West Notes: Murphy, D’Backs
The surging Diamondbacks are a hot topic these days. Here's more on the Snakes and an item of note about another ballclub residing in a west division.
- Rangers outfielder David Murphy could be a hot trade commodity, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. This season has been an historically weak one with respect to production out of left fielders, writes Sullivan, and Murphy, Texas' fourth outfielder, is a solid hitter and pretty cheap. I could see this, but Murphy struggles against lefties (.257/.299/.363 career line), and it couldn't hurt for the Rangers to keep him around as insurance for the often-injured Josh Hamilton.
- The D'Backs' success in 2011 can be chalked up to organizational stability, hard work, and a few shrewd offseason moves, writes Tracy Ringolsby of FOXSports.com. After its bullpen posted a 5.74 ERA and 24 blown saves in 2010, Arizona added J.J. Putz via free agency, David Hernandez via trade and Joe Paterson through the Rule 5 Draft, and the D'Backs are now 13-7 in one-run decisions, notes Ringolsby. Twelve players currently on the 25-man roster were brought on by GM Kevin Towers, who Ringolsby says isn't trying to reinvent the proverbial wheel.
Elias Rankings Update
After the season the Elias Sports Bureau will take all players over the 2010-11 period, divide them into five groups for each league, and rank them based on various statistics. Then each player will be labeled a Type A, B, or none. Those designations and the possible accompanying arbitration offers determine draft pick compensation (click here for a refresher).
Eddie Bajek has reverse-engineered the Elias rankings, and he's providing that information exclusively at MLB Trade Rumors. Here's a look at how the players rank for the period beginning with the 2010 season running through May 29th, 2011. The Google spreadsheet below has separate tabs for each position group. Please note that an error from our initial post has since been corrected.
Draft Notes: Cole, Hultzen, Bradley, Springer
The draft takes place one week from today; here’s the latest as teams prepare their draft boards for next Monday…
- ESPN.com’s Keith Law projects the Pirates to select UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole with the first overall pick, though he says they’re still seriously in on Virginia left-hander Danny Hultzen and high school outfielder Bubba Starling. It’s too early to rule out Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon either.
- The D’Backs could take Hultzen, UCLA right-hander Trevor Bauer or high schooler Dylan Bundy third overall, according to Law.
- It looks like the Orioles will take an arm fourth overall; they have Bundy, high schooler Archie Bradley and Cole in their sights.
- If Bauer falls to the Indians, they’ll take him, according to Law.
- The Cubs “sent a small army” to watch outfielder George Springer at the Big East tournament.
- The Padres are interested in UConn right-hander Matt Barnes and Vanderbilt right-hander Sonny Gray.
- The top three players on one team’s draft board are advised by agent Scott Boras, according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
- Rendon's stock is down a bit because of a dip in production and injury concerns, writes Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, but Rendon's coach at Rice, Wayne Graham, expects the third baseman to go within the top two picks.
- The Giants shouldn't (and won't) alter their draft strategy in response to Buster Posey's season-ending injury, writes Jim Callis of Baseball America in a mailbag.
NL East Notes: Pudge, Einhorn
Here are a couple items of note out of the NL East as the Mets kick off their series against the Pirates without the services of Jose Reyes, who was added to the bereavement list Monday.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said he's not actively shopping Ivan Rodriguez and that the catcher won't be dealt for a "pittance," writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Pudge's name surfaced in rumors last week in the wake of Giants backstop Buster Posey's season-ending injury.
- Mets soon-to-be part-owner David Einhorn spoke to reporters Monday, and Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com has the highlights.
- The purchase of Einhorn's stake of in the Mets should be finalized "within weeks, and certainly by the end of June," writes Rubin.
- Einhorn thinks the agreement is fair for both him and the Wilpons.
- No assurances were issued by Einhorn as to whether the state of the Mets' finances would improve in the coming years: It'll be what it'll be. It's not that people aren't going to try really hard to avoid that sort of a circumstance, but the future is uncertain. And there is a wide range of possible outcomes of all sorts of things. That's true in life in general. And it's true in this circumstance as well.
Quick Hits: Reyes, Webb, Posey
Babe Ruth played his last MLB game on this date in 1935. The slugger played one inning against the Phillies and grounded out in his final at bat. Here's the boxscore from that game and here are today's links. Happy Memorial Day!
