Rockies Designate Esmil Rogers For Assignment
The Rockies have designated Esmil Rogers for assignment, the club announced (on Twitter). The move clears a roster spot for Jeff Francis, who officially re-joined the team that originally drafted him. He'll start today.
Rogers, 26, pitched to an 8.06 ERA with 10.2 K/9 and 6.3 BB/9 in 25 2/3 relief innings for Colorado this season. He is out of options and could not be sent to the minors without first clearing waivers. Rogers is still young and cheap, plus PitchFX has his fastball regularly in the mid-90s this season, so the Rockies should be able to find a trade partner within the next ten days.
Alderson & Cashman Talk Trade Deadline
The Yankees beat Johan Santana and the Mets in the 2012 Subway Series opener last night, but before the game each club's GM answered questions about the upcoming trade deadline. Let's round up their quotes…
- "If we're in the race, as I expect we will be, I don't believe that money is going to be an issue for us," said Mets GM Sandy Alderson when asked about making additions during a chat with fans at MLB.com. "We'll be looking for ways to help the ballclub. It's very possible we'll still need help in the bullpen at that time, but there may be some other areas of need that will emerge and we'll have to address."
- In a MLB.com chat with fans, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said his "preference would be not to do anything" at the trade deadline. "You'd like to have everything here in front of you, but that's never the case," he added. "So right now it's way too early to tell you what's lacking … It's too early for me to say what we're looking for (at the deadline) just yet, if anything."
Quick Hits: Buxton, Blue Jays, Quentin, Collins
Stephen Strasburg struck out 13 Red Sox tonight, becoming the first visiting pitcher to strike out that many batters in Fenway Park since Mike Mussina flirted with a perfect game in September 2001. Here's some news from around the league…
- Representatives for second overall pick Byron Buxton will be in Minnesota to negotiate with the Twins early next week, reports Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN (on Twitter). There's optimism a deal could be reached as soon as next Wednesday.
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says the Blue Jays are expected to have interest in Carlos Quentin should the Padres make the slugger available. Ben-Nicholson Smith looked at Quentin as a trade candidate last week.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote about Mets manager Terry Collins, who says he's made a conscious effort to change his style after high-strung stints with the Astros and Angels in the 1990s.
Cardinals Release Scott Linebrink
The Cardinals have released Scott Linebrink, reports MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch (on Twitter). The move frees up a 40-man roster spot for Joe Kelly.
Linebrink, 35, made the team out of Spring Training after signing a minor league contract this offseason, but he has not pitched at all due to shoulder inflammation and biceps tendinitis. Linebrink pitched to a 3.64 ERA in 54 1/3 innings for the Braves last season.
Red Sox To Designate Marlon Byrd For Assignment
The Red Sox will designate Marlon Byrd for assignment tomorrow, reports MLB.com's Ian Browne (on Twitter). The move will clear a roster spot for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who will be coming off the disabled list to start on Saturday.
Byrd, 34, was acquired from the Cubs for Michael Bowden and Hunter Cervenka following Jacoby Ellsbury's shoulder injury back in April. He hit just .273/.288/.333 in 105 plate appearances for Boston. Chicago is paying all but $400K of Byrd's $6.5MM this season, so the move doesn't hurt the Red Sox's bottom line. Bowden was designated for assignment by the Cubs about a week ago.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Pete Orr
Here are today's outright assignments…
Draft Signings: Melotakis, Jones, Alford, Astros, A’s
MLBTR will track which first and supplemental first round picks have signed leading up to the July 13th signing deadline. As for players selected in round two and beyond, here are some additional draft signings…
- The Twins have signed second rounder Mason Melotakis and fourth rounder Zach Jones, reports MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger (on Twitter). Both players are college pitchers; Melotakis a lefty and Jones a righty. Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (on Twitter) that Jones signed for $357K, exactly slot money.
- The Brewers have signed 25th rounder Lance Roenicke according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy (on Twitter). Lance, a college outfielder, is the son of Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.
- The Blue Jays will sign third round selection Anthony Alford, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports. Alford, a high school outfielder, might have been a first round selection, but he informed teams of his intent to play football and baseball at Southern Mississippi instead of signing out of the draft. The Blue Jays will allow Alford to play football, Callis reports. The outfielder’s bonus remains unconfirmed, but it could be close to double the recommended value of $424K.
- The Astros announced the signing of eight selections, including fifth rounder Andrew Aplin.
- The A's announced that they agreed to terms with 13 players, including their fourth round selection, high school center fielder B.J. Boyd.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Jorge Soler Rumors: Friday
The Astros, Cubs, Pirates, Indians, Red Sox, Phillies, Yankees and Blue Jays appear to have some interest in Jorge Soler, while the Marlins and Mets are not pursuing him. The Cuban outfield prospect must sign by July 2nd if he aims to avoid spending restrictions imposed under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement. Here’s the latest:
- Angels GM Jerry Dipoto confirmed to Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times that they "won't be a player" for Soler (Twitter link). "I don't know who his agent is. Tells you how involved we are," added Dipoto.
- The next round of bids for Soler are due this weekend, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter). The Cubs, Yankees, Braves and Dodgers have been the most aggressive teams so far, Olney reports.
- Ben Badler of Baseball America reports that Soler may be trying to establish his residency paperwork through Haiti, instead of the Dominican Republic, where he has been living and working out. Some agents say they would never consider trying to establish a Cuban player's residency through Haiti, which is not known for accurate record keeping.
- However, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com hears that MLB verified Soler's residency in Haiti before granting him free agency (Twitter link). It's not an issue, according to Crasnick's source.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Phillies Looking For Outside Help
Mired in last place in the NL East with a 28-31 record, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel indicated to reporters (including Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer) that the club is looking for help outside the organization. Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com says the skipper hinted that bullpen help is the primary target (Twitter links).
"You never stop exploring things," said assistant GM Scott Proefrock to Gelb (via Sulia). "Our objective is to get better. That's what we're charged with. That's what we're trying to do. That's what we talk to our scouts about constantly. When things are going good, we're doing the same thing. There isn't more pressure."
The Phillies own the fourth worst bullpen ERA (4.33) in baseball despite stellar early returns from their investment in Jonathan Papelbon (2.31 ERA in 24 games). Jose Contreras (5.27 ERA) was ineffective before suffering a season-ending injury and Chad Qualls continues to struggle (5.32 ERA). David Herndon's 4.70 ERA is the club's best by a non-Papelbon right-handed reliever.
Brewers Sign Victor Roache
FRIDAY: The Brewers announced that they have signed Roache.
THURSDAY: The Brewers have agreed to terms with their first-round pick (28th overall) Victor Roache, reports Jim Callis of Baseball America (Twitter link). Roache, an outfielder from Georgia Southern University, will receive a $1.525MM bonus, slightly below the recommended slot price of $1.65MM. Roache is represented by Reynolds Sports Management.
Roache told 1250 WSSP Radio (h/t Jaymes Langrehr of Disciples Of Uecker) yesterday that his signing was imminent. "I’m coming into Milwaukee Thursday to get my physical and sign a contract, do the press conference and all that," Roache said. "You know, because of my injury from my college season, it was possible I might get shipped off to Phoenix and then start rehabbing, or I might come back home and find someplace here to rehab. Once I get my hand and wrist back fully 100%, they’re going to ship me off and we’ll start playing."
Brewers scouting director Bruce Seid told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (via Twitter) on Wednedsay that the team was "close with a lot of the top guys."