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Stark On Phillies, Kemp, Rzepczynski

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The latest from ESPN's Jayson Stark…

  • Phillies third baseman Michael Young is open to a deal to just about any contender.  Stark sees the Yankees as the best fit, with the Orioles still interested.  Talking to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki about waiving his no-trade clause, Young said, "I don't know. The first thing I want to do is talk to the Phillies about that."
  • The Phillies have shown very little inclination to move catcher Carlos Ruiz, surprisingly.  And while they'd like to trade closer Jonathan Papelbon, their unwillingness to assume some of his contract is likely to prevent a deal.  Papelbon is owed at least $30MM through 2015.
  • The Phils have quietly been asking potentially interested teams about shortstop Jimmy Rollins, which would be a long shot even if Rollins wasn't likely to block a deal.
  • It's just speculation, but Stark says some people have wondered if the Dodgers should be open to trading center fielder Matt Kemp.
  • Cardinals lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski is a candidate to be traded.
  • Stark suggests the Indians' Carlos Carrasco could be a name to file away for the Rockies, with the Tribe interested in Colorado reliever Josh Outman.

Rangers Inquired On Brian McCann

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In their extensive search for a bat, the Rangers recently inquired with the Braves on catcher Brian McCann, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  The Braves had no interest in trading their starting catcher, who ranks fourth on MLBTR's 2014 free agent power rankings.

Rookie Evan Gattis filled in admirably for McCann while he recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, and Gerald Laird has been surprisingly useful with the bat in limited duty.  The club also has Christian Bethancourt in Double-A.

Braves Acquire Scott Downs

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The Braves found their left-handed reliever, acquiring veteran Scott Downs from the Angels for righty reliever Cory Rasmus, according to Halos communications director Eric Kay.

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Downs, 37, has a 1.84 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 0.31 HR/9, and 63.1% groundball rate in 29 1/3 innings this year.  The 12-year veteran has split his time fairly evenly against righties and lefties, but has been quite good in facing left-handed hitters 55 times this year.  Prior to the 2011 season, Downs signed a three-year, $15MM free agent deal with the Angels.  The first-place Braves were known to be in the hunt for a lefty reliever after losing Eric O'Flaherty and Jonny Venters for the season, with the Cubs' James Russell high on their wish list along with Downs.  Luis Avilan had been the team's lone southpaw reliever.  Downs has yet to pitch in the postseason in his career, notes Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.

Cory Rasmus, younger brother to Colby, made his big league debut in May but has spent most of the season as a closer at Triple-A.  There, the 25-year-old posted a 1.72 ERA, 11.8 K/9, 5.4 BB/9, and 0.49 HR/9 in 36 2/3 innings.  Rasmus works around 93-94 miles per hour.  He was drafted 38th overall by the Braves in '06.  Rasmus can be a long-term piece for the Angels, who as MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez notes have lefty Sean Burnett signed for next year and Nick Maronde waiting.

Braves GM Frank Wren and Angels GM Jerry Dipoto last matched up on a trade in November, when Atlanta sent starter Tommy Hanson to Los Angeles for reliever Jordan Walden.

Another first-place team added a reliever earlier this morning, as the Tigers acquired Jose Veras from the Astros.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Biogenesis Announcement Not Expected Today

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Yesterday, Joel Sherman and Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reported "the strong indications are Major League Baseball will announce all the suspensions in the Biogenesis case this week."  No announcement from MLB is expected today, tweets Steven Marcus of Newsday.  Wednesday's trade deadline is "no factor when it comes to the timing of announcements related to the case," hears Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  We could be in for a wild week.  The latest on Biogenesis:

Alex Rodriguez

  • MLB is willing to offer Rodriguez a suspension of the rest of this year and all of 2014, report Bill Madden, Teri Thompson, and Michael O'Keefe of the New York Daily News, and if he declines, MLB is expected to attempt to ban him for life.  Over at River Ave. Blues, Mike Axisa runs through different scenarios involving A-Rod.
  • The Yankees have continued to search for third base help, but Heyman says that isn't necessarily tied to the possibility A-Rod gets suspended.  Though first-time offenders are permitted to play during an appeals process, baseball might challenge that practice in the case of Rodriguez, writes Rosenthal.

Jhonny Peralta

  • The Tigers have shown no indication they are looking for a shortstop replacement, writes Heyman.  "I would think Detroit would want a shortstop, but we'll see," an NL GM told Heyman.  Neither Peralta nor Nelson Cruz has indicated to his team a plan in case of a suspension, writes Yahoo's Jeff Passan.  It's possible those two will be faced with choosing their current team (appealing a suspension into next year) or choosing to preserve their free agent value (serving a 50-game suspension now).  I imagine taking what might be perceived as the selfish route, serving the suspension now, could hurt free agent stock in its own right.  

Nelson Cruz

  • As you might expect, the Rangers prefer a prolonged appeals process for Cruz, writes Bob Nightengale of USA Today.  Nightengale wonders, "If Cruz goes down without a fight and accepts his penalty, why would they want a guy back who quit on the organization?"  That question would apply to Cruz potentially returning for the playoffs, as well as signing a new deal with the Rangers in the offseason.  Cruz might have to settle for a less lucrative two-year free agent deal similar to that of Melky Cabrera, one GM estimated to Heyman. 

