• There are a few recent moves to cover on the KBO side as well. Southpaw Hyeon-jong Yang will return to Korea’s Kia Tigers, Yonhap News reports (h/t Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net, via Twitter). The 28-year-old has been on the MLB radar for some time, and had been expected to gauge interest as a free agent this winter. Evidently, there wasn’t enough of an opportunity in North American ball for him to forego a chance at what’s reported to be the biggest single-season contract ever awarded in the KBO: 2.25 billion won, or about $1.89MM. Yang carries a 3.02 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 over 373 innings in the past two seasons in the hitter-friendly KBO.
• Also, SK Wyverns recently announced the signings of infielder Danny Worth (for $700K) and lefty Scott Diamond ($600K). Both have seen action in multiple MLB campaigns. Most recently, Worth briefly cracked the Astros’ major-league roster. Though he struggled there, he did slash an excellent .330/.431/.525 in his 368 Triple-A plate appearances in 2016. And Diamond, once a rotation piece for the Twins, made one major-league appearance last year with the Blue Jays, but spent most of the year working to a 4.50 ERA (with 5.4 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9) over 166 innings at Triple-A.

Earlier Updates

• The Yakult Swallows have added righty David Buchanan on a one-year deal worth about $750K, per a team announcement (via Kyodo News). Buchanan, 27, had been cut loose by the Phillies after spending all of 2016 at Triple-A, working to a 3.98 ERA over 167 1/3 innings. He had some success in a twenty-start rookie year at the major-league level back in 2014, but struggled there in 2015 and wasn’t able to return last year. “He can keep his pitches low with a high strike rate, and has strong fighting spirit. We wanted that kind of a pitcher,” said Yakult international director Masayuki Okumura.
• Also heading to Japan after a recent stint with the Phillies is fellow righty Phil Klein, who the club recently released to pursue an opportunity in the NPB. He’s heading to the Yokohama BayStars, the team announced (Japanese-language link), for a deal that’s said to promise him around 150MM yen (~$1.27MM) along with an incentives package. Though Klein hasn’t succeeded in his looks at the majors, he obviously drew real interest from Asia with his intriguing numbers in the upper minors — including a 2.14 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 over 160 Triple-A frames.
• The BayStars will not retain free agents Guillermo Moscoso and Zach Petrick, the team also noted. Moscoso, a former big leaguer, had spent three years with the organization. The 27-year-old Petrick, a former Cardinals farmhand, struggled to a 5.51 ERA in his only campaign in Japan.
• Continuing their international spree, the Padres have agreed to a $400K bonus with Cuban lefty Ramon Ernesto Perez Favier, according to a report from Francys Romero of OnCuba.com (Twitter link), which Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune confirms (also via Twitter). There isn’t much public information on the 17-year-old, though you can check out his stuff on this YouTube video that reputedly features him. Lin provides a few tidbits on Favier as well, tweeting that the young southpaw sits in the low-nineties with his fastball and features a breaker with two varieties of change-ups. Since San Diego has long seen blown past its bonus limitations, the team will double its investment in the form of a penalty tax.

The 30-year-old posted a 5.10 ERA in 30 innings with a 31-to-21 K/BB ratio for the Giants last season. Moscoso has a 4.28 ERA in 222 2/3 Major League innings, but he's struggled since his 2011 season with the A's in which he posted a 3.38 ERA in 128 frames.

Moscoso began the 2013 season in the Cubs organization but was traded to the Giants for cash in July. San Francisco designated Moscoso for assignment in November, after which he cleared waivers and elected free agency.

NOVEMBER 20: The Giants announced that they have designated pitcher Guillermo Moscoso for assignment.  In related news, San Francisco added center fielder Gary Brown, right-hander Kendry Flores, third baseman Adam Duvall and right-hander Hunter Strickland to the 40-man roster.

The Giants acquired Moscoso from the Cubs in exchange for cash or a player to be named back in July.  Moscoso had a 3.93 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 with Triple-A Iowa but didn't fare quite as well in his short time on the Giants' varsity squad.  Moscoso turned in a 5.10 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 6.3 BB/9 in 30 innings of work.

