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Regular MLBTR Features

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If you're a regular MLBTR reader, you'll be familiar with our chats, our Week In Review posts and Mike Axisa's Baseball Blogs Weigh In feature. Here's some more detail on when you'll see our weekly features and exactly what to expect from them:

  • Radio Appearances – Tim appears on 590 KFNS in St. Louis every Tuesday at 1:25pm CST. You can always listen live here.
  • MLBTR Chats – Come by every Wednesday at 2pm CST to chat with Tim Dierkes or me about the latest trades, signings and rumblings around the major leagues.
  • Baseball Blogs Weigh In – Every Friday morning, Mike Axisa directs you to some of the best writing on baseball blogs around the web. Whether it's opinion, stats or something else entirely, you can connect to the best of the blogosphere once a week on MLBTR. If you want to send Mike a post of yours,  reach him at: mike@riveraveblues.com.
  • Week In Review – It's amazing how much happens in seven days. Every Sunday night, we summarize the week's biggest stories and link to some of our original content in our Week In Review posts.

Cliff Lee Trade Destination Poll

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Mariners lefty Cliff Lee might not be available yet, but there's a good chance GM Jack Zduriencik starts listening in coming weeks.  Today's poll question:

Which team will acquire Lee by the 2010 trade deadline?

Click here to make your pick, and here to view the results.

Elias Rankings Update

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After the season the Elias Sports Bureau will take all players over the 2009-10 period, divide them into five groups for each league, and rank them based on various statistics.  Then each player will be labeled a Type A, B, or none.

Eddie Bajek has reverse-engineered the Elias rankings, and he's providing that information exclusively at MLB Trade Rumors.  Here's a look at how the players rank for the period beginning with the 2009 season running through June 9th, 2010.  The Google spreadsheet below has separate tabs for each position group.  The players have about four more months to change these rankings.

Angels Sign Daniel Cabrera

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The Angels signed Daniel Cabrera, according to the transactions page of the team's AA affiliate. Cabrera, who was released by the White Sox in March, will begin his 2010 season with the Arkansas Travelers. Though it seems like Cabrera has been around for ages, he just turned 29.

The 6'9" right-hander spent parts of five seasons in Baltimore, where he became known for his high walk rates, mid-90s fastball and ability to induce ground balls. As a member of the Orioles' rotation, Cabrera never posted an ERA below 4.50 and he led the league in walks twice, wild pitches twice and hit batsmen once.

Last year, Cabrera posted a 6.00 ERA in 15 games for the Nationals and Diamondbacks. He had career-worst rates of 7.4 BB/9 and 4.1 K/9 and saw his average fastball velocity dip to 91 mph. The Angels may not get any production from Cabrera, but it's not hard to see why they're intrigued.

Dodgers Sign Kiko Calero

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The Dodgers signed Kiko Calero, according to the transactions page of the team's Triple A affiliate. Calero didn't draw much attention as a free agent last winter, but the Mets eventually signed him. The 35-year-old right-hander didn't make the Mets and struggled at Triple A Buffalo before getting his release last month.  

In 17 minor league innings this year, Calero posted a 10.59 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9. He was easier to hit than he was last year, when he allowed just 36 hits in 60 innings. Calero pitched to a 1.95 ERA in 67 games in 2009, but teams worried about his health after the season. That didn't stop eight clubs from offering minor league deals this winter, however.

The Angels: Recoup Or Reload?

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Now that it's been confirmed that Kendry Morales' ankle surgery will sideline him for the rest of the season, the flurry of rumors connecting the Angels to various available first basemen will only intensify.  It's possible that the likes of Lance Berkman, Paul Konerko, or maybe Derrek Lee could be wearing Anaheim red before the season is out, but Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com has another suggestion: none of them.

Rather than give up prospects and money to pick up a big-name first baseman, Saxon thinks the Halos should instead use the resources to get starting pitching, bullpen help or a third baseman.  Getting a first baseman wouldn't help the club get any further in the postseason.

