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Midseason Trade Candidates

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The regular season is about to begin, and before you know it, fans of struggling clubs will be combing rosters for players their team can acquire from even worse clubs come July.  With apologies for being a wet blanket, things look particularly dire this year for the Astros, Twins, Marlins, Mets, and Cubs.  They comprise our very early list of potential midseason sellers, which will surely grow in the coming months.  What can other teams scavenge from them?

Astros

The Astros are in complete teardown mode.  Their highest-paid player is starter Bud Norris, at $3MM.  He's under team control through 2015 and will appeal to anyone looking for more than a rental.  He'll just have to show some consistency first.  Lucas Harrell, meanwhile, is under team control through 2017, but I still think GM Jeff Luhnow will listen.  Wesley Wright is a credible left-handed reliever.  Otherwise, we're down to newly-signed veterans like Carlos Pena, Jose Veras, and Erik Bedard.

Twins

With first baseman Justin Morneau entering a contract year, he's a good candidate to be dealt this summer.  The 2006 MVP is only 31 years old, and enters the season free of health concerns.  Josh Willingham may be a popular target, though he's signed through next season and the Twins weren't willing to deal him last summer.  Veterans such as Jamey Carroll and Ryan Doumit could draw some interest.  I'm not sure the Twins would be willing to trade from their rotation, but Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey are not long-term pieces.

Marlins

Teams will be clamoring for Giancarlo Stanton, but he's the only reason to see the Marlins right now and he's under team control through 2016.  Expect plenty of rumors.  The Marlins will get more for starter Ricky Nolasco if they assume some of the $11.5MM owed to him, not that I expect that.  Then we're mostly down to veteran pickups like Placido Polanco, Juan Pierre, Jeff Mathis, and Jon Rauch. 

Mets

Johan Santana's shoulder will cause him to start the season on the DL.  If he looks decent in May and June, and the Mets pick up most of his $31MM tab, and he waives his no-trade clause, maybe they can get a prospect back.  Other players in the last year of contracts or on one-year deals such as John Buck, Frank Francisco, and Brandon Lyon should be available.  Ike Davis and Jon Niese will draw interest, but seem like building blocks for the Mets.

Cubs

This might be the year the Cubs finally move Alfonso Soriano, who has two years and $36MM left on his deal, plus a full no-trade clause.  The Vernon Wells trade has to give the Cubs hope toward the idea of picking up less than half the tab.  Matt Garza is entering his contract year, and could be one of the better starters available if he's healthy and the Cubs prefer not to extend him.  The Cubs also have starters Scott Feldman and Scott Baker on one-year deals.  Closer Carlos Marmol, earning $9.8MM, will be difficult to unload given his control issues.  David DeJesus, who has a club option for 2014, could be a useful piece for someone.

Best hitter available: Justin Morneau

Best starting pitcher available: Matt Garza

Best reliever available: Rafael Betancourt

Follow @CloserNews On Twitter

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Do you like playing fantasy baseball, and perhaps even winning your league?  In many leagues, as tradition dictates, saves are one of the stats you must accumulate to win.  Many of those same leagues allow unlimited, instant free agent pickups.  The upshot: if you're not quick to the draw to grab the latest newly-minted closers, you won't win saves.  That's why I created @CloserNews on Twitter a few years back.  The sole purpose of this account is to inform you of closer-related news the instant it becomes available, so that you can be the first to your waiver wire.  So give it a follow today and pull your fantasy team out of the gutter!

East Notes: Happ, Romero, Mets, Nationals

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The Yankees will finish in last place, predicts Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Predicting the AL East is no easy task, that's for sure.  The latest from baseball's eastern division teams:

