• Chuck James has indicated that the Mets released him from Triple-A Buffalo, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports (on Twitter). The Mets signed the left-hander to a minor league deal in December and he posted a 4.57 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 18 appearances at Triple-A.
• The Yankees released infielder Matt Antonelli, the team announced on its website. The Yankees claimed Antonelli from the Orioles in May then removed him from their roster to create space for Chad Qualls this past Sunday. Antonelli, a 27-year-old former first round pick, posted a .203/.333/.294 batting line in 172 plate appearances at Triple-A this year.

• The Rangers invited recent non-tender Fabio Castillo and catcher Chris Robinson to Spring Training, according to Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com (on Twitter). The Rangers signed former supplemental first round pick Zach Jackson, according to Goldstein.
• The Twins signed right-hander Daryl Thompson, Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tweets. They also signed lefty Aaron Thompson, according to Goldstein.
• The Dodgers signed Shane Lindsay.
• The Reds signed Kanekoa Texeira.
•  The Pirates signed lefty Kris Johnson.
• The Giants signed Joaquin Arias.
• The Mariners signed catcher Guillermo Quiroz.
• The Blue Jays signed 2002 first rounder Clint Everts.
• The Rays signed right-hander Matt Torra.
• The Mets announced the signing of left-hander Chuck James, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). James appeared in eight games for the Twins this past season, and spent most of the season at Triple-A. The 30-year-old posted a 2.30 ERA with 9.6 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 62 2/3 innings as a reliever for the Twins' top affiliate.
• The Padres released utility man Eric Patterson, tweets Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
• The Royals released righty Jake Rodriguez, tweets Eddy.
• The Red Sox released righty Miguel Gonzalez.

• The Red Sox have outrighted Drew Sutton to Triple-A. The 28-year-old utility man had been designated for assignment earlier this week after hitting .315/.362/.444 in 60 plate appearances with the big club and .295/.382/.476 in Triple-A
• The Mets have outrighted Mike O'Connor to Triple-A. The 31-year-old lefty had been designated for assignment earlier this week. In 39 games for New York's Triple-A affiliate, he posted a 5.22 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 60 1/3 innings. O'Connor also appeared in five games at the big league level.
• The Twins have outrighted Chuck James to Triple-A. The 29-year-old lefty threw 10 1/3 ineffective innings for Minnesota, but did post a 2.30 ERA, 9.6 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, and 0.6 HR/9 in 62 2/3 innings in their minor league system. James had been designated for assignment earlier this week.

James, 29, posted a 2.30 ERA, 9.6 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, and 0.6 HR/9 in 62 2/3 minor league innings, but was ineffective in 10 1/3 big league frames.  James won 11 games in 119 innings for the '06 Braves, but he had rotator cuff surgery in September of '08 and was subsequently cut loose.

• The Blue Jays signed Brian Stokes, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter). The 31-year-old struggled through 16 2/3 innigns for the Angels last year, but was useful for the Mets from 2008-09 before they sent him to L.A. for Gary Matthews Jr..
• The A's signed right-hander Jonathan Ortiz, who combined a sinker and an above-average changeup to post 11.8 K/9 in the Yankees system this year, according to Eddy (all links go to Twitter).
• The Tigers signed shortstop Argenis Diaz, who was non-tendered by the Pirates despite his strong glovework.
• The Angels signed Ryan Braun – not the Brewers slugger, but the 30-year-old right-hander who posted a 2.20 ERA with 9.6 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in 57 1/3 innings at Triple-A Charlotte last year. He last pitched in the majors for the 2007 Royals.
• The Twins signed Matt Brown, a former Angel who should provide corner infield depth.
• The Pirates re-signed Tyler Yates, who missed last season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
• Brian Barton, who hit 19 homers and stole 18 bases in the Atlantic League this year, signed with the Reds, according to Eddy (on Twitter).
• The Cubs signed lefty Polin Trinidad, who posted a 4.81 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 149 2/3 innings in the upper minor for the Astros last year (Twitter link).
• The Brewers signed Edwin Maysonet and Shawn Riggans to minor league deals and invited them to Spring Training, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (on Twitter). Maysonet, 29, appeared in 46 games as a backup infielder for the Astros in 2008-09 and hit .248/.308/.329 in 356 minor league plate apperances last year. Riggans, who spent parts of four seasons with the Rays, barely played in 2010.
• The Twins inked lefty Chuck James, tweets Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.  The 29-year-old former Brave had rotator cuff surgery in September of 2008.
• The Nationals announced seven signings, including previously unreported contracts for Ryan Mattheus, Michael Aubrey, and Brian Bixler.  Mattheus, a 27-year-old right-handed reliever, was acquired by the Nats at the '09 trade deadline in the Joe Beimel deal, the same month he had Tommy John surgery.  His is a Major League deal.  Aubrey, drafted 11th overall by the Indians in 2003, hit .235/.310/.495 at Triple-A this year.  Bixler, a defensive-minded utility infielder, was acquired by Washington from the Pirates in August.