"Even with, say, Konerko hitting home runs fairly regularly in the second half, was this team ever going to make any noise in October?" Saxon asks.  "How do you like the Angels' chances against the New York Yankees again?  How about the Tampa Bay Rays, even the Minnesota Twins?  In their current incarnation, the Angels would be first-round fodder and, these days, their fans don't get too worked up about making playoff appearances. They have higher aspirations, and so does the organization."

Saxon doesn't say L.A. should wave the white flag on the season; indeed, it might be hard to do that given that a .500 record might be good enough to compete in the AL West.  The Angels had won 12 of 15 games heading into today's action to move a half-game behind Texas for first place.  Rather, Saxon is suggesting that a first baseman is a needless addition given that he believes at best, such an acquistion would just net the Halos the division title (which they could win anyway).

It's a reasonable argument to make given that the Angels are coming off some significant offseason losses — John Lackey, Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins, etc. — and already have over $80MM in committed salary for 2011 (thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts).  Adding a high-priced bat for a late-season rental can cost the Angels a lot of money and valuable prospects.  Los Angeles has worked hard under Arte Moreno's ownership to turn itself into a franchise that is perpetually in contention and never "gives up" on its quest for a World Series, but there's no reason why Morales' freak injury should potentially wreck more than one season if L.A. overpays to fill Morales' spot.  

Odds & Ends: Strasburg, LaPorta, Lee, Padres

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Some items from around the majors on Thursday…

  • Minnesota has signed two draft picks, the highest of which is ninth-rounder Kyle Knudson, reports MLB.com's Kelly Thesier.
  • Washington GM Mike Rizzo says that there are no written or handshake agreements with Scott Boras about how many innings Stephen Strasburg will pitch this season, reports MASN's Ben Goessling.
  • Matt LaPorta, who hit three homers for Triple-A Columbus last night, won't be called back to the majors until the Indians can guarantee him regular playing time, reports Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com.  This may not happen until Russell Branyan or Austin Kearns is traded.
  • If Derrek Lee is on the market, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News suggests that the Giants should try to acquire the slugging first baseman.  Baggarly mentions the rumors connecting Lee to the Angels, but thinks Lee might prefer to stay in the NL and play in his native Northern California.
  • MLB.com's Corey Brock says (via Twitter) that in regards to any Padres trades for batting help, "there's nothing imminent in the works" at the moment.
  • Texas has a "serious interest" in A.J. Pierzynski, reports Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com, but are hamstrung by their financial issues.
  • The Royals have signed seven of their draft picks, according to a team press release.  The highest of these picks is right-hander Eric Cantrell, taken in the seventh round.
  • Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune reports that the White Sox have signed third-round compensation pick Thomas Royse, a right-handed starter from of the University of Louisville.
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com tweets a scout's take on Seattle's possible trading stance: "Jack Z [Zduriencik] likes draft picks, so if the (trade) offers aren't great, they may not move."
  • Tracy Ringolsby of FOXSports.com looks at how Houston's unwillingness to pay their draft picks has been a factor in the organization's barren minor league system.
  • Tommy Rancel of DRaysBay.com thinks it's too early for Rays fans to panic about Wade Davis.

Twins Looking At Aardsma, Qualls

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The Twins were the subject of several bullpen-related trade rumors back in March when Joe Nathan was lost to Tommy John surgery.  Rather than splurge to acquire a closer like Heath Bell, however, Minnesota instead elevated Jon Rauch to the closer's role and was rewarded with Rauch's 15 saves and 2.62 ERA.

While Rauch has pitched well enough to keep the closer's job, the Twins are still on the lookout for some help at the back of the bullpen.  Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com are reporting that the Twins are "monitoring" several relief options, most notably David Aardsma and Chad Qualls.

