Zack Greinke Rumors: Tuesday
The Brewers plan to make another attempt at extending Zack Greinke this year, but if talks don't progress they may have to consider trade offers for the former Cy Young Award winner. Greinke, who's on track to hit free agency after the season, would be one of the best pitchers available if the Brewers decide to sell. Here are the latest rumors surrounding Greinke with the most recent rumors up top:
- The Brewers have a special assignment scout watching the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets. The scout is not there on routine coverage, which raises the possibility that the Brewers are taking stock of the Rangers’ system in anticipation of possible trades.
- The Braves are believed to be seriously considering a trade for Greinke even if they don’t have assurances of keeping him beyond 2012, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. O’Brien doubts the Braves would offer Greinke $20MM per season on an extension.
- A former teammate of Greinke’s told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the right-hander would like to play for the Braves. Greinke likes Atlanta and wants to win badly, according to Greinke’s friend. The Braves, who have lost four of their past five games, haven’t yet decided how aggressively to pursue upgrades in midseason trades.
- The Braves are willing to trade young arms for Greinke, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported yesterday.
Potentially Available Catchers
MLBTR will be previewing the trade market at various positions between now and the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline. We’ll start the series off today with a look at some potentially available catchers:
- Kurt Suzuki, Athletics – Suzuki’s his trade value may have reached an all-time low. Measured by wOBA, he ranks 58th out of the 64 MLB catchers with at least 50 plate appearances. Plus, his contract calls for a $6.45MM salary in 2013 and an $8.5MM club option in 2014 — enough to deter some potentially interested teams. Suzuki could clear waivers, making him an August trade candidate.
- Ramon Hernandez, Rockies – Hernandez, who's now on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hand, could interest teams looking to add a veteran backstop if his rehab goes well. He'll earn $3.2MM in 2013 under his current contract.
- Geovany Soto, Cubs – Soto hasn't done much at the plate so far in 2012. He earns $4.3MM this year and though he’s under team control through 2013, he must be considered a non-tender candidate. Keep in mind that this contract could also slip through waivers in August.
- Kelly Shoppach, Red Sox - The Red Sox could move Shoppach and create roster space for Ryan Lavarnway. Jarrod Saltalamacchia's emergence might make it easier for Ben Cherington to part with Shoppach, a right-handed hitter who’s best used in a platoon. Only two catchers have a better wOBA than Shoppach's .378: Carlos Ruiz and Jonathan Lucroy.
- Humberto Quintero, Royals – The Royals designated Quintero for assignment last week, so he's definitely available. The 32-year-old posted a .232/.257/.341 batting line in 144 plate appearances before losing his roster spot.
Twins Sign Lewis Thorpe
The Twins signed 16-year-old left-hander Lewis Thorpe, his agency, Paragon Sports International, announced on Twitter. The Australian, who’s also represented by One Management, obtained a $500K bonus, MLBTR has learned.
Several teams considered Thorpe the top amateur in Australia for July 2, Ben Badler of Baseball America writes. The prospect has a good feel for pitching and a fastball that sits in the 86-88 mph range, according to Badler. The Twins signed Dominican shortstop Amaurys Minier for $1.4MM yesterday, so they've now spent most of their $2.9MM budget.
Yankees Notes: Swisher, Granderson, Cabrera, Sheets
Nick Swisher hits free agency this coming offseason and Curtis Granderson’s contract expires following the 2013 season, so the Yankees face questions about the composition of their outfield at the same time that they're aiming to lower payroll below the $189MM luxury tax threshold. Joel Sherman discusses what he calls a looming outfield deficiency in his latest column at the New York Post. The highlights:
- There is “pretty much zero possibility” the Yankees will retain Swisher if they are serious about lowering payroll below $189MM by 2014, Sherman writes. Swisher has “done a hell of a job” in New York, GM Brian Cashman told Sherman.
- The Yankees’ best outfield prospects still need minor league seasoning. Immediate solutions are “not coming from within,” Cashman said.
- Sherman suggests the Yankees don’t want to reunite with Melky Cabrera, the former Yankee outfielder who’s now enjoying success in San Francisco as he approaches free agency.
- Cashman said the Yankees are not looking to address future outfield issues at the upcoming trade deadline, however. “You would like to have security and a comfort level. But we are not going to find that now, so why worry about it?”
- The Yankees offered Ben Sheets a minor league contract after watching him throw, Sherman reports. The Mets didn’t have interest in Sheets, who signed with the Braves.
Mets Interested In Francisco Rodriguez
One year after trading Francisco Rodriguez to Milwaukee, the Mets have some interest in re-acquiring the right-hander, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports. Rodriguez is on the list of trade targets the Mets will consider as they look to improve their bullpen.
Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio recently met with the team’s front office executives to determine how to approach the upcoming trade deadline. The Brewers won’t act until after the All-Star break and Attanasio will make the final decision, Davidoff writes.
Rodriguez, who was arrested at Citi Field in 2010, could appeal to the Mets because of his experience pitching in New York. The 30-year-old is in the midst of a solid season — a 4.00 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 36 innings — but the Brewers couldn't demand top prospects in return given his $8MM salary. The Mets might be able to acquire Rodriguez by adding payroll and surrendering lower-level prospects, Davidoff notes.
Quick Hits: Lee, Lino, Hamels, Trade Market
Some links to sift through as your Monday night winds down…
- Carlos Lee is remaining quiet on the potential Astros-Dodgers trade that would have sent him to Los Angeles, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. "When I'm ready to talk, I'll come to you," Lee told reporters on Monday.
