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Rays Sign Richie Shaffer

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The Rays announced that they have agreed to sign first round selection Richie Shaffer. Shaffer obtained a bonus of $1.7125MM, Jim Callis of Baseball America tweets.

Schaffer, a third baseman selected out of Clemson, has big-time power and the ability to hit for average, according to Baseball America. Most teams saw him as a future first baseman entering the draft. MLB recommended a bonus of $1.725MM for the 25th overall selection.

Red Sox Designate Justin Germano For Assignment

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The Red Sox will designate Justin Germano for assignment, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Boston will reinstate Jacoby Ellsbury from the disabled list in a related move, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio adds (on Twitter).

Germano, 29, appeared in one game for the Red Sox this year, pitching 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief six days ago. He has spent most of the season as a starter for Boston's Triple-A affiliate and has a 2.40 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 1.1 BB/9 in 105 innings at Pawtucket.

Rangers Interested In Justin Upton

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The Diamondbacks don’t seem particularly high on Justin Upton, based the most recent rumors surrounding Arizona's 24-year-old right fielder. Some GMs are convinced Upton will be traded and rival executives say the Diamondbacks aren't sure he's a winning player. Here are the latest rumors regarding Upton, with the most recent updates up top:

  • The Rangers have some interest in Upton, MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez reports (on Twitter). However, it’s doubtful Texas would trade Mike Olt or Jurickson Profar for Upton and the club definitely wouldn’t part with both top prospects in a trade.

Reds Interested In Mark Kotsay

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Padres outfielder/first baseman Mark Kotsay is drawing interest from multiple clubs, including the Reds, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. However, the Padres value Kotsay's leadership and may keep him.

Kotsay, 36, has a .292/.370/.375 batting line in 81 plate appearances and a salary of just $1.25MM. The left-handed hitter could provide the Reds with late-game flexibility at a reasonable cost.

Cincinnati has also been linked to Juan Pierre, so the club appears to be eyeing low-cost outfielders who bat from the left side. I've speculated that Ryan Sweeney and Daniel Nava might also appeal to the Reds. For a detailed look at the trade market for outfielders click here.

Marlins To Sign Andrew Heaney

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The Marlins have agreed to sign first round selection Andrew Heaney, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports. The Oklahoma State left-hander obtained a $2.6MM bonus just one day after an agreement seemed highly unlikely.

The Marlins selected Heaney with the ninth overall pick in last month's draft after he established himself as the best college southpaw available. MLB recommends a $2.8MM bonus for the ninth overall selection. There are now just four unsigned first round selections remaining.

Potentially Available Players: 2012 Trade Market

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Over the course of the past two weeks, I’ve previewed the trade market for pitchers and position players. Nearly 100 players have been mentioned as possible trade candidates, but keep in mind that many players not mentioned on these lists will be dealt. I’ve linked to the entire series below:

Potentially Available Right-Handed Relievers

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Most contenders could use another right-handed reliever for the season’s final two-plus months. Here are some potentially available right-handers:

  • Jonathan Broxton, Royals – The Royals are open to moving Broxton, but they aren't about to give him away for nothing.
  • Matt Capps, Twins – It sounds as though the Twins are willing to listen to offers for Capps, who was recently activated from the disabled list after recovering from shoulder inflammation. The trade candidate has a 3.42 ERA with a 16K/4BB ratio in 26 1/3 innings.
  • Grant Balfour, Athletics – Balfour has a 3.14 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 so far this season. His contract includes a $4.5MM club option for 2013. Click here for more on Balfour.
  • Brandon League, Mariners – League's trade value has diminished this year, but he still has a 3.35 ERA and recent success as a closer.
  • Huston Street, Padres – Street has a 1.13 ERA with 12.0 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 for the Padres and is definitely a midseason trade candidate. His contract includes a mutual option for 2013.
  • Kevin Gregg, Orioles – The Orioles were shopping Gregg earlier this year. He has a 4.07 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 through 23 appearances.
  • Rafael Betancourt and Matt Belisle, Rockies – The Rockies would have to be overwhelmed to trade either pitcher, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported last month.
  • Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers – If the Brewers become sellers, they could trade Rodriguez. The Mets are one interested team.
  • Brett Myers, Astros – The Astros are prepared to move Myers, who has pitched well in his return to the bullpen. Click here for more on Myers.
  • Shawn Camp, Cubs – Camp leads the NL with 43 appearances and he has a 2.80 ERA. Yet he's a 36-year-old on a one-year deal, so the Cubs could flip him for prospects.
  • Casey Janssen, Blue Jays – The Blue Jays need Janssen now, but if they do decide to sell he’d draw interest.
  • Brad Lincoln, Pirates – The Diamondbacks and Padres might have some degree of interest in Lincoln, who's enjoying a breakout season.
  • Joel Hanrahan, Pirates – I don’t expect the Pirates to trade Hanrahan now that they’re leading the NL Central. But if they had to part with him to get an impact bat, they might listen.
  • Brandon Lyon, Astros – Lyon has a 3.24 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 so some teams might be willing to overlook that $5.5MM salary.
  • Mark Lowe, Rangers – It appeared earlier in the year that the Rangers were willing to listen on Lowe and Scott Feldman. 
  • Wade Davis, Rays – Davis has a 3.12 ERA with 9.4 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 since the Rays moved him to the bullpen, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him draw interest.