Walker, 34 in May, posted a 3.06 ERA, 6.9 K/9, and 2.3 BB/9 in 35.3 innings for the Phillies last year.  He tossed an additional strong 19.3 innings in the minors.  Despite Walker's efforts, the Phillies outrighted him in November and he elected free agency.

James, 28, had rotator cuff and labrum surgery in November of '08 and was subsequently non-tendered by the Braves.  He missed all of 2009, but Rosenthal says Nats assistant GM Roy Clark saw James throwing 88-90 on Saturday.  James was once serviceable, logging a 4.05 ERA over 280.3 innings for the Braves in 2006-07.

Walker and James join a long list of Nationals pitching acquisitions this winter: Jason Marquis, Matt Capps, Brian Bruney, Eddie Guardado, Doug Slaten, Ryan Speier, and Joel Peralta.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported the two deals and MLB.com's Bill Ladson and CBS Sports added the value of Walker's contract.

10:05pm: Here is a list of players who were non-tendered today, and therefore became free agents.

• Aquilino Lopez
• Joey Gathright, John Bale
• Jamie Burke
• Joe Nelson
• Aaron Miles, Randy Flores, Tyler Johnson
• Norris Hopper, Gary Majewski, Matt Belisle
• Doug Mathis
• Daniel Cabrera, Lance Cormier
• Denny Bautista
• Ty Wigginton, Reggie Abercrombie
• Jonny Gomes
• Willy Taveras
• Takashi Saito, Scott Proctor, Yhency Brazoban, Angel Berroa
• Clay Hensley and Charlie Haeger
• Chris Britton and Justin Christian
• Tim Redding
• Chris Capuano
• Kevin Cash
• Chuck James
• Chris Burke, Robby Hammock, Wil Ledezma, Jeff Salazar

12:36pm: MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro says the Marlins "don’t have immediate interest" in Ivan Rodriguez.

10:49am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins don’t expect to trade Dan Uggla or Jorge Cantu at the Meetings, "but they remain open to all ideas."  Cantu has been linked to the Giants and White Sox in recent days.

Rosenthal names the Braves, Reds, and Rays as teams interested in Jeremy Hermida, though nothing is close.  Nick Cafardo also suggested the Giants.  The Cubs apparently haven’t discussed Hermida in a while.

FROM 12-4-07 at 2:09pm:

According to the KC Star’s Bob Dutton, the Jose Guillen signing puts the Royals in a better position to trade David DeJesus or Joey Gathright.  The Rangers and Braves are on DeJesus’ trail.  Dutton believes the Braves offered up lefty Chuck James for him.  It seems a little light, as I’m not sure James could be effective in the American League.  Royals GM Dayton Moore, of course, came from the Atlanta organization.

Dutton says not only is Hiroki Kuroda looking for four years, he may want $48MM.  The Royals could move on and spend the money on Andruw Jones instead, if he’ll take a one or two-year deal.  The money could also be diverted to Carlos Silva if he’ll take 4/40.  Otherwise the Royals will just chase rehab guys like Jason Jennings, Kris Benson, and Matt Clement.

• The White Sox are very reluctant to go after Andruw Jones, because of Scott Boras.  They’d offer three years and less than $30MM, which would result in a dial tone.  Unless it was a cell phone.
• The Braves need a lefty reliever, and might turn to the Pirates for Damaso Marte.  That’d be easier to pull off if the Yankees opt to sign Ron Mahay or Jeremy Affeldt for their lefty reliever.
• O’Brien suggests the Braves have collected a starting pitching surplus, which is a dangerous thought.  What do you want to bet there’d be no surplus six months from now, if the current group is maintained?  O’Brien believes some team might push hard for Chuck James, anyway.
• Matt Diaz may be available, if Brandon Jones proves MLB-ready.  First baseman Scott Thorman may also be on the market.

Rich Hill Examined

Chuck James Examined