The Cleveland Indians on Wednesday acquired left-handed pitcher Josh Outman from the Colorado in exchange for outfielder Drew Stubbs.
Outman, 29, was 3-0 with a 4.33 ERA in 61 relief appearances for the Rockies last season, limiting left-handed batters to a .198 batting average.
Stubbs, 29, spent last season with the Indians following four years with the Cincinnati Reds. He hit .233 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs in 146 games in 2013. He is considered a good base-stealer and defensive outfielder likely to serve as a primary reserve with Carlos Gonzalez expected to start in center field next season.
The Rockies also acquired Franklin Morales and minor league pitcher Chris Martin from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Jonathan Herrera, according to MLB.com.
Morales, 27, went 2-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 20 appearances for the Red Sox last season. Herrera, 28, hit .292 in 81 games for the Rockies, with one home run and 16 RBIs.
—The Atlanta Braves picked up catcher/outfielder Ryan Doumit in a trade with the Minnesota Twins for left-handed pitching prospect Sean Gilmartin.
Doumit, 32, bolsters the Braves’ catching depth after Brian McCann left via free agency for the New York Yankees. The versatile Doumit also plays first base and the outfield.
The switch-hitting Doumit batted .247 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs in 135 games for the Twins in 2013. The previous year with Minnesota, Doumit had career highs of 18 homers and 75 RBIs.
Doumit’s addition will give the Braves a third option behind the plate along with Evan Gattis and Gerald Laird.
The 23-year-old Gilmartin, who was the 28th overall pick in the 2011 draft, struggled with shoulder problems during the 2013 season in the minor leagues. In three years in the minors, he has a 12-20 record with a 4.23 ERA.
According to Fox Sports, the Twins are looking at catchers Kurt Suzuki and John Buck as a replacement for Doumit.
—The San Diego Padres are nearing an agreement with right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit on a two-year contract worth approximately $15 million, according to a report.
The 36-year-old Benoit posted 24 saves last season for the Detroit Tigers but likely would be the setup man for closer Huston Street with the Padres, CBSSports.com reported Wednesday.
Benoit, who recovered from shoulder problems four years ago, worked 67 innings in 2013 and had a 4-1 record with a 2.01 ERA.
In 12 years in the major leagues with the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays and the Tigers, Benoit has a 44-35 record with a 4.11 ERA and 37 saves.
Street had 33 saves for the Padres in 2013. He will make $7 million in 2014.
—Veteran Raul Ibanez reached agreement on a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, according to reports.
The 41-year-old hit 29 home runs and had a .242 batting average with 65 RBIs in 124 games last season for the Seattle Mariners. He is expected to fill a left-handed designated hitter role with the Angels, but can also play first base and the outfield.
The Baltimore Orioles were also reported to be interested in Ibanez, who has hit 300 home runs during an 18-year career with the Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.
—Free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo turned down a seven-year, $140 million offer from the New York Yankees after the signing of Jacoby Ellsbury, Yahoo! Sports reported.
When Choo’s agent, Scott Boras, asked for a deal in the price range of Ellsbury’s contract, the Yankees declined and moved on to get free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran instead, according to Yahoo.
The Yankees’ offer to Choo apparently was made between Dec. 3-6 after second baseman Robinson Cano left for the Seattle Mariners and Ellsbury’s signing. Boras countered by demanding a contract similar to Ellsbury’s seven-year, $153 million deal. The Yankees then signed Beltran, who was with the St. Louis Cardinals, to a three-year, $45 million deal.
The Yankees refused to comment about the Choo offer, according to Yahoo.
Choo is considered the best remaining free agent on the market this winter and has drawn interest from the Rangers, Mariners, Astros and Diamondbacks. According to reports, the Astros could be the front-runners to land Choo.
The 31-year-old spent the 2013 season with the Cincinnati Reds and batted .285 with 21 home runs and 54 RBIs and had 20 stolen bases in 154 games.
Choo started his career with the Seattle Mariners and played six seasons with the Cleveland Indians before going to the Reds. He is a career .288 batter with 104 home runs, 427 RBIs and 105 stolen bases in 809 games.