MLB Off Season, Rumors, Signings and Trades

[TheGame]

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Royals have signed Omar Infante to a four-year contract.
It's believed to be worth about $30 million. The Royals lost a bidding war to the Yankees for outfielder Carlos Beltran, but they've come out victorious in this free agent bout with the Bombers

[TheGame]

Rockies acquired OF Drew Stubbs from the Indians for LHP Josh Outman.

The Angels "seem close" to a deal with Raul Ibanez, according to MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Padres and free agent reliever Joaquin Benoit have agreed on contract terms.
The deal is awaiting a physical. We'll soon find out if the terms match the two-year, $14 million offer Passan reported that San Diego offered last week (CBS' Jon Heyman reported Wednesday morning that the pact is actually worth $15 million over two years)

[TheGame]

The Rays are in on Grant Balfour, sources tell Jim Bowden of ESPN and SiriusXM Radio.
Balfour seemed to be off the market after he came to a two-year, $15 million agreement with the Orioles, but some concerns about his physical caused the Orioles to nix the deal at the last minute. The Rays are in the market for a closer after losing Fernando Rodney to free agency, so it's not surprising that they'd have renewed interest in the soon-to-be 36-year-old.

[TheGame]

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Rangers have agreed to a seven-year deal with Shin Soo Choo

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Off Season, Rumors, Signings and Trades

Ben Badler of Baseball America writes that the Mariners "look like the favorites" to land Masahiro Tanaka.
This is after ESPN's Jerry Crasnick was told earlier Thursday that the M's were a "team to watch" on Tanaka. Badler has his finger on the pulse of all international signings matters, so if he says Seattle is the favorite for the Japanese righty, everyone would be wise to believe him.