Sean Burroughs familiarizes himself with local culture.

Assorted Headlines
Twins Sign Burroughs, Rivera, Walters
The Minnesota Twins have signed third baseman Sean Burroughs and right-hander P.J. Walters — and re-signed catcher Rene Rivera — reports Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune. The 31-year-old Burroughs, once a top prospect in the Padre system, made a return to affiliated baseball in 2011 after a three-year absence, netting 115 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks, although the 66 wRC+ (.305 BABIP) he posted isn’t particularly promising.

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Episode 115
If you’re the sort of person who likes baseball, comedy jokes, and smiles as bright as the sun, then you’re precisely the sort of person who will care — or already does care — deeply about Sam Miller of the OC Register. In this episode, Sam talks at some length about the effects of the Albert Pujols signing. Also discussed: why not to write a novel, lowered expectations.

Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.

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Audio after the jump. (Approximately 44 min. play time.)

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An artist’s rendering of Luis Rodriguez, who re-signed with the Mariners.

Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Offseason Notes.

1. Assorted Headlines
2. Prospecting: John Sickels’ Top-20 List for San Diego
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Cleveland Television

Assorted Headlines
Seattle Signs 11 Minor Leaguers
The Seattle Mariners have signed 11 players to minor league contracts with invites to spring training, the Associated Press reports. Among the players who might be worth something better than replacement-level are middle infielder Luis Rodriguez (currently atop the SCOUT batting leaderboard for the Venezuelan Winter League) and right-handed reliever Josh Kinney, who posted a 71 xFIP- (24.7% K, 8.6% BB, 59.6% GB) in 17.2 innings after pitching excellently at Triple-A Charlotte. Also on the list is outfielder Darren Ford. Ford’s offensive game is particularly refined, but he has crazy speed and likely offers a plus-glove in center field.

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Episode 114
While veteran baseball writer and stay-at-home dad Dayn Perry has little of substance to say, at least he says it loudly and sprinkles it with profanity. Baseball topics covered: Albert Pujols and Skip Schumaker. Non-baseball topics: Blind Boy Fuller and pigmeat.

Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or other feeder things.

Audio after the jump. (Approximately 28 min. play time.)

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Jeff Keppinger considers the meaning of freedom from atop a rocky mount.

Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Offseason Notes.

1. Non-Tenders: A Top-Five List
2. SCOUT Leaderboards: Venezuelan Winter League
3. Prospecting: John Sickels’ Top-20 List for Seattle

Non-Tenders: A Top-Five List
MLB Trade Rumors has complete lists of both the American and National League non-tenders. These are players with whom teams have decided not to enter aribitration, thus making said players free agents.

Here’s a list of the top-five players to become free agents (with their 2012 ages):

1. Jeff Keppinger, 2B, 32: Excellent contact skills, not-horrid glove. Is a league-average player if BABIP is above, like, .295 or .300.

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Episode 113
While the Winter Meetings produced a number of high-profile deals — including, for example, the Albert Pujols signing by the Los Angeles Angels — some other notable transactions have occurred in the four or so days since then. In fact, Monday afternoon saw reports of third baseman Aramis Ramirez signing a three-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. Managing Editor Dave Cameron discusses that, Matt Moore’s long-term extension with the Tampa Bay Rays, Rafael Furcal, and more.

Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or other feeder things.

Audio after the jump. (Approximately 24 min. play time.)

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Former Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez will sign a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, reports Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago.

No terms have been released. Let’s try and guess.

FanGraphs readers projected something in the vicinity of a three-year, $36 million deal for Ramirez in the beginning of November.

FanGraphs readers have projected Ramirez to be a 2.8-win player in 2012. Assuming a 0.5 WAR decline each season and 5% inflation each season on $5 million per win, we’d expect this:

Year	WAR	$/Win	Salary
2012	2.8	5.00	$14.0
2013	2.3	5.25	$12.1	
2014	1.8	5.52	$9.9
Total	6.9	----	$36.0

So, in both caes, three years and $36 million — or an average annual value of $12 million — would appear to make sense.

UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal reports that the deal is in the $34M to $37M range.

Writing a headline for this former outfield prospect is a piece of, uh, cake.

Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Offseason Notes.

1. (Less Than) Assorted Headlines
2. Projecting: ZiPS for ZiPS for Los Angeles (NL)
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Cincinnati Reds Television

(Less Than) Assorted Headlines
Today’s headlines aren’t particularly assortable.

Cleveland Signs Pie
Outfielder Felix Pie Pie has agreed to terms on a minor-league deal and spring invite with the Cleveland Indians, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports. Pie, 26, appeared on Baseball America’s top-100 prospect list for five consecutive years (2003-07) as a minor leaguer in the Cub system. His major-league career hasn’t been particularly impressive to date: 1051 PA, .249/.298/.374 (.301 BABIP), 75 wRC+, -0.1 WAR. Of course, it’s also very possible that he was mismanaged by Cubs. Pie could make $1 million in salary and performance bonuses in the majors, Connolly notes.

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Episode 112
After four consecutive days of reportage from the front lines of the Winter Meetings in Dallas, FanGraphs Audio takes a leisurely turn with NotGraphs contributor and, apparently, chess instructor Eric Augenbraun. Topics discussed: a sabermetrics of chess; Pujols, Pujols, Pujols; and the comic stylings of Dave Chappelle.

Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or other feeder things.

Audio after the jump. (Approximately 31 min. play time.)

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Alex Gonzalez attempts to approximate Yuni Betancourt’s range at shortstop.

Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Offseason Notes.

1. Assorted Headlines
2. FAN Projection Targets: Pujols, Reyes, Wilson
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Chicago (NL) Television

Assorted Headlines
All the nerd that’s fit to print.

Brewers Sign Shortstop Gonzalez
This may or may not receive a longer write-up in these pages soon, but, as one who lives in Wisconsin, I’m very happy to announce that the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to terms Thursday with shortstop Alex Gonzalez on a one-year contract (MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reporting). The terms of the deal haven’t been released, but, as Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes, Gonzalez made only $2.5 million last season with Atlanta. The deal reportedly includes a vesting option for 2013. Gonzalez is notable for not being Yuniesky Betancourt.

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