Filed under: Rays, AL East, International Baseball

The Rays aren't leaving any stones unturned to supply themselves with options in case Carl Crawford and/or Carlos Pena leave as free agents after this season. They confirmed Thursday that they've signed Cuban defector Leslie Anderson, a first baseman and outfielder, to a four-year deal.

Anderson, who will get $3.75 million according to El Nuevo Herald, was one of more than 20 players who defected from Cuba via a boat to Mexico just before last year's World Cup. The 27-year-old was part of Cuba's World Baseball Classic team last year and has been working out in Mexico. His lawyer, Jaime Torres, thinks he'll be in the mix for a major league job this summer.

"I think this is a young man that can compete this year in the major leagues," Torres said. "Right now we're trying to see how quickly we can get him into camp."

 

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Filed under: Rockies, MLB Transactions

Todd Helton and the Rockies agreed to a two-year contract extension Thursday that will keep the first baseman in Colorado through the 2013 season, the team announced.

Helton will make $8.9 million over the two additional seasons, according to the Denver Post, and also agreed to defer portions of his contract to after 2013, something that should free up some additional money to help Colorado improve the team in the short-term.

"This is a great commitment for the both the organization and me," Helton said in a statement. "Potentially it allows us to continue to put a championship-caliber club on the field and allows me the opportunity to finish my career as a Colorado Rockie. Because I am a Rockie."

Helton isn't just a lifetime Rockie, he's the ultimate Rockie -- the face of the franchise even through some lean years and the team's all-time leader in almost every offensive category.

 

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Filed under: Mets, NL East, MLB Injuries

The New York Mets will be in territory that was quite familiar in 2009 when the 2010 season opens. They will be without their star shortstop, as Jose Reyes will be on the disabled list once again. The two-time All-Star left the Mets' Spring Training facility late last week so he could have further tests in New York on his hyperactive thyroid. Now, it's been determined that he won't be ready to open the season with the team.

In fact, this issue has the potential to linger for quite a while. Reyes reportedly cannot have any physical exertion for a period of time that is said to be two to eight weeks -- during which time his thyroid levels will be tested on a weekly basis.

If Reyes is forced to stay inactive for all eight weeks of that wide-open estimate, he'll have to start working himself into baseball shape in the middle of May. Basically, it's possible for Reyes to miss the first two months of the season -- and this is assuming he doesn't have any issues upon return. He was already returning from a surgically repaired torn hamstring that ruined his 2009 season.

The Mets will attempt to move forward without one of their most talented players. General manager Omar Minaya has stated that the Opening Day shortstop will be either veteran Alex Cora or 20-year-old Ruben Tejada.

 

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Filed under: MLB Transactions

After waiting for a contact offer for quite a while, Brian Giles has apparently seen the writing on the wall. He announced his retirement from baseball Thursday.

Giles, 39, was once one of the better sluggers in baseball. Despite dabbling in obscurity for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Giles received MVP votes for four straight seasons from 1999-2002. In that span, he averaged 37 home runs and 109 RBI per season while compiling a .309 average and 1.030 OPS (which was good for an amazing 160 OPS-plus).

In recent seasons, age -- in addition to playing home games in the cavernous Petco Park in San Diego -- has zapped Giles' power and relegated him to a more of a doubles guy than home run hitter. He was still productive until last year, though. In 2008, Giles hit .306 with 40 doubles while getting on base at a nice .398 clip. In 2009, however, he regressed to hitting just .191 with a .277 OBP and a dreadful .271 slugging percentage.

He retires with a career .291 batting average and a .400 OBP. He hit 287 home runs and drove home 1,078 RBI in 15 seasons and 1,847 games. He made the All-Star team twice and played in the postseason five times (including one trip to the World Series). His career 136 OPS-plus ranks him among the top 100 in baseball history.

Giles probably had a good enough career to be one of those one-time guys on the Hall of Fame ballot -- where he'll either receive less than a handful of votes or none at all.

 

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Filed under: Mariners, Spring Training

It's way, way too early to know if Cliff Lee is a one-year pitcher for the Mariners or part of a long-term package with Felix Hernandez at the top of the Seattle rotation.

But for someone who was surprised to be traded by the Phillies and who had hoped to sign in Philly, Lee is finding life in Mariner blue intriguing to say the least.

"I like it here,'' Lee said after three innings of one-run ball in his Cactus League debut Wednesday.

 

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