Poll: Are The White Sox Contenders?
Two weeks ago, the White Sox appeared to be open for business. But something unexpected has happened in Chicago. In spite of the apparent tension between manager Ozzie Guillen and GM Kenny Williams, the team has gone on an extended hot streak and won ten of its last 12 games, including its last six. Sure, that six-game streak came at the expense of the Pirates and Nationals, but wins are wins. The 34-34 White Sox are 5.5 games behind the Twins in the AL Central and Guillen and Williams are presumably asking the same question everyone else is:
Are the White Sox for real?
Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.
Ian Snell Clears Waivers
SUNDAY: Snell has cleared waivers and accepted a minor league assignment to Triple-A Tacoma, according to a team press release.
TUESDAY: The Mariners designated Ian Snell for assignment and called up Brian Sweeney, according to the team. Snell, who came to Seattle last summer in the Jack Wilson trade, started respectably for the Mariners, but has been ineffective of late. He has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his last four appearances with 11 walks, five strikeouts and a 11.77 ERA in that time.
For the season, the 28-year-old right-hander has a 6.41 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9 in 46.1 innings. Snell got off to a similar start last year before the Pirates demoted him to Triple A and saw him dominate for six starts. Snell has promise, but his recent struggles suggest he isn't close to fulfilling it.
Orioles Interested In Jake Fox
SATURDAY, 8:59pm: The Orioles still have interest in Fox according to Zrebiec. Oakland has until Thursday to trade, release or waive him, though the fact that Baltimore has waiver priority may increase the likelihood of a deal.
WEDNESDAY, 4:14pm: Andy MacPhail and the Orioles have at least some interest in acquiring Jake Fox, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The A's designated Fox for assignment over the weekend and are apparently hoping that he clears waivers.
Fox, 28 next month, has already played left field, third base, DH and catcher in 2010. His .214/.264/.327 batting line doesn't compare with the numbers he has posted in the minors. Fox has 122 homers with a .293/.357/.528 line in his minor league career, so he clearly has some hitting ability.
Zrebiec suggests a Fox acquisition could mean the end of Garrett Atkins' tenure in Baltimore, though it would not be a surprise to see the Atkins era end before long regardless of what happens with Fox.
Mariners Agree To Terms With Taijuan Walker
The Mariners agreed to terms with supplemental rounder Taijuan Walker, according to the team. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports adds (via Twitter) that Walker will receive a bonus of $800K. Soon after the Mariners selected Walker with the 43rd overall pick in the draft, it became apparent that he would sign before long. The high school right-hander told reporters that he wanted to get started right away.
Mariners amateur scouting director Tom McNamara said in a prepared statement that Walker has an "above-average fastball and a high ceiling," potentially as a "top-of-the-rotation type of pitcher." Baseball America ranked Walker 70th among draft-eligible players and noted that he has "taken off" since he began focusing on his pitching.
Walker becomes the ninth player drafted in the supplemental round to come to terms with his team; you can check out the complete list here.
Heyman On Orioles, Torre, Mets, Harper
Andy MacPhail knows it's not an easy time to manage the Orioles. He told Jon Heyman of SI.com that some of the managerial candidates the club is considering have limited interest in the job. "Let's be honest, I'm not sure this gig's for everyone," MacPhail said. Here's the latest on the Orioles' search for a manager along with the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- Davey Johnson, who led the Orioles to the playoffs in 1996-97, has been mentioned internally.
- Johnson and Bobby Valentine seem like long shots for the job.
- If current Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez is available, the Braves could choose him to replace Bobby Cox.
- The Dodgers offered Joe Torre an extension this spring, but Torre turned it down. Heyman says most baseball people see the Dodgers moving on after the season.
- The Mets prefer Cliff Lee to Roy Oswalt.
- Many of Heyman's sources expect Bryce Harper to sign for more than Mark Teixeira's $9.5MM deal and less than Stephen Strasburg's $15.1MM deal. Harper, who is a Scott Boras client like Teixeira and Strasburg, appears headed for a $12MM deal, according to Heyman.
Willingham, Morgan Don’t Appear Available
Nationals fans are accustomed to seeing their team at the bottom of the NL East standings, but a lot has changed since last summer. A year ago, the Nationals were 21-46, their manager was on the hot seat and they had yet to sign Stephen Strasburg. Now, they're still in last place, but the mood is different in D.C. and the 31-36 Nationals aren't about to spoil it by trading their most proven outfielders.
