Baseball Notes: Biggest names still unsigned
As teams headed home Thursday from the winter meetings in Nashville, the biggest free agents were still on the market.
As teams headed home Thursday from the winter meetings in Nashville, the biggest free agents were still on the market.
The availability of slugger Josh Hamilton and pitcher Zack Greinke held up decisions on other signings and possible trades involving Rangers star Michael Young and the Mets' Cy Young Award winner, R.A. Dickey.
The Yankees, quiet thus far, were pursuing former Boston star Kevin Youkilis and also met with the agent for Mark Reynolds.
Hamilton could remain with Texas, and Seattle seemed to be interested. Greinke's options include staying with the Los Angeles Angels, moving up the coast to the Dodgers, or signing with the Rangers.
Atlanta announced a one-year deal with outfielder Reed Johnson, and Texas said reliever Koji Uehara had reached an agreement with Boston.
As the meetings ended, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made a $12 million offer to Youkilis, who would play third base while Alex Rodriguez recovers from hip surgery.
Schierholtz to Cubs. Outfielder Nate Schierholtz and the Chicago Cubs were reported to be closing in on a one-year, $2.25 million contract. Schierholtz could earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses.
"I'm so excited for the opportunity to play in Chicago," Schierholtz said in a text message to the Associated Press.
Schierholtz was traded from San Francisco to the Phillies last season in the deal that sent Hunter Pence to the Giants at the July 31 non-waiver deadline. He batted .257 with six homers in 114 games overall this year and is a .270 career hitter in six seasons.
The Phillies declined to tender Schierholtz a 2013 contract offer before last Friday's deadline, making him a free agent.
Larsen uniform. The uniform Don Larsen was wearing when he pitched the only perfect game in World Series history sold for $756,000.
The former New York Yankees righthander achieved perfection in Game 5 of the 1956 Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The pinstriped uniform with No. 18 on the back received 22 bids in an online auction on Steinersports.com. The winning bidder was Pete Siegel, CEO of GottaHaveIt.com. His company has been building a collection of Yankees memorabilia that it plans to put on display.