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Archives for April 2011

Tribe, Red Sox, Cubs Release Former High Draft Picks

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SUNDAY: The Indians also released a former high pick according to this report from the AP (via ESPN), cutting ties with Preston Mattingly. The son of former AL MVP and current Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, Preston was drafted 31st overall by the Dodgers in 2006. The Indians acquired him in a minor league trade on Sept. 26 this past season.

The high school shortstop signed a $1MM bonus out of the draft, but has since been converted to an outfielder and tallied just a .232/.275/.334 line through 1,667 minor league plate appearances. At the time, Baseball America described him as a "well-kept secret … with bat speed, pop and an advanced approach. "

FRIDAY: The Red Sox have released outfielder Jason Place and the Cubs have released right-hander Aaron Shafer, MLBTR has learned. Neither player was among their team's top 30 prospects according to Baseball America's Prospect Handbook.

Place, 22, was the 27th overall pick in the 2006 draft and signed for $1.3MM. He had a fine professional debut that season (.292/.386/.442 in 132 rookie ball plate appearances), but has struggled in the four years since. He climbed as high as Double-A, and is a .234/.315/390 career hitter.

Shafer, 24, was a second round pick in 2008 (65th overall). He signed for $625K. Shafer picked well in relief last year (2.68 ERA in 80 2/3 IP), but that's only because he dominated Single-A (0.96 ERA in 46 2/3 IP) while getting hammered in Double-A (5.03 ERA in 34 IP).

MLBTR's Steve Adams also contributed to this post.

Braves Re-Sign Scott Proctor

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The Braves have re-signed veteran right-hander Scott Proctor to a minor league contract, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Proctor has been placed the roster with the team's Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett.

Proctor, 33, was released by the Braves a week ago after signing a one-year deal worth $750K last November. Proctor appeared in four games for the Braves last season, but had an abysmal Spring Training in which he allowed 12 hits and walked nine men through just 10 2/3 innings of work. He did manage 12 strikeouts as well, though that's little consolation when you allow 14 runs.

The Braves paid Proctor just over 25% of the $750K he was guaranteed upon his release when he lost his bullpen spot to Cristhian Martinez. For his career, Proctor owns a 4.46 ERA through 302 2/3 innings. He's posted a respectable 7.8 K/9, but allowed far too many baserunners with a 4.0 BB/9 and 9.5 H/9. Opponents have a career .247/.326/.422 line against him and his platoon split is almost non-existent.

Rosenthal On Twins, Cardinals, Sizemore

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With opening weekend in full swing, Ken Rosenthal has his first Full Count video of the season up over at FOX Sports. Let's check out the highlights….

  • The Twins' outfield is worth keeping an eye on, since Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel are facing free agency after 2011 and many of the team's top prospects are outfielders. Rosenthal says it's "even possible" that the Twins could trade Denard Span, who is signed through 2014.
  • While Matt Holliday recovers from his appendectomy, the Cardinals are comfortable platooning Allen Craig and Jon Jay. Craig is "highly sought after" in trade talks, particularly by American League teams, according to Rosenthal. However, the Cards aren't inclined to move him.
  • Even if Grady Sizemore returns to form in the coming months, he's not likely to be dealt at the trade deadline. His 2012 club option becomes a player option if he's traded, so if they wanted to explore a deal, the Indians would probably do so next winter, after picking up the option.

Quick Hits: Aardsma, Angels, Padres

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Saturday Night Links..

Discussion: Marlins’ Third Base Options

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Recently, there was a great deal of speculation as to how the Marlins would take care of the third base job as prospect Matt Dominguez was demoted to the minors to improve his offense.  However, Larry Beinfest seemed to put that talk to rest when he said that the trade front was rather quiet, leaving Donnie Murphy as the club's Opening Day starting third baseman. 

Unfortunately for the Marlins, Dominguez suffered a slight fracture to his left elbow yesterday and Murphy was struck on his surgically-repaired right hand by a pitch in the seventh inning of tonight's contest against the Mets.  Dominguez should be back in action in 4-6 weeks but there is no word on Murphy's condition just yet.  If the Fish find themselves without Murphy's services for an extended period of time, they can refer back to their shortlist of third base candidates from just weeks ago.  We could hear names like Michael Young rehashed again, but with a $16MM annual salary, it's not likely that the Marlins and Rangers can match up.  Fortunately for the Marlins, a couple of the more affordable options are newly available.

