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Angels Have Interest in Matt Capps, Francisco Liriano

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Looking to bolster their pitching staff for the stretch drive, the Angels have interest in both Matt Capps and Francisco Liriano according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Twins have made both players available, though Morosi says there is an outside chance a deal for either happens.

The Halos have continued to look for bullpen help even after acquiring Ernesto Frieri from the Padres, and their rotation took a hit when Dan Haren was placed on the DL with a back issue. The trio of Ervin Santana (5.75 ERA), Jerome Williams (4.67 ERA), and Garrett Richards (4.21 ERA) has been shaky behind Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson. Los Angeles is also said to have interest in Zack Greinke.

Capps, 28, has pitched to a 3.42 ERA with 14 saves while battling shoulder inflammation this season. He is owed approximately $2.3MM for the rest of the year and has a $6MM club option ($250K buyout) in his contract. The 28-year-old Liriano owns a 4.93 ERA in 15 starts and five relief appearances. He struck out 15 last night and has pitched to a 2.83 ERA in nine starts since returning to the rotation. Liriano will become a free agent after the season and is owed roughly $2.75MM the rest of the way.

Cardinals Sign Brian Fuentes

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The Cardinals have signed Brian Fuentes to a minor league contract, the team announced (on Twitter). The Beverly Hills Sports Council client was released by the Athletics earlier this week.

In 25 innings for the Oakland this year Fuentes posted a 6.84 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9. The 36-year-old left-hander is in the second year of a two-year, $10.5MM contract he signed following the 2010 season. If he's called up to St. Louis, the Cardinals will only owe him the pro-rated portion of the league minimum.

Orioles Designate Eveland, Outright Paulino

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The Orioles have designated Dana Eveland for assignment and outrighted Ronny Paulino to Triple-A, the team announced. The moves create room on the roster for Miguel Socolovich and Taylor Teagarden. Paulino can refuse the assignment and become a free agent, but he would forfeit the remainder of his $1MM salary.

Eveland, 28, made two starts and a dozen relief appearances for Baltimore this season. He pitched to a 4.73 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 32 1/3 innings. His 2.21 ERA in 36 2/3 Triple-A innings earned him a call-up in the first place. The 31-year-old Paulino has hit .254/.266/.302 in 64 plate appearances for the O's this season while missing time with a fractured toe.

Justin Upton Rumors: Saturday

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Yesterday we learned that the Rangers have some interest in Justin Upton, but they're unlikely to trade either of their two elite prospects – Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt – to acquire him. Some GMs are convinced the Diamondbacks will trade their right fielder. Here are today's Upton rumors, with the latest up top…

  • D'Backs GM Kevin Towers told reporters (including Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic) that he spoke to Upton about the trade rumors and said he will give him a heads up if something is close to happening (all Twitter links). "We had a good conversation. I think he gets it," said Towers. "[I told him he should] look at it in a good way that people like you, not just D'backs, but you’re perceived very, very well throughout baseball."

Mets Have Considered Kelly Shoppach

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The Mets are looking for an upgrade behind the plate and they're rumored to have interest in Ramon Hernandez of the Rockies. According to MLB.com's Peter Gammons (on Twitter), they have considered Kelly Shoppach as an alternative if the price to land Hernandez is too high, however.

New York's backstops have produced a .244/.303/.298 batting line this season, the third worst catcher OPS in the NL. Shoppach has put up a .269/.358/.527 line while backing up Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and he's historically done most of his damage against left-handers. As Gammons notes, a trade would allow the Red Sox to bring Ryan Lavarnway up from Triple-A, where he's hitting .306/.395/.455.

Draft Links: Compensation Picks, Seniors, Yaz

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Yesterday afternoon (4pm CT, specifically) was the deadline for teams to sign this year's draft picks. Every first round and supplemental first round pick signed except for Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, who turned down the Pirates as the eighth overall pick. Here's a round-up of some post-draft links…

  • Jim Callis of Baseball America lists the four compensation picks for next year's draft. The Pirates will get the ninth overall pick for Appel while the Mets (76th overall), Phillies (96th), and Athletics (supplemental third round) will also receive picks for failing to sign players before yesterday's deadline.
  • The deadline does not apply to college seniors with college eligibility remaining, so Preston Tucker (seventh round, Astros), Jarret Leverett (15th, Twins), and Tyler Olson (17th, Athletics) are still eligible to sign at any time according to Callis (on Twitter).
  • The Mariners offered 30th round pick Mike Yastrzemski a $300k bonus according to MLB.com's Peter Gammons (on Twitter), but he decided to return to Vanderbilt to finish his degree. Mike is the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.
  • Fifteen picks in the top ten rounds remained unsigned as of 15 minutes prior to the deadline, and Callis explains what happened with each of them.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Greinke, Hamels, Upton

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Six years ago today, the Nationals and Reds swung an eight-player trade that sent Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Wagner to Washington in exchange for Bill Bray, Daryl Thompson, Gary Majewski, Brendan Harris, and Royce Clayton. The Reds later filed a grievance claiming Majewski was "damaged goods" due to a shoulder injury, but it was eventually dropped. Here are this week's links…

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

Draft Notes: Giants, Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays

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The deadline to sign draft picks is 4pm CT this Friday. Here are the latest deals…

  • The Giants signed second round pick Martin Agosta for $613K, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (on Twitter). The right-hander can touch 96 mph and his fastball regularly checks in between 90-92 mph.
  • The Orioles have made a new offer to fourth overall pick Kevin Gausman and "still feel pretty confident" they will sign him, reports Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com. Earlier this week we heard that the right-hander from LSU was leaning towards returning to school for his senior season.
  • The Blue Jays have signed 15th rounder Ryan Borucki to an above-slot $426K bonus, reports Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The high school right-hander from Illinois can throw his fastball in the low-90s but had an elbow issue in March.

Dodgers Seeking Lefty Reliever; No Interest In Fuentes

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The Dodgers are looking to add a left-handed reliever but have no interest in Brian Fuentes, reports Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). The Athletics released Fuentes earlier today.

Scott Elbert has been the lone southpaw in the Los Angeles bullpen this year, but lefties have tagged him for a .286/.349/.429 batting line in 63 plate appearances. Any team that signs Fuentes will only owe him the pro-rated portion of the league minimum for the remainder of the season.

O’Malley Group Selected To Purchase Padres

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SUNDAY: San Diego businessman Ron Fowler will be the lead limited partner in the O'Malley group's purchase of the Padres, sources tell Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Peter O'Malley, his two sons, and his two nephews will have prominent but lesser roles within the ownership group. Heyman adds a quick approval by MLB is possible, perhaps even by the August owners meetings, since Fowler's new role gives the team a local lead and his reputation within baseball appears positive.

SATURDAY: The sale is "not done yet," reports Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). The O'Malley group is in exclusive negotiations to purchase the team, however.

FRIDAY: The O'Malley group has been selected to purchase the Padres, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). They will pay $800MM total, including $200MM for a portion of the team's equity in FOX Sports San Diego.

Late last month we heard that Steve Cohen dropped out of the bidding once the price climbed that high, so the O'Malleys have been expected to land the team for the last few weeks now. Current owner John Moores acquired the franchise back in 1994 for approximately $80MM.

The Padres have a number of high-priced players who could be trade bait at the deadline, specifically Carlos Quentin and Huston Street. The new ownership should provide some clarity as far as their financial situation going forward, such as their ability to offer long-term contracts. Just yesterday GM Josh Byrnes said he did not have the ability to offer contract extensions at this time.

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