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Archives for August 2009

Law On Miller, Purke, Jays

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ESPN.com's Keith Law wrote last night that the Cardinals seem to be on their way to signing top pick Shelby Miller, who could receive top-ten money. Signing the righty would be "a huge coup" for the Cards, Law says. Here are the rest of his rumors:

  • The Rangers and Matt Purke are still over $1MM apart so the club isn't optimistic about signing the first rounder.
  • The Blue Jays have a good shot at signing third rounder Jake Marisnick, a high schooler who had first round potential heading into the spring.
  • The Jays aren't likely to sign Canadian lefty Jake Eliopoulos. 

Yankees Sign First And Second Rounders

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11:40am: Baseball America reports that Murphy signed for $1.25MM. The second rounder, who had committed to playing at Miami, is a catcher with power and good arm strength.

10:41am: The Yankees agreed to sign first rounder Slade Heathcott for $2.2MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. Heathcott, who was a two-way star in high school, will be an outfielder for the Yankees. Callis says Heathcott has "five-tool" potential. ESPN.com and Lane Meyer of NoMaas.org was also right on this signing.

Callis hears that the Yankees signed second rounder J.R. Murphy for an undisclosed amount.

Draft Updates: Jays, Rays, Mariners, Padres

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Its' still quiet on the Stephen Strasburg front, but we have other draft updates with less than 12 hours remaining for teams to sign their picks.

Russell Will Manage The Pirates Next Year

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Pirates President Frank Coonelly told Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that manager John Russell will return next year. Russell, who is already under contract for 2010, has led the Pirates to a 113-165 record in his two seasons as team manager. GM Neal Huntington, who is also under contract through next season, has traded away most of the team's veteran talent, so Russell has worked with a constantly-changing group.

Odds And Ends: Reds, Alvarez, Holliday

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Some links for Monday morning…

  • John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer believes the Reds should be quiet on the free agent market after the season because they have many needs and very little money. And why don't they have enough money? They've spent too much on big contracts already.
  • But Scott Miller of CBS Sports says small-market teams can still contend. He points to recent winners such as the Twins, Indians, Rays and Rockies to show that low-budget teams can succeed.
  • A year ago this time, Pedro Alvarez was the center of attention as he signed with the Pirates. Now, he's heating up in the minors, but he won't make his MLB debut this year, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  • Erik Manning of FanGraphs says he was wrong to assume the Cards gave up too much to acquire Matt Holliday, who's been on an extended tear since joining his new club.

Draft Updates: Miller, Yankees, Jays

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More updates on the final day to sign draft picks…

  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that top Cardinals pick Shelby Miller is in St. Louis for a physical. GM John Mozeliak says talks are "moving in a positive direction" and one official says the sides could end up agreeing on a deal worth about $3.25MM.
  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo hears that the Cards are making progress with Miller, but doubts they'll hand out $3.25MM.
  • Mayo reports that first rounders Tyler Matzek (Rockies) and Matt Purke (Rangers) all have substantial gaps to overcome if they're going to sign today.
  • Zack Wheeler and the Giants are now less than $1MM apart, Mayo reports. 
  • Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Yankees signed righty Caleb Cotham for $675k, which is more than four times the recommended limit for a fifth rounder.  
  • Callis reports that the Blue Jays signed 18th rounder Daniel Webb for $450k, triple the recommended ceiling for late round picks.

Draft Updates: Brewers, Rays, Yankees

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Some more news on signings is trickling in — let's dig in:

  • Tom Haudricourt at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is hearing that the Brewers have essentially agreed to terms with 39th overall pick Kentrail Davis but aren't announcing it so as to not drive up the price of other picks before the deadline. There was a worry that the two sides weren't completely close earlier today. I understand the reasoning behind the secrecy, but doesn't this feel like something that needs to change? It's not like all of these contract figures have been on lockdown in the first place, and chances are they're not going to be in the future either.
  • Jim Callis at Baseball America reports that the Rays awarded fifth-round pick Jeff Malm a bonus of $680k, about five times the slot recommendation for that selection.
  • George A. King III at the New York Post says that the only obstacle in the way of Slade Heathcott and John Murphy becoming Yankees are their upcoming physicals. Heathcott and Murphy are the Yanks' first- and second-rounders, respectively.
  • We know that the Angels have come to terms with Jake Locker, their 10th-round pick, on a $150k bonus. Locker is a top football prospect too, though, and he will reportedly be given free reign to pursue that career, says Jim Callis. Sounds like a pretty nice deal.

