Hot Stove: 12/29

History of Baseball: 1898
National League Champion: Boston Beaneaters (102-47, .685 WPCT).
Before the season, the Chicago Colts renamed themselves the Chicago Orphans as it was the first season they ever played without Cap Anson, known as "Pop".  Though Anson was gone, a rookie named Frank Chance debuted with the Orphans, and his name would be made famous in the poem "Tinker to Evers to Chance", as well as with his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1946.  The 1898 season saw many historical firsts.  On April 21st, Philadelphia's Bill Duggelby became the first player in history to hit a grand slam in his first at bat.  The feat would not be matched for another 107 years, when Florida's Jeremy Hermida did so in 2005.  The very next day, Cincinnati's Tom Breitenstein, who tossed a no-hitter in the AA's final game, no-hit the Pirates, while Baltimore's Jay Hughes no-hit the Beaneaters.  It was the first time two no-hitters were thrown on the same day, and it would not happen again until Los Angeles' Fernando Valenzuela and Oakland's Dave Stewart both threw no-hitters on June 29th, 1990.  On July 5th, Lizzy Arlington became the first woman to play professional baseball, appearing for the Reading Coal Heavers in the minor league Atlantic League.  The 1898 season would also see the retirement of Sam Thompson, who had been playing since 1885 and had 126 career home runs, the second most in major league history at that point, behind Roger Connor (138).  Amos Rusie also played what would be his final full season, holding a 246-173 career record from 1889-1898.  Rusie wouldn't be done making history, however, because he would be involved in the most lopsided trade in major league history in 1900.  The Boston Beaneaters ended up winning the National League again, going 102-47.  Again, the Orioles finished second, going 96-53 and finishing six games back.  The St. Louis Browns again finished last, going 39-111 to finish 63.5 games back.  The Louisville Colonels, who had been mired at the bottom of the league for years, finally put up a good showing in 1898, going 70-81 to finish a modest ninth out of twelve teams.  Statistically, Wee Willie Keeler won the batting title at .385 in what would be his final season with the Orioles.  Boston's Jimmy Collins led the league with 15 home runs, while Philadelphia's Nap Lajoie drove in 127 to top the league.  Pitchers saw a great revival in 1898 after years of offensive supremacy.  Clark Griffith won the ERA title, clocking in at 1.88 while also going 24-10 for the Orphans.  Boston's Kid Nichols led baseball in wins, going 31-12 with a 2.13 ERA and a league leading 1.03 WHIP.  In all, nine pitchers finished with ERA's under 3.00, including three Boston pitchers.  Cy Young, always at the top of the league, went 25-13 with a 2.53 ERA in what would be his final season with Cleveland.  

News
The Rakkuten Golden Eagles have decided to post Masahiro Tanaka, meaning any team can bid up to $20 million to negotiate with him, with Tanaka choosing which among the teams that bid $20 million he would like to negotiate with exclusively.
Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was arrested in Florida on accounts of reckless driving, clocking in at 110 MPH in a 70 MPH zone.  It is his second time being arrested for reckless driving.

Free Agent Signings
Padres signed Joaquin Benoit (4-1, 2.01 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 24 SV, 2014 age: 36-37) to a two year, $15.5 million deal ($7.75 million per season).
Dodgers signed Chris Perez (5-3, 4.33 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 25 SV, 2014 age: 28-29) to a one year, $2.3 million deal.
Angels signed Raul Ibanez (29 HR, 65 RBI, .242 AVG, 0 SB, 2014 age: 42) to a one year, $2.75 million deal.
Dodgers resigned Juan Uribe (12 HR, 50 RBI, .278 AVG, 5 SB, 2014 age: 35) to a two year, $15 million deal ($7.5 million per season).
Cubs signed Jose Veras (0-5, 3.02 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 21 SV, 2014 age: 33) to a one year, $3.85 million deal.
Dodgers signed Jamey Wright (2-2, 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 2014 age: 39) to a one year, $1.8 million deal.
Twins resigned Mike Pelfrey (5-13, 5.19 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 2014 age: 30) to a two year, $11 million deal ($5.5 million per season).
Cubs signed Ryan Roberts (5 HR, 17 RBI, .247 AVG, 0 SB, 2014 age: 33) to a minor league deal.
Blue Jays resigned Munenori Kawasaki (1 HR, 24 RBI, .229 AVG, 7 SB, 2014 age: 33) to a minor league deal.
Royals signed Melky Mesa (0 HR, 1 RBI, .385 AVG, 0 SB, 2014 age: 27) to a minor league deal.

