Earlier today, the Indians released right-hander Derek Lowe after designating him for assignment earlier this month. The veteran is willing to start or relieve and there's reportedly a sense that he'll return to the National League. While we keep an eye on where the veteran might land, here's tonight's look around baseball..
- As first reported by Jim Callis of Baseball America, Padres scouting director Jaron Madison is leaving the organization to join the Cubs. The 36-year-old will take over as Chicago's scouting director while Tim Wilken has been reassigned to the role of Special Assistant to president Theo Epstein, the team announced.
- One Braves official believes that if Michael Bourn had an agent other than Scott Boras he might already have a new contract with the club, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. People who know Nationals GM Mike Rizzo believe that Bourn has always been at the top of his wish list and the Phillies, Reds, and Marlins are also potential suitors this winter.
- Ben Sheets wasn't entirely confident about his return to the big leagues, but the veteran has looked tremendous so far, Knobler writes. The 34-year-old isn't sure how long he'll continue pitching but he says that he wants to leave on his own terms as opposed to being forced out by injury.
As a Padre fan, I am not very happy about Madisons’ departure. First Hoyer and MacLeod, then Rizzo, now Madison. I wonder if the Padre are going to get any compensation from the Cubs as Madison is getting a parallel job, not a promotion. I’m sure even if they say the Padres are going to get compensation they won’t, as the word when Hoyer left was that they were going to get some compensation and unless they snuck it by, the Padres haven’t as of yet.
Look on the bright side, you’ve still got Josh Byrnes!
we should hire one of the rangers or the blue jays top scouts to replace Madison- obviously they’re doing something right.
The Padres were doing just as much right as those two clubs, but yes I agree, robbing another club with a great farm system would be the way to go.
Can he take Maybin and his contract with him?
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One Braves official believes that if Michael Bourn had an agent other than Scott Boras, the slugger might already have a new contract with the club”
wait, what? Bourn the “slugger”???? On what planet is Bourn a slugger? First he’s a $16-22M a year man, now he’s a slugger? Sounds like the Red Sox aren’t the only organization that drinks on the job…
Hey! I’m a Boston fan…and I totally agree with you. This season sure has hastened my impending cirrhosis.
Marlins should sign Bourne. They should also sign Lowe on the cheap. Signing washups and magically revitalizing their seasons is something the Marlins have been good at these past few seasons, just look at Javier Vasquez.
Also, Scott Boras should take a long vacation in China.
Honestly I would be surprised if anyone noteworthy signed with the Marlins for a long time. There is zero reason to believe the core they have will be there so why go there knowing mid season you could be moving again.
The secret is out on Miami (it never really was a secret) – their not in the business of baseball as much as they are in the business of making money. They’ve got their new ballpark, new uniforms, boosted payroll, and made almost everyone forget that they were the team that MLB had to force to put more money into the annual budget. They’re not going to sign Bourn – or Jason Bourne. I’d be surprised if they come anywhere close to any signings like the ones we’ve seen in 2012 anytime soon.
My hunch is Lowe is likely to go back to the NL because he is simply better off, not for any other reason.
Phillies would rather have Melky, no thanks.
I’d love that. Philly has so many cheesesteaks that Melky would be back to his old playing weight. I think Melky’s done so well in SF because the yuppie food just hasn’t agreed with him. ^_^
Not sure how the Reds can afford Bourne with all the arb guys and Votto and Phillips new contracts.
Agree. A guy like Upton is probably a bit more realistic, or Victorino if he doesn’t re-up with the Dodgers.
Keep Derek Lowe far away from the O’s.
Maybe if the braves make a deep run in the post season and fans start packing the house then hopefully payroll will increase and keeping bourn is more likely. With a payroll in the low 90 mil and kids getting expensive i just dont see it happening. Would love if gattis kept tearing up a ball then put him in the outfield and move heyward to center. But that opens up right field
I don’t know how I feel about the Jaron Madison thing. I’m sure he’s good at his job, but Tim Wilken has done a really nice job for the Cubs and it seems like they’re pushing him out the door just so they can continue to assemble front offices they’ve had before.
Edit: I see the Cubs’ website is trying to spin it as a promotion for Wilken, though I do not see it that way. I hope he stays, but if I were him I’d probably leave the first time somebody offered me something.
I’m glad to see Wilken, uh, “reassigned”. The state of the Cubs’ player development system after his 8 years speaks for itself.
Who will be replacing Madison in SD?