Phillies Designate Nelson Figueroa For Assignment
The Phillies designated reliever Nelson Figueroa for assignment, according to David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News (via Twitter). The club also activated Chad Durbin and Antonio Bastardo and subsequently optioned Bastardo to Triple A.
The Phils claimed Figueroa off of waivers from the Mets back in April and the right-hander has since posted a 3.46 ERA in 26 innings of work, allowing 20 hits and nine walks, while striking out 15. Those numbers are solid, but MLB teams let Figueroa to clear waivers six weeks ago, so chances are it'll happen again.
Reds To Sign Russ Springer
The Reds agreed to sign Russ Springer to an $850K deal, according to Bob Tompkins of the Alexandria Daily Town Talk. The 41-year-old right-hander threw for five teams and received offers from all of them, but he couldn’t turn away the team he rooted for as a boy.
“All of a sudden I went from being not really excited to looking at it as a kid again when I was pulling for [the Reds] during the Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, George Foster days,” Springer said.
He will report to Triple A Louisville and pitch for ten days to two weeks before joining the major league team. Springer, who pitched for the A’s and Rays last year, will make a pro-rated portion of $850K.
Springer has posted a 4.52 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 over the course of a 17-year career that began on the 1992 Yankees. His deal with the Reds is not a surprise, since they were known to be in the market for right-handed relievers.
The Trade Market For Starting Pitching
The best starting pitcher available has already been traded, but quality arms are there for teams that are willing to pay for them. In some cases that will mean taking on salary, in others it will mean giving up prospects and in select cases it could mean both. Here's a look at some potentially available starters in the post-Cliff Lee market, sorted by 2010 salary:
- Roy Oswalt, $15MM ($16MM in 2011, $2MM buyout or $16MM option in 2012) – Oswalt won't come cheap, as the Astros still appear to be asking for salary relief and prospects. So why would teams even consider him? Oswalt's 3.08 ERA, 8.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 probably have a lot to do with it. Few starters are more proven and few are having better seasons.
- Ted Lilly, $12MM (free agent after 2010) – The left-hander should draw interest from teams, given his 4.08 ERA and 2.7 K/BB ratio. The Mets are interested and other clubs may pursue him, too. Lilly profiles as a Type A free agent, so the Cubs could obtain picks in the 2011 draft if he turns down their offer of arbitration.
- Jake Westbrook, $11MM (free agent after 2010) – The Indians would presumably have to take on salary to move Westbrook, but he would likely clear waivers, so the Indians don't have to deal him immediately. Westbrook has a 4.75 ERA in 108 innings so far in 2010.
- Ben Sheets, $10MM (free agent after 2010) – Sheets has recovered from a rough start, but his overall numbers (112.2 innings, 4.63 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 3.3 BB/9) are pedestrian. Like Westbrook, Sheets may clear waivers.
- Dan Haren, $8.25MM ($29MM or more remaining after 2010) – Like Oswalt, Haren is pitching well and earning a considerable amount. His 4.36 ERA has been inflated by some bad luck on balls in play, but his strikeout (8.7 K/9) and walk (1.9 BB/9) rates remain good.
- Fausto Carmona, $4.9MM ($6.1MM salary in 2011, followed by three club options) – Carmona is pitching well (3.64 ERA in 116.1 innings), but the Indians have lots of reasons to keep him.
- Paul Maholm, $4.5MM ($6.5MM or more afterwards) – The 4.37 ERA is nice, but it's likely that teams would shy away, since Maholm has a substantial amount remaining on his contract.
- Dave Bush, $4.2MM (free agent after 2010) – Bush could have appeal as an innings eater, though he's not going to dominate (4.14 ERA).
- Edwin Jackson, $4.2MM (free agent after he earns $8.35MM in 2011) – Jackson even has command issues when he's throwing no-hitters, so teams may look for more predictable options.
- Ricky Nolasco, $3.8MM (free agent after 2012) – The Marlins haven't made Nolasco available yet, but his 4.2 K/BB ratio stands out. He's under team control for a while, though he'll be getting raises every year his team offers arbitration.
- Brett Myers, $3MM (mutual option after 2010) – Many teams will likely have interest in Myers. He has a 3.41 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9, he has pitched in playoff races before and has just $1.3MM remaining on his contract.
- Jeremy Guthrie, $3MM (free agent after 2012) – The former first-rounder has a 4.77 ERA in 111.1 innings in Baltimore. The Padres have some interest.
- Brian Bannister, $2.3MM (free agent after 2012) – Dayton Moore would presumably listen on Bannister, who has a 5.56 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9.
- Livan Hernandez, $900K (free agent after 2010) – Hernandez has struggled over the couse of the past month, but he still has a 3.37 ERA. He doesn't strike anybody out, but at that price, teams could be calling the Nationals.
- Shaun Marcum ($850K) and Wade Davis ($400K) are a pair of cheap, controllable starters having productive seasons, but it would presumably take a lot to obtain either pitcher.
- Free agents including Pedro Martinez, Braden Looper and Jarrod Washburn are still available.
