Archives for May 2012

Minor Moves: Trevor Reckling

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 11, 2012 at 9:14am CDT

The latest minor moves from around the league…

The Angels released left-hander Trevor Reckling, as noted by Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter). Reckling, who's still just 22, entered the 2010 season as one of the Angels' top prospects, according to Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus. Reckling posted a 3.73 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 99 innings as a starter at Double-A last year, but allowed 15 walks and 14 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings at Class A this year.

Quick Hits: Youkilis, Wang, Twins, Wheeler

By Mike Axisa | May 10, 2012 at 11:24pm CDT

Expanded instant replay was included in the new collective bargaining agreement, but Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that the league is no rush to implement a new system. MLB executive vice president Joe Torre told Morosi they want to "make the game better without dragging it on."

Here's the latest from the around the league as Thursday turns into Friday…

"I have no idea," said Kevin Youkilis to ESPN's Gordon Edes when asked what the arrival of Will Middlebrooks means for his future with the Red Sox. Youkilis can become a free agent after this season and is in the middle of a make or break year.
The Nationals may have a better chance of trading Chien-Ming Wang than John Lannan, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Wang is currently on the DL with a hamstring issue, but Lannan has a 6.10 ERA in Triple-A.
"This is just something that we've got to do right now," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire to LaVelle E. Neal III of The Star Tribune following last night's roster shakeup. "We need to make some changes. We need some hits. We need some new life in here, the whole package."
Dan Wheeler declined to comment when asked if he though about accepting the Red Sox's offer of arbitration last offseason, writes Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal. Wheeler would have received a guaranteed big league contract had he accepted arbitration, but he instead settled for a minor league deal with the Indians.

Dodgers Links: Ethier, Magic, Parking Lots

By Mike Axisa | May 10, 2012 at 9:23pm CDT

The Dodgers are off to a 20-11 start and lead the NL West by five games over the Giants. The new ownership group officially took control of the team earlier this month, so things are looking good in Chavez Ravine right now. Here's the latest from SoCal…

The Dodgers are internally discussing how they'll try to keep Andre Ethier, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Ethier has indicating the willingness to remain with the team long-term following the ownership change.
Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times reports that Magic Johnson has the power to veto any developments proposed by Frank McCourt for the Dodger Stadium parking lots. The veto power is extended to "any other action that would have an adverse effect on the fan experience at Dodger Stadium or otherwise be inconsistent with the preferences of a Guggenheim Baseball Management member."
MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith recently broke down the Dodgers' 2013 contract issues.

Make Or Break Year: Kevin Youkilis

By Mike Axisa | May 10, 2012 at 7:55pm CDT

The Red Sox are among baseball's most disappointing teams so far this season, due in part to injury. Closer Andrew Bailey, outfielders Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury, and starters John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka are among the players the team has lost for a significant length of time already in 2012. Boston also lost Kevin Youkilis, an important right-handed bat in their lefty heavy lineup.

Youkilis, 33, is currently on the disabled list with a lower back strain. It's his fifth trip to the DL in the last four years, part of a laundry list of injuries that includes an oblique strain (2009), thumb surgery (2010), back tightness (2011), and a sports hernia (2011). Since the start of the 2010 season, Youkilis has played in just 240 of 352 possible games (68.2%).

Prior to being placed on the DL, Youkilis had a .219/.292/.344 batting line in 72 plate appearances. Dating back to last year's All-Star break, he's produced a .205/.307/.345 batting line in 231 plate appearances. His performance during his peak years – .308/.404/.560 from 2008-2010 – appears to be very much a thing of the past right now. A player with injury concerns and declining performance as he approaches his mid-30s usually isn't someone a team tries to keep around.

To make matters worse for Youkilis, the Red Sox have a ready-made third base replacement already in-house. Top prospect Will Middlebrooks has burst onto the scene with three homers and four doubles in his six games with Boston, continuing the hot streak that saw him hit nine homers in 24 games in Triple-A games before being recalled. Baseball America ranked Middlebrooks as the 51st best prospect in the game before the season, and the 23-year-old is doing his best to show the team he deserves to play the hot corner on the full-time basis.

The Red Sox owe Youkilis $12MM this season and hold a $13MM club option for his services next year ($1MM buyout). It's seems very unlikely that they'll exercise the option at this point, though the decision still isn't due for another seven months or so. A lot can change between now and then. Youkilis is in a difficult position as an injury-prone and declining player with a young hotshot rookie ready to take his job. If the Red Sox decline to bring him back in 2013, his stock as a free agent will be poor without a strong return from this latest back ailment.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

Draft Links: College Players, Mock Draft

By Mike Axisa | May 10, 2012 at 6:28pm CDT

The 2012 amateur draft is less than four weeks away. The new collective bargaining agreement imposed spending restrictions with strict penalities, but the draft remains the most efficient way for clubs to acquire young talent. Here's the latest…

"This draft is the worst crop of college position players I've seen in my 20+ years of doing this," said a big league executive to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (on Twitter).
Jim Callis of Baseball America published his first mock draft of the spring. He has the Astros taking Stanford RHP Mark Appel with the first pick. Four of the first five players selected in Callis' mock are college players.
ESPN's Keith Law published an updated list of the top 100 draft prospects earlier this week, with high school outfielder Byron Buxton claiming the top spot.

AL East Notes: Reynolds, Keppinger, Rivera

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 10, 2012 at 4:50pm CDT

Joe DiMaggio hit the first of his 361 career home runs against the Athletics on this date in 1936. The present-day Yankees and C.C. Sabathia host David Price and the Rays tonight in New York. Here are some AL East-related links in the meantime…

The Orioles signed Miguel Tejada with the idea that he might replace Mark Reynolds at third base, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports. Reynolds’ bat is starting to heat up and Tejada is playing at extended Spring Training. The Orioles made Reynolds available earlier this year, but potential suitors found his $7.5MM salary to be a deterrent.
Jeff Keppinger is back with the Rays following a brief stint on the restricted list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (on Twitter). The Rays had placed the infielder on the restricted list earlier in the week.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post describes Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera as "competition junkies" who can't stay away from the game of baseball and the "camaraderie, common purpose, money and fame" that comes with Major League success. Rivera's contract will expire after the 2012 season, but he has said he intends to return, presumably with the Yankees.
In case you missed it, the Blue Jays signed Vladimir Guerrero to a minor league deal today.

Blue Jays Sign Vladimir Guerrero

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 10, 2012 at 3:14pm CDT

The Blue Jays have signed 37-year-old designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero to a minor league contract, the team announced. The Proformance client would earn a pro-rated portion of $1.3MM in the Major Leagues, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, who first reported the deal (Twitter links).

If Guerrero's bat looks good at extended Spring Training (his next stop) the Blue Jays could make some changes to their lineup. Assuming the Blue Jays don't consider Guerrero an option in the outfield, he'll pinch hit and DH. They could have Guerrero DH against left-handed pitching and shift Adam Lind to the bench against southpaws, with Edwin Encarnacion playing first base. Encarnacion, the team's best hitter so far in 2012, will continue to play every day, but it seems Lind could eventually lose playing time as a result of the signing.

Guerrero has 2,590 hits, 449 homers and a .318/.379/.553 line in 16 big league seasons. In 590 plate appearances with the Orioles last year, the nine-time All-Star posted a .290/.317/.416 line with 13 homers. He drew interest from the Diamondbacks, Indians and Marlins earlier this year.

Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, a former Montreal Expos employee, has expressed admiration for Guerrero in the past. Anthopoulos has said throughout the spring that he'd be open to adding players on low-risk minor league deals.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

Red Sox Remove Justin Thomas From Roster

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 10, 2012 at 2:41pm CDT

The Red Sox have removed left-hander Justin Thomas from their 40-man roster, Alex Speier of WEEI.com tweets. In corresponding moves, the Red Sox optioned Clayton Mortensen to the minor leagues and selected the contract of Daniel Nava. It's not clear if the Red Sox designated Thomas for assignment or released him.

Thomas, 28, appeared in seven games for the Red Sox this year, allowing ten hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings while striking out four. He has a 4.14 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in eight seasons as a minor leaguer.

Minor Moves: John Maine

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 10, 2012 at 1:45pm CDT

Matt Eddy of Baseball America has the complete minor league transactions for the first week of May. Here's the most noteworthy move:

The Red Sox released right-hander John Maine, according to Eddy. Maine, 31, last pitched in the Majors with the 2010 Mets. He had a strong 2007 season, but his performance later dropped off and he missed considerable time with shoulder injuries. Maine posted a 7.43 ERA in 46 innings with the Rockies' top affiliate in 2011 before signing with the Red Sox this January.

Amaro: Phillies Could Be Sellers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 10, 2012 at 12:46pm CDT

If the Phillies are going to win the National League East for the sixth consecutive season, they’ll need more offense and better relief pitching. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says he hopes he’s a buyer at the July 31st trade deadline, according to Jim Salisbury of the CSNPhilly.com. But the 14-18 Phillies might have a different approach if they don’t turn their season around.

“July is so far ahead,” Amaro said. “We just have to get on track. But if July comes and we’re playing like this, we’ll be sellers. How we play now will determine whether we’ll be buyers or sellers in July.”

With Ryan Howard and Chase Utley on the disabled list and Freddy Galvis and Jimmy Rollins struggling at the plate, the Phillies' offense ranks 19th in MLB in runs scored. The Phillies' rotation is again one of the best in the game, but their bullpen ERA of 5.59 ranks last in MLB.

Amaro, who was named the team's GM in 2008, has never been a 'seller' in his career as a GM. Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino are scheduled to hit free agency following the 2012 season and would be coveted by other teams.

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