NL East Notes: Mets, Lopez, Eovaldi
Earlier today, the Mets made some roster moves, designating Collin McHugh for assignment to create a 40-man roster spot for newly promoted Carlos Torres. Here's tonight's notes from the Mets and the rest of the NL East..
- MetsBlog has a recap of Mets GM Sandy Alderson's Q&A session with fans and media today, including comments that the club may soon be ready to invest at the big league level. With a young crop of players beginning to emerge, Alderson indicated that the time may be near when the team will add veteran talent to the roster.
- The Phillies nearly acquired right-hander Wilton Lopez from the Astros during the offseason, reminisced Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Phillies staged a comeback against Lopez and the Rockies yesterday, with Gelb noting that it was a rare favorable turn of events for the Phillies bullpen situation. Lopez has pitched to a 4.25 ERA, 5.3 K/9, and 2.0 BB/9 over 36 innings in Colorado.
- Nathan Eovaldi will make his 2013 debut for the Marlins Tuesday, reports George Richards of the Miami Herald. Eovaldi was a major piece of the deal that saw Hanley Ramirez go to the Dodgers, but has seen his first full season in Miami derailed by injuries. The 22-year-old right-hander has a 4.15 ERA, 5.9 K/9, and 3.9 BB/9 in 154 career innings.
Mets Designate Collin McHugh For Assignment
The Mets have designated right-handed pitcher Collin McHugh for assignment, according to the team (Twitter link). The move clears a roster space for Carlos Torres, who was promoted earlier today.
McHugh had appeared with the Mets briefly this season, pitching to a 10.29 ERA, 3.9 K/9, and 3.5 BB/9 over seven innings. The 25-year-old performed much better in Triple-A Las Vegas this year, with a 2.87 ERA, 6.9 K/9, and 2.2 BB/9 across 53 1/3 innings.
Mets To Promote Carlos Torres, Won’t Opt Out
SATURDAY, 4:00pm: The Mets will promote Carlos Torres rather than allow him to opt out and go elsewhere, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). The move was first reported by Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com (Twitter link).
THURSDAY, 12:43pm: Torres worked out a deal with the Mets where the right-hander will continue to start in Triple-A but can also contact other MLB clubs, MLBTR has learned. If he finds a 25-man roster spot somewhere, then the Mets have 48 hours to put him on their own active roster or he can declare free agency and sign with that other club. A couple of NL West teams already have some interest in the 30-year-old.
MONDAY, 10:58pm: The Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week could soon become a free agent. 30-year-old righty Carlos Torres, currently working out of the rotation of the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, has the ability to opt out of his contract Wednesday, MLBTR has learned. Over his last four starts, Torres has allowed three earned runs in 32 innings. Overall he has a 3.89 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 0.88 HR/9 in a dozen starts this year.
Torres signed a minor league deal with the Mets in November, after tallying 53 innings out of Colorado's bullpen in 2012. A 15th round pick of the White Sox in 2004, Torres tossed 42 frames with the big club in 2009-10 before spending 2011 in Japan. As Matt Musico of MetsMinors.net wrote today, Torres has an unclear path to the bigs with the Mets, with top prospect Zack Wheeler soon to bump Jeremy Hefner or Dillon Gee to the bullpen.
Nationals Sign Drew Ward
The Nationals have signed third-round pick Drew Ward to a deal worth $850K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (via Twitter). The Oklahoma high schooler was set to attend Oklahoma University, but the allure of joining the Nats' system coupled with the lucrative deal was apparently too much to resist.
The third baseman boasts serious power and a strong arm according to Baseball America, who has Ward ranked as the 87th best prospect in the draft. The prospect is a unique case as he graduated high school in three years and was granted special permission to enter the 2013 draft rather than 2014. Because he was pegged for '14, scouts didn't bear down on him last summer, making it difficult to evaluate him.
Ward got considerably more than the slot recommendation as the value of the No. 105 pick is $491K. The youngster is advised by The Legacy Agency.
Miguel Olivo Seeks Release From Marlins
Catcher Miguel Olivo was placed on the restricted list earlier today due his dissatisfaction with the Marlins over playing time. The veteran now says that he is seeking an outright release from the club so that he can find a better opportunity elsewhere, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
“I’m just praying to God they release me and don’t be selfish,” he said. “I’ve been very professional. I’ve done everything I could to help the team. They’re only hurting one person, and that’s me. I’m a nice person. I don’t want to hurt nobody.”
Olivo, who was signed by the Marlins at the end of spring training for $800K, has a .203/.250/.392 slash line with four home runs in mostly part-time duty this season. Those numbers line up with his output in the previous two seasons with the Mariners, but it’s a drop from his career line of .241/.275/.417.
The catcher stormed out of Marlins Park in street clothes before last night’s game as the National Anthem was playing, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. There’s a chance that the Marlins try to trade Olivo as he sits on the restricted list without pay.
Indians Sign Clint Frazier
SATURDAY, 2:01pm: The Indians announced via press release that the deal is official.
