Josh Hamilton still looking for a new home
Day Three at the 2012 Winter Meetings brought a flurry of free-agent signings, missed opportunities for some teams, and left the top two free-agents Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton still looking for the perfect deal and a place to call home.
Jeff Keppinger was able to take advantage of a strong market for infielders and agreed to terms on a three-year deal for the Chicago White Sox. Reportedly the Yankees were interested in Keppinger but never officially made an offer.
Jason Bay both a little closer to his home in British Columbia with a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners.
Bay and the New York Mets agreed to terminate his contract last month and in 2013 Bay will get an opportunity to redeem himself and his value with the Mariners.
The Los Angeles Angels continue to rebuild their pitching staff signing left-handed specialist Sean Burnett to a two-year deal with an option for 2015.
Reportedly the deal is worth $8 million.
Sensing perhaps that Greinke had moved out of their price range, the Angels also signed veteran Joe Blanton for two years and $15 million.
Anibal Sanchez, Kyle Lohse or Brandon McCarthy, are still available, but for the time being the Angels appear set.
The Chicago Cubs signed free-agent outfielder Nate Schierholtz on a one-year $2.25 million contract. Tampa Bay was in the mix until the end and came up short.
Undaunted, Rays GM Andrew Friedman was excited about the prospects for the future. “I think we’re narrowing down the potential scenarios in how we construct our roster,” Friedman said. “There’s a few potential outcomes that are really exciting to us, and we’re going to work toward trying to make them materialize.”
Meanwhile Greinke and Hamilton are super free agents in waiting, in Hamilton’s case literally waiting.
The Rangers have put discussions with Hamilton’s representatives on hold, while the team tries to get a gauge on where they stand with Greinke.
Hamilton has been linked to the Mariners, Red Sox, Phillies and Brewers, and reportedly met with Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and manager John Farrell.
As for Greinke it appears to be a battle between the Dodgers and the Rangers, and the bidding for his services may top the record $161 million contract the Yankees gave CC Sabathia.
While the Dodgers can bring a few more marbles to the game, don’t rule out the Rangers.
The Royals may be at a point where they’re ready to make a decision on whether to trade top prospect Wil Myers. Tampa Bay could trade veteran James Shields for Myers, but Kansas City would probably have to add a little more to the deal to make it work.
The Yankees continue to search for an adequate replacement for Alex Rodriguez while he recovers from hip surgery. Kevin Youkilis and Mark Reynolds present the latest options for New York.
In a late night transaction the rays signed outfielder Jason Bourgeois to a minor-league deal. Bourgeois has a career slash line of .261/.306/.324 injust under 500 at-bats.
