Morosi On Penny, Hermida, Padres
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports shows that Derek Jeter's much-criticized defense has been above average this year. He also provides some rumors, so let's take a look:
- One official said he doubts the Red Sox move Brad Penny. They can do so without his permission, now that we're two and a half months into the season.
- Morosi says Chris Young and Heath Bell are sure to attract interest, but says Kevin Towers doesn't have to trade either player.
- It's possible that the Padres will "flip relievers for prospects."
- The Braves like Jeremy Hermida, but it makes sense for them to pass the Marlins in the standings before inquiring on him.
Designated For Assignment
When teams want to clear roster space without immediately parting ways with the player they're removing from their roster, they can designate him for assignment. The move always clears a 40-man roster spot and when a player gets designated off of the active roster, a 25-man roster space opens up as well. The team then has ten days to assign the player to the minor leagues, trade him, or release him.
Players who have the right to refuse a minor league assignment benefit from the ten-day window, and it buys time for the team as well. For a team to assign a player to the minor leagues, he must first be exposed to all other teams on irrevocable outright waivers. If no one claims him, he can be released or outrighted to the minors.
A player's ability to refuse a minor league assignment depends on his service time and contract status.
Thanks to Rob Neyer's Transactions Primer and Cot's Baseball Contracts. Check out the MLBTR Glossary for more explanations of transactions terms.
Daniels On Sheets, El Duque, Trade Deadline
Rangers GM Jon Daniels answered questions in an online chat hosted by Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News. One thing becomes clear throughout the chat: Daniels will try to win this year:
- Ben Sheets isn't far enough along to be talking contract, but the Rangers are in touch with his agent.
- The Rangers could deal prospects away to improve their playoff chances this year, but Daniels doesn't suggest that's likely.
- Tom Glavine is "probably not" a fit.
- Orlando Hernandez could be ready for the majors by late July.
- Daniels says signing Matt Purke and Tanner Scheppers before July 31st wouldn't make him more likely to part with other prospects in a deal.
- The Rangers talked with Luis Vizcaino before he signed with Cleveland.
- Could the Rangers pick up a big-time starter? Daniels says "we'll see."
Odds And Ends: Sosa, Harper, Pedro, Ibanez
Links for Tuesday evening…
- Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times reports that lawyers with knowledge of MLB's 2003 drug tests say Sammy Sosa tested positive for PEDs that year. Not our domain here at MLBTR, but easily the biggest baseball story of the day.
- Tom Verducci of SI.com reports that Bryce Harper has been flooded with interview requests since being profiled on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star believes the Jays should pursue Pedro Martinez.
- ESPN.com's Jayson Stark profiles Raul Ibanez and the hot start to the 37-year-old's season.
- Not only did the Rockies agree to terms with Tim Wheeler, they made progress with Rex Brothers and signed 27 players in total, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
Jose Veras Designated For Assignment
Peter Abraham reports that the Yankees designated Jose Veras for assignment. The 28-year-old righty pitched to an ERA of 5.96 in in 25 games, allowing 37 baserunners and striking out 18 over the course of 25.2 innings.
Dodgers Sign Korean High Schooler
According to MLB.com's Tom Singer, the Dodgers signed a Korean high schooler, Tae-hyeok Nam, to a minor league contract. Nam, an 18-year-old corner infielder, is over six feet tall, with power and speed. As Singer points out, Koreans Chan Ho Park, Hee-seop Choi and Jae Weong Seo all played for the Dodgers. This marks the first time the Dodgers have signed a Korean out of high school.
List Of First Round Draft Picks To Sign
Here's a list of all the first round picks that shows which first-round picks have signed and for how much:
- Washington Nationals – Stephen Strasburg – Agreed to a Major League deal worth $15.1MM guaranteed.
- Seattle Mariners – Dustin Ackley - Agreed to a Major League deal worth $7.5MM guaranteed.
- San Diego Padres – Donavan Tate - Agreed to a $6.25MM bonus.
- Pittsburgh Pirates – Tony Sanchez - Agreed on a bonus of about $2.5MM.
- Baltimore Orioles – Matt Hobgood - Agreed to sign for about $2.4MM.
- San Francisco Giants – Zack Wheeler – Agreed to a $3.3MM bonus.
- Atlanta Braves – Mike Minor – Agreed to terms on a $2.42MM bonus.
- Cincinnati Reds – Mike Leake – Signed to a bonus of $2.27MM.
- Detroit Tigers – Jacob Turner – Agreed to Major League deal with $5.5MM guaranteed.
