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Cubs Designate Casey Coleman For Assignment

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The Cubs designated right-hander Casey Coleman for assignment, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports (on Twitter). The move creates 40-man roster space for newly signed right-hander Scott Feldman.

Coleman appeared in 17 games for the Cubs this past season, posting a 7.40 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 24 1/3 innings. Coleman, a third generation big leaguer, has a 5.76 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 165 2/3 innings at the MLB level. The 25-year-old has spent his entire three-year career with the Cubs.

Rangers Acquire Cory Burns

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The Rangers have acquired right-handed reliever Cory Burns from the Padres for a player to be named later, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter). The Padres had designated Burns for assignment eight days ago.

Burns made his MLB debut in 2012, appearing in 17 games out of the San Diego bullpen. The 25-year-old posted a 5.50 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 in 18 innings at the MLB level. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he pitched to a 3.14 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 66 innings of relief.

Angels To Sign Ryan Madson

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WEDNESDAY: The deal is expected to be worth $3.5MM in guaranteed money, plus $2.5MM in roster bonuses and $1MM in incentives for games finished, Yahoo's Tim Brown writes (Twitter link). Madson passed his physical, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports (on Twitter).

TUESDAY: The Angels have agreed to sign Ryan Madson to a one-year contract, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports. The deal is pending a physical.

Madson, a client of the Boras Corporation, missed the 2012 season to undergo Tommy John surgery. In parts of nine seasons with the Phillies from 2003-11 the 32-year-old posted a 3.59 ERA with 7.8 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and a 47.7% ground ball rate. His numbers improved once he settled into a late inning relief role, and he evolved into an impact closer by 2011, when he posted a 2.37 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 48.8% ground ball rate in 60 2/3 innings. The Long Beach, California native had an average fastball velocity of 94.0 mph in 2011, his last full season before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Angels had been looking for relief help, but didn't want to commit significant long-term dollars for a closer. GM Jerry Dipoto told the LA Times earlier this offseason that spending big on relievers is like "going to Las Vegas and throwing it down on double-zero green." Assuming the Angels rely on Madson as their closer, Ernesto Frieri would move into a setup role.

The Phillies and Reds also showed interest in Madson, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Madson's contract with the Reds included an $11MM mutual option for 2013, which he declined in favor of a $2.5MM buyout. Madson ranked 36th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents this offseason.

Heyman first reported the Angels were nearing a one-year deal with Madson.

Boesch Drawing Interest; Tigers Like Drew

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Brennan Boesch has drawn trade interest from multiple teams, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). While one of Morosi’s sources believes a trade could be completed during next week’s Winter Meetings, the Tigers might prefer to trade the non-tender candidate before Friday’s deadline for tendering contracts to arbitration eligible players. With a projected salary of $2.1MM, it’s hard to imagine Boesch has substantial trade value.

The Tigers are interested in free agent shortstop Stephen Drew on a short-term deal, Morosi reports (on Twitter). If the Tigers acquire Drew, they'd be positioned to trade Jhonny Peralta to a team such as the Diamondbacks. Jon Heyman reported eight days ago that the Tigers, Red Sox and Yankees are interested in Drew.

Braves, B.J. Upton Nearing Deal

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4:05pm: The Braves have spent most of the day in negotiations with Upton's representatives at Reynolds Sports Management, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (on Twitter). The sides had no serious obstacles remaining by mid-afternoon.

3:55pm: The Braves are nearing a deal with Upton, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).

3:42pm: The Braves and B.J. Upton are in serious talks about a multiyear deal, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports. The Braves and Phillies are known to be targeting Upton.

The 28-year-old ranked fifth on MLBTR’s list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents. In 633 plate appearances for the Rays this past season, Upton hit 28 home runs and posted a .246/.298/.454 batting line. The right-handed hitter would add balance to the Braves' lefty-heavy lineup.

This post was first published at 3:42pm CDT on November 28th.

Pirates Acquire Vin Mazzaro, Clint Robinson

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The Pirates announced that they acquired right-hander Vin Mazzaro and first baseman Clint Robinson from the Royals for minor league pitchers Luis Rico and Luis Santos. The Pirates designated Yamaico Navarro and Matt Hague for assignment in a related move.

