Blue Jays ink Tomo Ohka, Jared Goedert to minor-league deals

Japanese pitcher trying to make return to majors as knuckleballer

The Canadian Press Posted: Dec 16, 2013 7:32 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 17, 2013 9:32 AM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Japanese pitcher Tomo Ohka and infielder Jared Goedert to minor-league contracts.

Both have been invited to attend the Jays' spring training camp.

Ohka, 37, is trying to make a return to the major leagues as a knuckleballer. At camp with Toronto, he will be able to compare notes with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

He made 10 starts for the Blue Jays in 2007 in a 10-year major-league career that includes stints with Montreal, Boston, Washington, Milwaukee and Cleveland.

Ohka's career record from 1999 to 2009 is 51-68 with a 4.26 ERA. He has pitched in Japan since 2010.

Goedert, 28, spent last season for the Pirates Class-AAA affiliate in Indianapolis where he hit .241 with 32 doubles, 11 home runs and 62 RBI in 130 games. He primarily played third base.

In eight minor league seasons, Goedert has a .271 average with 113 home runs and 482 RBI in 825 games.

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MLB agrees to Japanese bid system

Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball have finalized a new posting system that caps the fee for players at $20 million US, a deal that may lead to star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka going on the market.

Under the rules of the three-year agreement announced Monday, a Japanese club may make players available between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1 and may set a price of up to $20 million.

Starting with the day after a player is posted and continuing for 30 days, any big league team willing to pay the fee may attempt to sign the player. A major league team pays the posting fee only if it signs the player, and the fee is then payable in installments, with the timing dependent on the amount.

Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka wants to move to Major League Baseball next season but his Japanese team doesn't want to let him go.
 
MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball have finalized a new posting system that caps the fee for players at $20 million US, much less than what Japanese teams previously got for players like pitchers Yu Darvish and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
 
"I informed my team that I would like them to allow me to test my abilities in Major League Baseball next season," Tanaka said at a news conference on Tuesday after a meeting with Rakuten Eagles president Yozo Tachibana.
 
Tanaka, who went 24-0 with a 1.27 earned-run average with the Eagles during the regular season, is not eligible for free agency and can move to MLB only if the Eagles agree to post him.
 
The Eagles rejected terms of the new posting system in a vote by Japan's 12 teams on Monday, and say they want to re-sign Tanaka for next season.

— The Associated Press

A player who is not signed may not be posted again until the following Nov. 1.

Tanaka, a 25-year-old right-hander, went a 24-0 with a 1.27 earned-run average during the regular season for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League. Eagles president Yozo Tachibana said at the winter meetings last week that no decision had been made whether to post the player.

Under the previous agreement, which began in December 1998 and ran through last off-season, there was no cap on bidding and only the big league team with the highest bid could negotiate with the player.

More than a dozen Japanese players have moved to the majors under that deal before the nine years of service time they would have needed to become a free agent in their home country.

Boston obtained pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka from the Seibu Lions before the 2007 season for $51,111,111.11, and agreed to a $52 million, six-year contract. Texas got pitcher Yu Darvish from the

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters before the 2012 season for $51,703,411 and gave him a $56 million, six-year deal. Darvish finished second in this year's American League Cy Young Award voting.

After the initial three years, the new agreement will continue on a one-year basis unless either side gives notice to terminate 180 days before it is scheduled to renew.

While Japanese teams were not happy with the cap on prices, some major league teams had objected that only the richest clubs could afford to bid on top players.

"We are pleased to have amicably reached an agreement that addresses various issues raised by all parties," said Rob Manfred, MLB's chief operating officer.

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Indians sign Canadian closer John Axford

Deal with former Brewers stopper is pending a physical

The Associated Press Posted: Dec 16, 2013 10:07 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 16, 2013 10:07 AM ET

Canadian closer John Axford has reached agreement on a contract with the Indians, pending a physical.

Axford, a resident of Ancaster Ont., could replace Chris Perez, who was released on Oct. 31 following a turbulent season with the club.

