The Boston Red Sox had to do some rebuilding this offseason, using the strategy of outbidding competitors rather than signing players to long-term deals.

The players that signed -- Jonny Gomes, Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, David Ross and Ryan Dempster -- don't understand why anyone would be turned off by playing in Boston.

"The core Red Sox guys from what happened last year, and knowing those guys and their character -- how they approach the game and how they play the game to win -- I knew 100 percent those guys would have a chip on their shoulder," Gomes said.

"So the opportunity to play in Boston with these guys having a chip on their shoulder was what I signed up for."

Boston general manager Ben Cherington doesn't think free agents were hesitant to jump into Red Sox Nation.

"I didn’t notice that at all," Cherington said. "Maybe if we had been maybe that would have an issue, I don’t know. Even the couple of guys we didn’t sign, that didn’t seem to be an issue.

"I think players want to know two things: They want to know environment and they want to know commitment to winning. And the environment, one way or another, was going to be different."

Aaron Laffey has elected for free agency following an outright assignment from the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 28-year-old has been designated for assignment by the New York Mets and Blue Jays this month, appearing in five big league games.

The Orioles signed Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract earlier this year.

The right-hander is with Triple-A Norfolk is and just one start away from the ability to opt out of his deal.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is reporting that the New York Yankees and second baseman Robinson Cano "would appear to very badly want to reach a deal."

There is mutual interest, but a significant gap in salary demands.

Cano is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2013 season.

New York was looking at David Wright's eight-year, $138 million extension with the Mets as a guideline, but Cano's agents may aim as high as Alex Rodriguez's 10-year, $275 million contract.

The Baltimore Orioles have released right-hander Scott Proctor.

He was pitching at Triple-A Norfolk.

Proctor allowed seven earned runs, and 13 total, in 7 1/3 innings with the Tides. He surrendered 10 hits, walked 10 and struck out six.

Jose Valverde, who re-joined the Detroit Tigers this week, says he had Major League offers from the New York Mets and New York Yankees this winter.

Valverde signed a minor league contract with the Tigers in early April which was re-worked into a Major League deal on Tuesday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have released pitcher Eddie Bonine.

The 32-year-old had a 3.27 ERA in five games this season.

The Texas Rangers will be without Matt Harrison until the All-Star break following back surgery.

General manager Jon Daniels doesn't expect to run out and make a trade, preferring to fill the hole in their starting rotation internally.

"We're always keeping our eyes open," Daniels said.

"But I don't think we'll do anything from outside. We'll play it out. We like the guys we've got. We like the guys that are on the mend. That's obviously an important group for us in Arizona."

David Ortiz believes he's ready to return to the Boston Red Sox as the team begins a homestand this week.

Ortiz has been dealing with a right Achilles injury and the timing of his return has come into question.

His two-year, $26 million deal includes a guarantee of $11 million in 2014 that can increase to $15 million based on how much time he misses this season related to the Achilles injury.

If he is on the DL for 21-40 days this year related to the Achilles, he would make $13 million next year; if he's on the DL for 41 or more days related to the Achilles, his earnings would top out at $11 million.

Saturday would be his 21st day on the shelf, meaning that if he's not activated in the next two days, he'd lose $2 million in potential earnings for next year.

"I just found out about [the contract clause] a couple of days ago. That's not the thing I'm really thinking about right now," Ortiz said.

"I want to go back and I want to play, but if I wasn't ready right now, then I wasn't ready. That was going to be it. If I would be limping or hurting still, it is what it is. But I'm going back now because I feel ready and I want to be playing for my ball club."

New York Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes, who has struggled with inconsistency throughout his career, will be a free agent soon.

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News tweets that Hughes could command $70 million next winter.