Javier Valentin Rumors

Trade Candidates: Catchers

The market for catchers has been silent this year, as many contenders are set behind the plate. It’s partially a coincidence, but still noteworthy that so many of baseball’s best teams have catchers performing well. Here are a few backstops who could be available this month: Ramon Hernandez - Likely expendable because of Ryan Hanigan's emergence, Hernandez has hit .252/.333/.368 with five homers and more walks than strikeouts this year. He doesn't come cheap though, as he makes $8MM. Yorvit Torrealba - The Rockies have Chris Iannetta, so Torrealba and his career OPS of .700 are expendable. He'll earn $3.5MM...   Continue Reading

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Free Agent Update

June isn't typically a big month for free agency, but few teams seem willing to make their players available, so we could see clubs turn to the free agent market to add depth for the stretch run. Here are updates on a few of the players who could help contending teams the most: Pedro Martinez - We heard all about Pedro last week and now we have a list of teams that won't sign him. The Angels, Dodgers and Yankees aren't interested, the Nats and Brewers didn't see him throw, the Rangers think he's too pricey and the Rays only...   Continue Reading

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Mets Release Pena, Valentin

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports that the Mets released Wily Mo Pena and Javier Valentin from Triple A Buffalo. Pena, 27, has 77 major league home runs to his name, including 26 with the Reds in 2004. He was hitting .276/.296/.414 with 5 homers in Buffalo. Valentin's best years came in Cincinnati, where he played half of his ten major league seasons. This season the 33-year-old was hitting .260/.360/.416 in Triple A.   Continue Reading

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Mets Sign Javier Valentin, Tom Martin

According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets signed Javier Valentin and Tom Martin to minor league deals. Valentin, 33, signed with the Nationals in February but chose free agency in March when he didn't make the team. He can catch and play first base, and hit .256/.326/.411 in 144 plate appearances last year. Martin, 38, was released by the Mets in March. Earlier that month he'd strained his calf and broken his wrist falling down the stairs. I guess the team had a change of heart. The lefty reliever pitched in the Atlantic League last...   Continue Reading

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Nationals Rumors: Pena, Rotation, Valentin

Chico Harlan of the Washington Post offers up a number of Nationals rumors. Wily Mo Pena was placed on waivers, meaning that any team can claim him and take on his $2MM salary. As Harlan points out, no team will claim him so Pena will have to choose between free agency and a minor league assignment. Apparently Pena declined to comment this morning, but shook hands with many in the Washington clubhouse before heading out (leaving a full locker behind). Collin Balester was optioned to AAA so Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmermann are the team's 4th and 5th starters. Catcher...   Continue Reading

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Nationals Sign Josh Bard

10:04pm: Jack Etkin at Inside The Rockies has some details on the Bard signing. He writes that the Red Sox "decided to keep George Kottaras, 25, who was out of options" as a back up for Jason Varitek. Etkin continues: "By releasing Bard on Wednesday, the deadline for paying a player 30 days termination pay, the Red Sox owed him about $279,000. Had they waited one more day to release him, they would have owed Bard 45 days termination pay or about $418,000." 7:42pm: Chico Harlan of the Washington Post writes that Bard will join what Nationals GM Mike Rizzo...   Continue Reading

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Nats Ink Valentin To Minor League Deal

According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, the Nationals have signed catcher Javier Valentin to a minor league contract. Valentin, 33, hit .256/.326/.411 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 129 at-bats for the Reds last season. He'll be given a shot to win the backup catching job over Wil Nieves this spring. Nieves, 31, batted .261/.309/.341 with one dinger and 20 RBI in 176 at-bats during the '08 season.   Continue Reading

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Reds Will Consider Mulder

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer spoke to Reds GM Walt Jocketty recently. A few nuggets from the conversation: The Reds will "at least explore" signing free agent lefty Mark Mulder. Jocketty, of course, has a history with Mulder from the Cardinals. Mulder recently told MLB.com's Mychael Urban he won't consider signing until he's healthy and throwing well. Jocketty has spoken to the agents for free agents David Weathers, Mike Lincoln, Jeremy Affeldt, Jerry Hairston Jr., and Javier Valentin. Weathers doesn't seem interested in taking a discount, while Valentin said last month he'd love to return. The Reds aren't interested...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Hawkins, Pettitte, Strasburg

Rounding up the day's links... Jack Etkin of the Rocky Mountain News talks about the future of Garrett Atkins. We discussed the possibility of an Atkins trade in this post. MLB.com's Jim Molony says the Astros would like to re-sign reliever LaTroy Hawkins. Amazingly, Hawkins has thrown 17 scoreless innings as an Astro. This is a popular link lately...Vegas Watch examines April predictions from various analysts. Meanwhile, Scott Long digs in deeper on PECOTA's American League predictions. Personally I am more interested in the logic behind projections. Did anyone predict Rays starters to post a 3.88 ERA? Did anyone peg...   Continue Reading

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Reds Pick Up Dunn's $13MM Option

ESPN reports the Reds have exercised Adam Dunn's $13MM club option. This is expected and activates a full no-trade clause for Dunn through June 15th. As Tim noted here, he'll then have the option to choose 10 clubs to which he can be traded. MLBTR readers were more or less unanimously in favor of Dunn's return. 40 homers at $13MM seems a no-brainer to me. He's a patient hitter and the Reds' most potent bat. At that price, if the Reds do intend to deal him they will find ample value. But don't forget that Reds CEO Bob Castellini told..   Continue Reading

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