Mike Axisa | MLB Trade Rumors

Minor Moves: Tim Redding, Matt Young

By Mike Axisa | August 11, 2012 at 6:55pm CDT

Let's keep track of the day's minor transactions right here…

The Blue Jays have released Tim Redding according to the Pacific Coast League transactions page. Toronto signed the veteran right-hander during the offseason. Redding, 34, pitched to an 8.66 ERA in seven starts and 16 relief appearances with their Triple-A affiliate this year.
The Tigers have released Matt Young according to the International League transactions page. The 29-year-old had one double and nine strikeouts in ten at-bats with Detroit earlier this season, but they designated him for assignment and then outrighted him last month. Young hit .212/.363/.276 in 369 Triple-A plate appearances this season.

2013 Vesting Options Update

By Mike Axisa | August 11, 2012 at 10:50am CDT

With a little less than one-third of the season left to go, let's check in on the various vesting option situations from around the league…

Jason Bartlett, Padres — $5.5MM option vests with 432 plate appearances. Bartlett came to the plate just 98 times before being placed on the disabled list with a knee injury. He won't return to the lineup anytime soon, so this option will not vest.
Kevin Gregg, Orioles — $6MM option vests with 50 games finished. Gregg has finished just 12 of the team's 113 games, so this one is very unlikely even though it's still mathematically possible.
Brett Myers, White Sox — $10MM option vests with 45 games finished or based on a points system. Myers has finished 33 games this season, and he has finished four of the ten games he's appeared in with Chicago despite not being the closer. This is one worth monitoring.

Chipper Jones has an option worth $9MM+ that will vest with 123 games played, but he's already rendered the option moot by announcing his plans to retire after the season. He recently said that he won't change his mind about retirement despite his strong play as well. Chipper has played in 71 of the Braves' first 112 games.

Alex Gonzalez has an option worth $4MM that will vest with 525 plate appearances, but he is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Gonzalez came to the plate just 89 times before the injury, so the Brewers do not have to worry about this one kicking in.

Poll: How Will The Athletics Finish?

By Mike Axisa | August 11, 2012 at 8:52am CDT

The Athletics have not qualified for the postseason since 2006, the year Frank Thomas went from DH flier to MVP candidate by hitting .270/.381/.545 with 39 homers. Oakland comes into today in a virtual four-way tie for one of the two AL Wild Card spots, and they’ve won 34 of 51 games (.667) over the last two calendar months. They lead the league with 13 walk-off wins.

GM Billy Beane swung two of the best trades of the offseason by acquiring Josh Reddick (for Andrew Bailey) and Jarrod Parker (for Trevor Cahill). Reddick is hitting .257/.330/.510 with 25 homers while Parker has pitched to a 3.55 ERA in 19 starts. Tommy Milone, who came over in the Gio Gonzalez trade, has a 3.91 ERA in 22 starts. Add in a strong performance from bargain signing Bartolo Colon (3.38 ERA in 22 starts) and big performance from big money signing Yoenis Cespedes (.307/.368/.515 with 14 homers), and you have arguably the best Athletics team in the last six years.

The A’s are currently in second place in the AL West but sit just a half-game ahead of the Angels. They’re 5.5 back of the Rangers. To finish with their first winning season since 2006, they’ll need to win at least 22 of their final 50 games. That seems like the easy part considering the tough competition for a playoff berth.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Feinstein, Giants, Royals

By Mike Axisa | August 10, 2012 at 12:08pm CDT

On this date in 2008, the Rays won their 71st game of the season to set a new franchise record. They finished the season with 97 wins and won the first pennant in team history as well. Here are this week's links…

Phoul Ballz interviewed Phillies prospect Tommy Joseph, who was acquired in the Hunter Pence trade.
Midwest Sports Fans wrote about Dan Feinstein, the Athletics director or pro scouting.
The 5.5 Hole broke down the cost of Albert Pujols' early-season slump.
Wahoo's on First explains why the Indians should start rebuilding.
Levi's Landing shared some thoughts on the Giants' trade deadline activity.
The Giants Cove wrote about the rest of the Giants' deadline story.
Kings of Kauffman lists some free agent pitchers the Royals can consider.
Seattle Sports Central speculated about the Mariners' 2013 rotation.
Talkin' Sox with Dan says the Red Sox need an overhaul.
BoSox Injection looks at the Red Sox's options with Josh Beckett.
Rising Apple doesn't think the Mets should retain Jason Bay.
Yanks Go Yard looked back at the Curtis Granderson–Austin Jackson trade.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

Orioles Notes: Overbay, Lowe, Chavez

By Mike Axisa | August 9, 2012 at 10:47pm CDT

In our poll this afternoon, more than 3,300 MLBTR readers told us that they believe the Orioles will finish the season with an above-.500 record but will not qualify for the postseason. Baltimore came into the day in a four-way tie for the two AL Wild Card spots. Here's the latest from Charm City, courtesy of The Baltimore Sun's Dan Connolly…

“No, we are looking around every day,” said GM Dan Duquette when asked if the Manny Machado call-up means they are closing the door on acquiring players from outside the organization.
The Orioles have expressed some interest in the recently released Lyle Overbay, but they might not have room for him on the roster.
There's a sense that Derek Lowe will wind up back in National League once he clears waivers tomorrow, but the Orioles could have interest according to Connolly.
Endy Chavez is expected to clear waivers tomorrow and will likely accept an assignment to Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate.
We had some more Orioles links earlier this morning.

