[riverside sluggers]

Doube Post

The White Sox and Alexei Ramírez have agreed to a four-year contract, a source told ESPN Deportes.
The source said Ramirez had individual workouts with the White Sox, Red Sox, Indians, Reds, Cubs, Mets, Yankees, Twins and A's before making his choice. Ramirez has experience at second base, shortstop and in center field, giving the White Sox plenty of options in how to use him. He'd make the most sense for the team in center field right now, though it's possible he'll need some time in the minors before he gets his shot. The supposed 26-year-old played only briefly in the Dominican Republic this winter, going 1-for-14.

The Rangers and Reds have agreed to a Josh Hamilton trade, with Edinson Volquez and a minor league pitcher going to Cincinnati.
It's expected to be announced later today. Hamilton couldn't fetch a more established pitcher as hoped, so the Reds instead will gamble on an arm with big-time upside in Volquez. Hamilton becomes the Rangers' primary center fielder for now. A move to right might be necessary in a year or two, but the Rangers have little to lose by keeping him in the middle now. Marlon Byrd is the favorite to start in right over David Murphy, Nelson Cruz and Jason Botts. Ideally, one of the younger players will eventually overtake him. The Reds could pursue Mike Cameron as a replacement for Hamilton.

Daniel Herrera is the second pitcher going to Cincinnati along with Edinson Volquez for Josh Hamilton, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Herrera was a nice story in 2006 after being taken in the 45th round and getting off to an awesome start, but he's not more than a decent relief prospect for Cincinnati.

Rockies signed RHP Luis Vizcaino, who had been with the Yankees, to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010.
Vizcaino had an awful September for the Yankees, causing him to finish with an ERA over 4.00 for the first time since 2003, but for a three-month span begining in June, he was one of the AL's best relievers and it's likely fatigue -- he made 30 appearances between July and August -- had something to do with his collapse. At about $3.5 million per season, this looks like one of the better relief bargains of the winter, and it makes up for GM Dan O'Dowd's poor decision not to exercise his half of LaTroy Hawkins' option after the World Series.

The Rangers and free agent Eddie Guardado are reportedly close to a deal.
Guardado would have a better chance of extending his career in the NL, but it's hard to count him out completely, especially after he finished well for the Reds in September. The Rangers would still have at least two or three better candidates to close after signing him.

EDIT: I found this on mlb.com, wasnt reported on rotoworld

Notes: Bucs sign four to Minors deals
Velandia, Thompson among quartet invited to Spring Training
By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com

PITTSBURGH -- In an effort to continue infusing depth into the organization, the Pirates have signed four players to Minor League contracts for 2008, all four with a guaranteed invite to Spring Training. Returning to the Pittsburgh organization is Jorge Velandia, a middle infielder who played for the Pirates' Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate back in 2005. After hitting .277 with 22 doubles and 39 RBIs in 105 games for the Indians, Velandia signed with the White Sox for the 2006 season and then with Tampa Bay in 2007.

The 32-year-old Velandia spent the majority of last season playing in Triple-A, where the infielder hit .249 with 33 extra-base hits, while committing just nine fielding errors in 120 games. Velandia also played in 14 games as a September callup for Tampa Bay and contributed with 16 hits and 11 RBIs in 50 at-bats. The 2008 season will mark the Venezuelan native's 17th season in professional ball, which includes seven different stops in the Majors. He is also currently playing winter ball in Venezuela, where he has posted a .269 average and 16 RBIs in 34 games so far.

Among the new additions include pitcher Mike Thompson, a right-handed starter who began last season with the Padres before spending the majority of the year playing for the team's Triple-A club. He appeared in seven big league games in 2007, going a combined 0-1 with a 6.89 ERA. A fifth-round Draft pick by San Diego back in 1999, the 27-year-old Thompson pitched in 23 games (22 starts) for the Padres' Triple-A club last year, going 4-11 with a 6.29 ERA. In 132 2/3 innings, the right-hander struck out 71 and walked 40. He first broke into the Majors a year earlier, when in 2006 he posted a 4-5 record and a 4.99 ERA in 19 appearances (16 starts).

After losing catchers Humberto Cota and Carlos Maldonado this offseason, the Pirates needed to bring some additional catchers into their Minor League system, and they did so by signing both Miguel Perez and Michel Hernandez. Adding Perez gives the Pirates a young backstop who combined to hit .322 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 42 games last season split among three different Minor League levels. The 24-year-old Perez was originally signed by the Reds as a non-drafted free agent in 2000 and has appeared in just two big league games in his career.

For Hernandez, Pittsburgh will be the sixth organization for which he has played, with the 29-year-old native Cuban having spent the most recent season in Tampa Bay's farm system. In 51 games behind the plate at Triple-A Durham last year, Hernandez hit .276 with 19 RBIs. These four players are the first to have signed Minor League contracts with the Pirates so far this offseason. Pittsburgh has, however, agreed to terms with other Minor League free agents but is waiting to finalize contracts with those players before making additional announcements.