East Notes: Blue Jays, Phillies, Braves, Soler

« Athletics Release Manny Ramirez | Main

Earlier today we learned that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos asked the Twins about Justin Morneau.  However, one exec noted that Anthopoulos seems to "[call] about everyone."  Here's more on the Blue Jays and the rest of the division..

• Anthopoulos isn't worried about any criticism that may come his way, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.  Even though the GM knows that the club has to show progress on the field, he insists that he won't be swayed by popular opinion and won't rush into making a move.
• Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) spoke to a scout who didn't have a very high opinion of where the Phillies stand or what they can offer in a trade.  'They're not young. They're not healthy. And their system is thin," the scout said.
• The Braves were right there with the Cubs and willing to spend $30MM on Jorge Soler, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB.com.  The White Sox and Yankees, meanwhile, had bids that fell between $25MM and $30MM.

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Athletics Release Manny Ramirez

« Athletics To Sign Daniel Robertson | Main | East Notes: Blue Jays, Phillies, Braves, Soler »

The Athletics have announced that Manny Ramirez has requested his outright release and the team has granted his request.  The veteran recently completed his 50-game suspension and was eligible to join the club on May 30th.

Ramirez, 40, hit .302/.348/.349 for Triple-A Sacramento in 69 plate appearances this year.  Just last week, A's GM Billy Beane said that the club hadn't decided whether to release the slugger.  Oakland signed Ramirez in February and Beane insisted that the move had everything to do with baseball and nothing to do with PR.

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Athletics To Sign Daniel Robertson

« Draft Notes: Brewers, Padres, Nationals, Giolito | Main | Athletics Release Manny Ramirez »

The Athletics have agreed to terms with third baseman Daniel Robertson, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. Robertson's $1.5MM bonus exactly matches the suggested value for the No. 34 pick.

The high schooler was the club's first of two supplemental first-round picks. Callis writes that Robertson has a quality bat with a chance for average to plus power.  Yesterday we learned that the A's agreed to pay the full $2.625MM bonus for 11th overall pick Addison Russell.

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Ethier, Hamilton, Quentin

« Quick Hits: Gio, Phillies, Rangers, Burnett | Main

On this date in 2003, Reed Johnson became the fourth player in history to hit a lead-off homer and a walk-off homer in the same game. The then-26-year-old rookie opened the bottom of the first with a solo homer off Shawn Estes and ended the game by opening the bottom of the tenth with a solo homer off Mark Guthrie. Here's the latest from around the web...

• Redbird Rants interviewed Cardinals top prospect Shelby Miller.
• Seedlings to Stars interviewed Patrick Wisdom, the 52nd overall pick in the draft.
• Infield Shift interviewed Braves prospect J.R. Graham.
• SF Giants Rumors spoke to Baseball America's Jim Callis about the Giants' draft class.
• Baseball Time in Arlington wrote about Andre Ethier's extension and Josh Hamilton.
• River Ave. Blues wrote about Ethier's deal and its impact on the Yankees.
• Prospect Insider mused about a potential Jason Vargas extension.
• AL Eastbound & Down wrote about a potential Edwin Encarnacion trade.
• BoSox Injection says it's time for the Red Sox to trade Kevin Youkilis.
• MLB Prospect Watch wrote about the Tigers and Carlos Quentin.
• Meanwhile, MLB Reports thinks the Padres should trade Quentin.
• Dr. Strangeglove likes the idea of the Pirates pursuing Chase Headley.
• Obstructed View broke down Alfonso Soriano's trade value.
• Nolan Writin' says the Rangers don't need to add a starting pitcher.
• Lasorda's Lair thinks the Dodgers need a bat more than Ryan Dempster.
• Feeling Dodger Blue lists some potential trade targets for the Dodgers.
• Warehouse Worthy wonders if the Orioles should be buyers at the deadline.
• Crashburn Alley explains why the Phillies need to sell now.
• Kings of Kauffman wrote about Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, and Super Two status.
• Talkin' Sox with Dan thinks the Red Sox need Ryan Kalish.
• Cleveland Indians Perspective analyzed the Indians' draft haul.
• South Side Showdown looked at White Sox GM Kenny Williams' draft history.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

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Los Angeles Notes: Ethier, Haren, Draft Signings

« Cardinals Sign Michael Wacha | Main | Quick Hits: Gio, Phillies, Rangers, Burnett »

Here's the latest from the City of Angels (and Dodgers)...

