Central Links: Damon, Cubs, Phillips
Congratulations to White Sox starter Philip Humber, who threw MLB's 21st perfect game this afternoon against the Mariners in Seattle. Humber took the path less traveled to immortality, as MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith tweets. … On with a few items of note out of MLB's Central divisions:
- The Indians will likely call up outfielder/DH Johnny Damon by May 1, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, as Damon's recently signed contract stipulates that he be brought up by then or released. Damon is currently getting at-bats in the minor leagues after signing with Cleveland earlier this week.
- The Cubs' decision to trade Marlon Byrd doesn't necessarily signal an organizational decision to immediately call up young players such as Brett Jackson and Anthony Rizzo, writes Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. Those players will be called up when the team thinks they're ready to play in the Majors — irrespective of service-time considerations — Levine adds.
- Cubs scout Kyle Phillips, formerly a catcher who had cups of coffee with the Blue Jays and Padres, would like to return to playing in 2013, tweets Corey Brock of MLB.com. Phillips, 28, entered Spring Training camp with Toronto this year, but his contract was voided due to an injury, at which point he was hired by Cubs GM Jed Hoyer as a scout.
Diamondbacks Acquire Josh Bell From O’s
The Diamondbacks have acquired infielder Josh Bell from the Orioles, a source tells Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), and Arizona announced that Baltimore will receive a player to be named. The Orioles designated Bell for assignment earlier in the week.
Baltimore acquired Bell, 25, from the Dodgers shortly before the non-waiver trade deadline in 2009, in the deal that sent left-handed reliever George Sherrill to Los Angeles. Bell was a well-regarded prospect then but played poorly in two stints with the O's in 2010 and '11, hitting .200/.221/.264 in 226 Major League plate appearances.
Arizona was one of four teams interested in acquiring the 2005 fourth-round draft pick, according to Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com, who adds that the Dodgers were in the mix, as well (Twitter links). Bell will be assigned to Triple-A Reno, Ghiroli writes.
Olney On Phillies, Hamels, Athletics, Colon
The latest from Buster Olney of ESPN.com..
- There's still no conversation between the Phillies and left-hander Cole Hamels on a new contract, Olney tweets. A high profile agent who doesn't know Hamels told Olney (Twitter link) that between the Cubs, Dodgers, and other major players, the lefty will get a six-year offer as free agent. Other agents presume that at some point this season Hamels will be so close to free agency that he'll test the market rather than sign with the Phillies, tweets Olney.
- In today's column (Insider sub. req'd), Olney suggests that A's pitcher Bartolo Colon could be traded sooner rather than later. With the A's building the team for 2015-16, they could be motivated to move Colon when they perceive his value is at its highest, rather than waiting until later in the year. Colon's base salary for this season is just $2MM, making him more affordable than the alternatives that will pop up on the market.
Rosenthal On Oswalt, Cardinals, White Sox, Rays
Highlights from the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- Teams are again reaching out to Roy Oswalt, including the Red Sox and Cardinals. The Red Sox's needs are obvious and the Cardinals' needs can grow depending on whether Chris Carpenter returns and if they decide to move Lance Lynn back to the bullpen. Oswalt, according to a source, is throwing bullpen sessions every other day.
- The White Sox might look at the trade deadline differently than they have in the past. The extra wild card could dissuade them from moving veterans but the new CBA could make them more inclined to trade potential free agents such as A.J. Pierzynski. It's extremely doubtful that they would extend the qualifying offer to the catcher in order to receive draft pick compensation as it could cost them $12MM. The Rays and Dodgers could both be potential landing spots for the veteran.
- The Rays spent the entire winter trying to upgrade their catching situation and it remains a work in progress. However, Tampa Bay was able to win 91 games without major production from the position last year and the club believes that they are better all-around than in 2011.
Waiver Claims Helping Their New Teams
The Rays claimed Brandon Allen off waivers from the Athletics two days ago, improving their bench with some left-handed power. Most waiver claims have little impact, but every so often a team will dig up a useful piece. With some help from our Transaction Tracker, here's a list of players who have been claimed off waivers since the start of the offseason and are now contributing to their new team at the big league level…
- Darren O'Day, Orioles – 1.29 ERA in seven relief innings since being claimed from the Rangers.
- Alfredo Simon, Reds – 4.26 ERA in 6 1/3 relief innings since being claimed from the Orioles.
- Cody Eppley, Yankees – Allowed a single to only batter he's faced since being claimed from the Rangers.
- Justin Maxwell, Astros – Hitting .200/.250/.400 with one homer in 16 plate appearances since being claimed from the Yankees.
- Clete Thomas, Twins — Hitting .231/.286/.538 with one homer in 14 plate appearances since being claimed from the Tigers.
Brian Bixler had one hit and one walk in seven plate appearances with the Astros after being claimed from the Nationals, but he's since been removed from the 40-man roster and assigned to Triple-A.
Padres Prepared To Release Orlando Hudson
The Padres have the worst record in baseball at 3-12, and a shake-up could be on the horizon. Scott Miller of CBSSports.com reports that they are prepared to release Orlando Hudson if the veteran second baseman does not turn things around soon.
Hudson, 34, is hitting just .156/.191/.200 with one stolen base in 47 plate appearances this season, and Miller hears he has been a "non-presence" with younger players in the clubhouse. Utility infielder Andy Parrino started consecutive games at second base earlier this week. Hudson's release could coincide with the return of infield prospect Logan Forsythe, who will resume workouts this weekend after undergoing ankle surgery this spring.
