January 20, 2009

Papelbon, Lopez Avoid Arb; Pauley, Aardsma Traded

Update: Boston has traded David Aardsma to Seattle for minor league lefty Fabian Williamson.

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Jonathan Papelbon and Javier Lopez both signed one-year contracts today, avoiding arbitration hearings.

Bot's deal is for $6.25 million -- a record for an arbitration-eligible relief pitcher. Lopez signed for $1.35.

The Red Sox traded David Pauley, DFA'd when John Smoltz was added to the roster, to Baltimore for 24-year-old right-handed reliever Randor Bierd. In his first season in the majors, Bierd had a 4.91 ERA in 29 appearances, striking out 25 and walking 19 in 36.2 innings.

Catchers Market: The Angels signed Mike Napoli for $2 million, the Orioles grabbed Gregg Zaun for $1.5, and Ivan Rodriguez would like $3, but there's not much interest. Sean McAdam writes that Jason Varitek's value may not be as low as Zaun's, but "it isn't substantially higher, either".

9 comments:

allan said...

NOTE:

Would 9casey, Patrick, Phil and Nick please send me an email?

Benjamin said...

Ruh roh. :)

allan said...

All I need is your email addresses!

Patrick said...

I shudder to think of how Pappelbon will be spending his money. That guy is INSANE!

andy said...

Ha ha ha. Tek coulda had 10 mil right?

tim said...

Fabian Williamson...average stats thus far...2+ walks per game though...

nick said...

what do these four people have in common? NPPN, the new ABBA. It's like Japan without the vowels..like if they spelled it Nippon in the Torah.

FenFan said...

I shudder to think of how Pappelbon will be spending his money. That guy is INSANE!

He should be able to build one hell of a duck blind down in Mississippi.

Benjamin said...

For $6.25m, he can pay the ducks to shoot themselves.