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This is the most stunned I’ve been by a Red Sox transaction during the Theo Epstein era. I like to think I’m usually on the same page with the Boston braintrust when it comes to which players to pursue. But I fully expected the Red Sox to come out of this winter with Matt Holliday,…

Scott Olsen, who was non-tendered Saturday after making $2.8 million last season, has already agreed to reup with the Nationals, according to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick. The deal is worth a guaranteed $1 million, but the rehabbing left-hander will be able to earn up to $4 million if he starts 33 games. Olsen went 2-4 with…

With the batch of non-tenders helping to repopulate the ranks, it seemed like a good time to present an updated top 111 free agents. Players are listed based on how I think teams view them, rather than any personal feelings. The original list can be found here. 1. Matt Holliday 2. John Lackey 3. Jason…

Here’s the complete list of players non-tendered prior to Saturday’s midnight deadline. Angels: RHP Jose Arredondo*, INF Matt Brown, RHP Dustin Moseley Athletics: OF Jack Cust Blue Jays: C Raul Chavez Indians: RHP Adam Miller*, RHP Anthony Reyes*, RHP Jose Veras Mariners: OF Ryan Langerhans Orioles: RHP Brian Bass Rays: OF Gabe Gross, C Shawn…

Indications are that the Brewers are just about out of cash after signing Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins for their pitching staff at the meetings. They do have an offer out to Craig Counsell, but they could well be done adding significant free agents. Except they clearly don’t need to be. According to MLB.com’s Adam…

*Jose Arredondo will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2010 season, a source told ESPN”s Jorge Arangure. That explains his struggles. Arredondo burst onto the scene with 10 wins and a 1.62 ERA out of the pen in 2008, but he came in at 6.00 in 45 innings during a dreadful 2009. With Arredondo…

The Royals got 31 homers and 101 RBI in 618 plate appearances from their two primary catchers on their way to finishing 65-97 last season. Now they’re going to someone who had two homers and 43 RBI in 526 plate appearances. That’s the way it is in Kansas City. Dayton Moore’s two biggest priorities after…

It’s a common occurrence for contenders to go for the sure thing, rather than trust the youngster. When it comes to surety versus ceiling, surety often prevails with teams that already expect to win 90 games. But what about with the teams all set to lose 90 games? When the Nationals signed Ivan Rodriguez, the…

Sources told FOXSports.com that the Indians and Blue Jays are looking at free agent Marcus Thames. Thames, who was released by the Tigers after six seasons in Detroit, would likely sign cheap if it meant getting a chance to play regularly. The soon-to-be 33-year-old has a career 797 OPS in 1,549 at-bats and he’s an…

With everyone headed home from the meetings and a quiet night likely, it seemed like a good time to revisit some of the predictions from my Free Agency Preview columns. Here’s a list of the 18 signed free agents to receive guesses in those columns: Ramon Hernandez Guess: Reds – one year, $4 million Result:…

The Dallas Morning News has all of the details on Rich Harden’s deal with the Rangers, which was agreed to Wednesday. According to the DMN, Harden will earn $6.5 million next season and up to $2.5 million more incentives. The 2011 option needs approval from both sides and is worth $11million. If either party declines…

The Denver Post’s Troy Renck reports that the Rockies and Chris Iannetta have agreed to terms on a three-year, $8.3 million contract that will cover the catcher’s arbitration years. The deal also includes a $5 million club option for 2013, Iannetta’s first season of free agency. While indications were that this was coming, it’s still…

Each time I start to wonder why I still have the Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice on my RSS reader, he produces a gem like this: Here’s my five-minute analysis of the $4.5-million signing of Pedro Feliz. I haven’t spoken to GM Ed Wade. In other words, I’m thinking for myself. Run for your lives! I…

Update – SI.com’s Jon Heyman tweets that the Bay offer was for about $65 million over four years. ***** Sources confirmed to Newsday’s David Lennon that the Mets have made initial offers to Jason Bay and Bengie Molina. There was no doubt the proposal to Molina was coming, though there’s no word yet whether he’s…

Sources told SI.com’s Jon Heyman that the deal sending Rafael Soriano to the Rays is done, pending a physical. In return, the Braves are set to receive Jesse Chavez, the right-handed reliever the Rays previously picked up from the Pirates for Akinori Iwamura this winter. The deal nets the Rays a closer without forcing them…

FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal tweets that the Red Sox and Rangers have come to a preliminary agreement on a Mike Lowell for Max Ramirez trade, pending physicals and approval of Red Sox ownership. According to Rosenthal, the Red Sox are picking up almost all of Lowell’s $12 million salary to make it happen. No mention is…

*The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Dave O’Brien believes the Braves and Rays could finalize a Rafael Soriano deal on Thursday. The Braves figure to get a decent prospect here, but the quality will depend on whether they’re willing to throw in a couple of million to help out with Soriano’s still undetermined salary, which presumably will be…

MLB.com’s Brian McTaggert reports that the Astros and Brandon Lyon have come to terms on a deal, pending a physical. The Astros lost LaTroy Hawkins earlier in the day because of an unwillingness to guarantee him a second year. They almost certainly had to in order to sign Lyon, and they probably paid a premium…

The Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton reports that the Royals have inquired about Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner’s availability in light of the Curtis Granderson trade. Given that he, like Granderson, is a left-handed-hitting center fielder, Gardner no longer seems like all that great of a fit with the Yankees. Switch-hitting Melky Cabrera might be more…

The Toronto Sun is reporting that the Angels have offered up Erick Aybar, Joe Saunders and Peter Bourjos in exchange for Jays ace Roy Halladay. The Aybar inclusion is big, given the complete lack of any other quality young shortstops on the market and Toronto’s intense desire for a long-term option at the position. A…

SI.con’s Jon Heyman is hearing the Phillies are in the mix for Roy Halladay, along with the Angels, Yankees and Red Sox. The Phillies are supposed to be just about out of money after signing Placido Polanco and loading up their bench, though they have kept enough in reserve to land a setup man along…

*FOXSports.com’s Tracy Ringolsby reports that the Rockies and Yorvit Torrealba are about $1 million apart on a two-year deal, with the Rockies offering $5 million. Ringolsby also has the Rockies looking at Miguel Olivo, Josh Bard and Jason Kendall as fall-back options. The Nationals’ decision to give Ivan Rodriguez $6 million for two years makes…

According to the Providence Journal’s Joe McDonald, the Red Sox and Rangers are discussing a Mike Lowell deal, with Max Ramirez potentially being involved. The Rangers have been looking for a right-handed bat to pair with Nelson Cruz behind Josh Hamilton in the lineup, with Jermaine Dye’s name being mentioned frequently. Lowell, though, may well…

It was a prerequisite to the Rangers’ signing of Rich Harden; Kevin Milllwood’s $12 million salary simply had to be stricken from the books. To make it happen, the Rangers ate $3 million and sent the veteran to the Orioles for former closer Chris Ray and a player to be named. Millwood is coming off…

As our own Craig Calcaterra reported earlier, Rich Harden is joining the Rangers on a one-year, $7.5 million deal with an $11.5 million option for 2010. The price seems about right, but the destination is still rather surprising. It’s hard to imagine that there weren’t going to be teams willing to present similar, if not…