  • The Yankees need another Aaron Small-type hidden gem this year, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  The team is facing some derision for recent veteran pickups like Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay, but Sherman feels the front office has earned the benefit of the doubt given its success with these types of additions.
  • The Blue Jays and starter J.A. Happ first discussed an extension in the offseason when they were doing his arbitration case, GM Alex Anthopoulos told Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star.  The agreement was reached before Happ found out he'd made the Opening Day rotation, said the pitcher.  The Jays guaranteed Happ's final arbitration year in 2014 and also snagged a club option for '15.
  • Happ beat out Ricky Romero for the Jays' fifth starter job, even though Romero is owed $7.5MM this year.  Romero, who was optioned to High-A, told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, "I don’t belong here to be honest with you. This is not for me."
  • The Mets are not yet convinced Ruben Tejada is their shortstop of the future, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.  Gavin Cecchini is Baseball America's top-rated shortstop in the Mets' farm system, but he was drafted out of high school last summer.
  • The Nationals are a scouting-first organization, but GM Mike Rizzo is open-minded to suggestions from their two top analytics people, Adam Cromie and Samuel Mondry-Cohen, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.  The team has its own formula to evaluate defense and its own version of wins above replacement.

Marlins To Explore Trading Gorkys Hernandez

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The Marlins will explore trade options for outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, reports MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.  Hernandez is out of options, and has been told he did not make the Opening Day roster.  If a trade partner cannot be found, Hernandez will be released.

Hernandez, 25, struggled in his 173-plate appearance big league debut in 2012 with the Pirates and Marlins.  He hit .257/.353/.346 in 281 Triple-A plate appearances, playing mostly left field.  Prior to the 2012 season, Baseball America ranked Hernandez 20th among Pirates prospects, praising his center field defense but questioning his offense.  Signed by the Tigers out of Venezuela in 2005, Hernandez joined Jair Jurrjens in the 2007 deal with the Braves that brought Edgar Renteria to Detroit.  In June 2009 he went to Pittsburgh with Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton for Nate McLouth.  Finally, the Bucs traded him to Miami at last year's trade deadline with a draft pick for Gaby Sanchez and Kyle Kaminska.

Why I Chose My Agency: Mark DeRosa

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Blue Jays utility man Mark DeRosa is renowned for his clubhouse presence.  He's played 500+ career innings at third base, second base, shorstop, right field, and left field, and has a pair of 20 home run seasons on his resume.  The longtime CSE client spoke with MLBTR this week about his relationship with agents Lonnie Cooper and Keith Grunewald.

On his first agency:

I actually was with the Hendricks brothers before I switched to CSE.  The reason for the switch, I don't know the whole ins and outs of it, but at some point in 2003 I think it was, SFX, I don't know if they bought out the Hendricks brothers or bought their company to become part of SFX, and for those two or three years I was still dealing with this new guy I had dealt with at the Hendricks brothers up until that point, and then the Hendricks brothers decided to leave and go back and be on their own again.  But the guys that I had dealt with coming up through the minors were going to stay at SFX.  So it kind of got to a situation of, who do I choose?  Do I stay with SFX and the guys I dealt with on a daily basis, or do I go back with Alan and Randy, which at the time when I signed with them, they were the reason I signed because of what they had done in the game and how they had represented people up until that point.  

So I had a window to sit down with my wife and decide, well, if we can't choose between either of them, this is an opportunity to at least interview with some other people.  I had talked to John Smoltz, who I trust and I really looked up to as a teammate, and he said, "Before you do anything, you need to sit down with Lonnie Cooper at CSE."  So I met with Lonnie and Keith and all the people up there and it was kind of a no-brainer for me, walking out of the office.  I turned to my wife and she felt comfortable too, and I ended up signing with them.    

On his decision to go with CSE:

I was at a crossroads in my career, I was getting ready to go into a season where I was going to arbitration eligible for the first time.  After I talked with Lonnie and Keith, them being right there in Atlanta where I was playing at the time, and I felt comfortable with them.  They weren't a huge agency at the time.  Lonnie represented a lot of NBA basketball coaches and he had John [Smoltz] and a few other big leaguers at the time.  I really felt like I could get the personal attention I needed and also it was nice for me to have my agent in my backyard where I lived.  

