Rangers sign OF Josh Hamilton and RHP Dillon Gee to Minor League contracts

The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has signed free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton and right-handed pitcher Dillon Gee to minor league contracts with invitations to major league spring training.

Hamilton, 35, ranks among all-time Rangers leaders in OPS (3rd, .901), slugging percentage (3rd, .542), and batting average (9th, .302), but did not play for the club last season following multiple surgeries on his left knee and was released on August 23, 2016. He was cleared for activity in December and has been on a workout program over the last month. The 2010 American League Most Valuable Player with Texas, he was re-acquired by the club from the Los Angeles Angels in a trade on April 27, 2015, but his last major league contest was in 2015 ALDS Game 5 at Toronto.

Hamilton opened the 2016 season on the 15-day disabled list as he continued to rehab from surgery on his left knee on October 28, 2015. He was assigned to Double-A Frisco on injury rehab assignment on April 30 but went 0-for-2 in his only game that night before experiencing continued knee discomfort. He was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 7 and underwent additional surgery on June 8 to repair a torn ACL and cartilage damage in the knee. That surgery was performed by Dr. Walt Lowe in Houston. He was activated from the 60-day disabled list and released by Texas in August.

The 30-year-old Gee went 8-9 with a 4.68 ERA (65 ER/125.0 IP) over 33 games/14 starts with Kansas City last season. After entering spring training on a minor league deal, Gee became one of only two major league pitchers to record at least 14 starts and 19 relief appearances in 2016. The right-hander has appeared in the majors in each of the last seven seasons (2010-16) and has amassed a 48-46 career record with a 4.13 ERA in 147 games/124 starts. Over the last 6 seasons beginning 2011, Gee has averaged 8 wins, 20 starts, and 129.0 innings per year, this despite spending most of the 2015 campaign in Triple-A.

Gee earned All-State honors in baseball at Cleburne High School and attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he helped lead the Mavericks to the NCAA tournament in 2006. The Fort Worth resident was originally selected by the New York Mets in the 21st round of the 2007 June draft and started 110 games for the Mets from 2010-15.

- Texas Rangers PR

Puma: Mets may only be able to market Jay Bruce to two teams

With the Toronto Blue Jays closing in on signing Jose Bautista and Philadelphia Phillies closing in on signing Michael Saunders, Mike Puma of the New York Post says that the New York Mets may have to get creative in their efforts to trade Jay Bruce, who became expendable when the club signed Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year contract worth $110 million in November.

Reports on Monday indicated the Blue Jays were close to re-signing Bautista, and the Phillies on the verge of completing a deal with Saunders. Both teams had been potential landing places for Bruce, who is owed $13 million in 2017.

Last week, general manager Sandy Alderson indicated there is a real possibility the Mets could begin spring training with Bruce still in a Mets uniform, making for a crowded outfield that would also include Cespedes, Curtis Granderson, Michael Conforto and Juan Lagares.

Puma feels that the Giants and Rangers are among the teams that could still look to acquire Bruce.

Both the Giants and Rangers showed interest in Bruce at the trade deadline last year and have outfield vacancies.

Royals reach five-year agreement with Danny Duffy

The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have agreed to a five-year contract with Danny Duffy. The deal will begin in 2017 and run through the 2021 season. Consistent with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Duffy, 27, set career highs in wins (12), starts (26), innings pitched (179.2) and strikeouts (188) in 2016, while also leading Royals starting pitchers in ERA (3.51). The Royals were 17-9 (.654) in his 26 starts. His 12-3 record (.800) matched Larry Gura in 1978 for the best single-season winning percentage in Royals history (min. 15 decisions).

He won 10 straight decisions from June 11-August 21 of last season, one shy of the franchise record shared by Rich Gale (1980) and Paul Splittorff (1977-78). On August 1 at Tampa Bay, Duffy set a franchise record with 16 strikeouts and didn't allow a hit until the first batter of the eighth inning, finishing with 8.0 scoreless innings. In doing so, he joined Randy Johnson as the only left-handed pitchers since 1913 to record at least 16 strikeouts and allow one-or-fewer hit.

Duffy held left-handed batters to a .183 average (20-for-109) in 2016, fourth best in the American League (min. 100 batters faced), and allowed just three extra-base hits to lefties all season. His career .208 opponents' average vs. lefties ranks 10th in the American League since his debut in 2011.

Duffy's 2016 season included a 7-0 mark at home. He hasn't lost at Kauffman Stadium since September 5, 2015, setting a new club record for consecutive home starts without a loss at 15.

A third-round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, Duffy made his Major League debut with the Royals in 2011. In six Major League seasons, he is 36-33 with a 3.71 ERA over 134 appearances (106 starts). Duffy went 1-0 with nine strikeouts in six appearances during the 2015 postseason, including three World Series outings.

