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Archives for June 2012

Quick Hits: LaRoche, Lee, Cubs

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Let’s not let the day’s biggest story — that the Cubs will sign Jorge Soler to a nine-year deal worth $30MM — overshadow some other notes and rumors from around MLB. Here are the latest links…

  • Yahoo’s Jeff Passan checks in on the players heading toward free agency, noting that the stock for players such as Adam LaRoche, Melky Cabrera and Andre Ethier is way up.
  • Derrek Lee would be open to returning for the “right opportunity,” Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). The Pirates could be interested in re-signing Lee, who joined the team in a midseason trade last year.
  • Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster and Bryan LaHair are all in play as the trade deadline nears, Rosenthal notes (on Twitter). The Cubs could look to supplement their core of young players by dealing established Major Leaguers for controllable players this summer.

Brewers To Sign Mitch Haniger

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4:39pm: Haniger will obtain a $1.2MM bonus, Jim Callis of Baseball America tweets.

4:01pm: Supplemental first round draft pick Mitch Haniger tweeted that he's set to sign with the Brewers this Thursday (Twitter links). "Can't wait to be a Brewer!" the outfielder wrote (via MLB.com's Adam McCalvy and Brewer Nation).  

The Brewers drafted Haniger with the 38th overall selection as compensation for losing Prince Fielder to free agency. MLB recommends a bonus of $1.36MM for the 38th overall selection, according to Baseball America.

Twins To Sign J.O. Berrios

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The Twins have agreed to sign supplemental first round draft pick J.O. Berrios, Jim Callis of Baseball America tweets. Berrios, the 32nd overall selection, obtains a $1.55MM bonus.

Berrios, a high school right-hander, has a fastball that sits in the 93-95 mph range, a changeup and a sharp slider, according to Baseball America. MLB recommends a bonus of $1.55MM for the 32nd overall selection, which the Twins obtained as compensation for losing free agent Michael Cuddyer.

Draft Signings: Orioles, Angels, Tigers

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Some significant signings from the second round and on…

  • Elliott Waterman, Washington’s 13th round selection, agreed to sign with the Nationals for $100K, MLBTR has learned.
  • The Orioles signed third round pick Adrian Marin for $481K, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports (all Twitter links). That’s precisely the bonus MLB recommends for the 99th overall selection. Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich said "significant number" of picks have signed and are undergoing physicals, Connolly reports.
  • The Angels announced they have agreed to sign 11 draft picks, including four of their first five selections. Right-hander R.J. Alvarez, the club’s third round selection, is one of the players to agree to terms. All of the 11 players are "at or very close to" their slotted amounts, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports (on Twitter).
  • Right-hander Jake Thompson told James Jahnke of the Detroit Free Press that he expects to sign with the Tigers tomorrow. The Tigers selected the high schooler with the 91st overall selection last week.

Jorge Soler Rumors: Monday

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Cuban outfield prospect Jorge Soler could sign any day now. A number of teams have been linked to Soler, who must sign by July 2 if he aims to maximize his earning potential and avoid the spending restrictions that will soon take effect. Here’s the latest on Soler:

  • The Phillies have maintained a stealth pursuit of Soler and have made him an offer, Jim Salisbury‏ of CSNPhilly.com reports (on Twitter).
  • Some competing executives see the Cubs as the favorite for Soler, Heyman tweets.
  • The Dodgers are no longer engaged on Soler, Yahoo’s Tim Brown reports (on Twitter). ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported late last week that the Dodgers were among his most aggressive suitors.
  • The Blue Jays are said to be in the mix for Soler, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Heyman notes that the Cubs and Yankees also appear to be involved.

White Sox Sign Joey DeMichele

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The White Sox signed third round selection Joey DeMichele, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes has learned. The ASU second baseman will obtain a $400K bonus.

The White Sox selected DeMichele 108th overall, which means the White Sox obtained his rights for less than MLB's recommended bonus. The infielder is a tough out with a compact, left-handed swing, Baseball America wrote leading up to the draft. Lagardere-Unlimited advises DeMichele. 

Mets To Sign Kevin Plawecki

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The Mets have agreed to sign supplemental first round draft pick Kevin Plawecki, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports. He'll obtain a $1.4MM bonus.

The Mets chose the Purdue catcher with the 35th overall selection as compensation for losing Jose Reyes to free agency. MLB recommends a bonus of $1.47MM for the 35th overall selection, according to Baseball America.

White Sox To Sign Keon Barnum

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MONDAY: Barnum has agreed to a $950K bonus, reports Keeley. The contract will become official once he passes his physical.

SUNDAY: The White Sox will sign supplementary first round pick Keon Barnum pending a physical on Monday, reports Laura Keeley of the Tampa Times. Barnum, a high school first baseman out of Tampa, will forego his scholarship to the University of Miami to join the White Sox organization after being selected 48th overall. 

The White Sox were close to reaching an agreement with Barnum on draft night, according to Chicago's director of amateur scouting Doug Laumann. The recommended bonus for the selection is $1.05MM.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Latest On Vladimir Guerrero

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11:34pm: The Blue Jays have informed Guerrero that they have no spot for him in the Majors and he will not be called up, reports Enrique Rojas on ESPN Radio Dominicana (via Twitter). Vlad will be allowed out of his contract to seek employment elsewhere.

10:16am: Agent Bean Stringfellow told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that Guerrero "has not [opted out]. Not yet." The opt-out date is open, Rosenthal reports. There's no talk of Guerrero retiring, though. He's running and hitting well, according to his agent.

10:14am: Guerrero has given the Blue Jays an ultimatum, Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com reports (Spanish link). He won't return to the minor leagues, even if the team decides not to call him up. Guerrero has returned home to Anaheim, Rojas reports.

9:54am: Vladimir Guerrero appears to have decided to give up his comeback, Mike Wilner of Sportsnet 590 the FAN reports (on Twitter). The Blue Jays signed the 37-year-old to a minor league contract worth $1.3MM in the Major Leagues last month.

Soon after joining the Blue Jays' organization, Guerrero hit four homers in four games at Class A Dunedin. He was then promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he collected four hits last night after a slow start. Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has maintained that Guerrero won't necessarily make the club's active roster.

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.

This post was originally published on June 12th.

NL East Notes: Nationals, Phillies, Bernazard

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Some notes from the National League East before the Nationals, Marlins and Braves suit up for three of the day's four MLB games…

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