Around the Majors: Indians sign Gonzalez

1) The Indians signed free agent RF Juan Gonzalez to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

After -6 RCAA/.776 OPS and 7 RCAA/.901 OPS seasons, Gonzalez hit .441 SLG, .326 OBA, .767 OPS, -1 RCAA in 33 games with the Royals. He hasn’t played in more than 82 games in a season since 2001. Gonzalez has a .904 career OPS, compared to his league average of .762, and 277 RCAA in 1688 games.

Gonzalez ranks 10th in AL history for HR above the league average–

HOMERUNS                        DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1    Babe Ruth                   617      708       91   
2    Jimmie Foxx                 399      524      125   
3    Lou Gehrig                  377      493      116   
4    Ted Williams                376      521      145   
5    Harmon Killebrew            362      573      211   
6    Mickey Mantle               346      536      190   
7    Reggie Jackson              327      563      236   
8    Rafael Palmeiro             261      526      265   
9    Jose Canseco                254      462      208   
10   Juan Gonzalez               243      434      191   

2) The Phillies signed free agent P Terry Adams to a 1 year, $500,000 contract.

After 4.35 ERA/-9 RSAA and 2.65 ERA/11 RSAA seasons, Adams had a 4.76 ERA/2 RSAA in 61 games with the BlueJays and Redsox. He has a 4.04 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.34, and 18 RSAA in 558 games.

3) The Astros re-signed 3B Mike Lamb to a 1 year, $1.3 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After -3 RCAA/.765 OPS and -6 RCAA/.322 OPS seasons, Lamb hit .511 SLG, .356 OBA, .867 OPS, 11 RCAA in 112 games. He has a .750 career OPS, compared to his league average of .776, and -18 RCAA in 469 games.

4) The Diamondbacks signed free agent P Shawn Estes to a 1 year, $2.5 million contract.

After 5.10 ERA/-20 RSAA and 5.73 ERA/-26 RSAA seasons, Estes had a 5.84 ERA/-15 RSAA in 34 starts with the Rockies. He has a 4.71 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.34, and -77 RSAA in 252 games.

Estes has had the worst RSAA in the majors over the past 3 years–

RSAA 
1    Shawn Estes                 -61   
2    Steve Sparks                -57   
3    Ryan Dempster               -56   
4    Brandon Duckworth           -50   
T5   Adam Bernero                -46   
T5   Paul Abbott                 -46   
7    Ryan Vogelsong              -41   
T8   Tanyon Sturtze              -39   
T8   Ruben Quevedo               -39   
T10  Jimmy Anderson              -38   
T10  Aaron Sele                  -38   
T10  Jeff D'Amico                -38   

5) The Diamondbacks will trade 1B-3B Shea Hillenbrand to the BlueJays for P Adam Peterson.

After 5 RCAA/.789 OPS and -14 RCAA/.782 OPS seasons, Hillenbrand hit .464 SLG, .348 OBA, .812 OPS, 3 RCAA in 148 games. He has a .770 career OPS, compared to his league average of .766, and -26 RCAA in 577 games.

Peterson had a 16.88 ERA/-4 RSAA in his first 3 career games.

6) The BlueJays signed free agent P Scott Schoeneweis to a 2 year, $5.2 million contract.

After 4.88 ERA/-7 RSAA and 4.18 ERA/1 RSAA seasons, Schoeneweis had a 5.59 ERA/-8 RSAA in 19 starts (20 games). He has a 5.16 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.63, and -33 RSAA in223 games.

7) The Rockies signed Ps Darren Oliver and Eddie Gaillard to a minor league contracts, with invitations to spring training.

After 4.66 ERA/-2 RSAA and 5.04 ERA/-5 RSAA seasons, Oliver had a 5.94 ERA/-14 RSAA in 27 games (10 starts) with the Marlins and Astros. He has a 5.07 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.59, and -48 RSAA in 306 games.

Gaillard, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 1999, has a 4.66 ERA/0 RSAA in 30 career games.

8) According to the Houston Chronicle, the Astros, Devil Rays, Pirates, Diamondbacks and Cubs are interested in free agent OF Jeromy Burnitz.

9) According to the Washington Post, the Nationals are interested in free agent P Esteban Loaiza.

10) The Brewers signed C Julio Mosquera to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Mosquera had -2 RCAA/.591 OPS in 11 games with the 1996-97 BlueJays.

11) The Orioles signed P James Baldwin to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

Baldwin has a 5.07 ERA/-68 RSAA in 238 career games, including a 15.00 ERA/-7 RSAA in 2 starts with the 2004 Mets.

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