- Kansas City Royals PR

MLB Transactions from January 13, 2017

Houston Astros invited non-roster 3B J.D. Davis to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster OF Derek Fisher to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster RHP Edison Frias to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster OF Alejandro Garcia to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster C Tyler Heineman to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster LHP Brian Holmes to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster RHP Jordan Jankowski to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster RF Jon Kemmer to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster OF Ramon Laureano to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster RHP Francis Martes to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster RHP Tyson Perez to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster 1B Jon Singleton to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster RHP Cy Sneed to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster C Garrett Stubbs to spring training.
Houston Astros invited non-roster RHP Aaron West to spring training.
Los Angeles Dodgers traded 2B Micah Johnson to Atlanta Braves for Player To Be Named Later.
Cleveland Indians signed free agent RHP Steve Delabar to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Seattle Mariners sent Cody Martin outright to Tacoma Rainiers.
Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent C Chris Iannetta.
Arizona Diamondbacks designated C Juan Graterol for assignment.

Jon Heyman: Bryce Harper, Nats have a deal

CBS Sports analyst Jon Heyman reported on Friday that Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationald do have a deal made, but no details of it are known at this time.

Harper was named National League Player of the Month in April (.286, 9 HR, 24 RBI, 17 BB, 5 SB, 16 R)...Also earned Player of the Week honors, 4/11-17.

He clubbed his 100th home run (1st career grand slam), 4/14 vs. ATL (Teheran), and hit game-tying, ninth-inning, pinch-hit home run, 4/24 vs. MIN (Jepsen).

UPDATE: Heyman reported it's a $13.625M deal.

MLB Arbitration Tracker (January 13, 2017)

List of MLB arbitration deals on January 13, 2017.

---

Danny Valencia, Mariners agree at $5.5M

Alex Wood, Dodgers settle at $2.8M

Justin Wilson, Tigers agree at. 2.7M

Chris Owings, Diamomdbacks settle at $2.3M

Justin Grimm, Cubs settle at $1.825M

Wily Peralta, Brewers settle at $4.275M

Bryce Harper, Nats agree at $13.625M

Hechavarria, Marlins agree at $4.35M

Erasmo Ramirez, Rays agree at $3.125M

Danny Salazar, Indians settle at $3.4M

Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers agree at $5.5M

Leonis Martin, Mariners settle at $4.85M

Garrett Richards, Angels agree at $6.85M
Addison Reed, Mets agree at $7.75M
Nolan Arenado and Rockies agree to a 2-year deal worth $29.15M in total.
Matt Shoemaker, Angels settle at $3.325M
Tony Cingrani, Reds settle at $1.825M
Sonny Gray, A's settle at $3.575M
Bryan Shaw Indians settle at $4.6M
Todd Frazier, Chicago White Sox settle at $12M
Dallas Keuchel, Astros agree at $9.15M
Tanner Roark, Nationals settle at $4.315M
Derek Norris, Nationals settle at $4.2M
Cubs settled with Hector Rondon at $5.8 million.
Corey Dickerson, Rays settle at $3.025M
Blake Wood, Reds settle at 1.275M
Kole Calhoun, Angels settle at $6.35M
Austin Romine, Yankees settle at 805K
Hector Santiago, Twins settle at $8M
Cody Allen, Indians settle at $7.35M
Didi gregorius, Yankees settle at $5.1M
Alex Wilson, tigers settle at $1.175M
Jake marisnick, astros settle at $1.1M
Kyle Gibson, twins settle at $2.9M
Jordy mercer, pirates settle at $4.325M
Billy hamilton, reds settle at $2.625M
JJ Hoover signs with d-backs. 900K in majors, plus 425 incentives. MLB spring invite.
Tim Beckham, Rays settle at 885K
Travis d'Armaud, mets settle at $1.875M
Kevin kiermaier, rays settle at $2.975M
Aj Ramos, marlins settle at $6.55M
Zack McAllister, Indians settle. $1.825M.
Xavier Cedeno, Rays settle at $1.3M

Yankees, Gregorious avoid arbitration

Shortstop Didi Gregorius and the New York Yankees settled at $5.1M to avoid arbitration on Friday.

Gregorious hit .276 (155-for-562) with 68R, 32 doubles, 20HR and 70RBI in 153 games with the Yankees, and set career highs with 155H, 32 doubles, 20HR, 70RBI and a team-leading 54 extra-base hits (32 doubles, 2 triples, 20HR) in 153 games in 2016. It marked the most XBH by a Yankees SS since Derek Jeter in 2007 (55XBH)... ranked second among Yankees position players with 2.7 WAR (FanGraphs), trailing only Gary Sanchez (3.2)... tied for the team lead in RBI (also Castro) and ranked second in hits (Castro-156).

Gregorious Is the sixth SS in Yankees history with 30 doubles in a season (also Jeter-9x, Frankie Crosetti-2x, Tony Kubek-1x, Phil Rizzuto-1x and Lyn Lary-1x). He is the fourth Yankees shortstop to hit at least 20HR in a season (Jeter-24 in 1999, 23 in 2004, 21 in 2001; Roy Smalley-20 in 1982, Tom Tresh-20 in 1962).