Baseball News: September 2012

Minggu, 30 September 2012

Quick Hits: Angels, Padres, Francona, Indians, Red Sox

« Free Agent Stock Watch: Edwin Jackson | Main

Right-hander Chris Young made his final start of the season this evening, throwing six innings of two-run ball against the Braves. ESPN New York's Adam Rubin notes (on Twitter) that the start cost the Mets $350K, as Young hit incentives for his 20th start ($200K) and 110th inning pitched ($150K). Here's the latest from around the league as Saturday turns into Sunday...

"Always difficult. Any market. Doesn't matter. Any year, any market ... Whether we're going to be part of that, I can't tell you," said Angels GM Jerry Dipoto to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register when asked about acquiring rotation help. The team is considering declining their options for Dan Haren and Ervin Santana in an effort to sign Zack Greinke long-term.
MLB.com's Corey Brock speculates (on Twitter) that the Padres will use their available money this offseason on starting pitching. Fifteen different pitchers starting games for San Diego this year due to injuries.
Terry Pluto of The Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Indians should do whatever they can to bring Terry Francona on board as manager. Francona will interview for the position next week.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com believe that the Indians are in a no lose situation with two great managerial candidates. Interim manager Sandy Alomar Jr. will also get consideration for the job on the full-time basis.
The Red Sox are about to hire Eddie Bane as a special assignment scout, reports ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes. Bane was the Angels' scouting director when they drafted Mike Trout and Jered Weaver, among others. Edes says the Sox are expected to make one more hire as well.

Millwood Unsure About Future Plans

« Rosenthal On Indians, Tracy, Haren, Farrell | Main | Free Agent Stock Watch: Edwin Jackson »

Kevin Millwood just wrapped up his 16th season as a big leaguer, but at this point he is unsure if he wants to continue playing next year. The 37-year-old right-hander told MLB.com's Greg Johns that he'll go home for the winter and decide on his future after spending some time with his family.

"I'm going to go home and just relax and play with my kids and see what happens, see how I feel and see what pops into my head," said Millwood. "I don't have any definite plans right now on next year, but I'm sure at some point in the offseason it'll hit me on what I want to do ... I started playing 10 days after I graduated from high school and this is what I've done for nearly 20 years. So all the sudden to not do it anymore would be a pretty big shock to the system."

Millwood admitted that he was more certain about his desire to continue playing at this time last year. He signed a minor league deal with the Mariners in January, then made the club out of Spring Training and pitched to a 4.25 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and a 44.7% ground ball rate in 28 starts and 161 innings. Millwood missed time with a groin strain in June while a sore shoulder ended his season about two weeks ago. Seattle still got a bargain considering his $1MM salary.

If he does decide to return next year, Millwood will likely have to settle for another low base salary minor league contract and again earn a rotation spot in Spring Training. He has played for four teams (Rangers, Orioles, Rockies, Mariners) in the last four years after lengthy stints with the Braves and in Texas earlier in his career.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Edwin Jackson

« Millwood Unsure About Future Plans | Main | Quick Hits: Angels, Padres, Francona, Indians, Red Sox »

When the Nationals signed Edwin Jackson to a one-year, $11MM contract a few days before the start of Spring Training, it was widely considered to be one of the best free agent deals of the offseason. They had just added a workhorse starter with a 3.96 ERA from 2009-2011 to a staff that already included Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, and Jordan Zimmermann. The pitching rich got richer.

Uspw_6510102 Jackson, 29, is now scheduled to hit the free agent market for the second time in as many years. He dumped Scott Boras in favor of the Legacy Agency in July, perhaps an indication that he was unhappy with only getting a one-year contract. Jackson passed on a lucrative three-year offer from the Pirates to join a club that many believed was poised to break through and become a contender, a belief that proved to be true. But still, he didn't get a long-term deal.

This season has been similar to the last three for Jackson. He's pitched to a 4.13 ERA in 30 starts and 183 innings while keeping his walk rate down (2.8 BB/9), his ground ball rate up (47.2%), and enjoying a boost to his strikeout rate (8.0 K/9) after a full year in the NL. Jackson is limping to the finish though, as his ERA has jumped exactly half-a-run this month. He allowed nine runs (eight earned) in 1 1/3 innings last night, and has allowed at least four runs in four of his five September starts. His fastball velocity, which averaged 94-95 mph from 2007-2011, is suddenly more 92-94 these days.

One bad month usually isn't enough to sabotage a player's free agent stock, and Jackson will have the postseason to prove that September is just a poorly-timed slump. The free agent pitching market will be headlined by Zack Greinke, but Jackson leads a group of second-tier arms that will include Ryan Dempster, Hiroki Kuroda, Kyle Lohse, Shaun Marcum, and Anibal Sanchez. More than 3,500 MLBTR readers say the Nationals should make Jackson a qualifying offer (in the $13MM range) after the season, a move that frankly feels like a no-brainer. It'll entitle them to draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere, and in the worst case they get him back for another year.

Jackson is almost certainly going to seek the multi-year contract he was unable to land last offseason, and he should have no trouble finding suitors. Big market teams like the Red Sox, Tigers, Dodgers, and Yankees could turn to him to supplement their rotations while smaller payroll clubs like the Pirates, Royals, Blue Jays, Indians, and Orioles figure to show interest as well. Pitching is always in high demand, especially when you're talking about a just turned 29-year-old who is right smack in the prime of his career.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

Sabtu, 29 September 2012

East Notes: Red Sox, Aviles, Vizquel, Guillen

« This Date In Transactions History: Tim Salmon | Main | Quick Hits: Peavy, Rizzo, Byrnes, Utley, Rockies »

Here's a look at the latest out of the AL and NL East..

Red Sox shortstop Mike Aviles isn't thrilled about his reduced role but still hopes to remain in Boston next season, writes Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Despite that, Aviles insists that he won't dwell too much on his baseball future as a great deal of his focus will remain on his family at home.
Blue Jays shortstop Omar Vizquel made it known earlier this summer that 2012 will be his final major league season and the 45-year-old hasn't had a change of heart. The veteran reiterated today that he plans on retiring as a player effective Wednesday, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
In a session today with Spanish-language reporters, Marlins skipper Ozzie Guillen opined that it would be unfair if he is dismissed after just one season at the helm in Miami, writes Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post. Earlier this week, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com wrote that Guillen's job appears to be in "serious peril".
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine told ESPN 98.7's Michael Kay that he wished he had listened to a particular piece of advice from former pitcher Al Leiter over the winter, writes Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com. Leiter later told Kay that his advice was to work to get pitcher Josh Beckett on his side as he can be difficult at times. Beckett, of course, would later be a part of the club's massive payroll purge in their deal with the Dodgers.

This Date In Transactions History: Tim Salmon

« White Sox Sign Johan Cruz | Main | East Notes: Red Sox, Aviles, Vizquel, Guillen »

Had MLBTradeRumors been in existence during Tim Salmon's strongest years, it's unlikely that you would have seen him featured prominently on the site. For the most part, it was difficult to picture the outfielder known as Mr. Angel donning another uniform. On this date in 2006, Salmon announced that he would end his career with the only franchise that he had ever known.

Salmon quickly made a name for himself in the majors as he hit .283/.382/.536 with 31 homers in his first full season in 1993, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors with 100% of the first-place votes. The right fielder didn't let up in the years that followed and finished seventh in MVP voting in both 1995 and 1997, seasons in which he posted an OPS of 1.024 and .911, respectively. Injuries would limit Salmon to just 98 games in 1999 - his lowest total since becoming a full-time major leaguer - but he bounced back in spectacular fashion in 2000, matching his career-high of 34 home runs.

The strong season came at the tailend of his four-year, $16.5MM deal with the Halos. The lifelong Angel wasn't short on suitors, but quickly chose to stay put with the Angels on a four-year, $40MM extension. Salmon's 2001 regular season was somewhat forgettable and it stayed that way thanks to his strong bounceback in 2002, culminating in the Angels' 2002 World Series championship.