Petit was added to the roster last Tuesday and appeared that night in the first game of a doubleheader against the Reds (and the second pitcher from that twinbill to be designated today). He tossed 5 1/3 innings of two-run relief while scattering six hits and striking out seven. Petit had made 12 starts for Triple-A Fresno before his recall posting a 5.24 ERA, 9.7 K/9, and 1.6 BB/9 in 68 2/3 innings.

This is the second time in four months the 28-year-old has been dropped from the Giants' 40-man roster, as he was outrighted last March. The Giants now have ten days to either trade, release, or outright Petit.

Moscoso had a 3.93 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 with Iowa. He has pitched parts of four big-league seasons, appearing with the Rangers, Athletics and Rockies. Schulman indicates that the Giants have acquired Moscoso to add another starting pitching option. Moscoso started 21 games for the A's in 2011.

• The recently acquired Guillermo Moscoso cleared waivers and has been outrighted off of the Cubs' 40-man roster, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (on Twitter).  The right-hander is likely to land in Triple-A Iowa. 

The Blue Jays claimed Moscoso off of waivers just a week-and-a-half ago.  Last season with the Rockies, the 29-year-old posted a 6.12 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 50 innings.  He also started 21 games for the 2011 Athletics, posting a 3.38 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 128 innings.

FRIDAY, 1:37pm: An unnamed MLB team claimed right-hander Guillermo Moscoso, the Royals announced (Twitter links). Moscoso, who was placed on unconditional release waivers two days ago, has until March 20th to accept the claim or terminate his Major League contract and elect free agency.

The Royals claimed Moscoso from Colorado in November after he posted a 6.12 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 50 innings for the Rockies last year. The 29-year-old started 21 games for the 2011 Athletics, posting a 3.38 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 128 innings. He also played briefly with the Rangers in 2009-10.

The Royals claimed Moscoso from Colorado in November after he posted a 6.12 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 50 innings for the Rockies last year. The 29-year-old started 21 games for the 2011 Athletics, posting a 3.38 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 128 innings. He also played briefly with the Rangers in 2009-10.

• Though the White Sox looked for ways of obtaining an impact left-handed bat, they didn't end up finding one, Scott Merkin of MLB.com writes. Manager Robin Ventura enters the season with a righty-heavy lineup, but it beats forcing the issue in the view of GM Rick Hahn "If it doesn't fit with the rest of what you are trying to do from a position player standpoint, we would be regretting come the middle of the season," the GM said. Hahn added that he'll be prepared to move aggressively in case a need for left-handed hitting emerges during the season.
• Hector Santiago doesn't see himself as a lock to make the White Sox, even though Ventura has strongly suggested the left-hander will break camp with the team, Merkin reports. Santiago said he doesn't consider himself to be on the team. "I've only got a year in and nothing guaranteed to me," he said. The 25-year-old posted a 3.33 ERA with 10.1 K/9 and 5.1 BB/9 in 70 1/3 innings in 2012.
• Royals right-hander Guillermo Moscoso said he won't miss pitching in the thin air of Coors Field, Dick Kaegel of MLB.com reports. The Royals claimed Moscoso from Colorado in November after he posted a 6.12 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 50 innings last year.
• Jason Giambi, who interviewed for the Rockies' managerial opening this past offseason, drew interest from other teams, including the Phillies, as a potential coach, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. However, Giambi said he's enjoying Spring Training with the Indians and hopes to continue playing for a while. "I'm going to keep playing until they tear the uniform off or my body tells me it's time to go," he said.

Moscoso, 28, appeared in 23 games for the Rockies in 2012, posting a 6.12 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 50 innings. Hayes, also 28, appeared in 39 games for the Marlins in 2012. He hit .202/.229/.254 in 118 plate appearances with Miami.

