Team Filling Out Rosters as Spring Training Looms

Morgan Ensberg and the New York Yankees agreed to a minor league deal. Ensberg will be competing for playing time at first base along with Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan, and Jason Lane.

The Mets are showing interest in free agent pitcher Kyle Lohse, even though they recently landed Johan Santana in trade earlier this week. Lohse would do two things for the Mets; allow for a semi 6 man rotation, giving Orlando Hernandez extra rest in between starts (or allow for an injury) and two, it would allow the Mets to send Mike Pelfrey to Triple-A, instead of sticking him in the bullpen to rot.

The Tigers announced that Carlos Guillen will become their everyday first basemen. Adding Renteria to the lineup made Guillen the odd man out at that position, but a move to first allows his bat to remain in the lineup. Fantasy wise, this is awful for Guillen owners, since first base is a postion that normally would produce power numbers. Not many fantasy owners are willing to trade that for a higher average or a few more steals. Guillen's move to first weakens his value once he loses his shortstop eligibility.

In another move that points towards the Adam Jones/Erik Bedard trade going through, the Seattle Mariners signed free agent outfielder Brad Wilkerson. Wilkerson would take over the right field post for the M's, after hitting 20 home runs for the Rangers last season. Don't be fooled by those numbers (especially if you're looking for an outfielder late in the draft). Wilkerson's numbers in hitter friendly Arlington Stadium are extremely different than his road numbers.

And finally, the Washington Nationals signed free agent catcher Johnny Estrada as an insurance policy, in case Paul LoDuca doesn't recover from his knee surgery as quickly as the Nationals hope. The deal is worth about $1.25 Million, with incentives increasing his salary to $1.5 Million (from ESPN.com):

Estrada's deal includes $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on games started.

He would earn an extra $100,000 if he makes 70 starts and another $100,000 at 75 starts; an added $150,000 at each plateau if he reaches 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 and 105 starts; and an extra $200,000 each for 110 and 115 starts.