Rays trade Forsythe to Dodgers for De Leon

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-The Tampa Bay Rays have traded second baseman Logan Forsythe to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jose De León.

In addition, the Rays have agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with free agent right-handed pitcher Shawn Tolleson. He has a chance to earn an additional $1.15 million in incentives.

"We are very excited to add Jose De León to the Rays organization. He's a talented starting pitching prospect who can soon become a key member of our major league rotation," said Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations/General Manager Erik Neander. "It's a bittersweet day, though, as we part ways with Logan Forsythe in this trade. He's not only a first-class player, but he's also a great teammate and leader in the clubhouse. We will miss him, and we thank him for all he did as a Ray."

De León, 24, made four starts for the Dodgers last September and is 23-13 with a 3.35 ERA (330.2-IP, 123-ER) and 446 strikeouts (12.1 strikeouts per nine innings) in 67 career games (64 starts) across four minor league seasons. In 2016, he went 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA (86.1-IP, 25-ER), 111 strikeouts, .194 opponents' average and 5.55 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 16 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City, missing parts of the season with ankle and shoulder injuries. He recorded double-digit strikeouts in five starts, including three straight immediately prior to his selection to the major league roster. He won his major league debut on September 4 against the San Diego Padres, yielding three earned runs and recording nine strikeouts over six innings.

Following the season, De León made Baseball America's Triple-A All-Star Team and was ranked by the publication as the No. 3 prospect in the Pacific Coast League and the No. 3 prospect in the Dodgers organization. Last week, he was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 8 right-handed pitching prospect in baseball entering 2017.

A native of Puerto Rico, De León was selected by the Dodgers in the 24th round of the 2013 June Draft out of Southern University and made his professional debut that season. In 2014, he was named Pitcher of the Year in the Rookie-level Pioneer League and made four starts with Class-A Great Lakes of the Midwest League to finish the season. In his second start there, his 14 strikeouts broke the club record previously held by Clayton Kershaw (12). In 2015, De León split the season between Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa, combining between the two levels to go 6-7 with a 2.99 ERA (114.1-IP, 38-ER) and 163 strikeouts, which tied with Blake Snell for fourth among minor league pitchers.

Forsythe, 30, hit .264/.333/.444 (135-for-511) with 20 home runs and 52 RBI in 127 games (125 starts) in 2016. All of his starts came batting leadoff, and his career-high 20 homers ranked second in club history for a second baseman, behind Ben Zobrist (27) in 2009. In 2015-16, he became the first middle infielder in franchise history with back-to-back seasons of at least 15 homers. Forsythe hit .262/.334/.419 (354-for-1,352) with 43 home runs and 146 RBI over his three seasons with Tampa Bay. He spent the first three seasons of his major league career with the San Diego Padres.

Tolleson, 29, is 14-8 with a 3.92 ERA (218-IP, 95-ER) over his five-year career with the Texas Rangers (2014-16) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2012-13). From 2014-15, he went 9-5 with a 2.88 ERA (144-IP, 46-ER) in 137 appearances, ranking sixth among major league relievers in innings over that span.

In 2015, Tolleson ranked among American League relief leaders in innings (72.1, third), saves (35, fifth), appearances (73, fifth) and strikeouts (76, 11th) en route to a 10th-place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting. He converted a Rangers record 94.6 percent (35 of 37) of his save opportunities that season.

Tolleson went 2-2 with a 7.68 ERA (36.1-IP, 31-ER) and 11 saves in 37 appearances last season, missing the end of the year with a lower back strain. He was outrighted off the Rangers 40-man roster following the season.

Tolleson was selected by the Dodgers in the 30th round of the 2010 June Draft out of Baylor University.

- Tampa Bay Rays PR

Former Major Leaguers Marte and Ventura die in car crash

Former Major League infielder Andy Marte died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. He was 33 years old.

Also, former Major League pitcher Yordano Ventura was killed in a separate crash as well.

