The MLB offseason is still working itself out after the winter meeting finished up and a flurry of new deals are going down this week, as the Orioles have signed reliever Grant Balfour, while the Padres and Joaquin Benoit have agreed on a deal, as have the Mariners and Franklin Gutierrez along with Raul Ibanez and the Angels.
News on all the deals comes from Hardball Talk and the website is reporting that the Mariners have re-signed Guti to a deal after his contract was up last season and it is a one year deal after he has been injured in each of the past three seasons. The contract has numerous incentives and it is a safe deal for the Mariners that adds a right handed bat to the lineup and while he is one of the best centerfielders in the game, the team is hoping his pop comes back to his offensive game as well.
The deal is worth $1 million and has $2 million more in incentives and comes after he played in just 41 games last season and he is still a relatively young player at 31. Last season's hero for the Mariners is reportedly moving to another AL West team, as Raul Ibanez is close to signing with the Angels. The report says he will sign a one-year, $2.75 million deal with Los Angeles after having a solid season at the age of 40 with 29 home runs to lead the Mariners and now he adds a solid DH to the lineup for the team and a solid reserve player despite his age.
Balfour is now with the Orioles and another top reliever signed, as Joaquin Benoit and the Padres agreed to a deal. The Padres have Huston Street already and now they add Benoit, who was greet for the Tigers last season and is an elite set up man.
From Reuters.com, more MLB Free agent news, as Grant Balfour and the Orioles have agreed on a deal:
Australian free-agent closer Grant Balfour has agreed to terms with the Baltimore Orioles on a two-year deal, the Baltimore Sun reported on Tuesday citing multiple industry sources.
Balfour, an All-Star last season who notched 62 saves in 67 opportunities since he became a full-time closer in 2012 for the Oakland Athletics, will be getting a deal worth $15 million with $1 million deferred, pending a physical, the Sun said.
The Sydney native, who will turn 36 later this month, would take over for closer Jim Johnson, who was traded by the Orioles to the Athletics two weeks ago.
Balfour was 1-3 with a 2.59 earned run average and 38 saves in 41 chances for AL West champions Oakland in 2013.
The right-hander, known for his tempestuous antics on the mound which came to be known as the 'Balfour Rage,' joined Oakland from Tampa Bay in 2011 after previous major league stops in Minnesota and Milwaukee in his 10-year career. (Reuters)
