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Archives for July 2011

Cubs Sign Dave Bush

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The Cubs signed Dave Bush to a minor league deal, according to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald (on Twitter). The veteran right-hander will report to Triple-A Iowa this weekend.

Bush posted a 5.79 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 37 1/3 innings for the Rangers as a middle reliever and spot starter this year, before Texas designated him for assignment and eventually released him.

Pitching primarily out of the bullpen for the first time in his career, the 31-year-old saw his ground ball rate rise to 46.1% and his average fastball velocity increase to 87.6 mph. The Rangers had signed him to a minor league deal in January and he assured himself of a $1MM base salary by making the team out of Spring Training.

Red Sox Expressed Interest In Kuroda

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The Red Sox called the Dodgers about Hiroki Kuroda, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link). The Red Sox don't appear to have started an all-out search for rotation help, but it's not surprising to hear of their interest in Kuroda given the injuries their starters have sustained.

Daisuke Matsuzaka is out for the season, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester are on the disabled list and there's no guarantee that Josh Beckett, who did not pitch in the All-Star Game because of a sore left knee, will make his scheduled start Sunday. As a result, Andrew Miller, Tim Wakefield and Kyle Weiland are members of the rotation, which seems considerably less formidable than it did a few months ago.

The Tigers and Yankees are among the many clubs interested in Kuroda, according to Heyman. The 36-year-old right-hander will require compensation to waive his no-trade clause and accept a deal.

How To Use MLBTR

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Olney On Tigers, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Beltran

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Teams looking to trade for outfield help will encounter a buyers’ market, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. Here’s the latest from around MLB, with the most recent rumors up top:

  • The Tigers are pursuing pitching aggressively, checking in on high-end arms, according to Olney (on Twitter). 
  • The Pirates are looking for an outfielder who can be a stable presence in their lineup. They have asked around for veteran outfielders (Twitter link). 
  • The D'Backs are looking for relievers who have yet to go to arbitration, not expensive veterans (Twitter link).
  • The Red Sox, Braves and Phillies would “undoubtedly” love to acquire Carlos Beltran, but all three clubs are distancing themselves from the teams behind them in the standings, so they could decide to acquire a second-tier bat instead of surrendering an elite prospect for Beltran.
  • Hunter Pence will likely stay in Houston unless the Astros are “overwhelmed,” according to Olney.
  • The A’s are listening on Josh Willingham.
  • Rival GMs believe that a deal for Ubaldo Jimenez is “all but impossible,” since the Rockies would ask for so much in a trade for their ace. The Rockies will listen on Jimenez, who is on the Reds' radar.

Heyman’s Latest: K-Rod, Jackson, Twins, Reyes

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Let's round up the latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman…

  • The Mets were telling interested clubs that Francisco Rodriguez would be with a new team "within 48 hours" of the reliever's decision to switch agents and hire Scott Boras. The trade with the Brewers was announced four days later.
  • Heyman lists 40 players that could be traded before the deadline, headlined by the usual suspects: Carlos Beltran, Heath Bell, B.J. Upton, and Josh Willingham.
  • "Calls are coming in" about Edwin Jackson, and the White Sox will have the rotation depth to move him once John Danks returns from the disabled list.
  • Jose Reyes has told the Mets he won't negotiate a contract extension during the season, but he hasn't completely ruled out an extension with a new team if traded.
  • The Mets are "unlikely" to trade Mike Pelfrey, despite his climbing salary. 
  • The Twins are telling teams they're going for it.
  • Beltran's salary would be an issue for both the Indians and Reds, though Cleveland is looking for an outfield bat.
  • In a tweet, Heyman notes that the Reds and Phillies match up well with the Padres for a trade, since both teams are looking for a right-handed outfield bat and bullpen help. San Diego has Ryan Ludwick and a stable of quality relievers to offer.

Mets Finalizing Deal With Supplemental Pick Fulmer

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JULY 15: Callis tweets that the terms of Fulmer's signing bonus have not yet been finalized, contrary to yesterday's report.

