[Moriarty9]

Off-season wrap-up



Rangers make pitch to improve staff
ARLINGTON, Tex. — Jeremy Bonderman and Roy Halladay will be wearing Rangers uniforms in 2009, beefing up the team's rotation in hopes of returning to the post-season.
Bonderman is considered a quality arm, though he struggled with the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, going 9-10 with a 5.13 ERA in 25 starts. Bonderman signed a six-year deal worth $71.52 million. He will earn $10.73 million in 2009 and will see pay raises annually, maxing out in 2014, the final year of the deal, at $13.12 million.
Halladay went 10-6 with a 3.90 ERA in 17 starts for the Oakland A's in 2008 after coming back from a ruptured bicep tendon injury suffered in May 2007. He is now signed for four years and $20.45 million.

Braves build up corner outfield spots
ATLANTA — The Braves have bulked up their lineup by adding corner outfielders Garret Anderson and Jody Gerut to the mix at Turner Field.
Anderson, 36, is a left-handed hitter who hit .304 with 21 home runs and 97 RBI in 143 games with the Rangers last year. He inked a two-year deal worth $9.58 million annually.
Gerut, also a left-handed hitter, comes to the Braves after hitting .293 with 21 homers and 81 RBI for the New York Mets in 2008. He is signed for four years at $77.11 million. He will earn $17.34 million in 2009, $18.64 million in 2010, $19.92 million in 2011, and $21.21 million in 2012.

Hudson to take over as leadoff hitter
BALTIMORE — The Orioles will have a new leadoff man in 2009 in the person of Orlando Hudson.
The switch-hitting Hudson comes to Baltimore after spending his first eight years in the National League, largely with the St. Louis Cardinals but most recently the Philadelphia Phillies. Hudson will split time between second base and designated hitter with Brian Roberts. Hudson will earn $23.15 million over the four-year contract he signed this winter.

Rollins heads to the Windy City
CHICAGO — After playing in the World Series with the Dodgers, shortstop Jimmy Rollins is heading to the White Sox for the next six years at $18.8 million annually.
Rollins hit .286 with 17 home runs, 49 RBI, 95 runs, and 59 stolen bases in 140 games with Los Angeles last year.

Indians bring Ordonez into Tribe
CLEVELAND — The Indians will have a new bat in the middle of their lineup after signing Magglio Ordonez to a two-year contract worth $21.28 million annually, with a player option for the 2011 season.
Ordonez, 35, hit .334 with 25 home runs and 101 RBI with the Kansas City Royals.

Astros acquire ace
HOUSTON — Brandon Webb is expected to be the Opening Day starter for the Astros in 2009. Webb, 29, signed a three-year, $54.34 million deal with Houston this winter after seven years in the American League with the Orioles (2002-2005) and Rangers (2006-2008).
Webb was 16-13 with a 3.78 ERA in 36 starts for Texas last year and owns a career record of 98-66 with a 3.78 ERA in 224 starts.

Mets bring in left-hander Buehrle
FLUSHING, N.Y. — Mark Buehrle's win-loss record wasn't spectacular with the St. Louis Cardinals last year, but the lefty pitched well and was rewarded with a four-year, $66.63 million deal with the Mets.
Buehrle went 12-13 with a 3.22 ERA in 36 starts with St. Louis last year.

Embree closes deal with Florida
MIAMI — The Marlins have brought in 39-year-old left-hander Alan Embree to be their closer. Embree signed a two-year deal worth $12.55 million annually.
Embree has never worked as a closer before, earning only 16 saves in his 15-year-career. He went 6-3 with five saves and a 2.25 ERA in 62 appearances last season with the NL champion Dodgers.

Brewers pleased with additions
MILWUAKEE — Wes Helms will take over at third base and Carl Pavano will slide into the #2 spot in the rotation for the Brewers in 2009.
Helms hit .303 with nine home runs and 47 RBI in 109 games with the Chicago White Sox in 2008, earning him a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the BrewCrew. He will play third base and bat second.
Pavano battled through a few nagging injuries last year with the Cubs and Phillies, but managed to go 14-8 with a 3.99 ERA in 32 starts. He was 10-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 21 starts with the Cubs. Pavano signed a bargain deal for the Brewers, one year at $1.48 million.

Young brings experience to Twins
MINNEAPOLIS — Michael Young earned his second World Series ring with the Devil Rays this past fall, and he hopes to earn a third with the Minnesota Twins after signing a three-year deal worth $54.68 million.
Young hit .291 with 11 homers, 67 RBI and 99 runs scored in 151 games last year.

Helton changes his (pin)stripes
NEW YORK — After spending his entire 12-year-career with the Rockies, Todd Helton will be wearing a Yankees uniform the next couple years.
Helton, 35, signed a two-year deal worth more than $39 million with a $22.18 million player option for the 2011 season. He hit .301 with 17 home runs, 59 RBI, and 80 runs in 121 games with Colorado in 2008, and is a career .333 hitter with 440 home runs and 2,201 hits.

Many players changing teams
OAKLAND — The A's have brought in Nick Johnson (.277, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 256 AB w/White Sox), Derrek Lee (.296, 16 HR, 89 RBI w/Detroit) and Mark Grudzielanek (.282, 3 HR, 48 RBI, 319 AB w/Tampa Bay) to their lineup for 2009, while also bringing in Andy Pettitte to head the rotation.
Pettitte, 36, went 10-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 33 starts last year, following up an 18-10 record in 2007. Pettitte will earn $7.19 million annually through 2010.

Cardinals take gamble on Peavy
ST. LOUIS — Jake Peavy made only five starts for the Houston Astros in 2008 due to an elbow injury, but the Cardinals took a risk and signed the 27-year-old to a five-year deal worth $20.88 million annually. In eight years with Houston, Peavy went 71-63 with a 3.67 ERA in 182 starts. In 2007, he was 15-11 with a 3.36 ERA in 36 starts.