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Jason Isringhausen

Mets Sign Jason Isringhausen

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The Mets have signed right-hander Jason Isringhausen to a minor league contract that includes an invite to their Major League Spring Training camp, reports Newsday's David Lennon. (Twitter link)

Isringhausen, 38, last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Rays before undergoing Tommy John surgery.  He signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati last summer and threw just 5 2/3 innings for the Reds' Triple-A affiliate.  Isringhausen threw a bullpen session for the Reds last month and another for the Mets today, so obviously the Mets brass liked what they saw from the 14-year veteran.

Isringhausen was originally drafted by the Mets in the 44th round of the 1991 draft, and he pitched for the club from 1995-99 before being traded to Oakland in July 1999.  It was after leaving the Mets that "Izzy" blossomed into a top closer, accumulating 272 saves and a 2.81 ERA between 2000 and 2008 with the A's and Cardinals.

NL East Notes: Chipper, Zimmerman, Lee, Trump

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NL East teams have nearly finished their offseason shopping, but could make a move or two while Spring Training is underway. Here are the details…

  • Chipper Jones was thinking about retirement last year, but tells Scott Miller of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) that he wants to play until the end of his current contract, which is guaranteed through the 2012 season.  The Braves hold a $7MM option on Jones for 2013 which can also vest if Jones plays a certain number of games over the next two seasons.
  • Ryan Zimmerman pushed the Nationals to re-sign his friend Adam Dunn, but Zimmerman said his disappointment over Dunn's depature shouldn't be interpreted as criticism of the the club, writes CSNWashington's Mark Zuckerman.  "I was just expressing more frustrations of losing a teammate and a friend than anything," Zimmerman said.  "I think a lot of people took it as I was taking a stab at [the Nats] or talking bad about them, which was completely the opposite."
  • Michael Weiner said the MLBPA was happy with Cliff Lee's decision to sign with the Phillies, rather than sign for larger contracts in Texas or New York, tweets Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.  "Not only were we not upset Cliff got to go to the Phillies, we applauded him," Weiner said.
  • Donald Trump told Alison Leigh Cowan and Ken Belson of the New York Times that he's interested in buying a majority stake in the Mets. Trump says he called Fred Wilpon about two weeks ago to set up a meeting.
  • Mets GM Sandy Alderson says it's "unlikely" that the Mets discuss an extension with Jose Reyes before Opening Day, according to ESPNNewYork's Adam Rubin. Reyes is set to hit free agency after the season and has said he's open to a long-term deal. The $1 billion lawsuit against the Mets owners won't prevent the Mets from signing Reyes to a multiyear deal, Alderson said.
  • Jason Isringhausen auditioned for the Mets today, according to Newsday's David Lennon (on Twitter). Alderson and two of his assistants, J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta, are familiar with the longtime closer from his time in Oakland. Isringhausen first appeared in the majors as a starter for the Mets in 1995.
  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Phillies' starters would rather pitch than talk about their place in baseball history.

MLBTR's Mark Polishuk also contributed to this post

Quick Hits: Ohlendorf, Izzy, Edmonds, Flores

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On this day in 2006, Frank Thomas officially parted ways with the White Sox, signing a free agent contract with the Athletics.  The Big Hurt left Chicago after suffering through two injury-plagued years, a dispute with GM Kenny Williams and virtually no role in the team's run to the 2005 World Series title.  Thomas had a huge bounce-back year with the A's, posting a .926 OPS to help lead Oakland to the ALCS.

Some news to wrap up a busy Monday night…

  • Both Ross Ohlendorf and the Pirates would prefer to avoid an arbitration hearing, but "each party [is] hesitant to budge too much" from the $625K gap in proposed salaries, writes MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.  The Bucs don't want Ohlendorf's price driven up for future arb years, though Ohlendorf is only asking for $2.025MM in 2011.  As the Arbtracker tells us, Ohlendorf is Pittsburgh's last remaining arbitration-eligible player without a contract.
  • Jason Isringhausen had a throwing session for Reds pitching coach Bryan Price today and "threw the ball fine," Price told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.  Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty was non-committal about the chances of Isringhausen rejoining the Reds organization on a minor league deal.  "We're not sure if we will pursue it or not," Jocketty said.  "We'll discuss it in the next few days. We have quite a bit of right-handed pitching."
  • Jim Edmonds' agent tells Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link) that Edmonds will "probably" know by early next week if he'll retire or try to come back in 2011.  Walt Jocketty recently opined that Edmonds would retire. 
  • If Jesus Flores proves he's healthy during Spring Training, MLB.com's Bill Ladson thinks the Nationals might try to trade him to a catcher-needy team.
  • The Orioles had no shortage of needs this offseason, but Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun points out that the O's have "at least theoretically, filled each of the roster's gaping holes that loomed in October."
  • The Twins and Royals both appear to be finished their winter additions.  MLB.com's Kelly Thesier says Minnesota is out of payroll space, and Dayton Moore tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star that the Royals are done shopping "unless something comes up that we’re not expecting."  Moore wouldn't comment on rumors that K.C. is looking at Kevin Millwood.

