Rays, Richie Shaffer Nearing Deal
The Rays are "very close" to a deal with first round draft pick Richie Shaffer, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (on Twitter). The sides have until tomorrow at 4pm CDT to reach an agreement.
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 recommends a bonus of $1.725MM for the 25th overall selection.
Blue Jays Extend Edwin Encarnacion
2:05pm: The deal guarantees Encarnacion $29MM, including a $2MM buyout for the $10MM club option in 2016, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. Encarnacion will earn annual salaries of $8MM, $9MM and $10MM.
10:17am: Edwin Encarnacion has been traded, claimed, non-tendered and designated for assignment in the last three years. His next three years figure to be considerably more peaceful. The Blue Jays announced that they signed Encarnacion to a three-year, $27MM contract extension. The deal covers the 2013-15 seasons and includes a $10MM club option for 2016.
Encarnacion, 29, was on track to hit free agency this coming offseason. The Wasserman Media Group client has enjoyed a breakout season so far in 2012, with 23 home runs and a .295/.382/.565 batting line through 356 plate appearances. Encarnacion has career batting line of .264/.341/.465 in eight seasons with the Blue Jays and Reds.
Encarnacion is known for his power, not his defense, but he has successfully transitioned to first base this year. He has split his time between first base and DH in 2012, and figures to continue in that role for the duration of his extension.
The deal is roughly comparable to the free agent contracts signed by Michael Cuddyer (three years, $31.5MM) and Josh Willingham (three years, $21MM) last offseason. However, those two players signed on the open market.
Photo courtesy of US Presswire.
Potentially Available Left-Handed Relievers
The Dodgers, Mets and Cardinals are among the contenders with potential interest in adding left-handed relievers to their respective bullpens this month. Here’s a partially speculative list of potentially available left-handers:
- Brian Fuentes, free agent – The recently-released 36-year-old has drawn some interest from the Cardinals. He posted a 6.84 ERA with an 18K/10BB ratio before the Athletics removed him from their roster.
- Will Ohman, free agent – Ohman’s available for nothing but a roster spot and the league minimum salary after being released by the White Sox.
- Matt Reynolds, Rockies – The Rockies and Mets discussed Reynolds when considering Ramon Hernandez deals.
- Jose Mijares, Royals – Mijares is pitching well and he earns just $925K, so there’s a good chance he’ll draw interest as a July trade candidate.
- Darren Oliver, Blue Jays – The Blue Jays don’t figure to consider trades for Oliver unless their next three weeks are particularly ugly. If they do make him available he’d be in high demand.
- Wesley Wright, Astros – Wright has three years of team control remaining after 2012, so the Astros aren’t under pressure to trade him. Wright has a 4.13 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 through 24 innings and will head to arbitration for the first time over the winter.
- Brian Duensing, Twins – While there's no indication the Twins are shopping Duensing, they could consider offers for the 29-year-old at a time that left-handed relief is in demand. Duensing is on track for a significant raise via arbitration this coming offseason.
- Joe Thatcher, Padres – The 30-year-old has averaged more than one strikeout per inning with the Padres, both in 2012 and for his career. It wouldn't be surprising if teams inquire about him.
MLBTR has previewed the trade market by looking at potentially available catchers, first basemen,second basemen, third basemen, shortstops, outfielders and starting pitchers. Right-handed relievers are up next.
MLB Suspends Beras, Approves Contract
MLB will uphold the $4.5MM contract between the Rangers and Dominican outfielder Jairo Beras, Yahoo's Tim Brown reports. However, MLB will suspend Beras for one year after determining that the prospect lied about his age. MLB has announced that Beras will serve a one-year suspension and that his deal with the Rangers stands.
The Rangers agreed to sign Beras in February, when many rival teams thought he was too young to sign. The Rangers operated on the belief that Beras was 17, while competing executives believed he was just 16. MLB launched an investigation in March to determine the validity of the deal.
Beras can attend the Rangers’ academy during the suspension, but he’s not allowed to play in any league until next July. Scouts considered Beras a top Latin American prospect before the Rangers agreed to sign him.
Tigers Notes: Brantly, Castellanos, Pitching
The Tigers could use an upgrade at second base and they could also consider corner outfielders and starting pitchers between now and the end of the month. Here’s the latest on the Tigers, who have a 44-42 record after winning five consecutive games:
- Trade candidates such as Jed Lowrie, Darwin Barney, Marco Scutaro and Carlos Quentin would interest the Tigers, but it might be prohibitively expensive to trade for them, Lynn Henning of the Detroit News writes.
- The Tigers are probably willing to part with prospect Rob Brantly, Henning writes. Casey Crosby, Jacob Turner or Bruce Rondon could also be available, but the Tigers don’t want to discuss Nick Castellanos. The third base prospect, who was recently named MVP of the Futures Game, has taken fly balls in the outfield to increase his versatility.
