Baseball is back! Baseball is back!

Excuse my exuberance but, well, never mind. I’m sure you understand! Since our last Wrap Up, pitchers and catchers reported, and in most cases, so have position players. What that means (other than the fact that the universe has righted itself, of course) is that there’s a lot of news to get to. So, we’re going with some quick hits to get you all caught up.

Angels

• Not everyone in LA is thrilled with the Angels’ 2012 situation. Word is, Bobby Abreu wants out, specifically to be traded to a place where he’ll play every day. Manager Mike Scioscia countered by saying there’s plenty of chances for slugger to contribute.
• After some visa drama, reliever Francisco Rodriguez finally arrived at camp. Does four days count as “fashionably late”?
• Speaking of pitching, closer Jordan Walden is upping the ninth-inning ante by adding a third pitch to his arsenal. Don’t be surprised by how often he throws a changeup this year. Also, reliever Kevin Jepsen seems to be on track early — a good sign, since last year’s early troubles never ended.
• Albert Pujols now has a familiar face at Spring Training. Former teammate closer Jason Isringhausen is taking his talents to So Cal.

Brewers

• Did you hear? Ryan Braun’s 50-game suspension is no more. Read more from yesterday’s Around the Horn post. Or here. His teammates are thrilled to have him back on board, but it’s not all sunshine and roses from here on out. He has some ‘splainin’ yet to do!
• Meanwhile, Zack Greinke has a contract issue to work out. Only, he has no agent to work on his behalf. The Brewers, though, say there’s no reason to worry. Discussions will continue uninhibited.
• Rickie Weeks, who suffered an ankle injury in July, still doesn’t feel 100%. Ron Roenicke isn’t surprised, or particularly concerned. It’s simply a matter of learning to deal with the stiffness. » Continue reading “Weekly Wrap Up: Stay Healthy, Kids”

Teams are starting to put the finishing touches on their rosters, settling hard-fought deals and adding depth. Except for Oakland. I have no idea what they’re going to do with a roster full of outfielders.

• The Red Sox and DH David Ortiz reached an eleventh-hour agreement, avoiding arbitration with a one-year, $14.575 million deal. The figure represents the midpoint between the two sides. Big Papi, just in case you weren’t clear on things, slashed .309/.398/.554 in 2011.
• In the wake of “Fausto Carmona” uncertainty, the Indians have signed Jon Garland to a minor-league deal, adding depth and options to their rotation. Garland is returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him in 2011. When healthy, he’s an innings-eater with a career 4.68 FIP.
• In its apparent quest to amass every single free agent outfielder, Oakland inked a record 4-year, $36 million deal with Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes. The Mystery Team has done well this off-season; no one even really considered the A’s to be in the running for Cespedes.
• Righty reliever Casey Janssen signed a 2-year, $5.9 million extension with the Blue Jays, dodging salary arbitration. Janssen has had a bit of a yo-yo career so far, but posted a 2.26 ERA/2.45 FIP over 55.2 innings last season.

» Continue reading “Monday Trade Roundup: Baseball Soon!”