Ben Nicholson-Smith | MLB Trade Rumors

Padres To Release Micah Owings

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 23, 2012 at 4:12pm CDT

The Padres have requested unconditional release waivers for right-hander Micah Owings, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The Legacy Sports Group client will hit free agency after he clears release waivers.

The move amounts to an early non-tender for Owings, who would have been arbitration eligible for the third time this coming offseason. He had been a non-tender candidate after missing most of the season with an elbow injury, so the move doesn't come as a surprise. Owings, 30, appeared in just six games this past season. He underwent season-ending arthroscopic elbow surgery in July and didn't pitch after April.

Latest On Shohei Otani

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 23, 2012 at 4:02pm CDT

Shohei Otani, the Japanese pitching prospect who intends to pursue a career in MLB, appears to be an elite talent comparable to those selected in the top half of the first round of baseball’s amateur draft. The right-hander had been a potential first overall pick in Japan before he announced his intention to play for an MLB organization. And, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America, Dodgers assistant GM Logan White told Japanese reporters that Otani could go first overall if he were eligible for the MLB draft.

However, the 18-year-old free agent won’t be draft eligible. Otani will be subject to spending restrictions as an international amateur, which means teams will face consequences if they exceed the $2.9MM international bonus threshold to sign him. Teams will be taxed at a rate of 100% for exceeding the 2.9MM threshold by more than 15%. These clubs would also forfeit the right to spend more than $250K on an international player during the following year’s signing period.

Callis suggests these restrictions won’t be too much of a deterrent for interested MLB teams. Boston GM Ben Cherington confirmed today that the Red Sox met with Otani, Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports (on Twitter). The Red Sox and Rangers “have done the most work in this arena,” ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported today. Meanwhile, the Angels aren’t expected to be heavily involved, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).

Marlins Fire Ozzie Guillen

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 23, 2012 at 2:49pm CDT

Ozzie Guillen’s first season in Miami began with high-priced free agent additions, new uniforms, an eye-catching stadium and even a reality show. There was considerable optimism that this would be the Marlins' year. But after a 93-loss season that featured a controversy or two along the way, the outspoken manager has lost his job. The Marlins fired Guillen today, nearly three weeks after he managed his final regular season game with the team.

Guillen had three years and $7.5MM remaining on his contract with Miami. The Marlins, who acquired Guillen from the White Sox a year ago, finished the 2012 season 69-93, last in the NL East. They'll now seek a replacement for Guillen and complete the transition they've been mulling for weeks. Mike Lowell's name has come up in connection with the Marlins, but he won't be considered, the Miami Herald reported early in October.

Guillen made controversial comments about Fidel Castro early in April, as his team played to an 8-14 record. Later in the season Guillen and Heath Bell publicly debated the manager’s decision to remove Bell from the closer’s role. Bell has since been traded, but evidently the deal didn’t affect Guillen’s job security.

Guillen, a 16-year MLB veteran who made three All-Star teams as a player, managed the White Sox for eight seasons before joining the Marlins. He led the White Sox to a World Series title in 2005 and compiled a total record of 678-617 in Chicago.

Bench coach Joey Cora has also been dismissed, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).

Blue Jays Designate Tyson Brummett For Assignment

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 23, 2012 at 2:48pm CDT

The Blue Jays announced that they designated Tyson Brummett for assignment five days after claiming the right-hander off of waivers from the Phillies. The move creates 40-man roster space for another waiver claim, former Phillies right-hander David Herndon.

Brummett made his MLB debut earlier this month, getting two strikeouts against the Nationals. The 28-year-old spent most of the season in the upper minors, posting a 3.20 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 90 innings. He started eight games and pitched out of the bullpen in 36 others this year, pitching at Double-A and Triple-A.

Blue Jays Claim David Herndon

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 23, 2012 at 2:32pm CDT

The Blue Jays have claimed right-hander David Herndon off of waivers from Philadelphia, the Phillies announced. The 27-year-old underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery in June, which means he won't be ready to return until midway through the 2013 season.

