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East Links: Byrd, Phillies, Yanks, Young, Joba, Urrutia

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Matt Warden of River Ave. Blues completed his 2013 series on potential Yankees' trade targets, highlighting the Rockies' Tyler Colvin, Peter Bourjos of the Angels, the Mariners' Kendrys Morales and Raul Ibanez, and Logan Morrison of the Marlins. Here's more out of baseball's Eastern divisions…

  • The Mets aren't likely to trade Marlon Byrd, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. General manager Sandy Alderson will likely employ the same strategy he did with Scott Hairston last summer. However, one scout told Martino that he's not sure if the team's plan to stand pat is just posturing to drive up trade prices.
  • The Phillies would be buyers right now if it were July 31, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters (including Todd Zolecki of MLB.com). Amaro said he doesn't feel he has a replacement for Jonathan Papelbon and needs his closer to contend. However, he also doesn't want to part with young talent, and Zolecki calls the Phillies' situation "fluid."
  • The Yankees and Red Sox at one point appeared to be one of the most serious contenders for the Phillies' Michael Young, George A. King III of the New York Post writes. However, the Red Sox's main focus is now on bullpen help. Young isn't opposed to playing in the Bronx, according to King.
  • Within that same post, King notes that Howie Frieling, a special assignment scout for the Phillies, was in attendance to watch the Yankees against the Twins last week. The Phils also sent Sal Agostinelli, their director of international scouting, to watch the Yankees on Wednesday.
  • King adds that Joba Chamberlain's trade stock is falling, and the Phillies "have questions about what is perceived as the reliever’s immaturity," King says. In addition, one team that was previously interested in Chamberlain told King that they don't plan to make an offer for him because it's believed that the Yankees could eventually release him.
  • Marlon Byrd told Daniel Nelson of Mets Merized Online that he'd love to stay with the Mets but understands that he could be shipped to a contender at the deadline. "Sandy Alderson’s going to do anything possible to make this organization the best it can be," Byrd says.
  • Orioles prospect Henry Urrutia is "getting closer" to being an option, Buck Showalter told reporters, including Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Urrutia entered the season as the Orioles' No. 13 prospect, according to Baseball America, but has likely upped his stock with a big performance at Double-A and Triple-A. The Cuban defector is hitting .365/.429/.536 with seven homers in 280 minor league plate appearances this season.

Aaron Steen contributed to this post.

Trade Market For Corner Outfielders

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Last July, corner outfielders Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence, Ichiro Suzuki, Nate Schierholtz, Travis Snider and Scott Podsednik found themselves changing uniforms as a result of trades. Much like we'll see in the coming weeks, that group includes starters and bench bats as well as pending free agents and players who were under control beyond season's end. Here's a look at some of the names that could be on the move in 2013…

Starters

Alex Rios (White Sox), Alejandro De Aza (White Sox), Norichika Aoki (Brewers), Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins), Andre Ethier (Dodgers), Nate Schierholtz (Cubs), Marlon Byrd (Mets), Alfonso Soriano (Cubs), Chris Carter (Astros), Raul Ibanez (Mariners)

Stanton and Rios are the prizes of this year's crop, though the Marlins have gone on record numerous times saying they won't trade Stanton. Rios is available and could command the largest return on the market, as he's controllable through the 2015 season. He slumped in June but is still hitting .277/.330/.442 with strong defense in right field. He hasn't played center regularly since 2011 but could move there in a pinch.

Ethier and Soriano represent players who could be acquired in salary dump deals, and both come with significant platoon splits. The emergence of Yasiel Puig has brought Ethier's long-term role with the Dodgers into question despite the fact that he's just one year into an $85MM extension. Soriano has been on the block for years, but the weight of his contract has made him untradeable. Now, with just one year left and solid power numbers, the Cubs may be able to move him to a team in need of right-handed pop. Soriano has been particularly lethal against lefties, batting .294/.328/.514.

Aoki should draw plenty of interest, following the news that his contract allows him to become a free agent following the 2014 season. His contract contains a small $1.5MM club option for next season. The three-time Japanese batting champion has hit .292/.359/.411 as a Major Leaguer thus far.

