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Archives for July 2010

MacPhail: No Young Player Is Untouchable

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Orioles' president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail spoke to reporters today, and MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli says he indicated that no young player on the team's roster is untouchable (Twitter link). He did, however, say that it would be hard to give up a young guy, even for a big bat.

Even with the majors' worst record at 29-60, the Orioles do have a promising young core to build around, led by Brian Matusz and Matt Wieters. Others like Chris Tillman, Adam Jones, Jake Arrieta, Josh Bell, and Felix Pie also fit into that fix. Nick Markakis remains extremely productive, though the big money in his contract kicks in next season, when he'll earn $10.25MM. Baltimore would find plenty of interest in the 26-year-old if they were to make him available.

Understandably, most of the trade rumors involving Orioles' players this summer have been about veterans, namely Ty Wigginton. The team would receive a better return if they moved younger players for obvious reasons, and I suppose it's not crazy to think MacPhail could deal a youngster for a package that could potentially address multiple needs.

Red Sox Are Over Luxury Tax Threshold

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4:48pm: The Red Sox are operating under the same parameters that they always have and will make an acquisition if they feel that it could help them make the postseason, according to these tweets from ESPN's Buster Olney. 

12:34pm: Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox have learned within the last few hours that they have indeed exceeded the 2010 threshold for the competitive balance tax, better known as the luxury tax. They will be taxed at a 22.5% rate for every dollar spent over $170MM this year, and those figures will increase to 30% and $178MM next year, respectively.

Cot's Baseball Contracts, an unofficial source of salary and payroll data, has Boston's payroll at just under $168.11MM this season, though they obviously closed the gap at some point. Josh Beckett's extension was completed after the start of the season in an effort to save against the luxury tax. 

It was reported earlier this week that the Red Sox weren't willing to spend significant money this July in an effort to avoid the tax. Whether or not the team is willing to dip further into their pockets to add pieces at the trade deadline remains to be seen, though they have indicated that they prefer to wait until their injured players return before targeting high-priced players.

The Yankees are the only other team in baseball over the threshold, and they are taxed at a 40% rate because of past payrolls.

Rosenthal On Yankees, Hart, Haren, Werth

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new installment of Full Count up.  Let's dive in and see what he has for us..

  • The Yankees are talking to the Marlins and the two teams could match up in a few different ways.  Cody Ross, a right-handed hitting outfielder, would be a perfect fit for the Pinstripes.  Trouble is, Ross is a regular for Florida and the Yanks may not want to pay that price for a player they'd only use part-time.  Leo Nunez would also make sense for the Yankees in a set-up role but they'll want a lot for him as well.  The closer is under team control for two seasons after this one.
  • The Braves like Ross as well but their opinions on Corey Hart are mixed.  Some Atlanta officials are rather fond of Hart, but others see him as a slightly better version of Jeff Francoeur.  If Matt Diaz hits well and Nate McLouth comes back strong, they may not even need the Brewers outfielder.  If their guy ultimately is Hart though, it'll be at their price.
  • Two of the top starters on the trading block hold no-trade clauses, though they may not be much of a factor.  Ted Lilly can reject trades to ten teams, though the  only contenders on his list are the Twins and Phillies, who may not even be interested in him.  Arizona's Dan Haren can reject deals to twelve clubs, including the Reds.  However, a source says that his list is not a factor as he has not been pitching well.
  • The Phillies, at the moment, are not playing well enough to make a run at Roy Oswalt.  However, they don't expect to fall far enough out of contention to sell.  Jayson Werth, Rosenthal says, could be moved in order to improve the team in the short-term and long-term.  A Werth-for-Javier Vazquez swap could make sense if the Yankees could acquire another starting pitcher.  Cliff Lee, in theory, would have been that guy. 

Yankees Interested In Wes Helms

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The Yankees are showing interest in Marlins veteran Wes Helms, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.  Helms initially signed with Florida when Joe Girardi was managing the club.

Helms' ability to fill in at third base, designated hitter, or pinch hit off of the bench is attractive to the Yanks.  The club could be keeping an eye on him as they have scouts on hand for the Marlins' weekend series at home against the Nationals.

In 124 plate appearances this season, Helms has posted a slash line of .243/.298/.391 with three homers.

If Helms, 34, does get traded, there is a strong possibility he could end up returning to the Marlins in 2011.  He is a free agent after this season and the organization is high on the veteran.

Odds & Ends: Molina, Machado, Wood, Montero

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Saturday afternoon linkage…

  • Bengie Molina has had an immediate impact in Texas, writes Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.
  • The Orioles won't sign Manny Machado before August 1st, Baltimore's director of scouting told Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com (via Twitter).
  • The Indians placed closer Kerry Wood on the disabled list with a blister on his right index finger according to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince. The move is retroactive to July 12th, so unless he needs more than the 15 days off, Wood will be back just before the trade deadline.
  • Meanwhile, ESPN's Buster Olney says Wood's actual trade deadline is August 31st, because he will clear waivers next month given the $4MM still owed to him this season (Twitter links).
  • White Sox GM Kenny Williams often approaches his veteran players to get their opinions about potential moves, but he has not yet pulled Paul Konerko aside to discuss scenarios according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun Times.
  • Bernie Miklasz of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says that Cardinals' GM John Mozeliak was well-deserving of his contract extension.
  • In a video on ESPN, Olney says the Yankees have determined that they would not trade catching prospect Jesus Montero for any player available on the trade market. They were willing to move him for Cliff Lee because it was a special case.

