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Smoltz Set To Return On June 25

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John Smoltz is scheduled to return to the Majors next Thursday, June 25, against the Nationals. This will slot the 42-year old between Josh Beckett and Jon Lester in the rotation, barring a change in probables.

According to AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman, Terry Francona suggested he may use a six-man rotation for a "short period of time" so don't hold your breath for any immediate trade activity. The Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin tweets it would be "for a couple turns, but not as a long-term solution, Francona said." She also notes that Smoltz will not face the Braves in this set-up.

Last Friday, MLBTR readers discussed what the Red Sox should do with their starting pitching surplus. Answers varied, to say the least.

Odds & Ends: Hart, Bedard, Hanson, Draft

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Some bullet points from around the internet:

  • Via Twitter, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (@haudricourt) wrote, "Talked to a baseball official who said the Brewers have indicated RF Corey Hart is not available, so forget any trade rumors involving him."
  • In response to his name swirling around the rumor mills, Erik Bedard is speaking in clichés, saying in a piece by MLB.com's Jim Street,  "I don't really pay much attention to it" and "I love Seattle. You can't complain with this city, the fans, the stadium, the new coaches we've got, the players … it's a lot of fun. I love it here, so if it [contract extension] does happen, I'd be happy."
  • Tommy Hanson has been called up to make his Major League debut today against Milwaukee, says the Miami Herald. Casey Kotchman was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right calf to make space for Hanson.
  • The Washington Post reports Nats GM Mike Rizzo says the team is "not drafting on signability whatsoever." Instead, the Nats will take, according to the Post, "the highest-remaining player on their board. That simple."
  • According to Keith Law, high schooler and lefty "Matt Purke is looking for 'Rick Porcello's deal' in the upcoming draft, according to industry sources." Law notes Porcello received $7.285MM in guranteed money, including a $3.58MM signing bonus, a record for a high school pitcher previously held by Josh Beckett.
  • Law also ranks the best tools in the '09 draft.

Huntington On Draft

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Pirates GM Neal Huntington answered fan questions about his draft procedure and approach on MLB.com today. It's a decent read. Said Huntington in one response,

"We place an internal value on each player in the Draft, and when our internal value is within a realistic range of the player's legitimate signing-bonus expectations, we will be aggressive in our selection of that player… We believe that, when the signing deadline passes, we will have committed dollars to the Draft that will again rank among the top-10 of all Major League clubs and added a deep and talented class to our system."

Huntington added that this years draft class "is not nearly as strong" as last year, with less "premium talent", which Huntington explains are "present and future abilities to allow evaluators to project them to develop into All-Star caliber players."

Huntingon also added that what happened with Pedro Alvarez won't dissuade them from pursuing Scott Boras' clients.

Atkins Could Lose Playing Time, Trade Value?

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What to do with Garrett Atkins? The cleanup hitter for the Rockies has not been cleaning up, hitting .190 with only 5 homeruns and a mere .579 OPS. He's seen his slugging percentage decline each year since 2006.

Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies have five players for four infield spots and Atkins is likely to be the odd man out. If he can produce at the plate, the Rockies will play him with hopes that he'll regain significant trade value. If he can't, will the Rockies want to use him off the bench? Atkins does have minor league options remaining.

Atkins recently changed contact lenses and has seen recent improvement (albeit in a small sample size), hitting 2 of his 5 homeruns on June 4. Yesterday, Renck wrote, "Atkins has three hits in the past two games, emerging from his offensive coma. The Cardinals are seeking a third a baseman, but like all suitors, are waiting to see if Atkins consistently regains his swing." Atkins is making $7.05MM this season.

What would you do? Choose your own adventure: Send Atkins down to hope he regains his swing in Triple A? Shop him at his current value? Wait until the trade deadline to see if Atkins can demonstrate his power potential?

Price’s Latest: Draft, Red Sox, Astros, Giants

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Ed Price of MLB FanHouse has a new article up, with notes on the draft and around the Majors.

  • Price writes, "'The bottom line is there is a consensus,' said an industry source who monitors the draft closely, 'and that consensus is: There's no consensus after [Stephen] Strasburg.' The source said he has counted 63 players who could be taken in the 32 choices of the first round."
  • Price also gives us an industry insiders "educated guess on the top five: Strasburg to Washington, [North Carolina's Dustin] Ackley to Seattle, Vanderbilt lefty Mike Minor to San Diego, former Missouri right-hander Aaron Crow to Pittsburgh and Georgia high-school right-hander Zack Wheeler to Baltimore."
  • Due to free-agent compensation picks and "the rule that gives a team that fails to sign a high choice a corresponding pick the next year", the White Sox have 3 of the first 61 picks. Arizona has 7 of the first 64. Colorado has 3 of the first 34. The Angels have 5 of the first 48.
  • The Mets first pick is 72nd overall. The Phillies first is 75th.
  • The first three rounds of the draft are this Tuesday, with the first round on MLB Network.
  • The Astros are not in "dump mode," says Price. Quoting a person familiar with Drayton McLane, "'His track record is when everybody says you should dismantle [he doesn't]," the person said. 'He's been so lucky.'"
  • With Jed Lowrie returning and the ballclub winning, the Red Sox are not looking to add a bat and instead can wait to see if David Ortiz improves.
  • The Giants want a bat, but they won't give up premium young pitching.