Smoltz To Be Released Monday?

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8:38pm: Mark Bowman at MLB.com says the Braves appear to have no interest in bringing back Smoltz and discusses the dubious relationship between the righty and the Braves. A source acknowledges "there would have to be some people saying they're sorry to each other" if any deal were to happen, but Bowman suggests that the Braves were more concerned about his durability than the emotions involved. Had Smoltz been willing to sharpen his mechanics in the minors, Bowman says the team would have been more willing to take another chance on him.

7:49pm: Jon Heyman at SI says (via Twitter) that the Red Sox may release the DFA'd John Smoltz tomorrow. As Heyman notes, it was probably difficult to find takers for Smoltz not only due to his questionable performance but also his built-in contract incentives that pay Smoltz for every day he's on the major-league roster.

As we pointed out yesterday, there are a number of teams that retain interest in Smoltz, and Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports named the Marlins and Cardinals as suitors for Smoltz as a right-handed option out of the bullpen.

Stephen Strasburg Rumors: Sunday

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7:10pm: Roch Kubatko at MASN Sports has a source close to the negotiations that says the Nationals' offer is worth $17MM, "with easily attainable incentives that could push it beyond $20MM." There is apparently worry about Strasburg's powerful makeup wearing his arm down, but the Nats "still think he's worth it."

The Nationals front office has reportedly also indicated to Strasburg there's a possibility they choose him again in next year's draft, with his consent.

1:31pm: Harlan now cites an anonymous source, saying that the record-breaking offer the Nationals have offered Strasburg will have to increase, if the fireballer is to sign with Washington.

Harlan's source says the offer has been on the table since last week, and no deal has been agreed upon yet. That, says the source, "should tell you enough."

Harlan writes that everyone involved in the negotiations expects them to go down to the final hours, if not the final minutes.

9:51am: With the deadline to sign at midnight tomorrow, the rumor mill's a-buzz with perspectives on Stephen Strasburg.

  • Maury Brown says it could be about years, not dollars. He writes, "If the Nationals do sign Strasburg, if smart, would be looking to avoid dealing with salary arbitration or possibly the first or second year of free agency eligibility. Look at deals such as Evan Longoria’s, Robinson Cano, or Troy Tulowitzki for examples."
  • Ken Davidoff, like most, has a "hunch" the deal will get done.
  • The AP is reporting that Nats president Stan Kasten acknowledged yesterday a "very real possibility" that the two sides will not reach an agreement.
  • Chico Harlan spoke with Ryan Zimmerman who chimed in: "When it comes down to it, Strasburg has to think about, ‘Can I go to bed if I turn down $15, 16 million dollars—whatever it is—to pass up the opportunity to play for these guys?’ That’s a lot of money. I don’t understand what he thinks will be better next year. If we don’t take him, who’s gonna take him next year? Pittsburgh? San Diego? San Diego is not gonna pay him more. Absolutely his leverage will never be higher."
  • Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post might agree with Zimmerman. Boz asks, "What team will ever be more over a barrel, or have a richer owner, than the worst-in-baseball-again Nats and multi-billionaire owner Ted Lerner?" In the same piece, he adds, "Signing contracts, not blowing them up, is their job and their responsibility — the Nats to their franchise and their fans, Boras to his client. If they don't get a deal done, it's a mammoth failure of adult supervision."
  • Rob Dibble suggests Strasburg will be as hated as his agent if he holds out.

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