The Rangers released struggling righty Vicente Padilla, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Padilla should clear release waivers Wednesday and become a free agent. Any team that signs him will then be responsible for paying him the pro-rated MLB minimum, with the Rangers paying the rest of his $12MM salary. Texas will also be responsible for a $1.75MM buyout after the season.
Archives for August 2009
Brewers Sign Kentrail Davis For $1.2MM
Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Brewers signed outfielder Kentrail Davis for $1.2MM, the most any supplemental pick has received this year. ESPN.com's Keith Law, who was right on this one as well, notes that Davis had a disappointing sophomore year and may be limited to left field as a pro. The Brewers have now signed their top 18 picks.
Orioles Sign 11th Rounder For $995k
Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Orioles signed 11th round pick Michael Ohlman for $995k. Now the Orioles, who signed 22nd rounder Cameron Coffey for $990k last week, have awarded the two biggest bonuses to players drafted after the 10th round this year. Ohlman is a catcher with good power and arm stength, Callis says.
A’s, Stassi Agree To $1.5MM Deal
2:22pm: Baseball America's Jim Callis reports that the A's signed Stassi for $1.5MM, the biggest deal ever for a fourth rounder. The Royals had recently set a new mark for fourth round players, awarding Chris Dwyer $1.45MM a few days ago. Keith Law of ESPN.com, who was right on this signing as well, notes that the A's have acquired a first-round talent in Stassi. Even if they don't sign first rounder Grant Green, they'll still have signed one top player.
2:15pm: Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus hears that the A's have agreed to terms with Max Stassi. Baseball America estimates that MLB recommends a $237k bonus for Stassi's slot, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the fourth round catcher sign for considerably more.
Stephen Strasburg Rumors: Monday
2:01pm: Heyman hears that the Nats offered Strasburg $12.5MM.
12:35pm: Heyman hears that the Nats offered Strasburg more than $12MM. Scott Boras believes Strasburg's worth several times as much, but it's Strasburg's call in the end and it would be hard to turn down an eight-figure offer, even an "unfair" one. Still, Heyman says there's a good chance the two sides won't agree on a deal.
9:01am: With just 14 hours left before the deadline to sign draft picks, Stephen Strasburg is the one player everyone's watching most closely. Here's what everyone's saying about this year's first overall pick:
- Jon Heyman of SI.com will be surprised if Strasburg signs with the Nationals today.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan expects the Nationals to sign Strasburg for about $20MM, but says the baseball world really revolves around Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, this time of year.
- Boras tells Yahoo's Tim Brown that Strasburg is the best college pitcher he's even seen.
- But Chico Harlan of the Washington Post has some advice: Don't assume anything, no matter what you hear, until the deadline passes. Until then, "there's just no freakin' way to know what will happen."
- Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post shows that the Nationals and Scott Boras both have significant leverage in the negotiations.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says it makes no sense for Strasburg to turn down a record-setting offer.
Draft Updates: Brewers, Red Sox, Matzek
More updates, as the deadline approaches…
- Baseball America's Jim Callis reports that the Brewers signed third rounder Brooks Hall for $700k. Hall was a two-way player in high school, but he'll focus on pitching as a pro.
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com points out that the Red Sox, who didn't draft any Scott Boras clients, have spent aggresively on players who fell because of perceived signability issues.
- DJ Bean of WEEI.com shows that the Red Sox have a history of drafting and spending aggressively under Theo Epstein. However, they are able to "draw a line in the sand" when necessary.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post hears that the Rockies and Tyler Matzek are still far apart in their negotiations, though that doesn't mean they won't agree to a deal.
Red Sox Release John Smoltz
The Red Sox released John Smoltz, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. They designated the veteran right-hander for assignment ten days ago and weren't able to work out a trade with any team. Smoltz will become a free agent Wednesday once he clears release waivers and should have a number of suitors to choose from at that point.
Any team that signs Smoltz will only pay him the pro-rated major league minimum; the Red Sox would have to cover the rest of his $5.5MM salary. Since bonuses are negated once a player's released, no team will have to pay Smoltz any incentives.
Russ Ortiz Opts Out, Becomes A Free Agent
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that Russ Ortiz has exercised a clause in his contract that allows him to become a free agent. The Yankees agreed to let the righty become a free agent if they didn't promote him after three minor league starts. Ortiz pitched well in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the Yanks asked him to remain in the organization, but he declined.
Instead, Ortiz, wants to pitch in the majors for a contender. As Rosenthal points out, the Dodgers are looking for pitching, especially after seeing Hiroki Kuroda take a line drive to the head.
Rays Don’t Expect To Sign Top Two Picks
The Rays don't expect to sign either one of their top two draft picks, according to Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune. The Rays expect to receive compensation picks in next year's draft for failing to sign first rounder Levon Washington and second rounder Kenny Diekroeger. Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said the team offered Washington a bonus "consistent with late first round picks," but could not come to an agreement with Washington and his agent, Scott Boras.
Heyman On Red Sox, Davis, Padilla
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Red Sox are "thought to have offered a five-prospect package of [Clay] Buchholz, Michael Bowden, Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone and a position player" for Roy Halladay. The club apparently offered the Mariners an even better deal for Felix Hernandez. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- The Brewers offered nothing more than salary relief for Doug Davis, so the D'Backs held on.
- There's a decent chance the Blue Jays will find a new GM. As one exec points out, no one gets to rebuild twice without making the playoffs.
- The Rangers gave up on Vicente Padilla because they consider him a bad teammate.
