Red Sox Outright Alfredo Aceves
The Red Sox have outrighted pitcher Alfredo Aceves to Triple-A Pawtucket, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports. Aceves is no longer on the Sox's 40-man roster. This means he cleared waivers.
Evan Drellich of MassLive.com reports that Aceves and the Red Sox disagreed last week about whether Aceves was healthy, with the pitcher claiming that he had an oblique injury that might keep him out as long as the rest of the season, and the Red Sox denying Aceves had any serious injury trouble.
Aceves has a 4.86 ERA in 37 innings with Boston this season, with 5.8 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9. He has made six starts, with the last of those coming June 18. He is earning $2.65MM in his second year of arbitration eligibility.
Aceves was not eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season, so any team that claimed him on waivers would have had the option of taking him to arbitration in the fall. Also, any team that claimed Aceves would have been able to option him to the minors while keeping him on their 40-man roster. Despite Aceves' ability to start and the roster flexibility he would have offered, no one claimed him. As Britton notes, that suggests that other teams don't think particularly highly of Aceves, who has struggled with poor peripherals and reduced velocity this season and who has clashed with his managers in the past.
Knobler On Padres, Urrutia, Cardinals, Stanton
Here's the latest from CBS Sports' Danny Knobler:
- The Padres, who are now 42-54, have decided they're sellers, Knobler writes. They will listen to offers for Chase Headley (who is eligible for free agency after next season), but Knobler suggests they're in no rush to deal him. Instead, they could deal Edinson Volquez and/or bullpen arms like Huston Street.
- The Orioles have already traded for Scott Feldman, and they might continue to be active on the trade market, but Knobler suggests their biggest addition might come from the promotion of Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia, who is hitting .367/.406/.467 in his first 15 games at Triple-A Norfolk.
- Knobler confirms that the Cardinals have talked to the Cubs about Matt Garza, and suggests that the two teams' front offices might not find the possibility of trading with one another quite as strange as some fans might. Knobler notes that the last significant deal between the rival squads occurred in 2002, when the Cubs sent Jeff Fassero to St. Louis.
- Elsewhere, Knobler writes that the Marlins may be becoming less inclined to trade Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins feel that they could improve quickly, and may want to wait to see how Stanton (who is only 23 and is not eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season) and their other top young players perform together. The Marlins will continue to shop relievers and older position players, but youngsters like Jose Fernandez, Jacob Turner and Marcell Ozuna evidently have the Marlins wondering whether they could join Stanton as part of the core of the next good Marlins team.
MLBTR Originals
A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:
- Tim Dierkes updated MLBTR's 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings. Robinson Cano is still the top ranked free agent, but eight of the nine other positions changed hands.
- MLBTR broke the news of right-hander P.J. Walters clearing outright assignment waivers.
- MLBTR was the first to report there is no opt-out clause in left-hander Aaron Laffey's minor league deal with the Brewers.
- MLBTR learned first baseman Travis Ishikawa was placed on waivers after being designated for assignment by the Yankees, cleared waivers, and elected free agency.
- Zach Links broke the story of right-hander Kip Wells looking for a minor league opportunity with a realistic shot of returning to the Majors and considering retirement if nothing materializes by season's end.
- Tim examined the trade market for shortstops and third basemen while Steve Adams did likewise with corner outfielders and center fielders.
- Charlie Wilmoth analyzed the trade candidacy one of those corner outfielders: the Cubs' Nate Schierholtz.
- Tim hosted this week's chat.
- MLBTR contributor Marc Hulet updated the Prospect Rumor Roundup.
- Zach compiled the latest edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
Rosenthal On DeJesus, Encarnacion, Rangers, Braves
Here's the latest from FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal:
- The Cubs aren't necessarily planning to trade David DeJesus, who they have signed through 2014, but they'll listen to offers. DeJesus could be a trade candidate in August, after he recovers from a shoulder injury.
- While the Rangers' 2011 decision to trade Chris Davis for Koji Uehara has recently received plenty of attention, Rosenthal notes that the Athletics also have a what-could-have-been in their recent history as well. The A's claimed Edwin Encarnacion from the Blue Jays in November 2010, then non-tendered him, and he ended up back with the Jays. Since then, he's hit 84 home runs.
