Archives for August 2009

Odds And Ends: Yankees, Wagner, Byrd

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 31, 2009 at 9:33am CDT

Some links to start the week off…

Joel Sherman of the New York Post argues that the Yankees were smart to spend on elite free agents last offseason. Mark Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia have contributed to the Yankees' dominance this year.
Johnny Damon repeated to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News that he wants to return to the Yankees next season.
The Toronto Sun notes that Mike Hampton won't pitch again this year.
Billy Wagner didn't expect his Red Sox debut to go as smoothly as it did, according to Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe.
As Alex Speier of WEEI.com notes, Paul Byrd earns incentives for every start he makes with the Red Sox.
Carl Steward of the San Jose Mercury News says Barry Zito and Edgar Renteria, whose contracts have often been criticized, have helped keep the Giants in the race.

Pirates Increase Offer To Sano

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 31, 2009 at 9:09am CDT

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hears that the Pirates "substantially increased" their offer to top Dominican prospect Miguel Angel Sano. The Pirates, who made Sano an offer when the international signing period first began, remain the lone team to offer the shortstop a deal, according to his agent. Sano claims to be 16 years old, but an MLB investigation concluded that his age is "undetermined."

Nomar Might Be On The Move

By | August 30, 2009 at 9:03pm CDT

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, "there remains a small chance Nomar Garciaparra will go to a contender" before Monday's waiver trade deadline.

Garciaparra, according to Slusser's sources, cleared waivers "some time ago." The Phillies had interest in the utilityman this winter and reportedly sent scouts to watch him play this weekend. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said recently that his club is done dealing, but there remains some need for a right-handed hitting presence on the reigning World Champions' bench beyond Ben Francisco and Eric Bruntlett.

Nomar has gone hitless in his last 14 pinch-hit appearances and is batting just .264/.299/.364 this season with two home runs and 13 RBI in 129 at-bats for the A's. But he's a .321/.386/.589 career postseason hitter with seven home runs and 24 RBI over 112 late-October at-bats, and has always been regarded as a solid clubhouse guy.

Rich Harden Rumors: Sunday

By Nat Boyle | August 30, 2009 at 8:26pm CDT

8:26pm: Count Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune among those who believe a trade will get done by Monday's deadline: "The guess here," Rogers writes, "is that Twins GM Bill Smith is going to wake up on Monday, consider how catchable the Detroit Tigers remain, and pay the price." The Twinkies currently stand 65-65 — 4.5 games back of Detroit in the AL Central.

12:57pm: Joe Christensen says "doubts have emerged" about the Twins completing a trade with the Cubs for Rich Harden. Christensen quotes sources who say "the Cubs had yet to open a window for the Twins to negotiate a long-term deal with Harden." Twins officials have yet to confirm or deny that they were the team that claimed Harden.

Christensen notes the Twins would deal for Harden even without a long-term extension given Harden will be a Type A free agent.

Odds & Ends: Mets, Reds, Halos, Skippers

By | August 30, 2009 at 7:13pm CDT

Another batch of links as the Braves and Phillies prepare to get underway on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball…

According to ex-Mets GM Jim Duquette, via Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets have canceled their fall instructional league "in an apparent cost-cutting maneuver." If they're making cutbacks in the minors, might they also have cutbacks in mind at the big league level?
According to Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty reaffirmed Sunday that he currently has no deals in the works. The deadline for waiver trades is tomorrow, August 31.
Matthew Pouliot of NBC Sports continues his "Restoring the Rosters" series with a look at the Angels, who he ranks 10th among all MLB clubs with their impressive what-could-have-been roster.
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune discusses some MLB managers who may be on the proverbial "hot seat." Among the names? Cincinnati's Dusty Baker, Cleveland's Eric Wedge and Houston's Cecil Cooper. Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports goes more in-depth with the list.

Odds & Ends: Kazmir, Byrd, A’s, Lackey

By | August 30, 2009 at 5:51pm CDT

Sunday evening linkage…

As noted by Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, new Angels hurler Scott Kazmir is already falling in love out West. "It kind of feels like a playoff atmosphere every time you're here," Kazmir said Sunday. "You have the Rally Monkey, the whole thing going on." He's under team control until 2012 and will make his Angels debut Wednesday.
Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com spoke Sunday with A's manager Bob Geren, who revealed his plan for September's roster expansion. It has already been confirmed that Brett Wallace will not see major league action this year.
Paul Byrd told WEEI.com's Rob Bradford that he wasn't guaranteed a call-up by the Red Sox when they signed him to a minor league deal in early August. The 38-year-old made his 2009 debut Sunday afternoon, tossing six shutout innings against the Blue Jays.
John Lackey earned his 100th career win Sunday with eight innings of five-hit ball against the Athletics. He heads an intriguing 2010 free agent class.

Pirates Sign Jorge Julio

By Mike Axisa | August 30, 2009 at 4:33pm CDT

According to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, the Pirates have signed righty Jorge Julio to a minor league deal. He's been assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Julio, 30, had been released by the Rays earlier this month after posting a 5.96 ERA in 22.2 IP with their Triple-A affiliate. With the Brewers earlier this year, Julio had a 7.79 ERA in 17.1 IP.

Dodgers Acquire Ronnie Belliard

By Mike Axisa | August 30, 2009 at 4:18pm CDT

Chico Harlan of The Washington Post reports that the Nationals traded infielder Ronnie Belliard to the Dodgers following today's game. Washington will receive A-ball pitcher Luis Garcia and a player to be named in the deal.

Belliard, 34, was hitting .247-.297-.376 in 203 plate appearances for the Nats this year, spending time at first, second and third base. He is in the final year of the two year, $3.5M extension he signed during the 2007 season. Garcia, 22, has a 2.92 ERA in 34 appearances (15 starts) in the Low-A Midwest League this season, and was not considered one the Dodgers' top 30 prospects by Baseball America this spring.

Discussion: September Callups

By Mike Axisa | August 30, 2009 at 4:08pm CDT

It's hard to believe that it's almost September, no? The sun is going down a little earlier these days, it's getting a bit more breezy out, and the playoff races are starting to heat up. Teams can start calling up extra players on Tuesday, so clubs out of contention will hold auditions for next year while teams in the race will add extra weapons off the bench and bodies to keep their regulars rested.

Who do you want to see your favorite team call up? If you're a Pirates fan, do you want to see Pedro Alvarez in September? What about Jason Heyward or Buster Posey? Mike Stanton? Remember, a player has to be on the 40-man roster to be in the Major Leagues, so a callup might not be as easy as you think.

Forgive the self promotion, but if you're a Yankees fan, I wrote about who the team may call up in September earlier this week at my usual spot, River Ave Blues.

Odds & Ends: White Sox, Twins, Mets

By Mike Axisa | August 30, 2009 at 3:01pm CDT

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention. I've just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. I need all of you, to stop what you're doing and listen. Odds and ends post!!!

Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune writes that if White Sox GM Kenny Williams wants to make a move that could help his team, time is running out. Getting Jake Peavy back and healthy would be about as good of a pickup that a team could make this time of year.
The Star Tribune's Patrick Reusse says that Twins GM Bill Smith should have been operating like Cleveland's Mark Shapiro at this year's trade deadline, "looking to the future rather than the present."
Joel Sherman of The NY Post writes about the parallels between the current Mets club and the Orioles teams of the mid-to-late 90's. He also notes that the Amazin's should brace themselves for decreased ticket sales and a smaller payroll next year.
ESPN's Peter Gammons explains how teams took advantage of their payroll flexibility at the deadline.

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