Schierholtz, Rios Top Pirates’ Wish List
9:28am: White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams "has been spotted in Altoona," home of the Pirates' Double-A club, notes Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
6:58am: Chicago right fielders Nate Schierholtz and Alex Rios top the Pirates' wish list, writes Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago. The Bucs "have been watching Schierholtz for more than a month," notes Levine.
Right field is an obvious need for the 60-39 Pirates, who have been using Travis Snider, Jose Tabata, and Garrett Jones there and have gotten an aggregate .228/.291/.360 line. Schierholtz, 29, signed a one-year, $2.25MM deal with the Cubs in December after being non-tendered by the Phillies. At .277/.334/.521 with a career-high five RBIs last night, he's having an excellent campaign. Arbitration eligibility for 2014 is a big plus, though for some GMs Schierholtz has yet to shake the reputation of a platoon bat given his continued lack of playing time and struggles against left-handed pitching.
Levine quotes Cubs president Theo Epstein saying, "I think it is fair to say we have some players who can help other clubs. That would especially be true for players who are not under contract control next season." As you might expect, that's an indication that the team is more inclined to move its impending free agents, such as closer Kevin Gregg, as opposed to someone like Schierholtz.
The Pirates' interest in Rios has been previously noted. He's on the radar of the Rangers, Royals, and Red Sox as well.
Red Sox Looking “Pretty Hard” At Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez
The Red Sox are looking "pretty hard" at free agent Cuban righty Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, president and CEO Larry Lucchino said on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan show this morning (Tim Healey has quotes). "The auctioning can begin," said Lucchino. Noting that GM Ben Cherington guards the team's prospects "like his first-born child," Lucchino explained, "Reaching into your pocket for your wallet is much easier." Lucchino confirmed the Sox are searching for rotation and bullpen help.
Gonzalez, 26, is expected to sign soon. On Monday, MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez said he's down to five teams. MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reported Tuesday that the Dodgers, who had been heavily linked to Gonzalez, are not pursuing him. Earlier this week, Ben Badler of Baseball America provided a scouting report on Gonzalez (subscription required and recommended). Badler noted that "projections vary significantly" on the righty, ranging from a big league ready No. 3 starter on the high end to a long reliever on the low end.
Rosenthal On Cardinals, Athletics, Stanton
Ken Rosenthal's latest column for FOX Sports begins with a look at the Braves' rotation without veteran Tim Hudson, who sustained a season-ending ankle fracture last night. Rosenthal notes it's a very young group without Hudson, and seems to be lacking a true number one starter. Such a pitcher is probably not available on the trade market, which I imagine the Braves will be eyeing more keenly. Elsewhere from Rosenthal's column:
- The Cardinals are not actively pursuing the Astros' Bud Norris or the Blue Jays' Mark Buehrle. The Cards didn't push for Matt Garza, but did scout Jake Peavy's last start. Ervin Santana is available as well, but Rosenthal wonders if "a trade might not be worth the trouble," given the Cardinals' current group of talented young pitchers.
- The Red Sox never got serious on Garza due to concerns with his injury history. The Red Sox and Tigers were the other AL clubs in on reliever Francisco Rodriguez, who was recently traded to the Orioles.
- After making a late run at Garza, the Athletics are interested in Peavy and Santana. Sometimes it helps to add to a strength, explains Rosenthal.
- The Rangers ask the Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton "every week," a Major League source tells Rosenthal, and keep hearing "no." In addition to Alex Rios of the White Sox, the Rangers are considering Justin Ruggiano of the Marlins and Chris Denorfia of the Padres. However, they have "not mounted a serious push" for Ruggiano, while the Padres don't plan to trade Denorfia or teammate Carlos Quentin.
- "Some with the Brewers" wonder if the presence of Ryan Braun might make it more difficult to attract free agents.
- The Phillies are "narrowing their search for a backup center fielder," writes Rosenthal, and the recently-designated Chris Dickerson could be one option.
Central Notes: Royals, Konerko, Gregg, Pirates
Baseball's central divisions have four clear sellers in the Cubs, Brewers, White Sox, and Twins. At seven games out, the Royals are on the bubble. The team sees "a winning record as an important secondary goal even if they don’t reach postseason," according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, so they may stand pat. Meanwhile, the Tigers, Indians, Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds are the five central division buyers. Links from both divisions…
- In a Q&A mailbag, a reader asks Dutton how hot the seat is under Royals GM Dayton Moore. Dutton writes that despite fan criticism for the team's longtime decision maker, there's nothing to suggest his job is actually in jeopardy. Elsewhere in the mailbag, Dutton notes that there is no indication the team is shopping starter Ervin Santana, and that he does not expect the team to reduce payroll next year.
- "We ought to know and be right on the first couple of picks. But it's those middle-round guys that your scouts push and say, 'We need to get this guy,' who make your organization," Royals senior advisor to the GM Mike Arbuckle told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick in regard to former 10th round draft pick Greg Holland, now the team's All-Star closer.
