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Archives for June 2012

AL East Notes: Jeter, Red Sox, Orioles, Lind

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On this date 20 years ago the 1992 draft took place. A number of future stars, including Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi, were selected that day, but none impacted the American League East like the shortstop prospect the Yankees selected sixth overall. Here's the latest on the AL East…

  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post explains how Derek Jeter fell to the Yankees 20 years ago. Though the Yankees were hoping Jeter would fall to them, they had prepared to start negotiations with right-hander Jim Pittsley in case another club selected their preferred target.
  • Ben Cherington will be running his first draft as Boston's GM on Monday, but it'll be a familiar setting in some ways, Rich Thompson of the Boston Herald reports. The longtime Red Sox executive says his staff will seek the best available player with each pick.  “The key with any draft is to do more with your picks than the 29 other teams do," he said.
  • The Orioles will purchase the contract of utility player Bill Hall today and add him to the 25 and 40-man rosters, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports.
  • Adam Lind could be ready to return to the Major Leagues "soon," GM Alex Anthopoulos said, according to Ken Fidlin of the Toronto Sun.

Cubs Claim Asencio, DFA Bowden

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The Cubs claimed right-hander Jairo Asencio off of waivers from the Indians, ESPN.com's Keith Law tweets. Chicago designated right-hander Michael Bowden for assignment in a corresponding move.

The Indians acquired Asencio from the Braves for cash at the end of March then designated him for assignment four days ago. The out of options reliever posted a 5.96 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 25 2/3 innings for the Indians this year. He led the International League in saves in 2009 and 2011 and posted a 1.81 ERA with 11.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 54 2/3 innings at Triple-A last year.

The Cubs acquired Bowden from the Red Sox in the April trade that sent Marlon Byrd to Boston. The 25-year-old has a 7.45 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9 in 9 2/3 innings with the Cubs since the trade.

Latest On Kevin Youkilis

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1:07pm: Teams have checked in, but the Red Sox haven’t initiated any talks, GM Ben Cherington said, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). The Reds are happy with Todd Frazier at third, Knobler tweets.

12:30pm: The Dodgers have lukewarm interest in Youkilis, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports (on Twitter). They don't want to pay his salary or surrender a top prospect for him.

12:13pm: The White Sox have watched Youkilis and the Rangers have checked in on him, Knobler reports. The Dodgers are stepping up their scouting of Youkilis, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).

10:19am: The Red Sox are telling teams they definitely intend to trade Kevin Youkilis, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The emergence of Will Middlebrooks has made it more challenging than ever to work Youkilis, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz into Boston's lineup.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggested yesterday that the Giants, Diamondbacks and Dodgers are among the teams with interest in Youkilis. The Phillies and Indians were linked to the corner infielder earlier this spring.

Youkilis has a .250/.318/.406 batting line with four home runs in 107 plate appearances this year. The 33-year-old spent three weeks on the disabled list with lower back soreness before returning to action late last month. Youkilis, a three-time All-Star, can play first or third base. He earns $12MM this year and his contract includes a $13MM club option for 2013 ($1MM buyout).

Dodgers Expected To Pursue Pitching & Hitting

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Dodgers officials are saying they’ll work to add a starting pitcher and a hitter by the end of July, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports. Money is not expected to be an obstacle for the Dodgers, one executive told Knobler. GM Ned Colletti should have the backing of the team's new ownership group, Guggenheim Baseball Management.

After the season ends the Dodgers are expected to pursue Cole Hamels, assuming the left-hander reaches free agency. "They love him, and they're saying they'll do whatever it takes to get him," one person told Knobler.  

ESPN.com's Buster Olney wondered earlier today if Kevin Youkilis, Carlos Lee, Nick Swisher, Reed Johnson or Jeff Baker could be options for the Dodgers this year. The Dodgers are stepping up their coverage of Youkilis, CBSSports.com reported earlier today. 

Juan Rincon Elects Free Agency

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Right-hander Juan Rincon has opted out of his contract with the Angels and elected free agency, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. Rincon had signed a minor league deal with Los Angeles in February.

Rincon, 33, has a 3.12 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 6.2 BB/9 in 26 innings at Triple-A this year. The ten-year MLB veteran has started three games and pitched out of the bullpen in 14 others. He last pitched in MLB with the 2010 Rockies.

Lowe, Feldman Likely To Be Available In Trades

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The Rangers are expected to make right-handers Scott Feldman and Mark Lowe available at the trade deadline, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. GM Jon Daniels will look for a right-handed hitting outfielder in return.

The Rangers have an abundance of right-handed pitching after signing Roy Oswalt. Relief prospect Tanner Scheppers continues to pitch effectively at Triple-A, and Neftali Feliz will re-join the pitching staff at some point.

Lowe, 28, has a 2.66 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 20 1/3 innings two months into the season. He'll earn $1.7MM this year before hitting free agency. Feldman, 29, has a 4.50 ERA with 4.1 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 24 innings as a fill-in starter and reliever this year. The Rangers figure to decline their $9.25MM club option ($600K buyout) for Feldman if he's still on their roster after the season.

GMs Look Ahead To Trade Deadline

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Several general managers predict diminished trade activity this summer, when teams navigate baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement for the first time, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. Additional playoff berths mean more teams than ever are in contention and modified rules mean team can no longer obtain draft pick compensation for players acquired midseason. 

The Brewers and Diamondbacks have struggled through the season’s first two months and might have become sellers in other years, but neither team is inclined to make its players available yet. Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers knows his team faces a light schedule in the coming weeks and with Matt Kemp on the disabled list in Los Angeles, the Diamondbacks could strike. Similarly Brewers president of baseball operations Doug Melvin remains optimistic about his team’s chances of re-entering the race.

One GM says Zack Greinke, Josh Hamilton and Cole Hamels are the only prospective free agents assured of receiving one-year qualifying offers from their respective clubs after the season. More than three free agents will obtain these offers, but most players aren’t worth $12-3MM on a one-year deal, so teams will be pressured to make trades if they aim to convert players on the brink of free agency into long-term assets. As Rosenthal notes, GMs predict a quiet trade deadline annually, but lots of trades happen every year.

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