The Orioles signed Willie Eyre and it looks like they will call him up to the Major Leagues this weekend, MLBTR has learned. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun first reported the signing, which occurred after Eyre elected free agency. The veteran posted a 3.48 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 4.1 BB/9, and 0.7 HR/9 in 62 innings for Oakland's Triple-A team this year.
Archives for August 2011
Outrighted To Triple-A: Brandon Erbe, David Purcey
Here's today's list of players to get outrighted to Triple-A…
- Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports that the Orioles have outrighted Brandon Erbe off the 40-man roster. Erbe was sent to the team's New York-Penn League affiliate, which is short season Single-A ball, not Triple-A. Erbe had been designated for assignment over the weekend.
- The Tigers announced (on Twitter) that they outrighted left-hander David Purcey to Triple-A. Detroit designated him for assignment last week to create roster space for David Pauley. The 29-year-old Purcey has a 5.61 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 7.2 BB/9 in 33 2/3 innings for three teams this year.
Heyman On Reyes, Ortiz, Cole, Twins
The market for Jose Reyes should still be strong after the season, Jon Heyman writes at SI.com. MLB executives tell Heyman that the Giants, Cardinals, Tigers, Angels, Nationals, Braves, Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees and Mets could be fits for the shortstop in terms of finances and positional need. Here are the rest of Heyman’s rumors…
- Yankees people suggest they’re unlikely to pursue Reyes and Red Sox people say they don’t expect to spend big on a position player this winter.
- The Red Sox haven’t discussed a new deal with David Ortiz, though they’re confident that they’ll be able to re-sign him after the season. Ortiz has expressed interest in a multiyear deal for a while, but the Red Sox don’t want to guarantee more than one year.
- First overall draft pick Gerrit Cole is looking to approach Stephen Strasburg’s $15.1MM bonus and top Mariners pick Danny Hultzen is looking for $13MM plus money for school, Heyman reports. Keep track of which top picks have signed here.
- The Twins appear to want to keep Joe Nathan when he hits free agency after the season, but they’ll probably let Matt Capps sign elsewhere.
Jose Valverde Hires Proformance
Jose Valverde has switched agencies and is now a Proformance client, MLBTR has learned. The closer, who could find himself on the open market this offseason, had previously been a Praver/Shapiro client.
Valverde has a 2.92 ERA with 8.2 K/9, 4.7 BB/9 and a league-leading 32 saves in 49 1/3 innings this year. The Tigers can exercise a $9MM option for the 33-year-old's services in 2012. Alternatively, they could decline the option and offer arbitration to the projected Type A free agent with the intention of obtaining extra picks in the 2012 draft.
Be sure to check out MLBTR's Agency Database for information about each MLB player's representatives.
Poll: The Brewers’ Best Trade
The White Sox told their fans they were going “all in” this year, but that slogan might have worked better a bit further north. Brewers GM Doug Melvin has traded prospect after prospect since last season in an attempt to reinforce his club for a run at the playoffs.
The Brewers gave up a lot, but their plan is working so far. Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum have provided upgrades in the rotation, Nyjer Morgan is hitting like never before and the most recent addition, Francisco Rodriguez, has provided manager Ron Roenicke’s bullpen with a boost.
The Brewers lead the NL Central with a 66-50 record. Which of their recent trades was the best one?
Padres To Raise Payroll
The Padres will raise their payroll over $50MM next year with the expectation that it will rise to a “resting place” of $70MM within five years, CEO Jeff Moorad told Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune. That’s a significant boost for the Padres, who have operated on payrolls in the $38-45MM range since 2009.
“Our long-term goal is to operate at $70 million,” Moorad said. “When we get there, we’ll be properly balanced.”
Moorad also noted that his ownership group is not close to completing its purchase of the Padres from owner John Moores, though they hope to finalize the deal sooner rather than later. The Padres are looking forward to a new TV deal, since their current agreement expires after the season. However, Moorad says the Padres don’t expect to be major spenders on the free agent market.
“The team is going to be homegrown,” he said. “I’m consistent. We’re not going to be shifting our priorities from year [to year]. The plan won’t change.”
Moorad explained that he intends to break even every year, without pocketing profits or sustaining losses.
The Deadline For Signing Draft Picks
Here are the details behind next Monday's deadline for signing draft picks:
- The deadline is typically 11:59pm on August 15th. It gets pushed back during years that August 15th falls on a weekend.
- The deadline doesn't apply to college seniors and it doesn't apply to players drafted out of independent leagues or those who don't play college baseball again between two drafts.