- Ever since Mets owner Fred Wilpon publicly questioned Jose Reyes' earning power, the shortstop is producing even more than usual, David Lennon writes at Newsday. Reyes leads the National League in hits, doubles, triples and stolen bases, though he'll be on the bereavement list for three to seven days (Twitter link).
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney wonders if Brandon Webb, who is now rehabbing, could be a fit for the Reds later this season.
- Dave Groeschner, a trainer for injured Giants catcher Buster Posey, told John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle that Posey is done for the season, but should be ready for the 2012 season opener.
Update On This Year’s Rule 5 Picks
Many Rule 5 picks ultimately return to their original organizations, as it's not easy to keep inexperienced players in the Major Leagues all season long. Nine of the 19 players selected in the Major League phase of last offseason's Rule 5 draft are back where they started and only five remain on active MLB rosters. Here’s another update on the draftees, two months into the season:
On Active Rosters (5)
- Pedro Beato of the Mets has a 2.38 ERA with a 13K/6BB ratio in 22 2/3 innings of relief. The 24-year-old right-hander is one of the most impressive selections of the draft.
- Aneury Rodriguez of the Astros has transitioned to the rotation, where he is holding his own. The right-hander has turned in three solid starts this month and has a 4.98 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 through 34 1/3 total innings this year.
- Like Rodriguez, Nathan Adcock of the Royals has transitioned to the rotation this month. He allowed seven runs in an ugly outing Friday, but his season numbers remain solid. The 23-year-old has a 4.07 ERA with 4.8 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 24 1/3 innings.
- D'Backs manager Kirk Gibson has used Joe Paterson strategically in his 22 appearances; 36 of the 49 batters who have faced the the southpaw have been left-handed. The results are good: one earned runs and 11 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings with 7 hits and 5 walks allowed.
- Phillies utility player Michael Martinez is not hitting (.184/.212/.204 line through 53 plate appearances), but he has filled in at up-the-middle positions for the Phillies, playing short, second and center field.
Traded (3)
The Mets returned Brad Emaus to the Blue Jays, who traded the infielder to Colorado. Rule 5 restrictions no longer apply to Emaus, so the Rockies don't have to worry about losing him. The Twins retained Scott Diamond in a trade with the Braves and he has posted a 5.40 ERA with a 33K/18BB ratio in nine Triple-A starts. The Red Sox sent Daniel Turpen to the Rockies.
Injured (2)
Elvin Ramirez (Nationals) and Mason Tobin (Rangers) have been on the 60-day DL for over a month. 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 (9)
Brian Broderick, Josh Rodriguez, Jose Flores, Adrian Rosario, Pat Egan, Lance Pendleton, George Kontos, Robert Fish and Cesar Cabral are back with their original organizations.
White Sox Designate McPherson For Assignment
The White Sox announced that they designated infielder Dallas McPherson for assignment. In related moves, Chicago optioned Lucas Harrell to Triple-A and called up right-handers Brian Bruney and Jeff Marquez.
McPherson appeared in 11 games with the White Sox and collected a pair of singles in his 15 plate appearances. The 30-year-old had a .305/.366/.458 line in Triple-A Charlotte before getting the call to the Majors. Putting up gaudy minor league numbers is nothing new for the former top prospect. McPherson, Baseball America's #12 prospect entering the 2005 season, has 175 homers and a .953 OPS in the minors, though he hasn't matched that production in parts of five Major League seasons.
What Declining DH Production Means For David Ortiz
David Ortiz has done this before. The 35-year-old designated hitter has a .300/.371/.547 line after yesterday's pinch-hit home run and has a shot at reaching 30 homers and 100 RBI for the seventh time in his nine years with Boston.
Other DHs aren’t hitting nearly as much this year. Offense is down in general and DHs have contributed to the dropoff with a pedestrian .261/.338/.405 line (that's not counting National League DHs, who have just a .195/.256/.346 line). Designated hitters have combined for their lowest OPS of the 2000s, a Nick Punto-esque .743.
Ortiz, who repeatedly expressed interest in a multiyear commitment from the Red Sox last offseason, is earning $12MM this year and will hit free agency after the season. His numbers don’t compare to the ones he posted five or six years ago, but they seem especially strong when compared with those of other DHs on the brink of free agency.
Jack Cust has a single home run and a .325 slugging percentage; Hideki Matsui has three homers and a .346 slugging percentage; Jorge Posada has a .174/.292/.348 line and is one of the oldest players in the league; Jim Thome is even older than Posada and has spent time on the DL, though he has a respectable .792 OPS.
