Odds & Ends: Shelby Miller, Astros, Strasburg
… you've gotta ask yourself a question: "Do I feel linky?" Well, do ya, punk?
- According to MLB.com's Matthew Leach, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said "I would say there's optimism on both sides," when asked about negotiations with top pick Shelby Miller.
- Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros have signed 18-yr old Ruben Alaniz for $160K as an undrafted free agent. A Texas high schooler, Alaniz "slipped through the cracks as teams prepared for the draft," but the Astros found him in a tryout camp recently and outbid at least two other teams for his services.
- Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball takes a look at Stephen Strasburg's value by comparing him to last year's crop of arbitration eligible pitchers.
Twins, Gibson Still Far Apart In Negotiations
The Twins and first round pick Kyle Gibson are "about a million dollars apart in their negotiations," according to ESPN's Keith Law. Gibson suffered a stress fracture in his pitching arm right before the draft, but the bone has healed and he's been throwing for about three weeks now.
Selected 22nd overall, Gibson was considered a potential top ten pick before his injury. MLB's recommended slot bonus for the 22nd overall pick is roughy $1.29MM, and a seven figure gap in negotiations is pretty significant with less than three days until the signing deadline.
Rosenthal’s Full Count Video: Nationals, Padres, Hardy, Smoltz
FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up, so let's dig in for some rumory goodness…
- This coming week may the biggest week in Nationals' history. In addition to Monday's midnight deadline to sign first overall pick Stephen Strasburg, the Nats could pick their next general manager as early as Tuesday.
- "The buzz in scouting circles" is that Diamondbacks executive Jerry DiPoto is the frontrunner for the job, but the team has given "absolutely no indication of its plans." Acting GM Mike Rizzo has "generally gotten good reviews."
- The Padres put both Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell on trade waivers Friday. Both are likely to be claimed, but don't count on either getting traded. The team says that the Jake Peavy trade has greatly reduced the pressure on them to move either Gonzalez or Bell.
- If either player is going to be moved, it would most likely happen in the offseason when the Padres could negotiate will all 29 other teams.
- If shortstop J.J. Hardy stays in Triple-A for more than 20 days, he'll remain under the Brewers control for two more years instead of one. Such a move would enhance Hardy's trade value, and it would be tough for him to argue it's unfair given his lack of production this year. However, if service time was an issue, the club should have demoted him a lot sooner.
- Marlins righty Anibal Sanchez was throwing 90-94 in his most recent rehab start, and his return would lessen the pressure on some of the team's other young starters.
- The Marlins and Cardinals are among the teams looking at John Smoltz as a reliever. The Cards are also looking at a number of other righthanded options for their bullpen.
Rangers Looking For Catching
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com is reporting that the Rangers have contacted several clubs in search of catching help, according to a major league source. Texas lost regular backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the disabled list when he left Friday's game with numbess in his right hand, and Rosenthal hears from a source that he may have a nerve issue.
Henry Blanco of the Padres could be one possibility, but Rosenthal says the "team is considering a number of other alternatives as well."
Odds & Ends: Anderson, Rangers, Brew Crew
Another batch of links, served fresh…
- According to WEEI's Rob Bradford, the Red Sox have called up Brian Anderson and plan to start him in right field tonight against the Rangers. The former White Sox outfielder was acquired in late July for Mark Kotsay.
- T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports the Rangers are "actively looking for catching help on the trade market" with starting backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia headed for the disabled list. Arizona's Chris Snyder seems like a good fit, but that's just speculation on our part.
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he's optimistic a deal will be reached with supplemental first-round pick Kentrail Davis by Monday's deadline. Davis is an outfielder from the University of Tennessee.
- Check MLBTR out on Twitter for quick updates and a little more conversation. And, if you're so inclined, hit up your boy Drew Silva.
Reds Sign Top Two Picks
5:12pm: MLB.com's Mark Sheldon says the deals for Leake and Boxberger aren't done yet. The players still have to take physicals, which could push the signings back to Monday.
3:09pm: According to Jim Callis of Baseball America, the Reds have agreed to terms with their top two picks from June's First-Year Player Draft. Right-hander Mike Leake, taken eighth overall, signed for $2.27MM while right-hander Brad Boxberger, taken in the supplemental first round, signed for $857K. Both bonuses exceed MLB's slot recommendations.
Rays Sign Todd Glaesmann
ESPN's Keith Law reports that the Rays have signed third-rounder Todd Glaesmann to a $930K bonus. The 108th overall pick received more than three times MLB's recommended slot bonus of approximately $290K. Now that the high school outfielder from Waco, Texas has agreed to terms, Tampa has signed their third- through ninth-round picks.
KLaw mentions that the team is unlikely to come to terms with second-rounder Kenny Diekroger, who has a strong commitment to Stanford.
Marlins Ink First-Round Pick
According to Jim Callis of Baseball America, the Marlins have agreed to terms with first-round pick Chad James. The young left-hander, taken 18th overall in June, was handed a $1.7MM signing bonus. He boasts a high-velocity fastball and promising curve, but is just 18 years of age and is likely to spend several seasons navigating the Marlins' farm system.
Padres Close To Deal With Top Pick?
4:39pm: Brock says the $6.5MM mark "sounds about right from everyone I've talked to."
4:07pm: MLB.com's Corey Brock just spoke with Padres GM Kevin Towers, who offered this on the Tate rumors: "It's not a done deal. Still working on it."
3:36pm: Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus has "reason to believe" the Padres have come to terms with first-round pick Donavan Tate for around $6.5MM. The speedy 18-year-old outfielder was selected third overall in June. He was offered a scholarship to play both football and baseball next year at the University of North Carolina, but it sounds like he will turn it down and begin his professional baseball career.
Hughes Sent To O’s, Completes Zaun Deal
According to Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune, the Rays have sent 25-year-old first baseman Rhyne Hughes to Baltimore to complete last week's trade for veteran catcher Gregg Zaun.
Hughes is batting .282/.350/.516 with 22 home runs and 72 RBI this season in 440 at-bats between Triple-A Durham and Double-A Montgomery. He has also struck out 149 times. Zaun, 38, is 5-for-15 with two doubles and a solo home run in his short time with Rays.