The 30-year-old Axford, who finished last season in St. Louis, is expected to undergo medical exams in the next few days and as long as there are no issues, he'll close for the Indians in 2014.

After releasing Perez, the Indians said they would consider using relievers Bryan Shaw or Cody Allen in that role, but decided to pursue a veteran and showed interest in Axford and Joaquin Benoit.

Axford lost his closer's job with Milwaukee after blowing six saves and was traded to the Cardinals in August. He blew seven saves last season.

The six-foot-five right-hander had 46 saves for the Brewers in 2011.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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Reds' Joey Votto is Canada's top baseball player for 2013

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is the winner of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Tip O'Neill Award for the fourth consecutive year.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame award is given to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals.

The Toronto-born Votto, a starter at the 2013 all-star game, played all 162 regular-season games this past season, posting a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, 73 runs batted in and a National League-leading .435 on-base percentage. He also led the league in plate appearances (726), games played at first base (161) and assists by a first baseman (154).

Votto, 30, finished sixth in NL MVP voting after setting Canadian single-season records for walks (135) and times on base (316).

He is the first player to win the Tip O'Neill Award four consecutive times and only the second to win it more than three times, joining one-time Montreal Expos outfielder Larry Walker of Maple Ridge, B.C., who was a nine-time recipient.

"It is very flattering to be mentioned in any discussion that includes Larry Walker, who represented our country with such dedication and professionalism during his major league career," Votto said in a statement released by the Canadian Baseball Hall.

"I have to thank the Baseball Hall of Fame for its efforts in promoting our great game in Canada."

Votto will receive the award during a pre-game ceremony early next season.

Also considered for the Tip O'Neill honour this year were fellow major leaguers Brett Lawrie (Toronto), relief pitchers Jesse Crain (Tampa Bay), Jim Henderson (Milwaukee) and John Axford (free agent), first baseman Justin Morneau (Colorado) and starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.). Canadian women's team MVP Stephanie Savoie also garnered significant support in the fan voting.

The award is named after James (Tip) O'Neill. The Woodstock, Ont., native set several major league records with the St. Louis Browns in 1887.

"Joey Votto is not only a superstar on the field, but he's also an inspiration and a difference-maker away from the ballpark," Scott Crawford, director of operations at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, said in a statement. "There was a very strong field of candidates this year, but Joey deserves this honour for his tremendous contributions both on and off the field."

Among the criteria for the Tip O'Neill Award is community and charitable endeavours. Recently, Votto launched the Joey Votto Foundation, which will help military veterans and active service members in Cincinnati and Toronto deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Votto's goal is to offer care to about 500 new patients each year.

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Reds' Joey Votto is Canada's top baseball player for 2013

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is the winner of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Tip O'Neill Award for the fourth consecutive year.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame award is given to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals.

The Toronto-born Votto, a starter at the 2013 all-star game, played all 162 regular-season games this past season, posting a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, 73 runs batted in and a National League-leading .435 on-base percentage. He also led the league in plate appearances (726), games played at first base (161) and assists by a first baseman (154).

Votto, 30, finished sixth in NL MVP voting after setting Canadian single-season records for walks (135) and times on base (316).

He is the first player to win the Tip O'Neill Award four consecutive times and only the second to win it more than three times, joining one-time Montreal Expos outfielder Larry Walker of Maple Ridge, B.C., who was a nine-time recipient.

"It is very flattering to be mentioned in any discussion that includes Larry Walker, who represented our country with such dedication and professionalism during his major league career," Votto said in a statement released by the Canadian Baseball Hall.

"I have to thank the Baseball Hall of Fame for its efforts in promoting our great game in Canada."

Votto will receive the award during a pre-game ceremony early next season.

