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Olney On Dodgers, Hamels

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The Dodgers should have the financial flexibility to pursue trades aggressively this summer, and there’s an expectation that the team’s payroll will rise next offseason, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. The Dodgers’ new owners could pursue free agents such as Josh Hamilton, Miguel Montero and Mike Napoli next winter, assuming they’re willing to spend more than $90MM on payroll. Here’s more from Olney:

  • The Dodgers’ front office will likely renew its interest in the market for Latin American players, Olney reports. The team was relatively inactive in Latin America under former owner Frank McCourt, but has a history of star-caliber Latin American players.
  • The Phillies haven’t made recent progress with the representatives for Cole Hamels regarding a possible extension, Olney writes. The left-hander’s asking price won’t dip below five years and $112.5MM (Matt Cain’s contract) and seems to rise every day. Sources connected to the MLBPA believe Hamels will get six-year offers as a free agent.

Red Sox Do Not Recall Aaron Cook

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The Red Sox did not call up right-hander Aaron Cook by 12:01pm ET tonight, thus activating the opt-out clause in his contract according to WEEI.com's Alex Speier. Cook has 24 hours to exercise the opt-out, then the team would have 48 hours to respond by calling him up or trading him.

Speier reports that the Red Sox will likely work out an agreement with the 33-year-old to keep him on the Major League roster, but there is no formal agreement in place at this time. Boston sent Lars Anderson to Triple-A after Tuesday's game, creating an open 25-man roster spot. The Red Sox would need to clear a 40-man roster for Cook, however.

The long-time Rockie has pitched to a 1.89 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 11 walks in 33 1/3 innings across five Triple-A starts. He signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox back in January. Manager Bobby Valentine had previous told reporters that if the team does add Cook to the roster, he will work out of the bullpen.

Extension Possible For Ethier, Dodgers

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10:16pm: Ethier has let the new ownership group know that he's willing to discuss a contract extension during the season rather than wait until the winter, writes Heyman. Industry chatter says the outfielder could command a contract in the six-year, $90MM range.

3:01pm: The Dodgers’ new ownership group has been in place for a matter of hours, and they aren’t close to signing their right fielder to a long-term deal. But Andre Ethier could be in line for a contract extension before long.

The chances of a deal “improve drastically” with Guggenheim Baseball Management in place, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Bill Shaikin of the LA Times points out that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti met with Ethier’s agent Friday and suggests a contract could be the new owners’ first order of business (Twitter link).

Ethier, 30, is a client of Nez Balelo of CAA Sports. He earns $10.95MM in 2012 and is on track for free agency this offseason. In seven MLB seasons, he has a .291/.363/.481 batting line with 114 home runs. MLBTR's Dan Mennella examined Ethier's free agent stock last month.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Quick Hits: Abreu, Cespedes, Young, Phillies, Cook

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Former first overall draft pick Tim Beckham has been suspended for 50 games, MLB announced. The shortstop, who had reached Triple-A in the Rays' system, is in violation of MLB's drug policy for the second time. "I take full responsibility for my actions and I will use this experience to refocus my commitment to baseball," he said in a statement released by the team. Here are more links from around the league…

  • Bobby Abreu could make sense for the Orioles, opines Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Nick Johnson remains hitless on the season and Nolan Reimold recently left the team to have numbness and tingling in his fingers examined.
  • An arbitration claim for breach of contract has been filed against Yoenis Cespedes of the Athletics reports Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes. Edgar Mercedes, who helped represent Cespedes during his free agency, is owed 17% of the outfielder's earnings but has not yet been paid.
  • It's encouraging that MLB suspended Tigers outfielder Delmon Young following last week's incident in New York City, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. Young's actions will cost him millions, Morosi explains. Before the incident I suggested a multiyear deal was within reach for Young if he had a strong season. It's definitely harder to imagine any team making a multiyear commitment today.
  • The Phillies announced that they selected the contract of right-hander Brian Sanches from Lehigh Valley. Sanches takes the place of David Herndon on the team’s active roster.
  • One agent suggested to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the Yankees might have interest in Aaron Cook if the Red Sox don’t make room for the right-hander on their roster by today (Twitter link). Cook can opt out of his deal with Boston if he’s not added to the roster today.
  • There haven’t been recent talks between Mike Napoli and the Rangers or Miguel Montero and the Diamondbacks, Heyman tweets. Montero is looking for a four-year deal in the $52MM range and Napoli seeks more than that. Heyman suggests Napoli is more likely than Montero to sign an extension.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Twins Designate Sean Burroughs For Assignment

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The Twins have designated Sean Burroughs for assignment, the team announced. The move creates room on the roster for Drew Butera.

