Brewers Designate Maysonet, Perez For Assignment
The Brewers announced that they designated infielder Edwin Maysonet and left-hander Juan Perez for assignment. The moves create roster space for Livan Hernandez, who's now officially a Brewer, and Cesar Izturis, who has been activated from the 15-day disabled list.
Maysonet, 30, appeared in 30 games for the Brewers this year, posting a .250/.297/.350 batting line in 66 plate appearances and playing shortstop, second and third base. Perez, 33, has appeared in ten games for this year's Brewers team and ten games for the organization's Triple-A affiliate.
Outrighted: Repko, Chiang
The latest outright assignments from around MLB…
- The Red Sox announced that they activated outfielder Jason Repko from the 60-day disabled list and outrighted him to Triple-A.
- The Mariners outrighted outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang to the Double-A Jackson Generals, the team announced on its website. The Mariners designated Chiang for assignment earlier this month to create roster space for Oliver Perez. The 24-year-old, who was acquired from the Red Sox in last summer's Erik Bedard trade, has a .238/.269/.336 batting line in the upper minors this year.
Gammons On Marlins, Kurt Suzuki
The latest from Peter Gammons of MLB Network (Twitter links)…
- Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria told Gammons that he’s prepared to make additions to his team if necessary. "We still need a couple of parts, and in time we'll go get them," Loria said. The Marlins' offense ranks 14th in the National League in runs scored, so it won’t be surprising if president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest pursues a bat or two this summer.
- Athletics catcher Kurt Suzuki could make sense for the Marlins, Mets or Rays, Gammons tweets. The Marlins have John Buck and Brett Hayes behind the plate, the Mets have Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas, and the Rays have Jose Molina and Jose Lobaton. The A’s called up prospect Derek Norris, so they could be positioned to listen to offers for Suzuki.
Brewers To Sign Livan Hernandez
The Brewers agreed to sign right-hander Livan Hernandez, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. The Brewers could use help in the bullpen, and their rotation is thinning out now that Shaun Marcum could join starters Chris Narveson and Marco Estrada on the disabled list.
The Braves released Hernandez three days ago after calling other teams about possible trade scenarios. Hernandez signed a Major League deal with the Braves in March, not long after the Astros released him. The Praver/Shapiro client posted a 4.94 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 31 innings out of the bullpen for Atlanta.
NL West Notes: Lincecum, Bauer, Rockies
The Dodgers, who have averaged 85 wins per year in six seasons under GM Ned Colletti, are on pace for 97 wins despite their poor showing against the Athletics this week. Here are the latest NL West links…
- Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he intends to make some changes to his pitching approach "It's almost like I'm pitching backwards now," he said. "Like I'm a wuss thrower. I've got to start utilizing my fastball." Nightengale discussed the differences between this version of Lincecum and the two-time Cy Young Award winner in a detailed piece. "It's hard to believe it's the same guy,” one scout said.
- The Diamondbacks are "in no rush" to promote Trevor Bauer, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic notes. Bauer visited with some Diamondbacks officials yesterday to familiarize himself with the organization. But the team is “not trying to clone people here” GM Kevin Towers said in reference to Bauer’s quirks.
- Rockies manager Jim Tracy told Jake Kaplan of MLB.com that it's hard to get a read on the effectiveness of the team's four-man rotation so early on. “What we've seen the first two days is real similar to what I've been dealing with an awful lot this season," Tracy said.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs proposed an alternate method of managing a pitching staff earlier in the week, in case you missed it.
Tigers Notes: Martinez, Porcello, Turner, Castellanos
The 34-35 Tigers trail the AL Central-leading Indians by 2.5 games, but owner Mike Ilitch remains confident in the people running his team, Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press reports. “I know we’ve got the right foundation,” Ilitch said, “the right people in place.” Here are more notes on the Tigers from Sharp…
- Ilitch expects the Tigers to enjoy a boost in offense and leadership if Victor Martinez returns this season. “He was really our leader, and he’s starting to come around again,” Ilitch said.
