Garland Clears Waivers
D'Backs starter Jon Garland has cleared waivers, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Now the team can trade him to any one of the clubs seeking rotation help without restriction. Morosi hears that Garland is one of the more appealing starting pitchers available, in spite of his considerable contract. The righty makes $6.25MM this year and will receive $2.5MM if his team doesn't want to pick up the $10MM mutual option for next year.
Nationals Tab Rizzo As GM
8:55pm: We can close the books on this one for now: Bill Ladson at MLB.com reports that Mike Rizzo will be named the permanent general manager of the Nationals at a news conference on Thursday. The decision was apparently made earlier this week, probably in the thick of the Strasburg negotiations.
Rizzo has made some pretty sage moves for the Nationals so far, and it looks like he's taking the beleaguered franchise in a good direction. It's unclear how long he's been signed for or why previous news had suggested the complete opposite.
8:16pm: This story looks more and more dubious as the hours pass. Chico Harlan at the Post reports that Rizzo was seen loose and joking with Nationals president Stan Kasten pre-game today, and he's currently scheduled for a Friday fan Q&A on the Strasburg signing. Harlan also says that Rizzo was the sole negotiator of the Strasburg deal in its final minutes and that, at this point, "[Rizzo's] stock has never been higher." When reached for comment, Rizzo was "mum" on the current situation, Bill Ladson at MLB.com says.
3:04pm: Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that though the Nats have not yet decided on a permanent GM, they will decide on one this week. The team will introduce Stephen Strasburg at a Friday press conference, so an announcement before then would be a surprise.
2:53pm: A source tells Chico Harlan of the Washington Post that the reports saying the Nats have decided to replace Rizzo with DiPoto are false.
"The decision has already been made," the source said. "And the best I can tell you- what's been written is 100% wrong."
The Nats have not told DiPoto or Red Sox exec Jed Hoyer of their decision, according to Harlan's source.
2:22pm: ESPN.com's Keith Law hears that the Nationals are not about to award Jerry DiPoto the GM job.
WEDNESDAY, 11:02am: Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that D'Backs exec Jerry DiPoto has told friends he will accept the Nats GM job.
TUESDAY, 9:43pm: According to Gordon Edes of Yahoo.com, "multiple sources insisted" today that the Nationals are about to replace interim GM Mike Rizzo with Diamondbacks vice president Jerry DiPoto.
Rizzo has been busy since replacing Jim Bowden as GM earlier this year. He brought in Nyjer Morgan and fired Manny Acta. Most notably, perhaps, he has been given credit for engineering the signing of pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg.
DiPoto, who has been in charge of the Diamondbacks' pro scouting for four years, denied any knowledge that such a job change was imminent.
Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Matzek, Mets, Helm
I think we're in the eye of the draft storm, because things suddenly got quiet…
- Baseball America's Jim Callis reports that the Red Sox have signed ninth rounder Kendal Volz for $550K. Volz was considered a first round talent coming into the year, but a down season at Baylor dropped his stock.
- Troy Renck of The Denver Post notes that Rockies first rounder Tyler Matzek didn't attend classes at Oregon today, an indication that he's interested in signing. Renck says it's hard to believe he'd sign for less than the $2.875MM Shelby Miller got from the Cardinals.
- The Mets are "still haggling" with top pick Steven Matz, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman.
- The Diamondbacks signed seventh rounder Matt Helm for $500,000, according to Callis.
- Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus writes that there is "very little optimism right now coming out of clubs with unsigned picks." He estimates that we're looking at as many as six first rounders going unsigned by the midnight deadline.
- Make sure you check out our list of the first round picks who have signed to stay up to date with all the goings on of the draft.
- To get the fastest updates, follow MLBTR on Twitter and subscribe to our transactions-only feed.
Draft Updates: D-Backs, Twins, Yankees, Mets
A few more loose draft links…
- Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Repubic reports that the Diamondbacks have made a new offer to seventh round pick Matt Helm, but it will only be the table for another two hours. Piecoro notes that Helm said he was looking for third round money last month.
- Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune notes that the Twins are stil in talks with first rounder Kyle Gibson. Over the weekend we learned that the two sides were about $1MM apart. Christensen also mentions that 44th rounder Tyler Herr has agreed to terms.
- Peter Abraham of The Journal News says the Yankees have come to an agreement with 21st rounder Joe Talerico.
- ESPN's Keith Law confirms that righty David Buchanan will not be signing with the Mets. He was their sixth rounder.
Heyman On Red Sox, Davis, Padilla
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Red Sox are "thought to have offered a five-prospect package of [Clay] Buchholz, Michael Bowden, Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone and a position player" for Roy Halladay. The club apparently offered the Mariners an even better deal for Felix Hernandez. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- The Brewers offered nothing more than salary relief for Doug Davis, so the D'Backs held on.
- There's a decent chance the Blue Jays will find a new GM. As one exec points out, no one gets to rebuild twice without making the playoffs.
- The Rangers gave up on Vicente Padilla because they consider him a bad teammate.
Odds & Ends: Webb, Feliz, Griffey
A few links as the time ticks away before the August 17th signing deadline–just 30 hours left:
- Steve Gilbert at MLB.com (via Twitter) heard this from Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes on a team broadcast about the possibility of picking up the injured Brandon Webb's $8.5MM option next year: "If it's close, he'll probably get the benefit of the doubt."
- After watching the fireballing Neftali Feliz in person, John Beamer at the Hardball Times believes it's safe to declare the Mark Teixeira trade a victory for the Rangers.
- Tyler Kepner at the New York Times has a neat historical piece about how the Mariners almost passed on Ken Griffey Jr. in the 1987 draft for pitcher Mike Harkey.
- As the signing deadline approaches and the waiver deadline looms in just two weeks, be sure to keep up to speed by following MLB Trade Rumors on Twitter.
Doug Davis Looking For A Three Year Deal
According to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, southpaw Doug Davis is looking for a three year contract, something he's already presented to the Diamondbacks.
"I'm still looking for the three-year deal I was looking for two months ago," Davis said. "If I can't come to terms on that then I'll test the free agent market."
Gilbert says the club seems to prefer a one year deal with a club option, especially since they figure this year's free agent class will play out like last year's. Davis is going to remain in Arizona the rest of the season after the Brewers and D-Backs were unable to consummate a deal earlier deadline.
Davis is 7-10 with a 3.62 ERA this year, but he leads the National League with 73 walks.
Diamondbacks Sign Bobby Borchering
6:59pm: Gilbert tweets that Borchering signed for $1.8MM, so he got a couple hundred grand over slot.
6:30pm: The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with first round pick Bobby Borchering, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. Terms of the deal are not yet known, but D-Backs scouting director Tom Allison told reporters earlier in the week "that the club had improved its offer from $1.5 million," but did not reveal specifics. The $1.5MM offer is essentially slot money.
Borchering is a switch hitting third baseman with power out of a Florida high school.
Odds And Ends: Dodgers, Davis, Prospects
More links for the afternoon…
- Jon Weisman of the LA Times reports that the Dodgers could be close to signing Garrett Gould.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic notes that it looks like Doug Davis is staying put, even though the Brewers claimed him on waivers.
- The recently-traded Josh Bell and Carlos Carrasco appear on this week's edition of Baseball America's prospect hot sheet.
- Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors says the Red Sox did well to acquire the sure-handed Alex Gonzalez, even if he's only a minor upgrade for them.
- Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports that Orioles manager Dave Trembley doesn't have to worry about his job security through the end of the season.
D’Backs Offered Davis An Extension?
The D'Backs appear to have offered Doug Davis a one-year extension, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Davis, who has been the subject of trade rumors since the Brewers claimed him on waivers, confirms that the D'Backs approached him with "an idea," but says it didn't appeal to him. Davis says he's more likely to test free agency after the season, but Piecoro suggests the club could offer him a two-year deal before then.