Trevor Crowe Rumors

Astros Sign Crowe, Escalona

We'll keep track of the latest minor moves here... 

• The Astros announced that they signed outfielder Trevor Crowe and left-hander Sergio Escalona to minor league contracts that include invitations to MLB Spring Training. Houston also confirmed the signing of right-handers Edgar Gonzalez and Jose Valdez. Crowe, 29, played for the Indians from 2009-11. He spent the 2012 season in Cleveland's minor league system and posted a .281/.349/.397 batting line in 350 total plate appearances. Escalona, 28, posted a 2.93 ERA in 27 2/3 innings for the 2011 Astros, but hasn't pitched at the MLB level since.

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Minor Moves: Crowe, McSwain

The latest minor moves from around MLB...

• The Angels signed former first round pick Trevor Crowe to a minor league contract, according to the transactions page at CBSSports.com. The Indians recently released Crowe, who has a .245/.295/.329 batting line in parts of three MLB seasons (2009-11). The 28-year-old has a minor league batting line of .272/.358/.391 since being drafted with the 14th overall selection in 2005.
• The Athletics signed right-hander Matt McSwain, according to his agency, Oak Sports Management, on Twitter. The 26-year-old spent the first half of the season with Pittsburgh's Double-A affiliate and posted a 4.88 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 55 1/3 innings.

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Central Links: Castellanos, Cardinals, Miller, Crowe

Between baseball's two Central divisions, at least six teams figure to be buyers, and more could emerge depending on how the coming weeks play out. The White Sox, Tigers, Indians, Reds, Pirates, and Cardinals could all add pieces prior to July 31, and here are some links pertaining to those clubs...

• The Tigers are telling teams that top prospect Nick Castellanos is unavailable in any trade "at least right now," according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).
• Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports echoes that sentiment, tweeting that he'd be "very surprised" if the Tigers move Castellanos for a rental (Twitter link).
• The Cardinals were one of the teams in on Ben Sheets prior to his signing with the Braves, tweets Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who adds that the Cards continue to look for upgrades to their rotation.
• Cardinals top prospect Shelby Miller has struggled in 2012, but B.J. Rains of FOX Sports Midwest quotes GM John Mozeliak as saying, "Clearly we're still very high on him" (Twitter link).
• The Indians announced that Trevor Crowe has been released from Triple-A Columbus (on Twitter). The former No. 14 overall pick is now 28 years old and has managed just a .736 OPS in parts of five Triple-A seasons. He batted .245/.295/.329 in three Major League stints.

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Indians Close To Trading Trevor Crowe?

10:07pm: The Crowe trade "now appears to be a no-go," according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (via Twitter).  Heyman doesn't know whether this could impact the rumored Abreu trade.

9:03pm: The Indians are close to dealing outfielder Trevor Crowe, report Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link).  Crowe was pulled from a minor league game earlier today, though the trade has not yet been finalized, Morosi adds.  It is unknown if Crowe could be going to the Angels as part of another impending Tribe deal involving Bobby Abreu.

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