FRIDAY, 6:32pm: The Indians have agreed to terms with fifth overall draft pick Clint Frazier, Baseball America's Jim Callis reports (Twitter link). Frazier will receive a $3.5MM bonus, less than the $3.787MM assigned slot value price for the No. 5 pick (slot info courtesy of Baseball America). Frazier is advised by the ACES agency.
Frazier was widely heralded as one of the top members of this year's draft class, rated as the No. 4 overall prospect by both MLB.com and Baseball America. ESPN's Keith Law (Insider subscription required), who rated Frazier at No. 7, described him as possessing "the best bat speed in the draft, [and] some of the best I've ever seen on an amateur player." Frazier even drew some buzz as a surprise choice to be taken by the Astros as the first overall pick, though Houston instead went with right-hander Mark Appel.
Frazier, 18, is a right-handed hitting outfielder out of Loganville High School in Georgia. He has above-average arm strength and running ability, according to BA's scouting report, and he is a threat at the plate due to his bat speed and "plus-plus raw power." While Frazier played center field in high school, he is projected as a corner outfielder in his pro career.
Once Frazier's deal is finalized, he will be the 14th player taken in the first round to have reached an agreement with his club.
Marlins Sign Colby Suggs
The Marlins have signed supplemental second-round pick Colby Suggs for a below-slot bonus of $600k, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. Suggs was chosen with the last of the first-day picks (number 73), which came with a $759,200 recommended bonus.
Callis pegs the University of Arkansas righty as a potential quick-to-the-bigs reliever, as his big fastball can touch 98. Draft experts' opinions on Suggs, ranged, but he was regarded as a clear top-100 prospect. Keith Law of ESPN was most bullish, placing him as the 65th overall draft prospect, while MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo had him as the 79th best player available and Baseball America rated him at 97. Mayo explained that Suggs is "all power" and could profile as a closer should he tighten up his command and refine his breaking ball.
The Marlins obtained the pick used to choose Suggs as part of the deal that sent Anibal Sanchez to the Tigers. Miami and Detroit swapped their competitive balance picks in the trade.
Draft Signings: White Sox, Arbet, Moll, Palladino
We'll keep track here of notable signings from the second and third day of the amateur draft (slot information courtesy of Baseball America)…
- The White Sox announced in a press release that they have reached agreement with 27 of the team's 40 draft picks, including all of the club's first eleven selections. MLBTR previously covered the team's signing of its first five picks (click for details): Tim Anderson; Tyler Danish; Jacob May; Andrew Mitchell; and Thaddius Lowry.
- Fifth-rounder Trae Arbet has signed with the Pirates for a well-above-slot bonus of $425k, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. The high-school shortstop, who profiles as an athletic defender and baserunner, was drafted with the 149th overall choice, which carries a $321,400 slot value.
- The Rockies have agreed to terms with southpaw Sam Moll, the club's third-round choice, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca tweeted last night. The hurler from Memphis is small in stature but possesses a powerful left arm that allows him to reach the mid-90's with his fastball. While financial terms are not yet available, his draft slot (77) carries a $713,900 bonus recommendation.
- The Yankees have signed fifth-round choice David Palladino for an above-slot sum of $371k, tweets Callis. Palladino, a towering righty who had been committed to LSU, will receive about $93k over the recommended bonus for the 164th overall selection.
Marlins Place Miguel Olivo On Restricted List
The Marlins have placed catcher Miguel Olivo on the restricted list, tweets Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. The team has recalled outfielder Jordan Brown from Triple-A to take Olivo's 25-man roster spot.
Capozzi notes (via Twitter) that the veteran backstop had been unhappy with a lack of regular playing time, and told the club yesterday that he was quitting. Olivo, 34, had not seen a start behind the dish since the middle of May. He had a .203/.250/.392 line in just 80 plate appearances this year, figures that line up with his output over his last two seasons with the Mariners.
Players on the restricted list do not count toward a team's 25-man or 40-man roster. They do not accrue service time and are not always paid. Miami had Rob Brantly and Jeff Mathis on the active roster at catcher, but only four regular outfielders. Brown already had a spot on the team's 40-man roster.
Padres Sign 2nd Round Pick Dustin Peterson
The Padres have signed second-rounder Dustin Peterson, a high-school shortstop, tweets Corey Brock of MLB.com. Brock also tweeted that Peterson's bonus will land above the $1.082MM slot recommendation for the 50th overall pick, with Baseball America's Jim Callis reporting (via Twitter) that the deal is for $1.4MM. Peterson is advised by Excel Sports Management.
Peterson was universally regarded as a top-100 talent entering the draft. ESPN's Keith Law pegged him as the 39th best overall prospect, while Baseball America had him at 62 and MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo at 73. According to Law, Peterson has solid swing mechanics and gap power, but needs to work on recognizing off-speed offerings. Law noted that the youngster figures more as a second baseman than a shortstop, while Callis calls him a future third baseman. As Brock notes, older brother D.J. Peterson was recently inked by the Mariners after being chosen with the 12th overall selection.