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Archives for July 2009

Phillies DFA Jack Taschner

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The Associated Press reports that the Phillies have designated lefty reliever Jack Taschner for assignment to make room on the roster for tonight's starter Rodrigo Lopez. Taschner allowed 54 baserunners in 27.2 innings out of the pen this year, as lefthanders tattooed him for a .303-.465-.394 batting line.

The Phillies acquired Taschner in the offseason in exchange for catcher Ronnie Paulino.

Red Sox In Serious Talks With Cuban SS

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The Red Sox are in serious talks to sign Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias for about $8MM, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. No deal is complete, but Heyman's sources are optimistic that the sides will agree. Iglesias, who is listed as 19, defected from Cuba last year. Scouts rave about Iglesias' defense, comparing him to defensive whiz Ozzie Smith. In spite of his "deluxe" hands and arm, some question how much he'll hit. 

However, Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus wrote last month that most scouts believe Iglesias will hit enough to be a major league regular. While his hitting "leaves a bit to be desired," McDaniel confirms that Iglesias has unusually impressive defensive skills.

It's also worth noting that as recently as a couple weeks ago the Yankees were mentioned constantly as a possible suitor for the young infielder.

Cubs Sign Casey Fossum

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The Cubs signed Casey Fossum and assigned him to Triple A Iowa, according to MiLB.com. He became a free agent last week when he opted out of his contract with the Yankees. Fossum had been pitching in Triple A Scranton since the Yankees picked him up in May. The Cubs will be his his third organization of the year, as he pitched briefly with the Mets before they designated him for assignment.

Braves Rumors: Vazquez, Escobar

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Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Braves could deal Javier Vazquez or Yunel Escobar this month. Here are the details:

  • Bobby Cox and Frank Wren were deep in discussion for over an hour yesterday, so O'Brien has no doubt "they're seriously trying to make a move." Yesterday, O'Brien reported that the Braves planned to wait before making any deals.
  • The Braves don't want to trade Javier Vazquez, but realize he could help them acquire an impact player, presumably a bat.  
  • Despite his affordable contract, Yunel Escobar is a "legit possibility to be moved," from what O'Brien hears.

Odds And Ends: Dodgers, Chapman, Kepler

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Some more links as we count down to the big weekend…

  • Diamond Leung reports that the Dodgers traded minor-league pitcher Stephen Randolph to the Royals. Randolph, who was named in the Mitchell Report, pitched well as a starter in Triple A this month.
  • Aroldis Chapman's whereabouts remain unknown, according to ESPN.com.
  • Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says "Clint Hurdle would not have fallen on his sword had the 'pen been mighty under his watch." Or, in less poetic terms, the Rockies have an improved bullpen.
  • Signees from the Dominican Republic will now have to take DNA tests to prove their identity before leaving the country, according to Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus.
  • As ESPN.com's Keith Law reports, the Twins have agreed to sign German catcher Max Kepler for an undisclosed amount.

Could Strasburg Move To Japan, Avoid Draft?

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Aroldis Chapman can defect from his home country and become a free agent. Could Stephen Strasburg do something similar? Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post concludes that Scott Boras and his clients ultimately play by the rules Bud Selig makes. Here's a closer look at the super-agent and the system he's working within:

  • Boras wants Strasburg paid like a free agent, even though the Nationals have exclusive rights to him.
  • His asking price is believed to be $50MM, but no draft pick has ever surpassed Mark Prior's $10.5MM bonus.
  • The Post's Chico Harlan points out that, in accordance with the MLB rules, the Nats have likely offered Strasburg a preliminary deal already, though nothing Strasburg isn't expected to accept it.
  • Boras has hinted that he could take Strasburg to Japan if the Nationals don't offer enough money.  
  • MLB's vice-president of labor relations explains what will happen if Strasburg doesn't sign with the Nats: "He goes back into the draft, and if he doesn't sign with that team, he goes back in again."
  • Boras could try to work around the wording in the MLB rules and establish Strasburg as a resident in Japan. This could make him an international resident, which would allow him, in theory, to operate under the same system as international free agents.
  • However, the MLB rule ends with the following: "official interpretations of this Rule 4 may be made from time to time by the Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee." 
  • In other words, Bud Selig has the power to step in if Boras gets too creative for his liking. 