A few DHs are playing reasonably well this year. Jason Kubel has a solid .305/.350/.457 line with five homers; Johnny Damon has a .273/.315/.432 line with seven homers and Vladimir Guerrero has five homers with a .300/.325/.419 line. But Ortiz’s power numbers are far better; his 11 homers and .547 slugging percentage lead all DHs.
There’s a definite limit to how far Big Papi's 2011 success can carry him, since he turns 36 in November and only the 14 American League teams could work him into the lineup every day. Even if Ortiz continues hitting this well, it’s hard to imagine any team offering more than two guaranteed years.
But the season couldn’t be going much better for Ortiz, who has avoided his usual early-season slump and appears on track for another productive season. Meanwhile, DHs around the league are producing poorly and helping Ortiz’s chances of obtaining multiyear security in the process.
Cubs Designate Jeff Stevens For Assignment
The Cubs designated Jeff Stevens for assignment to create 40-man roster space for infielder D.J. LeMahieu, the team announced. To create 25-man roster space for LeMahieu, the Cubs placed Jeff Baker on the 15-day disabled list.
Stevens has a 9.64 ERA with a 6K/10BB ratio in 14 innings at Triple-A this year. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 6.27 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 6.0 BB/9 in 37 1/3 innings out of the Cubs' pen over the course of three seasons. Despite his recent struggles, he has averaged more than one strikeout per inning and posted a 3.48 ERA against minor league hitters in his career.
LeMahieu, who has never appeared in the Major Leagues, is in uniform for today's game. The former second round pick is the first member of the Cubs' 2009 draft class to reach the big leagues and he arrives with a .325/.360/.408 line in 984 minor league plate appearances, none of them above Double-A.
Jose Valverde’s 2012 Option
Just about anything could happen between Memorial Day and the beginning of November, when the Tigers have to decide whether to exercise their $9MM option for Jose Valverde. Injuries, trades and the performance of other Detroit relievers could affect the Tigers’ willingness to commit to another year of Valverde, so consider this an early and imprecise look at the closer’s option.
What’s unlikely to change for the 33-year-old is his profile as a hard-throwing right-hander who strikes lots of people out, allows more than his share of walks and works in and out of jams for saves. Since becoming Arizona’s full-time closer in 2007, that’s essentially what Valverde has offered and it doesn’t figure to change in the next five months.
So far in 2011, Valverde has a 3.52 ERA (3.53 xFIP) with 12 saves, 9.0 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9. His fastball has averaged 94 mph and he has a 41.3 % ground ball rate through 23 frames.
Those are respectable numbers, but they’re not enough to command $30MM-plus on the open market, as Rafael Soriano and Mariano Rivera did last offseason. Valverde compares better with the likes of Kevin Gregg, Bobby Jenks and J.J. Putz, who signed two-year deals in the $10-12MM range last year.
Those contracts are worth $5-6MM per season, which makes $9MM seem like a lot for one year of Valverde (unlike most club options this one has no buyout). Plus, there will be even more selection than usual for teams seeking relief this winter, because there’s a deep class of free agent relievers.
Yet it seems unlikely that the Tigers will shy away from Valverde’s option if they believe he’s the best option for them. GM Dave Dombrowski, who’s in a contract year of his own, has shown that he’s willing to move quickly to secure the players he wants, even if it means spending aggressively.
Last offseason, for example, he signed Joaquin Benoit in mid-November instead of waiting for bargains. That particular deal hasn’t worked out to this point, but it shows that Dombrowski tends to pursue the players he wants, instead of waiting the market out for bargains (Dombrowski also locked Jhonny Peralta, Brandon Inge and Victor Martinez by Thanksgiving).
There’s no question that $9MM is on the steep side for one season of relief pitching. Plus, the Tigers could potentially obtain draft picks by turning down the option, offering arbitration and allowing Valverde to sign elsewhere. For a team that has given up its share of high draft picks in recent years, collecting an extra pick or two would likely have appeal.
As a result, the Tigers don’t figure to keep Valverde around for $9MM unless they’re convinced in his ability to perform at an elite level in 2012. But if the Tigers decide he’s the person they want in high-leverage situations next year, it's hard to imagine that an inflated salary would prevent them from keeping their closer for another season.
Photo courtesy Icon SMI.