MLB betting: Hall of Fame and Hot Stove news

Ron Santo joined the Hall of Fame, Heath Bell formally joined the Miami Marlins and Jerry Hairston Jr. joined the surprising flock of free agents in Dodger Blue, this according to MLB.com’s Tom Singer.

“The opening day of Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings in Dallas may have featured more hotel lobby-sparked rumors than actual developments, but Monday was not without hard news. While the game’s executives and its chroniclers continued to muse whether Big D will live up to its name with Big Deals for Albert Pujols and/or Prince Fielder, the first order of business indeed was a big deal in Chicago as one of the Windy City’s favorite sons, Santo, had the doors to Cooperstown posthumously thrown open for him by the Hall’s Golden Era Committee.”

Hot Stove News:

Blue Jays restricting contracts:
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos all but denied the rumors surrounding his club’s potential interest in free-agent sluggers Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings in Dallas, says Brian McTaggart. 

Angels may be looking for a closer:
Contrary to what Heath Bell told The Los Angeles Times after his introductory press conference with the Miami Marlins on Monday, the Angels did not make an offer to the free-agent closer, general manager Jerry DiPoto said. In fact, DiPoto added, the Angels have yet to make any offers to any closers, this according to Alden Gonzalez.

“We did not make an offer to Heath Bell,” DiPoto said from his suite at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. “We’ve gone into this, and to this point, exploring different options. One of those has not been making an offer to a ninth-inning guy.”

“That would mean no offers for the likes of Ryan Madson, Francisco Cordero or Francisco Rodriguez. While the Angels still want to add a back-end bullpen piece, the presence of Jordan Walden means finding a tenured (and rather expensive) closer isn’t the first priority. Adding offense and starting pitching supersede that, wrote Gonzalez of MLB.com.

“I just don’t think it’s our primary need,” DiPoto said of closers. “If I were lining up the importance of what we need — and I won’t say it’s in a certain order, but I think the idea of functionality offensively, or diversity in our offense, as well as an obvious void in our starting rotation, would take precedence over [a closer].”

Astros looking for money:
“The Astros are shopping starting pitchers Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers and first baseman/outfielder Carlos Lee at the Winter Meetings and would be willing to eat some of the contracts of Myers and Lee, according to a Major League Baseball source. The Astros aren’t willing to take back money on any deal involving Rodriguez,” this according to Brian McTaggart. “Lee is scheduled to make $18.5 million next year, the final year of his six-year, $100-million deal. He has a partial no-trade clause, meaning he has given the Astros a list of teams to which he could be traded. Rodriguez is due $10 million next year, $13 million in ‘13 and would get $13 million in ‘14 if he changes uniforms. Myers is due $11 million in ‘12 and $10 million in ‘13, if his club option is picked up.”

Dotel still has market value:
A roster spot for veteran reliever Octavio Dotel continues to take shape. The Reds, Cardinals, Brewers, Tigers and Mets have all inquired about the reliever, according to an industry source. Dotel’s representatives have already met with the Tigers and Brewers, this according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.

“Dotel, 37, went 3-3 with 3.28 ERA during the regular season in 29 games for the Cardinals and 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 12 games during the postseason. He was acquired by the Cardinals from the Blue Jays in late July but the club declined his option at the end of the season.”

There is no sportsbook news to report from Major League Baseball yet. However, after Christmas futures will begin to take shape.

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