- We already examined the market for potentially available outfielders, catchers, first basemen, second basemen, third basemen and shortstops.
Padres Rumors: Westbrook, Guthrie, Gonzalez
The Padres are looking at at least one short-term option for their rotation, and their first baseman may be thinking much longer-term. Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse has the details:
- The Padres, who are looking to add a starter, but would prefer to avoid rental players, have discussed Jake Westbrook (a free agent after 2010) and Jeremy Guthrie (a free agent after 2012), among others. Guthrie would like to play for the Padres.
- Krasovic hears that Adrian Gonzalez will seek an eight-year deal when he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season. It sounds like a lot, but it’s not surprising. After all, Mark Teixeira signed an eight-year $180MM deal, so Gonzalez’s representatives could easily use that deal as a starting point.
Mariners Sign Trio Of International Prospects
The Mariners signed three top international prospects, including Dominican outfielder Phillips Castillo, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. Castillo will get a $2.2MM bonus, Colombian right-hander Jose Torres gets an $851K bonus and Venezuelan third baseman Yordyn Calderon gets a $477K bonus.
Badler describes Castillo as “one of the elite hitters” on the international market. The 16-year-old stands 6’2” and can hit for power. Torres is considered the top Colombian pitching prospect of the year and Calderon is “a good athlete who can hit for power.” Overall, the Mariners committed just over $3.5MM to the three prospects.
Cardinals Extend GM John Mozeliak
The Cardinals agreed to a three-year extension with GM John Mozeliak, according to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals, who currently trail the Reds by a game, won the NL Central last year, Mozeliak's second full season on the job. The GM's current deal was set to expire after the 2010 season.
Mozeliak's major moves include the Matt Holliday signing and extensions for Kyle Lohse and Adam Wainwright. The biggest decision of all has yet to come: Albert Pujols will hit free agency after 2011 and Mozeliak and his front office will have to decide how much they're willing to pay to keep the slugging first baseman in St. Louis. Yadier Molina and Pujols are two of the better-known players the Cardinals drafted when Mozeliak was the team's scouting director.
Odds & Ends: Gonzalez, Red Sox, Fielder, Phillies
Links for Thursday, as the second half begins…
- The Mariners released former MLB reliever Mark Worrell, according to the Pacific Coast League's transactions page. They signed the right-hander earlier in the month and assigned him to the minor leagues.
- Adrian Gonzalez and Yahoo's Jeff Passan discuss the changed atmosphere in San Diego. GM Jed Hoyer told Passan that the Padres will talk about Adrian Gonzalez's future with the team in the offseason.
- Ed Price of AOL FanHouse hears that the Red Sox aren't willing to spend significant amounts of money this July, since they want to avoid the luxury tax.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs continues ranking the MLB players with the most trade value and Carlos Santana just misses the top 20.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney wonders how the Rays would look if they obtained Prince Fielder for a package built around Wade Davis.
- As Joel Sherman of the New York Post explains, Hal Steinbrenner is driven to win championships like his father, but he's more analytical and less of a yeller than George.
- Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer argues that the Phillies need to improve before the trade deadline, especially since the Braves acquired Alex Gonzalez.
- Rockies hitting coach Don Baylor tells Adrian Dater of the Denver Post that he would like another shot at managing in the majors.
- The White Sox will fly several of their pro scouts to Chicago at the end of July to evaluate the organization's strengths and areas of need, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
- The Detroit Free Press points out that National League All-Stars made, on average, $2.8MM less than American League All-Stars.
Mariners Sign Wright; Cordero Elects Free Agency
The Mariners signed right-handed reliever Jamey Wright and added him to the major league roster, according to the team. In a related move, the club optioned Chad Cordero to Triple A Tacoma and Cordero opted to become a free agent instead of accepting the assignment.
Wright, 35, had been pitching at Triple A for the A's ever since the Indians released him. He struggled through 21.1 major league innings with Cleveland, posting a 5.48 ERA and walking as many as he struck out (nine). Wright allowed nine walks and 23 hits in 14 Triple A innings, striking out 16.
Cordero appeared in the majors for the first time since 2008 this year, walking five and allowing ten hits in 9.2 innings of work for the M's. The 28-year-old struck out five, but didn't recapture the form that saw him save 113 games for the Nationals from 2005-07.
Reds Seek Right-Handed Reliever
The first-place Reds are looking to add a right-handed reliever, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter). Cincinnati leads the NL Central, but their bullpen (4.45 ERA) could use help. Francisco Cordero, Nick Masset, Logan Ondrusek, Micah Owings and Jordan Smith currently make up the right-handed half of the team's 'pen. As a group they have been solid, but not dominant.
Kerry Wood, Jason Frasor, Kevin Gregg, Octavio Dotel, Joakim Soria, David Aardsma, Matt Capps and Leo Nunez are among the intriguing right-handed relievers who could be available before July 31st. Upgrading from Smith or Ondrusek to one of those arms could help the Reds fend the Cardinals off in the second half, but the relievers listed above wouldn't be easy to acquire.
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