Red Sox Sign Scott Podsednik

By Mike Axisa | August 9, 2012 at 9:50pm CDT

The Red Sox have signed Scott Podsednik to a Major League contract, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Boston traded the outfielder to the Diamondbacks in the Matt Albers–Craig Breslow trade, but Arizona released him a few days later.

Podsednik, 36, hit .387/.409/.484 with six steals in 70 plate appearances with the Red Sox this year and .242/.308/.291 in Triple-A. The veteran speedster also missed a little more than two weeks with a groin strain earlier this season.

Minor Moves: Tyler Kuhn, Chih-Wei Hu

By Mike Axisa | August 9, 2012 at 8:38pm CDT

Here are the day's minor moves…

The Diamondbacks acquired utility man Tyler Kuhn from the White Sox for cash, reports Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com (Twitter links). The 25-year-old hit .273/.309/.384 in 449 plate appearances for Chicago's Triple-A affiliate this season while playing second base, third base, and left field.
The Twins have signed Taiwanese pitching prospect Chih-Wei Hu for $220K, reports MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez (on Twitter). The 18-year-old right-hander reportedly runs his fastball into the low-90s.

Carlos Lee Has Spoken To Marlins About 2013 Return

By Mike Axisa | August 9, 2012 at 6:57pm CDT

The Marlins had a deal in place to send Carlos Lee to the Yankees before the trade deadline, but the first baseman invoked his no-trade clause for the second time this season. Despite that, Lee told Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald that he is happy in Miami and hopes to return to the team in 2013.

“I like this team,” said Lee. “I don’t know what their plans are, but I like it here.”

Spencer hears the Lee's representatives at Wasserman Media Group have already spoke to the club about coming back next season, though they would like to use Logan Morrison at first base.

The 36-year-old Lee has hit .301/.398/.369 with one homer and more walks (17) than strikeouts (13) in 123 plate appearances since being acquired from the Astros. He is making $18.5MM this summer, the final year of the six-year, $100MM contract he signed with Houston prior to 2007.

Melky, Giants Agree To Put Extension Talks On Hold

By Mike Axisa | August 8, 2012 at 2:34pm CDT

The Giants and Melky Cabrera have agreed to put contract extension talks on hold until after the season, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The team is believed to have suggested a three-year deal worth approximately $27MM a few weeks ago, though no official offer was made.

Cabrera, 27, has indicated a willingness to sign with San Francisco long-term and GM Brian Sabean maintains that there is enough financial flexibility to sign both Melky and Hunter Pence. Cabrera is hitting .353/.399/.530 with 11 homers during a breakout All-Star season, and will become a free agent this winter. He figures to one of the most attractive outfielders on the market give his age and production.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Greinke, Pence, Victorino

By Mike Axisa | August 3, 2012 at 12:27pm CDT

Albert Pujols hit his 30th homer of the season on this date in 2004, making him the first player in history to hit at least 30 home runs in each of his first four seasons as a big leaguers. He's also the first player in history to hit at least 30 homers in each of his first five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven seasons. Here's the latest from around the league following the trade deadline…

Through The Fence Baseball wrote about the Astros and the prospect market.
MLB Reports explains why GM Jerry Dipoto is exactly what the Angels need.
The Outside Corner analyzed the Zack Greinke trade.
Lone Star Ball is on board with the Rangers acquiring Ryan Dempster.
Giants Nirvana is neutral about the Hunter Pence acquisition.
Lasorda's Lair wrote about the weirdness of acquiring Shane Victorino.
Dodgers Nation wonders if the Dodgers should claim Cliff Lee off waivers.
Yanks Go Yard broke down the trade deadline activity in the AL East.
BoSox Injection thinks the Red Sox could be poised for a big offseason.
Dr. Strangeglove analyzed the Pirates and their deadline moves.
Pirates Prospects looked at how the deadline impacted the Pirates' 2013 payroll.
The Brewers Bar thinks the Brewers' lack of deadline moves is a good thing.
Twins Baseball Clubhouse wrote the Twins' lack of deadline activity.
Wahoo's on First graded the Indians' lack of activity at the deadline.
NASORB wrote about the future of Jason Vargas with the Mariners.
The True Fan's Sports Blog listed the deadline winners and losers.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

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