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Minor Moves: Drew Garcia

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Here are today's minor moves:

  • The Rockies have acquired minor league infielder Drew Garcia from the White Sox for a player to be named later, reports the Associated Press (via the Denver Post). Garcia, a 21st round selection by the White Sox in 2008, has a slash line of .222/.282/.333 in 78 plate appearances for Triple-A Charlotte while seeing time at both second base and shortstop.

MLBTR Originals

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A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

NL Central Notes: Hart, Choo, Arroyo, Cardinals

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Brewers GM Doug Melvin indirectly shed some light on the philosophical differences which led to trading Brett Lawrie to the Blue Jays. Lawrie's name came up when Melvin told Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the plan is to keep second base prospect Scooter Gennett in Triple-A for the full season instead of being promoted because of the struggles of Rickie Weeks. "The plan worked for (Prince) Fielder and Corey Hart and all those guys," Melvin said. "Spend your time at each level. That's the part I couldn't get through with Brett Lawrie. He wanted to go past everybody. That model works if you're a freak like Ryan Braun, but he did play at every level. I always say to go out and prove you're too good for the league. If you do that, we'll consider moving you up." Instead Melvin, moved Lawrie out to Toronto. In other news from the the NL Central:

  • Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told reporters, including MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, there is no plan to send Corey Hart, recovering from right knee surgery, on a minor league rehab assignment before June 1. This means Hart, who is eligible to be activated from the 60-day disabled list on May 30, will not join the Brewers until mid-June, at the earliest. 
  • The number of years and not money will be the issue for the Reds in trying to re-sign Shin-Soo Choo, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Choo ranks second on MLBTR's 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings.
  • If Choo does re-sign with Cincinnati, a payroll casualty could be Bronson Arroyo. In a second tweet, Fay says the Reds' payroll is a big puzzle and there are lots of factors involved in trying to retain both Choo and Arroyo.
  • Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch opines merit is not behind the Cardinals' decision to replace the injured Jaime Garcia with fellow left-hander Tyler Lyons, but a desire to delay the service clock of their top pitching prospect, Michael Wacha. This is the second time Wacha, owner of an 1.89 ERA in eight Triple-A starts, has been bypassed to fill a rotation opening. Miklasz further believes the Cardinals, owners of the best record in the National League, don't have the best 25 players in their system on the active roster citing top prospect Oscar Taveras toiling away in Triple-A while Shane Robinson and Ty Wigginton are struggling offensively. 
  • Cardinals GM John Mozeliak disagrees with Miklasz's assessment. "I’m not worried about the clock," Mozeliak was quoted as saying by the Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold (via Sulia). "The media is making a lot of the clock. Other people who read the media are making more of it. To me it’s like that’s not what is making our decisions. It’s managing our decisions for what’s best for the club and what’s best for the individuals in their own silo of development."
  • Chris Carpenter is continuing to make progress in his recovery from nerve trouble in his neck and back soreness and could make a rehab start in early June, Goold reports. "I’m not going to push myself back," Carpenter said (as quoted by Goold on Sulia). "I’m going to make sure that I’m healthy and that I know everything is going to work and that I can go out there and take that grind of the amount of pitches and innings it takes to go the rest of the year." Carpenter threw three simulated innings Saturday, will throw a side session Monday, and throw another four simulated innings Thursday, according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch and Chad Thornburg.

Blue Jays Claim Thad Weber

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The Blue Jays have announced they have claimed right-hander Thad Weber off waivers from the Padres and assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo. To make room for Weber on the 40-man roster, the team transferred right-hander Sergio Santos to the 60-day disabled list.

Weber, who was designated for assignment on Friday, made three relief appearances for the Padres allowing two runs over nine innings while striking out six and walking five. The 28-year-old began the season in Triple-A posting a 3.93 ERA with 6.8 K/9, 1.0 BB/9, and 10.0 H/9 in six starts.

This is the second time in nine months Weber has been claimed through the waiver process, as the Padres plucked him from the Tigers last August. Per MLBTR's Transaction Tracker, this is the 12th waiver claim made by the most active waiver wire GM, Alex Anthopoulos, in 2013.

MLBTR Originals

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A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

  • Steve Adams presented another Transaction Retrospection with a look back at the Reds' acquisition of Mat Latos.
  • Tim Dierkes listed the 2014 free agents who currently find themselves on the DL.
  • Steve issued a Free Agent Stock Watch for ten starting pitchers who have battled injuries this year.
  • Tim suggested Roberto Hernandez could take advantage of a weak free agent market for starting pitchers and secure a multiyear deal with a solid 2013 season.
  • Tim identified potential trade targets who are under team control beyond this season.
  • Jeff Todd examined in greater detail the trade candidacy of one those players, Alex Rios.
  • Steve writes the Cubs could net a Top 10 prospect and another respectable piece in any deal for David DeJesus.
  • Tim sees the Marlins' Kevin Slowey as a trade candidate who could solidify the back end of the rotation for teams like the Giants or Pirates.
  • For teams in need of bullpen help, Tim looked at some relievers who could be available.
  • Steve envisions a five-year, $60-65MM contract extension for Jordan Zimmermann as being a reasonable target, but something in the range of $75-80MM is not out of the question. 
  • Tim hosted this week's live chat and delved into the MLBTR Mailbag.
  • MLBTR contributor Marc Hulet provided a new Prospect Rumor Roundup.
  • Zach Links assembled the best of the baseball blogosphere for you in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
  • Here's the schedule for MLBTR's roster of regular features and exactly what to expect from them.
  • There are many ways to enjoy MLB Trade Rumors. Here's a refresher on how to use MLBTR.

