MacPhail Decides On Future With Orioles
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has reached a decision about his future with the team, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Two high-ranking Orioles officials told Nightengale that they expect MacPhail to walk away without pursuing an extension. Said MacPhail to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun: "You can get two sources to say the moon is made of green cheese." He told Nightengale, "Let's just get to the end of the year. And see what unfolds. We'll see. We'll see."
The Orioles have brought several GM candidates up internally, according to Nightengale. GM Brian Cashman, whose contract with the Yankees expires after the season, tops Baltimore’s list, according to Nightengale. Orioles manager Buck Showalter says he’s not interested in moving to the GM’s office, but he’s expected to have a role in the team's decision.
Giants Release Clayton Tanner
7:18pm: The Giants are in the process of re-signing Tanner, GM Brian Sabean told Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News (on Twitter).
3:26pm: The Giants released Clayton Tanner, according to the team's transactions page. They had designated the left-hander for assignment to create 40-man roster space for Eric Surkamp over the weekend.
Tanner, 23, has yet to appear in the Major Leagues. The 2006 third rounder has a 3.66 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 686 1/4 minor league innings. Most recently, he logged 119 2/3 innings of 4.29 ERA ball pitching out of the rotation for the Giants' Double-A Richmond affiliate.
Lance Berkman: “I’m Not Going To Get Moved”
Lance Berkman told reporters that he doesn't expect the Cardinals to trade him by tomorrow's deadline, MLB.com's Matthew Leach reports. Despite rumors that the Rangers could have interest, Berkman expects to finish the year in St. Louis.
“I’m not going to get moved,” he said. "I think the ship has sailed. I really do."
Berkman explained that he wants to stay put and believes that the Cardinals want to keep him. Since Berkman projects as a low Type-A free agent, the Cardinals could end up with two compensation picks in next year's draft if he declines an arbitration offer to sign elsewhere. As a result, GM John Mozeliak would likely require significant prospects in any deal.
The Rangers placed Nelson Cruz on the disabled list and expect to be without him for three weeks. However, GM Jon Daniels said he expects to rely on internal solutions and the Rangers have called up Leonys Martin to take Cruz's place on the roster. Texas remains interested in Berkman, according to Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.
The Cardinals have until tomorrow to weigh all offers for Berkman, who has cleared waivers. The 35-year-old has a .289/.405/.570 line with 30 homers.
GM Candidate: Bryan Minniti
MLBTR's list of general manager candidates introduced 20 people who were identified by their peers as potential Major League GMs. We’re bringing you closer to the candidates with a series of pieces. Today the series continues with Nationals assistant GM Bryan Minniti.
Though Bryan Minniti of the Nationals is one of the younger candidates on our list, the 31-year-old has been working in baseball for over a decade and has already served under four GMs.
Minniti started under former Pirates GM Cam Bonifay in Pittsburgh, where he worked full-time hours for part-time pay. By the time the Pirates had replaced Bonifay with Dave Littlefield and Littlefield with current GM Neal Huntington, Minniti had graduated from intern to director of baseball operations.
Then, after nine seasons with the Pirates, the University of Pittsburgh graduate (Mathematics & Statistics) headed to D.C. in 2009. Washington GM Mike Rizzo made Minniti assistant GM, a role that includes contract negotiations, arbitration preparation, budget work and roster decisions. His role does include procedural work and number crunching, but Minniti is a people person whose problem solving skills apply in diverse situations.
Rangers To Release Ryan Tucker
The Rangers will release Ryan Tucker to create 40-man roster space for Mark Hamburger, according to Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter). Tucker, 24, had not been on the Rangers' active roster before they made the move.
Tucker appeared in five games for the Rangers this year, but spent most of his season at Triple-A Round Rock. The right-hander posted a 5.40 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 68 1/3 innings at Triple-A before getting released. The Rangers claimed Tucker, a first round pick in 2005, off of waivers from the Marlins last October.
Chicago Notes: Guillen, Dunn, Aramis
The Cubs are vying for a prime pick in next year's draft, while the White Sox have won four in a row and sit five games back of the Tigers. The latest on Chicago's teams:
- The relationship between White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and GM Kenny Williams is "now beyond repair," a source tells Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Cowley's sources say the Sox are getting a feel for managerial candidates and are renewing talks with the Marlins about compensation for trading Guillen. Ozzie had plenty to say on the topic; be sure to check it out.
- Adam Dunn is having "perhaps the most inexplicably awful season" of the last 50 years, writes Dave Cameron of FanGraphs. The $56MM designated hitter is hitting .163/.290/.289 in 435 plate appearances. With reduced playing time, he may at least be spared the full remaining 67 plate appearances he'll need to qualify for the lowest batting average since Billy Sullivan hit .162 for the 1909 White Sox. Rob Deer's .179 mark in 1991 is the modern-day worst; Chuck Garfien of CSN Chicago spoke to Deer about that season.
- Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez doesn't know how his future will play out with the team, he told CSN Chicago's Patrick Mooney. Mooney's article counters the notion that Ramirez does not have a positive influence on young teammates Darwin Barney and Starlin Castro.
Morosi On Giants, Braves, Berkman
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports has been tweeting up a storm today…
- The Giants are among the most active teams on the trade market; Morosi says they're seeking bullpen help and maybe a bat. Nine relievers are known to have cleared waivers, while others such as Chad Qualls, Jamey Wright, Matt Capps, Todd Coffey, Mike MacDougal, Octavio Dotel, and Joe Nathan could be available in my estimation. More speculation from me: position player targets could include Jose Molina, Ryan Doumit, Melky Cabrera, Marlon Byrd, and Angel Pagan.
- The Braves seek bench help in advance of tomorrow's waiver trade deadline. They signed Wes Helms a few weeks ago.
- There's currently no momentum toward a trade between the Cardinals and Rangers for Lance Berkman, tweets Morosi. The Cardinals might require a return on par with the two draft picks they could receive if they offer arbitration to Berkman and he turns it down to sign elsewhere. Berkman cleared waivers, reported Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday.
Reverse Standings
The Astros have a firm hold on the top spot, while the Orioles, Royals, Twins, Mariners, and Cubs are battling for second place. Is this Bizarro World Baseball? No, it's MLBTR's reverse standings!
Currently, fans for about 60% of MLB clubs are thinking about next year. Our reverse standings are the perfect way to follow the action, as teams vie for the for the best draft picks in June of 2012 by losing the most games in 2011. The standings will be updated every morning through the end of the season, and even calculate tiebreakers by looking at last year's standings. You will always be able to find the link under MLBTR Features in the righthand sidebar.
Outrighted: Bruce Billings
The latest players outrighted to Triple-A…
- The Athletics announced they've outrighted righty reliever Bruce Billings to open a 40-man roster spot for reliever Neil Wagner. I first reported Wagner's impending call-up on Twitter on Monday. Billings was the player the A's acquired in the June 30th Mark Ellis deal. The A's also announced that Jerry Blevins cleared waivers and was optioned to Sacramento.
Orioles Designate Hendrickson For Assignment
The Orioles will designate lefty Mark Hendrickson for assignment to open a spot for Troy Patton, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The team has since confirmed the move. Patton had been on the restricted list as he attended a court hearing for an offseason DWI arrest.
Hendrickson, 37, spent most of the season at Triple-A but tossed 11 forgettable innings in the Majors.