Andy Marte, Former Top Prospect, Dies In Car Accident

Andy Marte, who played parts of seven seasons in the majors and was a former top prospect of the Braves and Red Sox, died in a car accident early Sunday in the Dominican Republic, his agency confirmed. He was 33.

Baseball America

Orioles Grant Randy Winn Unconditional Release

Dan Connolly Twitter

Orioles Sign David Riske To Minors Deal

CAA Baseball Twitter

Checking The Numbers: Relievers & The Value Of Perfect Information

One of the most interesting aspects of baseball transactions is that every move carries a certain level of risk. Without perfect information akin to an extreme level of accurate prognostication, teams can never be 100 percent certain how a player will perform. The best investment is a player who will produce at a very high level, but who comes as close to guaranteeing that high level of production as possible. Albert Pujols personifies this idea, as a bad season for him still involves above-average defense and a TAv north of .310. I will say right now, with as much confidence as I have in my mind and body, that Pujols will hit, at worst, .310/.370/.530 next season. He has proven himself capable of production far beyond that slash line and is as close to a sure thing as we have.

Baseball Prospectus

Brewers Release Reliever David Riske

The Brewers released right-hander David Riske on Monday with six weeks left on his three-year, $13 million contract.

Brewers Official Site

Brewers Add Jim Edmonds To 40-Man Roster

The Brewers placed Jim Edmonds on the 40-man roster on Thursday, meeting a deadline when the veteran outfielder could have opted for free agency if the club hadn't done so.

Brewers Official Site

Jim Edmonds As Backup First Baseman

Something would have to go terribly wrong for the Brewers to need a backup first baseman this season, but Macha said that the job could go to outfielder Jim Edmonds, assuming Edmonds makes the roster. Edmonds, one of baseball's best center fielders in the past two decades, has appeared at first in 51 Major League games over eight different seasons.

Brew Beat

Brewers Talk To Mark Mulder's Agent

Melvin also said he would focus on bounce-back candidates coming off poor or injury-plagued seasons, and indeed he has already checked in with the agent for Mark Mulder, who missed all of 2009 with shoulder woes. At some point Milwaukee may also take a look at former Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets, who missed 2009 after undergoing surgery on his right elbow.

Brewers Official Site

You Could Look It Up: No Relief In Sight

The next time you're sitting on your sofa contemplating the parade of busted moves by the assembled general managers of your favorite franchise—say, the Mets—and are tempted to proclaim that you could do a better job than that clown in the executive suite, think twice. Anyone can make the easy calls and buy or trade at the top of the market, fishing for the Pujols and Sabathias when they're available. The aspect of the job that earns GMs their end-of-day bourbon and Maalox cocktail is putting together a bullpen. Even the abstemious Branch Rickey might have been driven to drink by relievers had he been forced to give them more than cursory attention; they're just too unpredictable for comfort.

Baseball Prospectus

Brewers Wait & See With Braden Looper

It does not appear that there is a match between the Brewers and free-agent starter Braden Looper.

Brewers Official Site

Freebies?: The Search For Good, Cheap Relief

Game Five of the 2008 World Series will long be remembered for its umpires' Beatles-inspired belief that, as John Lennon sang, "When it starts to rain, everything's the same," a philosophy which prevented sundry sodden millionaires (and Carlos Ruiz) from seeking shelter until the middle of the sixth.

Baseball Prospectus

Losers In This Years Winter Meetings

As if things aren't bad enough that 3B Scott Rolen wants to be traded, Tony La Russa made it clear that Rolen's request to be dealt after the Cardinals manager re-signed didn't sit well with La Russa.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7535680

Yankees Interested In Troy Percival

Troy Percival setting up for Mariano Rivera?

It's possible if Percival decides he would be comfortable pitching in the eighth inning, according to industry sources.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7500538

Astros Keep In Touch With Troy Percival

GM Ed Wade continues running out of Plan As, so he has turned his attention to Plan Bs. Two bullpen arms he had been pursuing, Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink, are heading to Cincinnati and the White Sox, respectively, so Wade is keeping in touch with Paul Cohen, the agent for free-agent right-hander Troy Percival, and has also contacted the agents for Jeremy Affeldt, Doug Brocail and David Riske.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071126&content_id=2307264&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp

Hot Stove Began Last Night

The Christmas shopping season is under way, and not just at the malls.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071113&content_id=2299388&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp