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Lance Berkman Considering Retirement

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WEDNESDAY: Earlier this week, Lance Berkman learned that he likely suffered a torn ACL and the veteran acknowledged that he might not look to come back after the surgery, writes David Dalati of FOXSportsMidwest.com.

"I think the decision of whether I want to continue playing or not I would want to make in the offseason. It's just one of those things…you realize you can't play forever. Certainly when you get to be my age and you suffer a significant injury it can help push you out the door. I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't at least considering that possibility," Berkman said.

SUNDAY: The Cardinals and Lance Berkman have yet to disclose specifics about an injury caused by Berkman stretching for a routine throw from Rafael Furcal, but the veteran is unsure about his future as he awaits MRI results, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"You think about it when you have a potentially major surgery at this stage of your career. But, again, right now we don't know what it is. But it gives you pause," the first baseman said. "I don't think it's one of those deals where you sit out a week and see where your are. I think it's much more serious than that."

Berkman, 36, added that he wouldn't automatically call it a career if he has re-torn his ACL and that he is hopeful that he will be able to bounce back from his injury.  The veteran is earning $12MM this season but has appeared in just 13 games thus far.

For his career, Berkman owns a .296/.409/.546 slash line across 14 seasons and has earned more than $102MM in total, according to Baseball-Reference.

Los Angeles Notes: Angels, Hunter, Ethier

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Shawn Green of the Dodgers hit four home runs in one game on this date in 2002. Green picked up 19 total bases against the Brewers in Milwaukee, setting an MLB record. Here are the latest links from Los Angeles:

  • Though the Angels have not been required to pay Torii Hunter during his absence, he is receiving his full salary, a person familiar with the situation told Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.  Assuming Hunter returns for Monday night's game against the Yankees, he will have been away for two weeks which works out to $1.5MM for that span with his $18MM salary.
  • Andre Ethier said he doesn’t plan to set a deadline for extension talks with the Dodgers, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times writes. Ethier, who is on track to hit free agency this coming offseason, said he doesn’t expect to put extension talks on hold at any point this season. "We'll take a look at whatever they bring to us," Ethier said. "I don't look at it any other way. I'm not going to sit here and play what-ifs and what-nots."
  • Manager Mike Scioscia said Hunter will "likely" re-join the Angels early next week, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times tweets. The Angels placed Hunter on the restricted list due to personal reasons last week.

Astros Release Diory Hernandez

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The Astros have released infielder Diory Hernandez, according to Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).  Hernandez, 28, struggled offensively as he played for the club's Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.

Hernandez appeared in 75 games for the Braves from 2009-2011, making 138 plate appearances in total.  The veteran owns a .270/.311/.366 slash line across parts of five Triple-A campaigns with experience at second base, third base, and shortstop.

Brewers Claim Cody Ransom

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The Brewers have claimed infielder Cody Ransom off of waivers from the Diamondbacks, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. Ransom has played 100 MLB games at shortstop, so he provides the Brewers with depth alongside Cesar Izturis. The Brewers confirmed the claim, announcing that they've optioned Edwin Maysonet to the minors and moved Alex Gonzalez to the 60-day disabled list in corresponding moves.

Ransom posted a .269/.345/.577 batting line in 58 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks this year, but they removed him from the 40-man roster earlier this week by designating him for assignment.  The 36-year-old played third base and shortstop, the same two positions he appeared at in 2011. Haudricourt reported earlier today that the Brewers were interested in adding shortstop help and Ransom's a fit since he has played more games at shortstop than at any other position. He has a .226/.310/.409 batting line in parts of ten seasons at the MLB level.

