Brandon Beachy agrees to one-year deal with Los Angeles Dodgers

RHP Brandon Beachy has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth $2.75 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Beachy spent last season in the dugout recovering from Tommy John Surgery with the Atlanta Braves. In 2013, he missed considerable time with a bone spur and inflamed tissue in his elbow, and missed the second half of 2012 after an earlier Tommy John Surgery. Needless to say, the 28-year old hasn’t seen too much time playing – he’s only pitched 110 innings in the last three seasons. He’ll continue his streak of time lost, as he is expected to start the season on the DL. But when he’s been healthy, Beachy has been good; since 2012, he’s gone 7-6 with a 2.68 ERA over 18 games.

Despite his good track record, there might not be room for him in a crowded Dodgers rotation, which already has Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin-Ryu, Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson. Barring injury, he’ll likely start in the bullpen due to the current depth.

The value of the deal makes sense for the most part. Beachy has only two full seasons of Major League experience and 267 innings pitched under his belt. The Dodgers are taking a small chance due to how injury-prone he is, but he has the ability to shine in Hollywood and possibly take on a larger role if and when Greinke and others leave the rotation.

Over four years, Beachy has gone 14-11 with a 3.23 ERA and 275 strikeouts.

James Shields, Padres, agree to four-year deal

James Shields was this close to jumping ahead of Comcast customer service on the “longest wait” rankings. He avoided the number one spot last night, when Chris Cotillo of SB Nation announced that RHP Shields and the San Diego Padres had agreed to a four-year deal worth between $72m-78m.

Shields will take over the role of the ace in San Diego and provide a veteran presence in a young clubhouse. He’ll also add reliability; the workhorse has pitched above 200 innings every season since 2007.

Padres emerging as frontrunners for Shields

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the San Diego Padres have reportedly emerged as the frontrunners to sign the elusive starting pitcher James Shields, who has taken an above average  incredibly long time to sign this offseason.

Shields would take the number one spot in San Diego’s rotation and be an important veteran presence on a young and promising team, who are all newly assembled after San Diego’s slew of moves.

Shields led the Royals to an AL Championship at the forefront of the pitching staff, going 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA over 227 innings pitched and 34 games, and he would provide a true ace for San Diego.

However, talks have stalled over the last 48 hours, and a deal is nowhere near done – but Shields is closer to San Diego than he has been to any other team all offseason long.

Other possible suitors include the Arizona Diamondbacks, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shields is expected to command a four-year deal worth more than $70 million.

Nationals sign Max Scherzer to seven-year deal

And just when you thought the Nats were done.

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the Washington Nationals have signed Max Scherzer to a 7-year deal worth more than $180 million.

In 2013, the righty won the Cy Young Award with the Detroit Tigers and did not disappoint in 2014, with a 3.15 ERA over 220 innings pitched, going 18-5. While he didn’t exceed his 2013 Cy Young season, 2014 most certainly lived up to expectations.

On the Nationals, Scherzer would presumably fall into the already stacked rotation alongside the likes of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark, Jordan Zimmermann and/or Doug Fister.

At the beginning of the season, there was no correlation between Scherzer and the Nationals. If he didn’t re-sign with the Tigers, suitors appeared to be the Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Giants or Dodgers. The tides changed very quickly. Early Sunday reports told of an “increasing sense” around the league that Scherzer would be going to DC. By 12:42 AM, the deal was done.

The young Nationals are now faced with a dilemma. Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister are both on contract years, and both are expected to command extensions or deals worth above $120 million. Rumors have been circulating all winter that one or two of the righties would be leaving. With Scherzer now on the payroll, there is a new element. Many think that the Nationals will trade Zimmermann, but according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the early view is that the Nationals will be keeping Zimmermann. Extension talks may or may not continue throughout the season.

Scherzer started his career as a first-round draft pick in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, scouted and drafted by current Nationals GM Mike Rizzo. He was traded to the Tigers as a part of a 2009 blockbuster involving Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson and Austin Jackson.

Over his 7-year career, Scherzer is 91-50 with a 3.58 ERA over 1239.1 innings pitched.

Nationals acquire Yunel Escobar from Oakland Athletics, send Tyler Clippard

Let’s hope nobody in Oakland bought an Escobar jersey.

The Washington Nationals have reportedly acquired SS Yunel Escobar from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for RHP Tyler Clippard. The deal was first reported by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.