The veteran would later reach another crossroads in his career where he may have entertained the idea of playing elsewhere. After missing all of 2005 thanks to a pair of significant surgeries, Salmon hooked on with the Angels in Spring Training with the hope of auditioning himself for other clubs. However, the veteran's play earned him a spot with the club in 2006 in which he saw 54 games at DH with a handful of appearances in the outfield. On September 28th, Salmon announced that he would call it a career after 14 big league seasons.

On a day in which the Braves are paying tribute to their own longtime superstar, it seems fitting to also reflect on the career of another lifelong franchise pillar who plied his craft on the opposite coast. While Chipper Jones' body of work is obviously quite different from Salmon's, it's rather remarkable that the outfielder never received an All-Star nomination throughout the course of his lengthy career. However, he will always be remembered fondly by Angels fans for his power bat, his resilience in the face of multiple setbacks, and his instrumental role in the club's 2002 championship.

Quick Hits: Peavy, Rizzo, Byrnes, Utley, Rockies

« East Notes: Red Sox, Aviles, Vizquel, Guillen | Main

At the beginning of the season, it seemed farfetched that Jake Peavy would get another multi-year contract for 2013 and beyond, but that matter will soon be a front-burner issue for the White Sox, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com. It's hard to say what the 31-year-old might get on the open market as Olney notes that this time last year, few predicted that Mark Buehrle would land a four-year, $58MM contract from the Marlins. The Dodgers, Cubs, Angels, and others will have money to spend this winter while the Royals are known to be looking for someone to anchor their rotation. Here's more from around baseball..

The Nationals hold club options for 2014 and '15 on General Manager Mike Rizzo's contract, people familiar with the deal told Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post. That effectively means that Rizzo has just one guaranteed year remaining with the club. Kilgore writes that the GM may use the club's success as leverage to get yet another contract extension, but the Nats don't appear to be in a rush to get that done.
While Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes believes that the club will increase its payroll for next season, he cautioned that a good chunk of that will go to arbitration raises for Chase Headley, Clayton Richard, Edinson Volquez, Will Venable, and others, writes Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com. Byrnes also talked about what he learned in his time with the Diamondbacks and the evolution of Carlos Quentin over that span.
The Phillies have been toying with the idea of shifting Chase Utley to third base for the 2013 season, but GM Ruben Amaro is shutting the experiment down, writes Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Now, the Phillies will likely have to turn to the open market for a solution at third, but there aren't a ton of appealing options in this year's free agent class.
Jonah Keri of Grantland.com sat down with Rockies GM Bill Geivett for a lengthy discussion on the unique challenges faced by the club thanks to the altitude of their home ballpark. The Rockies turned to a unique pitching experiment this season that will continue in 2013 and are looking into other ideas that could affect the way they build their roster going forward.

Jumat, 28 September 2012

Central Notes: Cubs, Hoyer, Indians, Astros

« Dodgers TV Deal Allows For Limited Revenue Sharing | Main | Quick Hits: Varitek, Rockies, Haren, Diamondbacks »

Here's a look at some items out of the Central divisions..

Cubs General Manager Jed Hoyer has just $40MM committed to four players for 2013 and says that the rotation will be a priority for the club this winter, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. 'We certainly have to be aggressive with starting pitching over the course of the winter," said Hoyer. Last night, Hoyer indicated that the Cubs are prepared to be active on the open market this winter.
A number of candidates have already emerged for the Indians job but Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com opines that newly-minted interim manager Sandy Alomar Jr. is the right hire. Terry Francona, who has also been linked to the gig, appears to be a longshot as Cleveland may not have the money to give him an attractive offer.
Randy Harvey of the Houston Chronicle writes that Bo Porter won the Astros' job thanks in large part to his high-level of intensity, something that Brad Mills was not known for.

Quick Hits: Varitek, Rockies, Haren, Diamondbacks

« Central Notes: Cubs, Hoyer, Indians, Astros | Main | Drew Could Return To A's In 2013 »

Earlier tonight, the Red Sox announced that Jason Varitek will serve as a special assistant to General Manager Ben Cherington. 'Jason was one of the most respected players of his era and will be a key voice as we move forward,' said the GM. 'He will be involved in a number of areas including Major League personnel decisions, evaluations, and mentorship and instruction of young players. We are fortunate to have him in this role.' The former catcher has long been rumored to be on the verge of a role with the club, but yesterday we learned that he would not be in the mix for the managerial job. Here's more from around baseball..

Rockies manager Jim Tracy says that he wants to return in 2013 despite a difficult season in which the team is set to post its worst record in franchise history, writes Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. The Rockies plan to discuss their managerial position but so far have made it sound as though Tracy is safe.
Dan Haren is less-than-thrilled about a report earlier this week that indicated the Angels are leaning towards turning down options for him and Ervin Santana this offseason, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Haren says that he and his fellow pitcher are dialed in on the season at hand and are not giving any thought to their respective contract situations.
Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic evaluates Trevor Cahill's performance with the Diamondbacks since being acquired from Oakland in December. While Cahill hasn't given the club everything all that they could have hoped for, the 24-year-old has still delivered a reasonably strong year.

Drew Could Return To A's In 2013

« Quick Hits: Varitek, Rockies, Haren, Diamondbacks | Main

No one with the Athletics is discounting the possibility of bringing Stephen Drew back for another season, even though most believe his $10MM option would be overly expensive, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Drew's contract includes a $10MM mutual option for 2013 ($1.35MM buyout) and even if he hasn't considered his options thoroughly, he's open to the idea of returning.

'I know I have an option and I've got to sit down and discuss it with my family,' Drew told Slusser. 'So far, I haven't really thought about it, I just want help this team win."

Many baseball people believe the 29-year-old would be wise to explore his options in free agency, Slusser reports. Shortstops are at a premium, so one person suggested the market for a player such as Drew would be 'robust.' He appears to have recovered from the ankle injury that sidelined him for the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, posting a .269/.331/.400 batting line with Oakland since being acquired from Arizona on August 20th.

Kamis, 27 September 2012

Quick Hits: Wolf, Taveras, Snider, Padres, Mariners

« Hoyer: Cubs Will Be Active On Free Agent Market | Main | Astros To Hire Bo Porter »

The Orioles recalled Bill Hall today, placing Randy Wolf on the 60-day DL to create room on the 40-man roster. The 36-year-old southpaw has a torn elbow ligament, which usually requires Tommy John surgery. Wolf had the procedure back in 2005 and would likely miss all of 2013 if he has it again. Here's the latest from around the league...

Outfielder Willy Taveras is trying to get back to the big leagues after a year away from the game, writes MLB.com's Evan Drellich. "I just need a chance to get back in baseball. That's what I love, I love to play baseball," said the 30-year-old speedster.
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos approached Travis Snider about a contract extension a few years ago, reports Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. Talks became less of a priority as the team focused on trading Vernon Wells and extending Jose Bautista, however.
Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune looked back at all the contract extensions the Padres handed out this year. Check out our Extension Tracker for the full list.
The Mariners have named Tom Allison their new director of pro scouting, the team announced. Allison had previously spent time in the Brewers' and Mets' front offices.

Astros To Hire Bo Porter

« Quick Hits: Wolf, Taveras, Snider, Padres, Mariners | Main | Marlins Sign Adam Greenberg »

The Astros will name Nationals third base coach Bo Porter their new manager on Thursday morning, report Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Porter will remain with Washington until they complete their postseason run.

Porter, 40, has no managerial experience at the Major League level but has previously interviewed for the position with both the Marlins and Pirates. He's served as the Nats' third base coach since last season after holding the same position with he Diamondbacks in 2010. Porter served as Kirk Gibson's interim bench coach for part of that season as well.

