Odds and Ends: Lieber, Tavarez, Oswalt
We’ve got mostly smaller stuff today, so let’s kick it off with an odds and ends.
- The Mets designated Claudio Vargas for assignment. I’m a bit surprised, I think he’s still a useful pitcher.
- Pitcher Jon Lieber may retire after the season. 130+ wins, that’s a nice career.
- With Tom Gordon‘s shoulder barking, the Phillies’ desire to add a reliever has intensified. Here’s a look at the relief market.
- When a 2.93 ERA is considered underperforming, expectations were never reasonable. Anyone else get the impression that if Johan Santana‘s record was 10-3 instead of 7-6, there wouldn’t even be a discussion? Joel Sherman believes the Yankees (if under Brian Cashman) would not go six or seven years to sign C.C. Sabathia in light of the Barry Zito and Santana deals. He wonders whether Sabathia could be lured with a shorter term and higher average annual value.
- Julian Tavarez chose to become a free agent, surprising the Brewers.
- Roy Oswalt reminds us that he has a no-trade clause and hasn’t been approached by management about any deals.
- The Adam Dunn-J.P. Ricciardi saga continues.
- I chatted with Ryan Henning about the Twins recently.
- T.J. Simers and Ned Colletti argue about the GM’s trading track record.
- The Pirates are looking for pitching. Brett Tomko anyone? Anyone?
- Evan Grant discusses the Rangers’ trade options in his mailbag.
Sheets To Test Free Agency
Brewers ace Ben Sheets is in the midst of a monster contract year, and he’s planning on testing the open market after the season. The Brewers might’ve had a chance to sign him to an extension, but GM Doug Melvin decided to pass. After all, Sheets hasn’t topped 160 innings since ’04. He’s made most of his starts in ’08 as we near the halfway point.
Sheets earns $11MM in ’08, and he’ll be looking for a raise this time around. Assuming he stays healthy for the rest of the season, I could see a contract similar to Jason Schmidt‘s three-year, $47MM deal. So far we haven’t heard anything about his possible preferred destinations.
Giants Designate Vinnie Chulk
According to MLB.com’s Chris Haft, the Giants designated reliever Vinnie Chulk for assignment today. Chulk, 29, pitches to contact but has solid control. He’s been scored upon in four of his six appearances this month.
Royals Claim Robinson Tejeda
The Royals snagged 26 year-old pitcher Robinson Tejeda today off waivers.
The story on Tejeda: poor control, mid-90s heat. Carlos Silva‘s build, according to Baseball America. Not a bad project for KC to take on. Speaking of Silva…Royals fans must be happy they didn’t sign him last winter!
Padres Undecided On Buy/Sell Status
Teams around baseball are probably anxiously eyeing various Padres veterans, especially Brian Giles, Greg Maddux, and Randy Wolf. However, the front office remains undecided on whether to buy or sell at the trade deadline.
Normally a .416 winning percentage about halfway through the season would be enough to call it quits. However, the NL West has only one team over .500 and the Padres are eight games out. It’s too early to wave the white flag, especially with 31 games remaining until the trade deadline.
Chris Young could come back strong and Khalil Greene and Kevin Kouzmanoff might continue their upward trends. If the Padres are three or four games out in late July, Kevin Towers could look to add a hitter.
Odds and Ends: Bautista, Uehara, Pavano
I tried busting out my old Super Nintendo last night, to see if I am still the Mario Kart stud I once was. The console didn’t work right though, so I ordered something called the FC Twin. It’s a console that came out a few years ago when Nintendo’s patent expired; it plays both NES and SNES games. I’m excited! On to the hot stove links.
- We’ll be doing our usual live chat here today at 2pm CST.
- The A’s don’t anticipate any problems in signing top draft pick Jemile Weeks. And the D’Backs are nearing a deal with their top choice, Daniel Schlereth.
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is working to trade recently-designated reliever Denny Bautista. He’s optimistic. There is a general tone of optimism in this entire odds and ends post, in fact.
- NPB Tracker has an in-depth look at Koji Uehara, who will finally get his wish of trying MLB in ’09.
- Steven Goldman thinks it’s time for the Yankees to trade Melky Cabrera, who seems a bit of a tweener. Might be better to trade him amid a hot streak though. At least that’s what I do in fantasy baseball!
- Yankee whipping boy Carl Pavano could actually be around in August.
- MLB.com’s Jim Molony appeared on their Whip Around program (the 6/23 link). He mentioned that he doesn’t expect the Brewers to make a major acquisition.
- Speaking of MLB.com, they’ve got a new Trade Talk blog up where various beat writers have weighed in.
Indians Sign Rincon, Graffanino
According to Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com, the Indians have signed reliever Juan Rincon and infielder Tony Graffanino to minor league deals.
Rincon, 29, lost effectiveness in August of ’06 and pretty much never recovered. It’s easy to try to tie his decline to his May ’05 performance enhancing drug suspension, but he was solid for the rest of that season.
Graffanino, 35, is trying to work his way back from knee and ACL surgeries.
Salisbury On Phillies’ Trade Chips
Back on June 19th, ESPN’s Jayson Stark said the Phillies had "at least kicked the tires on C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo, and Jarrod Washburn." He also expected them to inquire on Erik Bedard. Scott Lauber says the Phils have scouted Sabathia, Burnett, Ben Sheets, and Greg Maddux recently.
Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer weighs in this morning on the Phillies’ trade chips. He names Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, Greg Golson, and Adrian Cardenas as Phillies players other teams may covet. However, Salisbury believes Pat Gillick might opt for a midlevel acquisition and hang on to his top young players. Check out our starting pitcher trade market post for ideas.
Salisbury speculates on possible targets aside from the aforementioned names: Roy Oswalt and Rich Harden. Salisbury is speculating with these names, but notes that "the Astros had a high-ranking scout in Philadelphia on Sunday."
Rosenthal’s Latest: Cashman, Fuentes, Braves, Fielder
Time for a new Ken Rosenthal column.
- Rosenthal reminds us that, among other things, Adam Dunn played with a broken hand for a couple of months in ’05. So maybe he does like baseball. It’s not fair to criticize a player’s passion simply because he doesn’t make the right facial expressions or throw tantrums (not saying J.P. Ricciardi did this, but many fans do).
- Mark Teixeira might be looking for eight years and $160MM. Rosenthal says not to count his hometown Orioles out, though they aren’t the most likely suitor.
- Brian Cashman "seems likely to sign a contract extension" with the Yankees. Omar Minaya’s job is safe.
- The Rockies might trade Brian Fuentes even if they’re in contention. Add the Rays to the list of teams interested in him. The Rox still like the Mets’ Aaron Heilman, by the way.
- The Braves are out of the starting pitching market, content with internal options.
- If the Brewers are to shop Prince Fielder, they’ll likely wait until the offseason. Could be a fun rumor to follow this winter.
- Orioles relievers Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford both can be had (both are signed through ’09).
Michel Inoa Ignites Three Team Bidding War
A week ago, we summed up the reports about 16 year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa. He’s considered the equivalent of a top ten draft pick here in North America. It’s only fitting that the bidding could creep past $3MM.
Today, ESPN’s Enrique Rojas has a new update on Inoa. Rojas says the Rangers and Reds have joined the Athletics in a three-team bidding war for Inoa’s services. The kid is not interested in a big league deal. As the bonus amount rises, many teams are bowing out (all 30 teams have evaluated him). The international signing period begins on July 2nd.
Baseball America has a slightly different take on Inoa. They say the Yankees are still in it, but the A’s are the frontrunner. His bonus will be "at least $4 million."