Joaquin Benoit is the third big name pitcher added to the Padres since the middle of last season, joining Ian Kennedy and Josh Johnson as newcomers in San Diego.  He will likely act as a set-up man behind closer Huston Street, replacing Luke Gregerson, who was traded to the A's a few weeks ago.  A 12 year veteran, Benoit has had an interesting career.  He came up as a starter with the Rangers in 2001, but transferred to the bullpen in 2005.  While posting inconsistent numbers (his best season was 2007, when he was 7-4 with a 2.85 ERA), he tore his rotator cuff in 2008, forcing him to miss the entire 2009 season.  As a 32 year old who hadn't pitched since 2008, when he had gone 3-2 with a 5.00 ERA, Benoit did not attract much attention on the free agent market.  However, the Rays signed him to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training.  As it turned out, they got much, much more than they paid for.  In 63 appearances, he went 1-2 with a 1.34 ERA and a microscopic 0.68 WHIP while striking out 75 batters in 60.1 innings.  He allowed just 41 base runners in those 63 games.  The Tigers brought him on for three years starting in 2011, and he posted ERA's of 2.95, 3.68, and 2.01, becoming the closer in 2013.  Last year, he was 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in 66 appearances, saving a career high 24 games.  For his career, he is 44-35 with a 4.11 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 37 saves in 541 games (55 starts).  However, take out the 55 starts and he is 30-16 with a 3.17 ERA in 486 appearances (versus 14-19 with a 6.08 ERA in 55 starts).  He's made 20 appearances across four postseasons (all in a row from 2010-2013), going 1-0 with a 2.82 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.

The Dodgers have brought on the fiery Chris Perez to serve in their well stocked bullpen that now includes such names as Perez, Brian Wilson, Jamey Wright, J.P. Howell, Javy Guerra, Kenley Jansen, and Paco Rodriguez.  Perez, Wilson, Guerra, and Jansen all have closer experience, meaning the Dodgers among the deepest teams in the league when it comes to the eighth and ninth innings.  Chris Perez was known as a hot-headed, quick-tempered player in Cleveland, prompting his release the same season that he saved 25 games.  His best season came back in 2010, when he went 2-2 with a 1.71 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 23 saves in 63 games for Cleveland.  He's been inconsistent since then, but he saved 39 games in 2012, good for fourth in the American League.  For his career, he holds a 3.41 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 132 saves in 344 appearances.  He was an All Star in 2011 and 2012.

Raul Ibanez seems to defy age.  He's 41 years old with 18 major league seasons under his belt (22 years in professional baseball) and he's still going strong.  An outfielder by trade, Ibanez likely won't see a lot of time in the field with the Angels crowded outfield already touting Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton, Collin Cowgill, Kole Calhoun, and J.B. Shuck, rather he will work at DH, occasionally spelling Albert Pujols at first base.  2013 saw the Miami native reach all kinds of milestones, including his 400th double (5/24), 1000th run scored (6/11), 2000th game played (6/20), 7000th at bat (7/2), and 300th home run (9/21).  Additionally, the seventh hit he records with the Angels will be his 2000th.  While many would say his best season came in 2006, when he hit 33 home runs, drove in 123, and batted .289 in 159 games for the Mariners, he was still going strong in 2013.  In his age 41 season, he hit 29 home runs (the third highest total of his 18 year career), drove in 65, and batted .242 in 124 games.  For his career, he has 300 home runs, 1181 RBI, and a .276 average in 2071 games for the Mariners (1996-2000, 2004-2008, and 2013), Royals (2001-2003), Phillies (2009-2011), and Yankees (2012).

Waiver Claims
Orioles claimed Liam Hendriks (1-3, 6.85 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 2014 age: 25) off waivers from the Cubs.
Rangers claimed Alex Castellanos (1 HR, 1 RBI, .167 AVG, 0 SB, 2014 age: 27) off waivers from the Red Sox.
Blue Jays claimed Brent Morel (0 HR, 1 RBI, .200 AVG, 1 SB, 2014 age: 27) off waivers from the White Sox.
Cubs claimed Brett Marshall (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 2014 age: 24) off waivers from the Yankees.W
hite Sox claimed Eric Surkamp (0-1, 23.62 ERA, 3.38 WHIP, 2014 age: 26-27) off waivers from the Giants.

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Teams followed in this update: Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers
If your team is not included, please leave a comment.
HR: home runs.  RBI: runs batted in.  AVG: batting average.  SB: stolen bases.  ERA: earned run average. WHIP: walks/hits per innings pitched.  K's: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage
Zack Silverman