Athletics P Jarrod Parker loses arbitration case, will receive $850K
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(1:31 pm ET) Athletics pitcher Jarrod Parker lost his arbitration case and will receive an $850,000 salary for 2015, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman on Saturday. Parker was seeking $1.7 million.

Parker underwent a second career Tommy John surgery in late March, and isn’t expected to make his potential return until the second half of next season. He pitched 197 innings in 2014, going 12-8 with a 3.97 ERA and 134 strikeouts.

Reds sign Burke Badenhop, Kevin Gregg; DFA Ismael Guillon
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(1:07 pm ET) The Reds announced several roster moves on Saturday, per the team’s official website.

The team signed right-hander Burke Badenhop to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2016. In a corresponding move, Cincinnati also designated left-hander Ismael Guillon for assignment, and signed right-hander Kevin Gregg to a minor-league deal with a spring training invite.

Badenhop pitched for the Red Sox in 2014, registering a 2.29 ERA over 70 2/3 innings of work. Gregg last pitched for the Marlins in 2014. He allowed 10 earned runs, including 10 home runs in nine innings of work with Miami.

Rays want John Jaso to focus on filling DH role
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:06 am ET) After last month’s Ben Zobrist trade, newly acquired Rays catcher John Jaso is expected to focus primarily on filling the designated hitter role, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Jason missed the end of the season due to a concussion, and is not afraid to go behind the plate in an emergency situation, if needed. Outside of DH and emergency catcher roles, 31-year-old is also expected to get work in the outfield and at first base when he reports to camp this month.

“It’s definitely going to be different,” Jaso said. “I’m going to just have to see how it is. I have no idea. The Big Papi program? I don’t know. … This will be kind of the first time for me.

“We have an understanding that they want me to hit, and putting me in the instance where I could be in harm’s way — where I would then be on the bench for the rest of the year — that’s not worth it at this point,” Jaso said.

Padres’ Black on Despaigne: ‘There’s not a lot he needs to do’
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(2:00 am ET) Padres manager Bud Black laid out his approach for second-year pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne in 2015 to MLB.com Thursday.

“I think we’re going to try to firm up the changeup, which is rare to add, and work on the consistency of his breaking pitch,” Black said. “There’s not a lot he needs to do other than understand fastball command and locate the ball.”

Despaigne may have a spot in the team’s 2015 rotation regardless of whether the Padres bring in one more quality starting pitcher. He excelled at Petco Park in 2014, posting a 1.83 ERA in 54 innings over eight starts, but struggled on the road, where he delivered a 5.31 ERA in 42 1/3 innings.

Rockies sign Josh Vitters to minor-league contract
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(12:55 am ET) The Rockies have signed uitlity man Josh Vitters to a minor-league contract, according to Baseball America.

Vitters, who was the third overall pick in the 2007 draft, spent the last three seasons with the Cubs before being outrighted this offseason. He hit .213 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in Triple-A Iowa in 2014.

Rays pitcher Grant Balfour hoping to continue September success
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(2/6/2015) Rays relief pitcher Grant Balfour is hoping to pick up right where he left off in 2014. At the end of the season, Balfour went 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 appearances.

“Got back to my numbers I’ve had the last four or five years,” Balfour said. “That builds confidence, too, when you’re going out there getting people out all the time, too. So when you’re not, it’s tough. It’s a tough game. It’s not meant to be easy. Not everyone is doing it. There are a lot of people on the sidelines wishing they were doing it. Until you go out there and do it and go through it, it’s not easy.”

For the season, Balfour went 2-6 with a 4.91 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 65 appearances for the season.

“I had a good run. I had some good times. It’s easy when you’re doing that. When you face a battle and face some tough times, it was nice to finish strong at the end of year and know that I came out on the good side of it.”

Yankees cautiously optimistic for CC Sabathia in 2015
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(2/6/2015) Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday his hoping to see pitcher CC Sabathia pitch 200 innings in 2015 after having his 2014 season cut short by a knee injury.

“I don’t know if we’re gong to see number one or two [in the rotation],” Cashman said. “But we do expect the high-end ability. The biggest thing we have to hope we stay away from is the home run ball.”

Sabathia pitched just 46 innings in 2014, posting a 3-4 record with 48 strikeouts.

“The strikeouts and walks are in line with his previous years totals,” Cashman said. “If we can get him healthy and keep him healthy, I think he’s going to be a positive force in the rotation.”

D’backs GM says team is done dealing, likely out of running for Shields
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(2/6/2015) Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart doesn’t think the team will end up signing free agent pitcher James Shields, according to MLB.com.

“We’re quiet in our house right now,” general manager Dave Stewart said. “We’ve taken the position that we’re weeks away from spring training, and now we’re just going to see what we have. If we need to make adjustments, we’ll make adjustments after we see what we have. Right now, we’re where we are with the players that we have. I think if you talk to our staff as a whole we are very, very positive and optimistic that what we’re going to put on the field is going to be good.”

The Padres, Blue Jays, Cubs and Marlins have reportedly shown interest in the free agent, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Rangers, Nate Schierholtz agree to minor-league deal
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(2/6/2015) The Rangers signed outfielder Nate Schierholtz to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, the team announced Friday.

Schierholtz spent 2014 between the Cubs and Nationals, hitting .195 with seven home runs and 37 RBI in 353 at-bats. The Marlins and Orioles expressed interest in signing nine-year veteran.

Free agent Jose Molina expected to be out ‘long, indefinite period’
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(2/6/2015) Free agent catcher Jose Molina said Friday he is expecting to be out a “long, indefinite period” of time after suffering a knee injury, according to FOXSports.com.

Molina, who was released by the Rays this offseason, will have to undergo surgery to repair his knee. He hit .178 in 225 at-bats in 2014 with 10 RBI and a .230 on-base percentage.