• The Dodgers have announced that they’ve outrighted lefty David Huff, who has accepted an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers designated Huff for assignment on Wednesday after he made one four-inning start for them. The 30-year-old has a 5.06 ERA, 5.3 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in parts of seven seasons with the Indians, Yankees and Giants in addition to the Dodgers.
• The Yankees have outrighted righty Joel De La Cruz, then sent him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 25-year-old posted a 4.44 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 121 2/3 innings in the high minors last season. The Yankees selected his contract last week, but he did not appear in a game before they optioned him back to the minors.
• The Red Sox have signed righty Denny Bautista to a minor-league deal, Matt Eddy of Baseball America tweets. The 32-year-old Bautista last appeared in the big leagues with the Giants in 2010 and previously pitched for the Orioles, Royals, Rockies, Tigers and Pirates. He pitched in Mexico in 2014 (struggling with his control, also a problem in his big-league days) and in Korea from 2011-2013.
• The Padres have signed former Astros third-round pick Jonathan Meyer, Eddy tweets. Meyer had been an infielder in the Astros’ system, but the Padres will use him as a catcher. The 24-year-old hit .215/.274/.280 at Double-A and Triple-A last year before Houston released him.
• The Nationals are having infielder Emmanuel Burriss join the team, James Wagner of the Washington Post tweets. It’s not clear how the Nats will make room for Burriss on their 25-man roster, although Yunel Escobar suffered a groin strain against the Phillies on Friday. (MLB.com’s Bill Ladson tweets that Burriss is not listed on the Nats’ lineup card today, and Wagner notes that Burriss could simply be with the team as insurance in case the Nats need to make a move.) Burriss, a D.C. native, was hitting .286/.359/.486 in 39 plate appearances with Triple-A Syracuse. The Nats re-signed him to a minor-league deal last November. The 30-year-old appeared in parts of five seasons with the Giants from 2008-2012, hitting .243/.304/.269 in 801 plate appearances.

• The Yankees have signed Logan Kensing to a minor league contract according to his representatives, CAA Baseball, on Twitter. The 28-year-old right-hander did not pitch in affiliated baseball last year and has a 5.81 ERA in 161 big league innings. He pitched for Yankees manager Joe Girardi with the Marlins in 2006.
• Righty Denny Bautista has signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization according to this report passed along by Dan of MyKBO.net. Bautista, 30, had a 4.21 ERA with 12.1 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 in 36 1/3 innings for the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate this season.

Langerhans, 31 in February, hit .207/.328/.351 in 254 plate appearances over the last two seasons with the Mariners, playing mostly left field.  He was non-tendered by the Mariners a year ago, re-signed shortly thereafter, designated for assignment in April, and outrighted in November.

Bautista, 28, posted a 3.74 ERA, 11.8 K/9, 7.2 BB/9, 1.1 HR/9, and 33.3% groundball rate in 33 2/3 innings for the Giants this year.  He averaged almost 95 mph on his fastball, but clearly had control issues.  In a 22 2/3 inning Triple-A stint, his walk rate was down at 3.6 per nine.     

Gimenez, 28 later this month, has 197 big league plate appearances with the Indians to his name.  This year at Triple-A, he hit .276/.341/.464 in 219 plate appearances while spending time at catcher and the outfield corners.  He can also handle the infield corners.

Ring, 30 later this month, posted a 1.93 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 0.4 HR/9 in 42 Triple-A innings for the Yankees' affiliate this year.  The southpaw posted a 9.8 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 against lefty batters.

Tankersley, the Marlins' first round pick in the 2004 draft, succeeded early in his career, but has since struggled. Still just 27, Tankersley brings a career 8.8 K/9 to the free agent market and could become a lefty specialist. He missed all of 2009 with a stress fracture in his elbow, but it wouldn't be surprising to see a team like the Diamondbacks take a flier on the former prospect.

Bautista, who turns 28 this weekend, is another interesting arm. He posted a 3.74 ERA with the Giants this year and struck out (11.8 K/9) and walked (7.2 BB/9) tons of batters in 33.2 innings. The right-hander has always walked lots of hitters, but his mid-90s fastball and ability to induce strikeouts may tempt teams looking to buy low on live arms.

The 27-year-old Bautista has a respectable 3.74 ERA this year, even though he's walking nearly a batter per inning (7.4 BB/9). However, the right-hander strikes lots of batters out (11.8 K/9) and has allowed less than one hit per inning pitched. Bautista has already played for six teams and has maintained a high walk rate throughout his seven-year career.

• Kovacevic says the Pirates "do not plan to pursue a starting pitcher through free agency or trade this offseason."  The Bucs figure to enter Spring Training next year with four rotation spots decided and many options for the last spot.
• As hot stove junkies, we love when GMs are revealing about offseason plans and payroll space.  However, it's often not in the best interest of the team for the GM to disclose that information.  With that in mind, Huntington is staying mum on free agent targets and the team's 2010 payroll.
• Pirates president Frank Coonelly admitted next year's payroll will exceed the current $28MM projection, but wouldn't provide more detail.  Coonelly added, "This is a relatively weak free-agent class. Nevertheless, there are several players who would be of interest to us if they become free agents."  A few weeks ago, Kovacevic suggested Rick Ankiel and John Grabow are possible free agent targets for the Pirates.
• The Pirates fell below their draft and international budgets this year, and Coonelly says that money will roll over to the corresponding budgets in 2010.
• Huntington and manager John Russell are signed through next year.  Coonelly expects both to remain with the team beyond 2010.
• In a Pirates 2010 outlook for MLB.com, Jenifer Langosch names Denny Bautista and Tyler Yates as non-tender candidates.

