White Sox Want To Trim Payroll
The White Sox are just 3.5 games out of the AL Central lead, so don’t expect another ‘white flag’ trade this summer. But team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf wants to trim payroll, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
The White Sox went “all-in” last winter and opened the season with a club record $128MM payroll. However, Adam Dunn and others have fallen well short of expectations and GM Kenny Williams said yesterday that he’s considering turning over the roster.
Rosenthal suggests the White Sox could deal Carlos Quentin and Edwin Jackson without compromising the on-field product by calling up Dayan Viciedo and returning to a five-man rotation.
Nationals Acquire Jonny Gomes
The Nationals announced that they have acquired Jonny Gomes and cash considerations from the Reds for outfielder Bill Rhinehart and left-hander Chris Manno (Twitter links). The Reds have confirmed the move and announced that they're calling up Yonder Alonso in a corresponding move.
Gomes, 30, has a .211/.336/.399 line with 11 homers in 265 plate appearances this season. He entered the season with a reputation for hitting southpaws (.281/.376/.510 career line against lefties) and has continued hitting them in 2011 (.333/.439/.537 line). However, the left fielder has seen his playing time decrease this month – he has only batted 31 times in July.
Gomes earns $1.75MM this year and will hit free agency after the season. Since he currently projects as a Type B free agent, the Nationals could obtain a supplementary draft pick for him by offering arbitration. However, there's no guarantee that Gomes, a two-time non-tender, will receive an arbitration offer.
Manno was a 26th round pick for Washington in last year's draft. He has a 1.47 ERA with 14.4 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 61 1/3 innings as a professional. The 22-year-old, who has yet to pitch above Class A, has worked exclusively in relief.
Rhinehart, 26, is in his fifth season as a professional. He has a .283/.376/.587 line with 21 homers at Double-A, a level he first appeared at in 2008. Rhinehart, who reached Triple-A last year, has a .261/.331/.458 line in his pro career.
Indians Willing To Deal Good Players, Take On Salary
5:32pm: The Indians offered to pick up Carlos Beltran’s salary and give up a good player in return, according to Peter Gammons in a piece at MLB.com. Cleveland “did not fit,” for Beltran, who will accept and turn down trades based on which teams he expects to win, Gammons writes.
5:18pm: Indians GM Chris Antonetti told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian that the Indians are prepared to trade quality players or add payroll if it means improving the team’s playoff chances (all Twitter links). Now one game behind the Tigers in the AL Central, Cleveland isn’t limited to minor moves this summer.
"We are willing to trade good players and we're willing to take on salary to improve the team," Antonetti said.
The GM finds it difficult to imagine parting with one of the organization’s best young players for a rental player, but he’ll consider trading top prospects if he’s presented with a “compelling deal.”
The Indians have interest in outfielders, including B.J. Upton, infielders, including Jamey Carroll, and starters, including Hiroki Kuroda.
Hunter Pence Rumors: Tuesday
We heard yesterday that the Braves haven't ruled out making a play for Hunter Pence, that the Pirates have been stymied in their pursuit of the 28-year-old and that the Phillies consider him a long shot. If you need proof that trade talks shift quickly in late July, keep on reading; today's rumors tell a different story than yesterday's:
- The Phillies have been the most aggressive team on Pence, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Red Sox have inquired, but aren't finding it easy to match up with Houston and the Braves aren't currently involved.
- Word spread yesterday that Pence was “essentially not going to be traded,” according to this Peter Gammons piece at MLB.com.
Nationals Interested In Peter Bourjos
Welcome to life as a trade target, Peter Bourjos. The Nationals have expressed interest in the Angels' outfielder, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com (Twitter links). They've already been linked to B.J. Upton and Colby Rasmus as their search for a center fielder continues. In addition to Bourjos, Upton and Rasmus, the Nationals are also scouting Denard Span and Michael Bourn these days, Ladson reports.
Bourjos, 24, debuted early last August, so he has roughly one season of MLB experience. His .242/.286/.385 line is far from spectacular, but he has 21 steals (28 attempts) and, unsurprisingly, UZR suggests that his blazing speed translates into tremendous outfield defense (30.0 UZR/150). Bourjos, who recently returned from a stint on the disabled list with a tight right hamstring, isn't arbitration eligible until after the 2013 season or eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season.
Brandon League Trade “Not Likely At All”
TUESDAY, 3:20pm: To further enforce the point, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik told MLB Network Radio's Jim Bowden that League "is going to be here" (Twitter link).
MONDAY, 8:12pm: Mariners president Chuck Armstrong told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that we shouldn't expect Seattle to trade Brandon League this month. A deal is “not likely at all – at this point,” Armstrong said.
