Justin Germano Clears Waivers
TUESDAY: Germano cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (on Twitter).
THURSDAY: The Indians announced that they have designated right-hander Justin Germano for assignment to create roster space for infielder Luis Valbuena.
Germano, 28, had pitched 12 2/3 innings of relief this year with as many walks as strikeouts (5) and a 5.68 ERA. Since debuting with the 2004 Padres, Germano has logged 253 MLB innings and posted a 5.02 ERA with 5.4 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and a 48% ground ball rate.
Valbuena has been a regular presence in the Indians' lineup since they acquired him before the 2009 season. The 25-year-old has a lifetime .227/.289/.348 line in 762 MLB plate appearances and has a .270/.323/.461 line at Triple-A Columbus this year.
Stark On Pence, Phillies, Braves
Of all the teams in baseball, the 18-30 Astros are likeliest to become sellers this summer, in the eyes of ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. Yet Stark suggests there may be a shortage of sellers, since so many teams are within striking distance of a playoff berth. Here are the details, as the summer trade market starts to take shape:
- Houston GM Ed Wade says it makes sense to explore “anything that builds the type of depth that will get us where we need to be."
- Rival teams believe Wade would listen to offers for players like Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez, Clint Barmes and Bill Hall, but the GM says he’s “going to be very protective of [Houston’s] younger players."
- Stark hears that the Braves, Orioles and Phillies have some interest in Hunter Pence. A rival executive says Wade would need an immense haul to justify trading Pence, who is under team control through 2013.
- The Phillies’ interest in Pence may be overstated. Pence’s $6.9MM salary appears to be about double what Philadelphia can add and at this point, the Phils are just creating a shopping list of possible targets.
- The Braves are “actively stepping up” their search for hitting. They’ve been looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder and would also like a utility infielder who can handle shortstop. They signed longtime shortstop Julio Lugo yesterday.
Quick Hits: Herrera, Bautista, Blevins
Today the Brewers claimed Danny Herrera from Cincinnati, the Reds optioned Edinson Volquez to the minors and Josh Hamilton homered in his return from the disabled list. The connection? Back in December of 2007, the Rangers sent Herrera and Volquez to Cincinnati for Hamilton. Here are the latest links from around the league…
- The Brewers optioned Herrera to Triple-A Nashville and moved left-hander Manny Parra to the 60-day DL, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (on Twitter).
- One Blue Jays person told Danny Knobler of CBSSports that Jose Bautista is “our Derek Jeter.” Bautista hit homer #19 today as the Blue Jays defeated Jeter’s Yankees.
- Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues points out that recently-designated southpaw Jerry Blevins could be an appealing option for the Yankees if they're looking for more upside than Randy Flores offers.
- Earlier today, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested that the Yankees are one of many contenders that could look for lefty relief.
What Wilpon’s Comments Mean For The Mets
Mets owner Fred Wilpon offered some not-so-constructive criticism for his star shortstop, his highest-paid position player and his franchise third baseman in Jeffrey Toobin’s recent New Yorker article. Soon after the Mets comment publicly on what Wilpon (pictured) said about Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and David Wright, the reaction will subside and the focus will return to the field. But before long the 22-24 Mets may have to consider trading players, including Reyes, Beltran and Wright. Here’s what – if anything – Wilpon’s comments mean for the trio of Mets stars going forward.
Jose Reyes
"He thinks he’s going to get Carl Crawford money. He’s had everything wrong with him. He won’t get it." – Wilpon.
Wilpon's comments suggest the Mets are shying away from Reyes' apparent asking price of $142MM. The Mets owner sounds hesitant about paying top dollar for Reyes when the shortstop hits free agency after the season. That would eliminate one bidder for Reyes' services after the season, but won't necessarily prevent the 27-year-old from floating an exorbitant price tag.
As for Reyes' trade value, rival executives tell ESPN.com's Buster Olney that Wilpon's comments reduced the Mets' leverage (Twitter links). GM Sandy Alderson faces the perception held by some general managers that the Mets must trade him because they won't be signing him after the season.
