Heyman On Reyes, Ortiz, Cole, Twins
The market for Jose Reyes should still be strong after the season, Jon Heyman writes at SI.com. MLB executives tell Heyman that the Giants, Cardinals, Tigers, Angels, Nationals, Braves, Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees and Mets could be fits for the shortstop in terms of finances and positional need. Here are the rest of Heyman’s rumors…
- Yankees people suggest they’re unlikely to pursue Reyes and Red Sox people say they don’t expect to spend big on a position player this winter.
- The Red Sox haven’t discussed a new deal with David Ortiz, though they’re confident that they’ll be able to re-sign him after the season. Ortiz has expressed interest in a multiyear deal for a while, but the Red Sox don’t want to guarantee more than one year.
- First overall draft pick Gerrit Cole is looking to approach Stephen Strasburg’s $15.1MM bonus and top Mariners pick Danny Hultzen is looking for $13MM plus money for school, Heyman reports. Keep track of which top picks have signed here.
- The Twins appear to want to keep Joe Nathan when he hits free agency after the season, but they’ll probably let Matt Capps sign elsewhere.
Jose Valverde Hires Proformance
Jose Valverde has switched agencies and is now a Proformance client, MLBTR has learned. The closer, who could find himself on the open market this offseason, had previously been a Praver/Shapiro client.
Valverde has a 2.92 ERA with 8.2 K/9, 4.7 BB/9 and a league-leading 32 saves in 49 1/3 innings this year. The Tigers can exercise a $9MM option for the 33-year-old's services in 2012. Alternatively, they could decline the option and offer arbitration to the projected Type A free agent with the intention of obtaining extra picks in the 2012 draft.
Be sure to check out MLBTR's Agency Database for information about each MLB player's representatives.
Poll: The Brewers’ Best Trade
The White Sox told their fans they were going “all in” this year, but that slogan might have worked better a bit further north. Brewers GM Doug Melvin has traded prospect after prospect since last season in an attempt to reinforce his club for a run at the playoffs.
The Brewers gave up a lot, but their plan is working so far. Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum have provided upgrades in the rotation, Nyjer Morgan is hitting like never before and the most recent addition, Francisco Rodriguez, has provided manager Ron Roenicke’s bullpen with a boost.
The Brewers lead the NL Central with a 66-50 record. Which of their recent trades was the best one?
What was the Brewers' best trade?
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Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt for Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi 34% (3,629)
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Nyjer Morgan for Cutter Dykstra and cash 32% (3,348)
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Shaun Marcum for Brett Lawrie 19% (2,057)
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Francisco Rodriguez and cash for two PTBNL 14% (1,428)
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Other 1% (115)
Total votes: 10,577
Padres To Raise Payroll
The Padres will raise their payroll over $50MM next year with the expectation that it will rise to a “resting place” of $70MM within five years, CEO Jeff Moorad told Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune. That’s a significant boost for the Padres, who have operated on payrolls in the $38-45MM range since 2009.
“Our long-term goal is to operate at $70 million,” Moorad said. “When we get there, we’ll be properly balanced.”
Moorad also noted that his ownership group is not close to completing its purchase of the Padres from owner John Moores, though they hope to finalize the deal sooner rather than later. The Padres are looking forward to a new TV deal, since their current agreement expires after the season. However, Moorad says the Padres don’t expect to be major spenders on the free agent market.
“The team is going to be homegrown,” he said. “I’m consistent. We’re not going to be shifting our priorities from year [to year]. The plan won’t change.”
Moorad explained that he intends to break even every year, without pocketing profits or sustaining losses.
The Deadline For Signing Draft Picks
Here are the details behind next Monday's deadline for signing draft picks:
- The deadline is typically 11:59pm on August 15th. It gets pushed back during years that August 15th falls on a weekend.
- The deadline doesn't apply to college seniors and it doesn't apply to players drafted out of independent leagues or those who don't play college baseball again between two drafts.
