Eddie Schmid | MLB Trade Rumors

Odds & Ends: D’Backs, Hall, Moyer

By Eddie Schmid | August 12, 2009 at 7:27pm CDT

I can't even begin to describe the hyper-ness of these links:

Nick Piecoro at the Arizona Republic got word that the Diamondbacks don't plan to decrease payroll from the $73 million they have on the books this year. He gives a nice rundown of what'll be due next season.
Despite Jamie Moyer being sent to the bullpen before multiple incentives kicked in, Andy Martino at the Philadelphia Inquirer isn't convinced the move was financially motivated.
Mark Sheldon at MLB.com thinks the Reds should pursue Bill Hall as it's a "no-risk move."
Doug Davis is aware of the rumors swirling around him being dealt this deadline, but seems to be warm to the idea of pitching for a contender as some postseason experience can help his pending contract, says Steve Gilbert at MLB.com.
It's appearing more and more that Luis Gonzalez will officially retire and potentially take a spot in the Diamondbacks front office, says Steve Gilbert.
According to Dejan Kovacevic at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have made their claim of John Meloan official and also have signed Australian free agent Jarryd Sullivan to a deal.
Mike Scioscia isn't expecting Kelvim Escobar to return from injury this year, says Rhett Bollinger at MLB.com. Perhaps this accelerates the Angels' search for a starter.

La Russa Wants Speier, Smoltz?

By Eddie Schmid | August 12, 2009 at 6:00pm CDT

According to Bernie Miklasz at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter), Cardinals manager Tony La Russa indicated that he would be interested in adding the recently dismissed veterans John Smoltz and Justin Speier. Both would be candidates to strengthen the depleted right side of the Cards' bullpen.

Against righties this season, Smoltz put up a 21/2 K/BB ratio while limiting them to a .232 batting clip. Speier has a 20/5 K/BB against them and has kept them to only a .239 average. So despite each having early difficulties, it looks like they each still could be of use to a team like the Cardinals. It's also notable that Tony La Russa had been clamoring to acquire Matt Holliday last year until the Cards finally pulled the trigger to grab him — La Russa has a history of getting his man.

Angels Release Justin Speier

By Eddie Schmid | August 11, 2009 at 9:46pm CDT

According to the AP via ESPN, the Angels have released RHP Justin Speier. The 35-year-old has put up a 5.18 ERA and 39/15 K/BB ratio in 40.0 innings this season.

Speier is in the third year of a four-year deal worth $18MM and he's set to earn $5.25MM in 2010. With his past success, you can bet he'll find work somewhere else.

Odds & Ends: Sheffield, Indians, Draft

By Eddie Schmid | August 11, 2009 at 9:10pm CDT

Some more links as everyone reels from the bench-clearing madness:

Count in Mets manager Jerry Manuel as a proponent of bringing back Gary Sheffield next year, says Bart Hubbuch at the New York Post. We learned earlier today Sheffield would prefer not to be traded.
The Diamondbacks signed a couple notable draft picks today, reports Nick Piecoro at the Arizona Republic–no. 41 overall selection SS Chris Owings was given a $950k bonus, while 13th-round LHP Patrick Schuster was given an above-slot sum of $450k.
Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi hasn't signed any of the team's first five selections, but "they will eventually sign," he believes, says MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
The Brewers signed fifth-rounder and two-sport athlete D'Vontrey Richardson, says Jim Callis at Baseball America, for a bonus of $400k.
Callis also reports that the Giants have come to terms with fifth-rounder Matthew Graham to the tune of $500k.
Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com says the Indians are "maintaining dialogue" with their top pick, Alex White.

D’Backs Release Tom Gordon

By Eddie Schmid | August 11, 2009 at 7:29pm CDT

According to Nick Piecoro at the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks have released veteran reliever Tom Gordon. Flash, now 41, went on the DL in May with a hamstring injury after pitching only 1.2 innings on the year. He had begun a minor-league rehab assignment on July 13th.

Hardy Not Placed On Waivers

By Eddie Schmid | August 11, 2009 at 7:01pm CDT

Tom Haudricourt at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who dismisses rumors that J.J. Hardy might have been claimed by the Red Sox, and says in fact Hardy was not placed on waivers at all.

