Kip Wells: Free Agent

According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, right-hander Kip Wells has cleared waivers and elected to become a free agent. 

Wells was designated for assignment on June 24 after posting a 6.49 ERA and an 18/18 K/BB ratio in 26 1/3 innings out of the Nationals' bullpen.  The 32-year-old will hope for a minor league contract with another club.  He has a 4.71 career ERA, a 1.52 career WHIP, and one of the meanest-looking player profile pictures we've ever come across.

Nationals DFA Kip Wells, Call On Clippard

MLB.com's Bill Ladson reports that the Nationals designated reliever Kip Wells for assignment to make room for Tyler Clippard. Wells, a 32-year-old righty, has an ERA of 6.49 in just over 26 innings, with 18 strikeouts and as many walks.

Nationals Overhaul Bullpen

According to Chico Harlan, the Nationals have made some major changes to their 25-man roster. Here's a quick synopsis of the moves:

• Josh Bard: Optioned to AAA-Syracuse
• Saul Rivera: Optioned to AAA-Syracuse
• Wil Ledezma: Designated for assignment
• Steven Shell: Designated for assignment

The quartet was replaced by pitchers Jordan Zimmermann, Garrett Mock, Jason Bergmann, and veteran Kip Wells.

Following today's loss to the Marlins, which completed the second three-game sweep of the Nationals this season for the Fish already in 2009, Manny Acta was not shy about the bullpen:

Nationals Sign Kip Wells

According to Pete McElroy of MASN, the Nationals signed righty Kip Wells to  a minor league deal.  Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post says he can earn $500K if he makes the team.  Wells, 32 in April, posted a 6.21 ERA, 7.41 K/9, and 7.17 BB/9 in 37.2 innings for the Royals and Rockies last year while earning $3.1MM.  He also tossed 25 innings in the minors for Colorado.  He dealt with blood clots in his pitching hand during the season.

Week in Review: 8/17 - 8/23

Another week in the books, and we keep seeing big names moved after the July 31 non-waiver deadline. Let's look back on the past week:

• The Dodgers acquired Greg Maddux from the Padres for two minor league players to be named later. Nice acquisition to bolster their rotation, and does anyone want to place bets on how excited 20-year-old Clayton Kershaw is to get tips from Maddux every day for the rest of the season?
• The Pirates are exploring the idea of trading Jack Wilson this offseason more and more. Given the slim free agent market for shortstops, he would likely gather a lot of interest.
• Nate Robertson's struggles this season have lost him his spot in the rotation, but have they also lost him a spot with the Tigers after 2008?
• Orlando Hernandez needs surgery on his foot, and that could likely mean that El Duque's career would be over.
• Lots of speculation lately about where Ben Sheets is going to land after 2008. And while there's no way to tell right now, Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman have stepped up and said they would like the Astros front office to go out and sign him in the offseason.
• A lot of minor-league deals signed this week: Kip Wells signed with Kansas City, the Mets added Al Reyes, the Astros signed Jose Castillo, the Red Sox signed Dave Ross, and the Braves took a flyer on Rodrigo Lopez following his Tommy John surgery last year. The Jays made a trade to acquire Jose Bautista for a PTBNL as well.
• The Rangers would like Milton Bradley back in 2009, and the feeling is mutual, though negotiations will wait until after the season. Similarly, Frank Thomas would prefer to stay with the A's in 2009.
• Eric Gagne, David Riske, and David Weathers all cleared waivers this week. The first two make sense to me, but given Weathers' success this year, his affordable contract for the rest of the season, and all of the teams desperately seeking bullpen help, it seems strange that no one would place a claim on him. Here's an updated list of all the players who have been confirmed to have cleared waivers this year.

Royals Sign Kip Wells

9:53pm: The Rocky Mountain News is reporting Wells signed with the Royals and will initially work out of the bullpen.

4:02pm: According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Royals have interest in free agent pitcher Kip Wells.  The Horacio Ramirez reclamation project worked out well for KC, so Wells is worth a look.  Wells needs better control and a solid defense behind him; his strikeout and groundball rates are solid.

Odds And Ends: Guerrero, Sheffield, Wells, Lincecum

Here are a few tidbits from around the 'Net this morning.

