Red Sox Notes: Francona, Valentine, Henry
Red Sox owner John Henry and general manager Ben Cherington met the team in Seattle yesterday, but they don't appear to be there to implement further changes. Henry told reporters that he doesn't plan to fire manager Bobby Valentine despite Boston's recent struggles and 62-74 record. Here are some more Red Sox-related notes…
- The Red Sox should dismiss Valentine and hire Terry Francona again, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes. Rosenthal makes it clear that Valentine won’t return to Boston in 2013, but reports that Francona won’t be invited back either, according to people familiar with the situation. The team’s owners will try to “lower the volume” with their next hire, Rosenthal writes. Plus, Francona could draw interest from other teams.
- Red Sox players don’t trust owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Larry Lucchino, Yahoo's Jeff Passan reports. The players see the owners as the source of leaks and lies and they have an equally frustrated relationship with Valentine, Passan writes. The Red Sox need to dismiss Valentine before the 2013 season, Passan writes.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Valaika, Smith
We'll keep track of tonight's outright assignments here..
- The Reds have outrighted infielder Chris Valaika and right-hander Jordan Smith to Triple-A Louisville, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com (via Twitter). Valaika, 27, has a .223/.268/.347 batting line in 85 games for Louisville this year. Smith, 26, appeared in 51 Triple-A games this season and posted a 4.76 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
MLB Considering Changes To Roster Expansion
Commissioner Bud Selig's special committee for on-field issues has talking about late-season roster expansion at length and there is increasing momentum to change the rules by next season, multiple industry sources have told Scott Miller of CBSSports.com. The current plan would still allow teams to expand rosters in the final month of the season but would require clubs to designate which players are eligible before each game.
The most popular scenario being discussed is to expand September rosters to 30, with each club's 25-man roster on August 31 being locked in throughout September. Locking in the rosters at the end of August would prevent teams from de-activating the starters not pitching in a particular game in order to load up with four additional minor leaguers.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez and Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly have both spoken out in favor of changes to the September roster rules. Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who is a member of Selig's committee, said that tweaking the rules would make sense "for a number of reasons".
Five Significant Non-Trades From The 2012 Deadline
Blockbuster trades generate lots of excitement, but not all rumors turn into reality. Some of the possible trade scenarios that dominated MLBTR early on this season never actually happened. Let's revisit five of those non-trades with an eye on the coming offseason:
- Justin Upton, Diamondbacks – The Upton rumors have subsided, but I doubt they've disappeared for good. The Diamondbacks don’t appear to have ruled out the possibility of an offseason trade involving Upton, who has a .765 OPS since the beginning of August.
- Cliff Lee, Phillies – The Phillies aren’t eager to trade Lee, but moving him would create some flexibility for a team with considerable commitments to its 2013 payroll. The left-hander is guaranteed $25MM per season through 2015 and his contract includes a $12.5MM buyout for a vesting option in 2016. The Dodgers, the only team with more 2013 commitments than the Phillies, are obviously not intimidated by his contract.
- Matt Garza, Cubs – Garza drew considerable interest leading up to the trade deadline, but he hasn't pitched since. A stress reaction in the back of his pitching elbow will sideline him for the remainder of the 2012 season and GM Jed Hoyer expects the right-hander will return in 2013, his final season before hitting free agency. If the Cubs do trade Garza this winter they figure to have less leverage than they did in July, when he appeared to be healthy.
- Josh Johnson, Marlins – The Marlins reportedly sought a Mark Teixeira-like package for Johnson when they listened to offers for him midseason. He'll earn $13.75MM in 2013, the final year of his contract with Miami. Most teams can handle that kind of commitment for a pitcher coming off of a strong season (3.86 ERA, 140 strikeouts and 51 walks in 165 1/3 innings) so he'll draw lots of interest if the Marlins make him available again. It'd be a surprise if they obtained a franchise-altering collection of prospects for Johnson, however.
- Chase Headley, Padres – Headley, the National League’s player of the month for August, has been on an extended hot streak since the non-waiver trade deadline. He has hit .331/.369/.653 with 12 home runs in the 31 games he's played, boosting his trade value to new heights. There’s no guarantee Josh Byrnes will look to trade Headley this offseason — the Padres could look to contend — but if he does there will be a long list of GMs interested in seeing what the 28-year-old could do in a more hitter-friendly environment. Headley, who's under team control through 2014, is an offseason extension candidate.
Others such as James Shields, Cole Hamels, Jason Vargas, Carlos Quentin, Alfonso Soriano, Huston Street, Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau get honorable mentions.