- "Trying to think like another team, usually the guys who are traded are going better than I am," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko told Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune on his minor league rehab assignment in the Southern League. Konerko, 37, is battling a back injury in the last year of his contract with the White Sox.
- Cubs closer Kevin Gregg is on the trading block alongside starter Matt Garza, and Gregg seems ready to jump to a contender. "Garza’s a headline piece, but I think that in the baseball world, people are looking for relievers. I hope I’m on that list," Gregg told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times recently. The 35-year-old has enjoyed an improbable rise back to prominence and the Cubs' closer job, though he has a 7.36 ERA over the last month.
- Speaking to Tom Singer of MLB.com, Pirates GM Neal Huntington explained that his strong farm system gives him the confidence to make trades without depleting it. Huntington didn't rule out rental players, saying, "We've never gone in with a premeditated view on rentals, whether we want or don't want them. We've gone into the Deadline to impact that year's club as best we could. Now, while it does not make a ton of sense for us to give up an elite prospect for a two-month rental, you've always got to have the majority of attention on today."
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Injured Trade Candidates
Players can be traded while on the disabled list, but it rarely happens. Teams rarely want to acquire an injured player, especially if they're just renting a veteran. Here are some injured players to watch this month and in August:
- Tommy Hanson, Angels: Hanson should be activated tomorrow after a right forearm strain. He'd a non-tender candidate in the offseason.
- Ryan Madson, Angels: Madson still hasn't pitched in a big league game since 2011, after complications following Tommy John surgery. Still, if he looks like the Madson of old on a rehab assignment, he could be a stealthy pickup for a contender next month.
- Jason Vargas, Angels: He had surgery to remove a blood clot and may be back in August. He could certainly be moved then.
- Aramis Ramirez, Brewers: His knee injury is likely to keep him out until August, but his salary should allow him to clear waivers.
- David DeJesus, Cubs: DeJesus should return this week from a shoulder strain. He could be moved, but the Cubs do have a club option for 2014.
- Ryan Sweeney, Cubs: Recovering from a rib fracture, Sweeney can't come off the 60-day DL until late August. The Cubs may prefer to try to re-sign him.
- Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners: The oft-injured center fielder is currently on a rehab assignment, trying to shake a hamstring injury. The team may not intend to exercise his 2014 club option.
- Mike Morse, Mariners: He may begin a minor league rehab assignment this week as he comes back from a quad strain. He'd probably be claimed on waivers in August, but could still be dealt.
- Frank Francisco, Mets: Remember him? Francisco's last minor league rehab appearance came a week ago. If he gets his elbow right, the Mets could move him in August.
- Jason Marquis, Padres: With a recent right elbow strain, Marquis is an August trade candidate if anything.
- Roy Halladay, Phillies: Halladay, recovering from shoulder surgery, threw a bullpen session recently. He'd clear waivers in August if the Phillies want to move him, but he'd have to show big league readiness first.
- Josh Willingham, Twins: Willingham should return next month from a knee injury. His offensive production has been way down this year, but he is cheap enough to be claimed on waivers in August.
- Jesse Crain, White Sox: He could be back this month from a shoulder strain, and the impending free agent will be well-scouted if so.
- Tim Byrdak, Mets: He's made a dozen minor league appearances on a rehab assignment following September shoulder surgery.
Poll: Garza Or Peavy?
29-year-old Cubs righty Matt Garza is almost certain to be traded this month. He owns a 3.17 ERA in 11 starts this year, and hasn't posted an ERA above 4.00 since his rookie season. He's a little home run prone, but his stats this year are in line with his recent work: a strikeout rate around eight per nine innings, and a walk rate comfortably under three per nine. He's averaging 93.6 miles per hour on his fastball this month, according to BrooksBaseball.net. Garza, who has never been signed to a multiyear deal, will have about $3.4MM remaining on his contract at the trade deadline before being eligible for free agency (and ineligible for a qualifying offer from a new team). He missed a huge chunk of time due to a stress reaction in his elbow and a lat strain, with his 2012 season ending on July 21st and his '13 campaign beginning on May 21st. Garza has been traded twice before in his career, each time for at least one very well-regarded young player, but he has never made an All-Star team or received a Cy Young vote.
Then there's 32-year-old White Sox righty Jake Peavy, whose availability is less certain. He's had a decorated career for the Padres and White Sox, winning the 2007 NL Cy Young award and making the All-Star team in '05, '07, and '12. He posted a 3.37 ERA for the Sox in 32 starts last year, but sits at 4.19 now and had a 4.77 ERA over 2010-11. Like Garza, he seems good for at least eight strikeouts per nine and an ample amount of home runs allowed, but Peavy's control is notably better. He recently returned from a 1.5 month layoff due to a non-displaced rib fracture. It's incredible that Peavy's shoulder has held up as well as it has since May 2011, after he recovered from "experimental surgery to reattach a key tendon" to the rear of it (his surgeon suggested the procedure be named "Jake Peavy surgery.") As with any pitcher, Peavy has lost some velocity since his 95 mile per hour heyday, working around 91-92 currently. Peavy signed a team-friendly two-year extension last October. He'll be owed around $4.8MM at the trade deadline, and then he'll earn $14.5MM in 2014 and would be eligible for a qualifying offer.