Houston fired manager Brad Mills last month and has been run by interim manager Tony DeFrancesco since. GM Jeff Luhnow interviewed several candidates in recent weeks, including Rays bench coach Dave Martinez. DeFrancesco was also considered for the job on a full-time basis.

Marlins Sign Adam Greenberg

« Astros To Hire Bo Porter | Main

Barring another unexpected setback, Adam Greenberg will finally get an official at bat in the Major Leagues. Greenberg, who was hit in the head with a pitch when he debuted with the Cubs seven years ago, has signed a one-day MLB contract with the Marlins, MLB announced (on Twitter).

Greenberg, a 31-year-old who bats left-handed, will record his first official at bat on October 2nd against the Mets. It'll be his first plate appearance since July 9th, 2005, when he was hit in the head by a pitch from Marlins pitcher Valerio De Los Santos. Greenberg agreed to donate his salary to the Sports Legacy Institute via the Marlins Foundation, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.

Rabu, 26 September 2012

Quick Hits: Baker, Varitek, LaHair, Padres, Berkman

« Managerial Notes: Tracy, Astros, Ausmus, Indians | Main | Angels To Pursue Greinke, Decline Haren/Santana »

Reds manager Dusty Baker suffered a minor stroke on Friday, the team told reporters (including MLB.com's Mark Sheldon). Baker was already in hospital being treated for an irregular heartbeat and was supposed to be released on Friday. The 63-year-old was released instead on Sunday and is reportedly in good condition, addressing the Reds clubhouse this afternoon. Bench coach Chris Speier has managed the team in Baker's absence and will continue to do so at least through Cincinnati's weekend series with the Pirates, though Baker is hopeful of returning for the Reds' final series of the year.

Here's some more news from around the baseball world...

Long-time Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek tells Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston that he is "close" to taking a job with the team. Varitek will likely be a special assistant to GM Ben Cherington, though Edes notes that Varitek's teammates from Boston's 2004 World Series squad think he should be the next Red Sox manager.
Bryan LaHair hopes to return to the Cubs next season, he tells CSNChicago.com's Patrick Mooney, though the team currently has no spot where he can get regular playing time.
Eric Stults' good performances in the Padres' rotation may have earned him a spot in next year's rotation, writes Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Also from Bill Center, he examines the mixed results the Padres have thus far received from the seven players they signed to contract extensions this year.
Lance Berkman tells Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle that he hopes to play for a contender next season, which would seem to eliminate him returning to the Astros as a DH. (Berkman has also considered retirement.) Berkman also endorsed ex-teammate Tim Bogar as his choice to be the Astros' next manager.
Mets GM Sandy Alderson discussed the Ike Davis trade rumors, the chances of the Mets extending David Wright and R.A. Dickey and other topics during a visit to the SNY booth during Tuesday's game. ESPN New York's Adam Rubin has a partial transcript.
Willy Taveras is working out and hopeful of returning to the Major Leagues next season, reports MLB.com's Evan Drellich. Taveras, who turns 31 on Christmas Day, last played in the majors for the Nationals in 2010.

Angels To Pursue Greinke, Decline Haren/Santana

« Quick Hits: Baker, Varitek, LaHair, Padres, Berkman | Main | Scott Boras To Represent Jose Valverde »

The Angels' "preference" is to decline their club options on Dan Haren and Ervin Santana in order to pursue a long-term extension with Zack Greinke, a source tells MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. The team would only look to bring back Haren or Santana if Greinke signed elsewhere, Gonzalez believes.

Haren ($15.5MM option, $3.5MM buyout) and Santana ($13MM option, $1MM buyout) both went from being likely pickup candidates to possibly expendable after their disappointing 2012 campaigns. Both men have shown better recent form, however, which could be a sign that their struggles were temporary --- Haren has a 2.45 ERA over his last six starts, Santana a 2.49 ERA over his last seven.

If the Angels did decline their options, Haren and Santana would become two of the most sought-after arms on the market this winter. Haren just turned 32 but has been one of the game's better pitchers for the last several years, while Santana was very good in 2010-11, has thrown at least 175 innings in four of the last five years and may still be somewhat of a breakout candidate going into his age-30 season.

The Angels have Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and presumably Garrett Richards (who will have to replace someone) in place for next year's starting rotation. If Greinke is re-signed, that would leave the fifth starter's job open to such current in-house options as Barry Enright or Jerome Williams, though the Halos could also pursue add veteran depth this winter.

Scott Boras To Represent Jose Valverde

« Angels To Pursue Greinke, Decline Haren/Santana | Main

Jose Valverde said he has hired Scott Boras to represent him this offseason, John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press reports. The 34-year-old right-hander will hit free agency in a matter of weeks when his multiyear contract with the Tigers expires.

Valverde downplayed the significance of the switch, saying "people change agents all the time." Last August Valverde switched agencies, leaving Praver/Shapiro for Proformance. The Tigers exercised their 2012 option months later, delaying Valverde's free agency by a year.

In 65 innings this year, Valverde has a 4.02 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9. He has 31 saves and an average fastball velocity of 93.3 mph. Be sure to check out MLBTR's Agency Database for information about each MLB player's representatives.

Selasa, 25 September 2012

NL West Notes: Melky, Alonso, Rosario

« Quick Hits: Prospects, Ross, Wood, Francis | Main | Astros Links: Appel, Manager, Minors »

The Giants clinched the NL West Division title this past weekend, despite having lost Melky Cabrera for the remainder of the regular season due to a failed drug test. As the 2010 World Champs gear up to make a run at a second title in three years, here are some links surrounding the division...

Sergio Romo appeared on "Inside Pitch" with Casey Stern and Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM and said the Giants would welcome Cabrera back with open arms if he returned to the team during the playoffs. "Why wouldn't we want him on our team?" asked Romo, before going onto call Cabrera a "great teammate" whose talent would improve the team's chances of winning it all.
Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso was on a trip to Spain with his sister and friends (including Manny Machado) last winter when he learned of his trade, writes MLB.com's Corey Brock. Alonso was there courtesy of his team at the time, the Reds, to watch his favorite soccer team -- Real Madrid. Brock's article is a terrific look at how trades can affect players on a personal level, and contains quotes from Alonso, Machado, and GMs Walt Jocketty (Reds) and Josh Byrnes (Padres).
Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario is the best rookie that no one is talking about, writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Heyman suggests that Rosario is could be outperforming other, more commonly discussed candidates.

Astros Links: Appel, Manager, Minors

« NL West Notes: Melky, Alonso, Rosario | Main | Cole Gillespie Elects Free Agency »

Some links surrounding the team that will jump ship from the NL Central into the AL West for the 2013 season...

The Astros have begun doing their homework for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft, and a familiar name could be in play once again, according to Brian McTaggart and Clark Goble of MLB.com. Stanford right-hander and Houston native Mark Appel will once again be among the team's candidates at 1-1, but he is just one of several players the team is considering, says scouting director Mike Elias. Appel, of course, was favored by many to be the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, but fell to the Pirates at No. 8 and did not sign. Houston instead selected Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa.
General manager Jeff Luhnow told reporters, including McTaggart and Goble, that the team is narrowing its search for a manager. The 'Stros started with a list of 45 candidates, narrowed that to nine, and have since whittled the list down even further.
Marty Noble of MLB.com writes that Red Sox bench coach Tim Bogar is the right man for the managerial job in Houston. Bogar served as a minor league manager in the Houston organization from 2004-05, and Noble feels that he is a "bright, motivated, dedicated, sincere, balanced, [and] personable" candidate who can generate "tangible improvement."
The Astros signed a two-year player development contract with the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits, McTaggart reports. Luhnow worked with the River Bandits when they were affiliated with the Cardinals, and a number of current Houston players have previously played there, including Brett Wallace and Tyler Greene.
Lastly, McTaggart tweets that the Astros will not renew the contract of catching instructor Danny Sheaffer, who has been with Houston as a minor league instructor since 2009.

