Archives for May 2009

Nats, MacDougal Agree To Minor League Deal

By | May 3, 2009 at 12:26pm CDT

According to the Associated Press, via the Miami Herald, the Nationals have agreed to terms on a non-guaranteed minor league contract with right-hander Mike MacDougal.

He was immediately assigned to Triple-A Syracuse. MacDougal, 32, was designated for assignment by the White Sox on April 21, after racking up a 12.46 ERA in five games. The Nationals will have the chance to retain MacDougal for 2010 as an arbitration-eligible player, if they choose.

Chico Harlan of the Washington Post has more.

Shell, M’s Agree To Minor League Deal

By | May 3, 2009 at 11:13am CDT

Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune reports that the Mariners have signed right-hander Steven Shell to a minor league contract.

Shell, 26, was designated for assignment last week by the Nationals after posting a 5.40 ERA in four games. He was assigned to the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma and is likely to get the call if there's an injury on the major league level.

Owens Opts For Free Agency

By | May 3, 2009 at 11:03am CDT

According to the Chicago Tribune, outfielder Jerry Owens has opted for free agency rather than accept an assignment to Triple-A Charlotte.

The White Sox outrighted Owens to Triple-A on Friday, after he hit just .083/.267/.083 in 12 games. He's likely to get a shot with another club, but, at the age of 28, it's hard to see him ever turning into an everyday major league outfielder.

The Asking Price For Doc Halladay

By | May 2, 2009 at 4:22pm CDT

Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi told Jon Heyman of SI.com on Saturday that his club isn't actively shopping Roy Halladay and would need a "boatload" in return if a deal was made.

"I don't think we're in the market to do that at his point," said Ricciardi. "We like our team next year with Halladay. … If we ever did get to that point, we'd want a boatlad. And I don't know whether anyone would offer a boatload. But obviously, we're not at that point."

The Jays are off to a franchise record 17-9 start and aren't likely to be sellers if they can keep up the pace. But you can be sure Ricciardi will be fielding phone calls either way.

Graffanino Designated For Assignment

By | May 2, 2009 at 1:49pm CDT

According to an MLB.com press release, the Indians have designated infielder Tony Graffanino for assignment.

The move essentially cleared roster space for highly touted outfield prospect Matt LaPorta, who was acquried from the Brewers in last year's CC Sabathia trade. Graffanino, 37 in June, was 3-for-23 in seven games with the Indians this season. He could get a shot elsewhere as a utility infielder.

Astros Sign Brendan Donnelly

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 2, 2009 at 12:24pm CDT

The Astros signed Brendan Donnelly and assigned him to Triple-A, a month after the Rangers released him. He joined Round Rock earlier in the week, but it was an under-the-radar signing found on the team's transactions page so it didn't surface right away (Hat Tip to this blog). Donnelly, now 37, debuted as a 30-year-old rookie on the World Champion Angels team in 2002.

Olney On Strasburg

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 2, 2009 at 11:12am CDT

ESPN.com's Buster Olney heard that the Nationals "fully intend to draft and sign" Stephen Strasburg. Former Nats GM Jim Bowden made similar comments earlier in the week. Some rival talent evaluators expect the Nationals would shut Strasburg down if they can't sign him early. He has pitched 78.1 innings so far this year and no team would want to risk overusing an arm that valuable.

Strasburg is 10-0 with 147 strikeouts and 15 walks on the season and, as Laurence Miedema of the San Jose Mercury News reports, he hit 100 mph in his start last night.

Yankees Sign Casey Fossum

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 2, 2009 at 9:58am CDT

According to Chad Jennings of the Scranton Times Tribune the Yankees signed Casey Fossum; he will start for AAA Scranton today. Fossum pitched in three games for the Mets this year before they designated him for assignment. The 31-year-old veteran of 237 major league games pitched well in the minors this April, striking out 12 in 11 innings and allowing ten baserunners.

Odds And Ends: Yankees, Pedro, Mets

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 2, 2009 at 9:44am CDT

Links for Saturday morning…

Some Yankees fans are frustrated by the first month C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira spent in pinstripes, but Torii Hunter would be happy to add them to the Angels, according to Matt Gagne's article in the New York Daily News.
Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun writes that the Orioles continue to deny interest in Pedro Martinez.
MLB.com's Marty Noble reports that Omar Minaya now says the Mets have an "edge".
Noble adds that Oliver Perez could conceivably be asked to accept a minor league assignment if he pitches poorly today.
ESPN.com's Peter Gammons discusses teams' recent appreciation for a strong defense.
Gammons spoke with on GM who suggested we're in a golden era of second basemen in which players like Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, Chase Utley, Robinson Cano and Aaron Hill hit well at a "defensive" position.
ESPN.com's Tim Kurkjian asks why the Rangers have always been offense-first.
Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports that the Blue Jays are scouting high school pitcher Shelby Miller.

No Contract Talks For Jason Bay

By Tim Dierkes | May 1, 2009 at 4:55pm CDT

According to Amalie Benjamin and Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe, Jason Bay's agent Joe Urbon says contract talks have not resumed with the Red Sox. Urbon said he hasn't even talked to Bay.

WEEI's Alex Speier talked extensively with Bay on April 23rd; check that out here.

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