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Archives for March 2013

Week In Review: 3/3/13 – 3/9/13

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Let's catch up on the week that was here at MLBTR …

AL Notes: Ryan, Porcello, Happ, Indians

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Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan had dinner with principal owners Ray Davis and Bob Simpson Friday night to discuss his future role with the franchise. Simpson called the meeting "productive" while Ryan remained silent until today when he released a statement through the team. "Over the last week, Ray Davis, Bob Simpson, and I have been in discussion and met in-person. The conversations have been productive, and we have discussed my role as CEO of the organization. We agreed these discussions will continue as we go forward. I am very proud of what the Rangers have accomplished over the last several years, and I believe our preparations for upcoming season are what is important." Sources have told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Ryan could leave after he fulfills his two remaining team obligations: in San Antonio for the Rangers' two exhibition games there March 29-30 and in Houston during the Rangers' season-opening series against the Astros. In other news and notes from the American League:

Sternberg On Price, New Stadium, Payroll, Attendance

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Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg addressed the media, including the Tampa Tribune's Roger Mooney, at the team's Spring Training facility. When asked about his expectations for 2013, Sternberg acknowledged the folly of such an exercise, "Unfortunately, last year we felt incredible about the team, and the last time we felt that way was coming into ’09, and they were the only two years we didn’t make the playoffs." Mooney provides excerpts of the other topics covered this morning:

  • Sternberg says David Price "is an enormous part of this organization" and there's no question the franchise can handle a contract like his, but it is way too early to be focused on what could happen three or four years down the road.
  • Sternberg denies the front office has contemplated trading Price. "We haven’t had those thoughts. Others have speculated. There’s been speculation but we haven’t had those thoughts at all."
  • Sternberg is optimistic about his negotiations for a new stadium, but says nobody wants to hear him talking about stadium things so he will focus on baseball.
  • The team's payroll in 2013 will be above $60MM which is more than Sternberg had said it should be based on the team's attendance. "We’ve had a couple of years where it was lower than it should be, and we’ve had a number of years when it was higher than it should be, and this is one of those years."
  • Sternberg refuses to set any attendance goals this year after finishing last in MLB in that category in 2012. "We want to be average in attendance and well above average in on-field performance. We’re right now settling for well-above average on on-field performance, and that’s the important thing." Sternberg made his remarks hours before Tampa Bay's game with the Red Sox, which drew the Rays' largest home crowd of the spring and was their first sellout. 

Brewers Release Kelvim Escobar

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The Brewers have released Kelvim Escobar, who was attempting a comeback after pitching in just one Major League game since 2007, reports Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The decision was made after a couple days of talks between the Brewers and Escobar's agent to give the 36-year-old right-hander his release.

"If we waited until the end, it's not necessarily fair to him if we don't think he's going to make our team," said manager Ron Roenicke, who was a coach with the Angels during Escobar's tenure there. "This allows him to go out a little earlier to try to hook on with somebody, and to try and get a better shot at making a club. It's tough for us because of the way we feel about him, the way I feel about him."

The move comes one week after Escobar made his only Spring Training appearance lasting just two-thirds of an inning before experiencing control problems resulting from weakness in his throwing hand. Escobar, who was diagnosed with a pinched nerve and had since thrown only one bullpen session, admitted this injury made it difficult to make the Brewers, but will continue with his comeback.

"My hand, that setback, didn't help. Bad timing. I'm not on the 40-man roster. That made things harder," Escobar said. "I'm not going to give up. I'm going to continue to work hard and see where my arm is. I have to be honest with myself — (teams) want to see me pitching. They don't want to take a risk. The MRI of my shoulder doesn't look too good, so I have to pitch and show teams that I'm capable of doing it again."

Escobar says Mexico is an option to continue pitching and work as a starter. The Indians were reportedly interested in Escobar before he signed with the Brewers in January.

Quick Hits: Ramirez, Acta, Blue Jays, Cubs

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Sunday afternoon linkage..