Cole Gillespie Elects Free Agency

« Astros Links: Appel, Manager, Minors | Main

Outfielder Cole Gillespie has elected free agency after clearing waivers, according to the transactions page at CBSSports.com. The Diamondbacks designated Gillespie for assignment to create roster space for Mike Jacobs six days ago.

Gillespie spent time at the MLB level in 2010-11, but played the entire 2012 season at Triple-A. The 28-year-old posted a .308/.390/.494 batting line with 13 homers in 510 plate appearances for Reno this year. The Diamondbacks acquired Gillespie and Roque Mercedes from the Brewers for Felipe Lopez in 2009.

Senin, 24 September 2012

Week In Review: 9/16/12 - 9/22/12

« Quick Hits: Indians, Red Sox, Dylan Bundy | Main | The Latest On The Angels, Scioscia & Dipoto »

With the addition of a second Wild Card causing madness in both the American and National Leagues, let's take a moment to catch up on the week that was here at MLBTR...

The Brewers acquired catcher Yorvit Torrealba from the Blue Jays for a player to be named later or cash considerations. In 212 total plate appearances with Texas and Toronto this year Torrealba has a .233/.297/.339 batting line.
The White Sox will promote their top two baseball executives following a surprising season that has the team leading its division. The team is expected to promote longtime general manager Kenny Williams to the role of vice president of baseball operations and shift assistant GM Rick Hahn into the GM role.
Jake Peavy and the White Sox may be parting ways after this season as Chicago's unlikely to exercise their $22MM club option for 2013. Instead, the team is expected to pay a $4MM buyout in a move that would make Peavy a free agent.
The Diamondbacks designated outfielder Cole Gillespie for assignment. Gillespie, 28, hit .308/.390/.494 with 13 homers in 510 plate appearances for Arizona's Triple-A affiliate this season.
Colby Lewis and the Rangers agreed to a one-year contract extension for 2013. Lewis' deal is worth $2MM in guaranteed money plus incentives.

Marlins To Lower Payroll For 2013

« The Latest On The Angels, Scioscia & Dipoto | Main

Considerable uncertainty surrounds Miami's manager and front office with ten days remaining in the regular season, but one thing about the 2013 Marlins is clear: they're lowering payroll. The Marlins will likely scale payroll back to the $70-80MM range after spending a franchise-record $95MM in 2012, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

The team lost money this season, Spencer writes. Miami moved into its new stadium after spending aggressively on free agents including Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell only to disappoint on the field (66-86 record so far). The Marlins have committed $67.5MM to next year's team, so their financial flexibility will be limited this coming offseason.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez created a stir by saying Jeffrey Loria, the owner of the Marlins and his former boss, is difficult to please, Spencer reports. 'There's not a manager dead or alive that Jeffrey thinks is good enough," Gonzalez said. "Not Connie Mack, not anyone.' Loria called the comments "classless" and characterized Gonzalez's work with the Marlins as a "colossal failure." Loria fired Gonzalez in June of 2010 after he managed the team for four years.

Minggu, 23 September 2012

The Latest On The Angels, Scioscia & Dipoto

« Clemens Leaves Door Open For Pitching In 2013 | Main | Rosenthal's Full Count: Greinke, Dodgers, Pirates »

7:35pm: Moreno flatly told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez that both Scioscia and Dipoto will be back next season. "These reports, wherever they're coming from, are [false]," he added.

12:19pm: The Angels ensured themselves of a winning season with last night's victory over the White Sox, but they remain 7.5 games back of the Rangers in the division race and 3.5 games back of a Wild Card spot. Earlier this week we heard that manager Mike Scioscia is "likely" to be the scapegoat if the club fails to make the postseason for a third straight year, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has more on the situation today...

Things between Scioscia and GM Jerry Dipoto are quite contentious. Communication between the two is strained, and the skipper briefly considered stepped down after long-time hitting coach Mickey Hatcher was fired in May.
At one point in August, Scioscia suggested to Dipoto that he should fire him if he was not satisfied with his job performance. Some in the organization believe it would be easiest if the manager simply left for another team.
Dipoto has more power than his predecessor (Tony Reagins) while Scioscia's pull within the organization has waned. The two disagree specifically about GM Scott Servais, who Dipoto hired, and the team's recent emphasis on statistical analysis, among other things.
Scioscia is under contract through 2018 thanks to the ten-year, $50MM contract he signed prior to the 2009 season. He'll earn $6MM annually from 2016-2018.
Jeff Miller of The Orange County Register wrote more about the strain between Dipoto and Scioscia, though he believes the manager will be given one more year to turn things around.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says that owner Arte Moreno is not pleased with the job either Scioscia or Dipoto have done this season and is "expressing unhappiness behind the scenes."

Rosenthal's Full Count: Greinke, Dodgers, Pirates

« The Latest On The Angels, Scioscia & Dipoto | Main | Quick Hits: Andrus, Blue Jays, Astros, Karstens »

Here's the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, via his Full Count video...

The Dodgers did not try to acquire Zack Greinke before the trade deadline, but expect them to pursue him as a free agent this winter. They won't shy away from the best starter available despite concerns about his ability to pitch in a big market.
The Brewers spent roughly $180MM less on Aramis Ramirez than the Tigers spent on Prince Fielder, but Ramirez has provided similar production. The 34-year-old is hitting .299/.363/.536 with 25 homers and an NL-best 47 doubles.
Few in baseball will be surprised if changes are made to the Pirates front office given the club's second half slide and recent reports of Navy SEALS type training for their top prospects.
The Braves tried to acquire Greg Dobbs at the deadline, but the Marlins declined because they felt his presence was too important to the clubhouse. That was after the Hanley Ramirez trade, suggesting that other clubhouse issues exist.

Quick Hits: Andrus, Blue Jays, Astros, Karstens

« Rosenthal's Full Count: Greinke, Dodgers, Pirates | Main | Cafardo On Angels, Ross, Loney, Carp, Scioscia »

Congratulations are in order for the Reds, who clinched their second NL Central title in the last three years with this afternoon's win over the Dodgers. Top offseason addition Mat Latos threw eight shutout innings in the win. Here's the latest from around the league as Saturday turns into Sunday...

The Rangers will not trade Elvis Andrus this winter, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). They haven't had any talks about moving him and don't plan to.
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told MLB.com Gregor Chisholm that Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow are the only starters guaranteed a rotation spot next year (Twitter link). Both pitchers are signed to guaranteed multiyear contract extensions.
Astros GM Jeff Luhnow told Zachary Levine of The Houston Chronicle that he will meet with owner Jim Crane and other front office members on Monday to "gauge the pace" of their managerial search.
Jeff Karstens has not started a game for the Pirates since August, and Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says (on Sulia) that it could be because the front office wants to get a longer look at some other starters. Karstens will earn $3.1MM this year and is a non-tender candidate.
Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times looked back at all the prospects traded by Ned Colletti during his tenure as Dodgers GM. Only two -- Edwin Jackson and Steve Johnson -- are playing important roles for contenders this year.

Sabtu, 22 September 2012

AL East Notes: Jeter, Yankees, Red Sox, Hamilton

« NL Central Notes: Astros, Ausmus, Reds | Main | East Notes: Utley, Phillies, Lowe, Mets »

Earlier today, the Blue Jays shipped catcher Yorvit Torrealba to the Brewers for cash considerations or a player to be named later. More out of the American League East..

Derek Jeter says that suggestions that he wants to play elsewhere are "comical," and that he obviously wants to end career with the Yankees, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch (via Twitter). Yesterday, Jeter seemed to imply that he would be open to playing for another club once his contract expires. The shortstop is under contract for 2013 with an $8MM player option for '14.
Most members of the Red Sox braintrust are keeping a close eye on whether the team will have a top-ten pick in this year's draft, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Outside of the obvious benefits of having a higher pick, top ten selections are protected, giving the Red Sox flexibility in the event that they wanted to pursue a free agent such as Josh Hamilton. In the case of Hamilton, multiple sources say that Boston is unlikely to join the fray for the 31-year-old, which is in line with what has been previously reported.
Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star isn't quite sure if Alex Anthopoulos is the General Manager to take the Blue Jays to the next level. However, Griffin believes that Anthopoulos is ready to do more traditional things this winter like signing short-term veteran free agents and packaging prospects to land one solid major league talent.

