A few stray links to pass along as the Phillies reach the .500 mark for the first time since June 4 with a win over the Marlins …
- Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche "would love to stay" in Washington, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Last week, we heard that the Nats are likewise interested in retaining LaRoche. However, the left-handed hitter is enjoying a career year and is likely to seek a multiyear contract since his 2013 mutual option calls for a salary of $10MM. Kilgore adds that the Nats will wait until the season is over to commence extension talks with their players, as the organization is focused on its impending postseason berth.
- Orioles manager Buck Showalter said reliever Kevin Gregg's DFA earlier today was the best situation for both the club and the pitcher, writes Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. The Orioles needed the roster space, while Gregg may have the opportunity to start anew with a different team and pitch more regularly — as he had several long stretches without seeing game action this season — and perhaps set himself up to latch on with a team in 2013, Showalter explained.
- Gregg was nonetheless "really disappointed" to be leaving the O's, writes Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
- Astros interim manager Tony DeFrancesco is a candidate to assume the role on a full-time basis when Houston conducts its interviews during the offseason, writes Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. DeFrancesco has spent most of his professional coaching career in the Athletics' organization, which he said prepared him well for a managerial job with a team like the Astros that relies heavily on advanced analytics.
Is two years for between 20-25 going to happen between LaRoche and the Nats?
Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. Sincerely, The Phillies
Gregg getting DFA’d has been long overdue. There have been a couple of articles pointing out Andy Macphail not getting credit for setting up the current winning Orioles (which is somewhat true) but not enough about how many terrible deals he made. Paying way too much to hot head Gregg is the perfect example. Good riddance, Kevin. Take your lousy arm elsewhere. Maybe Boston? I heard Big Papi is a big fan.
I would say that LaRoche’s career year was 2006, but this year is close…
To be fair to Gregg atleast he was better than last year.
Man was he terrible last year!!!!