- The Rangers might be interested in Michael Cuddyer if the Rockies wished to trade him, Rosenthal notes. The Rangers are reportedly on the lookout for a righty hitter, and Cuddyer would fit the bill.
- The Braves aren't looking for a top starter, Rosenthal writes, but they'd like to augment their bullpen.
Week In Review: 7/7/13 – 7/13/13
Here's a look back at the week that was here at MLBTR.
- The Astros signed second baseman Jose Altuve to an extension.
- The Nationals acquired outfielder Scott Hairston from the Cubs in exchange for pitching prospect Ivan Pineyro.
- The Red Sox acquired reliever Matt Thornton from the White Sox in exchange for outfielder Brandon Jacobs.
- The Rockies acquired pitcher Mitchell Boggs from the Cardinals in exchange for international bonus spending rights. To make room for Boggs, the Rockies designated pitcher Joe Gardner for assignment, then outrighted him to the minors.
- The Cardinals released infielder Ty Wigginton.
- The Cubs released reliever Shawn Camp.
- Tom Garfinkel resigned as the Padres' president and CEO.
- The Cubs claimed outfielder Cole Gillespie from the Giants.
- The Cubs designated pitcher Henry Rodriguez for assignment.
- The Royals designated pitcher J.C. Gutierrez for assignment.
- The Yankees designated first baseman Travis Ishikawa for assignment. Ishikawa cleared waivers and elected free agency.
- The Giants designated minor-league pitcher Chris Heston for assignment.
- The Padres designated infielder Pedro Ciriaco for assignment.
- The Orioles designated pitcher Jair Jurrjens for assignment.
- The Indians outrighted catcher Omir Santos.
- The Athletics outrighted infielder Adam Rosales.
- The Twins outrighted pitcher P.J. Walters.
- The Red Sox outrighted infielder Jonathan Diaz.
- The Mets requested release waivers for pitcher Brandon Lyon.
- The Cubs signed first-round pick Kris Bryant.
- The Marlins signed first-round pick Colin Moran.
- The Padres signed first-round pick Hunter Renfroe.
- The Yankees signed first-round pick Aaron Judge.
- The Blue Jays signed 11th-round pick Jake Brentz and 30th-rounder Rowdy Tellez to hefty bonuses, but did not sign first-round pick Phil Bickford.
- The Astros promoted top pitching prospect Jarred Cosart.
- The Pirates acquired 1B/OF Russ Canzler from the Orioles for minor-league pitcher Tim Alderson. The Pirates also acquired shortstop Brian Bocock from the Nationals.
- The Giants signed outfielder Jeff Francoeur to a minor-league deal.
- The Tigers signed pitcher Jeremy Bonderman to a minor-league deal after the Mariners designated him for assignment.
- The Brewers signed utilityman Eric Patterson and pitcher/outfielder Micah Owings to minor-league deals.
- The Red Sox signed pitcher Bobby Lanigan to a minor-league deal.
- The Blue Jays released catcher Ramon Hernandez.
Phillies Looking For A Center Fielder
Phillies center fielder Ben Revere told reporters, including MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, he will miss six-to-eight weeks after breaking a bone in his right ankle in the first game of yesterday's doubleheader against the White Sox. Revere is scheduled to visit a foot specialist tomorrow.
"The prognosis doesn't sound too good," Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters, including Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We'll see how long it's going to be. I think it's something that's going to take a while. If that's the case, we'll probably be looking for a center fielder if one is available or will be an upgrade on what we have with John (Mayberry) out there."
MLBTR's Steve Adams examined the trade market for center fielders recently and the cupboard is somewhat bare, which is why the Phillies could be looking in-house for a replacement. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez started to see some action in center field last week and has been assigned to Double-A to accelerate his learning curve.
"He'll play center field every day for the next 10 days or so," Amaro said. "We're going to get him extensive work down there. But he'll be playing exclusively in center field to see if that's an option for us. He struggled (Saturday), but it's a new position for him. We'll give him a shot."
Brookover notes Hernandez is an interesting option to replace Revere because the two have similar games based on their ability to run. In a brief stint with the Phillies while Chase Utley was on the disabled list earlier this season, Hernandez hit .250 (7-for-28) with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Zolecki meanwhile reports shortstop Freddy Galvis is not an option to replace Revere.