Carlos Beltran
"We had some schmuck in New York [Wilpon himself] who paid him based on that one [2004 postseason] series. He’s sixty-five to seventy per cent of what he was." - Wilpon.
Beltran had trade value before the article came out and Wilpon’s comments haven’t changed that. Speculation has already begun regarding possible suitors for the outfielder.
Agent Scott Boras is well aware that Beltran is having a resurgent season and that figures to boost his asking price in free agency after the season. Wilpon’s comments about Beltran’s current contract won’t prevent Boras from obtaining a shiny new deal for his client. But at age 34, Beltran is almost certainly not going to sign another $119MM deal, even if he matches his historic 2004 postseason performance.
David Wright
“A really good kid. A very good player. Not a superstar." - Wilpon.
Alderson knows full well that Wright has had some superstar caliber seasons, and so do the rival GMs who might try to trade for him. If anything is limiting Wright's trade value, it's his pedestrian .226/.337/.404 line and the lower back stress fracture that has him on the disabled list.
Wright’s free agency is a long way off, as he’s under team control through 2013. He said this spring that he “can't imagine ever asking out" of New York and stated today that Wilpon is a “good man.” Could the owner’s comments change Wright’s stance on sticking it out with the Mets? It’s certainly possible, but we can’t assume that will happen.
Photo courtesy Icon SMI.
Rosenthal On Rodriguez, Tejada, Brewers
MLB executives tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the struggles of large market teams such as the Mets and Dodgers have helped build competitive balance in baseball this year. Here are Rosenthal’s notes from around the league:
- Though Francisco Rodriguez has 15 saves (16 chances) and a sparkling 0.76 ERA, his fastball velocity (90.4 mph) continues to drop and two scouts say his stuff is diminished. That perception could affect the right-hander’s trade value this summer.
- D’Backs GM Kevin Towers told Rosenthal that righty Josh Collmenter’s arm angle almost makes him look left-handed and helps create deception.
- While Miguel Tejada has struggled this year, he’s heating up at the plate and the Giants aren’t about to quit on him, according to Rosenthal.
- The Brewers are pleasantly surprised by Yuniesky Betancourt’s defensive work this season. If you haven’t seen these plays, you’re in for a pleasant surprise yourself.
- Rosenthal confirms that the Mariners figure to call top prospect Dustin Ackley up before long.
Draft Notes: Bundy, Cubs, Rendon, Rays
The 2011 draft takes place in exactly two weeks. In the meantime, here's the latest draft-related news from around the game…
- Executives estimate that high school right-hander Dylan Bundy could obtain a bonus of $6-7MM, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Bundy has a 100 mph fastball and has been linked to a possible $30MM asking price (basically double Stephen Strasburg’s current record of $15.1MM).
- Virginia left-hander Danny Hultzen, UCLA right-hander Trevor Bauer and high school outfielder Bubba Starling are moving up draft boards, according to Heyman. Some expect the Cubs to take Starling if he’s available when they select ninth overall.
- Executives continue to suggest to ESPN.com's Buster Olney that Anthony Rendon's future may be at second base because of body type and arm concerns (Twitter links). Rendon entered the season as a higly-regarded defender at third, but has spent considerable time DHing this year because of injuries.
- Teams received their slot bonus recommendations from the commissioner's office last week, according to Olney.
- MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo breaks down this year's available catchers, starting with high schoolers Blake Swihart and Austin Hedges. Swihart can hit for average and power, but may be a tough sign and could eventually move to the outfield. Hedges has the top defensive skills of any draft-eligible catcher and could hit enough to be an everyday backstop.
- The Rays have 12 picks in the first two rounds of this year's draft – enough to re-load an already-deep farm system. But as Jim Callis of Baseball America explains, teams with lots of early picks haven't done particularly well, historically speaking.