Josh Willingham and Nyjer Morgan do not appear to be available, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Nationals have turned down multiple chances to deal Willingham in the last 15 months and have no intention of moving him, Morosi reports.
The Giants are looking for outfield help, but it doesn't appear that the Nationals will be willing to deal. Morosi mentions one intriguing outfielder clubs could target: Mitch Maier (Twitter link). The 27-year-old has played center field for the Royals and has a .265/.349/.373 line. Those numbers suggest Maier could be useful, though he'd likely be a depth option for a contender.
Red Sox Designate Boof Bonser For Assignment
The Red Sox designated Boof Bonser for assignment to make room for Felix Doubront, according to DJ Bean of WEEI.com. Bonser, 28, missed much of the season with a groin strain, so he has appeared in just two games for the Red Sox since they acquired him from the Twins this offseason. He has logged two innings and allowed six hits and a pair of walks, without striking any hitters out.
Bonser drew interest from the Cubs and D'Backs before the season, before his groin became an issue. The D'Backs have been looking for pitching, though Bonser's injury has likely tempered their interest. Red Sox manager Terry Francona told Bean that Bonser is pretty healthy and that "Boof is going to pitch in the big leagues."
Blue Jays Sign Nick Green
The Blue Jays signed Nick Green to a major league contract and optioned Mike McCoy to Triple A, according to the team. Green, 31, became a free agent this month after opting out of his deal with the Dodgers.
Green appeared in five big league games this year before the Dodgers designated him for assignment. He picked up one hit in eight at bats and reached base a second time when Dontrelle Willis plunked him. The utilityman spent most of the season at Triple A Albuquerque, where he batted .204/.235/.398 and played shortstop, second, third and (for one game) center field.
Not only can Green play around the infield and outfield, he pitched for the Red Sox last year. The White Sox couldn't get a hit or run off of Green, who threw an 88 mph fastball, in two innings. Green has also played for the Braves, Devil Rays, Yankees and Mariners in his six-year MLB career.
This Date In Transactions History: Francisco Cordero
It's the summer of 1994 in the Dominican Republic. Teenagers are showing their skills off to the general manager of the Detroit Tigers, Joe Klein. The hitters bat and, one after the other, the pitchers throw. The sun has started setting by the time a tall, sturdily-built right-hander takes his turn. And as soon as Francisco Cordero starts unleashing fastballs, Klein takes notice.
"There was no question in my mind that he was going to be a major leaguer," said Klein, who is now the executive director of the Atlantic League.
Even then, Cordero had a blazing fastball. He was a couple inches shorter than he is today and had yet to fill out completely, but Tigers scout Ramon Pena liked the looks of the 19-year-old. Klein was surprised to find out that Cordero hadn't been signed, but the pitcher didn't remain a free agent for long. The Tigers signed him 16 years ago today.
It took most of five minor league seasons for Cordero to reach the majors and even when he finally debuted with the Tigers in 1999, he walked nearly a batter per inning. It wasn't until three years after the Tigers sent Cordero to Texas in the Juan Gonzalez trade that he emerged as a dominant pitcher. Cordero has been effective every season since 2002, averaging 30 saves per year, posting a 2.90 ERA, striking out more than a batter per inning and limiting his walks (3.8 BB/9).
Now, Cordero's nothing like the teenager the Tigers found in the Dominican 16 years ago. Klein sees similarities between the prospect he signed and the 35-year-old flamethrower in the Cincinnati bullpen, but can he believe they're the same person?
"No," Klein said. "He's learned to focus and he's matured and I'm really proud of him."
Odds & Ends: Aybar, Haren, Hughes, Jackson
Links for Friday, before the Subway Series, Stephen Strasburg's third MLB start and Manny Ramirez's return to Fenway…
- Mike Scioscia tells Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times he's "very optimistic" that Erick Aybar's left knee injury won't lead to a DL stint. That reduces the chances that the Angels will go after a shortstop.
- It's been a great year for young players like Strasburg and Mike Leake, as ESPN.com's Tim Kurkjian shows.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the D'Backs often hear trade rumors from Dan Haren, who reads MLBTR. As Piecoro explains, players are generally aware of the latest rumblings in "the era of the trade rumor."
- Another top pitcher, Cliff Lee, chooses to ignore the rumors, according to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post asked 12 baseball insiders whether they would prefer to have Phil Hughes or Mike Pelfrey for the next five years and was surprised to see all 12 select Hughes.
- Edwin Jackson and Dontrelle Willis say they have good memories of Detroit and no hard feelings over the trades that sent them to Arizona, according to the Detroit Free Press.