Mets Open To Reyes Extension
The Mets are willing to negotiate an extension with Jose Reyes, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. The sides have not discussed anything yet and will not finalize anything during the season, but the Mets are open to replacing their $11MM club option for 2011 with a multi-year deal.
The Mets are committed to Reyes as a long-term solution at short, according to Martino’s source. The club is not concerned about Reyes’ health, despite the leg, thyroid and oblique injuries that have sidelined him in 2009-10.
Reyes, 27, has a .278/.318/.414 line in 428 plate appearances this year with 21 stolen bases. His UZR/150 is -6.2, which suggests his defense has been below-average for a shortstop.
Red Sox Tried To Re-Acquire Justin Masterson
The Red Sox tried to reacquire Justin Masterson before the July 31st trade deadline, according to the MLB Network's Peter Gammons on Twitter. The Indians, who obtained Masterson from Boston in the 2009 Victor Martinez deal, told the Red Sox 'no thanks.' Last night, Masterson pitched five strong innings and beat his former teammates, who are now 6.5 games out of a playoff spot.
For the season, Masterson has a 5.40 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9. With those numbers, Masterson could start for many teams (Masterson's numbers are eerily similar to those of Edwin Jackson). Still, it's likely that the Red Sox, who have a full stable of starters, had interest in bringing Masterson back as a reliever and spot starter. The 25-year-old has a clearly-defined role in Cleveland's rotation and he seems to enjoy the stability.
"It’s a good spot to be in," Masterson told MLBTR over the weekend. "It has given me a great opportunity to be a starter and hopefully be one of the integral parts here."
The sides didn't necessarily come close to a deal, even if Masterson's name came up in conversation. Cleveland controls his rights through 2014 and Masterson figures to be a part of the team's rotation for a while, so it's no surprise that the Indians weren't motivated to move him.
Greenberg, Ryan Win Auction To Buy Rangers
Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan outbid Mark Cuban in an auction to win the right to buy the Rangers for $385MM, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. That figure does not account for debt owed to creditors, so the team actually costs about $200MM more.
The Rangers, who added Cliff Lee, Jorge Cantu, Cristian Guzman and Bengie Molina before the July 31st trade deadline, had trouble adding payroll, partly because of their uncertain ownership situation. Last night's auction should be a step toward financial stability for the club.
GM Jon Daniels could have opted out of his contract if the team's ownership had changed. He maintained that he wasn't thinking about that possibility, but the auction limits the chances that he'll opt out.
This Date In Transactions History: Bobby Bonds
We'll remember August 4th as the day on which Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th and 600th home runs. But before A-Rod was born and, coincidentally, as Roger Clemens celebrated his second birthday, the Giants made some baseball history of their own on August 4th, 1964.
That was when they signed Bobby Bonds, a future All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, as an amateur free agent. That's right, they signed Bonds, then a powerful 18-year-old outfield prospect, as a free agent. One year later, Major League Baseball implemented the amateur draft, but in 1964 teams could still sign amateur players without drafting them.
Four years later, Bonds debuted for the Giants and he soon became a fixture in their outfield. From 1968-74, Bonds hit .273/.356/.478 and averaged 27 homers and 38 steals per season. He was never the offensive force that his son would become two decades later, but Bonds was well on his way to posting career totals of 332 homers and 461 steals.
San Francisco traded him to the Yankees for Bobby Murcer after the 1974 season, but the Giants certainly got their money's worth when they made Bonds one of the last great pre-draft era signings 46 years ago today.
Poll: Which Clubs Will Make A Late-Season Surge?
Eight clubs are between 6.0 and 8.0 games out of a playoff spot. We have seen incredible hot streaks and collapses this past decade, as Rockies, Astros and Mets fans know well. We may see another late-season surge this year, so it's time to ask an important question.
Which teams will make a late-season surge? (Feel free to select multiple clubs)
Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.
Odds & Ends: Padres, Sheets, Beltran, Rangers
More links for Wednesday, after another impressive outing from Ubaldo Jimenez…
- Padres exec Paul DePodesta explains that he didn't like trading Wynn Pelzer and Corey Kluber away, but says he hopes that "every year we're forced to pay such a price to further a pennant run."
- Ben Sheets, who is about to have flexor tendon surgery, told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he isn't sure whether he'll ever pitch again.
- Newsday's David Lennon wonders if the Mets could trade Carlos Beltran before next season (Twitter link).
- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban appears to have made the highest initial bid in the auction to buy the Texas Rangers, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
Melvin: Axford A Pleasant Surprise
John Axford had faced 34 major league hitters going into the 2010 season, so you would have surprised even the most dedicated Brewers fans if you’d told them he was going to be the team’s closer this year. But Axford, who struck out Derrek Lee to preserve a one-run ninth inning lead last night, is most definitely Milwaukee's stopper.
Yes, Axford, a complete unknown just months ago, is closing games for a team that has all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman in its bullpen. And no, when Brewers GM Doug Melvin signed Axford two and a half years ago, he was not under the impression that he'd found his next go-to reliever.