Also considered for the Tip O'Neill honour this year were fellow major leaguers Brett Lawrie (Toronto), relief pitchers Jesse Crain (Tampa Bay), Jim Henderson (Milwaukee) and John Axford (free agent), first baseman Justin Morneau (Colorado) and starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.). Canadian women's team MVP Stephanie Savoie also garnered significant support in the fan voting.

The award is named after James (Tip) O'Neill. The Woodstock, Ont., native set several major league records with the St. Louis Browns in 1887.

"Joey Votto is not only a superstar on the field, but he's also an inspiration and a difference-maker away from the ballpark," Scott Crawford, director of operations at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, said in a statement. "There was a very strong field of candidates this year, but Joey deserves this honour for his tremendous contributions both on and off the field."

Among the criteria for the Tip O'Neill Award is community and charitable endeavours. Recently, Votto launched the Joey Votto Foundation, which will help military veterans and active service members in Cincinnati and Toronto deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Votto's goal is to offer care to about 500 new patients each year.

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Canadian Justin Morneau signs deal with Rockies: MLB moves

The Colorado Rockies signed first baseman Justin Morneau to a two-year, $12.5 million deal Friday.

He will step in for Todd Helton, who retired at the end of the season. The Rockies were contemplating moving Michael Cuddyer from right field over to first base before the deal with Morneau.

Like Helton, Morneau is a smooth-fielding first baseman. Since 2003, his fielding percentage (.996) is second to only Helton (.997).

Over his 11-year career, Morneau is a .277 hitter. He was the 2006 American League MVP while a member of the Minnesota Twins, hitting .321 that season with 34 homers and 130 RBIs.

The 32-year-old Morneau, from New Westminster, B.C., is a four-time all-star.

Hart, Morrison officially with Seattle

If they are healthy, the Seattle Mariners believe they may have lured Corey Hart at a bargain rate and given up little to get Logan Morrison.

Health will be the biggest question for both. On Friday, after the Mariners finalized their one-year deal with Hart and the trade with Miami to acquire Morrison, they both said they were ready for a full season after knee troubles in the past.

Seattle capped a hectic two days of activity after both players passed physicals on Friday. Morrison was acquired for right-handed reliever Carter Capps from the Marlins, while Hart signed an incentive-laden $6 million, one-year deal that could be worth up to $10.65 million if he's healthy and has 650 plate appearances.

The moves came a day after Seattle's big splash when it completed the $240 million, 10-year deal with free agent second baseman Robinson Cano.

Royals near agreement with Infante

A person close to the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the Kansas City Royals and second baseman Omar Infante are nearing an agreement on a four-year contract.

The person spoke Friday night on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized. Fox Sports first reported the two sides were close to an agreement.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore has said throughout the off-season that upgrading at second base was a priority. Kansas City used six players at the position this past season, though none did enough to make the Royals feel comfortable moving forward.

The 31-year-old Infante would stabilize second base in Kansas City for the first time in years. He hit .318 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs in 118 games for Detroit last season.

Pirates ink Volquez, Barmes 

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-hander pitcher Edinson Volquez and infielder Clint Barmes to one-year deals.

The team made the announcement on Friday.

The 30-year-old Volquez went 9-12 with a 5.71 ERA in 2013 while splitting time with the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made the All-Star team in 2008 when he went 17-6 for Cincinnati.

Barmes hit .211 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 108 games for Pittsburgh last season. The 34-year-old veteran is a career .246 hitter over 11 seasons in the majors.

To make room on the roster, the Pirates designated right-hander Ryan Reid and outfielder Jerry Sands for assignment.

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Reds' Joey Votto is Canada's top baseball player for 2013

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is the winner of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Tip O'Neill Award for the fourth consecutive year.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame award is given to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals.

The Toronto-born Votto, a starter at the 2013 all-star game, played all 162 regular-season games this past season, posting a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, 73 runs batted in and a National League-leading .435 on-base percentage. He also led the league in plate appearances (726), games played at first base (161) and assists by a first baseman (154).

Votto, 30, finished sixth in NL MVP voting after setting Canadian single-season records for walks (135) and times on base (316).