East Notes: Utley, Phillies, Lowe, Mets

« AL East Notes: Jeter, Yankees, Red Sox, Hamilton | Main | Quick Hits: Cabrera, LaRoche, Astros, A's »

Chase Utley recently suggested to the Phillies that he could give third base a try next season, giving them a much needed boost at the position. However, the idea isn't quite the slam dunk that it would appear to be, writes Eric Seidman of Fangraphs. On the surface, Utley would give the club a better upgrade that free agent options such as Geoff Blum, Miguel Cairo, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Scott Rolen. On the other hand, it wouldn't be a true win for the Phillies unless they could find a suitable fill-in for Utley at second. There are a few appealing middle infield options on the open market that could possibly be had on low-cost, short-term deals like Jeff Keppinger and Stephen Drew, but there's not much beyond that. Here's more out of the NL and AL East..

Derek Lowe says that he doesn't regret signing with the Yankees despite the fact that he likely won't make the postseason roster if the Bombers qualify, writes Zach Schonbrun of the New York Times. The veteran also didn't get the opportunity to make a start while Ivan Nova and Andy Pettitte were sidelined. The 39-year-old isn't sure if he wants to pitch out of the bullpen next season, but recently agent Scott Boras admitted that it would be difficult to find Lowe a starting job with a contender.
The Mets front office remains committed to Terry Collins beyond this season despite the team's slide, tweets Mike Puma of the New York Post. Puma was told emphatically that Collins is returning next year, which has been the tone of the reports surrounding the manager's future for most of the summer.
Former Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez says that if he were in General Manager Mike Rizzo's shoes, he would have shut down Stephen Strasburg too, writes Amanda Comak of The Washington Times. In a recent poll, more than 60% of MLBTR readers said that they disagreed with the Nats' decision.

Quick Hits: Cabrera, LaRoche, Astros, A's

« East Notes: Utley, Phillies, Lowe, Mets | Main

Earlier today, Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera announced that he is removing his name from consideration for the National League batting title in the wake of his suspension. "I have no wish to win an award that would be tainted. I believe it would be far better for someone more deserving to win...I am grateful that the Players Association and MLB were able to honor my request by suspending the rule for this season. I know that changing the rules mid-season can present problems, and I thank the Players Association and MLB for finding a way to get this done." More from around baseball as Friday turns into Saturday..

Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo told Adam LaRoche and his agent they will talk about his future shortly after the playoffs, writes MLB.com's Bill Ladson. LaRoche has a $10MM option on his contract for next season but the veteran has made it clear that he hopes to remain in Washington.
Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweets that some people in baseball believe that Dan Radison will be the Astros' next manager. Former catcher Brad Ausmus was said to be in the running for the job but he removed his name from consideration earlier this evening.
Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow confirmed that he has spoken with nine potential candidates for the managerial vacancy and has trimmed down the list somewhat, write Brian McTaggart and Clark Goble of MLB.com. However, Luhnow wouldn't say how many candidates remain in consideration.
Athletics owner Lew Wolff believes his team's fight for a new ballpark will be settled within the next year, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Wolff went on to say that he isn't interested in battling things out with the Giants in a courtroom.

Jumat, 21 September 2012

NL East Notes: Marlins, Kasten, Phillies, Wright

« Astros Notes: Martinez, Bogar, Geith | Main | AL West Notes: Angels, Soto, Montero, Athletics »

A number of notable NL East players celebrate birthdays today, such as the Nationals' Steve Lombardozzi (24 years old), Ian Desmond (27), and the Mets' Jason Bay (34). Here's the latest from around the division...

The Marlins are discussing whether to not to fire manager Ozzie Guillen, a source tells MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Former Marlin Mike Lowell (who has never managed or coached at any level) has been discussed as a replacement. Other candidates could include Nationals third base coach Bo Porter and Blue Jays Class-A manager Tim Redmond.
The Marlins will likely have a payroll in the $80MM range in 2013, opines Frisaro as part of a reader mailbag. Miami carried a $101.6MM payroll into the 2012 season and have over $67MM in salary committed for next year. Frisaro thinks the Marlins will stay away from high-priced free agents like Michael Bourn and instead target "veterans who don't come at a great cost," such as Kevin Youkilis.
Former Nationals president Stan Kasten is pleased at his ex-team's success, he tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson. "The turning point was Day 1, when [the Lerner family] was committed to a program of scouting and player development -- long-term building, try to build internally, get home-grown players," said Kasten, who's now the Dodgers' team president. "As we see, the team that we see out there on the field is largely homegrown with some very key important strategic pieces added on top of it....They stuck to their plan. You are seeing the results now. It appears they are going to enjoy those results in the years to come."
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel tells reporters (including MLB.com's Todd Zolecki) that he hopes the club acquires at least one "first-class good" relief pitcher this winter. Zolecki speculates that this new reliever could push Antonio Bastardo out of the bullpen, as Bastardo has struggled this season.
David Wright's slump shouldn't stop the Mets from signing their star to an extension, opines Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com, "despite [Wright] having just three good months over the last two years." Cerrone thinks the Mets could sign Wright to a deal in the six-year/$100MM range this offseason or possibly just pick up Wright's $16MM team option for 2013 if they're still concerned about his long-term viability.
Jeurys Familia will pitch in high-leverage situations down the stretch, Mets manager Terry Collins told media, including Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. The Mets plan to use Familia as a late-inning reliever and backup closer behind Frank Francisco next season. You can follow all of the late-inning situations on MLBTR's sister Twitter feed, @CloserNews.

Quick Hits: Upton, Greinke, Escobar, Managers

« AL West Notes: Angels, Soto, Montero, Athletics | Main

Stephen Strasburg may not be there, but the Nationals are going to the playoffs. The Nats clinched a postseason berth with tonight's 4-1 win over the Dodgers and now have a magic number of eight to clinch the NL East. This is the franchise's first postseason appearance since reaching the NLCS (as the Expos) in 1981, and the first time a Washington baseball team has made the postseason since the Senators played in the 1933 World Series.

Here's the latest from around the majors...

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic talks to several executives and scouts about Justin Upton's trade value, with the general consensus being that the Diamondbacks can still command a high price for the outfielder, though Upton's disappointing 2012 campaign has hurt his value. Opinion was split on whether the D'Backs or Rangers would have to add players in such a possible Upton-for-Elvis Andrus deal.
Upton discusses his season, his career development and his feelings about the trade rumors in an extensive profile by Robert Sanchez of ESPN The Magazine.
John Axford believes the Zack Greinke trade was the inspiration for the Brewers' surprising turn-around, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Since Greinke was dealt to the Angels on July 27, the Brewers have surged back into the NL wild card race with a 32-18 record, including today's win over the Pirates. "Personally, I thought it was going to be more motivation for certain guys," Axford said. "There wasn't ever a thought on this team that this was a lost season. It was disappointing for a while....But there's no guy on this team that's going to lie down and give up. It's shown recently."
"The sense now is that some teams would still be willing to take [Yunel Escobar] on provided he delivers a proper penance first," writes Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi. Escobar is scheduled to return on Friday from his three-game suspension for wearing eye black that contained a homophobic slur. This incident could spur Escobar's departure from Toronto, especially since the Blue Jays have promising shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria waiting in the wings.
ESPN's Jim Bowden lists ten of the top managerial candidates, a compilation that includes nine men who have never managed at the Major League level and two-time World Series winner Terry Francona. Two names on Bowden's list (Tim Bogar and Dave Martinez) are reportedly the top candidates to become the Astros' new manager.
Jim Thome's quest for a World Series ring has surprisingly taken him to the Orioles instead of the Phillies, writes MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, but the slugger has dropped hints that 2012 may not be his last season.
Derek Jeter told ESPN's Rick Reilly (passed on by Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News) that he would potentially be open to playing for a team besides the Yankees once his current contract expires. "Well, if I wanted to keep playing, yes," Jeter said. "It's a business. People forget that." Jeter is under contract through the 2013 season with an $8MM player option for 2014; the shortstop turns 40 years old in June 2014.

