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Archives for May 2011

AL West Notes: Rangers’ Pitching, Geren

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The Mariners and Rangers already picked up wins this afternoon, but the AL West won't go a perfect 4-0 today because the Angels and A's are playing each other later tonight. Here's the latest from the game's only four team division…

  • The Rangers may have excess starting pitching if some combination of Tommy Hunter, Scott Feldman and Brandon Webb returns, yet they may try to add starter if they can make a definite upgrade, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link).
  • Former A's reliever Huston Street ripped Oakland manager Bob Geren in conversation with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Street's assessment of his former manager: "my least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports from age 6 to 27. I am very thankful to be in [Colorado] where I can trust my manager." The harsh words come after lefty Brian Fuentes publicly criticized Geren, but Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the skipper's job is safe.

Mets Notes: Rodriguez, Payroll, Reyes

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Tonight the Mets will try to rebound from an ugly loss against the Cubs as Dillon Gee faces Casey Coleman. In the meantime, here are some off-field notes about New York's National League team…

  • Francisco Rodriguez will consider any potential trade the Mets are interested in and is open to waiving his $17.5MM vesting option for 2012 if an acquiring team wants to negotiate a multiyear extension, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. 
  • Mets GM Sandy Alderson said on WFAN that he expects his team's 2012 payroll to sit in the $100-145MM range, as Michael Baron notes at MetsBlog.
  • Alderson also pointed out that the Mets could still make Jose Reyes an offer to stay in New York long-term. 
  • A selloff is coming for the Mets, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. Morosi predicts where Rodriguez, Reyes, David Wright and Mike Pelfrey will be after the trade deadline. 
  • Alderson told Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger that people can “get caught up in the emotion from time to time and perhaps say some things that, on reflection, probably were not well-chosen.” This week Mets owner Fred Wilpon made comments that certainly fall into that category. 
  • A Mets executive told Murray Chass that people inside the organization wanted to get Wilpon's story out into the public because they felt he was being treated unfairly. As a result the owner agreed to the two interviews that created a mini-controversy.
  • Alderson reiterated that the Mets are able to exceed the commissioner’s recommended bonuses in this year’s draft, according to McCullough (on Twitter).

Indians Notes: Choo, Cabrera, Acta, Minaya

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Mitch Talbot's ERA jumped from 1.46 to 5.87 today as the Red Sox welcomed him back from the disabled list with an eight-run attack. Boston won 14-2, but the 30-17 Indians still have the game's best record. Here's the latest on the Tribe:

  • Former Indians GM Mark Shapiro and former Mariners GM Bill Bavasi reflect on two of their 2006 deals with ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick. Five years ago, the Mariners sent Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera to the Indians in a pair of trades for Ben Broussard and Eduardo Perez. They’re now seen as steals for the Indians, something Bavasi readily admits, but Shapiro wasn’t expecting one-sided deals. “You're not looking to steal players and win trades. You like trades to be a foundation for a future trade," Shapiro said. Now the Indians’ president, Shapiro says the Indians “identified [Choo] as a potential big leaguer, but not as one of the best all-around players in the big leagues. Not one scout and no objective analysis said that."
  • Indians manager Manny Acta told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan that he has believed in his team's ability since Spring Training. “Just because you have a low payroll and you’re young doesn’t mean you’re rebuilding,” Acta said. “It just means you don’t have the resources and that you’re young.”
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears that former GM Omar Minaya can have a job as a super scout with the Indians at any time (Twitter links). Minaya, who is still being paid by the Mets, has ties to Acta and Indians president  Mark Shapiro. Earlier today, Jon Heyman of SI.com reported that a few teams are interested in Minaya’s services.

Draft Notes: Rendon, Cole, Bundy, Gray

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The buzz about the MLB draft is intensifying and understandably so – the big day is less than two weeks away. Here’s the latest: 

  • Baseball America presents its top 200 draft prospects. Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon is first on the list and high school right-hander Dylan Bundy leapfrogged UCLA righty Gerrit Cole to take the second spot on BA’s list.
  • Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Keith Law ranks his top 100 draft-eligible players. Cole (#1), Rendon (#2) and high school outfielder Bubba Starling (#3) top his list and Bundy comes in fourth.
  • Two UConn Huskies, Matt Barnes and George Springer, are gaining momentum, according to Jason A. Churchill of ESPN.com. Cole, however, is losing momentum.
  • In his latest chat, Jim Callis of Baseball America says he thinks Vanderbilt right-hander Sonny Gray can start or become a dynamic closer.
  • Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com previews this year's draft-eligible middle infielders, starting with high schooler Francisco Lindor, an outstanding defender who can hit for average and some power.
  • University of Hawaii second baseman Kolten Wong told Mayo that he doesn't mind at all when people doubt him because of his size (he's 5'9"). Wong says he has spoken to fellow Hawaiian Shane Victorino about dealing with the draft.
  • White Sox scouting director Doug Laumann told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune that the White Sox should get some "pretty good players" even though their first pick is the 47th overall selection. Chicago could end up taking a position player this year, according to Laumann.

Brewers Claim Josh Wilson

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The Brewers announced that they claimed infielder Josh Wilson off of waivers from the Diamondbacks (on Twitter). In a corresponding move, the Brewers moved Takashi Saito to the 60-day DL; their 40-man roster is now full.