The Pirates today agreed to terms with six players on minor league contracts and an invitation to spring training: relievers Chris Bootcheck, Denny Bautista and Juan Mateo; infielders Garrett Jones and Andy Phillips; and outfielder Jeff Salazar.

I’m curious to see if Bootcheck is still represented by Scott Boras.  You may recall that the Pirates non-tendered Bautista earlier this month.

• The AP explains how C.C. Sabathia will be paid $9.5MM before throwing a pitch for the Yankees.
• The D’Backs signed lefty Travis Blackley.
• Dan Johnson is headed to Japan.
• The Cardinals signed Japanese pitcher Katsuhiko Maekawa to a minor league deal.  Patrick Newman has details.
• Interesting discussion involving Raul Ibanez’s defense.
• I did a Q&A with SportingGurus.com.
• Ken Rosenthal guesses destinations for 11 remaining free agents in this slideshow.
• MLB is undergoing a hiring/salary freeze and taking away 20% of vacation time for ’09.
• Dejan Kovacevic had a lengthy chat with Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, who wishes the team would get more players to become competitive.  In his article Kovacevic also notes that the Pirates have had talks about bringing back pitcher Denny Bautista, who was non-tendered a week ago.
• Are the Mariners trying to open up a spot for Jerry Hairston Jr.?  They’re looking to add a plus-plus defensive second baseman; not sure if he qualifies.
• Aubrey Huff tops the list of fantasy baseball’s biggest draft position gainers.
• Royals pitcher Kyle Davies is working a construction job this offseason.
• The Orioles settled with Sidney Ponson regarding their grievance.

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

• At some point during the Meetings, the Pirates and Tigers will meet to discuss Jack Wilson.  It has been suggested that the Tigers are backing off on Wilson; they worked out Adam Everett last week.  The Dodgers are also in the mix, with recent discussions involving the possible restructuring of Wilson’s contract.
• Other trade candidates: John Grabow, Ronny Paulino, Freddy Sanchez, and Adam LaRoche.
• The Pirates’ "power bat" addition could be Kevin Millar, muses Kovacevic.
• Reliever Denny Bautista is a non-tender candidate.  We’ll add him to the list.
• The Pirates have not yet made extension offers to Ryan Doumit, Nate McLouth, or Paul Maholm.

• Fire Brand of the American League looks at the ramifications of the Coco Crisp trade and what could happen if the Red Sox acquire Mark Teixeira and are unable to move Mike Lowell.
• Baseball Opinion says the Crisp deal leaves the Royals with a crowded outfield and a depleted bullpen and wonders if Mark Teahen or David DeJesus will be the next to go.
• Nationals Pride sees the Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham trade as a good start towards building a team with a core of young veterans that will be in place when the prospects are ready to contribute.
• The ’Burgh Blues would like to see the Pirates go after Pedro Martinez, noting his close relationship with Joe Kerrigan and Denny Bautista.
• Sox and Pinstripes is worried about a potential signing of A.J. Burnett by the Red Sox and would prefer Derek Lowe.
• BaseBlog has a "tale of the tape" comparing C.C. Sabathia’s 2008 season to Johan Santana’s 2007 season.
• Goat Riders of the Apocalypse wonders if the Cubs are better off with Jake Peavy and Kosuke Fukudome versus Jason Marquis and a high-priced free agent right fielder.
• DC Sports Plus takes a closer look at 79 minor league free agents, focusing on former major leaguers, former top prospects and left-handed relief pitchers.
• Padres Revolution offers up a list of the 10 best trades brokered by Kevin Towers.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Bautista seems like a reasonable project for the Bucs to toss into the back of their bullpen.  Bautista averages 94-95 mph with his fastball, but five organizations have already given up on him. 

• We’ll be doing our usual live chat here today at 2pm CST.
• The A’s don’t anticipate any problems in signing top draft pick Jemile Weeks.  And the D’Backs are nearing a deal with their top choice, Daniel Schlereth.
• Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is working to trade recently-designated reliever Denny Bautista.  He’s optimistic.  There is a general tone of optimism in this entire odds and ends post, in fact.
• NPB Tracker has an in-depth look at Koji Uehara, who will finally get his wish of trying MLB in ’09.
• Steven Goldman thinks it’s time for the Yankees to trade Melky Cabrera, who seems a bit of a tweener.  Might be better to trade him amid a hot streak though.  At least that’s what I do in fantasy baseball!
• Yankee whipping boy Carl Pavano could actually be around in August.
• MLB.com’s Jim Molony appeared on their Whip Around program (the 6/23 link).  He mentioned that he doesn’t expect the Brewers to make a major acquisition.
• Speaking of MLB.com, they’ve got a new Trade Talk blog up where various beat writers have weighed in.

Bautista, 25, has already been with five organizations.  He hasn’t had much success, but he can throw hard.

Bautista, 25, was acquired by the Rockies from the Royals in the Jeremy Affeldt swap at the 2006 trading deadline.  He’d been a starter for much of his career.  He was promising in Triple A in ’07 but control problems persisted.

You may recall there was a Jose Capellan derby last summer after the Brewers demoted him to Triple A.  The Rockies were interested then, too.  He turns 27 in January and didn’t do much this year.  Perhaps the Rockies will be more inclined to let LaTroy Hawkins leave now.