Transaction Action
By
KC2HMZ
Posted at 10:34 pm
OK, finally here’s an update on player transactions in the NL Central. Egad, Feb. 11, has it really been that long? How time flies. Fortunately, many of the deals that have transpired since have already been reported by my colleagues here on RHM and there were a few “slow news days” so hopefully this won’t be too painful if I move along quickly
Yes, Feb. 11 – the Pirates signed 1B Doug Mientkiewicz to a MLCWSTI.
Feb 15 – The Pirates invited nonroster C Steve Lerud to spring training, while the Reds locked up their probable 2008 cleanup hitter for the next four years by signing 2B Brandon Phillips to a four-year, $27 million contract through the 2011 season with a club option for 2012.
Feb. 18 – The Cubs signed IF Alex Cintron to a MLCWSTI (Also on this date, Leatherpants Vampire added Bret Boone to his collection of former Reds).
Feb. 19 -Â The Cardinals signed LHP Ron Villone, a former Red, Brewer, Astro, and Pirate, to a MLCWSTI – and Bubba copped a job.
Feb. 20 – The Astros signed free agent RHP Shawn Chacon, a former Pirate, to a $2 million, one-year contract. The Brewers signed LHP Mitch Stetter to a one-year contract and signed 3B/OF Russell Branyan, a former Red Brewer, and Cardinal, to a minor league contract (Incidentally, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel erroneously reported that Branyan was with the Reds, Padres, and Cardinals last year. Oops. Well, two out of three ain’t bad, right? Russ was with the Phillies, Padres, and Cardinals last year and hasn’t worn a Reds uni since 2003. You Brewers fans might want to tip off Tom Haudricourt about the existence of Baseball Reference).
Feb. 21 – The Brewers signed C Lou Palmisano to a one-year contract. The Reds signed RHP Josh Fogg, a former Pirate, to a one-year, $1 million contract, placing LHP Bobby Livingston on the 60-day DL to make room for Fogg on the 40-man roster.
Feb. 22 – The Reds released OF/1B Craig Wilson after he reportedly failed his physical. Wilson spent most of last year on the DL with shoulder problems and even had surgery to try to clean things up. I wish Craig the best of luck.
Feb. 24 – As previously reported here on RHM, the Pirates signed RHP Byung-Hyun Kim to a one-year, $850,000 contract.
What wasn’t reported is how they made room for Kim on their 40-man roster: They DFA’ed Little Ray Ray.
🙁
I hope they finish in the cellar…but then, what are the odds of that? Oh, wait…
That’s a wrap. You’re now caught up on all the wheeling and dealing in the NLC since our last update. I’ll have more to contribute soon, if I don’t completely trash my computers upgrading the operating systems later this week (it really is about time for me to ditch Windows ME, don’t you think?).
HMZ
Bret Boone says the reason he walked away from baseball was an alcohol problem. He went to rehab and hasn’t had a drink in seven months.
And he’s looking like his old self. They moved him from the minor league camp to the big league clubhouse.
Everyone has an excuse when they are on the come back trail. Its a tad early to declare he is back to his old self. Mickey Mantle had an alcohol problem his entire career and it sure didn’t hurt his performance.
Majewski is full of excuses too and until he can get big league hitters out with a game on the line his words mean nothing. This is business. You either produce or you don’t.
FWIW…Majewski is apparently really impressing people in spring training. Maybe he’ll finally get it together this year.
haha, yea he always seems to impress everyone till it matters. We heard this same song and dance last spring, and the year before when he came back after rehab. If only it was so easy to just throw some pitches in spring, have the writers give you a positive paragraph and voila like magic your a major league pitcher.
I’ve pretty much cut bait on Majewski ever approximating a league-average reliever. He’s failed too many times to count.
Welcome back, HMZ. I hope you enjoy the faster internet speeds. Oh, and a newer operating system. Don’t feel too bad, though. I stayed with Windows 98 until well into the oughts, skipping Windows Me entirely.
Well, Majewski wasn’t impressive today. 😛
In other news, RHM’s favorite, Little Ray Ray, is a Philly. They claimed him off waivers from the Bucs.