Ibanez is enjoying an unlikely career year in terms of power production, as he's already launched 22 homers. His OBP is a paltry .301, and he may not be a clear-cut starter in the outfield because because of his defense. However, he's handled both lefties (.904 OPS) and righties (.826 OPS) very well and would be particularly beneficial to an AL team with a need at DH.

De Aza is miscast as a center fielder, according to advanced defensive metrics, but he offers a nice blend of speed and power. Like his teammate Rios, he's controlled through 2015, albeit at a much more affordable price. De Aza is earning $2.08MM this year as a first-time arbitration player. He could factor into the team's long-term plans, but GM Rick Hahn will reportedly listen to offers on anyone aside from Chris Sale and Paul Konerko.

The 26-year-old Carter is controlled longer than any of these candidates, but it's a stretch to call him a left fielder and he's leading the AL in strikeouts. In just over 400 career innings in left, Carter's UZR/150 is -37.6, and The Fielding Bible pegs him at eight runs below average. He has legitimate 30-homer power, however, for teams that can look past his defense. Given the amount of team control he has remaining, GM Jeff Luhnow likely wouldn't want to part with him on the cheap.

Schierholtz is arbitration-eligible for a final time this winter and hitting a solid .275/.330/.510, though nearly all of that production has come against right-handed pitching. Just 31 of his plate appearances this season have come against same-handed pitching. He's available, but the Cubs certainly don't have to move him this summer. MLBTR's Charlie Wilmoth recently examined Schierholtz as a trade candidate.

Byrd is arguably the best minor league signing of the offseason, as he's hit .268/.313/.506 with a team-leading 15 homers for the Mets. He's hitting both righties and lefties well in addition to playing solid defense. Byrd isn't likely to command a significant return, but he can provide a boost to a contender with a need in the outfield.

Backups and Bench Bats

Jerry Hairston (Dodgers), Laynce Nix (Phillies), Delmon Young (Phillies), John Mayberry Jr. (Phillies), Endy Chavez (Mariners), Juan Pierre (Marlins), Jason Bay (Mariners)

There aren't many attractive options in this group, though Mayberry and Young have had respectable seasons with the bat. Young has played his typical brand of brutal defense, however. Hairston can play multiple positions and has hit .261/.311/.342 this season. Pierre isn't hitting much, but he's held his own against right-handed pitching and can still run. Bay and Chavez haven't hit well, though Bay has handled left-handed pitching well.

Injured Players

Josh Willingham (Twins), Mike Morse (Mariners), David DeJesus (Cubs), Ryan Sweeney (Cubs), Chris Coghlan (Marlins), Lucas Duda (Mets)

Willingham is out four to six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. If he can return in time for the deadline, he could be moved, but the Twins would be selling low on his power bat. He's hitting just .224/.356/.398 after trying to play through injury. Owed just $7MM in 2014, he's unlikely to clear waivers in August. It seems like the Twins would be better served to listen to offers in the offseason.

Morse was acquired this offseason in a three-way trade with the A's and Nationals but hasn't lived up to expectations. He's been on the DL twice already, and after homering six times in the season's first nine games, he's hit just .249/.316/.391. His injuries and slumping bat likely mean the Mariners wouldn't get much in a return, but as a free agent who won't receive a qualifying offer, Seattle has little to gain by holding him.

DeJesus was enjoying a fine year prior to a right shoulder sprain, but it's not clear when he will return. I examined him as a trade candidate in May, noting that he could net a respectable haul given his affordable club option. A broken rib will cost his teammate Sweeney the same four to six week period as Willingham, but he could still be moved in August for a nominal return given the fact that he's a pending free agent. He was hitting .295/.342/.527 in 121 plate appearances at the time of his injury.

There's no timetable on Coghlan's return as it stands, but the former Rookie of the Year is hitting .277/.326/.415 in a rebound campaign after falling off the grid from 2011-12.

Duda has been on the disabled list since late June but could provide a contender with some power if healthy prior to the trade deadline. His defense in the outfield is among the worst in the game, according to UZR, but he can also play first base and could DH for an American League team. He's controlled through 2017 and is not yet arbitration eligible.

For more on the 2013 trade market, take a look at Tim Dierkes' examination of the market for catchers, first basemen, shortstops and third basemen as well as my own look at the market for second basemen.

