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Archives for April 2012

Quick Hits: Fontenot, Rays, Carpenter

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It’s Opening Day, part IV. Enjoy these links as the season openers continue around the Major Leagues…

  • Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle hears the Blue Jays or Phillies could be a landing spot for free agent infielder Mike Fontenot (Twitter link).
  • Rays owner Stuart Sternberg told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the Rays have considerable off-field issues, though the team is an annual contender (Twitter link). "Winning hasn't cured the ills," Sternberg said.
  • The Cardinals aren't close to having a timetable on injured right-hander Chris Carpenter, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweets. As long as Roy Oswalt’s a free agent, he’ll be an option for the Cardinals.

Orioles Release Armando Galarraga

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The Orioles have released right-hander Armando Galarraga, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com tweets. The move creates Triple-A roster space for left-hander Dana Eveland.

The Orioles had signed the 30-year-old SFX client to a minor league deal in January following a difficult 2011 season. Galarraga came within one out of throwing a perfect game for the Tigers in 2010, but the 2011 season wasn't nearly as successful. Galarraga, who was traded from Detroit to Arizona in January of 2011, posted a 5.91 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 in 42 2/3 innings for the D'Backs last year. He also made five Triple-A starts, allowing 24 earned runs in 23 1/3 innings.

Brewers Notes: Greinke, Melvin, Roenicke

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The latest on the Brewers, via Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (links go to Twitter):

  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin said he talked to Casey Close about Zack Greinke yesterday and will speak to the agent again Monday. There's no deadline for talks between the Brewers and Greinke, Close's new client.
  • Melvin doesn't see "major weaknesses" on his team.
  • Owner Mark Attanasio suggested the club will have the flexibility to add payroll midseason if necessary.
  • Attanasio said the club is progressing nicely toward extensions for Melvin and manager Ron Roenicke. Melvin's contract expires after the 2012 season and the Brewers hold a 2013 option for Roenicke.
  • Melvin confirmed extension talks will also continue with closer John Axford, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

NL West Notes: Padres, Dodgers, Phelps

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Three NL West teams — the Giants, Diamondbacks and Rockies — open their seasons today. Here are some links from the NL West…

  • The Padres' 20-year TV deal with FOX Sports San Diego is "all but finalized" and should be announced within one or two days, Dan Hayes of the North County Times reports. The deal could be worth $1 billion or more. "Life is good and I'll leave it at that," Padres majority owner John Moores said.
  • MLB officials are concerned that the winning bidders for the Dodgers have been slow to produce details about themselves and their bid, Tom Verducci of SI.com reports. Some owners are questioning why the group fronted by Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten hasn't filed a more detailed Purchase and Sale Agreement.
  • Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports that the terms of the Dodgers’ sale are scheduled to be filed in court today.
  • The Giants originally requested right-hander David Phelps from the Yankees for catcher Chris Stewart, George A. King III of the New York Post reports. The Yankees ultimately sent right-hander George Kontos to San Francisco.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Votto, Cain, Gordon, Luebke

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On this date in 2004, Luis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks and Luis Gonzalez of the Rockies both hit home runs. It was only the second time in baseball history that two players with the same name went deep in the same game. The Ken Griffeys – Senior and Junior – hit back-to-back homers against the Angels in 1990. Here's the latest from around the baseball blogosphere, with a heavy dose of extension reactions…

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

Latest On Reds, Brandon Phillips

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The Reds offered Brandon Phillips a five-year, $60MM contract extension for the 2012-16 seasons, Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio reports (Twitter link). One Reds source believes Phillips would sign if the Reds offer a sixth guaranteed season.

The Reds were already in serious discussions with Phillips when the club got sidetracked by the Joey Votto deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty said yesterday that he’s optimistic about working out an extension with his second baseman within a week. Bowden heard last night that the Reds had offered Phillips a five-year deal in the $62.5-65MM range.

No Deal Yet For Kinsler, Rangers

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Ian Kinsler and the Rangers don't have an agreement on a long-term deal. The second baseman told reporters, including MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, that the sides got close enough to be “disappointed that it’s not done.”

The sides had been working toward an extension that would have guaranteed Kinsler's 2013 option at $10MM and added five seasons at $14MM or so per year. The proposed six-year total would have been in the $80MM range — close to Chase Utley's record for second basemen.

Kinsler has said he doesn't want to negotiate once the season begins. The 29-year-old repeated today that he doesn't want to be involved if the Rangers continue talking with his representatives at BBI Sports Group. He hit 32 home runs and posted a .255/.355/.477 lin in 723 plate appearances a year ago.

White Sox To Sign Kip Wells

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We'll keep track of the day's minor moves right here…

  • The White Sox agreed to sign right-hander Kip Wells to a minor league deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. Wells, 34, last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2009. He broke in with the 1999 White Sox and spent three seasons in Chicago before the White Sox traded him to Pittsburgh. Wells reached 93 mph in a recent workout with the Mets.

Rick VandenHurk Elects Free Agency

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The Indians announced that right-hander Rick VandenHurk has declined his outright assignment and elected free agency. The team cleared roster space by designating the out of options 26-year-old for assignment last week.

It's been a busy couple of months for VandenHurk. The Orioles released the native of the Netherlands in February, the Blue Jays signed him to a Major League contract soon afterwards. The Indians then claimed him off of waivers only to designate his contract and outright him to the minor leagues.

VandenHurk spent most of the 2011 season as a starter at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.43 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 154 1/3 innings. He has MLB experience in five seasons, but he appeared in just four games for last year's Orioles team. He has a 5.97 ERA with 8.8 K/9, 4.7 BB/9 and a 27.9% ground ball rate in 181 career innings with the Marlins and Orioles.

Cubs Interested In John Lannan

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The Cubs inquired about John Lannan this week, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Cubs had already talked to the Nationals about Lannan and another left-hander: former Cubs pitcher Tom Gorzelanny. Marlon Byrd came up in discussions between the two teams, Wittenmyer reports.

Lannan requested a trade after being optioned to the minor leagues earlier this week. GM Mike Rizzo said there's "mild" interest in the 27-year-old, but manager Davey Johnson said the Nationals are "not trading him."

Lannan posted a 3.70 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 184 2/3 innings last year. He’ll earn $5MM in 2012 and will remain under team control in 2013 (he currently projects as a non-tender candidate, however).

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