The D'Backs designated Wilson for assignment on Monday. The journeyman infielder has a .227/.280/.315 in parts of five seasons with the Marlins, Nationals, Rays, D'Backs, Padres and Mariners. Though he's primarily a shortstop, Wilson has appeared at every infield position and has pitched in three MLB games. GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel that the Brewers wanted Wilson's right-handed bat and versatility.

Note that the Brewers have have not claimed Josh Fields from Colorado.

Dodgers Sign Ian Snell

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Ian Snell has ended his short-lived retirement and signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter).

Snell retired after the Cardinals sent him to minor league camp in Spring Training. The Cardinals officially released him and before long, he was considering a return. The 29-year-old posted a 3.76 ERA with 7.7 K/9 in 208 innings for the 2007 Pirates and was rewarded with a three-year, $8.6MM extension. However, from 2008-10, Snell posted a 5.31 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 for the Pirates and Mariners.

Yankees Claim Kanekoa Texeira

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The Yankees claimed right-handed reliever Kanekoa Texeira off of waivers, the Royals announced. Kansas City had designated the former Yankees farmhand for assignment last Wednesday.

Texeira joined the Yankees organization in the 2008 Nick Swisher trade, but he has never donned pinstripes at the Major League level. The Mariners selected him in the 2009 Rule 5 draft and kept him on their roster for two months before exposing him to waivers. The Royals then claimed the Hawaiian and kept him on their roster for the remainder of the 2010 season to earn his rights.

In total, Texeira posted a 4.84 ERA with 4.8 K/9, 3.7 BB/9 and a 52.2% ground ball rate in 61 1/3 innings of relief last year. He has struggled in 2011, allowing 13 hits and 3 walks in 6 1/3 innings without a strikeout. Earlier in the year, Yankees GM Brian Cashman claimed reliever Jess Todd, only to lose him to the Cardinals, soon afterward.

Minor Deals: Zumaya, Red Sox, Reds, Blue Jays

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Troy Patton, who was designated for assignment by the Orioles last week, cleared waivers and has been optioned to Triple-A, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Here are the rest of today’s minor moves:

  • The Tigers released Richard Zumaya, the younger brother of  Major Leaguer Joel Zumaya, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter). The 21-year-old right-hander struggled in the lower minors in 2010 and 2011.
  • The Red Sox signed right-hander Chris Huseby, who once signed a seven-figure deal with the Cubs, according to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (on Twitter). The 23-year-old hasn't pitched this year but he has a 3.58 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 158 1/3 innings of pro ball.
  • The Reds acquired righty Brandon Hynick from the White Sox and the Phillies acquired Niuman Romero from the Blue Jays, according to Eddy (on Twitter). The White Sox and Blue Jays obtained cash considerations in return for their respective prospects.
  • The Reds also signed righty reliever Steven Jackson after the Dodgers released him, according to Eddy (on Twitter).
  • The Braves signed right-hander Steven Shell to provide depth at Triple-A, according to Eddy (on Twitter).

Heyman On Reyes, Rodriguez, A’s, Minaya

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We know that Mets owner Fred Wilpon doesn’t think Jose Reyes is a $142MM player, but how do other insiders see it? Jon Heyman of SI.com hears from five MLB executives who estimate Reyes will sign for somewhere between $45-108MM after the season when he hits free agency. Here’s the latest from around the majors, with a focus on Reyes’ Mets:

  • Francisco Rodriguez, who can veto trades to ten teams, told Heyman that he understands baseball is “a business” and deals happen.
  • There’s no chance the Mariners trade Felix Hernandez now that they’re playing better, according to Heyman.
  • If the White Sox make a starter available, Edwin Jackson could be the one to hit the trade market, as he’s eligible for free agency after the season. 
  • Over the weekend, MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk weighed in on what a “bad” season would mean for Albert Pujols. Heyman says Pujols will surely do well even if his off-year continues, since the Cardinals “aren't going to lower their offer of nine years and more than $200MM.”
  • Ivan Rodriguez repeated that he wants to play three more years.
  • Despite the recent controversy involving A’s manager Bob Geren and relievers Brian Fuentes and Huston Street, Heyman says the skipper “isn't going anywhere.”
  • The Indians are one of a few teams that has shown interest in former Mets and Expos GM Omar Minaya.

Rays Claim Jay Buente; Designate Rob Delaney

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The Rays claimed righty Jay Buente off waivers from the Marlins and created a 40-man roster spot by designating pitcher Rob Delaney for assignment, tweets The Tampa Tribune.  The Rays then optioned Buente to Triple-A.

Buente was designated for assignment yesterday by the Marlins to clear a spot on the active roster for Steve Cishek.  The 27-year-old posted a 1.94 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 0.2 HR/9 in 41 2/3 Triple-A innings this year, including five starts.  He spent most of 2010 in relief, posting a 10.0 K/9 across three levels.  Buente was a fifth-round pick of the Marlins in 2007.

The Rays claimed Delaney off waivers from the Twins in late January.  The 26-year-old right-handed reliever had been optioned to Triple-A on Friday to open a spot for J.P. Howell.  In recent years he's posted big strikeout rates at Triple-A, though he allowed ten home runs in 80 frames last year.  Baseball America ranked him 24th among Twins prospects prior to the 2009 season, noting that Delaney does not throw particularly hard but his fastball has excellent sink and he has above-average command.

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