Nine Teams In Violation Of Debt Service Rules
The Dodgers and Mets are among the nine MLB teams in violation of MLB’s debt service rules, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. The regulations came into being in 2002 and are intended to limit a team’s debt to ten times its yearly earnings and ensure that each team can pay its bills. The Orioles, Cubs, Tigers, Marlins, Phillies, Rangers and Nationals are also in violation of the rules, according to Shaikin.
MLB executive VP of labor relations Rob Manfred says he isn’t “concerned about the overall economic condition of the industry" and a National League executive called the high number of teams out of compliance a “hiccup” for an otherwise healthy league.
Along with the competitive balance tax and revenue sharing, the debt service rule figures to be a major financial issue in the negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and the owners. The Phillies have confirmed that they are not currently compliant with the debt-service rule, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Nationals Notes: Harper, Riggleman, Bubba Starling
Last year's top pick, Bryce Harper, hit his first professional walk-off home run last night and now has 13 homers, 11 stolen bases and a .346/.432/.623 line at Class A. Still just 18 years old, Harper provides lots of hope for Nationals fans, though the big league club is in last place with a 25-31 record. Here's the latest out of Washington:
- Nationals manager Jim Riggleman told Bill Ladson of MLB.com that he isn’t worried about his job security, though he’s in the last year of his contract.
- Frankie Piliere of FOX Sports hears that the Nationals have zoned in on high school outfielder Bubba Starling with the sixth overall pick (Twitter link).
- In case you haven't heard about the toolsy two-sport star, check out my piece on Starling from a couple weeks ago.
Stark On Upton, Pirates, Indians, Red Sox, Fox
One GM told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark that he’d like to see the season shortened because it’s a mental and physical grind for the players and they could use more rest to regroup. Stark provides and passes along many suggestions, including a national doubleheader day (what’s not to like about that?) and expanding the active rosters beyond 25 players. Here are the latest rumblings from around MLB…
- Though a couple of American League teams made strong proposals for Justin Upton last winter, D’Backs president Derrick Hall says it’s doubtful that Arizona would be in first place without their 23-year-old right fielder. About two dozen teams expressed interest in the former first overall pick last offseason. Put another way, only five teams weren’t interested.
- There are signs that the 26-29 Pirates are going to make a run at .500 instead of trading MLB players for prospects this year. One NL assistant GM says he would shoot for .500 to start changing the perception that the Pirates are perennial losers.
- Though the Indians understand the injury risks for catchers (Carlos Santana missed the end of the 2010 season after a home plate collision), GM Chris Antonetti says his front office appreciates “the potential competitive advantage of getting exceptional production behind the plate.”
- They’ve already signed Kevin Millwood and now Red Sox are “poking around” for another starter to stash at Triple-A, according to Stark.
- The Orioles, who designated Jake Fox for assignment this week, are trying to trade him and at least one scout expects them to find a taker.
Olney On Marlins, Bundy, Matsuzaka, Mariners
It appears that the Diamondbacks will be among the most aggressive teams on the trade market this summer. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney has an update on another team preparing to make deals and other notes from around the league…
- The Marlins will also be among the most aggressive teams on the trade market, Olney reports. President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said this week that he believes in his team’s prospects and doesn’t see glaring holes on the Marlins.
- Olney points out that talent evaluators love high schooler Dylan Bundy and suggests the right-hander will be selected early on in Monday’s draft.
- It’s a reasonable guess that Daisuke Matsuzaka’s Red Sox career is over, according to Olney. The Red Sox probably didn’t get their money’s worth on their $103MM investment, but it's not like Matsuzaka's career numbers are bad (4.25 ERA, 622 2/3 innings, 8.2 K/9, 4.4 BB/9, 10.4 WAR). The right-hander will undergo Tommy John surgery.
- As Olney pointed out yesterday, the Mariners will have to monitor Michael Pineda’s workload this summer. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik says they’ll watch Pineda’s pitch count and innings count with a common-sense approach, rather than a “hard and fast rule.”
Wright’s 2013 Option Only Applies To Mets
If the Mets trade David Wright, the acquiring team will only get him for one year after 2011. The 2013 team option in the third baseman’s contract is only valid if he’s on the Mets, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
The Mets aren’t actively discussing the possibility of shopping Wright, according to Martino. Because the 2013 option doesn’t apply to other teams, the Mets would have a harder time obtaining a major haul for the five-time All-Star. Wright earns $14MM this year and $15MM in 2012. The Mets have a $16MM option ($1MM buyout) for his services in 2013.
