Rays DFA Joe Dillon and R.J. Swindle
According to Marc Lancaster of The Tampa Tribune, the Rays designated both Joe Dillon and R.J. Swindle for assignment today. Lancaster explains that Tampa first designated Swindle for assignment to claim Russ Springer off waivers this morning, then had to do the same to Dillon to open an active roster spot.
Dillon hit a clean .300-.400-.400 in 35 plate appearances for Tampa, and Swindle didn't make an appearance with the team after being claimed off waivers just yesterday.
Rosenthal’s Full Count Video: Rios, Mulder, Moyer, Masterson
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com has a new Full Count video up. Let's dive in…
- Whatever the Blue Jays do with Alex Rios will tell us everything we need to know about the team's financial state and their opinion of Rios. Toronto could shed more than $60MM in obligation by letting the claiming team have him.
- Some executives believe Rios still has some trade value, and if the Jays wait until the offseason they'd be able to negotiate with all 29 other clubs. The problem is that the free agent market will again be flooded with outfielders.
- Free agent southpaw Mark Mulder could be throwing for teams within 7-10 days. Mulder is working with Rick Peterson, his former pitching coach, in New Jersey this weekend, The pair recently corrected a "minor mechanical flaw," and Peterson told Mulder's agent Greg Clifton that he was shocked the pitcher was in such good shape.
- Teams are looking at Mulder for September, with the Yankees, Brewers, Dodgers and Rangers are among the cubs that have expressed interest. Just as a reminder, if Mulder joins a big league team after August 31st, he would be ineligible for the playoff roster.
- Forget about all that talk from Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. about going with a six-man rotation, Jamie Moyer will "almost certainly" head to the bullpen once Pedro Martinez is ready. The team just hasn't figured out how to break the news yet.
- Justin Masterson was throwing 93-97 in his first appearance with Cleveland, causing some club officials to wonder if he should be a closer down the line. Short term, the Indians need him in the rotation and he has the everything needed to become a third or fourth starter.
Mozeliak: Cards Unlikely To Pursue Smoltz
When the Red Sox designated John Smoltz for assignment earlier today, it was only a matter of time before we started hearing if clubs were interested in his services or not. Matt Baker at The News Leader caught up with Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who said "Right now I would say no, but things can change,” when asked if he had interest in the future Hall of Famer.
St. Louis added $6.6MM to their payroll with their deadline acquisitions, but the Red Sox would be on the hook for all but the pro-rated portion of the minimum should he be released. Perhaps more importantly, Smoltz would have to decide to continue his career first.
Mozeliak also said that he's "very optimistic we’ll get something worked out" with top pick Shelby Miller, who remains unsigned.
Odds & Ends: Berroa, Yankees, Scheppers, Pirates
More odds, more ends, more links…
- Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog reports that the Mets have designated Angel Berroa for assignment. Berroa's tenure in Flushing lasted 31 plate appearances, in which he fashioned a .148-.233-.185 batting line.
- George A. King III of The NY Post reports that the Yankees placed second baseman Robinson Cano, as well as relievers Brian Bruney, David Robertson, and Mark Melancon on waivers this past Wednesday. King says it's "highly unlikely the Yankees will deal Cano."
- MLB.com's Daniel Paulling spoke to Greg Genske, agent for Rangers' supplemental first round pick Tanner Scheppers, and reports that Genske is "setting up an audition for Scheppers for about a half dozen Japanese teams within a couple of weeks." Genske hasn't decided whether or not to invite the Rangers to workout, and also mentions that Scheppers has been given a clean bill of health.
- In addition to eighth rounder Colton Cain, the Pirates have also signed fourth round pick Zackry Dodson according to MLB.com's Jen Langosch. Team president Frank Coonelly denied a report that the team reached an agreement with Dodson last month.
- Patrick at NPB Tracker passes along a report that Chris Resop has left the Hanshin Tigers and returned home to the States to recover from pain in his throwing elbow. Resop doesn't have any immediate plans to return to Japan, and Patrick says he's unlikely to get another shot with Hanshin.