AL Central Links: Morneau, Indians, Santana

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The Twins have dropped nine of their past 10 games and now sit 15 games below .500 and 12 games out of first place in the AL Central division. General manager Terry Ryan said on Saturday that the team's current 10-game road trip would determine if they're buyers or sellers, and they've now lost five in a row. Here's more on the Twins and the rest of the AL Central…

  • A source tells Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com that they expect the Twins to approach Justin Morneau about the potential price tag of an extension before the trade deadline (Twitter link). However, the Twins have yet to do so, Wolfson says.
  • ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweets that the Indians are on the lookout for rotation upgrades, but they prefer pitchers who are controllable beyond 2013. As such, Matt Garza is a tough fit for the Tribe.
  • The Royals are likely to retain Ervin Santana, though he'd "instantly become one of the hottest names on the market" if he were shopped, Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports. One scout tells Knobler that Santana "might be better than Garza." Kansas City has the best record in baseball over the last 36 days, but is eight games into 20 consecutive matchups with teams that have winning records. If the Royals fall far out of contention, GM Dayton Moore would probably field offers for the righty, Knobler says.

Aaron Steen contributed to this post.

2014 Free Agent Power Rankings

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The MLB season is around 56% over, and it's time for a fresh set of 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings prior to the July 31st trade deadline.  Our previous installment was published June 4th.  You can check out our full list of 2014 free agents here.

1.  Robinson Cano.  "Scott Boras, you over baby. Robinson Cano, you coming with me," raps Jay-Z about his lone baseball client on "Crown."  Roc Nation Sports may only have one baseball client at present, but he happens to be the offseason's top free agent by a mile.  Cano, 31 in October, sits at .299/.380/.537 with 21 home runs and 62 RBI through Wednesday.

2.  Jacoby Ellsbury.  Ellsbury, who is with Boras, is hitting .379/.439/.515 in 192 plate appearances since May 21st and has reclaimed the #2 spot.  He's shown no ill effects from a recent minor wrist issue.  If he stays relatively healthy, he may finish with 100 runs scored and his second career 60-steal season.

3.  Shin-Soo Choo.  Also a Boras client, Choo is second in the National League with a .418 OBP.  It wasn't enough to get him his first All-Star nod, but he's in good shape for a sizeable four-year deal.

4.  Brian McCann.  McCann now has almost 200 plate appearances since returning from offseason shoulder surgery, and he's hitting a strong .294/.371/.518.  I imagine he'll be seeking at least four years as well.

5.  Matt Garza.  Our first change since the last rankings, as Garza moves up a spot.  He's now provided the Cubs with ten starts and 64 1/3 strong innings this year, and has the rest of the season to further solidify his health.  A trade this month appears a near-certainty, meaning Garza will not be linked to draft pick compensation in the offseason.  I consider Anibal Sanchez money (five years, $80MM) to be his ceiling.

6.  Hiroki Kuroda.  Kuroda recently experienced tightness in his hip flexor, but he only missed one start.  He's third in the AL with a 2.77 ERA, and even at 39 next year he'll get big dollars on a short-term deal.  

7.  Carlos Beltran.  Beltran doesn't have youth on his side either, but he seems past the injury issues of 2009-10.  With a .309/.347/.534 line, 19 home runs, and 52 RBI, he'll start in the All-Star game.

8.  Ervin Santana.  A new entrant to this list, Santana is eighth in the AL with 123 innings and is making the Royals look smart for acquiring him (despite a rough outing today).  I'm not convinced he's a different pitcher than what he was in Los Angeles, but he should be a popular mid-rotation free agent arm.

9.  Josh Johnson.  Since coming off the DL June 4th, Johnson has a 3.54 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 1.11 HR/9 in seven starts.  He should have at least a dozen more starts to continue bringing his stock back up after missing over a month with a triceps injury.  The Blue Jays, currently eight games out in the wild card, can help his stock by trading him and removing the qualifying offer issue.

10.  Nelson Cruz.  Cruz is tied for fifth in the AL with 22 home runs, and has a shot at his first 40 home run season.  Biogenesis is a looming issue, with a potential 50-game suspension likely to be served at the start of his next contract (if he is indeed suspended).  I imagine his suitors would prefer to let that situation play out before determining what kind of contract to offer the 33-year-old slugger.