Wright has maintained that he doesn't want to be traded despite the Mets' struggles. He has a .226/.337/.404 line with six homers and nine steals this year – not 'superstar' production, but good enough for an OPS+ of 107.
Yankees To Explore Deals For Starting Pitching
Though it may seem like the Yankees’ rotation is a strength, it has been solid rather than spectacular to this point in the season. The Yankees aren’t assuming Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia can continue pitching this well, so, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, they will be looking for ways to bolster their starting pitching depth this summer.
“Overall, the pitching is going to be the defining thing for us,” GM Brian Cashman told Sherman. “The pitching has excelled, but it is not wise or prudent to sit back and try not to reinforce and improve on it.”
The Yankees have not been in contact with left-hander Andy Pettitte, according to Sherman and Cashman says they aren’t discussing the possibility of calling up prospects Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances. Cashman “badly wants” a left-handed reliever, since the Yankees don’t have left-handed depth in the minors and it could be a while before Pedro Feliciano and Damaso Marte return.
Don’t expect the Yankees to pursue a “significant” hitter, though. They lead the American League in runs scored and are content with every spot in the lineup except designated hitter. They don’t mind relying on internal options to fill the DH role, Sherman reports.
Quick Hits: Skaggs, Maholm, Red Sox, Lamb
On this date last year, Armando Galarraga came within one out of a perfect game before a blown call prevented him from making history. Here are Thursday’s links, including reaction to the Galarraga game:
- Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports weighed in on the anniversary of Galarraga’s near-miss.
- The Rangers' asking price of the Diamondbacks for Michael Young in Spring Training was lefty prospect Tyler Skaggs, tweets Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. At the time, Skaggs was regarded as roughly the 80th best prospect in baseball.
- Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review suggests it'd be a good idea for the Pirates to offer Paul Maholm $25MM or so on a three-year extension. Maholm is having a nice year (3.18 ERA, 70 2/3 IP, 6.1 K/9, 3.2 BB/9) but $25MM sounds excessive to me.
- Listen in as MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes joins Midwest Sports Fans on their MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast.
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com explores the options for the Red Sox, who will lose Daisuke Matsuzaka to Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.
- The Royals announced that top prospect John Lamb will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow. Baseball America ranked the lefty 18th among all MLB prospects before the season.
Outrighted To The Minors: Amezaga, Sosa, Tejeda
We'll keep track of all the day's outrighted players right here:
- Alfredo Amezaga, designated for assignment by the Rockies on May 29th to create a spot for Chris Nelson, cleared waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A, tweets the team.
- Henry Sosa, who was designated for assignment by the Giants last week, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Double-A, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
- Robinson Tejeda cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). The Royals designated Tejeda for assignment last week to create roster space for hard-throwing right-hander Felipe Paulino.
- Dallas McPherson cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). The White Sox designated the infielder for assignment Monday after he collected a pair of singles in 15 plate appearances over the course of 11 games. The 30-year-old former top prospect had a characteristically strong .305/.366/.458 line in Triple-A Charlotte before getting the call to the Majors.
D’Backs Seek Relief Help
Kevin Towers built a dominant bullpen in San Diego and he’d like to do the same in Arizona. The D’Backs GM is looking to upgrade his bullpen by acquiring a shutdown seventh inning arm to complement David Hernandez and J.J. Putz, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Heath Bell, Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson are dominant in San Diego and Towers likes the idea of creating a similar trio in Arizona, where Putz and Hernandez have been tremendous so far. Those two, plus lesser-known pickups like Rule 5 pick Joe Paterson, have helped the D’Backs lower their bullpen ERA from 5.74 in 2010 to 3.26 this year (a transformation I examined in detail last month).
The D’Backs like their offense and are confident that their rotation will keep them in games, so they’re focusing on the ‘pen. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes wrote this week that Towers "should be proactive in adding reinforcements" because Putz has to be used carefully and Hernandez has walked 5.7 batters per nine innings.
Rockies Claim Josh Roenicke
The Rockies announced that they claimed right-hander Josh Roenicke from the Blue Jays and optioned him to Triple-A (Twitter link). They also confirmed that they claimed infielder Ryan Rohlinger from the Giants and optioned him to Triple-A.
The son of longtime big leaguer Gary Roenicke and the nephew of Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, Josh has appeared in parts of three big league seasons. The 28-year-old has a 5.60 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in 53 total innings for the Reds and Blue Jays. Acquired in the 2009 Scott Rolen trade, he had a 6.04 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 6.0 BB/9 in 22 1/3 innings of relief for the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate in 2011.
Before the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked Roenicke seventh among Blue Jays prospects. The publication praised his mid-90s fastball and suggested he could become a big league closer.