2013 Contract Issues: Detroit Tigers

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The Tigers are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:

Eligible For Free Agency (3)

  • Delmon Young - Young hasn't done himself many favors at the plate (.669 OPS) or off the field this season. Victor Martinez will return as the Tigers' designated hitter by 2013 and it won't be surprising if Martinez's return eases Young out of Detroit.
  • Jose Valverde – Last year's streak of successful save conversions shouldn't obstruct the fact that Valverde’s in decline. It’s not that his past contributions have already been forgotten or that he won't be a useful reliever in 2013, but a commitment of more than $5MM would be an overpay given the unpredictability of relief pitchers and the right-hander’s peripheral stats.
  • Gerald Laird - Laird, 32, continues to contribute as a backup catcher. Perhaps another one-year deal in the $1-2MM range will work for both sides. None of the Tigers' three free agents should expect qualifying offers next winter.

Contract Options (2)

  • Octavio Dotel: $3.5MM club option with a $500K buyout. Manager Jim Leyland is limiting Dotel's exposure to left-handed hitters and the 38-year-old is pitching well. At a net cost of $3MM, Dotel could be retained as the team's right-on-right specialist.
  • Jhonny Peralta: $6MM club option with a $500K buyout. Even if Peralta doesn't hit the way he did in 2011, the team figures to exercise this option at the end of the season. He has more power and better on-base skills than the average shortstop and remains serviceable on defense, according to The Fielding Bible Volume III. A net commitment of $5.5MM for the shortstop's age-31 season seems like a good deal for the Tigers.

Arbitration Eligible (9)

The Tigers' next arbitration class includes three fifths of the team's starting rotation and much of its outfield. Retaining these players will cost a whole lot, likely more than $20MM. GM Dave Dombrowski has hinted that the team will consider extensions for some players after the season. Avila's on track for a raise to the $3MM range, and Jackson's 2013 salary could also approach $3MM. Fister could have 600 career innings by the time the season ends, so he'll be among the game's best-compensated first time eligible pitchers. Raburn has been a major disappointment at the plate this year, so a non-tender isn't out of the question.

2013 Payroll Obligation

The Tigers have committed just over $87MM to next year's team, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. Owner Mike Ilitch has regularly spent more than $100MM on his team and payroll rose to $133MM for 2012 following last offseason's Prince Fielder signing. Dombrowski should have some flexibility next offseason, though his major pieces are already in place.

Tigers Designate Collin Balester For Assignment

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WEDNESDAY: Balester has been designated for assignment and Berry has been called up, the team announced (on Twitter).

TUESDAY: The Tigers will designate Collin Balester for assignment tomorrow according to Brian Britten, the team's director of media relations (on Twitter). The move will clear a roster spot for Quintin Berry.

Balester, 25, pitched to a 6.50 ERA with nearly as many walks (11) as strikeouts (12) in 18 innings this season. Detroit acquired him from the Nationals for Ryan Perry this offseason. Balester is out of options and needs to clear waivers before he can go to Triple-A.

Brewers Appear To Seek Shortstop Help

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The Brewers appear to be seeking shortstop help, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports (Twitter links). Manager Ron Roenicke, president of baseball operations Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash had a lengthy meeting this morning. 

The Brewers lost starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a right knee injury earlier this month and they’re now relying on Cesar Izturis and Edwin Maysonet at the position. The trio has combined for a .223/.274/.344 batting line, so there’s definite room for improvement on offense.

Roenicke said any move would be minor for now, according to Haudricourt. That’s not surprising given the apparent shortage of shortstops available in trades. Marco Scutaro and Jamey Carroll could become available in trades this summer, though that’s my own speculation.

Roy Oswalt Rumors: Wednesday

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The Red Sox haven't discussed a contract with Roy Oswalt, but GM Ben Cherington didn't deny that the team watched the free agent right-hander work out. That's the essence of yesterday's Oswalt rumors; now on to today's…

  • Some rival executives fully expect Oswalt to sign with the Rangers, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports (Twitter links). The Rangers play relatively close to Oswalt’s home state of Mississippi and he might want to join pitching coach Mike Maddux and CEO Nolan Ryan in Texas. To this point the Rangers haven’t made Oswalt a formal offer, Olney notes.
  • Manager Ron Washington said on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's Ben & Skin Show that GM Jon Daniels and the front office will make the final decision regarding the right-hander. "Oswalt has to want to come to Texas and we have to get him ready. The guy is a quality pitcher. But I'm more than certain there are other teams trying to do the same things," Washington said, according to Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.
  • Keep in mind that the Phillies have also been linked to Oswalt.