AL West Notes: Angels, Soto, Montero, Athletics

« NL East Notes: Marlins, Kasten, Phillies, Wright | Main | Quick Hits: Upton, Greinke, Escobar, Managers »

The A's picked up a 12-4 win in Detroit today to move 3.5 games behind Texas for first place in the AL West, a deficit that could be further cut to three games should the Rangers lose to the Angels tonight. The A's and Rangers still have seven games remaining against each other, so the division race may not be decided until the very last day of the season. Here's some news from around the AL West...

Angels chairman Dennis Kuhl denied reports that the team is negotiating with the City of Industry about a new ballpark, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Daily News reported that the Angels had been in "preliminary talks" with Industry officials about moving the team after the 2016 season, when the Angels can opt out of their lease at Angel Stadium. In addition to Kuhl, officials from Industry and the proposed building site also denied the report.
Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine told Bryan Dolgin of ESPNDallas.com that he has been impressed by the "seamless transition" catcher Geovany Soto made after Texas acquired him from the Cubs midseason. Soto is a non-tender candidate heading into the 2012-13 offseason.
Could the Mariners trade Jesus Montero? Dave Cameron of the U.S.S. Mariner blog thinks the M's should consider the possibility, given that the team has John Jaso and Mike Zunino at catcher and Montero's bat projects as a long-term project, according to Cameron's metrics.
Remarkably, Athletics starters Dan Straily and A.J. Griffin were selling running shoes around this time last year, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. The rookie pitchers have helped their team to an 85-64 record and excellent playoff position.

MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post

Kamis, 20 September 2012

Quick Hits: Mets, Reyes, Cardinals, Escobar

« Central Notes: Inge, Francona, Tigers, Indians, Pirates | Main | Cubs Notes: Jackson, Valbuena, Stewart »

If you're among MLBTR's 202,000 Twitter followers then thanks for following. If you aren't yet following, we'd recommend it. But you don't have to take our word for it. Sports Illustrated named @mlbtraderumors one of the 100 essential Twitter accounts for those seeking 'news, information and entertainment from the sports world.' Here are today's links...

MLB is nearing agreements with FOX and Turner Sports on new eight-year broadcasting contracts according to the AP (via ESPN). Revenue from the two networks is likely to double to $800MM annually.
Commissioner Bud Selig isn't worried about the Mets, Newsday's Marc Carig reports (Twitterlinks). "I don't consider the Mets a problem in any way, shape or manner,' Selig said. 'They're on the right track." Selig went on to express confidence in the Wilpon family and general manager Sandy Alderson.
The Mets should be open to trading Ike Davis this winter, especially if they can fill multiple holes by sending the first baseman to another team, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post writes. The Mets have too many needs to rule out possible deals involving Davis.
The first year of Jose Reyes' deal with Miami would have to be called a success, Davidoff writes. The Marlins shortstop leads the team with 147 games played despite previous concerns about his durability.
One well-connected person estimates the Cardinals are worth $1.5 billion, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Dispatch reports (on Twitter). The Dodgers recently sold for a record $2 billion in a positive development for other MLB owners.
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told Greg Brady and Jim Lang on Sportsnet 590 the FAN that Yunel Escobar's decision to write a homophobic slur on his eye black was 'stupid, selfish, shameful, insensitive.' Anthopoulos acknowledged that he thought about suspending Escobar for a year or releasing him (hat tip to John Lott of the National Post).

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Central Notes: Inge, Francona, Tigers, Indians, Pirates

« Berkman Discusses Potential DH Role | Main | Quick Hits: Mets, Reyes, Cardinals, Escobar »

"I'll be ready for spring," said former Tiger and current Athletic Brandon Inge to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Inge recently had season-ending shoulder surgery. Here is the latest from baseball's two Central divisions...

Terry Francona's name is "already making the rounds" as a possible hire for the Tigers or Indians this winter, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. It's unclear if Cleveland would even be able to afford the former Red Sox skipper, however.
Pirates owner Bob Nutting is looking into his club's operations according to Dejan Kovacevic of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, including the draft, player development, and free agent spending. Kovacevic says he "won't be surprised in the slightest if (Nutting) takes action once this season ends."
MLB.com's Peter Gammons wrote about the Brewers and GM Doug Melvin, who has made moves to help bring the club back to contention during his ten years at the helm. Our Transaction Tracker has a list of Melvin's moves, which include deals for CC Sabathia and Zack Greinke.

Cubs Notes: Jackson, Valbuena, Stewart

« Quick Hits: Mets, Reyes, Cardinals, Escobar | Main

Alfonso Soriano hit his 30th home run of the season last night, reaching the threshold for the sixth time in his career and for the first time since 2007. The 36-year-old now has a .261/.317/.499 batting line in 568 plate appearances this year. He'll earn $18MM per season through 2014 on a contract that no longer seems as unmovable as it once did. Here are some Cubs-related notes from Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune...

The idea of spending $150MM-plus on an impact player such as Josh Hamilton isn't part of the Cubs' plan, Sullivan reports. He notes that David DeJesus' $10MM contract and Paul Maholm's $4.75MM contract were the largest deals the Cubs signed a year ago.
However, the team expects to be able to spend. "Right now it's kind of hard to say,' manager Dale Sveum said. 'You just don't know who will be available. But yeah, we'll spend money somewhere."
The Cubs need multiple starters, multiple relievers a center fielder, and a third baseman in Sullivan's estimation. It appears that the Cubs will give Brett Jackson another look in center field despite his poor contact rate.
Luis Valbuena will be tendered a contract, but Ian Stewart is expected to be non-tendered, Sullivan writes. "Valbuena is going to be part of the organization, and he does one heck of a job himself," Sveum said. MLBTR's Steve Adams discussed Stewart as a non-tender candidate last month.
Josh Vitters appears to be a long shot at third base, according to Sullivan.

Rabu, 19 September 2012

NL West Links: Dodgers, Rockies, Headley

« Central Links: Hafner, Leyland, Astros | Main | Heyman On Possible Manager, GM Turnover »

The NL West was pretty much settled entering tonight's action, with the first-place Giants enjoying an eight-game lead, but the Dodgers were very much in the Wild Card hunt, only a game behind the Cardinals. Here's the latest ...

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti maintains that regardless of where the team finishes in the standings, he'd make the slew of midseason trades over again if given the chance, writes Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com. "Just like the players that are traded, you can't measure this on what they do in 2012," Colletti said. "As time goes on, you can evaluate the trade for a lot of different reasons. But with ownership allowing us to be aggressive, we decided we would take chances and we would go for it.
The Rockies are hoping to hire Marlins special assistant Mark Wiley as their new director of pitching, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. In this role, Wiley, who previously worked for the Rockies before joining the Marlins, "would have responsibility and authority over all parts of the organization, from scouting and drafting, through development, and all the way to bringing pitchers to the major leagues."
If you're looking for an NL MVP sleeper, Padres third baseman Chase Headley deserves strong consideration, writes Jeff Sanders of the North County Times. Headley has been on a second-half tear, leading the Majors in both homers and RBIs since the Midsummer Classic entering Tuesday night's action, to go along with 6.6 fWAR on the year. It seems hard to believe now that Headley was a trade candidate leading up the July deadline, but his stock will probably never be higher than it is heading into the offseason.

