Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! If you're off, enjoy it. If you're not, make it better by enjoying the TON of rumors, trades, signings, and news we covered in Week 2 of 2012.
Lots going on this past week -- quite a few teams and players working to avoid arbitration, a MAJOR trade between the Yankees and Mariners, and a number of dust-settling moves that continue to shape the market and what will eventually be the 2012 season. We'll start with the oldest first:
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Chicago Cubs, Paul Maholm Sign 1-Year, $4.75M Deal - MLB Daily Dish
The Chicago Cubs have signed Paul Maholm to a 1-year, $4.35 million deal, according to Bruce Levine via twitter, confirming earlier rumors (and Maholm's own twitter account from last night). Pat Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune suggests that the move could give the Cubs flexibility to move Matt Garza: -
Baltimore Orioles Sign Chen Wei-Yen, DFA Kyle Hudson, Sign Willie Eyre - MLB Daily Dish
The Chen Wei-Yin signing is now official, according to Britt Ghiroli. Chen is signing a three-year deal with a club option for 2015, and Dan Connolly says it should come in under $12 million total. Kyle Hudson was DFA'd to make room on the 40-man.
- Mets Sign Miguel Batista, Fernando Cabrera, Sean Kazmar - MLB Daily Dish
The New York Mets have re-signed Miguel Batista and Fernando Cabrera to minor league contracts, as well as Sean Kazmar according to Andy Martino, Anthony DiComo, and Adam Rubin. - Mariners Sign Aaron Heilman - MLB Daily Dish
According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, the Mariners have signed RHP Aaron Heilman to a minor-league deal, with an invite to Spring Training. Heilman, 32, signed with the Diamondbacks a year ago, and when they released him, he went and signed with the Phillies. They soon released him, so he signed with a third organization -- the Pirates. - Astros Claim Fernando Martinez from Mets - MLB Daily Dish
Fernando Martinez has been claimed by the Houston Astros after being put on waivers following the Mets' addition of Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno, according to Adam Rubin and Enrique Rojas. - Chicago Cubs, Kerry Wood Nearing One-Year Deal - MLB Daily Dish
Following yesterday's report that the Chicago Cubs have offered Kerry Wood a "substantial raise" comes word from Jon Paul Morosi via twitter that they're close to a one-year deal which includes a 2013 option. - Red Sox Acquire Brad Emaus From Rockies For Future Considerations - MLB Daily Dish
The Colorado Rockies have traded minor league second baseman Brad Emaus to the Boston Red Sox for future considerations, the Rockies announced via Twitter. The future considerations will be either cash considerations or a player to be named later. - Cleveland Indians Sign RHP Chris Ray - MLB Daily Dish
The Cleveland Indians have signed right-handed reliever Chris Ray to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Paul Hoynes and Jerry Crasnick are confirming the deal. - New York Yankees Agree To Terms With Cory Wade - MLB Daily Dish
The New York Yankees have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Cory Wade, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi reports it's a non-guaranteed deal worth roughly $500K if Wade spends the entire season at the majors. - Milwaukee Brewers, Manny Parra Agree To One-Year Deal - MLB Daily Dish
The Milwaukee Brewers and arbitration-eligible left-handed pitcher Manny Parra have agreed to a one-year deal, the club announced via Twitter. Parra's representatives, CAA Sports, announced the southpaw will bring home $1.2 million in 2012 - the same salary he earned last year. - New York Yankees Complete Organizational Chart - MLB Daily Dish
We're excited to present you something that's been in development (and continuing development) for quite a while. It's a complete organizational chart, from the upstairs offices all the way down to the last open bench spot in Single A, and it includes salary, arbitration, and option details in a single handy chart you can't get anywhere else. - Phillies Sign Kyle Kendrick to $3.6 Million Contract, Avoid Arbitration - MLB Daily Dish
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-handed reliever Kyle Kendrick to a $3.585 million contract, according to Jon Paul Morosi via Twitter. - Atlanta Braves To Sign Jack Wilson - MLB Daily Dish
The Atlanta Braves and free agent shortstop Jack Wilson have agreed to one-year Major League contract, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Wilson will receive a $1 million base salary and there are incentives worth an additional $500K that could bump the overall payout to $1.5 million, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. - Yankees Trade Jesus Montero to Mariners For Michael Pineda - MLB Daily Dish
The New York Yankees have traded catcher/designated hitter Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for right-handed starting pitcher Michael Pineda, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. - Yankees Sign Hiroki Kuroda - MLB Daily Dish
The New York Yankees have come to terms on a one-year deal with starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. Curry reports the deal is worth between $10-$11 million - a few million less than what Kuroda had been seeking for, and certainly less years. - Atlanta Braves, Martin Prado Agree To One-Year Deal - MLB Daily Dish
While Martin Prado's future in Atlanta remains uncertain, the Atlanta Braves and the 28-year-old reached an agreement on a one-year deal to avoid salary arbitration, the club announced via Twitter. - Royals, Kevin Kouzmanoff Agree to Minor League Deal - MLB Daily Dish
The Kansas City Royals have signed Kevin Kouzmanoff to a one-year, minor league deal according to Jerry Crasnick via twitter. Crasnick also reports that Kouzmanoff could make up to $1.3 million if he makes the club and reaches incentives, and he has an opt out provision in case he isn't called up before May 1st -- suggesting the Royals are signing him in case their high hopes for Mike Moustakas at third base don't work out. - Red Sox, Ryan Sweeney Avoid Arbitration - MLB Daily Dish
The Boston Red Sox have signed Ryan Sweeney to a one-year, $1.75 million contract and avoid arbitration according to the Associated Press via the Boston Herald. This was the second time Sweeney was eligible for arbitration. - Bartolo Colon Signs With Oakland Athletics - MLB Daily Dish
Colon has agreed to a one-year MLB deal with the Oakland Athletics, reports Jayson Stark of ESPN. - Washington Nationals, Gio Gonzalez Agree To Contract Extension - MLB Daily Dish
After giving up several of the team's top prospects in a trade for Gio Gonzalez less than one month ago, the Washington Nationals and the southpaw have agreed to terms on a contract extension to avoid salary arbitration through 2016, and hold options for 2017 and 2018, the club announced via Twitter. - Minnesota Twins Sign Joel Zumaya - MLB Daily Dish
Free-agent reliever Joel Zumaya and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms on a contract, Zumaya tells MLB.com's Jason Beck. Beck reports the deal could pay him up to $1.7 million if he reaches all the performance bonuses; it's likely a one-year deal as well. - Toronto Blue Jays, Colby Rasmus Agree To One-Year Deal - MLB Daily Dish
The Toronto Blue Jays and outfielder Colby Rasmus have agreed to a one-year deal for 2012, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Rasmus, who was arbitration eligible for the first time, will earn $2.7 million in 2012. By reaching an agreement, the two sides have avoided salary arbitration.