D’Backs Notes: Youkilis, Parra, Saunders
Here's the latest on the Diamondbacks courtesy of Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic..
- The D'Backs have had multiple looks at Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis and GM Kevin Towers is reluctant to go down that road for several reasons. Towers is turned off by the money owed to Youkilis and is also balking at the asking price. The Red Sox apparently were asking for Gerardo Parra to be included in a deal for the veteran.
- There are still indications that Arizona would be willing to trade left-hander Joe Saunders if the right deal came along. Interested clubs include the Braves, Orioles, Red Sox, and Pirates. Trading Saunders, who makes a reasonable $6MM this year, would open up room for top prospect Trevor Bauer.
- On the whole, the Diamondbacks are on the fence about whether to make moves that will help their cause in 2012 or to instead look to add a piece for 2013 and beyond.
Cardinals To Sign Stephen Piscotty
The Cardinals will sign supplementary first-round pick Stephen Piscotty to a contract within the hour, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter). The 36th overall pick will receive a $1.4MM bonus, right in line with the recommended value for that selection.
The Stanford product will report to the Cardinals' Quad Cities affiliate where he will be the starter at third base, Goold tweets. Piscotty has shown the ability to hit for average but many scouting reports note that his power potential isn't on the same level.
Braves Acquire McCurry From Orioles
Today's minor moves..
- The Braves have acquired minor league left-handed pitcher Cole McCurry from the Orioles for cash, according to Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com. McCurry had been with the Orioles since they drafted him in 2007 and was on the verge of being squeezed out of Triple-A Norfolk with the recent additions of Jamie Moyer and Rich Rundles. Joel Pineiro and Dontrelle Willis could also be on their way as well.
AL West Notes: Manny, A’s, Saunders, Vargas
Manny Ramirez has been eligible to join the A's major league roster for more than two weeks after completing his 50-game suspension, but the slugger remained in Triple-A. Last night, the situation reached its logical conclusion as Ramirez requested his outright release and the team obliged. Here's more on Manny and a look around the AL West..
- Ramirez told ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas that he isn't mad at Oakland for not promoting him and hopes to continue his career. "The A's treated me amazingly during all this time, but sadly didn't have space for me and this is something I can't control. I'm going home to continue my training hoping to get the chance to play again," said the slugger.
- Pitcher Joe Saunders was emotional when he learned that the Angels were trading him to the Diamondbacks in 2010 as part of a package for Dan Haren, writes Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times. Looking back on it now, the hurler says that he is glad to be a part of the building process in Arizona.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) says not to discount the Mariners' Jason Vargas as a trade candidate due to his road ERA (4.53). In total, the left-hander has a 3.95 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 15 starts this year.
East Notes: Blue Jays, Phillies, Braves, Soler
Earlier today we learned that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos asked the Twins about Justin Morneau. However, one exec noted that Anthopoulos seems to "[call] about everyone." Here's more on the Blue Jays and the rest of the division..
- Anthopoulos isn't worried about any criticism that may come his way, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet. Even though the GM knows that the club has to show progress on the field, he insists that he won't be swayed by popular opinion and won't rush into making a move.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) spoke to a scout who didn't have a very high opinion of where the Phillies stand or what they can offer in a trade. “They’re not young. They’re not healthy. And their system is thin," the scout said.
- The Braves were right there with the Cubs and willing to spend $30MM on Jorge Soler, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB.com. The White Sox and Yankees, meanwhile, had bids that fell between $25MM and $30MM.
Athletics Release Manny Ramirez
The Athletics have announced that Manny Ramirez has requested his outright release and the team has granted his request. The veteran recently completed his 50-game suspension and was eligible to join the club on May 30th.
Ramirez, 40, hit .302/.348/.349 for Triple-A Sacramento in 69 plate appearances this year. Just last week, A's GM Billy Beane said that the club hadn't decided whether to release the slugger. Oakland signed Ramirez in February and Beane insisted that the move had everything to do with baseball and nothing to do with PR.
Athletics To Sign Daniel Robertson
The Athletics have agreed to terms with third baseman Daniel Robertson, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. Robertson's $1.5MM bonus exactly matches the suggested value for the No. 34 pick.
The high schooler was the club's first of two supplemental first-round picks. Callis writes that Robertson has a quality bat with a chance for average to plus power. Yesterday we learned that the A's agreed to pay the full $2.625MM bonus for 11th overall pick Addison Russell.
Draft Notes: Brewers, Padres, Nationals, Giolito
Tonight's draft notes, with the latest news up top..
- The Brewers signed third-rounder Zach Quintana for $325K, just under the suggested pick value of $385K, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. The high school right-hander out of Nevada boasts a 90-95 mph fastball and a hard breaking ball.
- The Padres signed second-rounder Dane Phillips for $450K, significantly less than the pick value of $734K for the No. 70 pick. The catcher/first baseman is said to have a sweet bat and has a chance to stay behind the plate.
- The Nationals gave first-round pick Lucas Giolito a grand tour of Nationals Park earlier today, writes Mark Zuckerman of NatsInsider.com. The 17-year-old right-hander is a UCLA commit.
Yankees Like Dempster; Dodgers Eyeing Garza
Ryan Dempster held the Red Sox scoreless for seven innings in Chicago today and even picked up two hits to provide his team's offense with some assistance. Here's the latest on Dempster and his teammate, Matt Garza:
- Several contenders, including the Yankees and Dodgers, covet Dempster, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
- Two scouts at today's game said the Yankees prefer Garza to Dempster, David Kaplan reports (on Twitter).
- Dempster told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he doesn’t pay attention to the rumors, though it’s flattering to know teams are interested in him. “I’ve been itching to get back to the playoffs,” Dempster told Rosenthal. “I just wanted another opportunity. I never got it. And we’ve struggled since then.” Dempster is a clear summer trade candidate, as I explained yesterday.
- The Dodgers are interested in Garza, Rosenthal reports. Garza, 28, has a 4.04 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 71 1/3 innings for the Cubs this year.
Cubs To Sign Paul Blackburn
The Cubs agreed to sign supplemental first round selection Paul Blackburn, Jim Callis of Baseball America tweets. The high school right-hander, represented by Adam Karon of Sosnick Cobbe Sports, will obtain a $912K bonus.
MLB recommends a $912K bonus for the 56th overall selection, which the Cubs obtained as compensation for losing Carlos Pena to free agency. Blackburn has a clean delivery and the potential for three plus pitches, Callis reports.