The New York Mets re-signed third baseman/outfielder Fernando Tatisto a one-year contract on Thursday.  Terms of the deal were undisclosed by the team but an Associated Press report revealed that Tatis will receive $1.7-million.

Tatis played 92 games with the Mets and hit .297 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI after making it all the way back from being out of baseball in 2004-05.  Tatis played with the Orioles in 2006 and in the Mets minor league system in 2007 and the beginning of 2008.  His comeback season came to a halt when he separated his shoulder on September 16 against the Washington Nationals.

The Chicago White Sox announced both outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and backup catcher Toby Hall had their 2009 options declined and are now free agents.

The move to decline Griffey’s option came as no surprise.  Instead of paying the 20-year veteran $16.5-million in 2009, the White Sox and the Reds will split the bill on Griffey’s $4-million buyout and it clears the way for Griffey to join the free agent pool.  At the end of the season, Griffey told reporters of his interest to return to the White Sox but reports have leaked that the White Sox are not interested in re-signing the 600-home run club member. 

The buyout of Hall’s option year leaves Chicago without an experienced backup option to A.J. Pierzynski.  With the decline of Hall’s option — worth $2.25-million — the backup catcher received a $150,000 buyout and is now, like Griffey, a free agent.  The 33-year-old Hall was the backup to Pierzynski in 2007 and 2008 and played a half season with the Dodgers and 6-1/2 seasons with Tampa Bay where he was the starter for much of his time there.

The White also signed infielder Jayson Nix to a one-year deal.  The 26-year-old Nix opened the year as the Colorado Rockies’ starting second baseman but lost it to Clint Barmes.  Nix also played for the bronze medal winning U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing in 2008.

The Detroit Tigers today announced that they have declined Shortstop Edgar Renteria’s $11 Million dollar option, instead they bought him out for $3 million dollars. Renteria hit .270/.317/.382 with a OPS+ of 84. He came to the Tigers last winter in a deal with the Atlanta Braves. The Tigers sent outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and pitcher Jair Jurrjens to the Braves in return. There is a possibility that the Tigers might resign Renteria at a lower value, but at this time it’s just speculation.

[Yahoo]

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Officially announced annually on November 1 (before any other fielding awards), The Fielding Bible Awards name the best overall fielder at every position in the major leagues each season. This year, National League players were chosen at five positions and American League players at four. 2008 marks the third year of the Fielding Bible Awards.

The 2008 Fielding Bible Award winners are:

First Base—Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
 
Second Base—Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
 
Shortstop—Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies
 
Third Base—Adrian Beltre, Seattle Mariners
 
Left Field—Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays
 
Center Field—Carlos Beltran, New York Mets

Right Field - Franklin Gutierrez, Cleveland Indians
 
Catcher—Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
 
Pitcher—Kenny Rogers, Detroit Tigers
 

ESPN.com is reporting that the Milwaukee Brewers are planning to announce that Ken Macha will be the Brew Crews new manager. The official announcement could come later today, according to ’sources’ cited by ESPN. Macha last managed in 2006 with the Oakland A’s and was fired after the A’s were bounced from the 2006 ALCS by the Detroit Tigers.

Other names that had been in the running for manager were former Mets manager Willie Randolph and former Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly.

[ESPN]

The Kansas City Royals have acquired first baseman Mike Jacobs from the Florida Marlins in exchange for right-handed pitcher Leo Nunez.

“We’re delighted to acquire a productive hitter to impact the middle of our lineup,” said Dayton Moore, Royals’ Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager.  “Mike’s a winner and has a very aggressive approach to baseball and we look forward to his presence on our club.”

Jacobs, who turned 28 today, hit .247 (118-for-477) with a career-high 32 home runs and 93 RBI for the Marlins in 2008.  The left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower also recorded 27 doubles, two triples and scored 67 runs in 141 games.  His 32 homers were the second-most among left-handed hitters in Marlins history, trailing Carlos Delgado’s 33 in 2005.  Jacobs’ 18 home runs away from home in 2008 ranked tied for seventh in the Majors.  He homered once every 14.9 at bats, which ranked 10th in the Majors and among first basemen trailed only Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.

The 25-year old Nunez was 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 45 relief appearances for the Royals in 2008. 

…Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Milwaukee Brewers are set to off CC Sabathia $100 million dollars for 4 years. [Fox Sports]

…According to the St. Petersburg Times Mayor Rick Baker wants to hold some sort of celebration for the Rays on a fantastic season. Though he’s not sure what type of event to have and needs to get the Rays on board, and the shindig will most likely fall short of a parade for the American League Champs. [St. Petersburg Times]

…The Milwaukee Brewers have claimed Casey McGehee off of waivers from the Chicago Cubs. To make room for McGehee on the 40 man roster the Brew Crew designated utility man Joe Dillon for assignment. [Brewers.com]

…Japanese amature pitcher Junichi Tazawa cleared a major hurdle in his goal of playing in America in the Major Leagues. He had asked the NPB’s 12 teams not to draft him so he could try his hand at American Baseball, and he was. There are no rules preventing US Clubs from pursuing Japanese amateur baseball players. [CBS]

…New York Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos was released from jail on Wednesday, after he was incarcerated for killing two women in a fatal car crash. A judge ordered him to pay $57,000 and he is not allowed to leave the Dominican Republic without the permission of an appeals court. A court date has yet to be set. [ESPN]

…The Boston Red Sox have claimed pitcher Virgil Vasquez off of waivers from the Detroit Tigers. The Sox now have 38 players on their 40 man roster, but Jeremy Bonderman and Joel Zumya will be activated off of the 60 day disabled list. [Detroit Free Press]

…According to the Baltimore Sun the Orioles first order of business this off season is to ink both Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts to contract extensions. [Baltimore Sun]

“I would say we’re still in the initial contact phase, but there have been conversations as it relates to both players,” MacPhail said. “We have plenty of time to talk to the two of them, but it’s not a horse race. It’s not one over the other or one ahead of the other. We’re interested in talking to them both.”

The World Series is over? It’s safe to come out of hiding again? I understand the Phillies won, so congrats to them and their fans. I tried to watch an inning in honor of the Rays’ first WS appearance, but time has been tight, so the best I could do was a couple pitches. I think Dioner Navarro was batting; couldn’t tell you who was on the mound.

Meanwhile, off the field, AP reports that minor-league pitcher Julio Castillo has been indicted on two counts of felonious assault for plunking a fan in the head with a thrown baseball back in July. According to the report, Castillo, then pitching for the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League, “was attempting to hit a Dayton player in the dugout, but instead struck the fan in the head.” The fan was treated for a concussion at a hospital and then later released.

Quoth defense attorney Dennis Lieberman: “In my research, I have found this to be an unprecedented indictment in American baseball. These are very serious charges that could destroy this kid’s chance of ever playing baseball in the United States again.”

Is it really the charges that could destroy Castillo, or is it the act itself? Giving one of your paying customers a concussion doesn’t strike me as the best way to impress your bosses, but maybe that’s just me.

Plus he needs to improve his command…