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Blue Jays Interested In Starting Pitching

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The Blue Jays recently signed Jamie Moyer to add depth to a rotation that's seen Kyle Drabek, Drew Hutchison and Brandon Morrow hit the disabled list in recent weeks, and their search for pitching reinforcements won’t end with the 49-year-old left-hander. Officials of three teams describe the Blue Jays as being in a “full court press” for rotation help, ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reports. The 38-38 Blue Jays maintain a buyer’s stance, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report.

The team recently sent multiple scouts to at least two of Wandy Rodriguez’s starts, Rosenthal and Morosi report. The club has also maintained contact with the Cubs about Matt Garza, FOX reports. The Blue Jays prefer to acquire players who are under team control for an extended period and Rodriguez (team control through 2013 or 2014) and Garza (through 2013) are more than rental players. 

The Blue Jays are giving “little indication” that they intend to trade potential free agents Edwin Encarnacion and Kelly Johnson, Rosenthal and Morosi write. Scouts are saying they’ve been told Encarnacion is available for the “right” pitcher, Stark reports. Yet one person told Stark Encarnacion is "not available, as far as I know." Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com wrote earlier today that the Blue Jays would have multiple suitors if they make Encarnacion available.

Stark suggests the Blue Jays could have interest in recently designated Cubs starter Randy Wells.

Heyman On Blue Jays, Soriano, Rays, Span, Headley

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The latest from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com…

  • Several teams would target Edwin Encarnacion if the Blue Jays make him available in trades, Heyman writes. However, the Blue Jays’ main priority is putting together an effective and healthy rotation. 
  • Teams see Alfonso Soriano of the Cubs as a designated hitter, not an outfielder, Heyman writes. One general manager says the Cubs could trade Soriano if they absorb all but $2MM of his contract. The Cubs are indeed willing to pay a “very substantial portion” of the $45MM or so remaining on the contract, Heyman writes. One scout suggested the Rays could be a fit for Soriano, who seems willing to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a deal to a contender.
  • The Twins are believed to be more willing to trade Denard Span than Josh Willingham, writes Heyman. They do not appear to be actively engaged in talks yet, but they would seek a young starting pitcher in return for Span.
  • The Dodgers are one of several teams inquiring about Chase Headley, writes Heyman. The Padres are willing to listen on their third baseman and Heyman says they will consider intra-division trades.

NL East Notes: Phillies, Marlins, Harper

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Last year's Phillies team comfortably led the Major Leagues in run prevention by allowing just 3.27 runs per game. It's been a different story so far in 2012. Just seven teams surrender more runs than the last-place Phillies, who are averaging 4.46 runs allowed per game. Here's the latest from the NL East…

  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney considers some possible fits for Jim Thome, who's being shopped to American League teams.
  • There hasn't been any progress in the Phillies' contract talks with Cole Hamels, Olney writes. Hamels' contract expires after the 2012 season.
  • GM Ruben Amaro Jr. must address the Phillies' bullpen issues relatively soon, Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. It's "pretty damn difficult" to develop inexperienced pitchers and win simultaneously, manager Charlie Manuel noted.
  • Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria told Greg Cote of the Miami Herald that he believes the 35-40 Marlins have a spectacular club. “It’s a playoff-caliber team, absolutely,” Loria said. “We’re going to have our run."
  • D.C. is starting to feel like home for Bryce Harper, and he'd like to continue playing for the Nationals for a long time, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post writes. “You look at Cal Ripken. You look at Derek Jeter. You look at all the greats that played for one team their whole career,” Harper has said. “I want to be like that. I’ve always wanted to be like that. I’ve always wanted to play with that same team.”

Checking In On The Latest $100MM Contracts

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Every year a few players join baseball’s exclusive $100MM club with free agent deals and mega-extensions. Last offseason was no different — eight players signed nine figure deals. The contracts were all for five years or more, so it’s far too early to call them successes or failures. As the season approaches its halfway point, let’s check in on baseball’s newest $100MM contracts:

  • Albert Pujols, ten-year, $240MM contract - Pujols had a painfully slow start, but he has raised his batting line to a respectable .270/.332/.461. His last 40 games have been legitimately Pujols-like: 11 home runs and an OPS over 1.000.
  • Joey Votto, ten-year, $225MM extension - It's impossible to have a complete discussion about baseball's best hitters without considering Votto. The 28-year-old leads the National League in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, walks, doubles and wOBA, so this deal couldn't be going any better for the Reds.
  • Prince Fielder, nine-year, $214MM contract - Fielder continues to hit at an All-Star level, though he has a relatively modest total of 12 home runs. Unfortunately for Tigers fans Mike Ilitch's bold investment hasn't been enough to keep the team above .500.
  • Matt Kemp, eight-year, $160MM extension - Hamstring issues have sidelined Kemp, who was the best hitter in the National League for the first month of the season.
  • C.C. Sabathia, five-year, $122MM extension - Sabathia, now on the disabled list with a strained groin, is in the midst of yet another tremendous season. He has a 3.45 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 107 innings.
  • Matt Cain, five-year, $112.5MM extension - Cain's enjoying his best season as a Major Leaguer. He has a career-best ERA (2.27), strikeout rate (9.0 K/9) and walk rate (1.9 BB/9) through 107 innings. The Giants' decision to invest in Cain still looks like a good one.
  • Jose Reyes, six-year, $106MM extension - Reyes' offensive numbers have dropped off across the board this year, no thanks to a 60 point dip in batting average on balls in play.
  • Ryan Zimmerman, six-year, $100MM extension - Zimmerman's off to a slow start at the plate despite two home runs in his past three games. He missed two weeks with shoulder soreness earlier in the year and has just a .235/.297/.350 batting line.