• Vlad Guerrero wants to spend the rest of his days with the Angels. The question is, will the Halos pony up for a deal for the slugger's latter years? They hold a $15 million club option ($3 million buyout) for next year, Vlad's age-33 season. Will they work out an extension this off-season, or will they let Future Vlad and Future Reagins figure it out after '09?
• Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe mentions a player who wouldn't mind being traded: Gary Sheffield. The 39-year-old hasn't enjoyed his time at DH, saying that he needs to play the field to be a vocal leader. A few obstacles stand in the way, including his limited no-trade clause, his chronically ailing shoulder, and the $19 million owed to him over the next two years. He'd easily clear waivers, though, and might have already. Tampa Bay, anyone?
• The Rockies have DFA'd Kip Wells to make room for Livan Hernandez. Wells had a 5.27 ERA over 27.1 innings for the Rockies.
• Looks like Tim Lincecum is content going with year to year contracts, according to his agent. The Giants have a monopoly on his services through the 2013 season.
• With Carlos Lee likely out for the season, Richard Justice urges the Astros to sign Barry Bonds.
• With the August 15th draftee signing deadling approaching, the Pirates have a major league deal on the table for first round pick Pedro Alvarez. 

Odds and Ends: Manny, McDonald, Bradford, Bowden

Collection o' links...

• Craig Monroe has cleared waivers and become a free agent.
• ESPN's Jerry Crasnick talks to Pirates GM Neal Huntington about his deadline deals.
• Pirates players Chris Duffy and Franquelis Osoria cleared waivers and will head to Triple A.
• Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi says manager Cito Gaston will be back next year.
• Yesterday Dan Shaughnessy wrote a few sentences about the commissioner's office investigating Manny Ramirez's final hours with the Red Sox.  It's become a national story. More on the situation from the L.A. Times.
• Sean McAdam wonders if the Red Sox could acquire Toronto shortstop John McDonald.  He'd have to get past ten other AL teams first.
• In regards to the Chad Bradford deal, Andy MacPhail said, "I can use the dough."  MacPhail said the Orioles will receive a prospect, to be determined in the offseason.
• Jack Etkin of the Rocky Mountain News believes Rockies reliever Kip Wells is expendable.
• Tracy Ringolsby heard speculation that Nationals VP of baseball operations Mike Rizzo could replace GM Jim Bowden.

Rockies Notes: Giles Fails To Make Team

The Rocky Mountain News is reporting Marcus Giles was informed he won't make the club despite his solid spring. Giles wasn't on the list of players being sent to the minors (a list which included Victor Zambrano), but the speculation is that he will be released and given a chance to hook on with another team. The Dodgers would seem like an obvious fit, but it's likely several teams will be in the running.

Giles hit .321/.457/.536 over 13 games, with four doubles and nine runs scored. He was also 3 for 3 in steal attempts. However, the likely starter at second Jayson Nix was equal to the task, hitting .286/.459/.643 with three HRs.

The team also announced it plans to use Kip Wells out of the bullpen to start 2008. That seemingly leaves Franklin Morales (6.48 ERA in 16.2 innings), Mark Redman (7.23 ERA in 18.2 innings) and Josh Towers (7.20 ERA in 15 innings) in competition for the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation.  

Aaron Shinsano writes for East Windup Chronicle.

Odds and Ends: Estrada, Payton, Kielty

Random rumors from the day...

• The Bucs are set with their starting five, unless they can trade Matt Morris.  Dejan Kovacevic adds that the Pirates and Johnny Estrada have mutual interest but haven't spoken in a while.
• Roch Kubatko expects the Orioles to shop Jay Payton now that they've acquired Chris Roberson.  Really, all of their vets should be fully available.
• Bobby Kielty has interest from three or four teams, but his first choice is Boston.  The likelihood of that increases if Coco Crisp is sent elsewhere.  Kielty is willing to give up switch-hitting if his new team so desires.
• Troy E. Renck has salary details on Mark Redman and Kip Wells.  Redman gets $1MM, with another possible $500K in incentives.  Wells gets a $3.1MM base with another possible $1.5MM in incentives.