Central Links: Hafner, Leyland, Astros

« NL East Links: Davis, Guillen, Utley | Main | NL West Links: Dodgers, Rockies, Headley »

The Tigers are holding their collective breath after righty Max Scherzer exited Tuesday night's start prematurely because of shoulder pain. Scherzer, who leads the American League in strikeouts, is scheduled to undergo an MRI. More on the Tigers in this batch of links ...

The Indians are expected to decline their $13MM club option on DH Travis Hafner for 2013, writes Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Hafner, sidelined since early August due to a back injury, is trying to get back on the field for what could be his final appearances as a member of the Tribe. With a career line of .278/.382/.508, the 35-year-old has posted solid offensive numbers when healthy, but staying on the field has been an issue, as he's missed chunks of time in each of the past five seasons.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he is focused on his team's playoff chase rather than his own contract status, writes Anthony Odoardi of MLB.com. Leyland's deal expires after this season, but he maintains he has held no discussions with Detroit about this future: "I haven't discussed my situation with anyone nor has my situation been discussed with me. And I don't want to discuss my situation with anyone nor do they want to discuss it with me right now. We're trying to win a division."
The Astros hope to pick their next manager by the end of next week, but they may have to wait till after then to announce the decision, writes Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. If the selected candidate is on a team that's still in the playoffs, Houston will wait till that team's season is over, McTaggart explains.
Astros owner Jim Crane reiterated that he's not expecting Roger Clemens to pitch this season, tweets Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.
While some consider the second-place Tigers a disappointment after a splashy offseason that saw them land top free agent Prince Fielder, Detroit has played pretty close to where some advanced metrics suggest they should be, explains Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs.

Heyman On Possible Manager, GM Turnover

« NL West Links: Dodgers, Rockies, Headley | Main

What began as a season that figured to have little managerial and front-office turnover at its conclusion has gone in the opposite direction over the course of a long -- and for some teams very disappointing -- summer, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Here's a look at the teams that could make shakeups on the bench and/or in the front office:

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine seems very likely to be dismissed, as "everyone in baseball is sure he is a goner." Boston likes Toronto manager John Farrell as a possible replacement, but Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has reiterated that organization policy is to preclude personnel from leaving for a lateral move. GM Ben Cherington, meanwhile, appears safe, though other tweaks could be made in the front office.
Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen's fate is up in the air, but Miami is more likely to shake up its front office. Factions have reportedly taken shape among the organization's top executives.
The Angels came into the season with very lofty goals after spending heavily in free agency. But owner Arte Moreno is reportedly unhappy with the team's poor play, while some say GM Jerry Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia haven't hit it off so far, with the firing of hitting coach Mickey Hatcher earlier this year an apparent point of contention. The pricey balance on Scioscia's contract may make firing him too difficult, though, so his departure could ultimately be his own decision.
Indians manager Manny Acta has a "very real chance to be fired," as Cleveland has slipped into its second consecutive second-half slump. GM Chris Antonetti, though, is probably safe, as he's well regarded and hasn't yet been on the job for two full years.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski appears to be safe, but manager Jim Leyland, whose contract expires at the end of this season, may not be brought back, as owner Mike Ilitch is displeased with the way this season is going after spending on Prince Fielder in the offseason.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is safe after instilling a new attitude in Pittsburgh, but GM Neal Huntington could be in trouble, especially if the team finishes under .500 for a 20th consecutive season.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi is safe despite his frustrations with his team's second-half struggles, and the "popular" GM Brian Cashman is in no trouble.

Selasa, 18 September 2012

Managerial Notes: Bogar, Scioscia

« Non-Tender Candidate: Luke Hochevar | Main | Mets Will Consider Trading Ike Davis »

The latest managerial notes from around the Major Leagues...

Red Sox bench coach Tim Bogar will interview for the Astros' managerial opening in the coming days, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. The Astros are expected to conduct the interview in the Tampa Bay area when the Red Sox visit the Rays. Bogar was also a candidate for Houston's managerial opening before the 2011 season.
Former MLB player and manager Larry Bowa, Nationals third base coach Bo Porter, Rays bench coach Dave Martinez and interim skipper Tony DeFrancesco have already interviewed for the Astros job.
Angels GM Jerry Dipoto continues to support manager Mike Scioscia, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. Dipoto pointed to Scioscia's "great track record of success," and declined to speculate about the manager's job security in detail. Scioscia is under contract through 2018.

Non-Tender Candidate: Luke Hochevar

« Mets Minor League Links: Brewer, Triple-A | Main | Managerial Notes: Bogar, Scioscia »

The next strikeout Luke Hochevar records will set a new career-high for the right-hander, but that's one of few positives to take away from an otherwise disappointing season. The 29-year-old has pitched to a 5.46 ERA despite reasonable peripheral stats such as his 6.9 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and 43.6 percent ground-ball rate. All of those are pretty close to the numbers Hochevar has posted to date in his career: a 5.33 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and 47.9 percent ground-ball rate. Suffice it to say, that's not quite what the Royals were hoping for when they selected Hochevar first overall in the 2006 draft.

The University of Tennessee product has spent his entire career with the Royals after refusing to sign with the Dodgers when they selected him in both 2002 and 2005. He appeared on Baseball America's list of Top 100 prospects prior to both the 2007 and 2008 seasons, but that pedigree never manifested at the Major League level.

Hochevar avoided arbitration with the Royals last winter, agreeing to a one-year deal that guaranteed him $3.51MM. At the time, he was coming off a 198-inning season in which he posted a 3.52 ERA in the season's second half. That won't be the case this upcoming offseason, but he's still on pace to rattle off roughly 180 innings. That durability will lead to another raise for Hochevar through arbitration, which could push his salary north of $5MM.

As Rany Jazayerli recently pointed out, Hochevar has the fifth-worst ERA and sixth-worst ERA+ of any starting pitcher to ever exceed 120 starts at the Major League level. Given the 752-inning sample size of subpar performance, it seems likely that even a pitching-starved organization like the Royals could move on from Hochevar and seek alternative rotation options. In the event that he's non-tendered, Hochevar would likely be in line for a one-year deal with a low base salary and some performance-based incentives from his new club.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.

Mets Will Consider Trading Ike Davis

« Managerial Notes: Bogar, Scioscia | Main

The Mets will consider trading Ike Davis as a way of addressing other needs this offseason, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports. There's no guarantee Davis will be moved, but it's at least 'a very plausible option,' Rubin writes.

The Mets are disappointed with Davis' attitude toward coaching advice and they worry that he's out too late after games, according to Rubin. Trading Davis would open up first base for Lucas Duda, who's viewed as an inferior defender to Davis.

Davis, 25, has rebounded from a slow start to post a .223/.302/.444 batting line with 27 home runs in 529 plate appearances. The left-handed hitter will be first-time arbitration eligible as a super two player this coming offseason and he's under team control through 2016. The Indians, Rays, Red Sox and Marlins are among the teams that could be interested in first basemen this coming offseason.

Senin, 17 September 2012

Quick Hits: A's, Pirates, Hurdle, Soriano

« Week In Review: 9/9/12 - 9/15/12 | Main | Poll: How Will The AL Wild Card Race Unfold? »

Sunday afternoon linkage..

There have been indications that commissioner Bud Selig might rule on the A's move to San Jose by the end of the year, but he may be considering a ruling that could challenge both the A's and Giants to fulfill certain criteria, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. "I think there will be an effort to be Solomonesque," said someone who has spoken with Selig. "This is not a 'yes or no' sort of thing."
Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington says that manager Clint Hurdle's job is not in jeopardy despite the club's recent slide, according to Rob Biertempfel and Karen Price of the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review.
Paul Swydan of Fangraphs believes that if Rafael Soriano opts out of his deal with the Yankees in search of a multi-year deal with an average value of $14MM per year, either he'll be disappointed or the team that signs him will be. Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports opined that Soriano would be making a mistake if he cut the cord on his three-year, $35MM contract in search of a better deal.
The Nationals don't plan on celebrating when they officially clinch a playoff spot as the team has goals within reach more worthy of a champagne bottle, writes Amanda Comak of The Washington Times.
Stephen Strasburg's season isn't completely over as he's staying involved with the team by playing catch and participating in a rehab program crafted by the Nationals, says Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post. Pitching coach Steve McCatty says the young ace has handled the transition better than outsiders may perceive. 'I don't think he's ready for a straitjacket, if that's what you're getting at,' McCatty said. '' Stephen is doing fine. He's handling it.'