The Marlins flirted with the idea of bringing in Royals veteran Pedro Feliz in March.  On Sunday, Feliz asked for, and was granted, his release.  Though it was said at the time at the Marlins weren't likely to sign the 35-year-old, circumstances may bring about a change of heart in the Florida front office.  Former Marlin Luis Castillo has also re-entered the open market after being cut loose by the Phillies.  Castillo could theoretically be put at his preferred position, second base, with Omar Infante being moved over to third.  Even though neither player would represent an earth-shattering signing, either player would be able to keep the spot at third warm until Dominguez recovers and gets his bat up to speed.

It's also quite possible that the Marlins would once again fill the void at third base internally.  After all, as Beinfest said, whoever they would acquire to play the position would be nothing more than a "placeholder".

East Notes: Simon, Red Sox, Feliciano, Mets

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Let's take a look at some items from the AL and NL East..

NL Notes: Kroon, Edmonds, Dodgers, Padres

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Links for Saturday, as Ichiro Suzuki will attempt to pick up the one hit he needs to tie Edgar Martinez for the most in Mariners history (2,247)…

  • Giants pitcher Marc Kroon confirmed (via Twitter) that he has decided to remain with the Giants and report to Triple-A Fresno.  The right-handed reliever said at various points this offseason that he would not accept a demotion to the minors.
  • John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer wasn't shocked by Edmonds' recent comments regarding the Reds.
  • MLB.com's Mark Sheldon passes along a quote from Jim Edmonds, who blasted the Reds in a recent radio interview. "The worst thing I did was accept that trade for [Reds GM] Walt Jocketty," said Edmonds, who went from the Brewers to the Reds last summer. "I should have shut it down and went home. I would be healthy right now and probably playing." He also criticized the Reds' medical staff.
  • ESPN's Tim Kurkjian listed 11 stories to watch in 2011, including the impending free agencies of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.
  • Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers opened the season with a payroll exceeding $95MM, up from $83MM last year. The team also owes $15MM in salary deferments from previous seasons.
  • Tim Sullivan of The San Diego Union-Tribune explains why a recent Forbes report indicating that the Padres had a $37.2MM operating income in 2010 could be misinterpreted.

Mets Notes: Rodriguez, Feliciano, Warthen

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Here are some items on the Mets as they take on the Marlins at Sun Life Stadium..

  • Skipper Terry Collins plans to speak with Francisco Rodriguez this weekend regarding the closer's usage in non-save situations, writes MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. K-Rod's contract has a $17.5MM option for 2012, which vests if he finishes 55 games. "I'm not going to let him go out there just to pitch an inning and jeopardize the game when I'm going to need him the next day," the manager said.
  • Earlier today, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that the Mets "abused" Pedro Feliciano during his time in Queens.  Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen disagreed with that sentiment, but added, "That was part of the reason we decided not to re-sign him," tweets David Lennon of Newsday.
  • DiComo also writes that recent acquisition Chin-lung Hu will serve as the club's emergency catcher should Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas go down.  Hu, whom the Mets acquired from the Dodgers this offseason, has no experience behind the plate.

Red Sox Send Pedro Perez To Tigers To Complete Deal

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The Red Sox have sent right-hander Pedro Perez to the Tigers to complete the trade for Triple-A infielder Brent Dlugach, according to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe.  Perez spent last season with Boston's Single-A Greenville affiliate.

Perez, who will turn 23 in May, turned in a 3.94 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 28 games last season in Greenville.  The right-hander made just two starts last season but has 30 starts to his credit in five minor league seasons.  The Tigers have assigned him to their Connecticut Short-Season Class A affiliate, according to Steve Kornacki of MLive.com.

The Red Sox acquired Dlugach in November for cash considerations or a player to be named later.  The 28-year-old owns a career .274/.325/.401 slash line in Triple-A.

Poll: Will Blue Jays Trade Aaron Hill?

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Yesterday, the Blue Jays declined to exercise their options for Aaron Hill's 2012-2014 seasons.  While they will still be able to pick up the 29-year-old's options for '12 and '13, the decision could reflect the club's uncertainty regarding Hill's long-term future in Toronto.  After churning out a .286/.330/.499 slash line with 36 homers in 2009, Hill saw his OPS drop more than 150 points and his HR total dip to 26 in 2010.

Even if the Blue Jays aren't high on Hill at the moment, one has to think that the second baseman could attract plenty of interest if he shows flashes of his old form in 2011.  After this season, Hill can be retained for $8MM in 2012 or, for $16MM, kept through 2013.  While that's not exactly chump change, it's not an exorbitant price to pay if Hill can bring a 5.4 WAR to the table like he did in '09.

Do you envision GM Alex Anthopoulos flipping Hill to another club before this season is through?

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