League, 28, is one of the most coveted players available, according to Morosi. The right-hander has a 3.26 ERA with 6.3 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, a 57.3% ground ball rate and 23 saves in 38 2/3 innings. He earns $2.25MM this year and is under team control through 2012.
The Mariners fielded many calls on League and the Phillies appeared to have some interest.
Passan On Upton, Nationals, Melky, Francoeur
The latest on the trade market from Yahoo’s Jeff Passan…
- A number of MLB officials tell Passan that they consider the Nationals the favorites for B.J. Upton. However, a Rays official says there’s no favorite at this point (click here for the latest on Upton).
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has told teams that pitching prospect Brad Peacock is not available.
- Nationals executives and scouts have told others that Ian Desmond is available (despite reports that that Washington will hold onto its shortstop).
- The Royals are leaning toward keeping Melky Cabrera in 2012, according to Passan. Cabrera, who is having an excellent season and remains under team control next year, might not fetch enough in a trade for GM Dayton Moore to pull the trigger.
- The Royals are hoping to work out some kind of contract for next year with Jeff Francoeur. The sides have a 2012 mutual option for $4MM, but the Royals would likely have to offer more to lock Francoeur up for next season. They get the impression that the 27-year-old is interested in staying in Kansas City.
Quick Hits: Mijares, Tigers, Phillies, Nimmo
Michael Cuddyer pitched a shutout inning in Texas tonight, but the Rangers didn't have trouble scoring against Minnesota's other pitchers – they beat the Twins 20-6. Here are some late links from around MLB…
- The Twins had been looking to trade Jose Mijares before tonight, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter link). The left-hander allowed five hits and four runs in 2/3 innings in tonight's blowout against the Rangers.
- The Tigers continue watching Doug Fister, Jason Vargas, Aaron Harang and others as they look to acquire starting pitching, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports (on Twitter).
- The Phillies are pursuing Heath Bell and Mike Adams of the Padres aggressively, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). The Padres are surprised the Yankees, Reds and Cardinals haven’t expressed more interest in their relievers.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears that the Mets think they’re close to a deal with first round pick Brandon Nimmo (Twitter link).
D’Backs To Sign Trevor Bauer
11:04pm: Bauer's deal includes a $3.4MM bonus, $4.45MM in guaranteed money and the potential for $7MM in earnings, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter).
10:47pm: Bauer obtains a bonus of around $3.5MM and the overall package is worth $7.4MM or so, according to Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA (on Twitter).
7:19pm: Jack Magruder of FoxSportsArizona.com reports (on Twitter) that Bauer's deal is worth about $7MM over four years, including bonus and salary. Depending on the exact amount, it could be one of the ten richest contracts in draft history.
5:22pm: The D'Backs announced that they have signed Bauer to a Major League contract. Arizona's 40-man roster now has 39 players.
4:56pm: Trevor Bauer, the third overall pick in this year's draft, has passed his physical with Arizona for his first big league contract, according to Peter Gammons of MLB Network (on Twitter).
Bauer, 20, had “the deepest repertoire of any pitcher in the draft,” according to Baseball America. He can reach 96 mph with his fastball and has “top-of-the-rotation upside,” according to BA. Bauer's extensive repertoire worked at the collegiate level this season, as he posted a 1.25 ERA with 203 strikeouts and 36 walks in 136 2/3 innings for UCLA.
After selecting Bauer with Arizona's top pick, D’Backs’ amateur scouting director Ray Montgomery suggested he can be a difference-making starter.
“We see him as a potential rotational guy for us and I think his talent gives him a chance to make an impact on us sooner rather than later,” Montgomery said in June.
Bauer explained last month that Arizona's philosophy about scouting and player development matches up with his own somewhat unorthodox workout regimen. Since Bauer has already worked so many innings, Arizona could choose to shut him down for 2011 if they complete a deal.
AL East Notes: Niemann, Davis, Orioles
We’ve already checked in on the AL East and taken detailed looks at its two biggest spenders, the Yankees and Red Sox. Here are some new notes from around the division, with an emphasis on teams that could be sellers:
- Though the Rays have told teams they won't trade James Shields, they're willing to discuss Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.
- Rays manager Joe Maddon tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times that he has discussed dozens of trade scenarios with executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman (Twitter link). None of the scenarios have involved Shields, who appears to be off of the market.
- Koji Uehara and Jeremy Guthrie are the names bouncing around MLBTR, but Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reminds us that teams have also called about other Orioles, including Adam Jones, Jim Johnson and Alfredo Simon.