On Lonnie and Keith:

I'm a straight shooter, I'm an honest guy, I'm not a needy client.  I'm sure they'll tell you I'm the easiest client they probably ever had.  I just want an honest opinion, I wanted to know everything about what was being said to me during free agency, good, bad, and different, from every team, but at the same time totally trusting them to push me in the right direction. Going back to 2006, the Rangers actually came to me in about August and wanted to sign me to an extension, and I hadn't made so-called "big league money" up until that point, and was really humbled by the offer, and honored, and excited.  I called Lonnie and Keith and they steered me in the right direction.  They were like, "No, you've gone this far, might as well play out the last two months and see what's on the free agent market."  I ended up signing a three-year deal with the Cubs, so everything worked out.  

For me it was just about feeling good about who I was represented by.  I felt like they were a direct reflection of me, they have to be straight shooters, have to be honest, and have to surround themselves with good people.  I figured if Smoltzie was with them then I needed to sit down with them.

On the free agency process:

I wanted to know everything.  I wanted to know day-to-day stuff, which teams were calling, what they thought I could and couldn't do, what the monetary figures were.  I had an idea for who I was as a player and as a person.  That stuff never bothered me, I like to be honest.  I learned a lot of that from Bobby Cox.  A lot of managers say they have an open door policy, but Bobby lived it.  I could go in and talk to him about anything, and I didn't necessarily like everything he told me throughout my tenure with the Atlanta Braves, but I never walked got in my car that night wondering where I stood in the organization.  I wanted to be represented by people like that: tell me what they're saying, what they feel my strengths and weaknesses are, because that's going to play a big part in my decision.  

On his decision to sign with the Rangers:

[My agents] played a huge role in that decision with me signing with Texas.  Blowing out my knee at the end of '04 and getting non-tendered [by the Braves], here I am in the offseason rehabbing a torn ACL and everything that goes with that, and to have no job.  I was definitely nervous at the time.  I still felt I was going to come back and be a productive player, but what camp was I going to get into, how was I going to approach that.  Lonnie and Keith steered me in the direction of, "Where can you get with the best hitting coach?  Where can you find ABs but at the same time work on your craft and be a part of a team that has a chance to win?"  Me and Keith ended up flying down to Texas and meeting with Rudy [Jaramillo] and Buck Showalter, and I just felt like it was a good fit.  They had Mikey Young, and Soriano, and Blalock, and Teixeira.  They had their infield pretty well set, so I knew I wasn't going to get much playing time, but it offered me such an opportunity to just every day work with Rudy Jaramillo and completely overhaul my swing.  

On his reasons for jumping on the Cubs' offer quickly:

The fact that it was a guaranteed position.  I was a utility player in Texas, I had moved around, played right, second, third, short, the whole deal.  An opportunity to play in Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs I did not take lightly.  What an opportunity, what a historic place to play. That all factored in.  But I was going to play second base, barring injury.  I ended up moving around due to other guys being banged up, but I always had a home at second.  I felt that was huge for me.  And, to be honest with you, it was my first time hitting free agency, and I only had up until that point one full season of playing every day.  Didn't know how the market was going to play out, and wanted to kind of set it.

On his last couple of contracts with the Nationals and Blue Jays:

I have two young kids, I'm 38 years old.  I feel it's got to be worth my while to grind it out, to put the effort in that needs to be put in for 162 games.  Not only that, I'm fully cognizant of why teams bring me in.  Not only to be a sounding board for their younger players, but to be a clubhouse guy.  I still feel like I'm a viable option playing and can be productive playing.  I feel like the last couple deals, the one with Washington, the one with Toronto, Lonnie and Keith…they know me, they know what I'm about.  They gave me a chance to sign with a team that has a chance to win.  I'm all about helping the young guys, passing down knowledge, because I was never a can't-miss guy.  I picked the brains of all the great players I've played with and I've tried to incorporate their thought processes and what they do into my game, to keep me around as long as I can.  I love talking the game with the younger players, but at the same time, I wasn't just just going to hang around to help young players.  I want an opportunity to win a World Series.

On whether a small agency offers an advantage over the big ones:

To each his own, to be honest with you.  It works for me.  I like being able to call Lonnie and get him on the phone whenever I need him.  I like to be able to pick his brain, because not only is he a great agent, he's also a great businessman.  Not all of our talks revolve around baseball.  He cares about how my family is doing, he's completely involved in what I'm going to do after the game.  That stuff matters to me.  Is he willing to pick up the phone and sit with me for an hour whenever I need to talk to him.  And then there's Keith, who has become more than my agent, he's become my buddy.  We play golf in the offseason, just someone I can confide in, knows probably my darkest secrets.  He's become a great friend over the years.