Two Chicago righties, perhaps the best available pitchers at the 2013 trade deadline. Their abilities seem similar. Garza has a more concerning recent injury history, while Peavy's July 2010 shoulder surgery was groundbreaking. Garza is younger and throws harder, but Peavy comes with an extra year of control and the potential to recoup a draft pick in 2015. This leads us to today's poll question…
Which pitcher has more trade value?
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Matt Garza 65% (16,900)
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Jake Peavy 35% (9,140)
Total votes: 26,040
Royals Outright Pedro Ciriaco
THURSDAY: The Royals have outrighted Ciriaco to Triple-A Omaha, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). It seems likely that the Royals were interested in adding Ciriaco as organizational depth but didn't want to use a 40-man roster spot on him and placed him on waivers. This time, he cleared and was assigned to the minor leagues.
TUESDAY: The Royals claimed shortstop Pedro Ciriaco off waivers from the Padres, according to a team press release. Ciriaco had been designated for assignment on Friday. The Royals now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.
Ciriaco, 27, hit .228/.288/.342 in 126 plate appearances for the Red Sox and Padres this year, spending most of his time at shortstop. Ciriaco was signed by the Diamondbacks out of the Dominican Republic in 2003. He went to the Pirates in a trade deadline deal three years ago, was granted free agency after the 2011 season, signed as a minor league free agent with Boston in January 2012, and was acquired in trade by the Padres in June of this year after they had designated him for assignment.
Prior to the 2011 season, Ciriaco was ranked 27th among Pirates prospects by Baseball America. They noted his "plus speed, smooth glove, and strong arm," suggesting his bat would determine whether he could land an everyday role. The Royals' middle infield mix currently consists of Alcides Escobar, Johnny Giavotella, Miguel Tejada, and Elliot Johnson.
NL East Notes: Mets, Phillies, Marlins
The NL East boasts seven of the game's top 50 prospects, in the eyes of ESPN's Keith Law: Christian Yelich, Jake Marisnick, and Andrew Heaney of the Marlins, Noah Syndergaard of the Mets, Jesse Biddle of the Phillies, Lucas Giolito of the Nationals, and Lucas Sims of the Braves. Be sure to check out Keith's entire list. On to today's division links:
- "I know it will be substantially higher," Mets GM Sandy Alderson told David Lennon of Newsday regarding the team's 2014 payroll versus its current $55MM range. Speaking to Joel Sherman of the New York Post in June, Alderson estimated a $90-100MM payroll. "I think it has to be sort of a portfolio of players and contracts with varying maturities and obligations that make sense," Alderson told Lennon of his offseason plan, perhaps with a Red Sox-like strategy in mind for the club's numerous positional needs. 2014 was "always a target year," noted Alderson.
- "Everybody acts like it is tomorrow but it is two weeks away," said Phillies general partner, president, and CEO David Montgomery in reference to the July 31st trade deadline to Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Montgomery seems reluctant to adopt a selling stance for the Phillies, currently 5.5 games out in the wild card.
- "They've kind of come as advertised," Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest told MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, in reference to the seven players received from the Blue Jays in the controversial November blockbuster. The Marlins flipped Yunel Escobar for Derek Dietrich, also acquiring Adeiny Hechavarria, Jeff Mathis, Henderson Alvarez, Marisnick, Justin Nicolino and Anthony DeSclafani. "A big key to it was Hechavarria," GM Michael Hill noted.
- Elsewhere in the NL East today, we learned the Braves have left-handed relievers James Russell, Mike Gonzalez, and Wesley Wright on their trade deadline wish list.
Jair Jurrjens Elects Free Agency
Righty Jair Jurrjens elected free agency, announced the Orioles, rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk after clearing waivers. Jurrjens had been designated for assignment on Friday, as the Orioles sought a 40-man roster spot for Jairo Asencio.
Jurrjens, 27, agreed to a Major League deal with the Orioles in January worth $1.5MM after being non-tendered by the Braves. After the team expressed concerns with his physical, Jurrjens agreed to a minor league deal the following month. His contract was selected in May, and he bounced up and down until being removed from the 40-man roster on June 30th, at which point he chose not to elect free agency.
Jurrjens, an All-Star with the Braves in 2011, made only two big league appearances this year. At Triple-A he posted a 4.18 ERA, 4.9 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, and 0.48 HR/9 in 94 2/3 innings across 16 starts.
Pirates Release Jose Contreras
The Pirates released reliever Jose Contreras from their Triple-A club, tweets Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The Bucs signed Contreras to a minor league deal in February, on the mend from Tommy John surgery last June. He joined the big league club in May, spent some time on bereavement, hit the DL with back inflammation, and was released in mid-June when the team needed a 40-man roster spot. The Pirates then retained him on another minor league deal, but have now released him again. Contreras was quite good in Triple-A since signing again on June 17th — he allowed one earned run in 15 2/3 innings with 18 strikeouts and five walks. It seems possible Contreras requested his release to find another opportunity, but that's just speculation.