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Health & Fitness

Hot Stove: 12/16

The Twins filled a major hole in their outfield with a signing, and the bidding for the filthy, nasty pitching Japanese superstar Yu Darvish has ended.

Record of the Day

Most RBI by a Dodger: Duke Snider, 1,271 (1947-1962). Many great players have donned a Dodger Blue uniform, but none was as productive at the plate as the Duke. Duke Snider knocked in 1,271 of his 1,333 career runs as a Dodger, six times driving in more than 100 runs. He set a career high with 136 in 1955 for the World Champions, the third time he had driven in more than 125 runs. He also hit 389 of his 407 home runs for the Dodgers.

Free Agent Signings

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Twins signed Josh Willingham (29 HR, 98 RBI, .246 AVG, 4 SB, 2012 age: 33) to a three-year, $21 million deal ($7 million per season).

Dodgers signed Josh Bard (2 HR, 11 RBI, .210 AVG, 0 SB, 2012 age: 34) to a minor league deal.

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Angels signed LaTroy Hawkins (3-1, 2.42 ERA, .260 AVG, 2012 age: 39) to a one-year, $3 million deal.

Cardinals agreed to terms with J.C. Romero (1-0, 4.01 ERA, .286 BAA, 2012 age: 36) on a one-year deal. The dollar amount was not specified.

Marlins signed Aaron Rowand (4 HR, 21 HR, .233 AVG, 2 SB, 2012 age: 34) to a minor league deal.

Giants resigned Guillermo Mota (2-2, 3.81 ERA, .240 AVG, 1 save, 2012 age: 38-39) to a one-year, $1 million deal.

Josh Willingham brings a much needed outfield bat to Minnesota, who has lost both Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer to free agency. He is a power bat who set career highs in home runs (29) and RBI (98) last year while playing in the pitchers' park Oakland Alameda Collusieum. The Hammer from Alabama has missed some time to injury in years past, but is healthy and ready for a big season mashing balls out of Target Field. After a strong rookie season in 2006 for the Marlins where he hit 26 home runs and batted .277, he saw his power dip over his final two years in Florida. He hit 21 home runs in 2007 then just 15 in 2008 through 102 injury riddled games. He was actually batting .341 with six home runs at the time of his late April injury, then never got back on track, finishing with a .254 average on the year. He was traded to the Nationals in the offseason, and regained his power stroke in Washington in a healthy 2009, hitting 24 home runs and batting .260 in 133 games. He missed more time to injury in 2010, hitting 16 home runs in 114 games. He did go 8 for 8 in stolen bases. He was traded to the A's, where he regained his power stroke again, hitting 29 home runs but batting .246 in 136 games in 2011. Over his eight-year career, he has hit 132 home runs and batted .268 with 29 stolen bases in 799 games. Since his first full season in 2006, he has averaged 21.8 home runs per season.

The Angels, who lack a legitimate closer, have not acquired one in Hawkins, but he will shore up the back end, possibly acting as set-up man. The 6'5" righty from the Chicago suburb of Gary, will play for his ninth team in ten years, but that does not mean he hasn't had success. A starter from 1995-1999 for the Twins, batters seemed to figure him out after just a couple of innings. After 98 starts for Minnesota, Hawkins was moved to the bullpen in 2000, and was 14-14 in saves and posted a 3.39 ERA in 66 games. Despite saving 28 games in 2001, he had a tough year, but had two of his best years from 2002-2003. In 2002, he was 6-0 with a 2.13 ERA and was 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA in 2003. The Twins let him go to the Cubs, where he posted a 2.63 ERA and 25 saves in 77 games. He was just another reliever until 2009 for the Astros, when the 36-year-old posted a 2.13 ERA and 11 saves in Houston. After a rough year in 2010 for the Brewers, he bounced back with a solid 2011 with a 2.42 ERA in 52 games. Hawkins may just be another reliever in the Angels bullpen next year, or he may post huge numbers like has in some years past. Over his 17-year career, he is 63-85 with a 4.48 ERA, .281 BAA, and 87 saves in 823 games (98 saves). He hasn't started since 1999.

Other News

The bidding for Japanese superstar Yu Darvish has ended, and we will wait and see who had the highest bid for exclusive negotiating rights. The Blue JaysRangers and Cubs are the likely front runners.


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Teams followed in this email: Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta BravesIf your team is not included, please email me and I will add them.

HR: home runs. RBI: runs batted in. AVG: batting average. SB: stolen bases. ERA: earned run average. BAA: batting average against. K's: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage

Zack Silverman

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