Giants Designate Eric Hacker For Assignment
The Giants have designated Eric Hacker for assignment, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). The right-hander saw just nine innings of work for the Giants this season, including one six inning start in April.
Hacker spent the bulk of the year with Triple-A Fresno, posting a 4.01 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 25 starts and one relief appearance. The 29-year-old has a 4.76 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in five Triple-A campaigns.
Padres DFA Ohlendorf, Rodriguez
The Padres announced that they have designated pitcher Ross Ohlendorf and catcher Eddy Rodriguez for assignment. The moves will allow the club to recall right-hander Brad Boxberger and infielder/outfielder Andy Parrino from Triple-A.
San Diego signed Ohlendorf to a major league deal in early June. The 30-year-old made nine starts and four relief appearances for the Padres this year, posting a 7.77 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 24 walks across 48.2 innings. Ohlendorf was then optioned to Triple-A Tucson on August 18th.
Rodriguez, 26, appeared in two big league games for the Padres in early August. The catcher split time between Advanced-A and Triple-A and hit .217/.264/.373 with 14 homers in 101 games.
The Red Sox inked Ohlendorf to a minor league deal back in February but he chose to opt out of the deal on June 2nd. In his 13 combined 2012 Triple-A starts, Ohlendorf posted a 4.52 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9.
Red Sox Acquire Guillermo Quiroz
The Red Sox acquired minor league catcher Guillermo Quiroz from Seattle for cash considerations, the Mariners announced. The 30-year-old has experience in seven MLB seasons, and last appeared in the Major Leagues as a member of the 2010 Mariners.
Quiroz posted a .278/.362/.483 batting line in 347 plate appearances at Triple-A Tacoma in 2012 after signing as a minor league free agent last December. He also hit 15 home runs and represented the Rainiers at this year's Pacific Coast League All-Star Game.
Mariners Designate Johermyn Chavez For Assignment
The Mariners announced that they have designated outfielder Johermyn Chavez for assignment. The move creates a 40-man roster spot for the team, which added Mike Carp, Luis Jimenez, Shawn Kelley, Alex Liddi, Hector Noesi, Carlos Triunfel and Casper Wells to the active MLB roster today.
Chavez spent most of the 2012 season with Seattle's Double-A Jackson affiliate. The 23-year-old posted a .232/.339/.386 batting line in 288 plate appearances at that level this year. The Mariners now have 10 days to trade, release or outright Chavez, who was dealt to Seattle with Brandon League for Brandon Morrow.
Quick Hits: Myers, Red Sox, Strasburg
Early September is always a good time to be a minor league player on the 40-man roster of an MLB team. So far today 21 players have been recalled to the MLB level, where they’ll earn a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary and collect service time. Here are today’s links…
- Congratulations to Wil Myers, who was named Baseball America's 2012 Minor League Player Of The Year. He hit 37 home runs and posted a .313/.387/.600 batting line in the upper minors this year while playing third base, center field and right field. Before long he’ll be hitting in the middle of the Royals’ lineup, J.J. Cooper writes at Baseball America.
- In light of Boston’s disappointing year, Alex Speier of WEEI.com recalls some recent teams that reached the postseason following losing seasons. Rarely have big ticket free agents played a role in these bounce-back campaigns, so it probably makes sense for Red Sox GM Ben Cherington to maintain a disciplined approach to spending, Speier writes.
- Here are some more notes about the Red Sox from earlier today.
- Manager John Farrell said he's "unequivocally" focused on the Blue Jays and acknowledged he has one year remaining on his contract with the team, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports (on Twitter).
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo deserves credit for protecting Stephen Strasburg and taking responsibility for his decision, Tom Verducci writes at SI.com. The decision to limit Strasburg’s innings is a truly modern one, “made with the kind of awareness, statistical study and medical information" that wasn't out there a decade ago, Verducci adds.
Clemens: No MLB In 2012
Roger Clemens said he doesn't expect to pitch for an MLB team in 2012, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). Clemens, who's scheduled to make his second start for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters three days from now, said he's just having fun. A comeback to the MLB level isn't on his mind, he said.
"I don't see it happening," Clemens told reporters.
The Astros will scout the 50-year-old's next start, but the Rangers and Royals don't appear to have interest. Clemens, who last pitched in the Major Leagues for the 2007 Yankees, could delay his appearances on the Hall of Fame ballot if he appears in an MLB game this year. Astros players have told their friends they think Clemens will sign with Houston, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported last week.