Mets Open To K-Rod Deal; Yankees “Marginally Interested”
The "door is wide open" for a team to acquire Francisco Rodriguez as the Mets are shopping the reliever, a Yankees source tells Bob Klapisch of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The Yankees themselves "are only marginally interested" in Rodriguez, however, since Rafael Soriano is tentatively scheduled to return from the DL after the All-Star Break.
Rodriguez specifically cited the Yankees and Rays as two of the "good teams" he would consider waiving his no-trade clause to join, but the right-hander has been adamant that he would prefer to remain a Met.
Rodriguez's $17.5MM option for 2012 will vest if he finishes 55 games this year and gets a clean bill of health from doctors once the season is over. He is on pace to pass that 55-game plateau (Rodriguez has finished 31 games thus far) but obviously wouldn't get a chance to close with the Yankees unless Mariano Rivera suffered an injury. While the Yankees probably wouldn't have to worry about the vesting option, Rodriguez is still owed roughly $5.7MM in salary this year and even the Yankees don't want to spend that much more on late-game relief when they're already paying Rivera and Soriano a combined $25MM.
Quick Hits: Harper, Knapp, Wilson, Brewers
The Nationals are promoting Bryce Harper to Double-A in time for tonight’s game. The 18-year-old, who was the first overall selection in last year's draft, had a .318/.423/.554 line with 14 homers and 19 steals at Class A. Here are some fourth of July links in anticipation of Harper’s Double-A debut…
- Trade talk is picking up, but some teams believe there’s a lack of difference makers available on the trade market, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. The few trade candidates who could make a difference in the pennant race are going to be difficult to obtain, Olney writes.
- Former Tigers pitching coach Rick Knapp tells John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press that three general managers called him to discuss possible jobs. The Tigers fired Knapp yesterday.
- Jamey Newberg hopes C.J. Wilson feels like a winner in Texas so that he re-signs with the Rangers this offseason, when he becomes a free agent.
- Casey McGehee already has two hits today, but he has just a .226/.276/.313 line this season. Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he doesn't plan to demote the third baseman to the minors (Twitter link).
Update On This Year’s Rule 5 Picks
Many Rule 5 picks ultimately return to their original organizations, because it's not easy to keep inexperienced players in the Major Leagues all season long. Only five of the 19 players selected in the Major League phase of last offseason's Rule 5 draft remain on active MLB rosters midway through the season. Here’s another update on the draftees:
On Active Rosters (5)
- Pedro Beato of the Mets may be the most impressive Rule 5 pick of 2011. The former first rounder has a 3.52 ERA with 5.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and a 53.6% ground ball rate in 38 1/3 innings of relief for the Mets.
- Aneury Rodriguez of the Astros has a 5.43 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 58 innings for the Astros. The 23-year-old right-hander recently returned to the bullpen after a stint in Houston's rotation.
- Nathan Adcock of the Royals hasn't had a scoreless outing since May 21st, but that's largely because manager Ned Yost barely used the right-hander in June. Adcock appeared in just three games last month and has a 4.91 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 36 2/3 innings into his big league career.
- Joe Paterson of the D'Backs has succeeded as a lefty specialist (53 plate appearances vs. left-handed hitters, 28 plate appearances vs. right-handed hitters). He has a 2.89 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 18 2/3 innings this year.
- Michael Martinez of the Phillies hasn't hit, but he has played left field, center field, second base and shortstop. He has a .188/.221/.234 line in 70 plate appearances off of the bench.
Traded (4)
The Mets returned Brad Emaus to the Blue Jays, who traded the infielder to Colorado; the Twins retained Scott Diamond in a trade with the Braves; the Red Sox sent Daniel Turpen to the Rockies; the Indians recently sent Josh Rodriguez to the Pirates. Rule 5 restrictions no longer apply to these four players.
Injured (2)
Elvin Ramirez (Nationals) and Mason Tobin (Rangers) have been on the 60-day DL for over two months. They have to spend 90 non-September days on the active roster to become official property of their new teams. Otherwise, their Rule 5 status carries forward until the players spend 90 non-September days on the active roster.
Back Where They Started (8)
Brian Broderick, Jose Flores, Adrian Rosario, Pat Egan, Lance Pendleton, George Kontos, Robert Fish and Cesar Cabral are back with their original organizations.