  • Unable to find an MLB opportunity, Manny Ramirez has agreed to sign with the EDA Rhinos of the China Professional League, agent Barry Praver told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  Late last month, we learned that Manny Ramirez had a verbal agreement in place with the club but had the option of backing out if he landed a deal with an MLB team before March 7th.
  • Former Nationals skipper Manny Acta has joined ESPN as an analyst but he still hopes to return to the dugout as a manager, writes James Wagner of the Washington Post.  Acta said he was contacted by some teams for jobs as a bench coach or special assistant this winter but none as a manager.  After managing two organizations during rebuilding stages, he plans to wait for the “right opportunity.”
  • It would appear that the out-of-options Jeremy Jeffress has a good chance of making the Blue Jays as he has impressed in spring training, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
  • There's lots of trade talk surrounding Carlos Marmol and Alfonso Soriano, but Cubs manager Dale Sveum is unfazed by it, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.

New York Notes: Rivera, Wheeler, Alderson

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Yesterday, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera officially announced that he will retire after the 2013 season. Rivera told reporters, including Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger, that he is looking forward to moving on from the constant grind of baseball.  "Well, I’m telling you the tank is empty. I think that’s enough. It’s been a journey. One thing I will say that I will never stop missing the game or the action on the field. And my teammates. But after that, there’s nothing else. It’s just traveling and hotels and all that. There’s no more in me. I’ll do what I have to do next," said Rivera.  Here's more on the Yankees and Mets..

  • One major league executive estimated that the Super Two cutoff date may be around June 15th this year, meaning that the Mets may not promote Zack Wheeler until after that date, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
  • The clock is ticking on Sandy Alderson's honeymoon grace period with the Mets, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  It's possible that club ownership blocked Alderson from making bold moves along the way such as trading Jose Reyes and David Wright, but Sherman argues that Alderson was viewed as having the tools necessary to navigate his way around the top of the power structure.
  • In speaking with Marc Carig of Newsday (on Twitter) and other reporters, Alderson addressed his record in New York.  "It's a body of work that has to be judged, and not on a day to day basis. You have to step back periodically and say 'Where are we?'," said the GM.
  • Rivera was what set the Yankees apart from everyone else, writes Sherman.  Now, the question is whether the 43-year-old can be the difference maker for the Bombers in his farewell season.

NL West Notes: Dodgers, Giants, Capuano, Cabrera

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The Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches on the mound and it stands to reason that, at some point, they will move at least one of their extra starters for other assets.  Earlier today, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported that Ted Lilly is drawing more interest than Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang at this stage, despite missing most of last season.  Here’s more out of Los Angeles and other notes from the NL West..

  • Rival officials believe that other clubs will wait for the Dodgers to be backed into a corner by the calendar before making a deal for Harang and/or Capuano, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req’d).  The idea behind that is to push the Dodgers to eat most of the money owed to the pitchers. Harang will make $7MM for this season and has a $2MM buyout on a 2014 option. Capuano, meanwhile, will make $6MM, with a $1MM buyout.
  • Yesterday, Olney wrote that the Giants were in talks on a deal worth roughly $80MM with Melky Cabrera before his suspension, but a source with deep knowledge of the club’s thinking says that no deal was close.  The slugger ultimately landed in Toronto this winter, signing a two-year, $16MM deal.
  • Woody Paige of the Denver Post writes that the Rockies need to upgrade their rotation with Capuano and J.A. Happ of the Blue Jays.  Toronto can afford to part with the former National League rookie of the year as he isn’t slated to be part of the rotation in 2013.

Cafardo On Yankees, Headley, Red Sox, Lohse

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In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that some league executives feel that the new-and-improved PED testing will have a drastic effect on the power numbers of players.  That feeling has given some owners pause about committing long-term deals until they know how it will all play out.  “We’re all anxious to see what the result of the testing will be, but we’re anticipating that it will have a significant effect on the numbers, which will impact the game in general,” said an American League owner. “I think a few owners feel the way we do, that we’re going to see noticeable physical changes in players and their stamina in getting through a 162-game schedule.”  Here's more from Cafardo..