Vizquel Willing To Play For Boston

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Omar Vizquel expressed a willingness to play for the Red Sox, should the opportunity for a trade arise at some point this season, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald.

"'It seems every time the Red Sox need a shortstop, my name gets brought up,' Vizquel said. 'Now, I don't think I'm in a good position to leave. We're winning here, we have a good thing going. I don't know if Texas would really let me go. We'll see. Maybe later in the season? Who knows. I don't want to close any doors.'"

In the piece, Tomasse says that Vizquel "wishes the Red Sox made a play for him when they had a chance." Vizquel said the Red Sox had not called. Tomasse says the Red Sox did inquire about Vizquel earlier this year, but that the Rangers are not interested in dealing the veteran shortstop.

Jays Could Seek Another Bat

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Blue Jays beat writer Jordan Bastian chatted with J.P. Ricciardi about the trade deadline.

"While that's still two months down the road, Ricciardi did say that he'd "owe it to the players" to pursue help at the deadline if the club was still performing this well."

According to Bastian, Ricciardi isn't concerned with pitching and would seek "'another thumper' for the middle of the lineup" depending on who's available and how much ownership is willing to expand payroll.

Odds & Ends: Penny, Yankees

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Some bullet points from around the internet:

  • Despite immensely enjoying his experience with the Red Sox, Brad Penny is not letting the trade rumors distract him, says Rob Bradford of WEEI.
  • Chris Gimenez was promoted to replace Grady Sizemore who hit the 15-day disabled list today. Gimenez can play corner outfield and serve as a backup catcher, says Anthony Castrovince.
  • River Ave. Blues takes a look at the Yankees 25-man roster and suggests better options for the bench.
  • The Mets and Phillies are both seeking a starting pitcher. The Phillies want a front-of-the-rotation guy while the Mets want a bottom-of-the-rotation guy. New York Post columnist Larry Brooks wonders in jest which role Pedro Martinez could fill.

Cafardo’s Latest: Hart, Tejada, Red Sox, White Sox

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has his share of rumors every Sunday. Let's have a look.

  • The Tigers, Giants, and Red Sox have either scouted or discussed Corey Hart. While the Sox have the pitching the Brewers need, with Mark Kotsay expected back soon and Rocco Baldelli not on the disabled list, I'm not sure an everyday player like Hart makes as much sense for Boston as he does for the Giants. Thoughts?
  • Jeff Francoeur used to carry a Red Sox Mastercard until his teammates made him cancel it. Cafardo says one Sox official was unaware of any interest in Francoeur, who has struggled for two years now.
  • The Astros would consider dealing Miguel Tejada if they could net a pitching prospect in return. Cafardo notes Tejada's reputation as a great teammate. MLBTR speculated the White Sox could be interested in him as a solution at third base.
  • Speaking of White Sox third basemen, watch out Josh Fields. Cafardo notes Gordon Beckham was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A and moved to third base.
  • Cafardo also notes Jake Peavy's willingness to reconsider a trade to the White Sox down the line, and that the White Sox "will surely make that deal again" if in contention.

White Sox Not Done Dealing, Probably

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Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says "general manager Ken Williams will continue to seek ways to improve the White Sox" and that "more deals seem imminent." Gonzales notes that the pool of prospective players will expand on June 15 when teams can deal free-agent players signed last winter without their consent.

Scott Merkin of MLB.com agrees:

"If the White Sox put themselves in serious contention, there's no question… Williams will do whatever it takes to move his team a step or two further. Take Friday's late-night trade, as an example. It might seem minor in the grand scheme of things, adding backup catcher Ramon Castro for middle reliever Lance Broadway, but with all due respect to Corky Miler, Castro gives the White Sox a greater presence with the glove and with the bat in games which A.J. Pierzynski doesn't start. [Manager Ozzie] Guillen knows that Williams isn't finished with roster adjustments if other needs arise."

Despite starting the month with 12 losses in 16 games, the White Sox have finished strong in May, going 8-3 with 4 straight series victories. We know they're seeking starting pitching and there's speculation that they have been scouting Roy Oswalt. Jake Peavy insists he could reconsider a deal later in the season. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf implied nobody is untouchable. How would you improve the White Sox?

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