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Archives for July 2012

Cubs Sign Juan Carlos Paniagua

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The Cubs have signed Dominican right-hander Juan Carlos Paniagua to a contract with a $1.5MM signing bonus, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America.  This is the third time that Paniagua has signed a contract with a Major League team, with the first two signings (in 2011 with the Yankees and in 2009 with the Diamondbacks under the name of Juan Carlos Collado) both resulting in one-year suspensions due to problems with fraudulent documentation.  Paniagua lists his date of birth as April 4, 1990, the same as he did in his previous two MLB contracts.

The $1.5MM bonus will count against the Cubs' international spending cap for the 2012-13 period, as Paniagua was signed after the July 2 deadline for international signings.  Paniagua is the latest in a series of notable Latin American signings for the Cubs under the Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer regime; Chicago has added Jorge Soler and Gerardo Concepcion, plus Frandy de la Rosa at the July 2 deadline.

Padres Planning Extension Offers For Quentin, Street

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The Padres are planning to offer multiyear contract extensions to Carlos Quentin and Huston Street and will likely make such proposals before the trade deadline, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  Sources say that current owner John Moores and incoming owner Ron Fowler have both "given the go-ahead" to GM Josh Byrnes to try and keep the two players, who have both been frequently mentioned as trade candidates.

The sale of the team is "close" to being approved by Major League Baseball, which is perhaps why the Padres are comfortable in committing millions to the duo.  Quentin can be a free agent this winter, while Street is in the last guaranteed season of a three-year, $22.5MM extension he signed with the Rockies before the 2010 season.  Street's deal carries a $9MM mutual option for 2013 that will pay him a $500K buyout if the Padres decline.

It would be somewhat of a surprise if the Padres lock up either man since, as Heyman notes, the Padres have traditionally had problems in keeping their stars on long-term contracts and it's "a major step" that the club seems willing to commit to Quentin and Street.  Both players have expressed an interest in remaining with the team and Quentin is a San Diego native, though it's a risky move for a small-market team to spend big on a closer (especially given the Padres' deep bullpen) and an outfielder with Quentin's injury history.  The team could, of course, still explore trades if they are unable to come to agreements with Quentin or Street before July 31.  

Padres Designate Mark Hamburger For Assignment

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The Padres have designated right-hander Mark Hamburger for assignment, according to a team press release.  In a corresponding move, Jeremy Hermida was activated from the 60-day DL and sent to Triple-A Tucson. 

Hamburger was picked up off waivers last month after being DFA'ed by the Rangers and had a 7.50 ERA in 12 innings for Triple-A Tucson.  The righty has a career 3.99 ERA and 8.1 K/9 rate in 198 minor league games, and had a five-game cup of coffee with the Rangers last season.

Cubs Acquire Justin Germano; DFA Asencio

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The Cubs have acquired Justin Germano from the Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations, according to a team press release. The veteran right-hander was designated for assignment by Boston earlier this week to make room for Jacoby Ellsbury's return from the disabled list.  Germano has a 4.91 ERA and a 1.88 K/BB ratio in 80 Major League games (36 of them starts) with the Red Sox, Indians, Padres and Reds since 2004.  He made just one appearance with the Sox this season, though Germano posted a 2.40 ERA as a starter for Triple-A Pawtucket. 

It appears as though Germano could be rotation depth in case the Cubs deal Matt Garza or Ryan Dempster.  Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald tweets that prospect Casey Coleman was scratched from his Triple-A start today in case Germano can't make it to St. Louis in time for the Cubs' game with the Cardinals on Friday.  Dempster is scheduled to start that game, though we heard earlier today that the Cubs will have a backup starter — clearly either Coleman or Germano — on hand should Dempster be traded before Friday night.  This is just a cautionary move from the Cubs, as MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (Twitter link) reports that a Dempster trade is not imminent.

In a corresponding move, the Cubs designated Jairo Asencio for assignment.  Chicago claimed Asencio off waivers when the right-hander was DFA'ed by the Indians in May.  The 28-year-old Asencio has a 4.91 ERA in 30 games (40 1/3 innings) with the Indians and Cubs this season.

Giants Notes: Third Base, Bullpen, Cubs, Royals

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The Giants held a perfect 5-0 record since the All-Star break before dropping a 3-2 result this afternoon against the Braves.  San Francisco's lead in the NL West drops to 2.5 games ahead of the idle Dodgers.  Here's the latest Giants hot stove news, courtesy of CSN Bay Area's Andrew Baggarly…

  • The team isn't close to any trades, Baggarly writes, as they are completing their evaluations of their minor league prospects and figuring out who they want amongst the available players on the trade market.
  • Pablo Sandoval made an appearance at first base today, causing Baggarly to wonder if the Giants could move Sandoval to first and look to acquire a third baseman.  Giants GM Brian Sabean "is known to value an experienced player such as the Phillies’ Placido Polanco" and the club could go big and make a move for someone like Hanley Ramirez, though Baggarly considers a Ramirez deal to be "highly unlikely."
  • The Giants have "heavily scouted" the Cubs' and Royals' Triple-A teams.  The latter could be related to a possible move for Jonathan Broxton, who Baggarly says the Giants would be interested in "if the price drops."  The Mets are one of several teams who are reportedly interested in acquiring Broxton.
  • The Giants are looking for bullpen help but aren't willing to move major prospects for a first-rate closer.

Rockies, Royals Close To Swapping Guthrie, Sanchez

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The Rockies and Royals are close to a trade that would send left-hander Jonathan Sanchez to Colorado for right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). Both players have struggled in 2012 and are on track to hit free agency after the season.

