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Alfredo Amezaga

Rockies Designate Alfredo Amezaga For Assignment

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The Rockies have designated Alfredo Amezega for assignment and recalled Chris Nelson from Triple-A, according to the team's Twitter feed. Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports first tweeted that Nelson would replace Amezaga on Colorado's roster.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Thursday that the Rockies were looking to shake up their bench, with Amezaga and Jose Lopez in jeopardy of losing their roster spots. Lopez was DFA'd later that night.

Amezaga, 33, has hit .242/.297/.273 in 38 plate appearances for the Rockies in 2011. The utility player, who signed a minor league deal with Colorado in January, played in 20 games for the team, seeing time at second base, shortstop, third base, and right field.

Rockies Looking To Improve Bench

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The Rockies are dissatisfied with their lack of athleticism and plan to shake up their bench, major-league sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  The players that are most in jeopardy are infielders Alfredo Amezaga and Jose Lopez while they seem sweet on the idea of promoting Eric Young Jr. and Chris Nelson.

Lopez has a minor-league option remaining, but his five-plus years of Major League service allow him to reject a demotion and choose free agency.  If that happens, Rosenthal writes that he would likely clear waivers and sign a Triple-A contract elsewhere.  Lopez is signed to a one-year, $3.6MM contract and sources say that he's generating minimal trade interest.

The versatile Amezaga would also be exposed to waivers if the Rockies tried to demote him to Triple-A.

Quick Hits: Rangers, Angels, Indians, CBA, Slowey

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Some links to browse through during your Sunday evening…

  • Add the Rangers to the list of clubs that are not interested in recently released Carlos Silva, reports MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan (on Twitter). The Yankees and Cardinals are also out.
  • The Angels can opt out of their stadium lease in 2016, but owner Arte Moreno told Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times that the team has not begun exploring the possibility of building a new stadium. That process would have to start at least four years before the planned opening date.
  • Indians manager Manny Acta told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian that there are likely to be roster moves made on Monday when the 25-man roster is finalized (Twitter link).
  • Tom Krasovic spoke to several scouts about teams and players from all around the game.
  • In regard to CBA talks, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that the "general consensus is that a hangup or even the slightest threat of a work stoppage would be shocking."
  • Within the same piece, Cafardo says the Twins aren't as willing to deal Kevin Slowey as it may seem. One scout opined that the right-hander is "throwing too well for them to deal him."
  • The Rockies continue to receive calls about their middle-infield depth, but the club isn't looking to move either Eric Young Jr. or Alfredo Amezaga, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
  • Dave Bush earned a spot in the Rangers' bullpen as a long man, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Bush would have opted out of his contract today if he didn't make the team.
  • The Red Sox' bullpen depth has drawn interest from other teams, a source tells Alex Speier of WEEI.com.

MLBTR's Luke Adams & Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Rockies Sign Alfredo Amezaga

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7:29pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that Amezaga will earn $750K if he makes the team with another $350K available in incentives. 

4:13pm: The Rockies announced that they signed Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training (Twitter link). 

Amezaga, 33, barely played in 2009 and missed the 2010 season after undergoing microfracture knee surgery. He appeared in 125 games at four positions for the 2008 Marlins, hitting .264/.312/.367. He has big league experience at every position but pitcher and catcher.

The Rockies were reportedly considering Amezaga, Aaron Miles or Cristian Guzman for a bench role. The team can now look to add starting pitching depth and veteran left-handed relief.

Rockies Looking To Add Pieces

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The Rockies are considering available free agents as they look to add rotation depth, left-handed relief and infield help, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Rockies would like to add a veteran starter and David Bush and Rodrigo Lopez are among the team’s targets.

The team would also like to sign a left-handed reliever to a minor league deal. Matt Reynolds (21 career appearances) and Franklin Morales (88 career appearances) are the team's current options, so they’re eyeing veteran help. Former Rockie Joe Beimel does not appear to be an option, according to the Denver Post.

Alfredo Amezaga, Cristian Guzman and Aaron Miles are among the backup infielders the club is considering. The Rockies appear to prefer Amezaga to Miles, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The Rockies still have interest in a higher profile infielder: Michael Young. Young will earn $16MM in each of the next three seasons and the Rangers say they expect him to stay in Texas. 

Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine told  Mike Ferrin and Morgan Ensberg on MLB Network Radio that  “we’re looking at [Young] as our primary DH but also a guy who’s going to play all over the infield.” The team expects Young to get plenty of playing time, even though they just acquired former division rival Mike Napoli.

The Rockies also signed veteran catcher Chad Moeller to a minor league deal, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America.

