This week’s transaction review is going to be quite long, because of the number of major trades that were made. So let’s get started. 

CHRIS COSTE SIGNS WITH THE METS: The Mets signed catcher and first baseman Chris Coste for a one year contract. Chris Coste is coming off a rough 2009, in which he batted .224 with 2 homers and 18 RBIs with the Astros. He will help replace Brian Schneider, who signed with the Phillies earlier this week (SEE BELOW). Coste will provide some experience as a backup catcher (to Omir Santos) and backup first baseman (to Daniel Murphy), but you would have expected the Mets to have gone after Bengie Molina or Ivan Rodriguez instead, both who had better seasons than Coste. The Mets certainly have the money to sign a higher quality catcher than Coste.

BRIAN SCHNEIDER SIGNS WITH THE PHILLIES: The Phillies signed catcher Brian Schneider to a two year contract. The 33 year old hit .218 with 3 homers and 18 RBIs in 59 games with the Mets last season. He will serve as Carlos Ruiz’s understudy, but again, you would have expected the Phillies to sign a higher quality catcher with the money they have.

RAYS TRADE PLAYER TO BE NAMED LATER TO THE INDIANS FOR KELLY SHOPPACH: The Rays were in search of a backstop ever since they declined their option on Gregg Zaun, and Shoppach might be a good replacement. In 2009 he could only manage .214 with 12 homers, but he has talent, as he proved in 2008 with 21 homers and a .517 slugging percentage. He might even getting the starting catcher’s position, as Dioner Navarro turned in a disappointing 2009, hitting .218 with 8 homers and 32 RBIs. Shoppach is only 29, so he has plenty of years ahead of him to improve. The Indians will probably give the catching job to prospect Lou Marson until massive prospect Carlos Santana is ready for the majors.

BILLY WAGNER SIGNS WITH THE BRAVES: The Braves signed closer Billy Wagner to a one year deal. The 38 year old will help bolster Atlanta’s bullpen since they just lost Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano to the free agent market. Wagner was brilliant after returning from Tommy John Surgery in 2009, posting a 1.72 ERA over 15.2 innings with the Red Sox and Mets. Though he’s always an injury risk, it is smart of the Braves to sign him.

PLACIDO POLANCO SIGNS WITH THE PHILLIES: The Phillies signed Placido Polanco to a 3 year, 18 million dollar contract. The ex-Tiger second baseman will move to third base with the Phillies. Polanco played with the Phillies from 2002-2005, and is replacing Pedro Feliz to make the Phillies lineup even more dangerous. In 2009, Polanco hit .285 after smoking .341 in 2008. The 34 year old will probably bat second in the lineup, and he makes the Phillies lineup arguably the best in baseball.    

TAKASHI SAITO SIGNS WITH THE BRAVES: The Braves signed relief pitcher Takashi Saito to a one year, 3 million dollar contract. In another attempt to make up for the loss of Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano, Saito will serve as set up man to Billy Wagner. He should do pretty well; the 39 year old posted a 2.43 ERA in 56 appearances for Boston in 2009. He will help bolster the Brave’s bullpen. 

HENRY BLANCO SIGNS WITH THE METS: An odd move by the Mets: they already signed veteran Chris Coste, and now they have gone and signed 38 year old Henry Blanco, who will probably be a backup catcher as well. It is a mystery to us all why the Mets feel the need for so many catchers, especially such low quality ones; Henry Blanco eke out .235 in 2009, with 6 homers and 16 RBIs with the Padres. And rumor has it that the Mets are still on the lookout for a more productive catcher. Only the New York Mets…

ATHLETICS TRADE JEFF GRAY, MATT SPENCER, AND RONNY MORLA TO THE CUBS FOR JAKE FOX AND AARON MILES: The main cog of this trade is Fox, who hit .257 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 216 at bats in 2009. The versatile 27 year old provides pop to the weak Athletics lineup, and will challenge Eric Chavez and Jack Chavez for at bats. Aaron Miles could only manage .185 over 157 at bats with the Cubs in 2009 and will probably serve as a backup infielder to second baseman Mark Ellis and shortstop Cliff Pennington. Matt Spencer is a good prospect who will provide some much needed power to the Cubs lineup when called up. Last season in the minors, he belted 19 homers with 91 RBIs. Jeff Gray, who managed a 3.76 ERA over 26.2 innings in 2009 will likely work in the Cubs bullpen. Eduardo Morla is a virtually unheard of 21-year old, who went 1-7 with a 4.86 ERA over 63 innings in the low minors last season. Seems like a pretty even but unimportant trade, as no truly talented prospects were traded.

MARCO SCUTARO SIGNS WITH THE RED SOX: The Red Sox signed shortstop Marco Scutaro to a two year contract. The 34 year old impressed in 2009, hitting .282 with 12 homers and 60 RBIs. He was the best shortstop on the market, and could prove to be the end of the Russian Roulette the Sox plays with its shortstops. He is above average both offensively and defensively, and a Red Sox fan will be quite happy with this move by Boston.

CHONE FIGGINS SIGNS WITH THE MARINERS: Third baseman Chone Figgins signed with the Mariners. Since Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre is unlikely to return, this is a clever move by the Mariners. The 31 year old Figgins hit .298 last season with 5 homers, 54 RBIs, and 52 stolen bases. Figgins is a suitable replacement for Beltre, and though he won’t provide the same kind of power, the Mariners will be salivating at the idea of him and Ichiro Suzuki causing nightmares for opposing pitchers and catchers on the basepaths. Great move by Seattle.

GREG ZAUN SIGNS WITH THE BREWERS: The Brewers signed catcher Greg Zaun to a one year contract. The 38 year old, who hit .260 with 8 homers and 27 RBIs in 90 games for Baltimore and Tampa Bay, will serve as a suitable backup catcher and a veteran mentor to young backstops Mike Rivera, Angel Salome, and George Kottaras.  

And that will wrap up this week’s trade review! There was a lot of player movement around baseball this week, and there will be a lot more as the off season progresses, and Yankeeholics will cover every inch of it. Join us next Sunday for another Transaction Review! 

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