“You always have visions of this happening,” Melvin told MLBTR. “But I don’t think we thought that this would happen, that he’d be our closer, especially closing in front of a Hall of Famer. I don’t think anybody had the vision that this would happen.”
Before Axford and his mustache won over Brewers fans, area scout Jay Lapp saw him pitch for the Brantford Red Sox of the Intercounty Baseball League. Back then, the right-hander was a bartender, but not a complete unknown in baseball circles. Axford generated buzz as a 2004 draft prospect, but underwent Tommy John surgery late in 2003. After the operation, the Reds selected him in the 42nd round of the 2005 draft and Axford pitched in the Yankees system in 2007. But in 2008, the Brewers signed him for his promise, not his polish.
“We knew we were getting a guy that had a good live arm, but there were a lot of mechanical issues with him,” Melvin said. “There were some up and down moments and some times when we weren’t sure he was going to throw enough strikes.”
Indeed, Axford had massive problems finding the strike zone in the Yankees system. He pitched at four levels in 2007 and posted an overall walk rate of 6.4 BB/9. Only two major league pitchers have higher walk rates this season: Dontrelle Willis and Oliver Perez have both posted 7.7 BB/9 (min. 40 IP). Those two left-handers have had trouble finding regular playing time this year, but Axford’s walk rates didn’t scare the Brewers away.
“If [pitchers] have good live arms and their walk rates are high, I think you’ve got to be patient,” Melvin said. “One of the toughest things in the game is to be patient.”
Axford has always had a mid-90s fastball and a pair of good breaking pitches. When the Brewers tinkered with his delivery, his walk rate dropped. He walked fewer batters than ever before getting called up to the majors this year and his current MLB walk rate is a career-best 3.1 BB/9.
“Guys with good arms, I say the same thing,” Melvin said. “Their walks can be reduced once they feel comfortable with their deliveries.”
That comfort zone can be evasive, so few relievers have lasting success like Hoffman.
“They can lose it if they don’t stay on top of things, they can lose the delivery, but I think that’s why some pitchers can be good one year and not the next year,” Melvin said.
This season, Axford has a 2.83 ERA with a 50% ground ball rate, 10.8 K/9 and a team-leading 16 saves. Those stats impress the Brewers, but Melvin also enjoys the Hoffman-like demeanor the 27-year-old showed on the mound last night.
“He kept his poise and struck out Derrek Lee and sometimes a young guy like that can really panic, but his composure and poise is very good,” Melvin said.
American League Team Claims Papelbon
An unknown American League team claimed Jonathan Papelbon, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Red Sox could trade Papelbon to the claiming club, but are unlikely to do so. Instead, they’ll likely pull their closer back from waivers and hold onto him.
Papelbon makes $9.35MM this season and will head to arbitration this winter. He will earn more than $10MM in next year and will hit free agency after 2011. Even though Papelbon appears headed for an eight-figure salary in 2010, the Red Sox don't necessarily have any interest in trading the four-time All-Star.
Teams often put players on waivers to determine interest even if they have no intention of making a deal. Papelbon has a 2.98 ERA with a career-low 7.7 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9. His 25 saves put him on track for a fifth consecutive 35-save campaign.
American League teams have the chance to claim AL players before NL teams. The Orioles have the league's worst record, so they currently have the top waiver claim. The Rays have the league's best record, so they pick last before National League teams get their chance. Click here for more on trading in August.
Pirates Claim Chan Ho Park
The Pirates announced that they claimed Chan Ho Park off of waivers from the Yankees today. Pittsburgh designated Steven Jackson for assignment in a corresponding move and officially announced that they claimed Chris Resop from the Braves.
After trading for Kerry Wood on Saturday, the Yankees designated Park for assignment. The 37-year-old right-hander has respectable strikeout (7.4 K/9) and walk (3.1 BB/9) rates, but has allowed seven homers in 35.1 innings of work. Park also allowed 40 hits with the Yankees, so his season ERA sits at 5.60.
Park earns a base salary of $1.2MM in 2010 and will hit free agency this fall.
Mike Lowell Placed On Waivers
The Red Sox placed last night's hero, Mike Lowell, on waivers, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. Lowell, who returned from a rehab assignment yesterday and promptly homered on the first pitch he saw, will not necessarily be traded. Still, he will likely clear waivers since $3.9MM remains on his 2010 contract. That's much more than teams want to commit to an infielder with ongoing hip issues, despite last night's home run.
However, the move could be a prelude to a trade. Since Lowell is likely to clear waivers, the Red Sox will presumably have the option to trade him to any MLB team. We'll know within a couple days whether a team claims Lowell and if no club makes a claim, the Red Sox will be free to deal.
At this point, Kevin Youkilis is hurt, so Lowell is a valuable piece for the banged-up Red Sox. If Youkilis returns to form and David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre are still healthy and hitting, the Red Sox could consider dealing Lowell. The Yankees, Rangers, Angels, Twins, Tigers and Blue Jays are among the teams that have reportedly shown interest in Lowell this year.
Here's our primer for August trades.