Giants Seek Middle Of The Order Bat
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports that the Giants are looking for a middle of the order hitter since their offense has scored more runs than just two other teams. The Giants are in the middle of the NL Wild Card race thanks to their pitching, but they could use an upgrade in the infield or outfield. Morosi's source said the Giants will find a place for a bat if they can trade for one.
Cubs Agree To Terms With Brett Jackson
FRIDAY: PGCrossChecker.com tells us that Jackson signed for $972k.
TUESDAY: According to an MLB.com press release, the Cubs have agreed to terms with frist round pick Brett Jackson. The 20-year-old outfielder bats left-handed and received praise from Baseball America on his athleticism. The Cubs selected him with their first pick in the draft, 31st overall.
Melvin On Brewers’ Pitching
Brewers GM Doug Melvin says the Brewers can't keep trading prospects away for pitching, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Brewers pulled off a deal for C.C. Sabathia last year, giving up Matt LaPorta, but they are apparently unwilling to trade Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel this year. Here are more of Melvin's thoughts:
- It's harder to deal for pitching when other teams perceive you as vulnerable.
- It would be easier for Melvin to deal with Mariners GM and former Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik.
- Manny Parra will likely stay in the minors for four or five starts.
- Melvin talked with the manager and pitching coach down at Triple A Nashville to discuss his options there.
Odds And Ends: Brewers, Magglio, White Sox
More links for Tuesday…
- ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. hears the Royals are a likely destination for Cheslor Cuthbert, a Nicaraguan prospect who would command a bonus of about $1MM.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com hears from a Mets official that the team "will not mortgage [their] future" this summer in any trades.
- Bud Shaw of the Cleveland Plain Dealer continues to argue that firing Eric Wedge won't solve the Indians' problems even though Mike Hargrove, who some would like to see back in Cleveland, is a skilled manager.
- Tom Verducci of SI.com says Donald Fehr did his job well- too well, in fact. Check the story out for some anecdotes from years ago.
- The Detroit Free Press reports that Magglio Ordonez returns to the Tigers' lineup tonight.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer suggests the Mariners should choose talent over sentiment if they're serious about winning this year.
- Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports that the White Sox signed second round pick David Holmberg.
- I'll be talking rumors with the Benchwarmers on 590 KFNS in St. Louis at 11pm CST tonight so tune in if you're in the area or online.
Indians DFA Luis Vizcaino
The Indians designated Luis Vizcaino for assignment, according to the team's Twitter. Vizcaino was acquired by the Indians earlier in the year to help their struggling bullpen, but walked more than a batter per inning in his 11 games with the club.
Vesting Options For 2010
Magglio Ordonez's 2010 vesting option has created a small stir in the last week or so, but there's a group of players with less-publicized vesting options. Here are updates on a few of them, and please add anyone I missed in the comments below:
- Freddy Sanchez will earn $8MM in 2010 if he makes 635 plate appearances this year. The option will also kicks in if he makes the All Star team and bats 600 times. With 290 plate appearance already, it looks like Sanchez will make $8MM next year.
- Kevin Millwood has a $12MM option that kicks in after 180 innings pitched. He hasn't pitched that much since 2006, but with a league-leading 106.2 innings logged already, Millwood will likely see his option vest.
- It's no surprise that we've heard little about Dmitri Young's $6MM option for next year. It only vests if he bats 500 times, but he hasn't hit yet in 2009. It's safe to say the Nats won't be stuck paying him that much next year.
- Josh Beckett's $12MM 2010 option will kick in if he starts 28 games this year. He's already at 14, so that number seems attainable.
- Milton Bradley's 2011 option will vest if he plays 75 games in 2009. In other words, Bradley will earn $12MM in 2011 if he plays 22 more games this year.
Odds And Ends: Phillips, Mets, Pirates
Links for Tuesday morning…
- It's time for another MLBTR chat. We'll go live at 2pm CST.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes on a report suggesting former Yankee Andy Phillips could soon be playing in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp.
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post heard from former college standout Ben McDonald that agent Scott Boras never pressured him into anything back in 1989.
- Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says Neal Huntington is trying to build a young, athletic, defensive-minded outfield around Andrew McCutchen in Pittsburgh.
- Newsday's Ken Davidoff says the Mets shouldn't part with their trading chips for short-term benefit, even if it costs them their 2009 season.
- After looking at the Rangers' problems yesterday, Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News shows that lots is going well for them.
- Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Matt Clement is coaching basketball at his former high school.
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier takes his readers behind the scenes of the Red Sox draft.
- Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says a Juan Pierre for Jarrod Washburn swap wouldn't work for the Mariners because of Pierre's contract.
Sabean Wants Bats, Won’t Deal Yet
According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News Giants GM Brian Sabean knows what he wants to trade for, he just doesn't expect to acquire anybody until the days leading up to the July 31st trade deadline. Few teams are completely out of the race, so Sabean said he expects a late-developing market.
Donald Fehr’s Legacy
Donald Fehr retired as the leader of the MLB Players' association yesterday. Here's what some are saying about his impact on the game:
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that Fehr leaves a strong legacy of serving players that's tarnished only by their use of steroids.
- Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer says Fehr's legacy is best explained by Alex Rodriguez, who signed massive contracts but used PEDs.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Fehr, like Scott Boras, gets a hard time just for doing his job. However, Fehr pursued bigger contracts so aggressively that players' health and reputations suffered.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney says Fehr "effectively wielded the sentiment of baseball fans as a weapon" to represent his players' best ineterests.
- Yahoo's Gordon Edes says Fehr has a "steroid-stiched badge of dishonor" attached to his legacy. Still, Edes predicts the union will never be as strong as it was in Fehr's heyday.
- This Jerry Crasnick article on ESPN.com portrays Michael Weiner, who will replace Fehr, as humble and well liked.
Phillies Still Want Pitching; Few Arms Available
David Murphy and Rich Hoffman, both of the Philadelphia Daily News, believe the Phillies need pitching. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. seems to agree with them. But, as Scott Lauber of the News Journal reports, there's very little pitching available.