Archives for November 2, 2011

D’Backs To Sign McDonald To Two-Year Deal

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 2, 2011 at 6:34pm CDT

The Diamondbacks announced that they've agreed to terms with defensive specialist John McDonald on a two-year deal. Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com says the deal is worth $1.5MM per season (on Twitter). McDonald provides the Diamondbacks with insurance for Stephen Drew, who missed much of 2011 with a fractured ankle.

McDonald joined the D'Backs along with Aaron Hill in the August trade that sent Kelly Johnson to Toronto. The 37-year-old didn't do much at the plate this past season, hitting .229/.269/.308, but he's known as a defensively skilled player at second, short and third. SFX represents McDonald, as our Agency Database shows.

A’s Designate Trystan Magnuson For Assignment

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 2, 2011 at 5:55pm CDT

The A's announced that they designated right-hander Trystan Magnuson for assignment. In corresponding moves, the A's reinstated left-handers Brett Anderson and Dallas Braden, right-handers Joey Devine and Evan Scribner and infielder Daric Barton from the 60-day DL.

Magnuson made his MLB debut in 2011, posting a 6.14 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 14 2/3 innings with Oakland. The 26-year-old also posted a 2.98 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 45 1/3 innings at Triple-A. He didn't pitch in a game after the A's placed him on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis in mid-August.

Outrighted: Crowe, Rangers, Rodriguez, Braves

By Tim Dierkes | November 2, 2011 at 4:33pm CDT

The latest players to be outrighted off 40-man rosters:

The Indians outrighted Trevor Crowe off of their 40-man roster, according to the team. Crowe, who appeared in 15 games for the Indians in 2011, cannot elect free agency
The Rangers outrighted pitchers Omar Beltre, Merkin Valdez and Eric Hurley and infielders Andres Blanco and Esteban German off of the 40-man roster, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Blanco, who would have been arbitration eligible, projected to earn $500K through arbitration. He posted a .605 OPS in 82 plate appearances as a utility player and was the only one of the outrighted players to pick up significant playing time in 2011.
The Mariners outrighted infielder Luis Rodriguez, tweets Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. I named Rodriguez and David Aardsma as the Mariners' primary non-tender candidates back in September, and now both are off the 40-man roster, which stands at 36. Rodriguez has elected free agency, reports MLB.com's Greg Johns.
The Braves outrighted catcher J.C. Boscan, reliever Stephen Marek, outfielder Wilkin Ramirez, and outfielder Antoan Richardson to Triple-A Gwinnett, tweets MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Meanwhile, starter Todd Redmond's contract was selected. Marek had Tommy John surgery in May; he was obtained from the Angels with Casey Kotchman for Mark Teixeira at the '08 trade deadline. I thought at the time that the Braves' return topped the value of a couple of draft picks. That hasn't been true if you look at who the Angels took with their two Teixeira picks: top prospect Mike Trout and lefty Tyler Skaggs, a main component in the Dan Haren trade.

Nationals, Wang Nearing Deal

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 2, 2011 at 4:17pm CDT

The Nationals are nearing a new contract with Chien-Ming Wang, according to Amanda Comak of the Washington Times. Agent Alan Nero doesn't expect a deal by the time free agency begins tonight, but the sides have agreed to terms "conceptually."

Wang's agent, Alan Nero, told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that the right-hander drew interest from six teams. The 31-year-old made 11 starts in 2011 after missing the 2010 campaign. He posted a 4.04 ERA with 3.6 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 62 1/3 innings for Washington this past season. Wang's 53.4% ground ball rate was in line with his career mark of 57.5% and was likely a factor in teams' interest. MLB.com's Bill Ladson also reported on the deal.

Cubs Notes: Hoyer, Epstein, Ramirez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 2, 2011 at 3:42pm CDT

The Cubs will have a new manager in 2012, but it won't be Ryne Sandberg. Here are some links for Wednesday, as Cubs fans imagine their longtime second baseman in a Cardinals uniform…

The Cubs aren't focused on former Red Sox skipper Terry Francona and aren't likely to pursue a current manager, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein reached out to Sandberg to explain why he's not being considered for the managerial job, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
GM Jed Hoyer suggested the Cubs will spend some time rebuilding their pitching staff, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Long before he was a Major League GM, Hoyer was a skilled fantasy baseball player, according to the Sun-Times. Hoyer excelled in fantasy leagues as a youngster, even against adult professionals. For fantasy news on relief pitchers, check out CloserNews.com.
On a related note, Hoyer says he expects Carlos Marmol to close next year, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.
Epstein, Hoyer and the rest of the front office are a team, but the GM remains impressed by Epstein's ability. "When he turns it on, it's pretty clear he has a gear the rest of us don't have," Hoyer said, according to Sullivan.
Former Cubs GM Jim Hendry graciously said the team hit a "home run" by hiring Epstein, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. "Tom Ricketts did the city of Chicago and the Cubs organization a great service by hiring Theo," Hendry said. The former GM hasn't ruled out returning to the game, but he's enjoying some time off for now. Hoyer said he's looking forward to reaching out to Hendry, according to Sullivan.
The Cubs don't have to pay Aramis Ramirez's $2MM buyout, since he declined his side of his contract option for 2012, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.

Blanco Declines Option, Hits Free Agency

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 2, 2011 at 2:30pm CDT

Henry Blanco declined his side of a $1.15MM mutual option with the Diamondbacks and is now a free agent, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN). Arizona had exercised its side of the option on Monday.