Here's what happens to players who don't sign:
- High schoolers who enroll in a four-year college program after being drafted aren't eligible again until after their junior year of college or their 21st birthday. For example, Mark Prior wasn't available between 1998, when the Yankees drafted him, and 2001, when the Cubs did.
- Drafted players who go on to attend junior college are again eligible after their freshman and sophomore years.
- College juniors who don't sign are available in the next draft.
- Players can't be drafted by the same team twice in a row unless they give permission.
This post was originally published on June 10th, 2009. Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts.
Braves To Release Scott Proctor
The Braves will release Scott Proctor, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman (on Twitter). Chris Schiavone of WSB Radio broke the news earlier (on Twitter). The move will create roster space for Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta's number seven prospect before the season, according to Baseball America.
Proctor posted a 6.44 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 5.8 BB/9 in 29 1/3 innings for the Braves this year. The 34-year-old, who signed a minor league deal with Atlanta in April, has struggled since appearing in 83 games in consecutive seasons (2006-07).
The Braves recently promoted Vizcaino to Triple-A and moved him to the bullpen, where he struck out eight hitters without allowing a walk in seven innings. In 97 innings of work as a starter and reliever across three levels this year, the 20-year-old has a 3.06 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9.
Quick Hits: Astros, Bell, Tigers, Angels, Rays
On this date last year, the Brewers sent Jim Edmonds to the Reds. Tonight, Milwaukee starter Shaun Marcum will look to extend his club's division lead against Edwin Jackson and the Cardinals. Here's the latest from around MLB…
- Zachary Levine of The Houston Chronicle reports that the official transfer of ownership of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane is likely to take place on August 22nd if the other 29 owners approve the sale at next week's owners' meetings.
- Executives believe Wandy Rodriguez will clear waivers, but not Heath Bell, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). Neither player had been sent through waivers yet as of this morning.
- The Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies are in one tier and the rest of MLB is in another, Tom Verducci writes at SI.com.
- The Tigers’ deep rotation and strong attendance led to extensions for GM Dave Dombrowski, John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press writes.
- Yahoo's Tim Brown suggests Mike Scioscia deserves credit for keeping the light-hitting Angels in the race (they trail the Rangers by 1.5 games).
- It's unlikely that the Rays will make any moves this month, ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes.
Minor Moves: Clevelan Santeliz, Miguel Perez
Here are today's minor moves…
- The Red Sox have released Clevelan Santeliz according to the Triple-A International League transactions page. The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 4.60 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 6.3 BB/9 in 43 relief innings for Boston's Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket.
- The Pirates returned minor league catcher Miguel Perez from the Nationals, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post (on Twitter). The Pirates had acquired Perez from Washington at the end of June. The 27-year-old has appeared in just ten games this year, but has a .269/.322/.343 line in ten seasons as a minor leaguer.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Durango, Ledezma
Here are the latest players to get outrighted to Triple-A…
- The Astros outrighted Luis Durango to Triple-A after he cleared waivers, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart (on Twitter). Houston designated him for assignment on Friday.
- The Blue Jays announced that they outrighted Wil Ledezma to Triple-A to create roster space for right-hander Henderson Alvarez, who will make his MLB debut tomorrow night. Ledezma appeared in two games for the Blue Jays, allowing three earned runs in as many innings pitched. Alvarez, 21, has a 3.18 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in 96 1/3 innings this year, mostly at Double-A.
Lyle Overbay Hits Free Agency
Lyle Overbay has cleared waivers and hit free agency, according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch (on Twitter). The Pirates had designated him for assignment at the end of July.
Overbay signed a one-year $5MM contract with the Pirates in the offseason, but didn't produce as well as expected in his return to the National League. After reaching the 20 homer plateau for the second time in his career last year and posting a .243/.329/.433 line, the 34-year-old added just eight homers for Pittsburgh, posting a .227/.300/.349 line.