Hudson signed a two-year, $11.5MM contract with San Diego last offseason. He is owed $5.5MM this season and the $2MM buyout of his $8MM club option for next season. The Padres will still have to pay him the full $7.5MM should they decide to cut ties.
Quick Hits: Glass, Bell, Bumgarner
The 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner baseball card continues to be the hottest item in the memorabilia market, as one of the rare cards was sold today for $1.2MM in an online auction. Here's some news from around the majors as we head into the weekend…
- “The more payroll you have, the easier it is to be competitive,” Royals owner David Glass tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “But you’ve seen Tampa Bay and several other teams go to the World Series with low payrolls, so you don’t have to do it that way. What you can do is develop a lot of your own players, bring them up through your system without having to go to the big-time free agents. That’s what we’re doing and hopefully, it will work out well.”
- The Orioles are still trying to find a trade partner for Josh Bell, tweets Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Bell was designated for assignment on Tuesday.
- Giants VP of baseball operations Bobby Evans discussed Madison Bumgarner's new contract extension with Jim Duquette and Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio's "Power Alley" show on SiriusXM.
AL West Notes: Hamilton, Moreland, Angels
It was on this date in 1990 that Mariners right-hander Brian Holman just missed out on perfect game immortality. Holman had set down the first 26 Athletics batters he faced, but allowed a pinch-hit homer to Ken Phelps to ruin the perfecto. Adding to the history of the moment, that homer ended up being Phelps' last of his 11-year career in the Majors.
Here's the latest from the AL West…
- If the Rangers win the World Series, Ian Kinsler feels it would be "really hard" to let Josh Hamilton leave for free agency, he tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Kinsler's gut feeling is that his good friend Hamilton will return to play for Texas in 2013.
- Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland talks to Fangraphs' David Laurila about his pitching experience in high school and college and how Moreland would be interested in coverting to relief pitching in the Majors "if I could no longer hit."
- The Angels' recent signings and extensions have left the team with relatively little open payroll space over the next few seasons, writes MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. L.A. is already committed to $74.2MM in 2016 to just four players (Albert Pujols, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and the newly-extended Erick Aybar). "The easiest way you're going to create flexibility, and both forms of flexibility [on the payroll and on the roster], is to build from within," said GM Jerry Dipoto. "You have to do it. It's how this organization got where it was 10 years ago, and it's how we're going to maintain that position."
- The Angels' slow start could be caused by a lack of stability caused by the club's surplus of roster options, writes Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times. Including tonight's game against Baltimore, the Halos have used 12 different lineups in 14 games.
- In case you missed it earlier today, the Athletics claimed Australian right-hander Rich Thompson off waivers from the Angels.
NL West Notes: Dodgers, Guzman, Giants, Hamels
Happy birthday to Dodgers manager Don Mattingly (51) and Giants prospect Brandon Belt (24). Here's the latest from the NL West…
- Bud Selig says the league is still trying to learn some specifics about the sale of the Dodgers to Magic Johnson's ownership group, reports Mike James and Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
- Dodgers minor leaguer Angel Guzman has been issued a 50-game suspension following a positive test for a drug of abuse, according to an MLB press release. This is Guzman's second violation of the league's drug policy. Guzman last pitched in the majors in 2009 as a member of the Cubs, and he signed a minor league deal with L.A. in December.
- Despite Guzman's suspension, Don Mattingly still sounded positive about the right-hander's future with the club, reports MLB.com's Gene Duffy.
- The Giants have no plans to make AT&T Park more hitter-friendly, reports Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle. "It's an asymmetrical park with interesting dimensions, adding to the strategy and enjoyment of the game, and the overall opinion from fans has been positive," said Giants team president Larry Baer. "It's kind of our signature. It's who we are."
- Padres right-hander Dustin Moseley is getting a second opinion on his shoulder injury but told reporters (including Dan Hayes of the North County Times) that he expects to undergo season-ending surgery.
- Cole Hamels criticized the Padres, his favorite team growing up, to local media (including Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune) for not doing more to field a consistent winner. "It’s not the fans. They alienate their own fans by not keeping guys around, especially the guys they develop," Hamels said. "They won’t keep an Adrian Gonzalez or go get that big-name guy. That’s just hard on a fan.”
- Hamels further expounded on the subject with Tom Krasovic of Inside The Padres, praising Petco Park. "To see the Padres with such an unbelievable stadium, and to have it downtown, and to see what it's done to the city, and for them to not really want to put out a team that has to compete against the Dodgers, and the Giants, and Arizona — that's tough," Hamels told Krasovic. "I think if the organization wanted to compete, people would be here in a heartbeat — fans and players."
Mets Notes: Wright, Pagan, Herrera
Jon Niese faces Barry Zito tonight as the Mets open a four-game series with the Giants at Citi Field. Here's the latest from the Amazin's…
- David Wright tells reporters (including Jon Heyman of CBS Sports) that there have been "zero" discussions with the Mets about a contract extension. Wright doesn't mind, since he considers contract talk to be a distraction from playing. We heard last week that the Mets were keen to offer Wright a new deal but first wanted to ensure that he could stay healthy.
- "Whether he realizes it or not, Wright, who has said consistently he doesn’t want to leave New York, is starting to put pressure on Mets ownership to get negotiations going to ensure that he does indeed stay," writes Bill Madden of the New York Daily News. Madden feels the Mets should do everything in their power to extend Wright, their franchise player.
- Angel Pagan talks to ESPN New York's Mike Mazzeo about being traded to the Giants in December, which Pagan said surprised him.
- Left-hander Danny Herrera will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his pitching elbow, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports.
MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post