Wolf, Gload, Penny, and Other Updates

A quick update on the goings-on in Indianapolis today …

Various sources report that the Brewers have signed LHP Randy Wolf to a three-year, $29.75M deal. Have to say I’m glad it wasn’t the Mets locking up that much over that many years for an aging .500 pitcher with a history of shoulder problems and chronic elbow issues.

The Phillies signed pinch-hitter extraordinaire Ross Gload to a two-year deal. A good addition in that he steps into Matt Stairs’ role, but two years? Sounds like Ruben Amaro is emulating Omar Minaya rather than Pat Gillick.

The Cardinals signed Brad Penny to a one-year, $7.5M deal plus incentives. A little expensive for the portly injury risk, and that’s a big chunk of dough that could’ve gone to Matt Holliday, but you know Penny will flourish under Dave Duncan.

The Twins have DFA’d former pitching prospect Boof Bonser. He missed most of 2009 with a shoulder injury and has a history as an underachiever due to problems with his weight, focus, and the gopher ball.

The Braves DFA’d Ryan Church to make room for Rafael Soriano. Before you think that makes the Mets the “winner” in the Church-Francoeur, understand that the Braves were a lock to non-tender Frenchy.

The Nationals released reliever Saul Rivera. Rivera was a Met in 2001 when Omar Minaya was a front office assistant, and was an Expo when Minaya was the GM there. That said, don’t be surprised to see the Mets tender an ST invite to the veteran righthander.

Conflicting reports from Joel Sherman and David Lennon suggest that the Mets have offered either a one-year deal or a two-year deal to Bengie Molina. In any case, Molina is supposedly looking for THREE years. Good luck with that, Bengie — though if any team is dumb enough to do it, it’s the Mets.

Seth Everett just reported on XM that the Mets are leaving the winter meetings today, one day early. Apparently they accomplished everything in Indianapolis they set out to do.