Check out our other interviews in the Why I Chose My Agency series with Ted Lilly, Ryan Ludwick, Cody Ross, Aramis Ramirez, Adam Wainwright, Jeremy Affeldt, David Wright, Jay Bruce, Matt Holliday, Jamey Carroll and Jake Odorizzi.

Cardinals Extend Adam Wainwright

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The projected number one free agent starter for next offseason is off the market.  The Cardinals officially signed righty Adam Wainwright to a five-year, $97.5MM extension that covers the 2014-2018 seasons and includes a no-trade clause.  Wainwright, 31, is represented by Steve Hammond of Aegis Sports Management. He was set to enter free agency next year as the top pitcher available on MLBTR's Tim Dierkes's 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings.  "I can't wait to make you proud of this contract," Wainwright told Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr. during his press conference today, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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The Cards were reportedly working on an extension with their All-Star hurler at various points throughout the spring, with both team and player reportedly preferring to leave Florida with a new deal in place.  Wainwright's new deal falls short of the six-year, $127.5MM extension signed by Matt Cain with the Giants a year ago as well as Zack Greinke's six-year, $147MM deal with the Dodgers achieved in free agency.  Aside from the shorter term, Wainwright's average annual value of $19.5MM is short of Cain ($21.25MM) and Greinke ($24.5MM).  One potential reason for the difference in the extended pitchers: Wainwright's extension begins with his age 31 season, while Cain's began with his age 27 campaign.  It should be noted that with Cain's deal, it was actually five years and $112.5MM in new money, since he was already under contract for 2012.  Greinke's contract, of course, was signed after open bidding.

Wainwright notched a 3.94 ERA, including 8.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9, over 198 2/3 innings with the Cards in his first season back from Tommy John surgery.  He posted a 3.51 ERA from May 6th onward.  As Rosenthal notes in his full article discussing the extension, Wainwright has pitched to a career 3.15 ERA in the majors.  He began his big league career as a successful reliever in '06.  In March 2008, Wainwright inked a four-year, $15MM extension with the Cardinals, and the team chose to exercise a dual club option covering the 2012 and '13 seasons.    

With the contracts of Chris Carpenter and Jake Westbrook set to expire after this season, Wainwright will be the elder statesman of the rotation.  He's signed through 2018, and Jaime Garcia potentially through 2017.  Lance Lynn is under team control through 2017, and promising youngsters such as Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal through 2018.  Well-regarded prospects Carlos Martinez and Michael Wacha are also waiting in the wings.

As Dierkes' power rankings reflect, Josh Johnson is now the projected top free agent starter after this season, followed by Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, and Matt Garza.  There's a lot of uncertainty in that bunch.   

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first broke the story.  Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.  Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.

Offseason In Review: Chicago Cubs

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The Cubs were heavily involved in free agency, adding four starting pitchers as well as relief and outfield depth.

Major League Signings

International Signings

  • Armando Rivero, P: $3.1MM.
  • Chang-Yong Lim, RP: $5MM.
  • Kyuji Fujikawa, RP: two years, $9.5MM. $5.5MM Club option for 2015. 

Notable Minor League Signings

Trades and Claims

Notable Losses

Needs Addressed

Last year the Cubs gave a total of 54 starts to Chris Volstad, Justin Germano, Chris Rusin, Brooks Raley, Jason Berken, Randy Wells, and Casey Coleman.  With the injury to Matt Garza and trades of Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm, a rotation that seemed decent at the start of the season was exposed for its lack of depth.  By signing four starting pitchers this offseason — almost an entire rotation — the Cubs are better-equipped to handle injuries and potential trades.  President Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer committed $73.5MM to Jackson, Villanueva, Baker, and Feldman, and did not have to surrender a draft pick or young player in the process.