Mazzaro and Robinson had been designated for assignment on November 20th. Mazzaro, 26, posted a 5.73 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 44 innings with the Royals this past season. Robinson made his MLB debut in 2012, but spent most of the year at Triple-A, where he posted a .292/.393/.452 batting line in 570 plate appearances.

Rico, a 19-year-old left-hander, has a 5.29 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 5.8 BB/9 in 20 appearances as a professional. Santos, a 21-year-old right-hander, has a 2.51 ERA with 10.2 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 24 minor league appearances.

Navarro, 25, appeared in 29 games for the Pirates this past season, posting a .160/.232/.220 batting line as a utility player. Hague, 27, appeared in 30 games for the Pirates, posting a .229/.270/.257 batting line in 74 plate appearances and playing first base.

Pirates Acquire Zach Stewart

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The Pirates acquired right-hander Zach Stewart from the Red Sox for a player to be named later, the teams announced. The Red Sox had designated Stewart for assignment on November 20th.

Stewart, 26, has pitched at the MLB level in both of the past two seasons. This is already the fourth time he has been traded since the Reds selected him in the third round of the 2008 draft. The Blue Jays acquired him in the deal that sent Scott Rolen to Cincinnati; Toronto traded him to the White Sox in the three-team trade that sent Colby Rasmus to the Blue Jays; the Red Sox acquired him in the deal that sent Kevin Youkilis to Chicago. In 103 innings at the MLB level, Stewart has a 6.82 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9.

Indians Designate Rafael Perez For Assignment

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The Indians designated left-handed reliever Rafael Perez for assignment, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports (on Twitter). The team added Nick Hagadone to the 40-man roster in a related move.

Perez, 30, had been a non-tender candidate with a projected salary of $2MM. The Indians can still trade Perez, though a release seems more likely. He appeared in just eight games this past season, spending considerable time on the disabled list with a strained lat. In seven years at the MLB level, Perez has a 3.64 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9.

Reds To Sign Jonathan Broxton

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The Reds and Jonathan Broxton have reached agreement on a three-year deal, the team confirmed.  The contract is worth $21MM, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (Twitter links).  The deal will pay Broxton $4MM in 2013, $7MM in 2014 and $9MM in 2015.  It also includes a $9MM club option for 2016 with a $1MM buyout. If the Reds trade Broxton, the guarantee increases to $22MM, with the 2016 option becoming a mutual option with a $2MM buyout.  The Jet Sports Management client is ranked 45th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents.

Broxton is expected to serve as the Reds' closer, enabling them to shift Aroldis Chapman to the starting rotation.  The 28-year-old posted a 2.48 ERA with 7.0 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and a 53.8% ground ball rate in 58 relief innings last season.  Broxton was limited to just 14 games in 2011 but underwent successful arthroscopic elbow surgery in September of that year and had an average fastball velocity of 94.7 mph this past season.

The Reds were also said to be looking at a pair of free agent relievers coming back from injury in Joakim Soria and Ryan Madson.  However, Madson was scooped up earlier today by the Angels when the two sides agreed to a one-year deal.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the agreement.

Quick Hits: Liriano, Napoli, Wright, Royals

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The Twins have had conversations with Francisco Liriano's representatives, a source with knowledge of the talks tells LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune.  The two sides are expected to meet next week during the winter meetings but General Manager Terry Ryan is keeping mum on potential targets for the club.  Here's more Tuesday night linkage..

  • The Rangers did not meet with Mike Napoli today, despite previous reports to the contrary, according to Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram.  However, the club is set to meet with the catcher tomorrow.  Earlier today it was reported that Napoli appears to be the Red Sox's top free agent target.
  • Ken Davidoff of the New York Post (Twitter links) reached out to David Wright after his comments earlier tonight to MLBTradeRumors.  The third baseman indicated that he was displeased with the public nature of his contract negotiations.  "I wish I could elaborate but it was important to me from the very beginning that these negotiations remain confidential and private. I plan on sticking to that. Sorry I can't comment any further," said Wright.
  • The Royals have discussed Wil Myers in trades for Rays right-hander James Shields and Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester, but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports points out that the two hurlers aren't exactly equal.  The two are owed similar money through 2014 ($24.625MM for Lester and $21MM for Shields) but Shields has been much stronger in recent years.

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