Herndon was a key contributor for the Phillies from 2010-11, when he posted a 3.79 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 over the course of 92 games. He appeared in five games for the Phillies this April before being placed on the disabled list.

Watch out for the Blue Jays. They claimed Bobby Wilson yesterday and have also claimed Tyson Brummett, Cory Wade and Scott Cousins in the past week.

Orioles, Diamondbacks Complete Saunders Deal

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 23, 2012 at 1:28pm CDT

The Orioles and Diamondbacks completed the August 26th trade that sent Joe Saunders to Baltimore for Matt Lindstrom, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (on Twitter). The Orioles sent cash to Arizona to complete the deal when the sides couldn't agree on a player to be named.

The initial trade sent Saunders and cash to Baltimore for Lindstrom and a player to be named later. Saunders posted a 3.63 ERA with 4.6 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 44 2/3 regular season innings with Baltimore before pitching well in two postseason contests. The left-hander hits free agency after the World Series and could be a target for Baltimore.

Olney On Braves, Cano, Otani

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 23, 2012 at 11:30am CDT

The latest from ESPN.com’s Buster Olney…

Brian McCann’s $12MM option for 2013 no longer seems as appealing as it once did, Olney writes. The Braves are working to address many offseason needs with a modest payroll and McCann's recent shoulder surgery was more extensive than expected. Olney points out that the Braves could attempt to negotiate a deal at a lower salary or exercise the option and trade McCann to a team such as the Rangers or Yankees. Of course the Braves could simply bring the catcher back for another season in the hopes that his shoulder recovers.
Next year’s free agent class might be light on impact talent other than Robinson Cano, Olney writes. In general it probably doesn’t make sense to expect stacked free agent classes at a time that teams are locking up players to extensions that cover their prime years.
Japanese pitching prospect Shohei Otani intends to pursue a career in MLB, and a number of teams are interested in the hard-throwing right-hander. The Red Sox and Rangers “have done the most work in this arena,” according to Olney.

Mets To Non-Tender Pelfrey, Maybe Torres

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 22, 2012 at 4:25pm CDT

As expected, the Mets will non-tender right-hander Mike Pelfrey, a person with the team told Mike Puma of the New York Post (Twitter links). The Mets still want to sign Pelfrey as a free agent, Puma reports.

Pelfrey, 28, earned $5.68MM this past season though he underwent Tommy John surgery after just three starts. For the Mets to retain him through the arbitration process they'd have to offer him a salary in the $5-6MM range — a considerable amount for a pitcher recovering from a serious injury.

The future of non-tender candidate Andres Torres remains “up in the air,” according to Puma. Torres, 34, posted a .230/.327/.337 batting line in 434 plate appearances this past season. He earned $2.7MM in 2012 and could also be cut loose this offseason.

Blue Jays Designate Chad Beck For Assignment

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 22, 2012 at 2:23pm CDT

The Blue Jays announced that they've designated right-hander Chad Beck for assignment. The move creates 40-man roster space for Bobby Wilson, who has been claimed off of waivers from the Angels.

Beck joined the Blue Jays organization in 2008 when Toronto acquired him from Arizona for David Eckstein. The 27-year-old appeared in 14 games for the Blue Jays this year after spending most of the season at Triple-A. Beck posted a 1.31 ERA with 4.5 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 48 innings at Las Vegas in 2012.

Blue Jays Claim Bobby Wilson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 22, 2012 at 2:00pm CDT

The Blue Jays have claimed catcher Bobby Wilson off of waivers from the Angels, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). Toronto's 40-man roster is now full.

Wilson, 29, appeared in 75 games for the Angels this past season. He posted a .211/.277/.292 batting line in 201 plate appearances and prevented 29% of stolen base attempts from behind the plate. Though the right-handed hitter struggles against right-handed pitching, he owns a .242/.315/.455 batting line in 156 plate appearances against left-handers. Wilson will be arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason and had projected as a non-tender candidate in Anaheim.

The Blue Jays are monitoring the waiver wire closely. They claimed Tyson Brummett, Cory Wade and Scott Cousins last week.

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