Buster Olney at ESPN had reported yesterday that Hardy had "not passed through waivers yet," but suggested the Sox could have interest should Hardy be put on waivers. It's unclear where rumors that Hardy had been claimed stem from. Earlier today, Melvin indicated that he might be open to exploring deals for Hardy this offseason, however.

Melvin goes on to say that he hasn't found a starter to his liking on the waiver wire. He's not interested in John Smoltz, Mark Mulder, or Vicente Padilla.

Odds & Ends: Zambrano, Royals, Phils

By Eddie Schmid | August 11, 2009 at 6:17pm CDT

Game time? It's time for some more links, me thinks:

Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com pays tribute to Hall-of-Fame reporter Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, who will soon be out of a job.
Dick Kaegel at MLB.com says that the Royals are still negotiating with their top picks, despite reports they had come to terms with their second- and fourth-round selections.
David Kaplan at ChicagoNow stakes the claim that Carlos Zambrano is the most overpaid player in baseball. Jorge Says No! says, well… no.
Jame Moyer has been sent to the bullpen in favor of Pedro Martinez, and he isn't happy. The ageless Moyer claims he was assured by GM Ruben Amaro before he signed a two-year deal that this "type of situation would not happen," reports Andy Martino at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Henry Schulman at the San Francisco Chronicle asks fans if they'd let Barry Zito go on a waiver claim. Easy call, right? Schulman offers up some bullet points to consider before you answer.

More Rios Reactions

By Eddie Schmid | August 10, 2009 at 9:35pm CDT

The world's had a few hours to digest the Rios trade and a few have made their judgments. Let's check it out, with more likely on the way:

Mark Gonzales at the Chicago Tribune talked to Jermaine Dye, who called the move "a shock" and doesn't know what the future holds for him.
Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports says the White Sox have managed their payroll well enough in order to take on a contract as big as Rios's.
Joe Cowley at the Chicago Sun-Times has an in-depth piece on the deal. Apparently Sox GM Kenny Williams had tried to acquire Rios before the deadline. Williams admits that the team went "out on a limb" for Rios money-wise, after claiming finances would be an issue for the Sox this season.
Drunk Jays Fans sees it as "the right move for whatever direction this club might be headed in." (Maybe not safe for work/children, but entertaining as usual.)

Odds & Ends: Rios, Reds, Nationals

By Eddie Schmid | August 10, 2009 at 7:47pm CDT

On this day last year, the White Sox acquired Horacio Ramirez from the Royals for minor-leaguer Paul Orlando. Today, they got Alex Rios for nothing.

Matt Eddy at Baseball America has a useful guide to the past week's minor-league transactions.
Tough break for the Nationals: According to Chico Harlan at the Washington Post, prized young arm Jordan Zimmermann has a torn ligament that will likely require up to 18 months to repair. Speculation, but perhaps this could further press the Nationals in the Stephen Strasburg negotiations?
Ken Davidoff at Newsday likes the Alex Rios move for both teams.
Game of Inches analyzes some metrics and sees the Rios move as a big win for J.P. Ricciardi.
Reds GM Walt Jocketty tells MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that talks have fallen off between the team and first-round selection Mike Leake. Last week's above-slot signing of Mike Minor by the Braves didn't help matters.

Arangure Jr. On Chapman, Sano, Padres

By Eddie Schmid | August 10, 2009 at 7:01pm CDT

ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. has some good inside info on the international free agent market, as always. Let's scope out his latest:

Despite reports that the Padres had been interested in top talent Miguel Angel Sano, a Padres executive "assured" Arangure that the team would not be signing Sano. Investigation into Sano's age is ongoing.
Arangure believes that the recent acquisition of Alex Rios by the White Sox takes them out of the running for top Cuban pitching talent Aroldis Chapman. It had been rumored that the White Sox were one of the top suitors for Chapman, as the Sox already field Cuban stars like Jose Contreras and Alexei Ramirez.
The Padres are said to be scouting Edgar Ferreira, who Arangure says is the top Dominican amateur pitcher still unsigned. They'll watch him pitch tomorrow. Ben Badler at Baseball America ranked Ferreira the 11th overall best international free agent this season.

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