There was more bad injury news out of Oakland, as top Athletics prospect Addison Russell has torn his right hamstring and will be down for at least a month, according to a report from Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Though Russell was not necessarily expected to contribute much at the MLB level this year — he had started his age-20 season at Double-A — a prolonged absence will certainly be unwelcome news for an Athletics club that could hypothetically look to Russell for a late-season boost or audition for 2015. Here are a few more stray notes from the day:
- There is a sense that the free agent market for Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales could be thawing, according to a report from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Multiple clubs have gone to scout the pair, says Heyman, and Morales in particular seems to be drawing increased activity. Heyman cites the Orioles, Mariners, and Brewers as teams thought to have interest, with the Pirates also a potential landing spot.
- Free agent starter Freddy Garcia has been throwing to Drew and Morales, Heyman adds. Though Garcia has received minor league offers since being cut loose by the Braves, he is holding out in hopes of signing straight into a MLB role.
- The Twins will be among the teams with the most cash to spend through international bonus pools and the amateur draft. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN provides some updates on the club's current direction (Twitter links). Minnesota still has several hundred thousand dollars of uncommitted international cash to work with, and has narrowed its options for the 5th overall pick to eight players (most of whom are pitchers).
- As expected, Braves reliever Cory Gearrin will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2014 season, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported yesterday (via Twitter). The 27-year-old was a useful arm last year, throwing 31 innings of 3.77 ERA ball after notching 20 innings at a 1.80 ERA clip in 2012. Though the club has already filled in for Gearrin in the immediate term, his loss takes another depth piece away from an organization that has suffered more than its share of recent pitching injuries.
Roenicke thinks of Overbay as another Mark Kotsay. I don’t think he is in much danger of being cut. Reynolds and Morales are both RH as well. Do you envision Melvin giving Morales more than 3 years?
No one is giving him more than 3 years(or 3.5 at this point possibly)
I’d be bummed if they gave him 1.
You say that now, but when September comes around and Reynolds is hitting .200 and striking out 50% of the time you won’t be.
I think he will be too expensive for the Brewers anyway. They already have payroll near 100mil I doubt they want to make a long term commitment to a bad defensive 1st baseman that’s starting to age.
Also im not sure it will financially fit in the future either. There is a good chance they pick Gallardo’s option up at about 12mil and with no 3rd baseman in the wings they want to keep him around.
What would be nice, although I’m not expecting it, is if Hunter Morris could have a hot 1st half. Keep Reynolds and let Overbay go.
That I think we both can agree on.
Yah he may be doing good now, but he won’t stay like that. Do you expect Gomez and Ramirez to hit .380 all season too?
I Dont think it is a move I would make now, and probably not till after the draft. Still if the price is low enough I am sure they will be interested.
Well, Ish does have a quality glove. I’d be surprised if Morales knew what hand to put his glove on.
How you go into the season with Travis Ishikawa as your opening day starter I will never understand. A team that is suppose to compete has got to do better than a 30 year old who only needed a week to rack up more ABs than he did in all of 2013.