A.J. Burnett, Hunter Pence, and Mike Napoli were bumped out of the top ten this time around, while Chase Utley and Tim Lincecum just missed returning to it.  The top five appears to be solidifying, while the rest may shift around quite a bit in the coming months.  

Blue Jays Do Not Expect To Sign First-Rounder Bickford

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3:30pm: Jim Callis of Baseball America spoke with a person who is "in the know" on the Bickford situation and confirmed that Bickford is likely to attend Cal State Fullerton. Callis adds that it's not a physical issue preventing Bickford from signing and reminds readers that Bickford's pre-draft asking price was $4.25MM (Twitter links).

Callis also tweets that it's starting to look like the Jays won't sign 11th-round pick Jake Brentz, who was regarded as a second- or third-round talent. Baseball America had ranked Brentz 80th among draft prospects, while ESPN's Keith Law ranked him 45th. Brentz is committed to the University of Missouri. As Callis notes, the Blue Jays may only spend about $2MM on this year's draft.

10:36am: The Blue Jays do not expect to sign first-round pick Phil Bickford, GM Alex Anthopoulos told reporters including broadcaster Mike Wilner (Twitter link).  The issue is not money, adds Wilner.

The Blue Jays drafted Bickford, a hard-throwing prep righty, tenth overall.  He was a late riser on draft boards.  In their scouting report, Baseball America noted that Bickford "could be a tough sign away from Cal State Fullerton."  The Jays will receive the 11th overall pick as compensation next year if they fail to sign Bickford by tomorrow's 4pm central time deadline.  The Blue Jays are believed to have offered the slot value of $2,921,400, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  Toronto previously failed to sign their first-round pick in 2011, Tyler Beede, as well as supplemental round pick James Paxton in '09.

Steve Adams contributed to this post.

Minor Moves: Jeremy Bonderman, Aaron Laffey

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On this date ten years ago, the Marlins were making a surprising wild card push and traded for one of the best available relievers, Rangers closer Ugueth Urbina.  Double-A first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was part of the package going to Texas.  The first overall pick by the Marlins three years prior, Gonzalez began the year at Triple-A following offseason wrist surgery, but had been demoted to Double-A in May.  Said Marlins GM Larry Beinfest at the time, "In Adrian, we thought we were dealing in an area of strength, but we wanted to do something now."  Beinfest was referring to first basemen Derrek Lee and Jason Stokes.  The Marlins installed Urbina in a setup role and went on to win the World Series.  John Hart was the man behind the Urbina signing and trade as Rangers GM.  

Two years later, Hart stepped down to make way for the youngest GM in MLB history, 28-year-old Jon Daniels.  Daniels later admitted to WEEI's Alex Speier his new front office "tried to step on the gas before we were ready," and with Mark Teixeira entrenched at first base, Gonzalez, Terrmel Sledge, and Chris Young were traded to the Padres for Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka.  Today's minor moves, as we ponder the status of Urbina's comeback attempt…

  • Jeremy Bonderman has refused an outright assignment from the Mariners and elected free agency, the team announced. He was designated for assignment on Monday. In 38 1/3 innings for Seattle this season, the 30-year-old posted a 4.93 ERA with more walks (17) than strikeouts (16). It was his first MLB action since 2010 and the only time he has pitched for a team other than the Tigers.
  • The Brewers signed lefty Aaron Laffey, announced the team's player development department on Twitter early today.  The 28-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Mets in December, was designated for assignment in April, claimed by the Blue Jays, designated days later, elected free agency, was signed by the Dodgers, and opted out of his deal with that club earlier this month.  He made five big league appearances this year, and also tossed 61 Triple-A innings for the Dodgers, with much more success on the road than at Isotopes Park.  There is no opt-out in the Brewers deal, MLBTR has learned.
  • Five players currently reside in DFA limbo: Travis Ishikawa of the Yankees, Joe Gardner of the Rockies, Cole Gillespie of the Giants, Jeremy Bonderman of the Mariners, and Adam Rosales of the Athletics.  The Mets asked for unconditional release waivers for Brandon Lyon on Tuesday.