Revere's injury is the second blow to the Phillies' offense in the last week. Ryan Howard underwent knee surgery last Monday and is also set to miss the next six-to-eight weeks. Revere is hitting .347 since the end of April, which is the sixth-best mark in baseball in that span and his .380 on-base percentage is 19th out of 164 qualifying hitters.
Cubs Designate Henry Rodriguez For Assignment
The Cubs have designated right-hander Henry Rodriguez for assignment, tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. The move clears a roster spot for outfielder Cole Gillespie, who was claimed on waivers from the Giants yesterday, tweets Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald.
This is the second time in six weeks Rodriguez has been designated for assigment. The Cubs acquired the 26-year-old on June 11 after the Nationals removed him from their roster. Rodriguez flashes a 100 mph fastball, but command and control has eluded him. In his five-game stint with the Cubs covering four innings, Rodriguez walked four, allowed six hits, and struck out four while allowing four runs (two earned). For the season, the Venezuelan has a 4.09 ERA, 4.9 K/9, 8.2 BB/9, and 8.2 H/9 in 17 games (18 innings).
The Cubs now have ten days to trade Rodriguez, outright him to the minors, or release him.
Garza Informed He’ll Likely Be Traded
11:35pm: Garza denies being informed he will likely be traded, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat tweets.
3:30pm: The Cubs have informed Matt Garza he will likely be traded after contract talks failed to produce an extenstion, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The Rangers and Indians, according to Heyman, are clearly interested in Garza while the Red Sox are waiting upon some clarity on the return of injured starter Clay Buchholz. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are believed to be a stealth player for the fifth-ranked free agent on MLBTR's 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings. Yesterday, we learned the Blue Jays are "front runners" in the Garza trade derby, but Heyman writes there is little to no evidence, at the moment, they are actively involved.
Heyman reports the hangup in the negotiations between Garza and the Cubs is over the average annual value of the deal. Just last night, Garza still pegged the odds of returning to Chicago as 50/50.
Minor Moves: Jeremy Bonderman, Omir Santos
We'll keep track of today's minor moves here..
- The Tigers have signed right-hander Jeremy Bonderman to a minor league contract and he will report to Triple-A Toledo, the team announced on its Twitter feed. Bonderman rejoins the Tigers organization, where he pitched from 2003-2010, after refusing an outright assignment by the Mariners Thursday and electing free agency. The 30-year-old was designated for assignment Monday after posting a 4.93 ERA, 3.8 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, 0.94 HR/9, and 42.5% groundball rate in 38 1/3 innings over seven starts for the Mariners.
- The Indians announced that they have outrighted catcher Omir Santos to Triple-A Columbus. Santos, who has experience in parts of five MLB seasons with the Orioles, Mets, Tigers, and Indians, has a career .266/.303/.351 slash line at the Triple-A level.
Edward Creech contributed to this post.
Huntington Talks Trade Deadline, First-Half Success
The Pirates have won three in a row entering play this afternoon and, at 56-36, are tied with the Cardinals for first place in the NL Central and the best winning percentage in all of baseball. Before today's game with the Mets, GM Neal Huntington met with the media, including MLB.com's Tom Singer (all Twitter links).
- "Experience of last two Julys won't affect what we do, or don't do, this Trade Deadline," Huntington said. The Pirates suffered second-half collaspes and finished with a losing record the past two seasons despite acquiring Ryan Ludwick and Derrek Lee before the July 31st deadline in 2011 and Wandy Rodriguez, Travis Snider, Gaby Sanchez, and Chad Qualls prior to last year's deadline (per MLBTR's Transaction Tracker).
- Given the post-All Star break failures of the last two years, Huntington isn't getting too excited by the Pirates being tied with the Cardinals for the most wins in the NL. "They don't give out half-season awards. You always stay hungry."
- Entering Saturday, the Pirates ranked 25th in MLB with 3.84 runs per game and a big reason is they are batting only .232 with runners in scoring position, including a .219 mark with two outs. Huntington acknowledges, "we have weaknesses. What we don't have are desperate weaknesses."