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Around Baseball: February 1, 2008 — Sox, Yankees Sign First Basemen, Other Signings
By Administrator | February 1, 2008
The Red Sox have signed 1B Sean Casey to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal worth $700,000. You could pretty much see this coming — not because of his selfless charitable work in the city of Lawrence last year (when he was a member of the Detroit Tigers) but because he is the kind of player the Red Sox ownership / front office just loves.
He is not as versatile as Eric Hinske. Nor does he have the power he once had when he played with the Cincinnati Reds (he only hit 4 HR in 453 AB last season)… but, the Red Sox will not need him to be. He gets on base and plays excellent defense. He will give the Red Sox an excellent replacement for Kevin Youkilis on days the first baseman needs a rest, or on days he is moved to third base to relieve Mike Lowell.
In ‘07, he hit .296, with a .353 OBP (league average was .330) and a .393 Slugging Percentage (league average was .440)… but after May 1st he was much better (.317 / .372. / .424). He is considered to be a good guy in the clubhouse.
Of his off-season struggle to find work, Casey said: “In December, when I didn’t have a job, I thought, ‘Hey, that’s all right. It’s December. I figured by the beginning of January we’d get something done; but, then you look up and it’s almost February. I talked to my agent the other day and he said, ‘Just be patient’. I said, ‘How much more patience do I need to have?’”.
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The NY Yankees have reached agreement with free-agent Morgan Ensberg on a one-year deal. It is a minor league deal that will pay him $1.75 million if and when he is added to the 40-man roster. The deal contains incentives that could pay him an additional $2.25 million based on plate appearances (he earns the full amount if he makes 525 plate appearances).
With Jason Giambi a defensive liability and Doug Mientkiewicz a free agent, Ensberg is expected to compete for the Yankees starting first base job in spring training. After reaching the deal, Ensberg said: “I’m extremely excited about it. It’s a great team and a great lineup. Most importantly, it’s a team that’s consistently playing for a World Series. After you’ve been in the league for a few years, you really start valuing that pursuit’.’
Ensberg will add a right-handed bat to the lefty-laden Yankees lineup. He hit .230 with 12 homers in 115 games with Houston and San Diego last year.
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The Seattle Mariners signed free agent outfielder Brad Wilkerson to a one-year, $3 million contract yesterday.
Seattle has been said to have interest in the versatile Wilkerson, who can play all three outfield positions plus first base, for the last several weeks as they have moved closer to making a deal for a pitcher. The signing paves the way for the Mariners to deal center field prospect Adam Jones to the Baltimore Orioles for Eric Bedard.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers and Joe Beimel have agreed to a one year contract worth $1,925,000. The contract contains incentive clauses for appearances ($40,000 each for 50, 60, 70 and 85 games).
Beimel set a franchise record for southpaws by appearing in a career-high 83 games last season. He went 4-2, with one save a 3.88 ERA.
The pitcher had asked for $2.15 million in arbitration… the Dodgers had offered $1.7 million.
Topics: Around Baseball |