- Frankie Piliere of FOX Sports hears that the Yankees are “heavily in on” prospects Dillon Howard and Brandon Martin (Twitter link). Howard is asking for a large bonus, according to Piliere.
Padres Designate Samuel Deduno For Assignment
The Padres designated Samuel Deduno for assignment to create 40-man roster space for Blake Tekotte, the team announced. To create 25-man roster space, the team optioned Will Venable to Triple-A Tucson.
Deduno earned a spot on the Padres' Opening Day roster and made two relief appearances before getting optioned to the minors on April 10th. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 2.92 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 6.6 BB/9 through 24 2/3 innings of relief work in Triple-A this year. The Padres claimed Deduno from the Rockies last offseason.
Tekotte, who turns 24 tomorrow, has a .291/.410/.486 line in 180 plate appearances at Double-A this year. He is the second player from the Padres' 2008 draft to make the Major Leagues (Logan Forsythe was the first).
Wilpon Fallout: Reyes, Beltran, Wright
Mets owner Fred Wilpon publicly criticized three of his team’s best players in a piece by Jeffrey Toobin in the New Yorker. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes explained and weighed in on the drama earlier today and others have since done the same. Here’s the latest on Wilpon, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and David Wright:
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney says it was a "really, really bad idea" for Wilpon to agree to do the New Yorker interview in the first place. People aren't going to feel sorry for him and the news will generate lots of headlines for the wrong reasons.
- Olney reports that the Mets would trade Reyes between the middle of June and the beginning of July if a deal occurs (all Twitter links). Though Wilpon's comments appear to be true, they cut into the leverage GM Sandy Alderson has, according to Olney. The Mets haven’t engaged Reyes in talks about a possible extension yet, Olney reports.
- Reyes' agents are not going to comment, but the shortstop himself is not bothered by the story, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).
- Agent Scott Boras told Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal that he was surprised by Wilpon's jabs at Beltran, given how well the outfielder is playing this year. Boras also suggests he'd prefer to see Wilpon be more supportive of his team's players.
- Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog wonders how Wilpon's words will impact the trade market for Reyes and how the story will impact players like Reyes and Wright as they try to focus on their jobs.
- Author Jeffrey Toobin said today on WFAN that he expects the Mets to try to re-sign Reyes and keep Wright, according to Cerrone.
- As Joel Sherman of the New York Post points out, the sympathetic portions of the 11,000 word article "are obscured in total by Wilpon's critical comments on Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran." Mets officials say Wilpon is an obsessed fan who cares about every game, rather than a detached owner.
- Though many owners and club officials talk critically about players in private moments, Wilpon made a mistake in expressing his thoughts publicly, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Mets skipper Terry Collins told Mike Puma of the New York Post that his team consists of professionals who can tune out distractions like this (Twitter link).
- The Mets are formulating a response, according to Andy McCullough of the Star Ledger (on Twitter). It could take a while, he reports.
Brian Broderick Returned To Cardinals
The Cardinals accepted Rule 5 selection Brian Broderick back from the Nationals, according to Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com (on Twitter). The Nationals get $25K back from the Cardinals to complete the transaction.
Broderick pitched 12 1/3 innings for the Nationals this year and allowed 16 hits and three walks while striking out four. Manager Jim Riggleman has not used the 24-year-old right-hander since May 13th. The Nationals claimed Broderick after a 2010 season in which he posted a 3.66 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in 150 innings as a starter in Class A and at Double-A.
D’Backs Designate Josh Wilson For Assignment
The D'Backs designated infielder Josh Wilson for assignment to create roster space for Melvin Mora, who has been reinstated from the bereavement list, the team announced. Mora missed five games after going on the bereavement list May 18th.
Wilson has appeared in six games this year and has only come to the plate ten times. He has a .227/.280/.315 in parts of five seasons in the Major Leagues with the Marlins, Nationals, Rays, D'Backs, Padres and Mariners. Though he's primarily a shortstop, Wilson has appeared at every infield position and has pitched in three MLB games.