Braves Inquired On Chone Figgins
3:38pm: The Braves asked the Mariners about the availability of Figgins, tweets Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, and were denied. It seems odd to me that Figgins would be unavailable – would he even be claimed on waivers next month?
2:35pm: The Mariners approached the Braves about taking Chone Figgins off their hands, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Crasnick adds that the Braves are also making a late bid for a reliever.
1:43pm: The Braves are working on potential deals for hitters and relievers, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Consitution, and there's a "reasonable chance" something gets done by the deadline.
Braves Acquire Ankiel, Farnsworth
The Braves have acquired Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth from the Royals in exchange for Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco, and Tim Collins. Atlanta also received an unknown amount of cash in the deal.
Ankiel, 31, missed over two months with a quad strain this year, but will bring a much-needed .261/.317/.467 batting line to Atlanta's outfield. He is still owed just over $1MM for the remainder of the season, and there's a $6MM mutual option for his services next year that could instead be bought out for $500K.
The 34-year-old Farnsworth is back for a second stint with the Braves, and has pitched to a 2.42 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 44.2 innings this year. He is owed $1.64MM through the end of the season, and Atlanta could buy out his $5.25MM option for next season for $500K.
Chavez, 26, was acquired in the Rafael Soriano trade during the offseason. He had not performed as expected, with a 5.89 ERA and 7.1 K/9 in 36.2 innings this year. Blanco, 26, is a career .252/.361/.309 hitter in 633 big league plate appearances with experience in all three outfield spots. Both he and Chavez are under team control for another four seasons.
Collins, 20, was acquired in the Yunel Escobar–Alex Gonzalez trade earlier this month. He has struck out 15.4 Double-A batters per nine innings this year, and boasts a 2.35 ERA in his minor league career.
CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler first reported the deal while Ed Price of AOL FanHouse added details (Twitter link). A Royals press release confirmed the deal.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Braves Acquire Wilkin Ramirez
The Braves acquired outfielder Wilkin Ramirez from the Tigers for a player to be named later or cash considerations by November 20th, according to the team. The Tigers had designated Ramirez for assignment on Wednesday to clear a spot for Jhonny Peralta.
Ramirez, 24, has a .230/.295/.458 line between Double and Triple A this year. Heading into the season Baseball America ranked Ramirez eighth among Tigers prospects, but obviously his stock has dropped since then. Still, they did praise his "tantalizing five-tool ability."
Cody Ross Unlikely To Be Traded
SATURDAY, 9:21am: The Marlins are unlikely to trade Ross, reports Rosenthal, as they can't find the right deal.
FRIDAY, 5:05pm: Executives of one team heard that they could acquire Ross for the right offer, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Braves and Red Sox have interest in Ross and could acquire the outfielder for the right price, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
3:39pm: Cody Ross is "off the table," according to Frankie Piliere of AOL FanHouse (on Twitter). The Braves and other clubs are now looking in different directions. It appears that Chris Coghlan's injury made the Marlins more inclined to keep Ross, though MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says Ross was off the table before Coghlan's ill-fated celebration (Twitter link).
Earlier today, it appeared that the Braves were one of three teams “coming hard” after Ross, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney and Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that a number of teams were pursuing Ross (Twitter links only).
Braves Designate Brent Clevlen For Assignment
The Braves designated Brent Clevlen for assignment, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (Twitter link). The 26-year-old hit a double in four at bats with the Braves this year and will likely head to Triple A Gwinnett if he clears waivers.
The 2002 second-rounder has a .255/.372/.362 line at Triple A in 2010. That's not far off the .261/.341/.421 mark he has posted in nine minor league seasons.
Odds & Ends: Lowell, Perez, Zambrano, Ross
Links for Friday, with less than 24 hours before the deadline…
- The Pirates acquired minor league outfielder Mitch Jones from the Braves, according to MLB.com's transactions page. David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Braves obtained cash in return (Twitter link).
- The Rangers are the only team that has slight interest in Mike Lowell, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com (via Twitter).
- The Mets shopped Oliver Perez today, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
- The Cubs are resigned to the fact that if they want to trade Carlos Zambrano, it will have to happen in the winter, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports will believe that Cody Ross is unavailable once the deadline passes tomorrow. Until then he's a skeptic (Twitter link).
- Teams like Joe Beimel, but are only offering the Rockies non-prospects, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter). The Rockies are shopping Randy Flores.
- GM Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash explained to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy that the Brewers look for "plus" fastball velocity, quality breaking pitches, solid arm action and delivery and height in the pitchers they pursue.
- The Rangers are talking to rival teams to determine if there's interest in Rich Harden or Scott Feldman, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
- The Astros wanted Chad Billingsley in exchange for Roy Oswalt, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (Twitter link). The Dodgers countered with a four-prospect offer, but the Astros preferred the Phils' offer.