Quick Hits: Farnsworth, Durbin, Izzy, Duchscherer

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Here are a few items of note for Jan. 29, 53 years to the day after Stan Musial became the National League's highest-paid player with the one-year, $100K contract he signed with the Cardinals …

  • The Rays will pay Kyle Farnsworth $2.6MM in salary in 2011, tweets Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. If Farnsworth's option for 2012 is picked up, he will earn $3.3MM that year. If it's declined, the buyout is $650K. The deal also includes up to $300K in incentives for games finished.
  • The Phillies have not re-signed free-agent reliever Chad Durbin because he is seeking a two-year deal at a higher annual salary than the club is comfortable giving him, tweets Jayson Stark of ESPN.com. Philly is also intent on preserving the roster spot for the sake of grooming younger relievers, according to Stark.
  • The Reds will decide whether to sign free-agent reliever Jason Isringhausen after watching him throw a bullpen session on Monday in Arizona, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Isringhausen signed a minor-league deal with the Reds last July but did not appear in any games for them. He last appeared in the big leagues with the Rays in June 2009, a stint that ended when he suffered an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery.
  • The Orioles remain fairly interested in free-agent pitcher Justin Duchscherer after receiving positive feedback on the right-hander's Friday bullpen session, blogs Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.

Reds Agree To Sign Isringhausen

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The Reds agreed to sign Jason Isringhausen to a minor league deal, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Yesterday, GM Walt Jocketty confirmed to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that the sides were nearing an agreement. The Reds offered the longtime closer a contract Tuesday, after they worked him out and liked what they saw.

The 37-year-old appeared in nine games for the Rays last year and posted a 2.25 ERA. Since 1995, Isringhausen has earned 293 saves, good for 22nd on the all-time list. The righty has posted 7.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in his career. He'll help former Cardinals teammates Scott Rolen and Russ Springer try to lead Cincinnati to the playoffs for the first time since 1995. For now, Isringhausen will report to Triple A, where he'll likely spend a couple weeks.

Reds Offer Isringhausen Contract

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Walt Jocketty can't resist those former Cardinals. The Reds have offered Jason Isringhausen a contract and expect resolution soon, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Jocketty told Fay that he expects to hear from Isringhausen within a day or two.

The Reds watched Isringhausen throw today and manager Dusty Baker told Fay that he liked what he saw. If the Reds do sign the 37-year-old, he'll help former Cards teammates Scott Rolen and Russ Springer try to lead Cincinnati back to the playoffs. 

Isringhausen To Audition For Reds

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Appearing on KFNS 590 The Fan with Doug Vaughn this morning, free agent reliever Jason Isringhausen said he has a tentative plan to audition for the Reds tomorrow.  Isringhausen added that he expects to hear back from the Cardinals this week and implied that his agent has been in contact with the Yankees, Rays, and Royals.

Isringhausen admitted it'd be weird to pitch for the Reds against the Cardinals this summer as the teams battle for the NL Central.  Walt Jocketty's Reds already count Scott Rolen and Russ Springer as organization members.  Izzy, of course, tallied 217 saves in seven seasons for the Cards from 2002-08.  Isringhausen's last appearance in the Majors came in June of 2009 with the Rays, after which he went down for Tommy John surgery.  He said he's currently throwing three times a week and working on a changeup.  He expects he'd need a couple of weeks in the minors to get ready.  

Odds & Ends: Contreras, Wedge, Izzy

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This day in MLBTR history: On June 25, 2007, there was speculation that the Yankees might have interest in either Mark Buehrle or Jermaine Dye, and the sports world first got word that Ken Griffey Jr. wanted to retire as a Mariner.  Oh, and we were still rocking the white-on-black layout.  On to some links…

  • Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that right-hander Jose Contreras is drawing interest among some scouts.  The White Sox are not in selling mode just yet, but things could change between now and the July 31 trade deadline.
  • According to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, Indians manager Eric Wedge is well aware that his job is on the line.  "[General manager] Mark [Shapiro] and I continue to talk daily, as we always have," Wedge told reporters Wednesday.  "We've had conversations about everything.  I don't think there are ever any guarantees in this game."
  • Jason Isringhausen hasn't ruled out a return to baseball, according to MLB.com's Zach Schonbrun.  After undergoing Tommy John surgery last week, however, he probably won't be ready to contribute until July of 2010.

Odds & Ends: Izzy, Baez, Nationals

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Some links to peruse as you realize how lame it is when your favorite team has a scheduled off day…

Isringhausen To Have Tommy John Surgery

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Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune reports that Jason Isringhausen will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The surgery will end the 36-year-old's season and, possibly, his career. The Rays signed him last winter to contribute to a bullpen that had been surprisingly good in 2008. Isringhausen only pitched eight innings this year before going on the DL.

As Drew pointed out when we heard he was going on the 60-day DL, Izzy's 293 saves are enough to place him 22nd on the all-time list.
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