  • The Yankees have explored temporary options to fill-in for the injured Mark Teixeira but they have also looked into more significant moves.  The Bombers have inquired on the Padres' Chase Headley, though we learned recently that he's not available at this time.  However, Headley could be on the market this summer.
  • If shortstop Jose Iglesias continues to hit in spring training, Cafardo wonders if the Red Sox might be open to dealing Stephen Drew down the line.  The Cardinals pursued Drew this offseason and they are looking for help with Rafael Furcal sidelined. Drew cannot be traded until June 15 without his approval.
  • Teams have a number of reasons why they say they are not interested in Kyle Lohse, but Cafardo isn't buying any of them.  He feels that some team will happily give him a one-year, $10MM contract.  He would be a great fit in tfhe National League and Cafardo suggests the Brewers as a good fit.
  • There is more interest in Dodgers lefty Ted Lilly than fellow surplus starters Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano.  The Dodgers are holding on to all of them until they know that Chad Billingsley is fully recovered after undergoing treatments to his elbow this offseason.
  • A National League scout suggested that Phillies outfielder John Mayberry might be a good fit for the Yankees at first base, with a switch back to the outfield after Teixeira returns. Mayberry is a former first baseman and was used there last season when Ryan Howard was out of action.

Quick Hits: Zduriencik, Red Sox, Dodgers

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Jack Zduriencik is still the right person to serve as the Mariners' GM, Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times contends. Brewer points to a strong farm system (which includes the likes of Taijuan Walker, Mike Zunino, Danny Hultzen and James Paxton) as evidence that Zduriencik's plan is working. The Mariners have only had one winning season since Zduriencik was hired, however. "I can't say that I'm happy, can't say that I'm satisfied at all," Zduriencik said. "Because, at the end, it's about the finished product at the big-league level and all of these kids becoming what you want them to become." The M's finished 75-87 in 2012. Here are more notes from around the majors.

  • The Red Sox clubhouse feels "eleventy-billion times better" than it did in 2012, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald. The team's decision to replace Bobby Valentine with John Farrell is part of that, Tomase argues, but so is the fact that new additions Ryan Dempster, Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, Joel Hanrahan, David Ross, Jonny Gomes and Stephen Drew weren't around during the Red Sox's ugly 2012 season.
  • Napoli will be an impact hitter for the Red Sox in 2013 because he will no longer catch, Michael Silverman argues, also in the Boston Herald. "Now there’s more of a flow to everything," Napoli says. "It’s a tough position — catching and good-hitting catchers are tough to find. It’s just a grind — a grind that I do miss, but I don’t miss." Napoli caught in 72 games for the Rangers last year, but the Red Sox signed him to an incentive-laden one-year deal for 2013 with the plan that he would play first base, where, Silverman writes, he has looked "nimble and sure-handed" this spring.
  • The Dodgers "do not appear close" to trading one of their starting pitchers, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Since the Dodgers cannot ship Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano or Ted Lilly to the minors without those players' consent, teams may simply wait for the Dodgers, who don't have roster space for all their starting pitching, to become more desperate. The Orioles, Brewers and Pirates "have expressed interest" in the Dodgers' surplus arms, Shaikin notes, but the Rangers are not a likely trade partner.

Minor Moves: Mather, Ohman

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Today's minor moves..

  • The Phillies announced that they have released outfielder Joe Mather.  The 30-year-old, who hooked on with the club in January, hit just .209/.256/.324 across 103 games for the Cubs last season.  Mather has also played for the Cardinals and Braves and owns a career .219/.271/.357 slash line.
  • The Nationals have released reliever Will Ohman, MLB.com's Bill Ladson reports. Ohman did not have an out clause, but the Nationals were unable to find Spring Training innings for him and had already cut him from major-league camp. Ohman pitched in 32 games for the White Sox in 2012, posting a 6.41 ERA with 4.39 K/9 and 1.69 BB/9 in 26 2/3 innings.

Charlie Wilmoth contributed to this post.

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