- Sharp wonders if the Tigers would consider trading Rick Porcello for a veteran starter or a right-handed bat with power. GM Dave Dombrowski could make Porcello available now or in the offseason if Jacob Turner is ready for a full-time starting role in 2013. Porcello, 23, has a 4.95 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 80 innings this year and will remain under team control through 2014.
- Turner, Nick Castellanos and Avisail Garcia are as close to untouchable as minor league prospects get, Sharp writes.
Minor Moves: Mills, Carrasco, Ambriz
The latest minor moves..
- The Indians traded first baseman Beau Mills to the Reds for cash considerations, tweets Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer. The former first-round pick has been assigned to Double-A Pensacola.
- The Braves signed reliever D.J. Carrasco to a minor league deal. The Mets, who are responsible for the majority of Carrasco's $1.2MM salary, released the 35-year-old in late May after he allowed six hits, including two home runs, in 3 2/3 innings, according to the CBSSports.com transactions page.
- The Astros signed right-hander Hector Ambriz to a minor league deal. The Indians released Ambriz this past Sunday after he posted a 3.55 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 in 33 Triple-A innings, according to CBSSports.com.
Quick Hits: Rockies, Mets, Giants, Blue Jays
The Blue Jays designated Edwin Encarnacion for assignment on this date two years ago, and he cleared waivers two days later once the 29 other MLB teams had passed on him. Encarnacion now has 20 homers and a .283/.351/.574 slash line, so he's making a strong case for inclusion in next month's All-Star Game. Here are today’s links…
- The Rockies would have to be overwhelmed to trade Rafael Betancourt or Matt Belisle, so deals are highly unlikely, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (Twitter links). Teams don't generally view the Rockies as a team with lots of assets to trade, according to Olney.
- The Mets are going to wait a few weeks before "digging into" the trade market, Olney tweets.
- GM Brian Sabean told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that the Giants identified Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan as trade targets this past offseason because, in spite of their flaws, they’re both impact MLB players. “We're talking about switch-hitters who can hit almost anywhere in the lineup, play all three outfield positions and help you on both sides of the ball. There's a lot to like," Sabean said. Check out Crasnick’s piece for a detailed look at how the Giants scouted and built their new-look outfield.
- The Blue Jays have been telling teams they can’t take on any salary, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).
Blue Jays Acquire Sean O’Sullivan
The Blue Jays acquired minor league right-hander Sean O'Sullivan from Kansas City for cash considerations, the Royals announced. The marks the second time in two days that the injury-plagued Blue Jays have acquired right-handed pitching depth; they claimed David Pauley from the Angels yesterday.
O'Sullivan, 24, has a 6.75 ERA with 4.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 53 1/3 innings at Triple-A this year. He started ten games for last year's Royals team, posting a 7.25 ERA with 2.9 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 58 1/3 innings. The right-hander was originally drafted by the Angels in the third round of the 2005 draft.
Rosenthal On Hernandez, Castro, Butler
Trading Felix Hernandez for offense would make sense for the Mariners, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggests. Hernandez, who’s under contract through 2014 and can block deals to ten teams, has a 3.52 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 94 2/3 innings this year. Here are more of Rosenthal’s notes from around MLB…
- Few teams are willing to take on high salaries and part with premium prospects, Rosenthal writes. This would limit the Mariners’ potential trade partners were they to consider trading Hernandez.
- The Mariners asked the Cubs about Starlin Castro and asked the Royals about Billy Butler in recent weeks, Rosenthal reports. They also talked to other clubs about potential trades for hitters, but none of the discussions progressed.
- Virtually every team contacted the Cubs following a report indicating that Castro was available. However, the Cubs haven’t actually put Castro on the trading block.
- Butler is also relatively untouchable, Rosenthal writes. The Royals consider him a core piece.