking about how Johnny Damon took a backseat to Matt Holliday getting his cash with agent Scott Boras. On second thought, at least Damon has been in the car. Free agent infielder Felipe Lopez has been left on the side of the road with his thumb in…

As you surely know by now, Craig likes to needle the Mets. The problem is that it’s become entirely too easy to pile on them at this point (Junk bonds? Not enough money to sign Rod Barajas? Really?) and therefore, no longer much fun. With that in mind, Craig asked me, the resident Mets fan…

Sunday: Roch Kubatko of MASN hears that Takahashi has rejected offers from the Mets and Orioles.  Scratch two more teams off the list. Saturday, 6:09pm: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News tweets that the Giants are assuming Takahashi will accept a minor league offer elsewhere. Saturday, 2:39 pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets…

Last night, I found myself in a pretty interesting to-and-fro with Sam Page of the excellent Amazin’ Avenue about whether Fernando Martinez was rushed in his development. It was spurred on, at least initially, by what Martinez told Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com this week: “I know I’m a big league player, and I can perform…

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Blue Jays have acquired left-hander Dana Eveland from the Athletics in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Eveland was designated for assignment earlier this week. The 26-year-old southpaw was touched up to the tune of a 7.16 ERA in 13 games (nine…

According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, the Nationals have signed veteran left-hander Shawn Estes to a minor league contract. Estes, who turns 37 later this month, didn’t appear in the majors last season, but was 3-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 13 starts with Triple-A Albuquerque in the Dodgers organization. Of course, Mets fans know…

Jim Street of MLB.com reports that Erik Bedard has passed his physical, paving the way for his return to Seattle. Bedard, who turns 31 in March, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with a mutual option for 2011. Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets that the contract includes incentives that could push him over the $7.5…

Note: This story isn’t recommended for those with a weak stomach. Lance Broadway, a former first-round pick of the White Sox in 2005, has been accused of a brutal assault of a man at a New Year’s Eve party in Dallas. Randy Sorrels, attorney for 25-year-old Ivan Pinney, said his client’s left eye was severely…

On Friday, Craig wondered why the Dodgers were going after Garret Anderson. Well, it looks like they’ve come to their senses, because according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Dodgers are making a “hard run” at free agent outfielder Reed Johnson. He adds that a deal “may be close or already done.” Johnson, 33, played…

Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports that the Brewers are already engaging agent Scott Boras in some preliminary discussions about a long-term contract for Prince Fielder. Fielder, who turns 26 in May, is under team control for two more seasons. As McCalvy aptly points out, there’s no real precedent for Boras to advise one of his…

Bloomberg Sports rolled out a demo of their new fantasy baseball product in New York this afternoon. Through a partnership with MLB Advanced Media, the goal is to lure fantasy players away from competitors like Yahoo! and ESPN. While it will surely appeal to the already fantasy-savvy, the new portal through MLB.com signifies an effort…

At least if the words of team negotiator Teddy Werner are to be believed. The two sides will likely head to an arbitration hearing after the Brewers pulled their latest offer to outfielder Corey Hart, reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We made a final offer that we thought was a good offer,” said…

Update: He’ll earn $1.3 million, tweets Rosenthal. 11:53 am: Many expected one to follow the other, and true to form, after Orlando Cabrera signed with the Reds, the Rockies inked Melvin Mora to a one-year contract, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Terms of the contract aren’t yet available. Mora, who turns 38 next month, batted…

Joba Chamberlain told the New York Post that he will arrive in Tampa next week with the mindset of a starting pitcher: “I’m going to go in and understand a lot of guys are fighting for that spot,” Chamberlain said after an autograph signing in New Rochelle in conjunction with Steiner Sports. “Nothing is guaranteed.”…

The Giants and right-hander Brian Wilson avoided arbitration on Saturday by agreeing to a one-year, $4,437,500 contract. The figure is the exact midpoint between the $4.875 million Wilson asked for and the $4 million he was offered when arbitration figures were exchanged earlier this month. He was arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter. Wilson,…

Oh, you didn’t hear? It might as well be a secret since the Johnny Damon front has been pretty quiet over the past few days. In his Sunday column for ESPN.com, Buster Olney provides an excellent timeline of events during the negotiations with the Yankees, writing that “it’s laughable that the Yankees are taking flak…

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is back with his usual Sunday column of baseball goodies. Head over there to read the whole thing — where you’ll find an interesting look at the “contract year theory,” as well as updates on Gary Sheffield, Will Ohman, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jarrod Washburn — but what really caught…

Update: Brown reports that the Reds have agreed to terms with Cabrera on a one-year, $3 million contract with a $3 million option for 2011. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, there’s a $1 million buyout on the second year. Saturday 6:33 pm: Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports hears that Orlando Cabrera is leaning towards…

Update: According to the Associated Press, Nutting declined to listen to separate proposals to buy the team last season, including one by Lemieux. Minor league team owner Chuck Greenberg also submitted a proposal, but later joined Nolan Ryan in a successful bid to buy the Rangers. 11:06 am: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports…

That’s right. During the team’s winter caravan event on Saturday, manager Dusty Baker mentioned that the team has considered using prospect Yonder Alonso behind the plate. Mark Sheldon of MLB.com has the quote from the Reds’ skipper: “That’s always a possibility,” Baker said. “We’ve entertained a few things, even the possibility of putting Alonso behind…

Jane Jarvis, an accomplished jazz-pianist and organist for the Mets from 1964 to 1979, has died at the age of 94, according to the New York Times. She pre-dates my experience as a Mets fan, but at moments like this I always look towards Greg Prince of the excellent Faith and Fear in Flushing to…

Silly robot. Craig neatly summed up PECOTA’s projected standings for 2010 earlier this week, as the Rays were predicted to finish in first place with the Yankees in third place and on the outside looking in at the playoffs. Mass hysteria followed. Really angry tweets were sent. Crazy times. But as Marc Topkin of the…

- The Angels and Joe Saunders avoided arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.7 million contract. The 28-year-old southpaw asked for $3.85 million and was offered $3.6 million when arbitration figures were exchanged last week, so he settled for a little less than the midpoint. Saunders was 16-7 with a 4.60 ERA in…

Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets that the Cardinals are Rockies are among the teams interested in free agent second baseman Felipe Lopez. Lopez, who turns 30 in May, has been overshadowed by Orlando Hudson of late, but is coming off a season in which he batted .310/.383/.427 with nine home runs, 57 RBI and 88…