Here's what happens to players who don't sign:
- High schoolers who enroll in a four-year college program after being drafted aren't eligible again until after their junior year of college or their 21st birthday. For example, Mark Prior wasn't available between 1998, when the Yankees drafted him, and 2001, when the Cubs did.
- Drafted players who go on to attend junior college are again eligible after their freshman and sophomore years.
- College juniors who don't sign are available in the next draft.
- Players can't be drafted by the same team twice in a row unless they give permission.
This post was originally published on June 10th, 2009. Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts.
Braves To Release Scott Proctor
The Braves will release Scott Proctor, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman (on Twitter). Chris Schiavone of WSB Radio broke the news earlier (on Twitter). The move will create roster space for Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta's number seven prospect before the season, according to Baseball America.
Proctor posted a 6.44 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 5.8 BB/9 in 29 1/3 innings for the Braves this year. The 34-year-old, who signed a minor league deal with Atlanta in April, has struggled since appearing in 83 games in consecutive seasons (2006-07).
The Braves recently promoted Vizcaino to Triple-A and moved him to the bullpen, where he struck out eight hitters without allowing a walk in seven innings. In 97 innings of work as a starter and reliever across three levels this year, the 20-year-old has a 3.06 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9.
Draft Notes: Mariners, D’Backs, Jays, Marlins, Tigers
We're less than a week away from the draft signing deadline, so here's the latest news on that front…
- The Mariners have signed third rounder Carter Capps according to Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times (on Twitter). Capps, a right-hander from Mount Olive, was taken with the compensation pick the Mariners received for failing to sign 2010 third rounder Ryne Stanek, and MLB's slot recommendation for the 121st overall pick is $243K.
- The Mariners have also signed 19th rounder Luke Guarnaccia, reports Baker (Twitter links). Baker notes that Seattle has not yet signed their first, second, third, or fifth round picks.
- MLBTR's Tim Dierkes reports (on Twitter) that the Diamondbacks and seventh rounder Ben Roberts are currently "miles apart" in negotiations. Roberts is a high school outfielder from the baseball hotbed known as Missoula, Montana.
- The Blue Jays have signed fourth rounder Tom Robson for $325K accoridng to ESPN's Keith Law (on Twitter). Baseball America's Jim Callis says he received a $325K bonus (on Twitter). Robson is a high school right-hander from British Columbia, and MLB's slot recommendation for the 139th pick is $189K.
- Aaron Fitt and Jim Callis of Baseball America report that the Marlins have agreed to terms with seventh rounder Ryan Rieger on a $200K bonus (Twitter links). Rieger, a first baseman, was committed to Long Beach State after attending the Junior College of the Sequoias.
- The Tigers announced on their Twitter feed that they have agreed to terms with second round pick James McCann. The catcher from the University of Arkansas was Detroit's top selection after they surrendered their first rounder to sign Victor Martinez. MLB's slot recommendation for the 76th overall pick is about $478K, but Baseball America's Jim Callis says he signed for approximately $558K (Twitter link).
- The Yankees have agreed to terms on a $157K bonus with 25th rounder Adam Smith reports Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA (on Twitter). Smith played third base and pitched at Texas A&M, and Rogers describes him as "hard-throwing, but raw." He will sign tomorrow.
- The Indians have signed 41st rounder Brian Ruiz, they announced in a press release. Ruiz is a hometown kid, a high school outfielder from Cleveland.
- The Nationals are not expected to sign 15th round pick Zach Houchins according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Houchins, a junior college shortstop from North Carolina, says the team has not contacted him since June, after he posted what were considered racist and homophobic remarks on Twitter.
Quick Hits: Astros, Bell, Tigers, Angels, Rays
On this date last year, the Brewers sent Jim Edmonds to the Reds. Tonight, Milwaukee starter Shaun Marcum will look to extend his club's division lead against Edwin Jackson and the Cardinals. Here's the latest from around MLB…
- Zachary Levine of The Houston Chronicle reports that the official transfer of ownership of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane is likely to take place on August 22nd if the other 29 owners approve the sale at next week's owners' meetings.
- Executives believe Wandy Rodriguez will clear waivers, but not Heath Bell, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). Neither player had been sent through waivers yet as of this morning.
- The Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies are in one tier and the rest of MLB is in another, Tom Verducci writes at SI.com.
- The Tigers’ deep rotation and strong attendance led to extensions for GM Dave Dombrowski, John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press writes.
- Yahoo's Tim Brown suggests Mike Scioscia deserves credit for keeping the light-hitting Angels in the race (they trail the Rangers by 1.5 games).
- It's unlikely that the Rays will make any moves this month, ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes.