Burroughs, 31, had just two hits and one walk in 18 plate appearances for Minnesota this season while playing both corner infield spots. The former top Padres' prospect resurfaced with the Diamondbacks last season after spending four years away from the game.

Rizzo: No Urgency To Trade For Help Despite Injuries

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The Nationals are dealing with a rash of injuries these days, but they still sit atop the NL East with a 14-8 record. Despite all the missing players, GM Mike Rizzo told a group of reporters this afternoon that he doesn't feel any urgency to look outside the organization for help.

"We're not making a push to look outside for offense or bullpen," said Rizzo according to ESPN's Jayson Stark (Twitter links). "We like the club we have. We just need to get healthy."

Drew Storen (elbow), Ryan Zimmerman (shoulder), Mike Morse (lat), Brad Lidge (hernia), and Chien-Ming Wang (hamstring) highlight the crop of Nationals currently on the DL. Storen and Lidge aren't expected back anytime soon, creating two big holes in the bullpen. The absence of Zimmerman and Morse take a bite out of an offense that has already scored the fourth fewest runs in the NL, though Bryce Harper's arrival should help.

Giants Designate Tyler Graham For Assignment

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The Giants designated outfielder Tyler Graham for assignment, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. The club placed left-hander Jeremy Affeldt on the disabled list and purchased the contract of left-hander Travis Blackley in corresponding moves.

Graham, 28, has yet to appear in the Major Leagues, but the Giants needed his 40-man roster spot to make room for Blackley. In seven minor league seasons, Graham has a .281/.341/.361 batting line with 222 stolen bases. He has spent most of the past four seasons at Triple-A Fresno. 

Indians Designate Jose Lopez For Assignment

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The Indians designated infielder Jose Lopez for assignment, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets. The move creates roster space for Johnny Damon.

Lopez played in five games for the Indians this year, appearing at both corner infield positions. The 28-year-old has a lifetime .262/.293/.398 line in nine MLB seasons with the Mariners, Rockies, Marlins and Indians. The Indians signed Lopez to a minor league contract in December.

Rays Notes: Matsui, Longoria, Cantu

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The Rays formally introduced Hideki Matsui today, but they face the possibility that their best player will hit the disabled list. The details…

  • Rays executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he's had interest in Matsui in recent offseasons, according to Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune (Twitter links). Though there's no formal out clause in Matsui's contract, Friedman said the Rays will treat the slugger with the respect he deserves. Presumably this means they'll release him if there's no room on Tampa Bay's roster and he asks to pursue other opportunities.
  • Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times suggested earlier today that Evan Longoria could miss six to eight weeks with a hamstring-related injury, but Friedman says it's "premature" to assume he'll even hit the disabled list. Reid Brignac and Will Rhymes are among the team's internal options in case Longoria does require DL time.
  • Jorge Cantu, who elected free agency yesterday, won't be a fit for the Rays, Topkin tweets. The Devil Rays signed Cantu as an amateur free agent soon after their inception in 1998, and the infielder played in Tampa Bay until 2007.

Cardinals Designate Erik Komatsu For Assignment

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The Cardinals designated outfielder Erik Komatsu for assignment, MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch reports. The move creates 25-man roster space for Allen Craig, who's returning from the disabled list.

The Cardinals selected Komatsu from the Nationals in last winter's Rule 5 draft. St. Louis now has ten days to determine the 24-year-old's fate. The Cardinals could work out a trade with the Nationals that would allow them to keep Komatsu, they could return him to Washington, or he could be claimed by a third team. Komatsu appeared in 15 games for the Cardinals, playing all three outfield positions. He has a .302/.389/.434 line in four seasons as a minor leaguer.

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