Phillies add veteran Guzman

Recently a club spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that the Phillies signed veteran outfielder Freddy Guzman to a Minor League contract, though his deal does not include an invitation to Spring Training. Guzman spent the 2009 season with the Triple-A affiliates of the Orioles, Mariners, Red Sox and Yankees, while also seeing action in 10 games for the Bronx Bombers. In 101 Minor League games last year, he batted .223 with a .272 on-base percentage, two homers.

Guzman has played parts of four big league seasons with the Padres, Rangers and Yankees, batting .211 with a .255 on-base percentage in 47 games. In six seasons in the Minor Leagues, he holds a .265 batting average and a .338 on-base percentage.
Hope Guzman is also a main center fielder when he puts on the phillies jersey.

Mariners agree to add Kotchman

The Mariners and first baseman Casey Kotchman have reached agreement on a one-year contract. Kotchman was acquired from the Red Sox on Jan. 7. Details of the agreement have not been announced, but it is believed that two sides split the difference and Kotchman will receive about $3.5 million in 2010.

Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez signed a four-year, $20.5 million contract extension on Jan. 8; right-handed relievers David Aardsma and Mark Lowe signed on Jan. 19 respectively; and, the following day, right-hander Felix Hernandez signed a five-year, $78 million contract extension and right-handed reliever Brandon League also reached an agreement. Fans look forward to seeing them playing for the team in the mariners jerseys.

Dave Jauss will become Mets' bench coach

Dave Jauss, a former bench coach for the Orioles and Dodgers, will be hired by the Mets for the same position. An announcement is expected to be made on Wednesday or Thursday. Jauss left his recent position as Baltimore bench last month after two seasons. And he was the bench coach for Grady Little with the Dodgers from 2006-07, he spent 10 previous seasons with the Red Sox in various positions, serving as first-base coach, Minor League field coordinator, director of player development and Major League advance scout.

Actually Jauss has a history with Mets manager Jerry Manuel, who was the Minor League field coordinator for the Montreal Expos when Jauss got his first position as a Minor League manager in 1988. Sandy Alomar Jr., a catching instructor was named first-base coach by the Indians on Tuesday.

Wakefield will undergo surgery this week

Red Sox( red sox jerseys )general manager Theo Epstein.Veteran Tim Wakefield, whose troublesome back prevented him from building on an All-Star first half, will undergo surgery later this week. He would like to come back in 2010 for what would be his 16th season in Boston.

The surgery is expected to require a minimal amount of recovery time, meaning that Wakefield should be ready for the start of Spring Training. "Wake is someone that is in our plans and we hope he makes starts for us next year and is a member of the rotation," said Epstein. "We haven't sat down and finalized anything. Obviously, we want to see how the surgery goes and then both sides will sit down and talk."

Lenny Dykstra's championship ring was sold

The Associated Press reported that Lenny Dykstra's championship ring from the 1986 World Series was sold at an auction for more than $56,000. Dykstra, who is said to have serious financial troubles, had 11 items at the auction.

A collector from Queens, where Dykstra and the rest of his Mets wrapped up the Series win over the Red Sox, won the ring with a bid of $56,762.50. Dykstra is a three-time All-Star player, whose last season was with the Phillies in 1996, said he owed more than $31 million and had only about $50,000 possession.