JULY 14: Fulmer's bonus will be $950K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America, though the deal has not been quite finalized yet.  MLB's recommended slot price for the 44th overall pick is $776.7K.

JUNE 24: The Mets have agreed to terms with suppelemental first round pick Michael Fulmer, the pitcher announced (on Twitter). He said he agreed to a contract yesterday, though he has yet to sign paper (hat tip to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork).

Baseball America ranked Fulmer 45th among draft eligible prospects and the Mets selected him with the 44th overall pick. Fulmer's fastball reaches the mid-90s and he can maintain his velocity late into games, according to BA. He has a hard slider, though he'll have to work on developing a change-up. Here's MLBTR's complete list of top picks that have signed. 

Gillick On Phillies, Werth, Daniels, Orioles

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Longtime baseball executive Pat Gillick will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next weekend alongside Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar. The former Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Phillies GM reflected on his career and the state of the game on a conference call with reporters this morning. Congratulations in advance to Gillick; here are some highlights from his conversation:

  • Gillick, who is now a senior advisor for the Phillies, would like to see Philadelphia add a right-handed bat this summer. Though doing so is not imperative, it's "very important."
  • Gillick now provides the Phillies with scouting reports on amateur players on the West Coast and talks with GM Ruben Amaro Jr. about twice per week.
  • Jayson Werth's $126MM contract with the Nationals "stunned and shocked" Gillick, who once signed Werth for $850K under considerably different circumstances. The longtime GM says he's not a fan of long-term deals. "It wouldn't have been something I would have recommended," Gillick said.
  • Jon Daniels of the Rangers reminds Gillick of himself. "I always considered myself a little adventurous," Gillick said, "and I think Jon and his Texas group are headed in the right direction."
  • Gillick says he admires some moves by Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, especially the deal that brought Adam Jones to Baltimore for Erik Bedard.
  • Gillick says he doesn't expect to be a GM again, but he would consider becoming a club president in the right situation.
  • The Pirates are the surprise of 2011 for Gillick.

Braves Sign Sean Gilmartin

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FRIDAY: Gilmartin obtained a bonus of $1.13MM, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter). The 21-year-old obtained MLB's recommended bonus.

THURSDAY: The Braves have signed their first round pick in the 2011 amateur draft, 28th-overall selection Sean Gilmartin, reports Jim Callis of Baseball America.  (Twitter link)  Gilmartin, 21, is a 6'2" left-hander out of Florida State who the Padres took as a high-schooler in the 31st round in 2008.  Terms of the deal haven't been released, but MLB's recommended slot bonus for the No. 28 position is $1.134MM.

Pirates Open To Trading Prospects

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The Pirates have been trading big leaguers for prospects for years, but this summer is different. Pittsburgh is just a game out of first place with a 47-43 record and GM Neal Huntington says the Pirates are searching for “the right piece to add to the club” every day. 

"In theory we would absolutely like to add to this club," Huntington told Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Under the right circumstances, the Pirates would even deal prospects for Major Leaguers.

"[One of the reasons] you have a deep and talented farm system is to make trades to add to your major league club when you don't have the right piece," Huntington said. "We are to a point where we've got some prospects in the system that we're willing to talk about."

Huntington says he’s monitoring the trade market and has noticed that there are still more buyers than sellers at this point. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes explains what could happen if the Pirates become buyers and Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the Pirates should acquire a power bat.

Rangers Have Checked In On Marlins’ Arms

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The Rangers have asked the Marlins about their pitching, though the sides have yet to exchange names for possible trades, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Talks are “not far along” now, but the clubs had more serious discussions about pitching at last year’s Winter Meetings.

Derek Holland pitched a shutout last night, leading the Rangers to their eighth consecutive win. Before their hot streak, they were searching for starting pitching and relief help.

Leo Nunez, who is arbitration eligible in 2012, Brian Sanches and Edward Mujica are among the trade candidates on Florida's pitching staff. For more on those names and others, check out this piece by Tim Dierkes, which explains what will happen if the Marlins – now fifth in the NL East with a 44-48 record – become sellers.

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