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Minor Moves: Sean Gallagher, Matt Fox

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Today's minor moves…

  • The Rockies inked pitcher Sean Gallagher to a minor league deal today, tweets Chris Cotillo of CLNS Radio. Tracy Ringolsby of ROOT Sports confirmed the signing (also via Twitter). The righthander had been playing with the Atlantic League's Sugar Land Skeeters. According to the Denver Post's Troy Renck, the Rockies have been looking hard for minor league arms after multiple injuries and will send Gallagher to Double-A Tulsa as a starter. (Twitter links.) Gallagher, 27, first reached the bigs as a 21-year-old for the Cubs in 2007. The former top-100 prospect never panned out, however, and last appeared in the majors in 2010 as a reliever for the Padres and Pirates, sporting a cumulative 5.77 ERA over 57 2/3 innings. He was similarly ineffective as a minor league starter for the Reds' Triple-A affiliate last year, posting a 4.92 ERA over 139 innings. He failed to demonstrate strikeout ability or control, logging 5.4 K/9 against 4.9 BB/9.
  • The Mets have signed right-handed starter Matt Fox from the independent league York Revolution, MLBTR has learned.  He'll start for their Triple-A Las Vegas club.  Fox is represented by David Sloane of Taurus Sports Associates.  Fox, a supplemental draft pick of the Twins in '04 as compensation for the loss of free agent Eddie Guardado, made four big league appearances for the Twins and Red Sox in 2010.  He pitched with Boston's Triple-A club in '11 and was in the Seattle organization last year.  Several former big leaguers hope to follow Fox from the Revolution back to a Major League organization, including Juan Rincon, Brett Tomko, Michael Wuertz, Andy Marte, and Eric Patterson.
  • Notable former Major Leaguers such as Ian Snell, Dontrelle Willis, Ramon Castro, and Ben Broussard are currently on the Long Island Ducks' roster, but as we learned yesterday from Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, Carlos Zambrano has not yet signed a contract despite agreeing to terms.  It appears Zambrano will exhaust his options to join a Major League organization first.

Trevor Rosenthal Now With Boras Corporation

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Cardinals righty Trevor Rosenthal is represented by the Boras Corporation, MLBTR has learned.  Rosenthal had previously been with Full Circle Sports Management.

Rosenthal, 22, is currently working out of the Cardinals' bullpen.  He will be arbitration eligible after the 2015 season and eligible for free agency after the 2018 campaign.  Prior to the season, Rosenthal ranked 58th on Keith Law's top 100 prospect list for ESPN and 39th on Baseball America's list.  His floor is as an impact bullpen arm, wrote Law, although he has the tools to start.

As always, you can check MLBTR's agency database for the latest player representation.

Brewers Offered Extension To Jean Segura

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The Brewers offered a long-term contract to shortstop Jean Segura about a month ago, agent Joe Klein told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  No deal is close at this time, however.

Klein told Rosenthal, "They contacted me.  Right now, I guess it’s in my court. But with a guy this young, it’s hard to figure out what the right numbers would be.  It would be good, be nice if it was possible to do. But I don’t know. It’s way, way on the drawing board."

Segura, 23, has only 80 big league games and 314 plate appearances under his belt, almost all of it with the Brewers since coming over from the Angels as the centerpiece of last summer's Zack Greinke trade.  He has around 110 days of big league service.  As MLBTR's extension tracker shows, two position players have signed extensions with less than one year of service: Evan Longoria in 2008 ($17.5MM over six years) and Salvador Perez in 2012 ($7MM over five years).  Those two deals were/are considered extremely club friendly, and each contained a trio of club options.  So you can understand Klein's hesitancy.

Perez's contract gave him some extra money up front, so perhaps Segura could be paid $3MM for 2013-15, his three pre-arbitration seasons.  His three arbitration years might be valued at $12MM or so, and buyouts on option years could bring the total close to Longoria's $17.5MM over six years.  As a power hitter, Longoria's arbitration years would be valued more highly, but his contract is five years old, so it's fair to suggest Segura could be in that range for 2013-18.  Perhaps Klein could at least bring the Brewers down to two club options rather than three.  Segura is under the Brewers' control through 2018 regardless, so those free agent years may be the key to a potential deal.

The Brewers have locked up many key players over the years, but never one with less than a year of service.  They signed Ryan Braun in '08 (1.008 in big league service), Yovani Gallardo in '10 (2.112), Corey Hart in '10 (4.157), Rickie Weeks in '11 (5.131), Braun again in '11, Jonathan Lucroy in '12 (1.136) and Carlos Gomez in March (5.141). 

