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Archives for May 2009

What Snider’s Poor Start Means For The Jays

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The Blue Jays were hoping for more out of Travis Snider this year, but his poor performance so far might be good for Toronto in the end. Snider was just demoted to Triple A and if he stays there until after the All-Star Break, he could end up under team control for an extra season. A month and a half in the minors could mean the Jays hold onto Snider for his age 27 season in 2015. Here's how it breaks down:

  • If Snider had stayed with the Jays all year, he would likely have become arbitration-eligible after 2011, hitting free agency after 2014.
  • If Snider has less than a full year's service time after 2009, he'll still become arbitration eligible after 2011, but it will be as a Super Two player.
  • This would mean he'd go to arbitration four times instead of three. He'd remain under team control through 2015. 
  • So what would it take for Snider to get less than a year's service time? He already has 77 days of the required 172 under his belt, but if the Jays call him up after the All Star Break, he'd collect 80 more at most and remain shy of the full year. 

The Jays expected a better showing from Snider, but his demotion could be good for the team. Here's the bottom line: If the Jays call Snider up after the All-Star Break he'll be shy of a full year's service time after 2009, become a Super Two player after 2011 and remain under team control for a year more than expceted, through 2015. 

Orioles Release Adam Eaton

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4:22pm: According to the Baltimore Sun it's official- Eaton's been released. As the Sun points out, Eaton only completed five innings in two of his eight starts this year. Albers will get the call to join the O's.

3:34pm: As Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports, the Orioles will relase Adam Eaton. This has yet to be confirmed by the Orioles.

Kubatko believes the O's will call up Matt Albers to serve as a long reliever, but he doesn't know who will take Eaton's rotation spot.

Brewers DFA Chris Duffy

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The Brewers designated Chris Duffy for assignment to make room for their latest acquisition, Jody Gerut, according to the Sports Network (via the Miami Herald). Duffy, 29, was hitting .125/.222/.156 for the Brewers in 37 plate appearances. He showed promise as a 25-year-old when he hit .341 for the Pirates in 39 games of semi-regular playing time, but has since fallen off.

Nationals Rumors: Strasburg, Johnson, ‘Pen

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ESPN.com's Tim Kurkjian takes a close look at the Nationals in his latest column and concludes that they have good baseball teams to look forward to. Along the way, he turns up some Nats rumors:

  • Stephen Strasburg pulled an oblique muscle Wednesday, but acting GM Mike Rizzo says he's not concerned, repeating a line we've heard before: "If the draft was today, we would select Stephen Strasburg." 
  • Kurkjian hears that it will cost the Nationals between $25-50MM to sign Strasburg for six years. 
  • Since the Washington 'pen has struggled so much, there's a good chance the Nats will add a reliever or two this offseason.  
  • As an alternative, they could deal Nick Johnson for pitching; Kurkjian suggests the Mets or Giants could be interested.
  • Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com heard from a person connected to the Mets that the Nationals would likely want Bobby Parnell in exchange for Johnson.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Peavy, Giants, Rays, M’s, Lidge, Beltre

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On this date seven years ago, the A's traded Jeremy Giambi to the Phillies for John Mabry. At the time of the deal, Giambi was hitting .274/.390/.471 with 8 home runs and Mabry was essentially a pinch-hitter. Giambi would go on to hit 12 more home runs for the Phils but would play only one more season in the big leagues. As rumors start to fly in the '09 season, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Fire Ned Colletti Now would be happy to see a team other than the Dodgers trade for Jake Peavy.
  • Jorge Says No! says the Brewers should look into trading for Jake Peavy.
  • McCovey Chronicles takes a look at some deadline deal possibilities for the Giants, including Matt Holliday, Carl Crawford and Ichiro.
  • The Rays Party notes that Jason Isringhausen makes for a crowded bullpen which may indicate that the Devil Rays ($29) are about to make a deal.
  • Phlavio's Corner takes a look at some options to replace Carlos Delgado.
  • Around the Majors takes a look back at the Brad Lidge extension and wonders if it was a mistake.
  • Bleeding Blue and Teal would like to see the Mariners make a deal for Ben Zobrist.
  • The Detroit Tigers Weblog now admits that the Edwin Jackson-Matt Joyce trade may have been good for the Tigers.
  • MLB Notebook sees a few possible trade destinations for Adrian Beltre including both Chicago franchises.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and on Twitter here.

Discussion: The Red Sox And David Ortiz

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David Ortiz has presented the Red Sox with a dilemma. Without him the Red Sox probably wouldn't have won two World Series titles this decade, but this year he's hitting just .211/.318/.324. He hit his first homer of the year this week, after Terry Francona benched him for a few days, but he hasn't found the form that saw him post an OPS over 1.000 and average over 40 homers a year from 2003-07. 