Aardsma's ERA stands at 5.21 in 20 appearances this season, though that ERA is inflated by a trio of poor outings.  His peripheral numbers (a 1.21 WHIP, a K/9 rate of 8.5 and a 2.57 K-BB ratio) are solid.  Qualls, meanwhile, has been the key figure in Arizona's bullpen woes this season.  His ERA currently sits at 7.77 following today's disastrous outing against Atlanta — Qualls allowed four ninth-inning runs in just a third of an inning pitched.

With these numbers and familiarity with American League batters, Aardsma has to be considered the stronger option for Minnesota if they were to make a move.  The only point in Qualls' favor is that he's in the last year of his contract, whereas Aardsma is making $2.75MM this season and is under team control through 2012.  The cost-conscious Twins may not like the idea of giving Aardsma an arbitration raise in the winter if he's just going to be a set-up man, though Minnesota could also hold onto him if Rauch struggles or perhaps trade him to another reliever-hungry team in the offseason. 

Qualls is due to earn $4.185MM so he'd cost more in payroll, but the Twins could just let him walk after the season if need be.  Also, Arizona's asking price would certainly be less than what Seattle would want for Aardsma.

Minor League Transactions

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Here are a few of the noteworthy names involved in this week's minor league transactions, as compiled by Baseball America's Matt Eddy…

  • Fernando Cortez was signed to his second go-around with the White Sox organization.  The utilityman last played in the majors in 2007 as a member of the Royals, and has a .665 OPS in 3948 career plate appearances in the minor leagues.
  • The White Sox also released Justin Fuller, best known as the minor-leaguer acquired last summer from Los Angeles in the Jim Thome trade.
  • John Koronka was released by the Dodgers.  The veteran southpaw made two starts for Florida in 2009 before signing with L.A. in January.
  • Jason Lane was released by the Marlins.  Best known for his time with Houston from 2002 to 2007, Lane's finest year came in 2005 when he hit 26 homers and posted an .815 OPS in 561 plate appearances for the Astros.  He last appeared in the majors in 2007 with San Diego.
  • Texas dealt right-hander Jailen Peguero to the Astros for future considerations.  Peguero posted a 7.50 ERA in 25 relief appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2007-08.
  • Cleveland released Josh Phelps just a few weeks after signing him to a minor-league deal.
  • The Mariners signed pitcher Billy Traber.  The left-hander has a 5.65 ERA in 96 career major league appearances, 28 of them starts.  He appeared in one game last season, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings of mop-up duty for Boston.

Guthrie, Not Millwood, May Be Orioles’ Most Tradable Pitcher

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Baltimore acquired Kevin Millwood last December so he could provide some veteran leadership to their young staff, but even at the time of the trade, there were whispers that Millwood could soon be on the move again.  It made sense that a rebuilding team like the Orioles might try to flip Millwood in a midseason deal for prospects, and Baltimore's poor start to the season has made the right-hander even more expendable.

As FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal points out, however, Millwood might not even be the most attractive trade asset on Baltimore's staff.  Jeremy Guthrie has a lower ERA (3.71 to Millwood's 4.64), a lower WHIP (1.13 to 1.44) and is very close to Millwood in K-BB ratio (2.41 to Millwood's 2.65).  Perhaps more importantly for interested teams, Guthrie isn't a free agent until after the 2012 season and has about $1.9MM left to earn of his $3MM salary for this season.  A team that deals for Millwood, on the other hand, will owe him approximately $7.57MM remaining on his $12MM 2010 salary.  (Texas paid Baltimore $3MM of that salary when trading Millwood over the winter, but it's unknown if the O's would send a representative portion of that money to a trade partner.)  Millwood is also a free agent after this season.

More and more contending teams are shying away from acquiring older rent-a-players at the cost of valuable prospects, and thus Millwood may not be able to pull in the young talent that the Orioles want.  Guthrie's younger age (31), pedigree (he was a first-round pick for the Indians in the 2002 draft) and potential upside might convince a team to part with a decent prospect or two.  Rosenthal notes that Guthrie's situation makes him more attractive to the O's too, but given Baltimore's struggles, it's hard to see them turning down a good offer on any veteran player.

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