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Archives for June 2009

Odds And Ends: Isringhausen, El Duque, Felix

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Who says there are no good sports nicknames anymore? Within this post alone, we find Izzy, El Duque and King Felix…

Matt Holliday Update

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Scouts tell Joe Stiglich of the San Jose Mercury News that teams' unwillingness to part with prospects and inability to take on salary could make it hard for the A's to deal Matt Holliday. That's fine with GM Billy Beane, who says he doesn't feel pressure to deal his star outfielder this July. After all, if Holliday departs as a free agent after the year, the A's will receive compensation picks in next year's draft (assuming they offer him arbitration).

One scout says the economy has limited the number of suitors for Holliday, who makes $13.5MM this year. Another said teams are becoming more and more attached to the young players the A's would surely want in a trade. 

There's one more reason Holliday may be tough to deal. He's only hitting .197 in his last 17 games, with an OPS under .600. Nearly everyone goes through slumps, but this is Holliday's second big one of the season.

Odds And Ends: Draft, Nady, Kinsler, Snell

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A few links to start the morning off…

Red Sox Can Add Salary

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports heard from one Red Sox official who said the team could upgrade its roster, since they're still "way under budget." Last offseason they added John Smoltz and Brad Penny to affordable deals that will cost them a total of just $10.5MM plus incentives.

The Red Sox no longer have glaring needs, as David Ortiz is hitting better and Jed Lowrie's almost ready to return to the lineup. They remain open to dealing another free agent acquisition, Takashi Saito. With few holes, payroll flexibility and appealing trade chips, the Red Sox are as well-prepared for the deadline as any team.

Andy Phillips Signs With Hiroshima Carp

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Former Yankee Andy Phillips signed a one-year deal worth $400k to play for the Hiroshima Carp, according to an AP report on ESPN.com. We heard rumblings about the move earlier in the week, but it's now official.

Phillips, 32, played four seasons with the Yankees before splitting time with the Reds and Mets last year. He played in Triple A for the White Sox and Pirates to start this season.

Dodgers Ink Aaron Miller

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FRIDAY, 9:00am: Adam Winkler of  KWTX.com says Miller gets a bonus of about $900k.

THURSDAY, 9:16pm: According to a press release on the Baylor University athletics website, the Dodgers have agreed to terms with top pick Aaron Miller.

The exact financial terms are not yet available.  Miller, a left-hander, was taken 36th overall in June's first-year player draft.  He led the Big 12 with 11.47 strikeouts per nine innings this season and also hit .310 with 12 home runs and 47 RBI as the team's primary right fielder. The Dodgers plan to try him on the mound first.

Interesting side note:  Miller is the University of Baylor's highest draft selection since outfielder David Murphy (now with the Rangers) was taken 17th overall by the Red Sox in 2003.

Royals Open To Trade Possibilities

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A source told FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi Wednesday that Royals GM Dayton Moore will be open-minded to trade possibilities this summer "if they bring talent and/or salary relief that would benefit the team in 2010 and beyond."

This doesn't necessarily mean the Royals are in selling mode.  In fact, as one American League executive put it, Kansas City is only willing to discuss "anyone outside their core players."  It's probably safe to assume that Zack Greinke, Joakim Soria, Alex Gordon and Billy Butler are untouchable.  

But perhaps opposing teams will be drawn to guys like Mark Teahen, Mike Jacobs, David DeJesus or Jose Guillen.  We've already heard a few rumblings involving Guillen, but the $12MM he's owed in 2010 obviously presents a major road block.

Odds & Ends: Contreras, Wedge, Izzy

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This day in MLBTR history: On June 25, 2007, there was speculation that the Yankees might have interest in either Mark Buehrle or Jermaine Dye, and the sports world first got word that Ken Griffey Jr. wanted to retire as a Mariner.  Oh, and we were still rocking the white-on-black layout.  On to some links…

  • Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that right-hander Jose Contreras is drawing interest among some scouts.  The White Sox are not in selling mode just yet, but things could change between now and the July 31 trade deadline.
  • According to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, Indians manager Eric Wedge is well aware that his job is on the line.  "[General manager] Mark [Shapiro] and I continue to talk daily, as we always have," Wedge told reporters Wednesday.  "We've had conversations about everything.  I don't think there are ever any guarantees in this game."
  • Jason Isringhausen hasn't ruled out a return to baseball, according to MLB.com's Zach Schonbrun.  After undergoing Tommy John surgery last week, however, he probably won't be ready to contribute until July of 2010.

Nationals Team President On Acta

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According to Chico Harlan and Mike Viera of the Washington Post, Nationals team president Stan Kasten "gave his firmest-yet support" of Manny Acta during a speaking engagement Wednesday afternoon, expressing hope that he can "serve as long-term manager" for the club.

"In Manny's case, I happen to be a big fan of his," Kasten said.  "I think he has the demeanor to be a long-term solution as a manager.  He has the demeanor of a Bobby Cox and others who have been successful.  I had this great talk around the batting cage last night with Terry Francona, the young, possibly genius manager of the Boston Red Sox.  And I said, 'Terry, I remember when you were a dummy as manager of the Phillies.'  And he says, 'Stan, I promise you, I'm still a dummy, I just have better players.'  It's so true.  And I have always from the beginning supported Manny.  I can't predict whether it will work here, but I think he will.  I think he's going to serve as a long-term manager here.  That's my hope."

As some of you may remember, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal heard from a source two weeks ago that the Nats would cut ties with Acta on June 15.  SI.com's Jon Heyman confirmed the report hours later, but that date passed without a whimper and Acta still remains the skipper in Washington. The Nats are 20-49 this season, 17 games back in the National League East.

Discussion: The Breakout Performance Of 2009

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Zorilla isn't the only one having a surprise season. From Tampa to Toronto to Seattle, players have surprised us all with breakout starts to the year. Here are just a few of the players to play unexpectedly well so far:

  • Ben Zobrist – he's slugging .629 with 15 homers and eight steals
  • Marco Scutaro – leads the AL in walks and runs to go along with above-average defense and an .835 OPS
  • Edwin Jackson – has kept his ERA under 2.50 after chopping his walk rate by one per nine and striking out as many batters as he has allowed base hits
  • Russell Branyan – He has 18 homers already- as many as he's hit in any year since 2002- along with an OPS over 1.000
  • Adam Kennedy – hitting .298 with more homers already (6) than he's hit in any year since 2004

Which performance has surprised you most?

Just a note: I'm not talking about established players or prospects who were expected to break out.

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