  • ESPN.com's Peter Gammons says the Red Sox are willing to wait on Big Papi.
  • A few days ago ESPN.com's Buster Olney suggested the Red Sox would have to consider replacing Ortiz if he doesn't start producing soon. Olney speculated that the Red Sox would like to deal for a young hitter like Matt LaPorta.
  • Earlier in the week, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that it would be easy for the Red Sox to replace Big Papi's numbers, but nearly impossible to trade him. 

The Red Sox have many choices; what should they do? Trade for a bat to replace Ortiz immediately? Ride the slump out for a few more weeks? Hope that, like Carlos Delgado a year ago, Ortiz puts it all together? Stick with him for the season regardless of his production?

Draft Update: Strasburg, Ackley, Miller

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ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill has an update on some of the most coveted draft-eligible players:

  • Stephen Strasburg left his Wednesday night start holding his back. The San Deigo State staff reported a "minor back cramp." Strasburg still managed to strike out six, allowing only four baserunners in 7.2 innings.
  • Vanderbilt lefty Mike Minor pitched well yesterday and though he's projected to go after the first round now, he could improve his standing. 
  • Dustin Ackley hit two home runs against Duke and he has now "all but cemented himself as the No. 2 overall prospect in the draft." The Mariners have the second overall pick.
  • Texas high schooler Shelby Miller pitched a four-hit shoutout in front of a number of scouts and Rangers President Nolan Ryan. Miller is expected to be selected within the first five picks.

For the hottest prospects already with a major league organization, check out Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet.

Heyman On Peavy, Pedro, Blalock

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Jon Heyman of SI.com has a number of rumors in his latest column:

  • He believes the Cubs and Brewers have the best shot at acquiring Jake Peavy, because of the pitcher's preference for the National League and his desire to play in "middle America." Heyman believes Peavy would accept a deal to either team, but there are never guarantees with a no-trade clause.
  • The Yankees and Indians both say they cannot add payroll.  
  • One AL executive believes Pedro Martinez would sign for $3MM plus incentives at this point.  
  • The Rangers would listen to offers for Hank Blalock and ask for relief help in return. 

Odds And Ends: Padres, Takatsu, Sano

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Links for Friday afternoon…

  • SI.com's Tom Verducci heard one GM argue that the Padres should trade Jake Peavy and Adrian Gonzalez to re-stock the farm system.
  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo breaks down what will happen after Stephen Strasburg's drafted by the Nationals. He predicts that eight or nine college arms could go in the first 20 picks, if you count redrafts like Aaron Crow and Tanner Scheppers. 
  • According to Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun, Travis Snider was sent to Triple A by the Blue Jays. Snider was hitting .242/.292/.394, with 25 strikeouts in 99 at bats.
  • According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, Shingo Takatsu auditioned in front of the D'Backs and Giants. He threw as hard as 86 mph and impressed scouts with his breaking balls. If the name sounds familiar it's because the 40-year-old sidearmer used to close for the White Sox.
  • Steve Melewski of MASN wonders if Nolan Reimold has seen the last of the minor leagues. After a slow start, the left fielder is seven for his last 18, including a homer off Mariano Rviera.
  • Via Twitter, Keith Law suggests pitcher Sonny Gray would go in the top three picks of this year's draft if he were eligible.
  • Live to Play suggests the list of suitors for Miguel Angel Sano will soon "thin out to the very serious contenders" for the 16-year-old shortstop prospect.
  • Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star writes that the ideal trade for the Royals might be Mike Jacobs or Jose Guillen for a "capable shortstop."

Gammons On Peavy, Greene, Holliday

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More rumors from ESPN.com's Peter Gammons in his latest column:

  • Gammons says it made sense for Kenny Williams to try to deal for Jake Peavy because the AL Central is winnable and Gordon Beckham wasn't part of the deal.
  • Gammons expects teams to be wary of no-trade clauses after seeing Peavy thwart the Padres' plans to deal him.  
  • Nats GM Mike Rizzo wants to deal now, while more teams are in the pennant race and remain possible buyers.  
  • Rizzo would like to improve his bullpen, which has an ERA nearing 7.00. 
  • The Red Sox want to wait on David Ortiz and plan on giving him the chance to start hitting. He finally homered this week, but has struck out in seven of his last 20 plate appearances. 
  • Gammons believes it makes sense for the Cardinals to see if the Red Sox have interest in Khalil Greene.  
  • Billy Beane may face a limited market for Matt Holliday if he decides to trade the left fielder in July. 

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