Heyman On V-Mart, Red Sox, Chapman

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Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Red Sox will come calling if the Indians are willing to part with Victor Martinez. And take this for what it's worth, but the Indians were scouting Boston's best prospects this week. Here are details on those two clubs and the rest of Heyman's rumors:

  • Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Michael Bowden are just the sort of MLB-ready pitchers the Indians seek.
  • Still, the Indians would require a stunning amount in return for Martinez or Cliff Lee, since both players can be part of a contending Indians club for affordable 2010 options.  
  • Generally speaking, the Red Sox are reluctant to deal their top young pitching.
  • The Indians are relatively deep at catcher, with Kelly Shoppach and prospect Carlos Santana.  
  • Red Sox first base prospect Lars Anderson could also appeal to the Indians. 
  • The Pirates initially asked for Craig Stammen or Garret Mock in their recent deal with the Nats, but Mike Rizzo wasn't willing to deal them. 
  • The Phillies discussed Pedro Martinez, since there are few good fits for them on the trade market now. 
  • Heyman says Doug Davis makes sense for the Brewers. 
  • A D'Backs person says "[Dan] Haren stays," even though many of his teammates are believed to be available.
  • Heyman names the Yankees as the early favorites to sign Aroldis Chapman.  

Sheets May Not Pitch This Year

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ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that three teams with "at least some level of interest" in starter Ben Sheets say he he won't be able to help a big league team this year. He's five months removed from flexor tendon surgery, an operation that kept Jason Jennings out for a year and a half.

Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus says he's heard some suggestions that Sheets could miss the season.

Given the shortage of elite pitching available, Sheets will be among the best pitchers on the market if he can return in time to help a major league team. He's been injured throughout his career, but started a combined 55 games in 2007-08, including 31 last year.

Stark On Royals, Phillies, Holliday

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ESPN.com's Jayson Stark asks some thoughtful baseball people why we're not greeting Manny Ramirez like the "team-wrecking, alibi-distorting, female-fertility-drug-popping scoundrel he is." And, of course, Stark has piles of rumors. Here they are:

  • The Mets were never willing to move Bobby Parnell or other top young arms for Mark DeRosa, so they weren't as close to acquiring him as the Reds and Cubs were. The Phillies, Marlins and Giants were also in the mix.
  • The Indians are more interested in dealing Rafael Bentancourt than Kerry Wood, whose contract ($15MM remaining) would be hard to move.  
  • The Royals will listen on anyone but Zack Greinke, but that doesn't mean they're looking to deal starters. They're "reluctant" to deal Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies or Gil Meche, who has a no-trade clause.
  • The Phillies were looking at Juan Cruz, who the Royals say they'd only deal for an upper-tier prospect ready to make a big-league impact.  
  • The Reds will wait it out and ramp up their pursuit of a bat if they're in the race later in the month.  
  • One executive says Pedro Martinez didn't look bad in last month's workout; Pedro's just demanding too much money. 
  • The Phillies haven't given up on pursuing Cliff Lee, Erik Bedard or Roy Oswalt.  
  • The Braves are trying to deal Jeff Francoeur everywhere, but no one's interested. One front-office guy says his team would be interested if Francoeur's non-tendered.  
  • Officials are divided on whether Yunel Escobar could be dealt, but a trade is unlikely at best.  
  • Rangers GM Jon Daniels says he is now looking to bolster his rotation.  
  • As expected, Daniels confirmed that the Rangers will have "limited" ability to take on salary at the deadline. 
  • The A's will want "two prospects with tremendous upside" for Matt Holliday if they deal him. It's unclear how much of the $6.75MM remaining on his contract the A's would pick up.
  • Could Josh Willingham be the next-best bat on the market? One exec says he might be if Russell Branyan and Miguel Tejada don't become available.  
  • Another official says Willingham's unappealing because of his back issues.  

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Mets, Pirates, Papelbon, Rivera

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On this date 42 years ago, Brian Cashman was born. Cashman has been the General Manager of the Yankees since 1998 and is signed through 2011. With four weeks until the trade deadline, Cashman will certainly be active in the trade market. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

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

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