AL East Notes: Jurrjens, Orioles, Yankees, Blue Jays

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As Curtis Granderson gets set to return to the Yankees lineup, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes that the club surprisingly doesn't need him.  The strong play of Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay, and Travis Hafner has given the offense a major boost in the absence of Derek Jeter, Kevin Youkilis, and others, putting them atop the division with a 24-14 record.  Here's more from the American League East..

  • Jair Jurrjens will make his Orioles debut against the Rays on Saturday to fill in for the injured Wei-Yin Chen, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).  The pitcher posted a 3.14 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 across eight starts in Triple-A and had an opt out date of June 15th.  The Orioles can open a 40-man roster spot for Jurrjens by transferring Brian Roberts to the 60-day DL, notes Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
  • More and more teams are realizing that it makes sense to gamble earlier lock up young players for the long-term and Joel Sherman of the New York Post thinks the Yankees need to reconsider their policy of going year-to-year.  The Yankees are trying to lower their payroll and one way to do so is to gain cost certainty with deals like the one Anthony Rizzo received from the Cubs.
  • Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston isn't ready to give up on the team this season, writes Chris Toman of MLB.com.  He also isn't ready to give up on the coaching staff.  "We started out at 12-24 and made a managerial change, but we're not going to do that right now," Beeston said. "I think you look back at 1989 and just look back at what can be after what was. I think we have a very good team and a better team than our record."
  • Speaking of Toronto, the Blue Jays are the leaders to sign Venezuelan shortstop Yeltsin Gudino, writes Ben Badler of Baseball America.  Gudino is a well-rounded talent who has also received serious interest from the Rangers and A's in the past.
  • Kubatko ran Carlos Zambrano's name past someone in the Orioles organization and got a less-than-enthusiastic response based on the pitcher's past behavior and baggage.  
  • Rizzo's absence is being felt in the Red Sox organization as the club has long-term questions at first base, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com.

2014 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings

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About 23% of the 2013 MLB regular season is complete.  It's been almost a month since our last power rankings, and the list has changed quite a bit.

1.  Robinson Cano.  The spokeswoman for Cano's foundation, Sonia Cruz, was connected to Biogenesis late last month.  While MLB will investigate the connection, Cano's long-term value seems unaffected at present.  There's nothing new to report on the idea of the Yankees extending Cano midseason.

2.  Shin-Soo Choo.  Choo ascends to second on the list, as his .451 OBP leads all of baseball.  He has a decent chance of topping his career high of 22 home runs, set in 2010, and the Reds' leadoff hitter could also score 120 runs.  A qualifying offer is looking very likely for Choo after the season.

3.  Jacoby Ellsbury.  Ellsbury was amazing in 2011, and good in 2008-09.  He's healthy now, and he won't turn 30 until September.  He even leads the American League with 12 steals.  Still, I had to drop him a spot on the list, because he's still not hitting much.  WAR rewards him for his baserunning and for playing center field, but if he finishes anywhere near .257/.311/.365 offensively, a megacontract is not in the offing even with Scott Boras making the pitch.

4.  Chase Utley.  Utley has played in every game this year, and may be able to reach 150 for the first time since 2009.  He may also return to his 30 home run, 100 RBI days, and his timing is excellent.

5.  Hunter Pence.  Pence holds steady on the list, despite his worst walk rate since '07.  OBP-centric teams won't be drawn to him, but the 30-year-old should finish with solid numbers and earn a respectable contract.

6.  Brian McCann.  McCann made his season debut on May 6th, returning from shoulder surgery, and he jumps two spots on this list.  His first six games have gone well, and if he remains healthy and hits at his pre-2012 level for the remainder of the season, he'll be a hot commodity in free agency.

7.  Tim Lincecum.  Lincecum also jumps up two spots, despite erratic work this year.  He's healthy and striking guys out.  The skills demonstrated in his first eight starts, walks and all, suggest a 3.72 ERA moving forward.  If he ends up with a 3.80 ERA on the season and 200+ strikeouts, Lincecum will be a solid 29-year-old free agent starter.  Given Lincecum's superstar past, however, it's difficult to predict what kind of contract is appropriate.

8.  Matt Garza.  Garza's fourth minor league rehab outing will take place Thursday, as he recovers from a lat strain.  In theory, he could make his season debut May 21st in Pittsburgh.  If that happens, he could make 13 starts prior to the July 31st trade deadline before the Cubs have to decide whether to make a deal.  If they do, the removal of a potential qualifying offer would boost his free agent value.

