Cubs Notes: Soriano, Rays, Trades
Earlier this week we learned that the Red Sox have expressed preliminary interest in Cubs pitchers Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster. Dempster is on the hill today against the Diamondbacks and it might just be his last start in a Cubs uniform. Here's the latest out of Chicago..
- Alfonso Soriano's 14 homers since mid-May should have teams interested, but it seems like no one is ever showing interest in the pricey outfielder, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. One rival GM surmised that Chicago could move Soriano if they absorb $44MM of the $46MM owed to him through 2014. One scout suggested that the Rays might be a fit for the 36-year-old.
- General Manager Jed Hoyer is looking to make moves for the future but still wants to keep a quality product on the field, writes Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com. "That’s where you sort of have to have that long view to make those moves,” Hoyer said. “But that’s why being in that position isn’t one you want to be in very often. You feel like, yes, you can make improvements for the long term but there is a reason there are teams calling, because there are good players. I think that is never a good feeling.”
Cardinals Sign Brian Fuentes
The Cardinals have signed Brian Fuentes to a minor league contract, the team announced (on Twitter). The Beverly Hills Sports Council client was released by the Athletics earlier this week.
In 25 innings for the Oakland this year Fuentes posted a 6.84 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9. The 36-year-old left-hander is in the second year of a two-year, $10.5MM contract he signed following the 2010 season. If he's called up to St. Louis, the Cardinals will only owe him the pro-rated portion of the league minimum.
Orioles Designate Eveland, Outright Paulino
The Orioles have designated Dana Eveland for assignment and outrighted Ronny Paulino to Triple-A, the team announced. The moves create room on the roster for Miguel Socolovich and Taylor Teagarden. Paulino can refuse the assignment and become a free agent, but he would forfeit the remainder of his $1MM salary.
Eveland, 28, made two starts and a dozen relief appearances for Baltimore this season. He pitched to a 4.73 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 32 1/3 innings. His 2.21 ERA in 36 2/3 Triple-A innings earned him a call-up in the first place. The 31-year-old Paulino has hit .254/.266/.302 in 64 plate appearances for the O's this season while missing time with a fractured toe.
Justin Upton Rumors: Saturday
Yesterday we learned that the Rangers have some interest in Justin Upton, but they're unlikely to trade either of their two elite prospects – Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt – to acquire him. Some GMs are convinced the Diamondbacks will trade their right fielder. Here are today's Upton rumors, with the latest up top…
- D'Backs GM Kevin Towers told reporters (including Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic) that he spoke to Upton about the trade rumors and said he will give him a heads up if something is close to happening (all Twitter links). "We had a good conversation. I think he gets it," said Towers. "[I told him he should] look at it in a good way that people like you, not just D'backs, but you’re perceived very, very well throughout baseball."
Mets Have Considered Kelly Shoppach
The Mets are looking for an upgrade behind the plate and they're rumored to have interest in Ramon Hernandez of the Rockies. According to MLB.com's Peter Gammons (on Twitter), they have considered Kelly Shoppach as an alternative if the price to land Hernandez is too high, however.
New York's backstops have produced a .244/.303/.298 batting line this season, the third worst catcher OPS in the NL. Shoppach has put up a .269/.358/.527 line while backing up Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and he's historically done most of his damage against left-handers. As Gammons notes, a trade would allow the Red Sox to bring Ryan Lavarnway up from Triple-A, where he's hitting .306/.395/.455.
Draft Links: Compensation Picks, Seniors, Yaz
Yesterday afternoon (4pm CT, specifically) was the deadline for teams to sign this year's draft picks. Every first round and supplemental first round pick signed except for Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, who turned down the Pirates as the eighth overall pick. Here's a round-up of some post-draft links…
- Jim Callis of Baseball America lists the four compensation picks for next year's draft. The Pirates will get the ninth overall pick for Appel while the Mets (76th overall), Phillies (96th), and Athletics (supplemental third round) will also receive picks for failing to sign players before yesterday's deadline.
- The deadline does not apply to college seniors with college eligibility remaining, so Preston Tucker (seventh round, Astros), Jarret Leverett (15th, Twins), and Tyler Olson (17th, Athletics) are still eligible to sign at any time according to Callis (on Twitter).
- The Mariners offered 30th round pick Mike Yastrzemski a $300k bonus according to MLB.com's Peter Gammons (on Twitter), but he decided to return to Vanderbilt to finish his degree. Mike is the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.
- Fifteen picks in the top ten rounds remained unsigned as of 15 minutes prior to the deadline, and Callis explains what happened with each of them.
Quick Hits: Braves, Blue Jays, Soriano, Weaver
Earlier this evening, Braves General Manager Frank Wren confirmed that he is on the lookout for a shortstop. "We’re moving along. Hopefully in the next day or so we’ll get to the end of it," said the GM, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). Here's more from around baseball..
- The Blue Jays are more focused on improving their starting rotation than their bullpen right now but are interested in upgrading both, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Toronto is said to be among the clubs interested in Cubs starter Matt Garza.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter) speculates that Alfonso Soriano would be an interesting get for the Rays if the Cubs were willing to absorb about 90 percent of the money owed to him.
- Angels pitcher Jered Weaver has no regrets about staying with the Halos for less money than he could have gotten elsewhere on the open market this offseason, writes Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
- Phillies assistant GM Marti Wolever isn't “overly disappointed” about not signing second-round pick Alec Rash, writes Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. “We’ll get an extra second-rounder next year,” he said of the right-hander. “We liked [Rash], but he didn’t pitch well this summer. We made a fair offer. He’s going to school."
Cardinals, Fuentes Close To Deal
Left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes is likely to join the Cardinals, sources told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The veteran had interest from six teams following his release from the A's, including the Cards who considered trading for him after he was designated for assignment.
Earlier tonight, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak confirmed that the club reached out to Fuentes' agents at the Beverly Hills Sports Council, writes Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. Heyman notes that the pairing makes sense as Fuentes hoped to join a winning team once he hit the open market.
Fuentes, 36, struggled in 25 innings for the A's this year, posting a 6.84 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9. For his career, Fuentes owns a 3.58 ERA with 9.4 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9.
Mets Sign C.J. Nitkowski
Tonight's minor moves..
- Left-hander C.J. Nitkowski announced via Twitter that he has agreed to a minor league deal with the Mets and will report to Double-A Binghamton. The 39-year-old, who last appeared in the majors in 2005 with the Nationals, added that this will be his "last shot" at getting back to the big leagues. Nitkowski pitched in Japan and Korea from 2007-2010 and auditioned for the Mets back in March.
AL Central Notes: Tigers, Infante, Pavano, Twins
We took a glimpse at the NL Central earlier this evening and in the interest of equal time, we'll run down the latest out of the AL Central as well..
- The Tigers have Marlins second baseman Omar Infante on their shopping list, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (via Twitter). If Miami sells, Stark writes that the former Tiger would be an excellent fit for Detroit.
- Carl Pavano could have been a potential trade chip for the Twins but the hurler won't be back in action before the trade deadline, tweets Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN. Mackey notes that the Twins acquired Pavano prior to the waiver deadline in 2009 and speculates that they could go that route this year if they choose to move him.
- Adelyn Santa, the Tigers' most expensive international signing in 2011, is no longer with the team, writes Jim Callis of Baseball America. The Dominican third baseman signed for $750K last year on July 3 and it's not yet known why he was cut loose by Detroit.