Bartolo Colon

  • Since Colon already completed a 50-game suspension for PED use, A's people are expressing confidence he won't get another suspension, writes Heyman, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports also hears the same.  The team's pursuit of Jake Peavy is unrelated.

General

  • "If drug dealers can use the currency of player evidence as a means to gain immunity and even more money, then our system of policing and protecting baseball has incentivized the people and the very behavior that was the genesis of the problem," agent Scott Boras tells Rosenthal.  Baseball cut a deal with Biogenesis owner Anthony Bosch that provides many protections.
  • In dealing with Jason Giambi, the Yankees concluded they cannot void a contract based on PED use, writes ESPN's Buster Olney.  Some lawyers, however, wonder if a team could file a lawsuit against a player alleging damage to their brand.

NL East Rumors: Nationals, Phillies, Lidge

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"We are certainly not giving up on this season," Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Having won three in a row, the Nats are seven games back in the wild card.  Rizzo would like to improve his current team, but plans to avoid rentals.  "I'm not concerned that we need to go out and get a starting pitcher," he added in talking to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  Rizzo also downplayed suggestions of a rift with manager Davey Johnson, after the GM's decision to fire hitting coach Rick Eckstein.  More from the NL East…

Padres Focused On Trading Relievers

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The Padres have about a 25 percent chance of making a significant trade deadline deal, a person familiar with their talks tells ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.  Crasnick says the Padres' big-picture ideas haven't materialized, so they're focused on moving bullpen pieces such as Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher.  The Tigers are open to adding another reliever even after picking up Jose Veras this morning, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, but they felt the price for Gregerson was prohibitive.

The Padres aren't likely to move third baseman Chase Headley, left fielder Carlos Quentin, or closer Huston Street, reports MLB.com's Corey Brock.  If they do make a trade, it appears the focus will be on acquiring starting pitching.

Tigers Acquire Jose Veras

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The first-place Tigers augmented their bullpen, at a time the back end finally seemed to have stabilized.  Detroit acquired reliever Jose Veras today from the Astros for outfield prospect Danry Vasquez and a player to be named later, which will be decided on or before September 15th.

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Veras, 32, has successfully served as the Astros' closer this year after signing a one-year, $2MM free agent deal in December.  In a big benefit to his trade value, Veras' contract includes a $3.25MM club option for 2014.  "We are pleased to add an experienced arm to our bullpen," Tigers' president, CEO, and GM Dave Dombrowski said in a statement.   "Jose can pitch in a variety of roles, provides depth in the bullpen, and complements the roles of Joaquin Benoit and Drew Smyly."  Veras has a 2.93 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 0.84 HR/9, and 45.3% groundball rate in 43 innings this year.  He's always thrown hard and racked up strikeouts, but this year he's been able to trim his walk rate significantly.  In November, the Brewers outrighted Veras rather than retain his rights for 2013 through the arbitration process.

The Tigers add Veras at a time their larger bullpen concerns seemed behind them.  They entered the season with uncertainty at closer, and re-signed Jose Valverde to a minor league deal in April.  Valverde saved nine games for the club, but was removed from the closer role in late June and ultimately replaced by Benoit.

Vasquez "adds to an already formidable group of prospects at the A ball level," Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said in a statement.  The 19-year-old left fielder was hitting .281/.333/.390 in his second stint for the Tigers' Low-A club.  Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked Vasquez sixth among Tigers prospects, noting that the offensive-minded Venezuelan "projects as a solid hitter with plus power potential."  Baseball America's Matt Eddy has more on Vasquez.  The Veras trade is Luhnow's second this month, as he acquired Ronald Torreyes from the Cubs for international bonus pool money.  "There's nothing else close at this point," McTaggart quotes Luhnow as saying this morning.  Starter Bud Norris is thought to be the Astros' other major trade chip this month.

The Astros and Tigers haven't hooked up for a trade in over a decade.  Back in June 2001, Tigers GM Randy Smith sent Dave Mlicki to Houston, with Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker acquiring Jose Lima.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Brian McTaggart of MLB.com first broke news of the trade.  Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

MLBTR Reader Survey

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Beat The Expert With DraftStreet

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I'm putting my fantasy baseball reputation on the line. DraftStreet is offering $2000 in cash prizes for an exclusive "beat the expert" MLBTR/DraftStreet league using Friday night's MLB games. The entry fee is $11, but DraftStreet is raising the pressure on me (Tim Dierkes) by offering $5 back to anyone who beats my team, separate from the regular prize pool.

Pick one player from each of eight tiers. You'll be competing based on the stats your eight players accumulate in Friday night's games. There are only 200 slots in this league, so sign up early. I decided to avoid a prominent trade candidate in tier eight in Alex Rios, instead taking Adrian Gonzalez. And although tier two starter Corey Kluber has posted three straight strong outings, I decided to take a pass given his recent hip issue. You can see a screenshot of my team in the making below.

Draftstreet

Be sure to sign up as soon as possible, before the 200 slots are all taken. DraftStreet has raised the stakes by challenging you to beat me; are you up to it?

This is a sponsored post from DraftStreet.

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