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Archives for May 2009

Mets Considering Trading For A First Baseman

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As Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports, Carlos Delgado's hip problems have put his career in jeopardy. For now he's on the DL, but there's no immediate timeline for his return. This leaves the Mets without a first baseman. Here are some of Minaya's options:

  • Fernando Tatis could play first, perhaps with help from Daniel Murphy. Gary Sheffield's probably not an option anywhere but the outfield.
  • The Mets could sign Richie Sexson, Jose Vidro or another free agent   
  • He could make a trade. Jerry Manuel said Minaya's looking at trade possibilities. Could a player like Aubrey Huff or Jorge Cantu be a fit?

Discussion: What Should The Jays Do?

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The Blue Jays are 24-14, leading the Red Sox by two games. It's early- we're not even a quarter of the way through the season- but the Jays have done better than anyone expected. Heading into the season questions about Roy Halladay's future swirled and some wondered whether the Jays might attempt to unload salary and deal the likes of Lyle Overbay, Scott Rolen, B.J. Ryan and Vernon Wells . So what should J.P. Ricciardi and the Blue Jays do?

  • Decide that the team can't maintain the pace it has set through 38 games and take offers for Halladay and others?
  • Wait it out until they've has played more than just three total games against the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox?  
  • Change the plan and go for broke this season, making whatever moves are required to put the team over the top? 
  • The Jays could use a better backup to Rod Barajas, but don't have other major holes thanks to good health and some breakout performances from Marco Scutaro and Adam Lind.
  • They have so much starting pitching depth that, as Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun writes, the team is keeping Casey Janssen and Ricky Romero in the minors for now since there's no room for them. 

 So are the Jays legit? How should they proceed with their season? 

Draft Update: Giants, Mariners, Braves, Nats

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ESPN.com's Keith Law has an update on various teams and players as the June draft approaches. Here are some highlights; the original article has more detail.

  • The Giants are strongly considering taking a high school pitcher with their sixth overall pick.
  • Expect the Mariners to take Dustin Ackley, North Carolina's first baseman, with their first rounder.
  • Ackley's teammate, righty Alex White, pitched in front of four GMs Thursday: Brian Sabean (Giants), Neal Huntington (Pirates), Jack Zdurencik (Mariners) and Mike Rizzo (Nationals).
  • ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill reports that White did not impress. Check out Churchill's article for more analysis of some top amateur players.
  • The Braves are expected to take Zack Wheeler, a local prep star. 
  • The Nationals don't get a compensation pick if they fail to sign the player they draft with their tenth overall pick because that pick is itself compensation for failure to sign Aaron Crow last year. Nats GM Mike Rizzo says he's going to draft the best available player there, regardless of signability.
  • Some teams are losing interest in Kentucky lefty James Paxton, who chose Scott Boras as his advisor and pitched poorly afterwards.

Odds And Ends: Jones, Peralta, Liriano

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Lins for Saturday morning…

  • As ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports, Adam Jones is pleased that the Orioles have so much pitching approaching the majors, but he wants to win now.
  • SI.com's Tom Verducci calls Jones baseball's most improved player and breaks down the outfielder's hot start.
  • Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Jhonny Peralta is playing third base for now.
  • Rob Neyer of ESPN.com writes that there are no guarantees for Francisco Cervelli once Jose Molina and Jorge Posada are fully healthy. 
  • Neyer adds that the Twins need Francisco Liriano to take his game to the next level and regain the form that saw him dominate the American League in 2006. 
  • In a third piece, Neyer weighs in on the White Sox, concluding that there's no reason to panic in a division that the Sox could take with 85 wins. Still, the team has issues in center field and in the middle infield.

Verducci: “It’s A Young Man’s Game”

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SI.com's Tom Verducci links two of the year's most-discussed trends: the demand for young players and the demand for good defense, writing that "the renewed emphasis on defense hasn't helped the value of older players." As a result, teams are reluctant to sign older free agents like Frank Thomas and Jim Edmonds. Many of the older players who signed contracts this offseason are struggling; Verducci mentions Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera among others. Of course it's too early in the season to make sweeping generalizations, but Verducci concludes that baseball's "a young man's game."

Verducci adds that teams like the Tigers and Rangers are playing better because they're defending better. Elvis Andrus has made his mistakes at short for the Rangers, but they're a stronger defensive team this year. Similarly, Brandon Inge and Adam Everett have strengthened the Tigers' defense and helped the team to an 18-16 start. The Rangers (1st) and the Tigers (3rd) are among the best teams in the league at converting balls in play into outs.

Shapiro: Indians Looking To Improve ‘Pen

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Indians GM Mark Shapiro spoke with the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the Tribe. Here are the highlights:
  • Shapiro describes his "sense of urgency" regarding the team's shaky bullpen. He suggests he could look to their minor league teams, to the free agent pool or to other teams' minor leaguers to resotre order in the 'pen. So far they've signed Luis Vizcaino.
  • He says he's not looking for a bat or a starter.
  • Shapiro wants to contend this year and believes he can, given that the AL Central's relatively weak.  
  • The Indians can't wait until July to make moves and stabilize the 'pen.  
  • Shapiro says last offseason he had the chance to deal Rafael Perez for a number of players who now hold starting jobs in the major leagues.

More Changes To Come For Padres?

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According to Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres GM Kevin Towers is embarassed by his team and open to making changes.

"We'll keep changing guys out until we get better. We're going to be doing a little of that." 

Tom Krasovic reports that Towers plans on calling up more young players soon. The Padres made some changes yesterday, claiming Josh Wilson and designating Duaner Sanchez for assignment. But as one unnamed Padre puts it, "that's like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound."

Ben Sheets Sighting

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We have a Ben Sheets sighting, courtesy of MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  Sheets appeared at The Ballpark In Arlington today to visit with Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux.  The free agent pitcher spoke of an upcoming meeting with Dr. James Andrews after which he hopes to be cleared to begin a throwing program (he had flexor tendon elbow surgery on February 13th).

The Rangers are the obvious favorites to sign Sheets later this year, especially if they remain in contention.  But Sheets says he hasn't started worrying about where he'll sign yet.

Rangers To Sign Mike Hinckley

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According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers are close to inking left-hander Mike Hinckley to a minor league contract.  

The 26-year-old opted for free agency after he was designated for assignment by the Nationals last week.  He had a 1.93 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in two seasons with Washington, but displayed major control problems out of the gate this year.  The Rangers will add him to their Triple-A Oklahoma City roster.

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