Jack Of All Trades: Jason Marquis

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To paraphrase the prominent philosopher Chico Escuela, "Jason Marquis been berry, berry good to MLB Trade Rumors."

Marquis has played for seven teams, and been rumored to go to countless others. Marquis and the New York Mets have been linked often enough in rumors that it was newsworthy this week, after the Minnesota Twins released him, that the Mets weren't pursuing the Staten Island native.

But the well-traveled Marquis has been traded several times. Let's take a closer look at what actually has transpired for this Atlanta Braves' first round pick back in 1996.

Marquis had established himself in Atlanta as a swingman, but an ineffective 2002 season prompted the Braves to shuttle him between the big club and Triple-A. Still Marquis was young, cost-controlled and his track record included some successes. Accordingly, Marquis became the centerpiece of a December 2003 trade with the Cardinals. St. Louis also received reliever Ray King and pitching prospect Adam Wainwright from Atlanta, giving up catcher Eli Marrero and outfielder J.D. Drew.

That deal was quite a coup for the Cardinals, with most pointing to the success enjoyed by Wainwright, who became a shutdown reliever in 2006, and an elite starter a season later. But Marquis also gave the Cardinals plenty of production. Over three seasons in St. Louis, he averaged better than 200 innings per season, and pitched to a better than league average ERA+ in his first two years. He even won a Silver Slugger award in 2005, hitting .310/.326/.460 for a manager, Tony La Russa, who was happy to bat him eighth.

But Marquis struggled mightily for the 2006 Cardinals. His ERA ballooned to 6.02, and he didn't pitch in the postseason for the eventual world champion Cardinals. St. Louis let him sign with their bitter rivals, the Chicago Cubs, where Marquis resumed his work as a marginally effective innings eater. Then in January 2009, the Cubs dealt Marquis to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Luis Vizcaino, who was on the cusp of breaking down after years of quality pitching.

Marquis, however, was far from finished. He made the All Star team for the Rockies, pitching to a career-best ERA+ of 116 over 216 innings. It was a good time for Marquis to be out of contract, and thus he signed a two-year, $15MM deal with the Washington Nationals. Alas, he promptly broke down himself, pitching to a 6.60 ERA over 58 2/3 innings in 2010 while missing much of the year with elbow problems.

Again, however, Marquis resurrected his career, pitching to a 3.95 ERA for the 2011 Nationals. Arizona needed pitching help, so the Diamondbacks traded minor league infielder Zachary Walters for Marquis at the non-waiver trade deadline. Marquis, three starts in, broke his fibula, costing him the rest of the season. Still, Minnesota decided to give him a $3MM contract to see what he had left in 2012. Earlier this week, the Twins decided it wasn't much.

Now 33, Marquis could be at the end of the line. But he's cheated baseball death before. It wouldn't be shocking to see him not only recover and pitch well, but even get traded once again. Jason Marquis is, after all, the gift that keeps on giving… to MLB Trade Rumors.

Red Sox Notes: Youkilis, Ortiz

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The Red Sox shuffled their lineup yesterday, playing Adrian Gonzalez in right field to create space for Kevin Youkilis and Will Middlebrooks. Here's the latest on the Red Sox as the club prepares to resume its series with the Orioles…

  • Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan show that he doesn’t anticipate trading Youkilis. “He's making up for a lot of deficiencies that have presented themselves at other positions,” Valentine said. “Trading him — I don't see that." (transcript by Jerry Spar). The Phillies and Indians were eyeing Youkilis earlier in the month.
  • GM Ben Cherington said David Ortiz deserves recognition for his work on and off the field, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports. “I feel pretty good about our relationship with David,” Cherington said. “We certainly support him and have a lot of respect for him and want him to be on our side, and I’m glad he is.” Earlier in the week the DH spoke of a lack of respect from the front office.

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