He is the first player to win the Tip O'Neill Award four consecutive times and only the second to win it more than three times, joining one-time Montreal Expos outfielder Larry Walker of Maple Ridge, B.C., who was a nine-time recipient.

"It is very flattering to be mentioned in any discussion that includes Larry Walker, who represented our country with such dedication and professionalism during his major league career," Votto said in a statement released by the Canadian Baseball Hall.

"I have to thank the Baseball Hall of Fame for its efforts in promoting our great game in Canada."

Votto will receive the award during a pre-game ceremony early next season.

Also considered for the Tip O'Neill honour this year were fellow major leaguers Brett Lawrie (Toronto), relief pitchers Jesse Crain (Tampa Bay), Jim Henderson (Milwaukee) and John Axford (free agent), first baseman Justin Morneau (Colorado) and starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.). Canadian women's team MVP Stephanie Savoie also garnered significant support in the fan voting.

The award is named after James (Tip) O'Neill. The Woodstock, Ont., native set several major league records with the St. Louis Browns in 1887.

"Joey Votto is not only a superstar on the field, but he's also an inspiration and a difference-maker away from the ballpark," Scott Crawford, director of operations at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, said in a statement. "There was a very strong field of candidates this year, but Joey deserves this honour for his tremendous contributions both on and off the field."

Among the criteria for the Tip O'Neill Award is community and charitable endeavours. Recently, Votto launched the Joey Votto Foundation, which will help military veterans and active service members in Cincinnati and Toronto deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Votto's goal is to offer care to about 500 new patients each year.

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Canadian Justin Morneau signs deal with Rockies: MLB moves

The Colorado Rockies signed first baseman Justin Morneau to a two-year, $12.5 million deal Friday.

He will step in for Todd Helton, who retired at the end of the season. The Rockies were contemplating moving Michael Cuddyer from right field over to first base before the deal with Morneau.

Like Helton, Morneau is a smooth-fielding first baseman. Since 2003, his fielding percentage (.996) is second to only Helton (.997).

Over his 11-year career, Morneau is a .277 hitter. He was the 2006 American League MVP while a member of the Minnesota Twins, hitting .321 that season with 34 homers and 130 RBIs.

The 32-year-old Morneau, from New Westminster, B.C., is a four-time all-star.

Hart, Morrison officially with Seattle

If they are healthy, the Seattle Mariners believe they may have lured Corey Hart at a bargain rate and given up little to get Logan Morrison.

Health will be the biggest question for both. On Friday, after the Mariners finalized their one-year deal with Hart and the trade with Miami to acquire Morrison, they both said they were ready for a full season after knee troubles in the past.

Seattle capped a hectic two days of activity after both players passed physicals on Friday. Morrison was acquired for right-handed reliever Carter Capps from the Marlins, while Hart signed an incentive-laden $6 million, one-year deal that could be worth up to $10.65 million if he's healthy and has 650 plate appearances.

The moves came a day after Seattle's big splash when it completed the $240 million, 10-year deal with free agent second baseman Robinson Cano.

Royals near agreement with Infante

A person close to the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the Kansas City Royals and second baseman Omar Infante are nearing an agreement on a four-year contract.

The person spoke Friday night on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized. Fox Sports first reported the two sides were close to an agreement.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore has said throughout the off-season that upgrading at second base was a priority. Kansas City used six players at the position this past season, though none did enough to make the Royals feel comfortable moving forward.

The 31-year-old Infante would stabilize second base in Kansas City for the first time in years. He hit .318 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs in 118 games for Detroit last season.

Pirates ink Volquez, Barmes 

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-hander pitcher Edinson Volquez and infielder Clint Barmes to one-year deals.

The team made the announcement on Friday.

The 30-year-old Volquez went 9-12 with a 5.71 ERA in 2013 while splitting time with the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made the All-Star team in 2008 when he went 17-6 for Cincinnati.