AL East Notes: Orioles, Yankees, Romero

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The home run by the Athletics' Adam Rosales that never was on Wednesday could become the shot heard around the world in the debate over instant replay. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle are both advocating for a five-man umpiring crew. Haudricourt rebuts arguments that it is too expensive to add a fifth umpire or too time consuming to expand replay noting MLB is an $8B industry and the discussions over blown calls waste more time than a replay. Slusser supports a fifth umpire to monitor games from a booth in the press box and a neutral crew in New York of perhaps three people to have access to all available replay angles and make the final call on all video reviews. John Shea, Slusser's colleague at the Chronicle, doesn't believe expanded replay will help immediately because, until umpires are better held accountable for their errors, you cannot trust the people overseeing the system. Let's review the news from the American League East:

  • Wei-Yin Chen left today's game with what the Orioles are calling a strained right oblique although the lefty hopes it is only a cramp and will be evaluated on their off day, tweets Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com. The Orioles have several in-house options, if Chen lands on the disabled list, tweets CSNBaltimore.com's Rich Dubroff, including Jair Jurrjens, who has a June 15 opt-out clause. Jake Arrieta, another possible in-house candidate, did not make his scheduled start in Triple-A today because of a tender shoulder, reports Roch Kubatko of MASN.com (via Twitter). 
  • The Yankees will soon face some tough decisions regarding roster spots and playing time as several of their injured players are nearing a return to action, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
  • The Blue Jays will remain patient with Ricky Romero because of the $23.1MM guaranteed the left-hander through 2015, even if it is just to make him attractive in a trade, according to the Toronto Star's Richard Griffin. That patience will be further tested by Romero's dismal debut at Triple-A Buffalo yesterday: six runs allowed on ten hits with five walks, a balk, and a wild pitch in 3 2/3 innings. "I guess it’s a little disappointing to see those numbers but I know he’s still working hard and I still think he’s on the right path,” Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca.

NL Notes: Garza, Pirates, Prado, Padres

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Here's the latest news and notes from the National League:

  • Matt Garza, number seven on MLBTR's 2014 Free Agent Rankings, is slated for one or two additional minor league rehab starts after an abbreviated outing yesterday, reports MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Garza threw 66 pitches (40 for strikes) over 3 1/3 innings for Double-A Tennessee allowing three hits and two walks. "He felt great and everything, but not real efficient," Cubs mangager Dale Sveum said. "Right now, we have to get him built up to get to the fourth, fifth and hopefully sixth inning." Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets Garza is expected to throw 85-95 pitches in his next rehab start, which will come next week for Triple-A Iowa.
  • Pirates second baseman Neil Walker is set to return from the disabled list tomorrow and Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review doesn't expect utilityman John McDonald to be designated for assignment to create space on the 25-man roster. McDonald, hitting only .067/.176/.100 in 34 plate appearances this year, would have to clear waivers while infielder Jordy Mercer still has minor league options available. "I think the term general managers use is you want to maintain all of your assets," manager Clint Hurdle said. "You don't want to release somebody if another guy has options. We're mindful of that."
  • Despite a slow start offensively, the Diamondbacks are already seeing dividends from their four-year, $40MM investment in Martin Prado, writes the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Steve Hummer. 
  • The Padres, who have the 13th overall pick in next month's amateur draft, aren't concerned that the perceived top players will be off the board when it comes their turn, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com. "There's probably more balance [in the Draft] than people give it credit for," said Chad MacDonald, vice president and general manager of player personnel, who will preside over the Padres' draft. "There are a lot of high school hitters out there. I think people are quick to grade a Draft." In addition to their area scouts and cross-checkers, the Padres have had GM Josh Byrnes, vice president/assistant GM AJ Hinch, and senior vice president Omar Minaya in the field scouting players. 

Reds Outright Corky Miller to Triple-A

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The Reds have announced, via a tweet by Assistant Director of Media Relations Jamie Ramsey, they have outrighted catcher Corky Miller to Triple-A Louisville. Miller was designated for assignment on Friday.

The 37-year-old singled twice and walked four times in 20 plate appearances with the Reds this year, his first MLB action since 2010. In parts of 11 seasons between the Reds, Braves, Twins, Red Sox, and White Sox, Miller is a .187/.271/.294 hitter. Seven of those seasons have come with the Reds, who initially signed Miller as an undrafted free agent in 1998.

Minor Moves: Kalian Sams, Brandon Boggs

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We'll keep track of today's minor moves right here:

  • The Padres signed outfielder Kalian Sams to a minor league contract yesterday, according to MLB.com's Transactions page. The Dutch outfielder ripped two homers tonight in his debut for Double-A San Antonio. Sams, 26, doesn't hit for average or get on base much but has loads of power, as evidenced by his career .215/.292/.443 batting line (which doesn't include today's homers). He spent 2007-12 in the Mariners organization but never reached a level higher than Double-A.
  • The Twins have released outfielder Brandon Boggs from Triple-A Rochester, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Boggs, who signed a minor league contract with the Twins last December, posted a meager batting line of .184/.292/.316 in 89 plate appearances with Rochester. Boggs last appeared in a MLB game in 2011 with the Brewers.

Steve Adams contributed to this post.

MLBTR Originals

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A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

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