Pirates Rumors: Maholm, Hall, Doumit, Colon

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The Pirates appear to have added Kevin Correia, Matt Diaz, and possibly Scott Olsen at the Winter Meetings, and they're not done.  They've made an offer to Kevin Gregg and have also been linked to Aaron Heilman, Jeremy Accardo, Justin Duchscherer, and Brendan Ryan.  The latest:

  • The Pirates are offering Paul Maholm in potential trades, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link).
  • The Rockies aren't interested in Doumit, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link).
  • Nick Cafardo implies that the Pirates have an offer out to Bill Hall and he could become their regular second baseman, which would be surprising to me given Neil Walker's presence. MLBTR has learned that Hall would not displace Walker at second if the Pirates sign him.
  • The Pirates are trying hard to trade Ryan Doumit and are willing to eat salary, reports MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.
  • The Pirates are currently scouting Bartolo Colon in the Dominican Republic, reports Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  For more on Colon, check out Nick Collias' November article.
  • Kovacevic says the Pirates expressed interest in utility man Alfredo Amezaga, but it's "pretty preliminary."  Amezaga is trying to come back from microfracture knee surgery performed in July of last year.  He appeared in one minor league game in 2010.

Dodgers Sign Alfredo Amezaga

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The Dodgers officially signed Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league deal worth $650K with another $800K in incentives today.  The 32-year-old worked out for four teams this week and attracted interest from ten-plus clubs earlier in the winter. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first tweeted the agreement last night.

Amezaga appeared in just 27 games last season, hitting .217/.267/.261 as he struggled with knee problems. Amezaga distinguishes himself from other powerless hitters with his versatility. He has major league experience at all four infield positions and all three outfield positions. Most of his experience comes in center field and at shortstop; he grades well in limited samples at both positions, according to UZR/150.

The Dodgers have been adding steadily to their bench this offseason. They signed Ronnie Belliard and Jamey Carroll before adding Reed Johnson and Amezaga this week.

Amezaga Worked Out For Four Teams

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Super-utility man Alfredo Amezaga worked out for four teams last week, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  He had microfracture knee surgery in July, but has been on a conservative rehab program.  The Marlins non-tendered him after the season.

Amezaga's agent has suggested his client has at least ten suitors.  A return to the Marlins hasn't been ruled out, with the Dodgers, Cubs, and Reds also linked at various points.

Reds Have Interest In Cabrera, Amezaga

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The Reds have some interest in free agents Orlando Cabrera and Alfredo Amezaga, reports John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The problem is that the team doesn't have much wiggle room financially.

“We’ve kicked it around a little bit,” (GM Walt) Jocketty said (of Cabrera). “We’re not sure it’s the right fit for us. And I don’t know if financially we’re in position to do it.”

“We’ve looked it a little bit,” Jocketty said (of Amezaga). “But he’s been hurt a lot. We have not talked to his agent at this point.”

The Nationals also expressed some interest in Cabrera, but we haven't heard about much interest in Amezaga. Jocketty also added that they have not talked to either Jermaine Dye or Gary Sheffield. 

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bay, Holliday, Front Offices

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On this date nine years ago, the A's, Royals, and Devil Rays pulled off a three-team trade that included seven big leaguers. Oakland acquired Johnny Damon, Mark Ellis, and the late Cory Lidle while Kansas City received Angel Berroa, A.J. Hinch, and Roberto Hernandez. Tampa Bay picked up just Ben Grieve. Even though Berroa went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in 2003, Billy Beane's club walked away as the clear winner of this blockbuster.

Let's take a look at what's being written around the baseball blogosphere as Spring Training inches closer…

  • Fenway Nation thinks the Red Sox made a mistake by not re-signing Jason Bay, and wants to see the club atone for it by trading for Adrian Gonzalez.
  • Simon On Sports interviewed a blogger from each team about their squad's offseason.
  • At Home Plate says the Cardinals overpaid for Matt Holliday not because he isn't worth the money, but because no one else was bidding for his services.
  • Athletics Nation graded the front offices of the last decade.
  • U.S.S. Mariner calls Franklin Gutierrez's contract extension a major bargain, and notes it's similarities to the deal Mike Cameron signed with Seattle a decade ago.
  • DRays Bay wonders if the Rays could use Alfredo Amezaga.
  • Phillies Nation takes a look at some of the cheaper free agent pitching options that could entice the two-time defending NL Champs.
  • Twins Overlook examines the progression of Delmon Young since arriving in Minnesota.
  • River Ave. Blues ranked the $100MM contracts given to position players.
  • More Hardball has some New Year's resolutions for various people and teams in the game.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

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