>>Cubs Pull Trade With Mariners
(Undated) -- The Cubs and Mariners have pulled a trade. Chicago sent lefty Mike Kickham to the M's for minor league pitcher Lars Huijer. Kickham was claimed off waivers from San Francisco after the Giants signed Jake Peavy. Huijer spent last season at two levels of Single-A.
>>Sox Sign Anderson
(Undated) -- The White Sox are bringing back former first-round pick Brian Anderson on a minor league deal. He was selected 15th overall in 2003 by the Sox but never lived up to expectations. He hit .227 with 22 home runs and 80 RBI in five seasons with Chicago and Boston.
>>Cardinals' Jay Cleared For Baseball Activity
(St. Louis, MO) -- Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay is being cleared to resume baseball activity after having his surgically-repaired wrist examined this week. He had a damaged ligament repaired back in October. Jay says he'll begin swinging soon and expects to be ready in time for spring training.
>>Yankees Agree To One-Year Deal With Nova
(Bronx, NY) -- The New York Yankees are avoiding arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, 3.3-million-dollar contract with pitcher Ivan Nova. The 28-year-old right-hander went 2-and-2 with an 8.27 ERA in four starts last year before season-ending Tommy John surgery. Nova was 37-and-18 in three years before that.
>>Report: Astros Acquire Gattis From Braves
(Houston, TX) -- The Houston Astros are adding a power bat to their lineup. ESPN reports the Astros have acquired catcher Evan Gattis from the Atlanta Braves for three minor-league prospects. The 28-year-old slugger hit .263 with 22 home runs and 52 RBI's last season. Gattis, who has also played first base and left field, has 43 home runs in two seasons. Atlanta receives right-handed pitchers Mike Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman and third baseman Rio Ruiz in return.
>>A's Acquire Nats Reliever
The Oakland Athletics on Wednesday acquired right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard from the Washington Nationals in exchange for recently obtained infielder Yunel Escobar.
Clippard, 29, spent the past seven seasons with the Nationals, compiling a 34-24 record with 34 saves and a 2.68 ERA in 414 games. The two-time All-Star was 7-4 with a 2.18 in 75 appearances last year.
The A's had acquired Escobar from Tampa Bay on Saturday in a trade that also landed them Ben Zobrist.
Escobar, 32, batted .258 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 137 games for the Rays last season. He has hit .276 with 69 homers and 393 RBI in 1,074 career games for Atlanta, Toronto and Tampa Bay.