In 112 plate appearances in 2011, the 40-year-old Blanco posted a .250/.330/.540 line with eight home runs. His teammate, Willie Bloomquist, also declined his side of a mutual option with the Diamondbacks this week.

Cardinals To Interview Ryne Sandberg

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 2, 2011 at 2:22pm CDT

The Cardinals have asked the Phillies for permission to interview Triple-A manager Ryne Sandberg for their managerial opening, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Phillies have granted the Cardinals permission to speak with the Hall of Famer, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (on Twitter).

The Cubs, Sandberg's former team, are also looking for a new manager, but they want a candidate with big league coaching or managing experience, which appears to rule Sandberg out. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa retired this week, kicking off St. Louis' managerial search.

The Cardinals have had Hall of Fame-caliber managers in the dugout for the past 31 seasons. Whitey Herzog has a plaque in Cooperstown and Joe Torre and La Russa, the Cardinals' only other full-time managers since 1980, are strong candidates to be inducted into the Hall of Fame themselves. Sandberg, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2005, would continue the Cardinals' tradition of high-profile managers.

Cubs Will Have New Manager For 2012

By Tim Dierkes | November 2, 2011 at 1:38pm CDT

The Cubs announced Mike Quade will not return as their manager in 2012, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. New Cubs president Theo Epstein said the following in a statement:

"The managerial search process begins immediately. We are looking for someone with whom and around whom we can build a foundation for sustained success. The next manager must have leadership and communication skills; he must place an emphasis on preparation and accountability; he must establish high standards and a winning culture; he must have integrity and an open mind; and he must have managerial or coaching experience at the major league level. I want to thank Mike for his nine years of excellent service to the Cubs, and we certainly wish him well in the future."

The statement seems to rule out Ryne Sandberg as a candidate for the next Cubs' manager. The Cubs are expected to talk to Dale Sveum, tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Sveum interviewed for the Red Sox manager job today.

Orioles Claim Darren O’Day

By Tim Dierkes | November 2, 2011 at 1:02pm CDT

The Orioles claimed righty reliever Darren O'Day off waivers from the Rangers, the team announced.

O'Day, 29, struggled with the longball in 16 2/3 big league innings for Texas this year. The sidearmer tossed another 21 1/3 innings in the minors, mostly at Triple-A. O'Day will be arbitration eligible for the second time after the season, and we project a very small raise to $1.3MM.

O'Day joined the Rangers via an April 2009 waiver claim from the Mets. From that point through the end of the 2010 season, he provided the Rangers a 1.99 ERA, 7.6 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 0.61 HR/9 in 117 2/3 innings. Over the course of his career, he hasn't shown the typical lefty/righty splits of a sidearm pitcher.

The Orioles' 40-man roster now stands at 38, as Jake Arrieta, Brian Roberts, and Luke Scott were activated from the 60-day DL.

Free Agent And Trade Market For Right Fielders

By Tim Dierkes | November 2, 2011 at 12:10pm CDT

The Red Sox, Twins, Athletics, Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals, Rockies, Padres, and Giants could explore the market for right fielders this year, which mostly consists of a variety of free agents.

Starting Right Fielders Available In Free Agency

Three potential right fielders who will land starting jobs are Carlos Beltran, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel. Beltran is a middle-of-the-order bat, but he'll be 35 in April and missed much of 2009-10 with knee issues. Signing him will not involve the loss of a draft pick, but it may take three years and a salary of at least $13MM. Cuddyer can't match Beltran's bat, but he is younger, more versatile, and presumably cheaper. Signing him probably will require the loss of a draft pick though. Kubel is a similar hitter to Cuddyer aside from handedness, but Kubel's outfield defense is a minus.

Four more free agents may be vying for a role that sits between starter and reserve: David DeJesus, Magglio Ordonez, J.D. Drew, and Kosuke Fukudome. DeJesus, 32 in December, brings defensive value and seems the best bet. Fukudome doesn't have the power desired of a corner outfielder, while Ordonez and Drew bring significant health risk and may be limited to AL teams.

Thinking Outside The Box

Brad Hawpe, Ryan Ludwick, Josh Willingham, and Cody Ross played little or no right field this year, but they've done so in their careers. Grady Sizemore has never played right field as a pro. Agent Joe Urbon says Sizemore prefers center but will consider corner outfield opportunities. After missing significant time due to injury the last few years, Sizemore will be a wild card on an incentive-laden deal.

Quality Backups

Reed Johnson is likely to secure a Major League deal, while Scott Hairston, Mark Kotsay, and Corey Patterson have a shot.

Non-Tender Candidates

The Rockies could non-tender Ryan Spilborghs, who was productive in 2010. Garrett Jones probably won't be non-tendered, but the Pirates could move him if they don't consider him worth $2.4MM or so. Former top prospect Jeremy Hermida could be cut by the Padres; he hit .319/.400/.524 in Triple-A this year.

Other Trade Candidates

Carlos Quentin's name is often bandied about in trade rumors as he enters his final year of team control, but there's no guarantee the White Sox will move him. The Rockies' Seth Smith could be dealt if the team signs someone like Cuddyer.

Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti isn't inclined to trade Andre Ethier, he told ESPN's Jim Bowden in October.

Check out our full free agent list, as well as our articles on the markets at catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, and center field.

« Previous Page

Load More Posts

Headlines

Archives for November 2, 2011

Navigation

MLBTR INFO

Connect