Marlins To Sign First-Rounder Colin Moran

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The Marlins and No. 6 overall draft pick Colin Moran have agreed to terms for the full slot bonus of $3,516,500, tweets Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro adds that completion of a physical is the only step remaining in the signing process (Twitter link). Moran is advised by Excel Sports Management.  Moran

The 20-year-old Moran was one of the most highly touted prospects heading into this season's draft when he ranked sixth among draft prospects according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, seventh according to Baseball America and ninth according to ESPN's Keith Law.

Aside from No. 2 overall selection Kris Bryant, Moran was thought to be the best college bat in the class. Mayo wrote that Moran is a polished hitter who should be able to stay at third base long-term and grow into some more power. Law praised his discipline, noting his "absurd" strikeout-to-walk ratio (he finished with 55 walks and just 20 strikeouts in 60 games), but raised some questions about his unorthodox swing.

Moran is the first college bat that the Marlins have taken with their top pick since they selected Mark Kotsay out of Cal State Fullerton in 1996 (they did select Chris Coghlan out of Ole Miss in the supplemental first round in 2006). Moran is just the eighth college player the Marlins have selected in the first round in franchise history, dating back to 1992.

Now that Moran has agreed to terms with the Marlins, the only question mark for tomorrow's 4pm central time signing deadline is Blue Jays pick Phil Bickford.

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro first reported that a deal was close and could be completed Thursday.

Steve Adams contributed to this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Reliever Trade Talk: Parnell, Red Sox, Giants

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The Twins and Mets "should learn from the mistake the Royals made with Joakim Soria," writes Dave Cameron of FanGraphs, and trade closers Glen Perkins and Bobby Parnell.  Cameron's argument is convincing: "Relievers, even really good young relievers, should be viewed as ripe fruit. They are great for a while, but you don’t store ripe fruit for the future planning on having a healthy snack later. You consume it now or waste it."  The latest from around the relief trade market:

Rangers Expressed Interest In Aoki

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The Rangers have expressed interest in Brewers outfielder Norichika Aoki during talks with the Brewers about starter Yovani Gallardo, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Aoki has a cheap $1.5MM club option for 2014, so it's unclear whether the Brewers will move him.

Aoki, 31, joined the Brewers in January 2012 after they won the rights to negotiate with him from Japan's Yakult Swallows for $2.5MM.  This year he's hitting .298/.366/.378 in 379 plate appearances, trading power for a slightly higher OBP as opposed to last year.  He's an underpaid high-contact player who can handle all three outfield positions.

Gallardo, meanwhile, takes on another team that covets him in the Diamondbacks tonight.  Some scouts see Gallardo as a No. 4 starter in the American League, maybe a 3 in the NL, writes Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.  The Rangers recently lost ace Yu Darvish to the DL for a strained trapezius muscle, which is currently considered a minor issue.

Michael Weiner Condemns Biogenesis Leaks

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Reporters continue to dig up details on the Biogenesis story, and MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner doesn't like it.  In a statement issue today, Weiner said, "The leaking of confidential information to members of the media interferes with the thoroughness and credibility of the Biogenesis investigation.  These repeated leaks threaten to harm the integrity of the Joint Drug Agreement and call into question the required level of confidentiality needed to operate a successful prevention program."

Weiner later added, "It would be unfortunate if anyone prejudged the results of the investigation based on unsubstantiated leaks that are a clear violation of the Joint Drug Agreement."  The latest report came from T.J. Quinn and Mike Fish of ESPN, who wrote, "Commissioner Bud Selig's office is expected to suspend Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez Rodriguez, along with as many as 20 players sometime after next week's All-Star break, for their roles in the Biogenesis case."

The big question: how will the inevitable appeals play out for those players?  FanGraphs' Wendy Thurm wondered today if Selig himself might be the only person hearing appeals and making the final decision, but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes,"All would be heard by a single arbitrator, Fredric Horowitz."  Horowitz was appointed baseball's arbitrator last summer after Shyam Das was fired.  Rosenthal pictures a drawn-out appeals process.  Furthermore, Ronald Blum of the Associated Press wrote today, "Lengthy proceedings make it nearly a certainty most, if not all, suspensions would be served in 2014."

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