• Beane says the Athletics are still looking for right-handed hitting outfielder depth, Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group tweets. Michael Taylor will have to play his way into the picture, according to Stiglich.
• John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the A's are pursuing a Jonny Gomes/Ryan Ludwick type for depth. The A's haven't ruled out Johnny Damon, Shea tweets.
• Outman told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that the trade was "bittersweet," but that he's "not mad by any means," Pitching so far above sea level will be an adjustment for the fly ball pitcher, however.
• Moscoso told Slusser that he's "in shock," although he's looking forward to the opportunity in Colorado.

Smith, a 29-year-old left-handed hitter, batted .284/.347/.483 with 15 home runs in a career-high 533 plate appearances for the Rockies last year.  The corner outfielder has struggled against southpaws in his career.  Smith (pictured) is under team control through 2014, and MLBTR reported last night that he'll earn $2.415MM in 2012.  The Rays, Mariners, Braves, and Mets are among the other teams that showed interested in Smith this winter.  He became expendable after the Rockies signed Michael Cuddyer for $31.5MM in December.

Moscoso, 28, had his first prolonged big league exposure last year for the A's.  He posted a 3.38 ERA, 5.2 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 0.98 HR/9, and 26.8% groundball rate in 128 innings.  His flyball/pitch-to-contact approach might not play well at Coors Field.  Originally signed by the Tigers, Moscoso was traded to the Rangers in December of '08 for Gerald Laird and then to the A's a year ago for Ryan Kelly.  Prior to the 2010 season, Baseball America wrote, "Moscoso is ready for a big league role, either as a back-of-the-rotation starter, a long reliever, or a swingman."

Outman, 27, tossed 58 1/3 big league innings last year and another 78 1/3 at Triple-A.  He's been a useful starter in the Majors, with a chunk of missed time due to June 2009 Tommy John surgery.  Outman was drafted by the Phillies in 2005 and traded to Oakland in '08 as part of the Joe Blanton deal.  Prior to that season, BA said Outman profiled as a number three starter.  Now, he'll join Moscoso in what Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd called a "raging competition" for rotation spots.  The Rockies are actually close to adding a veteran starter to the mix for more depth, tweets Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.

Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

11:44am: The Athletics have acquired Guillermo Moscoso from the Rangers, reports Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (on Twitter). Oscar Prieto Rojas first reported the deal (on Twitter). Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News tweets that Texas will receive minor league right-hander Ryan Kelly.

The 27-year-old Moscoso was designated for assignment just yesterday. He spent the majority of 2010 pitching for Texas' Triple-A affiliate, posting a 5.18 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 123 1/3 innings. He has a 3.46 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in parts of six minor league seasons, and his brief major league career features a 4.30 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9 in 11 appearances. The Rangers originally acquired Moscoso from the Tigers in exchange for Gerald Laird.

Oakland acquired Kelly from the Pirates in exchange for Corey Wimberly just last month. The 23-year-old had a 4.20 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in 75 innings for Pittsburgh's Single-A affiliate in 2010, almost all in relief. 

12:12am: Morosi says an agreement has been reached, and the second prospect is a pitcher.  There’s speculation that prospect could be Carlos Melo, as he fits Rosenthal’s description.

11:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Tigers acquired Laird for Moscoso and a second prospect.  The second prospect "is a 17-year-old who spent last season in the Dominican Summer League."  Could it be shortstops Samuel Ortiz or Domingo Gonzales?  Pitchers Rayni Guichardo or Carlos Melo?  The deal will be announced Monday.  Laird, a Scott Boras client, is under team control through 2010. 

Rosenthal adds that the Tigers are considering Adam Everett and Nick Punto as shortstop options.

9:26pm: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "The Tigers and Texas Rangers have made significant progress toward a trade that would send catcher Gerald Laird to Detroit and pitching prospect Guillermo Moscoso to the Rangers."  It’s not known whether the Tigers would include anyone else.

Baseball America ranks Moscoso tenth among Tigers prospects, noting shoulder woes but suggesting a high ceiling.  They say he could end up a #3 or #4 starter.  He’s drawn some comparisons to Jair Jurrjens.