Sanchez was recently designated for assignment following a short and disappointing stint in Kansas City. The Royals acquired him in an ill-fated offseason trade that sent Melky Cabrera to San Francisco. Sanchez posted a 7.76 ERA with 6.1 K/9 and 7.4 BB/9 in 53 1/3 innings for Kansas City, averaging less than 4.5 innings per start. He earns $5.6MM this year and will likely be in line for an incentive-based or minor league deal as a free agent unless he restores his value in hitter-friendly Coors Field.

Guthrie, 33, posted a 6.35 ERA with 4.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in Colorado. He allowed a league-leading 21 home runs in 90 2/3 innings. He earns $8.2MM this year.

This post was first published on Friday, July 20th.

Red Sox Notes: Crawford, Lucchino, Marlins, Valentine

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We heard earlier today that the Red Sox had lost interest in trading for Ryan Dempster, though they're still looking at another Cubs starter, Matt Garza.  Here are some more items out of Beantown…

  • Though Carl Crawford has struggled with injuries and performance since joining the Red Sox, he told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that he has no regrets about signing with the team in the 2010-11 offseason.
  • Team president Larry Lucchino discussed the recent Crawford-to-Miami trade rumors on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan radio show (WEEI.com's Kirk Minihane has a partial transcript).  "Dan Jennings, the guy from the Marlins front office who drafted Carl Crawford, was up in Boston scouting, presumably, Carl Crawford and others when Ben [Cherington] let us about the fact that there had been an inquiry," Lucchino said. "And given the encouragement that we offer regarding being bold I'm sure he asked them what they had in mind. That's just par for the course for this time of year. You explore all the possibilities, big ones, bold ones, small ones, incremental ones, whatever you can do."
  • Also from Lucchino's interview, he thinks Cherington is "empowered" to make a big move at the trade deadline. "This is a club has been built on bold moves over the years, going back to the Nomar Garciaparra trade as one example," Lucchino said. "There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that Ben Cherington and the entire baseball operations are all pointed to working hard to July 31."
  • Manager Bobby Valentine told reporters (including Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal) that he is open to roster improvements though he doesn't "see any gaping holes on our team."

Quick Hits: Dodgers, Angels, Ichiro, Bundy

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David Wright's remarkable offensive production continued today, as he homered twice against the Nationals. He now boasts a .353/.443/.586 batting line, so he'll have considerable leverage should the Mets look to sign him long-term this coming offseason. Here are today's links…

  • Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com hears that the Dodgers seem to have "50 or 60'' things going on with 12 days to go before the trade deadline. Jimmy Rollins is indeed one of the many established players that Dodgers executives are considering, Heyman writes. 
  • The Angels could use Cole Hamels and have the pieces to acquire him if the Phillies make him available, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. “Why wouldn’t you want a guy like that in your rotation?” Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson asked Morosi.
  • Dylan Bundy hasn’t thrown a pitch at the MLB level and Joey Votto is a former MVP who recently signed one of the biggest contracts in baseball history, but they have something in common, according to Dave Cameron of FanGraphs: lots and lots of trade value. Left-handers David Price, Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw have even more trade value than Bundy or Votto, Cameron writes.
  • Ichiro Suzuki told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan (via a translator) that he’s not sure how he fits in the Mariners’ plans for 2013 and beyond. “If the team is saying they need you, you're necessary, then it becomes a piece,” Ichiro said. “But if it's just coming from the player, it's not going to happen." The Mariners plan to re-sign Ichiro after his contract expires this fall, GM Jack Zduriencik has said.
  • I made a video appearance on the Score’s Getting Blanked Show today, discussing the Dodgers, Angels and Marlins. My conversation takes place at the 12 minute mark, but the entire show is worth watching.

Stephen Drew Drawing Interest

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3:37pm: The Pirates haven't had discussions about Drew with the Diamondbacks either, Olney reports (on Twitter).

3:27pm: The Red Sox and Diamondbacks have not spoken about Drew, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter).

1:21pm: The Pirates, Red Sox and Tigers are among the teams interested in Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report. Drew has played in 15 games this season since returning from the ankle injury that sidelined him for most of a year.

No team in baseball has obtained a lower OPS from its shortstops than the Pirates (.515), as noted in the FOX report. The Red Sox would likely use Drew in a reserve role and the Tigers, who are also interested in Diamondbacks infielder Ryan Roberts, could use him off the bench or at shortstop. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks would rely on Willie Bloomquist and John McDonald if they complete a trade.

Drew earns $7.75MM this year on a contract that includes a $10MM mutual option for 2013 ($1.35MM buyout). He has a .192/.246/.250 batting line in 57 plate appearances since returning from the disabled list. Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick expressed his disappointment in Drew earlier this year.

The Mariners have discussed Drew with the Diamondbacks, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported this week. Rosenthal has suggested that the Athletics could also be a fit for Drew.

Red Sox In On Garza, Not Dempster

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The Red Sox maintain interest in Matt Garza, but they're officially out on Ryan Dempster, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The Cubs are working to trade Dempster, the MLB leader in ERA.

Stark's colleague, Buster Olney, reported today that the Red Sox are more interested in adding long-term pieces than short-term rentals this summer. Dempster, who earns $14MM this year, will hit free agency following the 2012 season, while Garza, who earns $9.5MM this year, will remain under team control through 2013 as an arbitration eligible player.

The Dodgers, Tigers, Braves, Red Sox and Nationals have all expressed interest in Dempster, who can veto any trade. The Royals, Tigers, Dodgers, Orioles and Rangers have all been linked to Garza this summer.

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