• Andre Ethier would've gotten more than a five-year, $85MM deal as a free agent, opines Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports in his latest Hot Corner video.  Rosenthal noted that even in a crowded market for outfielders, Ethier's numbers were better than every other potential free agent outfielder (except Josh Hamilton) and Ethier could've found a contract akin to Jayson Werth's seven-year, $126MM deal with the Nationals.  Still, Rosenthal calls Ethier's extension good for both sides, as Ethier enjoys playing for the Dodgers and the team gets to keep a big bat at a relative bargain price.
• Angels GM Jerry Dipoto talks to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times about the trade that brought Dan Haren to Anaheim, a deal that Dipoto swung from the other side while acting as the Diamondbacks' interim general manager.
• The Angels announced they have agreed to terms with 14 draft picks, with fourth-rounder Alex Yarbrough named as the highest-selected of the signees.  The Halos have reached deals with 25 of 38 draft picks thus far.  The Angels didn't make a selection until the third round, as they lost their first and second-round picks as compensation for signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson last offseason.

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Quick Hits: Gio, Phillies, Rangers, Burnett

« Los Angeles Notes: Ethier, Haren, Draft Signings | Main | Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Ethier, Hamilton, Quentin »

Brayan Pena's attempt to stretch a single into a double in the 9th inning drew a throw from the outfield and allowed Jarrod Dyson to score from third with the game-winning run in the Royals' 4-3 result over the Brewers tonight.  It was Kansas City's second unusual walkoff victory in as many nights, as they won on a bases-loaded walk from Mike Moustakas on Wednesday.  The Royals picked up the sweep against Milwaukee, winning all three games by one run.

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

• The Nationals' trade for Gio Gonzalez was the "best deal anyone made last winter," a rival scout tells Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. "They didn't get him cheap, but he can dominate, and how many starters can you say that about?"  The Nats look like the big winners of the deal thus far, given Washington's first-place position and Gonzalez's Cy Young Award-caliber numbers since joining the team.
• David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News breaks down what the Phillies could possibly receive for some of their top assets on the trade market.
• The Phillies, Brewers, Cubs, Astros and Red Sox are positioned to dominate the rumor mill leading up to the trade deadline, predicts Ken Davidoff of the New York Post.
• Despite injuries to Alexi Ogando and Koji Uehara, Rangers GM Jon Daniels "still feels good" about his bullpen, reports Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest (Twitter link).
• A.J. Burnett has brought both veteran leadership and quality pitching to the Pirates, writes Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.  'It was important for our guys to see a guy that's brought in and it's not a trading-deadline deal where you have a guy for two months,' said manager Clint Hurdle. 'We brought in a guy for two years. He can go ahead and unpack his bags. He's going to be around, he can be involved, be engaged.'
• Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski outlines his team's pursuit of Roy Oswalt to John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.  Dombrowski said the Tigers were prepared to meet Oswalt's salary demands in the offseason but the veteran just didn't want to pitch in Detroit.  Oswalt's representatives contacted Dombrowski again once the season began and Oswalt was without a team, but the Tigers had already moved on with Drew Smyly in the rotation. 

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Red Sox, Jenks Talking Settlement

« NL Central Notes: Dempster, Cubs, Brewers, Appel | Main

The Red Sox are negotiating a contract settlement with reliever Bobby Jenks that would end his association with the team, Nick Cafardo and Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe report. Jenks has spent the entire 2012 season on the 60-day disabled list and isn't expected to pitch this season.

Jenks signed a two-year, $12MM deal in December of 2010, not long after being non-tendered by the White Sox. Biceps and back injuries limited him to just 15 2/3 innings last year, when he walked nearly one batter per inning. The 31-year-old Legacy Sports Group client underwent two back surgeries this past offseason, and was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident this March.

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