9.  Mark Reynolds.  Reynolds is a new addition to the list, with his blazing .279/.368/.598 start.  He's tied for the AL lead with 11 home runs.  He's looked more like the Reynolds of old in May, but the second 40 home run season of his career remains possible.  Age is on his side as well, as he turns 30 in August.

10.  A.J. Burnett.  I was initially going to give the #10 spot to Josh Johnson, who at one point was ranked as high as #3.  But even though he'll turn 37 in January, I can't ignore the fact that Burnett has a 3.34 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 0.73 HR/9 in 258 1/3 innings for the Pirates since the beginning of the 2012 season.  He still averages a healthy 92.3 miles per hour on his fastball, and he's basically everything we hope Johnson can be, except seven years older.

Johnson lost his spot on the list, as he's currently on the DL because of soreness in his right triceps muscle.  The injury will keep him out of commission for over a month.  Roy Halladay has been removed as well, as he'll undergo surgery tomorrow to remove a bone spur and clean up fraying in the labrum and rotator cuff.  Neither pitcher should be written off, but they've lost their top ten spots to healthy players.  Among those vying to break into the top ten at some point this year: Nelson Cruz, Nate McLouth, Mike Napoli, Curtis Granderson, the resurgent James Loney, Paul Maholm, Ervin Santana, and Hiroki Kuroda.

Texas Notes: Postolos, Ryan, Lewis, Lowe

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Having dropped their last five games, the Astros own a .256 winning percentage, easily the worst in baseball.  Their new division rivals, the Rangers, are at .632, tied for second in baseball.  The two numbers are not unrelated, as the Rangers have won five of six contests against the Astros.  The latest on the two Texas clubs:

  • The Astros announced yesterday that president and CEO George Postolos resigned.  Postolos' role with the Astros had little to do with baseball operations, unlike some other team presidents.  Postolos "specializes in franchise acquisition," wrote Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, and his skill set no longer matched with the job description.  One of Postolos' tasks involved carriage agreement negotiations, trying to get the Astros and Comcast Sportsnet Houston into Houston homes.  CSN Houston is available in "only about 40 percent of Houston's 2.2 million TV homes," writes David Barron of the Houston Chronicle.
  • Asked on ESPN's Galloway & Company show yesterday if he has any interest in the Astros' new job opening, Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan replied, "I don't think so."  Ryan has not been in contact with Astros owner Jim Crane.  There was some springtime drama about Ryan's role with the Rangers, which was resolved in April. 
  • The Astros are running "extended evaluations" at all three outfield positions, writes Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.  J.D. Martinez, Robbie Grossman, and Jimmy Paredes will hold the starting spots for now, with Justin Maxwell to regain center field when he returns from a fractured left hand.  The Astros have already moved Chris Carter to first base and jettisoned Rick Ankiel and Fernando Martinez, though Martinez cleared waivers and remains in the organization.
  • Carter, a 26-year-old acquired from Oakland in February as part of the Jed Lowrie trade, is tied for fifth in the league with nine home runs.  He also leads all of baseball in strikeouts, however.
  • 33-year-old Rangers righty Colby Lewis, a free agent after this season, "has been diagnosed with a mild case of tendinitis in his right triceps muscle" according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  Lewis last pitched in the Majors on July 18th of last year, before undergoing flexor tendon surgery.  His current issue is not related to the surgery, and Lewis could make another rehab start next week after receiving an anti-inflammatory injection.
  • Rangers long reliever Derek Lowe told Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he didn't pass the "stats test" when hunting for an offseason job, explaining he leans toward the human element.  Apparently mixing stats and scouting, as all teams do, Lowe commented, "If you pump my numbers into the system compared to, let’s say, Tanner Scheppers, of course his stuff is going to outscore my stuff, I’m not naive.  He’s a young kid who throws 98 mph with a great breaking ball. Listen, I know I don’t pass the test."

Which Players Will Receive A Qualifying Offer?

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Last year, nine players received qualifying offers worth $13.3MM.  At least two more would have been likely to receive one had they not been deemed ineligible due to midseason trades.  A qualifying offer, if turned down, enables the team losing the free agent to receive a draft pick as compensation.  We haven't seen a player accept a qualifying offer yet, but the process is still in its infancy.  I've estimated the qualifying offer amount at around $14MM for the 2013-14 offseason.  Below, I've drafted an inclusive list of candidates to receive one after the season.  In today's poll, please check all whom you expect to receive a qualifying offer.  You can click here to view the results.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Latest On July 2 Players

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The July 2nd international signing period is less than two months away.  Every team had a $2.9MM bonus pool for 2012-13, but as Baseball America's Ben Badler outlined here, the 2013-14 pools "will be tiered based on reverse order of 2012 major league winning percentage."  The Astros, Cubs, and Rockies each have at least $4.2MM to spend, plus teams can trade for additional money.  The Twins, Indians, Marlins, and Red Sox each have more than $3MM to spend, while the Royals and Blue Jays are close to that figure. Badler has the latest on ten prospects who are expected to sign for at least $1MM apiece.