- Tigers president and GM Dave Dombrowski says the trade market is “probably as tight as any” he has seen. The new collective bargaining agreement will also affect the deadline, since teams can no longer obtain draft picks for players acquired midseason. "The compensation issue will definitely have an effect," Dombrowski told Henning. "How much of a change? Only time will tell. I really don't know what's going to happen."
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports keeps hearing different things about the Tigers (Twitter link). He’s recently heard that Detroit will focus on pitching because the team’s decision makers can't find a second baseman they like.
Marlins, Heaney Not Expected To Reach Deal
The Marlins have informed first round draft choice Andrew Heaney that they won't sign him, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (Twitterlinks). The Marlins have yet to offer close to the recommended bonus of $2.8MM, Callis adds. The Marlins offered just $2.6MM and won’t sign Heaney, Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel reports.
The Marlins selected the Oklahoma State left-hander with the ninth overall pick in last month's draft. The sides have until tomorrow at 4pm CDT to agree to terms. Heaney entered the draft as the best college southpaw available, according to Baseball America. He's presently one of six unsigned first round selections. However, Callis can't see the Marlins walking away from such a high pick.
Some Mariners Players Off-Limits In Trades
Rival teams say the Mariners have made many players untouchable in trades, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. However, a Seattle official tells Rosenthal the team is “wide open” on possible deals.
The list of untouchable players includes Felix Hernandez, Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seager, and prospects Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen, James Paxton and Nick Franklin, Rosenthal reports. Some executives question whether Ackley and Seager should be off-limits at this stage in their careers.
Mariners such as Jason Vargas, Kevin Millwood, Brandon League, Miguel Olivo and Brendan Ryan could draw interest this summer. GM Jack Zduriencik will be expected to consider trade offers for some veterans given Seattle's 36-51 record.
Teams Calling Red Sox About Outfielders
Teams are calling the Red Sox about the availability of “several” outfielders, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports. The Red Sox are “open-minded” about trading away an outfielder now that Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford are nearly ready to return to the MLB roster.
Ryan Sweeney and Daniel Nava could be trade chips for the Red Sox, but the team is “not looking to move Sweeney,” Silverman reports. Scott Podsednik and Ryan Kalish are at Triple-A, and Cody Ross fits well with Boston’s current needs.
Though the Cubs aren’t interested in Sweeney, the Red Sox are eyeing a pair of Cubs pitchers. Boston has expressed preliminary interest in Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster, but is “not fully engaged yet,” Silverman reports. I recently previewed the trade market for starting pitchers and outfielders.
Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal explained how Boston’s 40-man roster will impact the team’s next few weeks. The Red Sox are far more likely to trade surplus players such as Sweeney, Kelly Shoppach or Matt Albers than make major changes this month, MacPherson writes.
Cardinals Continue To Seek Pitching
The Cardinals continue looking for starting pitching depth and the team will consider adding a left-handed reliever, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. GM John Mozeliak has suggested a major acquisition is less likely than a modest upgrade, Strauss writes.
Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels probably won’t be traded to St. Louis this year. The Cardinals are unwilling to trade from their MLB roster, but they may be willing to discuss trades for top pitching prospect Shelby Miller for the first time, according to Strauss. Miller, who entered the season as the 8th-best prospect in the game, according to Baseball America, has struggled in 17 starts at Triple-A, posting a 6.17 ERA.
Though second base is a potential area of need for the Cardinals, Strauss suggests the team is likely to focus on making moves to improve the pitching staff. I recently previewed the trade market for starting pitchers and second basemen.
International Signings: Pirates, Orioles
The Diamondbacks signed Colombian catcher Oswaldo Garcia and Dominican shortstop Fernery Ozuna, as MLBTR noted earlier today. Here are some more noteworthy international signings:
- The Pirates announced that they signed 16-year-old Dominican Michael DeLaCruz. The outfielder obtained a $700K bonus, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports (Twitter links). “He is a young player with … tools that are still developing,” Pirates director of Latin American scouting Rene Gayo said. “He is also an instinctive and aggressive performer with a very strong opportunity to be a five-tool player.” If the name sounds familiar, it's because the Pirates recently signed Dominican third baseman Julio Delacruz for $700K.
- The Pirates are waiting to sign three more Dominican players for a combined total of $750K or so, Biertempfel adds.
- The Orioles signed Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia to a minor league contract with a bonus of $779K, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. The 25-year-old's bonus won't count against Baltimore's $2.9MM pool for the 2012-13 international signing period. Urrutia is an athletic switch-hitter who could begin his professional career at Double-A, according to Baseball America.