Mariners DFA Denny Stark
Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times notes that the Mariners designated veteran reliever Denny Stark for assignment today to free up a roster spot for catcher Jamie Burke. Stark allowed 23 baserunners in just 11 innings for Seattle, leading to his 6.55 ERA. It was his first big league action since 2004.
Braves Sign Jon Huber
According to a release by the Lancaster Barn Stormers, the Braves have signed righthanded reliever Jon Huber to a minor league deal. Huber had been pitching for Lancaster in the independent Atlantic League this season, where he had a 3.63 ERA and a 10.08 K/9 in 22.1 innings. He has a 2.57 ERA in 28 big league innings, all coming with the Mariners back in 2006 and 2007. The Braves assigned him to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Indians Uncertain About Trade Status
As MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports, GM Mark Shapiro and the Indians still haven't decided if they are going to start pawning off their movable pieces for players that can help the team next year and beyond.
"We're on the sidelines right now," Shapiro said. "We're keeping a pulse of the market and not making a decision in either direction."
The Tribe were 24-34 and seven games back in the AL Central coming into today's action, but currently have eight players on the disabled list. Starters Cliff Lee and the resurgent Carl Pavano figure to draw significant interest from contending teams, ditto catcher Victor Martinez. We've certainly heard plenty of rumors about infielder Mark DeRosa already.
With no reason to move players sooner rather than later, the Indians can afford to sit back and see how things play out once they get healthy. They are just one hot week from being right back in thick of things in a winnable division after all.
Discussion: Billy Wagner
Mets' lefthander Billy Wagner hasn't pitched this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last September, but he's expected to begin throwing to batters by the end of June. A team official said a September 1st return date is "very conservative". The Mets hold an $8MM option for his services next season, but they have reportedly already told Wagner that the option will not be picked up, instead paying him a $1MM buyout.
I'd like to see what the MLBTR readers think about Wagner's situation. If he comes back later in the season and is effective, what kind of market do you think there will be for be for his services in the offseason? As a 38-yr old coming off major surgery, could his distinguished track record still land him a multi-year deal? Could Brian Fuentes' two year, $17.5MM deal with the Angels work as framework for a potential contract?
Royals DFA Horacio Ramirez
According to Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star, the Royals have designated lefthander Horacio Ramirez for assignment to make room on the roster for Luke Hochevar. Ramirez had a 5.96 ERA in 19 appearances for the Royals this year (one start), and Dutton says the Royals hope he can remain with the organization as a starter in Triple-A Omaha.
Draft Roundup: Mock Draft, Strasburg, Gibson
Major League Baseball's amateur draft is now just three days away, so let's round up the latest news.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America posted version three of their Mock Draft yesterday (subscription req'd). He projects the top three picks to be Stephen Strasburg, Dustin Ackley, and Donavan Tate.
- After Strasburg is announced as the first overall pick on Tuesday, he will not meet with the media at his home or on the San Diego State campus, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. Strasburg will instead hold his press conference in "the main lobby of the Boras Corporation offices."
- Conor Glassey reports that Missouri righthander Kyle Gibson experienced tightness in his forearm during his start last weekend, which is causing his velocity and stock to drop. Gibson was a consensus top 15 talent prior to the injury.
- Mark Heller of The East Valley Tribune spoke to Diamondbacks scouting director Tom Allison, who says the team will "stay true to best person on the board." With seven of the first 64 picks, there was some thought that the D-Backs would seek out players willing to sign for, or below slot to save money.
- Steve Buckley of The Boston Herald wrote about how the Red Sox's recent success in the draft has fans following the event more closely than ever.
Olney on Reyes, McLouth, Holliday
ESPN.com's Buster Olney wonders if the currently injured Jose Reyes has already peaked, quoting a scout who says "I don't see a lot of evolution there … Jimmy Rollins struggled early in his career, but then he just kept getting better and better, and I'm not really seeing that in Reyes." Olney likens the situation to Mark Prior's, who seemingly held the Cubs hostage with his potential. Reyes will turn just 26 next week, but Olney says that going forward "the Mets should not assume that Reyes is going to be an unmovable foundation piece," however he is not advocating a trade just yet.
Here's the rest of Olney's rumors:
- Olney heard that the Pirates were concerned about Nate McLouth's defensive abilities, so they moved him now before his trade value diminished.
- Billy Beane will soon have to make a decision about whether or not he should trade Matt Holliday, because other teams will start inquiring soon.
- Olney speculates that the Cardinals could be interested in Holliday, which would satisfy Tony LaRussa's desire for a big bat. He also says that Cards' prospect Brett Wallace would be a good fit for Oakland, but that seems like a hefty price for just three or four months of Holliday.
Odds & Ends: Schuerholz, Fukumori, Perez
Some Saturday morning links to hold you over while the cartoons are on commercial break…
- Braves' team president John Schuerholz issued a public apology for how Tom Glavine's release was handled, as MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports. "I'm not regretting the decision making. I'm regretting the manner in which it was portrayed and explained to Tommy. I feel like I could have done a better job with that."
- Patrick at NPB Tracker passes along a report that the Rangers are trying to transfer Kazuo Fukumori's rights to a Japanese club. Fukumori had a 20.25 ERA in four ineffective outings for Texas last year, but he hasn't pitched this year and is training in Arizona.
- ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. reports that Cuban outfielder Felix Perez has been suspended one year for falsifying age documents. Perez, who claimed he was 20 years old, was close to signing a $3MM contract with the Yankees when it was discovered that he is actually 24 or 25.
- UmpBump.com's Nick Kapur lists one player each NL team should cut from their roster. While just about everyone listed has been downright terrible this year, most of the players would have no trouble finding a new job if they were actually released.
Zambrano Says He’ll Retire At End Of Contract
According to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, Cubs' righthander Carlos Zambrano says he will retire at the end of his current contract. Zambrano is currently in the second year of a five year, $91.5MM million dollar contract that he signed before the 2008 season.
"After this contract, I'm done," said Zambrano, who is signed through 2012 with a vesting option for 2013. "I'm serious. I don't want to play. I want to help this team, I want to do everything possible to win with this team, but after five years or four years, or whatever I have left on my contract, I just don't want to play.
"I want to stay home and see my daughters grow up and hang out with my family more," he said. "Do you know how many Mother's Days I spend with my mother? Do you know how many things I've lost in my life?
"It's good to be here, it's good to play baseball — don't get me wrong," Zambrano said. "But five years, four years, whatever I have left in my contract, I will retire. That's it."
Zambrano turned 28 just this past week and just won his 100th career game last night. Like the quote says, his contract doesn't expire until after the 2013 season and has a vesting option for 2014 based on health and Cy Young voting, but it seems a bit odd that he would announce his intentions to retire so early. Perhaps he's just frustrated by some of the recent issues he's deal with. What do you guys think?
Mike Axisa writes for River Ave. Blues.
White Sox to DFA Betemit, Promote Beckham
According to a tweet by MLB.com's Noah Coslov, the White Sox will designate infielder Wilson Betemit for assignment before Thursday's game and call up top prospect Gordon Beckham. Beckham was the eighth overall pick in the 2008 Draft, and hit .318/.372/.512 in 184 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A this year. He has played mostly shortstop this year, but has seen time at third base recently. Betemit hit just .200/.280/.310 in 50 plate appearances this season after being acquired in exchange for Nick Swisher over the winter.
Mike Axisa writes for River Ave. Blues.