Daniel Seco contributed to this post.

Poll: How Will The AL Wild Card Race Unfold?

« Quick Hits: A's, Pirates, Hurdle, Soriano | Main | Free Agent Stock Watch: Jeremy Guthrie »

With 16 games remaining on the regular season schedule, the race for the two American League Wild Card spots continues to captivate the attention of baseball fans across the country. The Athletics enter the home stretch as the favorites to secure the first Wild Card after taking two out of three from the Orioles at home. Even with this weekend's setback against Oakland, Baltimore remains in the mix to overtake the A's as it currently occupies the second Wild Card with the Angels lurking two and a half games behind.

Beyond the two top contenders, three teams (excluding current division leaders in New York, Chicago and Texas) have a healthy chance of sneaking into the playoffs by staking a claim to one of the Wild Card berths with a strong finish. The Rays, four games behind the Orioles for the second spot, are among the teams hoping to extend their season well into October and will rely on their talented young pitching staff to get there. Just behind Tampa Bay at four and a half games behind Baltimore, the Tigers may be more likely to catch the White Sox for the division title as only two games separate the teams.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Jeremy Guthrie

« Poll: How Will The AL Wild Card Race Unfold? | Main

Before Jeremy Guthrie was traded to the Royals, he was in the midst of a career-worst season and appeared to be headed for a minor league contract in free agency. Since the Royals acquired Guthrie for Jonathan Sanchez on July 20th, the right-hander has pitched effectively, returning to his career norms. The turnaround should assure him of a guaranteed contract as a free agent this offseason and a multiyear deal remains possible.

Jeremy Guthrie - Royals (PW)

Coors Field was not a particularly welcoming home to Guthrie this year. Opponents posted a Bonds-esque .368/.415/.720 batting line against him in Denver's thin air. Overall, Guthrie posted a 6.35 ERA with 4.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 90 2/3 innings for the Rockies. He allowed 12 hits and two home runs per nine innings. Not surprisingly, he lost his rotation spot and, eventually, his place on the team.

Credit Royals general manager Dayton Moore for looking past those numbers. Since Guthrie has joined the Royals he has a 3.13 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 72 innings over the course of 11 starts. He's generating more swings and misses with Kansas City (7.7% swinging strike rate) and averaging 93mph with his fastball.

Guthrie should appeal to the Royals when he hits free agency this offseason, as Kansas City could use more starting pitching. Moore has said that the club will "probably" wait until after the season to explore contract talks with Guthrie

Guthrie's representatives at CAA Sports figure to look for a multiyear contract in free agency and it sounds as though some longtime Royals observers aren't opposed to the possibility. Rany Jazayerli has suggested a two year, $15MM contract could work for both sides. Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star has suggested a two year, $18MM contract with a club option.

A multiyear deal is certainly possible for the 33-year-old Guthrie. But in some ways he reminds me of Joe Saunders, who was selected ten spots before Guthrie in the first round of the 2002 draft. Both are innings eaters who limit walks, don't induce many strikeouts and allow lots of hits. The combination generally leads to substantial salaries through arbitration, but it doesn't do as well in free agency. Saunders, for example, signed a one-year, $6MM contract with Arizona last offseason. I expect Guthrie to sign a contract in that range following his up and down 2012 campaign.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

Minggu, 16 September 2012

Poll: The Second NL Wild Card Spot

« Free Agent Stock Watch: Daisuke Matsuzaka | Main | Quick Hits: Pirates, Upton, Angels, Wright, Mets »

When commissioner Bud Selig and the rest of MLB's leadership implemented the new playoff system earlier this year, one of the goals was create more excitement and races at the end of the season. The Braves came into the day with a comfortable five-game lead for the first Wild Card spot, but the second spot is very much up for grabs.

The Cardinals currently lead the race for the second Wild Card spot, but the Dodgers and Pirates sit just two games back. The surging Brewers are just three games back, the Phillies and Diamondbacks four back. By the end of the night, the race could be even closer. With roughly 17 games left to play and six teams legitimately in the running for that second Wild Card spot, expect there to be a mad dash to the finish line for the right to play Atlanta in a one-game playoff.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Daisuke Matsuzaka

« Rosenthal On Upton, Soriano, Olt, Porter | Main | Poll: The Second NL Wild Card Spot »

Six years ago this month, Daisuke Matsuzaka was the best pitcher in the world not employed by an MLB team. He dominated Nippon Professional Baseball with the Seibu Lions, winning the league strikeout title four times from 2000-2006. The Lions posted him after 2006, and the Red Sox won his negotiating rights (for $51M+) and then signed him to a six-year contract (worth $52MM).

Uspw_6314944 Things are much different now, as Dice-K is a few weeks away from becoming a free agent for the first time time in his career. He helped Boston win a World Series in 2007 and finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting in 2008 (18-3, 2.90 ERA), but things have gone downhill since. Matsuzaka pitched to a 5.76 ERA while missing considerable time with a groin injury in 2009. He stayed reasonably healthy in 2010 but pitched to a 4.69 ERA. After allowing 24 runs in his first 37 1/3 innings of 2011, Dice-K underwent Tommy John surgery.

Matsuzaka, 32, has posted a 7.14 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 40 1/3 innings this season since coming off the DL. All of the hype from 2006-2007 is gone, and that six-year contract expires after the season. It's been four years since Dice-K's last sub-4.50 ERA, five years since his last sub-4.0 BB/9, and five years since his last 200-inning season. He has said he would like to pitch until he's 40, though he'll head into this offseason as a reclamation project.

The starting pitching free agent market offers a number of reclamation types, including Colby Lewis, Erik Bedard, and Carl Pavano, all of whom are older than Matsuzaka. A move to a pitcher's park should help his numbers, as would a potential shift to the NL. There wasn't any interest in the right-hander when the Red Sox put him on waivers last month, but that's not surprising given his salary ($10MM). Agent Scott Boras has a way of finding better than expected contracts for his clients, but it's tough to see him getting Dice-K anything more than a one-year, low-base salary deal (with incentives) this winter.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

Quick Hits: Pirates, Upton, Angels, Wright, Mets

« Poll: The Second NL Wild Card Spot | Main

Sunday night linkage..

'I don't think it's ever fair to speculate on people's jobs ... My approach has always been to fully support the team we have in place, and when it's time to make a change, we make a change," said Pirates owner Bob Nutting to Rob Biertempfel and Karen Price of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review when asked if there would be any front office or coaching staff changes after the season.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com surveyed four MLB execs about B.J. Upton's free agent outlook, and their estimates varied greatly. A National League GM predicted sees a three-year, $27MM deal for Upton while the other estimates ranged from four years at $50MM to five years at $70MM. The Rangers, Nationals, Phillies, Braves, Red Sox, Yankees, Reds, Giants, and Cubs are among the teams that could be in need of outfield help this winter.
Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto says he is not ready to call this year's team a disappointment, writes Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Dipoto also declined to discuss what owner Arte Moreno might be feeling about this season after investing in Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson over the winter and trading for Zack Greinke in July.
Dave Cameron of Fangraphs believes that the Mets should exercise David Wright's option rather than extend him given his second-half slump. By picking up his reasonably-priced $16MM option, the Mets could buy themselves more time and properly evaluate whether he is worth a hefty extension.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.