Scott Proctor Retires

Scott Proctor

Relief pitcher Scott Proctor has elected to hang up the cleats for the final time and retire, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports.

Proctor had signed with the Giants this past offseason but was traded to the Orioles and later released as he did not make the majors.

During his seven year career, Proctor spent time with the Yankees, Dodgers and Braves. Overall, Proctor went 18-16 with a 4.78 ERA in 343 innings while averaging 7.6 k/9.

His best season came in 2006 with the Yankees when he logged 83 appearances while posting a 6-4 with a 3.52 ERA with one save.

His worst statistical season came in 2011 where he logged time with the Braves and the Yankees. Overall, he went 2-6 with a 7.14 ERA and averaging only 6.5 k/9.

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.

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Dodgers sign Jonathan Sanchez

Jonathan Sanchez

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed left-hander, Jonathan Sanchez to a minor league deal, Pedro Gomez of ESPN reports. If all goes well for the Dodgers, Sanchez won’t see the majors as he was signed strictly for depth at the Triple-A level. But the Dodgers have used 9 different starting pitchers so far this season which is barely a quarter of the way done.

Sanchez signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates this past offseason. Prior to last season, Sanchez who was a life time Giant was traded the previous offseason (2011) to the Royals for Melky Cabrera. He struggled mightily there going 1-6 with a 7.76 ERA and was later designated for assignment.

The Rockies then took a gamble on Sanchez which did not pay off as he went 0-3 with a 9.53 ERA.

This season, he started four games (1 relief appearance) where he went 0-3 with a 11.85 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 16.5 H/9 and 4.6 HR/9 in 13.2 innings.

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Phillies sign Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano

The Philadelphia Phillies  have signed pitcher Carlos Zambrano,. He will report to extended spring training in Florida. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

The deal includes a July 1st opt-out date if he is not in the majors by then, Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports.

Zambrano was traded to the Marlins last offseason after being a lifetime Cubby (11 seasons). Zambrano experience mixed results last season as he pitched out of the bullpen (15 games) and also started 20 games.

Overall, he went7-10 with a 4.49 ERA in 132.1 innings while averaging 6.5 K/9 and 8.4 H/9.

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Cubs sign Anthony Rizzo to seven-year extension

Anthony Rizzo

The Chicago Cubs have signed first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a seven year deal worth $41mm, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports reports. The deal runs from 2013-’19. The deal also includes two club options worth $14.5mm each (season) which could push the deal through 2021 and make the deal worth $70mm, which includes a $2mm buyout.

Rizzo is still as youngster as he won’t turn 24 until August and barely as a year of service time under his belt.

In parts of three seasons, Rizzo has appeared in 172 while hitting .255/.333/.437 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs while striking out 142 times.

This season for the Cubs, Rizzo is hitting .288/.361/.554 with 9 home runs and 28 RBIs.

The Cubs initially acquired Rizzo from the Cubs back in January of 2012 in the trade that sent Andrew Cashner to San Diego.

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Rockies sign Roy Oswalt to minor league deal

Roy Oswalt

The Colorado Rockies have announced that they have signed veteran pitcher Roy Oswalt to a minor league deal.

Oswalt will report to extended spring training, where he will be evaluated though no promises of him being promoted have been made, Troy Renck of the Denver Post notes. If Oswalt reaches the Majors, he can earn more than $4mm based on a ton of incentives.

Oswalt had drawn interest from various clubs this offseason including the Mets but did not come close to signing a deal.

The right hander pitched in 2012 for the Rangers and went 4-3 with a 5.80 ERA, 4.23 FIP, 9.0 K/9, 1.7 BB/9 and 1.7 HR/9 in 59.0 innings. Oswalt did not sign with the Rangers until late May but still received a contract that paid him a base salary of $5mm.

In 2011, Oswalt went 9-10 while posting a 3.69 ERA in 139 innings with the Phillies. He did average a career low with 6.0 strike outs per 9 innings and is coming off a series of injuries.

In his 12 year career which includes stops with the Astros, Phillies and Rangers, Oswalt is 163-96 with a 3.28 ERA with a 4-0 record and 2.25 ERA at Coors Field.

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Angels trade Chris Snyder to the Orioles

Chris Snyder

The Los Angeles Angels have traded Triple-A catcher Chris Snyder to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league pitcher, Rob Delaney, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports.

Snyder will be added to the active roster and serve as the backup catcher while Taylor Teagarden is on the DL with a thumb injury.

Snyder was hitting .342/.388/.684 with 7 home runs 21 RBIs so far at Triple-A.

Snyder started spring training with the Nationals before asking for his release to sign with the Angels at the close of spring training.

Last season, Snyder appeared in 76 games for the Astros where he hit .176/.295/.308 with 7 home runs and 24 RBIs while only committing 3 errors.

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Athletics designate Casper Wells for assignment

Casper Wells

Casper Wells has not been able to unpack his bags this season as he continues to find a new home just about every week. Wells had been with the  A’s since April 22nd but have announced that they have released the outfielder as they reinstated Yoenis Cespedes from the disabled list.

Wells started the season off with Seattle but was designated for assignment before Opening Day. The Blue Jays quickly claimed Wells but designated him just days later without making an appearance. He was then traded to the A’s for cash. In five at bats this season, Wells has yet to gain a hit.

Wells was initially acquired by Seattle back in 2011 from the Tigers as part of the return Seattle received for Doug Fister.

Wells hit .228/.302/.396 with 10 HR’s and a .307 wOBA in 316 plate appearances for the Mariners in 2012.

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.

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Chad Billingsley set to undergo Tommy John surgery

Chad Billingsley

The Los Angeles Dodgers started the season off with eight starting pitchers somewhere on their roster. They had so many that they had stashed two in the bullpen and one on the DL. They had Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett, Ryu Hyun-Jin, in the rotation with Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano in the bullpen and Ted Lilly on the DL as he built up arm strength.

Then the baseball gods began to forwn on the Dodgers. They traded Aaron Harang away to go with a more conventional bullpen (he took a long time to warm up). Days later, Greinke was involved in the Carlos Quentin incident that saw him break his collar bone and will be out for eight weeks. Also during that benches clearing brawl, Chris Capuano hurt his calf which flared up in his first start in Greinke’s rotation spot. He now has gone on the DL and has received a PRP injection to help speed up the healing.

Then on Saturday prior to Chad Billingsley’s start in Baltimore, he reported elbow pain in his throwing arm which had already surfaced last season. At the time, Billingsley elected to receive a PRP injection and rehab instead of having Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately the team announced today that Billingsley will undergo TJ surgery tomorrow with a recovery time of 12 months.

Billingsley had made two starts and posted a 3.00 ERA with a 4.5 K/9, his lowest mark in his career (career avg is 7.9).

This just goes to show you that no matter how many pitchers you have in reserves, you can never have enough.

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Athletics acquire Casper Wells

Casper Wells

Casper Wells continues to rack up his frequent flier mileage as the Toronto Blue Jays have traded Wells to the A’s for cold hard cash, the teams announced.

A 40-man roster spot was created for Wells was made when the A’s moved Scott Sizemore to the 60-day DL. Wells is out of options and can not be sent to the minors.

Wells has experienced a merry-go-round year so far as he started the season off Seattle but was designated for assignment before Opening Day. The Blue Jays quickly claimed Wells but designated him just days later without making an appearance.

Wells was initially acquired by Seattle back in 2011 from the Tigers as part of the return Seattle received for Doug Fister.

Wells hit .228/.302/.396 with 10 HR’s and a .307 wOBA in 316 plate appearances for the Mariners in 2012.

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.

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