MLB Heads Up News

The Rays don't expect B.J. Upton to be ready to play in time for the first spring training games following November shoulder surgery.

Upton probably wouldn't have been on the team anyway, but there's no chance of him participating in the WBC now. The Rays do expect him to be at full strength for the beginning of the regular season.
Source: Tampa Tribune


Mark Worrell-R-Cardinals Dec. 4 - 2:27 pm et

The Padres will get Mark Worrell and a player to be named from the Cardinals for Khalil Greene, according to MLB.com.

Worrell deserves a chance to make it as a middle reliever or setup man and will probably have some success at Petco. Still, unless the second player is better than he is, this will go down as quite a deal for the Cardinals.
Source: Hot Stove Blog


Edgar Renteria-SS-Giants Dec. 4 - 1:50 pm et

Giants signed shortstop Edgar Renteria, who had been with the Tigers, to a two-year, $18.5 million contract.

Renteria will probably resume hitting back in the National League -- he finished at .332/.390/.470 for the Braves in 2007 -- but whether he'll be an adequate shortstop remains to be seen. He's clearly lost some range the last couple of years, and he absolutely has to get into better shape if he hopes to stick around long enough to reach 3,000 hits (he's at 2,070 through his age-32 season). Frankly, we'd like him better at third base at this point of his career. The Giants, though, figure to drop out of the Rafael Furcal chase and keep Renteria at short. That makes Emmanuel Burriss part of the competition at second base with Kevin Frandsen and Eugenio Velez.

Mike Lincoln-R-RedsDec. 4 - 1:42 pm et

The Reds have re-signed free agent Mike Lincoln to a two-year, $4 million contract, according to the Denver Post.

Bob Howry gets $2.75 million for one year and Lincoln gets two?
The 33-year-old Lincoln was an adequate reliever for the Reds in his comeback season, finishing with a 4.48 ERA in 70 1/3 innings. Of course, it was his first major league action since 2004. Just once in his career has he thrown at least 50 innings and posted an ERA under 4.00. There's simply no reason to be giving such a pitcher a two-year guarantee.
Source: Denver Post


Randy Johnson-S-Athletics Dec. 4 - 1:29 pm et

The A's are targeting free agent Randy Johnson to be their fifth starter, sources told FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.

Oakland is used to dealing with injury-prone pitchers and does need the depth after trading both Rich Harden and Joe Blanton. Johnson, though, may prefer to stay in the NL.
Source: FOXSports.com


Andy Pettitte-S-Yankees Dec. 4 - 1:27 pm et

Free agent Andy Pettitte remains focused on the Yankees, but is holding out for a better off than the one the team has on the table.

The Yanks are believed to be offering $10 million, which is down from $16 million last year. "I mean, to tell you the truth, like I’ve told you all a hundred times, I’ve made it loud and clear where I’d like to play at," Pettitte said. "I’m just basically sitting here letting my agents do their job really." $13 million would be a reasonable compromise.
Source: New York Times