Weekend Digest: Christmas Edition

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmakwanzikkah this week. This week didn't provide a whole lot of non-Braves news around MLB, at least nothing too earth-shattering.

Phil Hughes gets contract extension

Hughes was rewarded for his 16-10 season in which he broke the K/BB record with a three-year extension which takes him into the 2019 season. The deal includes a limited no-trade clause and up to $1 million in performance bonuses.

Marco Scutaro has back surgery

Scutaro had the surgery on December 19th but it wasn't announced until this past Monday that he had a procedure done to fuse his L2 and L3 vertebrae. Scutaro is 39 years old and only played in five games in 2014; he was the 2012 NLCS MVP.

Ryan Lavarnway joins his fourth team this month

Had this happened during the regular season, he'd have logged a ton of mileage. He was DFA'd by the Red Sox on November 25 when they signed Pablo Sandoval. On December 5, the Dodgers picked him up but DFA'd him six days later before the Cubs claimed him on the 19th, who dropped him when they signed David Ross. This past Tuesday, the Orioles claimed him as insurance for Matt Wieters. However, they already have two catchers in Steve Clevenger and Caleb Joseph, so we'll see if he sticks.

Darryl Strawberry's money to be auctioned off

Next month, the IRS will auction off the right to collect the $1.28 million remaining annuity from the deferred compensation on the six-year contract Strawberry signed with the Mets in 1985. It will be dispersed in 223 monthly installments (18.5 years) and the winning bid can't be lower than $550,000.

Pirates win negotiation rights with Jung-Ho Kang

The KBO MVP hit 39 homers and hit .354 in 2014. The Pirates now have a 30-day window to sign Kang, a 27-year old shortstop or he'll return to Korea. He'd certainly be an upgrade on offense at the position; Jordy Mercer hit .255 with 12 homers in 149 games as shortstop in 2014.

No word yet on if Kodos will be signed as well.