Rangers DFA Vicente Padilla
Evan Grant of D Magazine reports that the Rangers have designated righthander Vicente Padilla for assignment. Grant says the team has "no plans on bringing him back." Padilla went unclaimed when the team placed him on waivers in early June.
With a 4.90 ERA in 103 starts for Texas, it's safe to say the Rangers didn't get the return they were seeking on the three year, $33.75MM deal they gave Padilla before the 2007 season. There is roughly $4MM left on Padilla's contract for this season, not to mention a $1.75MM buyout for next year's option.
Rays DFA Jonathan Meloan
The Rays have designated reliever Jonathan Meloan for assignment, according to Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times.The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Gregg Zaun, who was acquired from Baltimore earlier today.
Tampa Bay acquired Meloan from the Indians in exchange for fellow bullpener Winston Abreu back in July. He had a 5.02 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP in 57.1 IP split between the two organizations this year.
Odds & Ends: Deadline, Halladay, French
Just a few more links on a slow rumors night…
- Scott Miller of CBSsports.com posts his deadline winners and losers. Unlike most of the reaction pieces we've seen, Miller defends Pirates GM Neal Huntington "as he stubbornly sticks to his vision." I think Huntington put it best when he said "We don't feel like we've broken up the 1927 Yankees."
- Jordan Bastian of MLB.com says that now that the deadline has passed, Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay can focus on just pitching. I know it comes with the territory, but it must be tough having to answer the same questions about what you think will happen day after day.
- MLB.com's Jim Street writes that getting traded to the Seattle in the Jarrod Washburn deal was a dream come true for Luke French, who somehow grew up a Mariners fan in Colorado.
Discussion: Brandon Webb
Earlier today we learned that Diamondbacks' ace Brandon Webb will indeed go under the knife tomorrow to correct a shoulder problem that has kept him out basically all season. The procedure knocks Webb out for the remainder of the year and could keep him out for part of 2010 as well, although the recovery time is not yet known.
You may remember that injury concerns caused the D-Backs to pull their three year, $54MM extension offer to Webb last June, and that move certainly looks wise now. The club holds an $8.5MM option for Webb's services next year, but could instead buy him out for $2MM (the original $500K buyout was bumped up another $500K every time he finished in the top five in Cy Young voting from 2006-2009).
Considering the net worth of the option is just $6.5MM to the team (the same as Webb's salary this year), do you think they should pick it up? If not, what kind of contract could Webb receive in the offseason?
Odds & Ends: Foulke, Feliz, Tazawa
A few links to check out on the 30th anniversary of Thurman Munson's death…
- Mike Ashmore of AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com wrote a feature on Keith Foulke, who is pitching with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League. Foulke turned down several Triple-A offers before the season, including one from the Nationals, and admits it "probably turned out to be a little bit of a mistake." Foulke is looking to get back to majors as you'd expect, and says "“I’m going to make one last push over the last couple weeks, and we’ll see what happens."
- The Rangers are ready to call up prospect Neftali Feliz, perhaps in time for tonight's game according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Baseball America rated Feliz the 13th best prospect in the game in early July.
- Daniel Barbarisi of The Providence Journal wonders if Japanese import Junichi Tazawa could be a candidate to fill the bullpen spot left vacated by Justin Masterson's inclusion in the Victor Martinez trade on Friday. Tazawa was recently bumped to Triple-A and is already on the 40-man roster.
- Make you sure follow MLBTR on Twitter for the quickest updates possible. While you're at it, why don't you go ahead and follow me too. Almost all of my tweets are about baseball, I swears it.
Mets DFA Robinson Cancel
Bart Hubbuch of The NY Post reports that the Mets have designated catcher Robinson Cancel for assignment, creating room on the roster for Gary Sheffield as he comes off the disabled list. Cancel hit .000-.000-.000 in one whole plate appearance with the Amazin's this year. He was hitting .218-.266-.259 in 209 PA with Triple-A Buffalo before his brief callup.