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Heyman On Adrian Gonzalez, Peavy, Sabathia

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The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…

  • Heyman believes the Padres could bring in a haul for Adrian Gonzalez beyond what the Rangers received for Mark Teixeira.  However, when asked if he's considering trading his slugging first baseman, Padres GM Kevin Towers responded, "Not at this point in time." 
  • The Cubs don't seem anxious to make a deal for Jake Peavy, and the Dodgers have the same-division hurdle.  The Brewers might not have the pitching (or inclination) to get it done.  Towers will continue to try to find a team Peavy likes while also matching the package offered by the White Sox: Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard, and two minor league pitchers.
  • Heyman says the Angels bid about $140MM for C.C. Sabathia last winter, making the Yankees' $161MM winning bid appear more appropriate.

Glaus May Not Play; Cards Seeking Bat

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Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch spoke to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who has a gut feeling that it's less than 50-50 that third baseman Troy Glaus will play in 2009.  Glaus is trying to come back from January shoulder surgery.  He'll be a free agent after the season.

According to Strauss, the Cardinals will scour the trade market for a righthanded-hitting third baseman or outfielder.  Strauss names Mark DeRosa (.267/.332/.450) and Garrett Atkins (.192/.272/.291) as candidates.  I found some more players who could fit the bill: Melvin Mora, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Adrian Beltre, Scott Hairston, Jermaine Dye, Jose Guillen, Josh Willingham, Matt Holliday, Marlon Byrd, Austin Kearns, Eric Byrnes, and Ben Francisco.

MLB Cuts Slots For June Draft

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According to Murray Chass on Sunday (hat tip to Baseball America):

Bud Selig has repeatedly cautioned clubs about the economy, and at the owners’ meeting last Thursday he told them he was doing something about it and sternly advised them to listen. The commissioner told the owners that his office planned to roll back the recommended signing bonuses for the June 9 amateur draft by 10 percent.

Baseball America's Jim Callis confirmed Selig's plan.  The slots are confidential, but BA has estimates for last year's recommendations if you're a subscriber.  So what's the penalty for going over slot?  According to Chass:

Clubs enrage Selig when they exceed their slotted numbers, and he lets them know his feelings.

Scary!  Callis' take:

MLB can’t force teams to accept its recommendations, but it has exerted pressure on owners to toe the line and fined clubs that didn’t follow a set procedure before paying an above-slot bonus.

Daniel Cabrera Designated For Assignment

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According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, the Nationals designated pitcher Daniel Cabrera for assignment tonight.  Acting GM Mike Rizzo was frank: "I was tired of watching him."  We all were, Mike.  Cabrera told Harlan he would not accept a minor league assignment.

Back when the Nationals signed Cabrera for $2.6MM on December 20th, I thought it was a decent gamble.  They beat out the Mets and Pirates to get him.  But the velocity that made Cabrera intriguing pre-2008 did not return in 2009.  In fact, he lost even more on the fastball.  You have to wonder about Cabrera's health.  He posted a 5.85 ERA in 40 innings for the Nationals.

Matt Wieters To Debut Friday

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He's finally coming…multiple readers have emailed that Orioles president Andy MacPhail said on MASN that top prospect Matt Wieters will debut Friday in Baltimore against Dontrelle Willis and the Tigers.  Wieters, 23, posted a .285/.367/.482 line in Triple A.  He slugged .552 in May.

Since the Orioles were patient with him, Wieters likely won't become a Super Two player. Even if he never sees the minors after his weekend debut, he'll accumulate just 129 days of service time this year and won't have enough experience to become a Super Two after 2011. Every player to become a Super Two in the last three offseasons has had at least two years, 130 days service time. Wieters will hit free agency after the 2015 season regardless, but he'll go to arbitration three times, instead of four. By showing restraint this year Baltimore saved millions of dollars down the road, when they expect to contend.

No player making his MLB debut between now and the end of the season is likely to become a Super Two after 2011, even if he sticks in the majors. This matters for teams like the Braves who can now call up players like Tommy Hanson without paying extra for them in years to come.

Ben Nicholson-Smith also contributed to this post

Mets Acquire Wilson Valdez

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According to Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog, the Mets sent cash to the Indians for journeyman minor league shortstop Wilson Valdez.  Based on the 31 year-old's hitting for the Columbus Clippers this year, I'd say he's the all-glove stopgap the Mets have been seeking.

Other moves: Ryan Church and Jose Reyes to the DL, top prospect Fernando Martinez promoted.  Martinez, just 20, owns a .291/.337/.552 line in 42 Triple A games this year. He could accumulate as much as 132 days service time this year, meaning there's a slight chance he'll become a Super Two Player after 2011.

Marlins Sign Clay Hensley, Gary Glover

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According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Marlins signed Clay Hensley to a minor league deal.  He already started for the Zephyrs yesterday.  The Marlins released Mike Wood to make room for him.  The Astros had signed Hensley back in December after the Padres non-tendered him.  He was pretty good in '06 but had labrum surgery since then.

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald adds that the Marlins inked reliever Gary Glover.  Glover had signed a minor league deal with the Nationals in January. 

Rosenthal On Rockies, Cain, Pirates

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Another column from Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports?  Sure, why not.

  • The Rockies, 12 games out in the NL West, "appear headed for a selloff."  Garrett Atkins isn't popular (although deep in today's chat, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggested there could be a match with the Cardinals), and Todd Helton is too pricey.  But Brad Hawpe, who has $12MM coming to him from now through 2010, could be an appealing trade chip.  Hawpe has a 2011 club option for $10MM, but he can void it if traded.  Rosenthal likes the Rays; the Braves would also be a nice fit for Hawpe in my opinion.
  • Rosenthal believes it would be hard for the Giants to find a young slugger who would be equal value for Matt Cain, who can be controlled cheaply through 2011.  We learned earlier this week that Cain is not being dangled.
  • The Pirates have no financial need to dump veteran contracts, an idea we've read in the past.  They're getting calls on Jack Wilson, but teams are reluctant to take on all the $5.8MM he still has coming.  They have the same problem for Adam LaRoche.  And Rosenthal says the Bucs are "philosophically opposed to the idea of a low-revenue team sending money to a high-revenue team to secure better prospects in a trade, the way the Indians did last season when they moved third baseman Casey Blake to the Dodgers."

Odds & Ends: Braves, Peavy, Mets, Sabathia

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