This week’s proposed trade of Mike Lowell and cash to the Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez currently stands in transaction limbo. Why? Blame Lowell’s right thumb. The Rangers are reportedly satisfied with the status of Lowell’s right hip, but they are reviewing an injury to Lowell’s thumb that hampered him over the final weeks of…

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has been following the Adrian Gonzalez situation pretty closely this winter, but recent talks between the Red Sox and Padres are going nowhere. For now, that is. At conflict is the players San Diego will receive in return. New general manager Jed Hoyer has asked for Clay Buchholz and…

Twice last week Pirates’ GM Neal Huntington said that he would tender closer Matt Capps, and all other arb-eligible players a contract: “At this point, our plan is to tender all eligible players,” he said on Monday. He repeated the phrase almost verbatim on Wednesday.   Last night: no contract tendered to Matt Capps. As…

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…

San Francisco acquired Ryan Garko from Cleveland at midseason in an effort to boost one of the league’s worst lineups, but Garko hit just .235/.307/.330 in 40 games and tonight the Giants non-tendered him rather than pay what likely would have been around $2 million via arbitration. Garko is mediocre against right-handers and crushes left-handers,…

Pittsburgh has spent months trying to trade closer Matt Capps, but after finding zero takers the Pirates decided to non-tender him rather than go to arbitration. Capps struggled mightily in 2009 and likely would have been awarded a salary in the neighborhood $3 million, but that’s hardly a budget-crippling number even for a small-payroll team…

Dioner Navarro was thought to be a likely non-tender candidate following the Rays’ trade for Kelly Shoppach, but instead the two sides have agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million contract that will keep him in Tampa Bay. It remains to be seen how the Rays plan to divvy up the playing behind the plate after…

Earlier this week Kevin Correia said that he expected to be either traded or non-tendered by the Padres because they didn’t want to risk the possibility that he’d be awarded a big raise via arbitration, but the two sides have agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million deal just hours before the midnight deadline. Correia earned…

Oakland grabbed Jack Cust off the scrap heap in 2007, gave him the first regular playing time of his career, and ended up getting 1,717 plate appearances of .241/.378/.462 hitting with 84 homers, 309 walks, 226 runs, and 229 RBIs for a combined cost of under $4 million. However, with Cust now on the wrong…

Updating a previous item, a major league source told WEEI.com that a mystery team has exceeded four years for free agent outfielder Jason Bay. The only two known offers at this point: Four-years, $60 million – Red Sox Four-years, $63 million – Mets After agent Joe Urbon’s comments earlier today and the skepticism following the…

Jonny Gomes is the latest talented player to be non-tendered as the Reds cut ties with him on Saturday. The 29-year-old Gomes was a surprise power source in ’09, hitting .267/.338/.541 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI in just 281 at-bats. Among NL outfielders with 250 at-bats or more, Gomes ranked 12th with a…

Things are about to get interesting. Rosenthal: Jason Bay’s tenure with the Red Sox appears over. The free-agent left fielder has rejected the team’s latest offer and is entertaining better proposals from other clubs, according to his agent, Joe Urbon. “We don’t agree with their evaluation of the player,” Urbon said. “Frankly, we have other…

As expected, the Yankees non-tendered Chien-Ming Wang on Saturday. The 29-year-old right-hander was 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA and 2.02 WHIP in 2009, eventually undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in June. Though Wang has already started a throwing program, he’s not expected to be ready to pitch in the majors until at least May. He’ll join…

As expected, the Braves have non-tendered second baseman Kelly Johnson and outfielder Ryan Church. Church was designated for assignment earlier this week in order to make room for newly-acquired right-hander Rafael Soriano on the 40-man roster. Johnson batted .224/.303/.389 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in 303 at-bats in ’09, while Church hit .273/.338/.384…

Ken Davidoff of New York Newsday reports that left-hander Randy Choate has avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract with the Rays. Choate, 33, posted a 3.47 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 61 appearances with Tampa Bay in 2009. He was especially effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a miniscule .141 batting average.…

Uh-oh. Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog informs us that Alex Cora injured his back while playing with Criollos de Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League last week. Cora, 34, signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Mets earlier this month. He batted .251/.320/.310 with one home run, 18 RBI and 31 runs scored in…

The Braves are holding out hope that they can find a taker for second baseman Kelly Johnson before tonight’s non-tender deadline, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports. Johnson, 27, batted .224/.303/.389 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in 303 at-bats with the Braves in ’09, losing his starting second base job to Martin Prado (.307/.358/.464).…

As expected, the Rockies will non-tender third baseman Garrett Atkins on Saturday. Atkins, who turns 30 today (Happy Birthday, Garrett!), batted .226/.308/.342 with nine home runs and 48 RBI last season, losing his hold on the starting third base job to Ian Stewart by June. Atkins was featured in my “Non-tender tango” series two weeks…

According to a team source, the Mets’ four-year, $63 million offer to Jason Bay is heavily backloaded, reports Bart Hubbach of the New York Post. The contract is worth roughly $10 million in the first season, increasing to near $20 million in the final year. Backloaded deals are nothing new for the Mets, as Carlos…

Matt Diaz avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $2.55 million contract with the Braves, reports MLB.com. He earned $1.2375 million in 2009. Diaz, who turns 32 in March, batted .313/.390/.488 in ’09, establishing career-highs with 13 home runs and 58 RBI. Only six National League outfielders with at least 350 plate appearances were better than…