Josh Fogg Rumors
Minor League Transactions: Fogg, Berroa, Campillo
Baseball America's Matt Eddy brings us the latest round of minor league transactions, with a few noteworthy moves to mention. Let's take a look....
- The Phillies released Josh Fogg, who they had signed just before the season started. Fogg got knocked around at Double-A Reading, allowing 13 earned runs and 27 baserunners in just 10.1 IP.
- Angel Berroa was let go by the Giants, after he hit .205/.247/.307 in 94 Triple-A plate appearances. His release came two months after the team had inked him to a minor league deal.
- After serving a 50-game suspension for a drug violation, Adam Bostick was released by the Royals. The club also parted ways with Jorge Campillo, who posted a 3.91 ERA in 158.2 innings for the Braves in 2008.
- The Twins signed D'Angelo Jimenez, who had been playing in the Mexican League. The 32-year-old, who always displayed strong on-base skills, last appeared in the majors in 2007 with Washington, hitting .245/.379/.373 in 128 plate appearances.
- The Reds released left-hander Daryl Harang, Aaron Harang's younger brother.
Phillies Reach Agreements With Fogg, Taubenheim
The Phillies have reached agreements with pitchers Josh Fogg and Ty Taubenheim, reports MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
The Mets signed Fogg to a minor league deal in January, but released him in March. Despite poor peripheral stats, Fogg managed to post a 3.74 ERA in 45.6 relief innings for the Rockies last year. He tossed another 40.3 ugly innings as a starter in the minors. In his best days, Fogg was able to chew up 30 starts with an ERA around 5.00 for the Pirates and Rockies.
Taubenheim, 27, posted a 3.65 ERA, 5.3 K/9, and 3.1 BB/9 in 106 innings for the Pirates' Triple A club last year.
Mets To Release Josh Fogg
The Mets are expected to grant Josh Fogg's request to be released from his contract, writes Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News. Fogg hurt a side muscle and never appeared in a Grapefruit League game with the club this spring.
The 33-year-old hurler signed a minor league deal with the Mets in January after spending 2009 with Colorado. In nine big league seasons, the righty has an ERA of 5.03 with a lackluster 4.9 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9.
Mets Sign Josh Fogg
The Mets signed pitcher Josh Fogg to a minor league deal, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.
Despite poor peripheral stats, Fogg managed to post a 3.74 ERA in 45.6 relief innings for the Rockies last year. He tossed another 40.3 ugly innings as a starter in the minors. In his best days, Fogg was able to chew up 30 starts with an ERA around 5.00 for the Pirates and Rockies.
Padres Have $5-8MM Left To Spend
A source has indicated that the Padres have about $5-8MM left to spend this offseason, according to Dan Hayes of The North County Times. The team is expected to enter 2010 with a payroll around $40MM.
"There's no question there's good value out there," said (GM Jed) Hoyer, who declined to comment on which players the Padres have targeted. "Certainly we have money to spend. We're going to spread it around to some of our needs. There's a lot of good players."
Hayes says the club's biggest needs are a veteran pitcher, a righty hitting outfielder, a utility player, and a veteran catcher. We've already seen them connected to Mike Redmond, Ramon Castro, Brad Ausmus, Jerry Hairston Jr., Randy Winn, and Reed Johnson, while Hayes throws Josh Fogg's name into the mix.
Rockies Negotiating With Betancourt, Won't Retain Fogg
The Colorado Rockies are attempting to bring back setup man Rafael Betancourt, but will not re-sign righty Josh Fogg, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
Renck doesn't have any specific details on the talks with Betancourt, but writes that the Rockies has approached the reliever about a multi-year deal. Betancourt has a $5.4MM option for 2010. However, we heard previously that the club would like to sign him to a restructured deal that pays him less in 2010, but locks him up past next season.
Fogg, meanwhile, signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies before the season, and earned a mop-up spot in the team's bullpen. He compiled a 3.74 ERA in 24 appearances. According to Renck though, the team told the right-hander that they're "moving in a different direction."
Matt Belisle Designated For Assignment
According to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies, the team designated pitcher Matt Belisle for assignment and recalled Josh Fogg. Ringolsby feels the Padres might make a waiver claim on Belisle, who was knocked around in 17.3 relief innings this year.
Odds & Ends: Fogg, Payrolls, Padres, Nady
Links for Friday...
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Orioles have "mild interest" in Josh Fogg. If Fogg can't find an appealing job elsewhere he'll report to Triple A Colorado Springs for the Rockies.
- Via the Twitter feed of John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer...the Reds have talked about Geoff Jenkins and Frank Catalanotto but nothing is close.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker has a Sports Hochi report saying recently released pitcher Ken Kadokura is reaching out to the Cardinals and Orioles.
- Ryan Shealy cleared waivers and was sent to Triple A, clearing up the Royals' first base/DH logjam.
- The website FINalternatives.com says Rangers owner Tom Hicks defaulted on more than $500MM in loans.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks at the payrolls for the Mets and Yankees.
- Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune says Hal Steinbrenner "told close friends he plans on hiring Lou Piniella as a consultant when his managerial contract with the Cubs runs out after the 2010 season."
- According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres GM Kevin Towers said he still might add another starting pitcher.
- Albert Chen of Sports Illustrated writes about the advanced defensive metrics that are becoming prevalent in the game.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs writes about the ethics of service time manipulation.
- SI.com's Jon Heyman noted yesterday that "The Giants like Xavier Nady and wouldn't mind bringing the University of California product home at some point."
Rockies Rumors: Podsednik, Hammel, Gaudin
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has the latest on the Rockies.
- With Dexter Fowler making the team, the Rockies will release Scott Podsednik. The Brewers have shown interest in bringing him back to Milwaukee.
- Renck notes that Sal Fasano, Josh Fogg, and Matt Belisle all have out clauses in their contracts.
- The Rockies are looking for pitching. The top target is Jason Hammel of the Rays, while the Cubs' Chad Gaudin is also on the radar. It's possible Gaudin will clear waivers due to his $2MM salary, though.
Odds And Ends: Hill, Dye, Hinske, Fogg
Links for Saturday...
- Cameron Smith of the Washington Post thinks the Orioles should pull the trigger on a possible Rich Hill deal immediately.
- MLB.com's Scott Merkin reports that Jermaine Dye remains "unfazed" by all the trade rumors that have involved him this winter.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times suggests Dye doesn't expect to return to the White Sox after 2009.
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Eric Hinske attracted lots of interest. Hinske said eight teams showed "good interest" in him.
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post likes the Josh Fogg signing because of his clubhouse presence and his price.
- Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune heard that the Padres will not offer a contract to Brian Lawrence, Steve Trachsel or Scott Elarton (hat tip to Buster Olney).
- Olney heard that the Blue Jays are looking for bargains to stock up their minor league system.
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