Talks Between Phillies and O’s Are “Dead”

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Talks between the Phillies and Orioles regarding infielders Ty Wigginton and Miguel Tejada are currently dead, a source told Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun.  Yesterday it was reported that the Phillies have been talking to Baltimore about Wigginton for weeks and might also be interested in Tejada, who could have been a short-term solution at third base.

For now, it seems that the defending National League champs are content with leaving Placido Polanco at third base and Wilson Valdez at second until Chase Utley returns to the fold.  However, Zrebiec notes that this could all change before the deadline, especially if the O's reduce their asking price for Wigginton.

Meanwhile, Orioles GM Andy MacPhail says that the club could be in position to make a splash by picking up a big-time player on waivers:

“A claim would be something that would definitely be attractive," the GM said. "The trade for a big-time player, if it’s going to subtract from the core guys you are trying to build around, that becomes more problematic. It’s something you obviously would have to look at.”

Mets Less Likely To Trade For A Pitcher?

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The Mets were enamored with Cliff Lee but lost out on the lefty when they wouldn't include Ike Davis in a deal, and now Andy Martino of The New York Daily News hears from "people familiar with the team's thinking" that they are less likely to make a trade for a pitcher now than they were last month. The team believes that R.A. Dickey's success has reduced the urgency to add an arm.

Dickey, 35, has a 2.63 ERA in 11 starts for the Mets, stymieing hitters with his knuckleball. Martino says the Mets maintain interest in Ted Lilly, Jake Westbrook, Brett Myers, and to a lesser extent Roy Oswalt, and they are still open to making a move if the opportunity presents itself. They are not optimistic about adding an impact reliever though, and consider the overall market for bullpen help to be underwhelming.

The Mets were reportedly in on Lilly, but they have concerns about his drop in velocity following a shoulder injury. The Cubs are getting serious about making trades and moving cumbersome salaries, but Lilly's market isn't limited to just the Amazins. They shouldn't have trouble finding another suitor.

Omar Minaya's payroll situation and ability to take on salary are unclear, though a team official told Martino that the Mets will be able to add payroll if needed. Those decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Myers is the most affordable option, with just $1.37MM or so left on his contract this year and a $2MM buyout of his $8MM mutual option for 2011.

Orioles, Showalter Close To Terms

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SATURDAY: MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli confirms that the Orioles will not announce any managerial moves this weekend (via Twitter).

TUESDAY: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun assures his readers that Showalter will not be named Orioles manager this weekend.

MONDAY: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse hears from a source who expects Showalter to take over this weekend.

SUNDAY: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Orioles are "close to terms" with managerial candidate Buck Showalter. According to Rosenthal's sources, Showalter will be in uniform sometime after the All-Star Game. An official announcement will also be held until after the All-Star Break, according to Rosenthal's second tweet.

However, the O's have yet to make an offer to Showalter, writes Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Juan Samuel will manage the team Friday after the All-Star Break, but Showalter could receive an offer in the near future.

Earlier today, ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted that the Orioles met with Showalter again this weekend, and that he was the "heavy favorite" to be the O's next manager. The consensus for the past few weeks has been that either Showalter or former Cleveland skipper Eric Wedge would eventually be Dave Trembley's replacement, after Trembley was fired on June 4. Last week, we learned that Showalter had become the favorite.

Showalter has managed the Yankees, Diamondbacks, and Rangers over parts of 11 seasons. He owns an 882-833 career record as a Major League manager and was the AL Manager of the Year with the Yankees during the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Phillies Release Juan Castro

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The Phillies have released infielder Juan Castro according to a team press release. The move clears a roster spot for Placido Polanco, who was reinstated from the disabled list.

Castro, 38, signed a one-year deal that guaranteed him $750K with Philadelphia this winter. The team is still on the hook for the $315K owed to him during the remainder of the year, plus the $50K buyout of his $750K option for next year. Castro hit just .198/.237/.238 in 136 plate appearances this season after being pressed into semi-regular duty because of injuries to Polanco, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins.

Olney’s Latest: Hamilton, Trades, Myers, Sherrill

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In today's blog post on ESPN (Insider req'd), Buster Olney spoke to Rangers' GM Jon Daniels about Josh Hamilton's torrid streak (.374/.404/.683 since May 12th), which has coincided with the team's run to the top of the AL West. 

Here are Olney's rumors…

  • A number of executives expect there to be a "fairly robust" trade deadline. "I don't think there's going to be a lot of big names on the move," said one GM, "but I think you've got a lot of teams looking to fill specific needs, and there are a lot of conversations going on."
  • All of the executives Olney spoke to agreed that there are very few teams willing (or able) to add payroll, so many deals will include salary relief, similar to the $2.5MM the Mariners sent the Rangers in the Cliff Lee trade.
  • The Astros have not yet indicated to other teams what they would like in return for Brett Myers.
  • Olney wonders if the recently outrighted George Sherrill could land with the Phillies, given their interest in him last year.

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