"Words can't express the emotions from the loss of our client Andy Marte. Gone too soon. A great person on and off the field," Marte's agency, J.M.G. baseball, said on Twitter.

Marte signed with the Braves in 2000 as an international free agent and was ranked No. 9 on MLB.com's 2005 Top 50 Prospects list.

After breaking into the Majors in 2005, he was traded to the Indians in '06 and spent five seasons with the club. His best year came in '09, when he hit .232 with six home runs and 25 RBIs in 47 games.

Marte played in just six games for the D-backs in 2014, before signing with the KT Wiz in South Korea. Over the last two seasons, he hit .312 and belted over 20 home runs both campaigns

Ventura, 25, signed with the Royals in 2008 and has been with the team since. He made his major-league debut in 2013 and pitched his first full season the following year, placing sixth in Rookie of the Year voting. He was a key part of the rotation in Kansas City’s trips to the World Series in 2014 and 2015.

A's agree to terms with RHP Santiago Casilla on two-year contract

The Oakland A's agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Santiago Casilla on a two-year contract through the 2018 season, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's designated outfielder Brett Eibner for assignment. The A's also announced that they agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler and outfielder Alejandro De Aza on minor league contracts with an invite to spring training.

Casilla went 2-5 with 31 saves, a 3.57 ERA and .235 opponents batting average in 62 relief appearances with San Francisco last year. He ranked sixth in the National League in saves but had nine blown saves, which tied for the most in the majors. The 36-year-old right-hander struck out a career-high 65 batters in 58.0 innings. He walked just 19 average his average of 2.95 walks per nine innings was the second lowest mark of his career. Casilla allowed just 1-of-18 (5.6%) inherited runners to score and held first batters faced to a .228 batting average and .267 on-base percentage.
Casilla returns to the Oakland organization as he was originally signed by the A's as out of the Dominican Republic on January 31, 2000. He made his Major League debut with Oakland in 2004 and was 6-4 with four saves and a 5.11 ERA in 152 relief appearances from 2004 to 2009. Casilla was released following the 2009 season and spent the next seven seasons with the Giants. He went 32-22 with 123 saves and a 2.42 ERA in 414 games with San Francisco. Casilla saved a career-high 38 games in 2015 and he ranks sixth on the Giants career saves list. The 13-year veteran is 38-26 with 127 saves and a 3.19 ERA in 566 career appearances.

Eibner began the 2016 season with Kansas City and hit .231 in 26 games over two stints with the Royals before he was traded to Oakland for Billy Burns on July 30. He batted .165 in 44 games with the A's and combined for a .193 batting average, six home runs and 22 RBI in 70 games in his Major League debut.

Detwiler was acquired by the A's from Cleveland in a minor league deal July 17 and combined for a 2-4 record and a 6.10 ERA in 16 games, including seven starts. He was also 6-4 with a 4.40 ERA in 16 games, including 15 starts, with Triple-A Columbus and Nashville. De Aza spent the entire 2016 season with the New York Mets and hit .205 with six home runs and 25 RBI in 130 games. He is a .261 career hitter in 810 games in nine Major League seasons with Florida (2007, 09), Chicago-AL (2010-14), Baltimore (2014-15), Boston (2015), San Francisco (2015) and New York-NL (2016).

Orioles sign OF Mark Trumbo to three-year contract

The Orioles today announced that they have signed OF Mark Trumbo to a three-year contract. To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Adam Walker has been designated for assignment.

Trumbo, 31, led Major League Baseball with 47 home runs last season and tied for the fourth-highest single season home run total in Orioles history. He extended Baltimore's streak to four consecutive seasons (2013-16) of having an Orioles hitter lead Major League Baseball in home runs. The two-time All-Star set career highs in hits (157), extra-base hits (75), home runs, RBI (108), runs scored (94), slugging percentage (.533), OPS (.850), and outfield assists (10). The 2016 Silver Slugger has hit 149 home runs since 2012 to rank 10th in the majors in that span. Trumbo also homered in his first career postseason game after starting as the designated hitter in the AL Wild Card Game at Toronto.