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The Cubs ran parallel pursuits of my second and third-best free agent starters of the offseason, Jackson and Anibal Sanchez. From the team's point of view, both pitchers are young enough to help the next good Cubs team, and neither required surrendering their second round pick.  Ultimately the team landed Jackson, giving him the sixth-largest free agent contract of the offseason.  Before signing Jackson, they'd taken a run at a hurler who became my fourth-best available free agent, Dan Haren, then of the Angels.  Shipping walk-happy, $9.8MM closer Carlos Marmol to the Halos for Haren seemed like a big win for the Cubs, who balked over medical concerns.  If Haren does stay healthy and somewhat effective, the Cubs will be second-guessed for killing the trade.

Villanueva, 29, set a career-high last year with 125 1/3 big league innings for Toronto.  His 3.44 K/BB in 92 innings as a starter was promising, though he allowed 18 home runs in that span.  He'll be a useful swingman.  Feldman allowed 130 hits in 110 innings as a starter last year for Texas, though he seemed serviceable otherwise.  He pitches to contact generally, so the Cubs' infield defense will be put to the test.  Baker had Tommy John surgery in mid-April of last year, and I think the Cubs' expectations for the former Twin early in the season were low.  It's concerning that he's still experiencing elbow issues, however.  With Baker and Garza set to open the season on the DL, the Cubs will use Feldman, Villanueva, and Travis Wood from the outset.  If eventually all seven starters are healthy at once, that'll be a good problem to have.

Fujikawa landed a two-year deal to serve as Marmol's setup man, at least until the Cubs move Marmol or his contract expires.  I like the pickup.  Japanese relievers have had success in MLB, and Fujikawa was quite good with the Hanshin Tigers.  Camp was retained at a small salary, but the bullpen is still a weak spot for the Cubs.  International signing Armando Rivero could move quickly through the minors given his professional experience in Cuba, though Ben Badler of Baseball America says the pitcher has just "middle relief potential."  Like Fujikawa, Korean reliever Chang-Yong Lim is another successful NPB closer.  However, Lim is sidelined into 2014 due to Tommy John surgery.  The Cubs are clearly thinking short-term here, as the righty is 36.

The Cubs took an affordable platoon approach to right field, and it might work in terms of getting some pop out of the position.  Nate Schierholtz hit .270/.334/.440 against right-handers over the last three years, while Scott Hairston is at .263/.308/.464 against lefties.

The Cubs re-signed Stewart for $2MM, saving a little money versus tendering him a contract.  Stewart's wrist is finally better, but now he's nursing a quad injury.  His non-tender mostly closed the thread on the Cubs' December 2011 deal that sent Tyler Colvin and DJ LeMahieu to Colorado for Stewart and Casey Weathers.  At the time I sensed that Epstein and Hoyer moved Colvin without much regard because he wasn't one of their guys.  Elsewhere in free agency, the Cubs snagged Navarro on a big league deal to be their backup catcher, though he played only 24 games in the Majors last year.

Questions Remaining

With major question marks in the offense and bullpen, the Cubs don't seem to be making a big push to contend in 2014 despite their rotation expenditures.  They still seem much more likely to be sellers than buyers at the July trade deadline, stripping the team down again for another ugly finish.  Cubs fans seem fine with another punted season from the new front office, if it will bring long-term success.  I think fans will require a strong contender by 2015, after enduring an intentional two or three-year rebuilding project in a major market.

On a smaller level, the Cubs were unable to extend 2012 breakout starter Jeff Samardzija.  Samardzija is a Jim Hendry guy who worked out, but the new front office deserves credit for giving him a shot in the rotation.  In October I suggested a four-year, $27MM deal for Samardzija, similar to one signed by the Reds' Johnny Cueto in January 2011.  The Cubs did make a five-year offer, though the amount is unknown.  Another good year will likely send the price tag north of $50MM on a five-year deal.

Deal of Note

The Cubs' push for two of the better available starters this offseason was surprising.  They paid about market value for Jackson, which could net a profit if he improves.  The contract will make more sense to me if the Cubs aim to contend in 2014.  Otherwise, they won't get a lot out of the first half of the contract, when Jackson is closest to his prime.  A contract of this nature might have been a better move during the 2013-14 offseason, when the team will be presumably closer to winning.

