Poll: Are The Twins A Legitimate Playoff Threat?
By the time the Twins emerged from May with a 17-36 record, most people had written them off. They were a flawed team with serious injuries, hopelessly far behind the Indians and Tigers in the American League Central.
But since the beginning of June, no team has been playing better than the Twins, who have won 14 of their last 18 games. All of a sudden, they’re 7.5 games out of first place and it seems possible that they’ll be buyers at the trade deadline, rather than sellers.
The Twins still have their issues – Justin Morneau, Jim Thome, Denard Span, Jason Kubel, Kevin Slowey and Joe Nathan are on the DL and Delmon Young hasn't hit - but their strengths have started to carry them. It now seems possible that the Twins could be contenders again. What do you think?
Are the Twins a legitimate playoff threat?
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Yes - they're playing as well as anyone 56% (3,861)
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No - their slow start buried them 44% (3,040)
Total votes: 6,901
Cashman: Reyes To Yankees ‘Not Going To Happen’
GM Brian Cashman told Roger Rubin of the New York Daily News that the Yankees are not going to acquire Jose Reyes any time in the foreseeable future. Cashman said a move for Reyes is “just not going to happen" and explained that he believes in his club’s current shortstops.
"We have an everyday shortstop in Derek Jeter," Cashman said. "And I think we have an everyday shortstop that would be playing for a lot of clubs in Eduardo Nunez. The Yankees don't have a need now or in the future for a shortstop."
Jeter is on the disabled list with an injured right calf and should be ready to return before long. The 17-year veteran is under contract through 2013 and the 24-year-old Nunez won’t even be arbitration eligible until after ’13.
Cashman said he’s “not afraid” to deal with the Mets, but admitted that there’s added pressure when making a crosstown trade. The Yankees need a setup man, so Cashman has been making calls to determine who’s available.
Reyes has told the Mets that he does not want to negotiate an extension during the season. The 28-year-old will hit free agency for the first time this fall.
Red Sox Notes: Cameron, Navarro, Miller
Despite today’s loss, the 44-30 Red Sox have proven that they’re one of baseball’s top teams. Here’s the latest on the Red Sox from Peter Gammons of MLB Network, who joined WEEI’s Mut & Merloni show today (Audio here, Ryan Hannable has the highlights):
- The Red Sox may consider pursuing a right-handed hitting outfielder, since there’s some concern about Mike Cameron. Gammons mentions Jeff Baker of the Cubs and Ryan Spilborghs of the Rockies as possible targets for Boston.
- Minor league infielder Yamaico Navarro is recovering from an oblique injury, but the Red Sox could call on the versatile prospect if they need depth later in the summer. "I know they think that he’s going to be a really important guy to this team, because he’s got so much versatility,” Gammons said. “He’s so young. And he’s grown up a lot in the last year.” Navarro has a .283/.387/.538 line at Triple-A this year.
- The Red Sox envision Andrew Miller as someone who has “the potential of being a big-time power starter” rather than a reliever, Gammons said. The left-hander made his Red Sox debut this week, tossing 5 2/3 innings and allowing seven hits, three walks and three runs while stiking out six.
Quick Hits: Twins, Ellis, Cole, Hultzen
The Mets released Wily Mo Pena on this date two years ago. The slugger resurfaced with the D'Backs yesterday, when he homered in his first MLB game since 2008. Here are some links for Wednesday night as Pena attempts to hit another homer or two…
- A scout tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the Twins seem less likely to become sellers than they were a few weeks ago (Twitter link). Minnesota has re-entered the playoff race thanks to a 14-3 tear.
- Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group hears that the Giants are not one of the six teams on Mark Ellis’ no-trade list (Twitter link). Ellis has lost his starting second base job in Oakland and the Giants have had internal talks about obtaining him.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that top draft choices Gerrit Cole (Pirates) and Danny Hultzen (Mariners) will sign for roughly $10MM or so. Two high school arms, Archie Bradley (D’Backs) and Dylan Bundy (Orioles), will likely obtain $6-7MM and some executives see high school outfielder Bubba Starling (Royals) signing for more than Cole or Hultzen.
- ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick examines the case for expanding active rosters to 26 players. Teams now have sprawling bullpens and demanding travel schedules, so there's support for bigger rosters from Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, Marlins infielder Wes Helms and others.
