Despite all the speculation that Cole Hamels would bolt for free agency, or that the Philadelphia Phillies would not be able to afford him, the two sides agreed to a six-year contract extension for $144 million, according to what major-league sources have reported to Ken Rosenthal. The Phillies are expected to make the official announcement later today. Rosenthal adds that the deal is the second largest ever awarded to a starting pitcher, trailing only the seven-year, $161 [...]

The Houston Astros traded closer Brett Myers to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal via Twitter. Houston announced that they will receive right-hander Matt Heidenreich, left-hander Blair Walters, and a player to be named later for the pitcher.  The Astros will also send cash to Chicago, according to the White Sox. The 31-year-old Myers is 0-4 with a 3.52 ERA in 35 appearances this season. He has converted 19 of 21 save [...]

The Astros and Blue Jays completed a 10-player trade on Friday, with Houston getting seven players and sending three pitchers including Brandon Lyon to Toronto. The Blue Jays received left-hander J.A. Happ and right-handers Brandon Lyon and David Carpenter. The Astros acquired two Major League players — reliever Francisco Cordero and outfielder Ben Francisco — as well as four Minor Leaguers: right-handers Asher Wojciechowski and Joe Musgrove, left-hander David Rollins and catcher Carlos Perez. The [...]

Ramon Hernandez, Colorado Rockies It’s no secret that the Mets primary (yes, I said primary) is Rockies catcher Ramon Hernandez. But getting him is not going to be as easy as you think according to Ken Rosenthal. Sometimes, veteran players have more value to their present club than they would in a trade, he says, and Hernandez is one such player as he is helping rookie Wilin Rosario with his game-calling and receiving. So, while the idea of trading [...]

The Baltimore Orioles are reporting that they have acquired veteran slugger Jim Thome from the Philadelphia Phillies for two minor league players; pitcher Kyle Simon and catcher Gabriel Lino, both Single-A prospects. Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com first reported that both teams were in negotiations for Thome. Thome, 41, was posted a .242/.338/.516 slash with five homers in 71 plate appearances for the Phillies this season, and it was no secret that he was being shopped by GM Ruben Amaro. Thome, who was serving mostly in [...]

Here are the latest Mets Notes following the close of the 2011 Winter Meetings: Mets Considered Trading Bobby Parnell: According to Adam Rubin of ESPN, the Mets were contemplating trading 27-year old fireballer Bobby Parnell to an unknown team for a starting position player. Rubin said that Mets officials were “weighing the merits of the deal and there was no assurance they would pull the trigger.” After the acquisitions of Jon Rauch, Frank Francisco and Ramon [...]

For shortstop Jose Reyes, the 2011 season was the ninth season of his career with the New York Mets, and  Mets fans certainly knew the day was coming when Reyes became a free agent. The Mets have been bleeding cash for several years now, and even the move into their new facility at CitiField in time for the start of the 2009 season couldn’t stop the negative cash flow. Owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz are [...]

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, former Twins closer Joe Nathan has signed a two-year deal worth $14MM with the Texas Rangers. The deal reportedly includes an option for 2014 which is worth an additional $7MM according to SI.com’s Jon Heyman. Last month Joe Nathan, a New York native, told reporters he would like to play for the Mets, but there have been no reports that anyone from the Mets contacted him. The move likely [...]

The Phillies have acquired Ty Wigginton from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash, according to the Rockies’ official Twitter account. In Wigginton, the Phillies get a decent right-handed bat for the bench who can help fill in for the sidelined Ryan Howard at first base and occasionally spell Placido Polanco at third base. After batting .248 with 22 homers while recording a career high 581 at-bats with the Orioles in 2010, Wigginton batted .242 with 15 home runs and [...]