Here's the latest from the AL West…
- The Rangers may be trying to trade Koji Uehara to clear payroll space for not necessarily Roy Oswalt, but rather a left-handed reliever like Mike Gonzalez, tweets FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. We heard last month that Texas was interested in Gonzalez. Both Uehara and Gonzalez were acquired by Texas in separate trades with the Orioles last summer, but while Gonzalez pitched for the Rangers throughout their playoff run, Uehara struggled in the ALDS and ALCS and was left off the World Series roster. Uehara, who has a limited no-trade clause, already rejected one deal that would've sent him to the Blue Jays.
- MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez looks at various scenarios facing the Angels surrounding Mark Trumbo's ability to play third base and Kendrys Morales' health.
- The Mariners have two players on their 40-man roster who are out of options: Mike Carp and Cesar Jimenez. As MLB.com's Greg Johns explains, Luis Rodriguez is also out of options but, as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, he isn't on Seattle's 40-man roster.
- Also from Johns' mailbag piece, he doesn't think the Mariners need to sign a veteran DH like Johnny Damon or Vladimir Guerrero, arguing that the playing time is better served for young players like Carp, Jesus Montero and Casper Wells.
- The Mariners inquired about Yankees prospect Mason Williams during the Michael Pineda trade talks, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Williams, a 20-year-old center fielder, enjoyed a breakout campaign at low Class-A Staten Island last season, hitting .349/.395/.468 in just his second year of pro ball. Heyman is "hearing raves" about Williams' potential.
The Rangers claimed to have enough money for Fielder and now they can’t afford Mike “The Rattler” Gonzalez? What?
I believe they said they are operating at a loss until their new TV deal kicks in. I don’t think Fielder to the Rangers was ever much more than media speculation.
When a player’s agent is Scott Boras…there’s no telling if you have the money for him or not.
I always called him “shaky”, but “The Rattler” is pretty funny and fitting also for his mound setup.
He can be a devastating setup guy though and actually could be worthwhile for a team like Texas with a good 1-4 already. It does make some sense for them if you think about it.
The Mariners should keep playing Casper Wells, he seems like a pretty cool dude.
His coolness should be a factor in his playing time? Is that the new saber metric stat I’ve been searching for? Henry Winkler must have given up what would have been a hall-of-fame career.
The attractiveness of a player factors in. You think 2009 Guti was valuable because of his defense? Please. He is a CutieGuti. Carp and Wells on the otherhand. Straight grenade platoon.
I’ve never seen that stat either. Just because Moneyball says a players attractiveness factors in doesn’t mean it’s true. See Randy Johnson. See Alexi Ogando. See Otis Nixon.
don’t forget Marquis Grissom
I almost choked on my dinner after reading “CutieGuti”. Nicely done.
Batman Pajamas!!!
Does anyone else need further proof of how cool Casper Wells is?
My God, his coolness just shot up tenfold.
Unknown fact: Cesar Jimenez is actually a right hander.
Another fact: Mike Carp hates carps and carpets.
Proof?
I thought you were gonna prove the Carp hates carpets part, what a disappointment.
Isn’t Carp the starting LF, and Jimenez a end of the bullpen guy? If someone needs to go this seems like a no-brainer to me.
Of course. You can never have enough bullpen arms :)
Of course Heyman is hearing raves. The New York media historically overrates Yankees prospects, and the front office and organization would never speak ill of their own property.
Good job Heyman, but you can’t fool me.
Gammons is the patron saint of overrating prospects.
So the Yankees can’t develop prospects at all according to your statement, because if you hear one good thing about them it means that they’re being overrated? seriously you can say let us see him repeat that production which is fair, but to instantly say overrated is just not fair. Anyway it says that the M’s brought his name up which also means they liked what they saw, if the Yankees brought his name up saying Willie Mays looks like Coco Crisp compared to this guys potential then you can say he is overrated
you do know that some talents the yankees traded away during the recent years are doing well with their new teams
But can he play Classical Gas??
I’d really like to see the Rangers dump Uehara and pick up Gonzalez. They really need a lefty and he’s pretty good.
Really hope Morales gets 110% healthy and when he comes back gives the Angels MVP type numbers again..Would be awesome to see Pujols,Morales hit back to back! LETS GO HALOS!