Aoki Adds Schierholtz Into Perkins

Baseball Betting Lines

Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have avoided arbitration with Evan Meek, signing the reliever to a one-year contract. Meek endured a forgettable 2011 campaign as injuries limited him to only 24 games.

 

The 28-year-old right-hander was coming off an All-Star season in which he posted a 2.14 earned run average in a career-high 70 appearances.

 

Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins agreed on Tuesday to one-year contracts with left-handed pitchers Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins, avoiding arbitration. Liriano, 29, posted a 9-10 record with a 5.09 earned run average, 112 strikeouts and 75 walks in a disappointing 2011 for the Twins in which they finished last in the American League Central Division with a 63-99 mark.

 

The highlight of the season for Liriano came on May 3 when he threw a no- hitter in a 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.

 

Perkins, a St. Paul native, posted a 4-4 record with a 2.48 ERA, 65 strikeouts and 21 walks for his hometown team last season. Perkins has spent his entire five-year major league career with the Twins and has a 23-16 record in 145 games -- 44 starts -- with 224 strikeouts and 100 walks.

 

San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants have avoided arbitration with Nate Schierholtz, signing the outfielder to a one- year contract. Schierholtz hit .278 with nine home runs and 41 RBI in 115 games with the Giants last season.

 

Volquez, a 28-year-old righty hurler, was acquired in a five-player trade which sent Mat Latos to Cincinnati. He rose to prominence in 2008, going 17-6 with a 3.21 ERA in his first year with the Reds. Last season, he went 5-7 with a 5.71 ERA.

 

Quentin, a two-time All-Star and former Silver Slugger Award winner, was acquired from the White Sox in exchange for pitchers Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez. The 29-year-old catcher has belted at least 21 home runs in each of the last four seasons. In 2011, he batted .254 with 24 home runs, a career- high 31 doubles and 77 RBI in 118 games.

 

Gregerson went 3-3 with a career-best 2.75 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 61 relief appearances for the Padres a season ago. The 27-year-old righty has 216 strikeouts against 68 walks in 213 career relief appearances -- all with the Padres.

 

Thatcher, a 30-year-old lefty reliever, appeared in just 18 games for the Padres last year after undergoing shoulder surgery in May. He has posted a 4-6 record with a 3.36 ERA in 182 career relief appearances over parts of five seasons with the Padres.

Wpaddypower Baseball Betting Blog

<< Last Season From Rbi Home

<< Season In Pirates Month

<< Stolen Bases Joins Pineiro For Mets

<< Open Boosts Ferrer At Roddick

<< Last Year Warns Open From Round

Blind Luck Leads Havre Against Year >>

Receiver Helps Defensive On Big >>

ST. John Points Salvage Wrap From Michigan >>

Lake City Warns Points From Percent >>

Points Boosts Celtics At Trip >>

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.