- Mike Newman of Fangraphs and Scouting the Sally writes that Gabriel Lino, who the Phillies acquired from the Orioles in this weekend's Jim Thome trade, is one of the Top 5 catching prospects he's scouted in person in terms of talent and ceiling. Newman opines that Ruben Amaro Jr. did well to turn a one-year deal like Thome into a talented teenage catcher.
- Josh Slatger of MLive.com writes that if the Tigers decide to make a run at Cole Hamels, third base prospect Nick Castellanos could be the "golden ticket" to acquiring the Philadelphia ace. Castellanos is blocked with both Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder locked into Detroit long-term.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince looks at the ten biggest buzz topics heading into this year's trading season.
Int’l Signings: Barrera, Cruz, Esteves, Gomez, Dodgers
The 2012 international free agent signing period opened today and plenty of signings will be coming in as teams look to spend within their $2.9MM allotment. We'll be keeping track of all of the day's major agreements under $1MM right here..
- The Athletics are finalizing an agreement with Luis Barrera that would pay the Dominican outfielder $450K, tweets MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez. Sanchez's colleague Jonathan Mayo ranked Barrera as the No. 13 prospect in this year's class.
- Badler also adds that the Indians have signed Dominican shortstop Grofy Cruz for a bonus of $400K. Cruz is expected to shift to third base soon, and is praised by Badler for his strong arm and raw power.
- Dominican third baseman Kelvin Esteves signed with the Braves for a $300K bonus, Badler writes. Badler praises Esteves' bat speed and raw power from the right side.
- The Dodgers also signed Dominican shortstop Cristian Gomez to an undisclosed bonus, writes Badler. Gomez was widely expected to receive a low six-figure bonus.
- The Dodgers issued a press release to announce four international signings: right-handers Lenix Osuna and William Soto, left-hander Victor Gonzalez, as well as catcher Julian Leon. Osuna is the son of former Dodgers righty Antonio Osuna. Soto hails from Venezuela while the other three were all signed out of Mexico. Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times tweets that the club spent about $1MM total on the four players.
- The Mets, who earlier today signed shortstop Amed Rosario to a $1.75MM bonus, also signed Venezuelan shortstop Miguel Patino and Dominican second baseman Franklin Correa, tweets ESPN's Adam Rubin. Rubin also notes that Rosario's bonus is the highest the Mets have ever given to an international free agent. That honor had previously gone to Fernando Martinez ($1.3MM).
Int’l Free Agency Links: Puig, Rangers, Royals
There's been no shortage of signings on this, the first day of 2012's international signing period, but there's also plenty of chatter around the league. Here's some links for your perusal…
- In the latest edition of Ask BA, Jim Callis relays some Yasel Puig-related notes from his colleague Ben Badler. Giving the caveat that it's difficult to compare the 21-year-old Puig to 15- and 16-year-olds, Badler notes that he'd only have ranked Puig 11th on his Top 20 international free agents. Beyond that, Badler says that the consensus from his talks with teams was that Puig would've gone in the third round of the 2012 Amateur Draft. Puig signed a seven-year, $42MM deal with the Dodgers just prior to July 2, narrowly avoiding the new CBA's spending limitations.
- Badler tweets that the Rangers could be a fit for Wendell Rijo now that the Yankees have used up most of their $2.9MM cap. Badler ranked Rijo 10th on his Top 20.
- Despite Badler's comment, Rangers GM Jon Daniels told MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez that his club isn't likely to be active on the international front because they're awaiting resolution on the Jairo Beras situation (Twitter link).
- Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow told reporters (including MLB.com's Brian McTaggart) that his team is prepared to spend on international players in the coming days. Luhnow though, is more excited for the 2013-2014 classes, when bonus pools will be based on the previous year's standings. "…that's when things will be more interesting, and you'll see more unique strategies like we saw in the Draft this year," said Luhnow.
- Badler doesn't think the Royals will be shy with signing someone they like, despite not having been active yet (Twitter link).
Mariners Sign Mike Zunino
9:12pm: Ben Badler of Baseball America writes that despite signing Zunino for well under the slot recommendation, the Mariners are $36,600 over their bonus pool for the first 10 rounds of the draft. Badler also gives a brief recap of Zunino's season, noting that he was Baseball America's College Player of the Year.
8:45pm: ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Zunino will receive a bonus of $4MM — well below the slot recommendation (Twitter link).
8:32pm: The Mariners have signed No. 3 overall pick Mike Zunino, the team announced (on Twitter). A press conference to introduce Zunino will be held tomorrow.
Details of the signing are not yet known, but the recommended bonus for the third overall slot is $5.2MM. Over the weekend, we had heard that the Mariners were expected to sign the former University of Florida catcher in the near future. Baseball America says Zunino's hitting ability "projects to be above-average for a Major League catcher" while noting that he offers strong intangibles that draw Jason Varitek comparisons.
With the signing of Zunino, there are now eight first round picks who have yet to sign.
Blue Jays Designate David Pauley For Assignment
The Blue Jays have designated David Pauley for assignment to clear a roster spot for Drew Carpenter, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca (on Twitter).
Pauley, 29, was designated for assignment by the Angels on two different occasions earlier this year. The Jays picked him up off waivers on June 20, following his second DFA. The right-hander appeared in just four games for Toronto, allowing seven runs in 6 1/3 innings (three of those runs came over three innings in tonight's game).
The Blue Jays were Pauley's fifth Major League team. He's seen time with the Mariners, Red Sox, Tigers, and Angels as well, pitching to a 4.68 ERA in 209 2/3 career innings.