- The Royals aren't making much progress on deals, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark (Twitter link).
- I answered questions from Neil Keefe and broke down the trade deadline in detail at WFAN.com.
Twitter Rumors: Lowell, Ross, Dotel, Heilman
A home for today's random Twitter rumors…
- The Red Sox might not activate Mike Lowell today because they're trying to trade him, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
- The Marlins are getting tons of calls on Cody Ross but aren't inclined to move him, tweets Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Marlins are wavering on their stance not to deal Ross, and the Braves are making a push.
- The Sox made a run at the Cubs' Sean Marshall and were shot down, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark. Marshall is having a dominant year out of the Cubs' pen.
- Though the Giants have inquired on Orioles lefty Will Ohman, a deal is unlikely according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
- Action has been light on Octavio Dotel so far, tweets Morosi.
- The Diamondbacks aren't sure about trading Aaron Heilman, reports Ken Rosenthal, but could move Chad Qualls and Adam LaRoche. SI's Jon Heyman says the D'Backs have gotten nibbles on Qualls but nothing is close yet.
- The Indians are getting "significant hits" on Jake Westbrook, says ESPN's Buster Olney. The Cardinals and Yankees have checked in, reports Stark.
Odds & Ends: Joba, Orioles, White Sox, Mets
Big names have traditionally been traded on July 29th, including Cliff Lee and Mark Teixeira in recent years. Perhaps today we'll add Roy Oswalt to the list. Links for Thursday with about 51 hours until the deadline…
- The Tigers have designated Jeff Larish for assignment, according to the team.
- I discussed the Mets and Yankees with SNY's Ted Berg earlier today.
- The Yankees were open to building a Dan Haren deal around Joba Chamberlain, Ivan Nova, and two prospects, reports Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse.
- The Orioles may be concerned about making their team even worse by trading veterans, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.
- Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press analyzes Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos based on his major trades so far.
- The White Sox and Mets were on hand to watch the Blue Jays beat the Orioles last night, tweets Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. Trade bait on the field for Toronto: Jose Bautista, Lyle Overbay, John Buck, Edwin Encarnacion, Jason Frasor, and Kevin Gregg.
- The Mets think they can trade Jeff Francoeur in August after he clears waivers, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The problem with that, in my opinion: he doesn't offer much for a contender, and other teams may not care to acquire a guy who's certain to hit the free agent market as a non-tender.
- The Rays' two biggest trade targets were Jayson Werth and David DeJesus, who are now off the board. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports explains that Adam Dunn and Prince Fielder don't hold the same appeal to Andrew Friedman and company.
- Pirates reliever D.J. Carrasco would welcome a trade to a contender, based on comments made to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. Carrasco's cheap and under team control through 2012, though keep in mind the White Sox non-tendered him in December coming off a similarly decent year.
- The Braves acquired second baseman Michael Noboa from the Diamondbacks for a player to be named later or cash, MLBTR has learned.
Stark On Phillies, Indians, Ross, Athletics
Today's rumblings from ESPN's Jayson Stark…
- Shane Victorino's oblique injury yesterday appears to close the door on a Jayson Werth trade. MLB.com's Todd Zolecki seems to agree, but unlike Stark he feels that the Phils "remain a top contender" for Roy Oswalt. More on Oswalt here.
- Stark writes of indications the Phillies have turned to starters such as Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona and relief options like Octavio Dotel. Jon Heyman of SI.com notes that the Indians are talking trades with the Phils (Twitter link).
- Speaking of the Indians, Stark senses they do want to move money off the books.
- The Marlins have told teams they could deal Cody Ross in August if they fall out of contention, but they'd have to match up only with the team that wins the claim.
- The Braves maintain strong interest in Josh Willingham, though there's a good chance they stand pat. Willingham is just one of many Nationals veterans generating interest, GM Mike Rizzo told ESPN 980.
- Athletics assistant GM David Forst told Stark "it would have to be an over-the-top deal for us to even consider it" in regard to trading relievers such as Michael Wuertz, Craig Breslow, and Brad Ziegler.
Braves, David Ross Agree On Two-Year Extension
3:28pm: Ross will make $1.625MM in 2011 and the same amount in 2012, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (via Twitter). That's a total of $3.25MM for the two seasons. Rosenthal reports (via Twitter) that Ross can earn $300K more through incentives. The catcher makes $50K for starting 50 games behind the plate and earns an additional $50K when he reaches 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 starts.
12:05pm: The Braves agreed to a two-year extension with catcher David Ross worth more than $3MM, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Ross would've been eligible for free agency after this season, as he's finishing up a two-year, $3MM deal signed in December of '08.
Ross has done a fine job as Brian McCann's backup in Atlanta, hitting .272/.378/.447 over 244 plate appearances. The 33-year-old has also gunned down almost half of attempted base-stealers.