Brewers Among Clubs With Interest In Padres’ Arms
The Brewers are among the teams that have contacted the Padres about their relievers, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Yankees, Rangers, Phillies and Cardinals have also contacted San Diego about possible trades for relievers.
Though the Padres haven’t begun exchanging offers for players like Heath Bell and Mike Adams, discussions will likely intensify at the All-Star Break. The Yankees will likely pursue relievers aggressively, but Adams will only be available for an “extraordinary” offer, according to Rosenthal and Morosi. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported last week that the Yankees prefer Adams, who is a free agent after 2012, to Bell, who hits the open market this offseason.
Tale Of The Tape: Jose Reyes & Carl Crawford
Fred Wilpon has made it clear that he doesn’t think Jose Reyes is worth $142MM. But there are 29 other owners in baseball and some of them might be happy to offer Reyes the Carl Crawford-esque contract that Wilpon believes his shortstop wants.
“He’s had everything wrong with him,” Wilpon told the New Yorker in April. “He won’t get it."
Wilpon has a point. Reyes, who is now sidelined with an apparently minor hamstring issue, has had a variety of injuries over the years. He missed time with a thyroid problem last year, tore his hamstring in 2009 and hit the disabled list with ankle, fibula and hamstring problems earlier in his career, in ’03-’04.
Yet Reyes remains on a pace to surpass 150 games played for the fifth time in seven years and his numbers are impressive despite the time he has missed. As the table below shows, Reyes’ career numbers are strikingly similar to the ones Crawford had when he hit free agency last offseason and Reyes could have a more impressive walk year in 2011 than the one Crawford had a year ago.
Reyes is just 28, a year younger than Crawford was when he hit free agency. Quality shortstops are harder to find than quality left fielders, which provides Reyes with additional leverage. However, Crawford has more home run power, fewer injury issues and, as a result of his health, higher career totals in most counting stats.
Is $142MM too much of a commitment for a player who has struggled to stay on the field? Possibly, but since Crawford signed for that much, Reyes' representatives at Peter Greenberg Sports will presumably argue that their client deserves a similar or superior deal. After all, Reyes is younger, plays a more challenging position and has similarly impressive statistics. There seems to be a good chance that some team will prove Wilpon wrong this offseason and, ironically, it might even be the Mets.
Photo courtesy Icon SMI.
Mets Sign Miguel Batista
The Mets signed Miguel Batista to a minor league deal, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Cardinals released the right-hander late last month.
Batista pitched 29 1/3 innings for the Cardinals this year, posting a 4.60 ERA with more walks (19) than strikeouts (16). The 40-year-old's ground ball rate dropped from his usual 50% figure to 36.8% this year, but his average fastball velocity remains respectable. Even after 17 seasons in the majors, the righty averages 92.6 mph.
Yankees Sign Miguel Andujar
The Yankees signed Dominican third baseman Miguel Andujar, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 16-year-old obtains a $700K bonus.
Andujar plays in the Dominican Prospect League and has lots of international experience, according to Badler's subscriber-only scouting report. The right-handed hitter has a good swing, good bat speed and a good approach. He has the potential to hit for average and power and can handle third base.
Red Sox Sign Manuel Marcos
The Red Sox signed Dominican outfielder Manuel Marcos, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 16-year old obtained an $800K bonus.
Marcos is one of the best athletes in Latin America, according to Badler's subscriber-only scouting report. The wiry, athletic prospect has a fantastic arm, good instincts and exceptional speed. He gets good reads, makes flashy catches and shows occasional power at the plate. The Yankees were also interested.
Astros Sign Luis Reynoso
The Astros have signed Dominican shortstop Luis Reynoso, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 16-year-old received a $700K signing bonus.
Badler's subscriber-only scouting report says Reynoso "has an athletic, projectable body and combines solid tools with instincts and feel on both sides of the ball." He's a contact-oriented hitter with speed from the right side, and it's expected that he'll be able to man the middle infield long-term.
Blue Jays Sign Dawel Lugo
The Blue Jays have signed Dominican shortstop Dawel Lugo, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 16-year-old recieved a $1.3M signing bonus, the largest bonus given to a Latin American infielder this year.
Badler's subscriber-only scouting report describes Lugo as having "a solid swing, good bat speed and makes consistent contact with natural loft, showing the potential for plus power down the road." Some expect him to move off short down the line, likely to third base.