Diamondbacks Comfortable With Pitching Depth

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Daniel Hudson will likely need Tommy John surgery, Joe Saunders remains on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, and Trevor Bauer has completed all of four innings at the MLB level, but the Diamondbacks say they aren’t currently looking for pitching reinforcements.

"I think we feel like we've got enough depth," general manager Kevin Towers told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. "We actually considered even moving some of our depth. It's probably a good thing we didn't, for this very reason." 

The Diamondbacks expect Saunders to return from the disabled list around the All-Star break and Towers noted that the left-hander is “feeling great.” Saunders drew trade interest from the Orioles and other clubs earlier in the season.

Bauer, Ian Kennedy, Trevor Cahill, Wade Miley and Josh Collmenter currently round out Arizona’s rotation. The group ranks fourth in MLB in walk rate (2.5 BB/9), ninth in FanGraphs’ wins above replacement (7.5), 16th in strikeout rate (6.9 K/9), and 19th in ERA (4.21). Pitching prospects Tyler Skaggs and Patrick Corbin provide the Diamondbacks with some minor league alternatives.

Twins, Doumit Closing In On Extension

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The Twins are closing in on a multiyear extension with Ryan Doumit, agent Paul Cobbe tells ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link). Doumit, 31, is playing under a one-year, $3MM contract that's set to expire this coming offseason.

Doumit's .271/.332/.443 season batting line comes close to replicating his career line of .271/.334/.442. He has split his time between catcher and designated hitter in his first season with the Twins, also making appearances at first base and in right field. Doumit posted a .303/.353/.477 line in 236 plate appearances for the Pirates in 2011, when he missed significant time because of a non-displaced fracture in his left ankle.

This post was first published June 29th, 2012.

Quick Hits: Dodgers, Puig, Qualls, Harper

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The Mets and Athletics could match up for a potential trade involving Grant Balfour, ESPN.com's Buster Olney suggests (on Twitter). Balfour, a midseason trade candidate, is pitching well and the Mets could use bullpen help. Here are today's links…

  • Olney runs through some of the available and potentially available trade candidates for Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, explaining that the options out there are less than perfect. The Dodgers have started calling around the league about potential offensive upgrades, but players like Jeff Francoeur, Vernon Wells and Alfonso Soriano have their shortcomings.
  • ESPN.com’s Keith Law suggests the Dodgers’ investment in Cuban outfielder Yasel Puig “is a bizarre overreaction to the upcoming international spending cap.” The Dodgers and the outfielder agreed to terms on a seven-year, $42MM contract earlier today.
  • Chad Qualls, who was designated for assignment this morning, has asked Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. to trade him, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).
  • The Nationals have been relying on Bryce Harper in center field, but they’re still telling teams they’re looking for a long-term answer at the position, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).

Eleven First Round Picks Still Unsigned

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Just ten first round selections and one supplementary first round pick remain unsigned with two-plus weeks remaining before this summer's deadline. The 11 players below will be eligible for future drafts if they don't sign by July 13, but we can expect most of these players to reach agreements in the coming 15 days. Here's the complete list of players who haven't yet agreed to terms:

3. Mike Zunino, Florida C, Mariners

4. Kevin Gausman, Louisiana State RHP, Orioles

6. Albert Almora, HS OF, Cubs

8. Mark Appel, Stanford RHP, Pirates

9. Andrew Heaney, Oklahoma State LHP, Marlins

16. Lucas Giolito, HS RHP, Nationals

18. Corey Seager, HS SS, Dodgers

22. Marcus Stroman, Duke RHP, Blue Jays

25. Richie Shaffer, Clemson IF, Rays

30. Ty Hensley, HS RHP, Yankees

55. Walker Weickel, HS RHP, Padres

Morosi On Greinke, Brewers, Kotsay

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It'll be a surprise if Zack Greinke is pitching for the Brewers after the July 31st trade deadline, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. Here are some more details from Morosi, starting with the Brewers right-hander:

  • Greinke didn't offer much detail on his contract talks with the Brewers — “I don’t know anything about that. I’m not really talking about it" — but the Brewers are preparing to trade him if an extension isn't possible. 
  • Morosi is almost certain the Brewers will be sellers and notes that the Braves, Dodgers, Cardinals, Orioles, White Sox and Indians would like to upgrade their rotations. Morosi adds that the Rangers, Angels and Yankees had scouts at Greinke’s most recent start. Greinke, a free agent after the season, figures to obtain a qualifying from the Brewers this fall if he stays in Milwaukee. No other team can obtain draft pick compensation for Greinke if he leaves as a free agent this offseason.
  • Mark Kotsay will be one of the most sought-after bench bats in summer trade talks, Morosi writes (Twitter links). The Padres have outfield depth in Carlos Quentin, Chris Denorfia, Cameron Maybin, Jesus Guzman and Will Venable.

Phillies Designate Chad Qualls For Assignment

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The Phillies announced that they designated right-handed reliever Chad Qualls for assignment. The team will option left-hander Joe Savery to Triple-A and select the contracts of left-hander Jeremy Horst and right-hander Brian Sanches from Triple-A in related moves.

The Phillies signed Qualls to a one-year, $1.15MM contract in January and he started the season with six consecutive scoreless appearances. The 33-year-old now has a 4.60 ERA with 5.5 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and a 54.5% ground ball rate in 31 1/3 innings out of the Phillies' bullpen. He owns a 3.82 ERA with 7.0 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and a 57.3% ground ball rate in nine MLB seasons.

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