Overview

Fourth place seems to be the best case scenario for the Cubs, who will probably remain more focused on acquiring young talent and could certainly finish last.  ESPN's Keith Law ranks their farm system fifth in baseball, while Baseball America had them 12th.  Epstein and Hoyer may sell off pieces one more time this summer, particularly Garza, Marmol, and Alfonso Soriano, and then it will be time to create a Major League winner.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor Moves: Olivo, Rays, Murphy

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We'll keep track of today's minor moves here..

  • Catcher Miguel Olivo has asked for and been granted his release by the Reds, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). It was previously reported that Olivo was mulling whether to accept a $100k bonus and report to Triple-A, or instead test the market. Olivo could be an option for the Marlins, writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
  • The Rays have released minor leaguer righties Nick Barnese and Joe Cruz, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times on Twitter. Barnese, a third-rounder from 2007, threw 56 2/3 innings over 12 starts in Double-A last year and mustered only a 5.72 ERA with 4.8 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9.
  • Infielder Donnie Murphy exercised his out clause with the Brewers today and took his release, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.  The 30-year-old hooked on with Milwaukee in December and hit hit .216/.281/.379 in 129 plate appearances with the Marlins last season.  Murphy is a .205/.270/.373 career hitter in 640 big league plate appearances and a .285/.351/.556 career hitter 738 Triple-A plate appearances.

Jeff Todd contributed to this post.

West Notes: Kershaw, Dodgers, Young, Wells, Booty

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Commissioner Bud Selig weighed in on the Houston Astros' strategy and payroll, saying that the organization has "chosen the path with some very qualfied people" and that he "think[s] they're doing it the right way." ESPN's Buster Olney writes (Insider sub. req'd) that baseball should be more cautious in endorsing what he characterizes as a "strategy to lose." Of course, it remains to be seen how the major league club will compete this season in what figures to be a tough AL West. 

  • With today's news of a big extension for Adam Wainwright, attention could turn to another ace who could be extended: the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw. According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, however, Kershaw does not want to keep negotiations open past spring training and is staying quiet as to whether there has been any progress. Hernandez also notes that Kershaw's agents, Casey Close and J.D. Smart, visited Dodger camp a week ago but were not not actively discussing a Kershaw extension. 
  • The time is now for the Dodgers to decide what to do with their excess starting pitching, writes Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles TImes. Aaron Harang, for one, may have thrown his last pitch in Dodger blue. While Harang's tepid spring is a deterrent, Dilbeck notes that the righty threw well last season and should draw suitors. 
  • Chris Young could sign with the Angels, tweets Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, who also notes that the Mets are highly unlikely to sign him. The righty is back on the market after opting out of his contract with the Nationals.
  • Mariners manager Eric Wedge says a decision between outfielders Casper Wells and Jason Bay will be made soon, leading Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times to posit that Wells could already have been put on waivers. If Wells is indeed put on waivers, he would be an option for the Phillies, tweets Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • The Diamondbacks have released Josh Booty, who earned a non-roster invite as the winner of "The Next Knuckler," the team announced on Twitter. The former QB was originally drafted by the Marlins fifth overall back in 1994 before he retired to pursue football, which meant that he was still technically under Marlins control when he joined Arizona for the spring.

Rangers Notes: Snyder, Robertson, Borbon

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Here are some notes from Texas:

  • The Rangers announced via press release that infielder Brandon Snyder "has requested and received his unconditional release from his minor league contract." Snyder, a former 1st round pick of the Orioles, hit .277/.309/.446 in 69 plate appearances last year for Texas.
  • The Rangers have asked pitcher Nate Robertson to accept an assignment to Triple-A, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. Though he has not pitched in the big leagues since 2010, Robertson has over seven years of service time and must therefore assent to such a move. Robertson is expected to agree to the assignment, though he will keep looking for opportunities with other major league clubs and expects the Rangers to work with him should he find a chance.
  • Outfielder Julio Borbon is still waiting to find out what will happen to him with GM Jon Daniels working hard to trade him, according to Sullivan. With Leonys Martin and Craig Gentry set to man center field, and Borbon out of options, he seems destined for waivers if Daniels cannot find a deal.

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