  • The highest bonus is likely to go to Dominican outfielder Eloy Jimenez, potentially $2.6-2.8MM with the Cubs as the "heavy favorite."  The Cubs are also the frontrunners to sign one of the top Venezuelan players, shortstop Gleyber Torres.
  • Dominican third baseman Rafael Devers "might be the best hitter on the international market," writes Badler.  He's the primary target of the Red Sox.  Another contender for the best bat is third baseman Luis Encarnacion, who is most likely to sign with the Phillies.
  • The Yankees are the most likely suitor for Leonardo Molina, perhaps the best athlete in the class.  He can sign when he turns 16 on August 1st.  The Yankees' preliminary bonus pool is reportedly $1,877,900.
  • The biggest raw power belongs to Dominican outfielder Micker Zapata, who has been connected to the White Sox and Padres.
  • Badler's article has much more information, so be sure to give it a click and a read.

Top Prospect Links: Lindor, Wheeler, Arcia

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We're still roughly one month away from the deadline to delay Super Two status for minor leaguers, at which point a flood of young talent is likely to hit the Major Leagues. Here's a look at some news on some of the game's top prospects, as ranked by Baseball America, Keith Law and Jonathan Mayo prior to the season…

  • Two separate scouts told Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports that the Indians' Francisco Lindor could be the best prospect in baseball by the end of the season. Lindor, a 19-year-old shortstop, reminds both scouts of Jurickson Profar thanks to excellent plate discipline, defense and ability to hit for average (Twitter links). The main question surrounding Lindor is whether or not his power will develop.
  • A Mets source tells ESPN's Adam Rubin that preventing Zack Wheeler from reaching Super Two status is a priority. Rubin pegs the June 17-20 series against the division rival Braves as a likely target for Wheeler's debut. In an appearance on WFAN Radio today, GM Sandy Alderson stressed the developmental side of things, stating that they need to make sure Wheeler is ready (via Newsday's Marc Carig on Twitter).
  • Oswaldo Arcia may never play another game in the minor leagues again, writes Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN. Arcia was initially called up to fill a void when Darin Mastroianni hit the disabled list, but he's hitting .299/.333/.506 with three homers thus far with the Twins. In his article, Mackey recounts a titanic opposite-field blast in a B-game by Arcia last Spring Training that grabbed the front office's attention and served as a launching pad for his career.

Draft Notes: Bryant, Gonzalez, Mayo’s Top 100

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Some draft-related links to peruse for your Monday evenings…

  • San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant is a "once in a career" player to coach both in terms of his talent and his humility, coach Rich Hill tells AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. Cassavell chronicles Bryant's journey from Little League to San Diego, noting that he's a high school rival of Bryce Harper. Bryant, who will be advised by Scott Boras, is a projected Top 10 pick with some thinking he could even go No. 1 overall to the Astros.
  • Count Baseball America's Aaron Fitt among those who feel that Bryant should be taken first overall. Fitt tweets that while he's a fan of both Jonathan Gray and Mark Appel, Bryant is a "special" power bat.
  • Oral Roberts right-hander Alex Gonzalez's stock is going nowhere but up, and it's doing so quickly according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. Gonzalez has a "nasty fastball-slider combination with excellent command." Mayo writes that some think he can be a "Mariano Rivera-like reliever," while others believe he has the repertoire to start.
  • From that same piece, Mayo writes that Indiana State left-hander Sean Manaea repaired some of the damage to his draft stock with a solid performance this past weekend. Manaea has battled hip injuries this Spring. Right-handers Ryne Stanek (Arkansas) and Chris Anderson (Jacksonville) also turned in solid performances that helped re-establish some of their falling stock.
  • There are six new players in Mayo's Top 100, including prep pitchers Kyle Serrano and Chandler Eden, prep catcher Dom Nunez, prep outfielder Jordan Paroubeck, college shortstop Hunter Dozier and college outfielder Jared King. Serrano and Dozier have leapt all the way into Mayo's Top 50.

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