Over a seven-year Major League career, Trumbo has batted .251/.303/.473 with 178 home runs and 517 RBI over 849 games. He was acquired by the Orioles in a trade from the Seattle Mariners on December 2, 2015. Originally drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 18th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Trumbo played four seasons with the Angels (2010-13) and also has spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2014-15) and Seattle Mariners (2015). 

Walker, 25, was claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers in December after spending five minor league seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization. He has hit .251/.310/.486 (559-for-2225) with 110 doubles, 124 home runs, 429 RBI, and 43 stolen bases over 584 career minor league games.

"We are happy that we were able to bring Mark Trumbo back to the Orioles," Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan DuQuette said. "We like his presence in our lineup and professional work ethic along with the elite power he brings to our ballpark."

A's agree to terms with IF Tevor Plouffe on one-year contract

The Oakland A's agreed to terms with infielder Trevor Plouffe on a one-year contract for the 2017 season, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's designated right-handed pitcher Zach Neal for assignment.

Plouffe batted a career-high .260 with 12 home runs and 47 RBI in 84 games with Minnesota last year in a season interrupted by three stints on the disabled list. He was the Twins Opening Day starter at third base for the fourth consecutive season and was batting .302 with two home runs and six RBI in 12 games when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 19 with a strained right intercostal. The 30-year-old right-handed hitter was also out from July 2 to Aug. 7 with a fractured left rib and Sept. 7 through the end of the season with a strained left hamstring. Plouffe started 60 games at third base and 13 at first base.

Plouffe was the Twins first round draft pick in 2004 and had spent his entire career in the Minnesota organization. He made his Major League debut in 2010 and is a .247 hitter with 96 home runs and 357 RBI in 723 games over seven seasons as a big leaguer. Plouffe hit a career-high 24 home runs in just 119 games in 2012 and had 22 home runs and career-high 86 RBI in 2015. He has played every position except pitcher, catcher and center field in his career but has seen most of his playing time with 545 games at third base.

Neal made his Major League debut with Oakland last year and went 2-4 with two saves and a 4.24 ERA in 24 games, including six starts, over four stints with the A's. He allowed a .265 opponents batting average but issued just six walks in 70.0 innings for a .281 on-base percentage. Neal was also 7-2 with a 3.21 ERA in 11 starts with Triple-A Nashville where he walked just eight batters in 61.2 innings.

- Oakland Athletics PR

Blue Jays officially announce Bautista signing

The Toronto Blue Jays officially announced on Wednesday that they have signed OF Jose Bautista to a one-year contract worth a guaranteed base salary of US $18 million, a US $17 million mutual option for 2018 and a US $20 million vesting option for 2019. Should either party decline the option for 2018 a US $500,000 buyout will be issued.

Bautista, 36, posted a .817 OPS, including a .366 OBP in 116 games last season, his 9th in a Blue Jays uniform. The Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic native is a six-time All-Star and two-time Hank Aaron Award winner who has posted 249 home runs since 2010, the most in the Majors. His 265 home runs as a Blue Jay are 2nd to only Carlos Delgado (336) on the all-time club list.

Jesse Sanchez: Blue Jays, Bautista reach one-year deal

The Toronto Blue Jays and Jose Bautista have agreed to a one-year deal that includes options that could keep him in Toronto through 2019, MLB reporter Jesse Sanchez reported on Tuesday.

Bautista finished the season 1st in the AL with 110-BB, 3rd in RBI (114) & T-5th in HR (40)…72 of his 136 hits were XBH (29-2B, 3-3B, 40-HR), 6th in AL.

Bautista hit his 40th HR of the season September 30 at BAL, joining A. Rodriguez, D. Ortiz, R. Howard and A. Pujols as the only active players with 3+ career 40+ HR seasons…Became just the 2nd Blue Jay in club history to have three 40+ HR seasons (Delgado) and just the 3rd Jay to record 4, 100+ RBI seasons (Delgado-6, Carter-6).