MLBTR has previewed the trade market by looking at potentially available catchers, first basemen,second basemen, third basemen, shortstops, outfielders, starting pitchers and left-handed relievers.

Justin Upton Rumors: Thursday

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Arizona GM Kevin Towers told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that if the Diamondbacks make a trade this summer, it will probably be a deal involving MLB players, not prospects. Justin Upton is now generating as much discussion as any player in baseball. Here’s the latest on Arizona’s 24-year-old right-fielder:

  • Three of the four teams on Upton's limited no-trade list have changed since 2010, reports MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.  In 2010, Upton's four teams were the Athletics, Indians, Royals and Tigers.
  • The Mariners are unlikely to acquire Upton since he would be a short-term addition for a team that isn't planning to contend until 2015, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.
  • Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas looks at why and how the Rangers could trade for Upton, though Durrett says he doesn't think Texas would deal top prospect Jurickson Profar, who is "about as close to untouchable as this organization has right now."
  • Rival executives say Diamondbacks officials are willing to consider offers for Upton because they are not convinced that he is a winning player, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes. Rosenthal predicts the Diamondbacks will trade Upton for a package of players including a young third baseman or shortstop and Major League help.
  • Some GMs are convinced the Diamondbacks will move Upton, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports. However, there probably won't be a high volume of serious suitors for Upton, Olney writes. The Pirates, Blue Jays, Rangers, Tigers, Braves, Cubs, Mariners, Indians, Mets and Reds are possible fits for Upton, Olney writes.
  • A competing executive suggested the Blue Jays could engage a third team if they wanted Upton badly and didn’t match perfectly with the Diamondbacks, Piecoro reports. 
  • Another executive wondered why Towers will even listen on Upton, according to Piecoro. “Whenever a player like that is available, I think, ‘People who work in this game are smart. Why is he willing to trade a guy like that on a fairly reasonable contract?’” the person said.
  • Towers has had very few conversations with the Pirates, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com writes. Bowden considers five possible trade partners for Arizona should they decide to deal Upton.

Red Sox Notes: Lester, Ortiz, Luxury Tax

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Teams are calling the Red Sox about potential trades involving Boston’s outfielders, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reported earlier today. Here are some Red Sox-related notes as the team prepares for the second half…

  • A National League GM called the Red Sox to inquire on Jon Lester a couple of weeks ago and was told Boston intends to win in 2012, Peter Gammons of MLB Network tweets.
  • Gammons recently suggested on 98.5 The Sports Hub that Lester could benefit from a change of scenery (transcript via the Boston Herald). “I just sense that Jon is so unhappy here that I’m sure it would be good for him,” Gammons said. But Lester said on Twitter that he loves Boston and is happy pitching for the Red Sox. “Nothing better than playing for the Red Sox,” he wrote. “Hope to be here for my entire career!”
  • The Red Sox aren't going to trade David Ortiz this summer, so it's no surprise the slugger told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he hasn't thought about being dealt. “My name has never been mentioned in a trade, so why should I think about it? If I have to, I have to,” he said. Ortiz's ten and five rights allow him to block trades to any team, but he said he'd consider waiving no-trade protection under certain circumstances.
  • The Red Sox are about $10MM over the luxury-tax threshold, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

Dodgers Eyeing Aramis, Headley

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The Dodgers have identified Aramis Ramirez as a potential trade target in case the Brewers decide to trade veteran players this summer, Yahoo's Tim Brown reports (on Twitter). However, the Dodgers prefer Chase Headley of the Padres.

Ramirez signed a three-year, $36MM contract with Milwaukee last offseason. The 34-year-old has ten home runs and a .272/.346/.475 batting line through 338 plate appearances so far in 2012. The 40-45 Brewers aim to establish themselves as contenders after the All-Star beak, when they play the Pirates, Cardinals and Reds.

Headley, 28, has a .267/.368/.413 batting line in 370 plate appearances for the Padres. He earns $3.48MM this year and will remain under team control through 2014. The 34-53 Padres figure to be sellers this summer, though they may hesitate to deal within the NL West.

Los Angeles has a clear need at the hot corner; Dodgers third basemen rank 26th in MLB with a combined .631 OPS. Manager Don Mattingly was relying on a combination of Jerry Hairston Jr., Juan Uribe, Adam Kennedy and Luis Cruz at the position leading up to the All-Star break.

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