NL East Notes: Reyes, Werth, McKeon
The Phillies and Braves began the day ranked first and second in MLB in run prevention. The Phillies (240 runs allowed as of this morning) have Cliff Lee on the hill tonight and the Braves (252 runs allowed) surrendered just a single run against the Blue Jays this afternoon. Here's the latest on the other NL East clubs:
- As Joel Sherman of the New York Post explains, Mets GM Sandy Alderson has clearly become more enamored with Jose Reyes as the season has gone on and the shortstop has showed off his defense and athleticism.
- Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that agent Scott Boras did not solicit him before Werth left the Beverly Hills Sports Council for Boras late last season. "In no way was I being harassed or bothered or anything other than what I wanted," Werth said, in response to Jayson Stark’s recent ESPN article.
- Click here to see how Werth is faring relative to other new members of baseball's $100MM club and click here to check out our Agency Database.
- Managers around the league, including Terry Francona of the Red Sox and Mike Scioscia of the Angels, tell Joe Frisaro of MLB.com that they're impressed with Marlins skipper Jack McKeon, who is managing at the age of 80.
Rockies Could Look To Trade For Pitching
GM Dan O'Dowd told Thomas Harding of MLB.com that the Rockies may be looking for pitching help later this summer. The Rockies will use the next four weeks to determine whether to look outside of the organization to replenish a pitching staff that saw Jorge de la Rosa and Esmil Rogers hit the disabled list in May.
"I said all along, even when we were struggling offensively for so long, I still feel the issues with our club are going to come down to our pitching,” O'Dowd said. "If we were out looking for anything, it would be to continue to improve our pitching."
The 37-36 Rockies are 2.5 games out of the NL West lead despite a rotation that has faltered without De La Rosa and Rogers. Rockies starters rank 22nd in MLB in ERA (3.99), 21st in innings (440 1.3) and 28th in BB/9 (3.6). MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes recently previewed the market for starting pitchers, left-handed relievers and right-handed relievers.
Braves Claim Dustin Richardson
The Braves have claimed Dustin Richardson off waivers from the Marlins, reports MLB.com's Christina De Nicola (on Twitter). The lefty reliever had been designated for assignment last week, and he will report to Triple-A. Atlanta had an open 40-man roster spot before making the claim.
Richardson, 27, posted a 3.66 ERA with 9.8 K/9 but 5.6 BB/9 in 32 innings for Florida's Triple-A affiliate this year. Left-handed batters hit .341 with ten walks and ten strikeouts off him in 10 2/3 innings. Florida originally acquired him from the Red Sox for Andrew Miller during the offseason.
Minor Deals: Lamb, Tiffee, Periard
A few minor moves…
- The Yankees have signed Mike Lamb and Terry Tiffee to minor league deals, reports Donnie Collins of The Scranton Times-Tribune. Both infielders were playing in the independent Atlantic League, Lamb with the Camden River Sharks and Tiffee with the Lancaster Barnstormers. They will head to Triple-A.
- The Mariners have signed Alex Periard to a minor league pact according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy (on Twitter). Eddy notes that Periard was originally drafted by Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik back when he was the Brewers' scouting director in 2004. The right-hander had a 4.71 ERA in 11 starts last season before Milwaukee released him.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Accardo
Here's our list of outrighted players heading for Triple-A…
- Jeremy Accardo accepted a minor league assignment from the Orioles, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The Orioles designated the right-hander for assignment last week and Accardo chose the Triple-A assignment (and his salary) over free agency.
AL East Notes: Red Sox, Accardo, Blue Jays
Wade Boggs hit his first MLB home run on this date 29 years ago. Power wasn't an essential part of Boggs' game, but he won five batting titles and collected 3,010 hits in his 18-year career with the Yankees, Red Sox and Devil Rays. Here's the latest on Boggs' former division:
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports knows there's no perfect team in baseball, but he says the Red Sox are as close as it gets. Only Philadelphia has a better record than Boston, which entered today's action with an AL-best 44-29 record.
- Jeremy Accardo could be a free agent by tomorrow. The Orioles reliever has to choose between an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk with a big league salary or free agency and uncertain job prospects, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
- Blue Jays manager John Farrell told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca that the Blue Jays will consider possible changes before opening their series against the Cardinals (Twitter link). “We need a spark, that’s clear,” Farrell said. “How we look to do that we’ll examine in this room first.” The Braves just swept the 36-39 Jays out of Atlanta.