- Washington Nationals – Drew Storen - Agreed on a bonus of about $1.6MM.
- Colorado Rockies – Tyler Matzek – Agreed to a $3.9MM bonus.
- Kansas City Royals – Aaron Crow - Agreed to sign.
- Oakland A's – Grant Green - Agreed to a $2.75MM bonus.
- Texas Rangers – Matt Purke - Did not sign.
- Cleveland Indians – Alex White - Agreed to a $2.25MM bonus.
- Arizona Diamondbacks – Bobby Borchering - Signed for $1.8MM.
- Arizona Diamondbacks – A.J. Pollock - Signed, bonus believed to be $1.4MM.
- Florida Marlins – Chad James – Agreed to terms on a $1.7MM bonus.
- St. Louis Cardinals – Shelby Miller – Agreed to terms on a $2.9MM bonus.
- Toronto Blue Jays – Chad Jenkins - Agreed to sign for a bonus of $1.36MM.
- Houston Astros – Jiovanni Mier - Agreed to sign for a bonus of $1.358MM.
- Minnesota Twins – Kyle Gibson – Agreed to a $1.8MM bonus.
- Chicago White Sox – Jared Mitchell - Signed. The bonus is $1.2MM.
- Los Angeles Angels – Randal Grichuk – Signed for a bonus of $1.225MM.
- Los Angeles Angels – Mike Trout - Agreed to sign. The bonus is $1.2MM.
- Milwaukee Brewers – Eric Arnett - Signed, bonus believed to be about $1.2MM.
- Seattle Mariners – Nick Franklin – Signed for a bonus of $1.28MM.
- Boston Red Sox – Reymond Fuentes - Signed for a bonus of about $1.13MM.
- New York Yankees – Slade Heathcott - Signed for a $2.2MM bonus.
- Tampa Bay Rays – Levon Washington - Did not sign.
- Chicago Cubs – Brett Jackson - Agreed to terms. Jackson gets $972k.
- Colorado Rockies – Tim Wheeler - Agreed to sign. The bonus is $900k, according to BP.
Odds And Ends: Cubs, Matsui, Mets
More links for the afternoon…
- Don't forget about today's chat, coming up in less than two hours at 2pm CST…
- This Chicago Sun-Times article blames Jim Hendry for assembling an expensive group of under-performing hitters, but credits him for putting together some solid pitching.
- Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker passes on some comments made by a member of the Hanshin Tigers front office about the possibility of acquiring Hideki Matsui after the season, when he's a free agent. It sounds like the Tigers will keep an eye on him.
- Willie Randolph was fired a year ago today. Since then, the Mets have won 87 of 154 games under Jerry Manuel, who's a better communicator than his predecessor and a popular leader, according to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times.
- Darren Heitner points out that the first rounders to sign so far haven't obtained the recommended limit for their slots. (Hat Tip: THT)
Rockies First Rounder Wheeler Agrees To Sign
According to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies, first rounder Tim Wheeler agreed to terms with the Rockies and is set to begin his pro career. Wheeler, a tall, left-handed hitter, was selected 32nd overall in last week's draft. The Rockies received the pick from the Angels as compensation for losing Brian Fuentes.
The Rockies have signed 13 players other than Wheeler. Tyler Matzek, the high school pitcher the Rockies chose 11th overall, is not one of them. He figures to demand multi-million dollar bonus and isn't expected to sign soon.
Olney On Mets, Holliday, Snell
ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Mets have begun discussing which hitters they want to target. Here's what Olney has heard about the Mets, along with the rest of his rumors:
- It's fair to assume the Mets would like to acquire a "big-time bat."
- Omar Minaya could pursue Nick Johnson. He already traded for him once as the GM of the Expos.
- Other players that could play first and hit: Aubrey Huff, Jorge Cantu, Mark DeRosa and Dan Uggla.
- Uggla's an outside-the-box solution, but the Mets could use his power.
- Don't assume the A's will be able to collect compensation picks for offering arbitration to Matt Holliday if they don't trade him at the deadline. Holliday's numbers have fallen off, making him more likely to accept arbitration if the A's offer it. He could make upwards of $16MM, meaning the surest way for the A's to get something back would be to deal him now.
- Olney says the Rockies don't have interest in Ian Snell. Yesterday John Perrotto suggested they could trade for him.
- Colorado will likely wait another month before deciding whether to deal Huston Street.
- The Mariners don't have to rush their deal-making either, especially since their division looks winnable.