Discussion: The Tribe And Cliff Lee
At 14-22 entering Saturday's full slate of action, the Indians are in last place in the American League Central. They have the talent to contend in that division, but it's simply not clicking right now. Staff ace and 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee has a $9MM option for 2010. That's a cheap price tag, but are the Indians better off dealing him this summer, or even this offseason, for a crop of young prospects? He may not bring on a Matt LaPorta-caliber player, as C.C. Sabathia did last season, but the Tribe could definitely load up on some fresh talent.
Pirates Acquire Hacker For Sanchez
2:21pm: According to MLB.com's Noah Coslov, the Yankees will receive right-handed reliever Romulo Sanchez. The 25-year-old was one of the Pirates' first cuts this spring. As of Friday, he had a 4.38 ERA and 15/5 K/BB ratio in 12 1/3 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis.
1:17pm: According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic, the Pirates have acquired minor league right-hander Eric Hacker from the Yankees. It's not yet clear who, or what, the Yanks were given in return.
Hacker, 26, was designated for assignment by the Yankees last Saturday. He posted a 2.43 ERA and a 115/37 K/BB ratio in 144 1/3 innings last season between Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. He was tried at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season and had a disappointing 7.88 ERA in three starts, prompting his departure.
Mets Considering Trading For A First Baseman
As Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports, Carlos Delgado's hip problems have put his career in jeopardy. For now he's on the DL, but there's no immediate timeline for his return. This leaves the Mets without a first baseman. Here are some of Minaya's options:
- Fernando Tatis could play first, perhaps with help from Daniel Murphy. Gary Sheffield's probably not an option anywhere but the outfield.
- The Mets could sign Richie Sexson, Jose Vidro or another free agent
- He could make a trade. Jerry Manuel said Minaya's looking at trade possibilities. Could a player like Aubrey Huff or Jorge Cantu be a fit?
Discussion: What Should The Jays Do?
The Blue Jays are 24-14, leading the Red Sox by two games. It's early- we're not even a quarter of the way through the season- but the Jays have done better than anyone expected. Heading into the season questions about Roy Halladay's future swirled and some wondered whether the Jays might attempt to unload salary and deal the likes of Lyle Overbay, Scott Rolen, B.J. Ryan and Vernon Wells . So what should J.P. Ricciardi and the Blue Jays do?
- Decide that the team can't maintain the pace it has set through 38 games and take offers for Halladay and others?
- Wait it out until they've has played more than just three total games against the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox?
- Change the plan and go for broke this season, making whatever moves are required to put the team over the top?
- The Jays could use a better backup to Rod Barajas, but don't have other major holes thanks to good health and some breakout performances from Marco Scutaro and Adam Lind.
- They have so much starting pitching depth that, as Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun writes, the team is keeping Casey Janssen and Ricky Romero in the minors for now since there's no room for them.
So are the Jays legit? How should they proceed with their season?
Draft Update: Giants, Mariners, Braves, Nats
ESPN.com's Keith Law has an update on various teams and players as the June draft approaches. Here are some highlights; the original article has more detail.
- The Giants are strongly considering taking a high school pitcher with their sixth overall pick.
- Expect the Mariners to take Dustin Ackley, North Carolina's first baseman, with their first rounder.
- Ackley's teammate, righty Alex White, pitched in front of four GMs Thursday: Brian Sabean (Giants), Neal Huntington (Pirates), Jack Zdurencik (Mariners) and Mike Rizzo (Nationals).
- ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill reports that White did not impress. Check out Churchill's article for more analysis of some top amateur players.
- The Braves are expected to take Zack Wheeler, a local prep star.
- The Nationals don't get a compensation pick if they fail to sign the player they draft with their tenth overall pick because that pick is itself compensation for failure to sign Aaron Crow last year. Nats GM Mike Rizzo says he's going to draft the best available player there, regardless of signability.
- Some teams are losing interest in Kentucky lefty James Paxton, who chose Scott Boras as his advisor and pitched poorly afterwards.
Odds And Ends: Jones, Peralta, Liriano
Lins for Saturday morning…
- As ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports, Adam Jones is pleased that the Orioles have so much pitching approaching the majors, but he wants to win now.
- SI.com's Tom Verducci calls Jones baseball's most improved player and breaks down the outfielder's hot start.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Jhonny Peralta is playing third base for now.
- Rob Neyer of ESPN.com writes that there are no guarantees for Francisco Cervelli once Jose Molina and Jorge Posada are fully healthy.
- Neyer adds that the Twins need Francisco Liriano to take his game to the next level and regain the form that saw him dominate the American League in 2006.
- In a third piece, Neyer weighs in on the White Sox, concluding that there's no reason to panic in a division that the Sox could take with 85 wins. Still, the team has issues in center field and in the middle infield.
Verducci: “It’s A Young Man’s Game”
SI.com's Tom Verducci links two of the year's most-discussed trends: the demand for young players and the demand for good defense, writing that "the renewed emphasis on defense hasn't helped the value of older players." As a result, teams are reluctant to sign older free agents like Frank Thomas and Jim Edmonds. Many of the older players who signed contracts this offseason are struggling; Verducci mentions Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera among others. Of course it's too early in the season to make sweeping generalizations, but Verducci concludes that baseball's "a young man's game."
Shapiro: Indians Looking To Improve ‘Pen
- Shapiro describes his "sense of urgency" regarding the team's shaky bullpen. He suggests he could look to their minor league teams, to the free agent pool or to other teams' minor leaguers to resotre order in the 'pen. So far they've signed Luis Vizcaino.
- He says he's not looking for a bat or a starter.
- Shapiro wants to contend this year and believes he can, given that the AL Central's relatively weak.
- The Indians can't wait until July to make moves and stabilize the 'pen.
- Shapiro says last offseason he had the chance to deal Rafael Perez for a number of players who now hold starting jobs in the major leagues.
More Changes To Come For Padres?
Miguel Cairo Designated For Assignment
According to David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News, the Phillies designated infielder Miguel Cairo for assignment to make room for tomorrow's starter, Andrew Carpenter. Cairo, 35, had two hits in 16 plate appearances for the Phils this year. They'd signed him to a minor league deal on February 15th.