Barmes hit .211 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 108 games for Pittsburgh last season. The 34-year-old veteran is a career .246 hitter over 11 seasons in the majors.

To make room on the roster, the Pirates designated right-hander Ryan Reid and outfielder Jerry Sands for assignment.

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New baseball stadium could lure back Expos, study shows

The dream of seeing the Expos — or another Major League Baseball team — back in Montreal could be a reality, according to a study released today, but it would take $1.25 billion dollars from government and private investors.

The feasibility study — produced by the Montreal Baseball Project in collaboration with Ernst & Young and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal — concluded the new team would require about $355 million in government funding, with the rest coming from a private investor.

"We are looking for a power hitter, a hitter who can clear the bases," said former Expos Warren Cromartie, who the founded the Montreal Baseball Project in 2012.

The $400,000 feasibility study was a follow-up to a survey of 1,589 Quebecers, which found that 69 per cent wanted Major League Baseball back in the city. Of 392 business owners surveyed, 81 per cent said they supported the project.

Warren Cromartie and Michel Leblanc say they believe the financial and political climate has significantly changed since the Expos left Montreal nine years ago. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press )

"The numbers do not lie. We are now closer to a return of baseball in Montreal than we have been in a decade," said Cromartie.

The study estimates that the government would recover its investment in eight years and would return more than $1 billion over the following 22 years, mostly from sales tax as well as income tax paid by players.

Michel Lablanc, the CEO and President of the Montreal Board of Trade, said he believes the financial and political climate has significantly changed since the Expos left Montreal nine years ago.

"I have the impression that even in the political realm this project is seen as a very mobilizing project for Montrealers and Quebecers," Leblanc said.

The study concludes that bringing Major League Baseball back to Montreal would require the construction of a new stadium, no farther than two kilometres from downtown, with a capacity of 36,000 seats. 

Of the $1.25 billion investment, $500 million would go toward the construction of this new stadium, as the Baseball Project says the Olympic Stadium is not in an ideal location to attract fans.

The remaining $525 million dollars would go towards buying a team, which the Baseball Project says would be purchased from an existing franchise rather than creating one from scratch.

The committee also says it is important that the team be a member of the American League — as opposed to the Expo's previous National League — because it would allow competition with nearby rivals including the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Montreal Expos moved to Washington D.C. in 2004 and changed their name to the Nationals. 

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Reds' Joey Votto is Canada's top baseball player for 2013

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is the winner of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Tip O'Neill Award for the fourth consecutive year.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame award is given to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals.

The Toronto-born Votto, a starter at the 2013 all-star game, played all 162 regular-season games this past season, posting a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, 73 runs batted in and a National League-leading .435 on-base percentage. He also led the league in plate appearances (726), games played at first base (161) and assists by a first baseman (154).

Votto, 30, finished sixth in NL MVP voting after setting Canadian single-season records for walks (135) and times on base (316).

He is the first player to win the Tip O'Neill Award four consecutive times and only the second to win it more than three times, joining one-time Montreal Expos outfielder Larry Walker of Maple Ridge, B.C., who was a nine-time recipient.

"It is very flattering to be mentioned in any discussion that includes Larry Walker, who represented our country with such dedication and professionalism during his major league career," Votto said in a statement released by the Canadian Baseball Hall.

"I have to thank the Baseball Hall of Fame for its efforts in promoting our great game in Canada."

Also considered for the Tip O'Neill honour this year were fellow major leaguers Brett Lawrie (Toronto), relief pitchers Jesse Crain (Tampa Bay), Jim Henderson (Milwaukee) and John Axford (free agent), first baseman Justin Morneau (Colorado) and starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.). Canadian women's team MVP Stephanie Savoie also garnered significant support in the fan voting.

"Joey Votto is not only a superstar on the field, but he's also an inspiration and a difference-maker away from the ballpark," Scott Crawford, director of operations at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, said in a statement. "There was a very strong field of candidates this year, but Joey deserves this honour for his tremendous contributions both on and off the field."

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