Cardinals Will Discuss Return With Chris Carpenter
Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter was hoping to pitch again in 2013, but he is no longer optimistic about his chances of that happening. If he decides to make a go of it in 2014, Cards GM John Mozeliak says he'll discuss a fresh contract with Carpenter, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“I think right now he’s trying to get his head around does he want to try to do something next year?” Mozeliak said. “Clearly his tenure with St. Louis would require a discussion on how that might look. I think right now we have to determine where he is physically and what that might look like two, three, four months from now and if he’s going to try and make a comeback. He’s meant a lot to us. I think he deserves that type of respect and conversation.”
The 38-year-old hasn't been able to throw since struggling during a Triple-A rehab assignment and he doesn't have any plans to throw again in the near future because of nerve trouble in his right shoulder. The right-hander, who is making $10.5MM this season, has a career 3.76 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
Rangers Don’t Envision Re-Signing Nelson Cruz
Outfielder Nelson Cruz has spent the last seven years as a member of the Rangers but his tenure could come to an end this winter when he hits the open market. Texas feels that it would be quite difficult to re-sign Cruz, who accepted a 50-game suspension for his ties to the Biogenesis PED clinic earlier today, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).
For his part, Cruz says he wants to play for the Rangers again this season if they make the postseason and he hopes to finish his career in Texas, tweets Jim Bowden of ESPN.com. Barring a serious change of heart in Arlington, it doesn't seem like the 33-year-old will get his wish.
Cruz is coming off of a two-year, $16MM deal that he signed in February of 2012 which paid him a $500K signing bonus, $5MM in year one, and would have given him $10.5MM this season. Whatever deal he signs next season will be negotiated by the Wasserman Media Group, whom he hired today after parting ways with ACES.
How will the missed time and the stain of PED allegations effect Cruz's value this winter? As a free agent, he won't have to worry about his weakened stats playing a direct role in his salary for 2014, unlike arbitration-bound Everth Cabrera. However, if Jon Daniels & Co. don't agree to forgive and forget, he'll have one less suitor for his services on the open market, which certainly hurts his value. On top of that, if Texas is unwilling to even consider a reunion with the longtime Ranger, one has to imagine that will send up another red flag for clubs seeking a right-handed outfield bat.
2014 Vesting Options Update
As we turn to August, here's a look at the players who have vesting options for the 2014 season..
- Kurt Suzuki, Nationals: $9.25MM option vests with 113 starts in 2013. The Nats were relying on Suzuki during the first half of the season when Wilson Ramos was sidelined, but Ramos returned to action on July 4th, sliding Suzuki back down the depth chart. The 29-year-old is 45 starts shy of the needed mark with 52 games remaining, so Suzuki's chances aren't too strong. if/when the option doesn't vest, it'll become a club option worth $8.5MM with a modest $650K buyout.
- Jamey Carroll, Twins: $2MM option vests with 401 plate appearances. Carroll has 185 PAs in 53 games this season. The veteran has had more than his needed total in each of the last three seasons with 500+ plate appearances in each of the last two years, but he'll have his work cut out for him in 2013.
- Wilson Betemit, Orioles: $3.2MM option vests with 324 plate appearances (combined 700 between 2012 and 2013). Betemit underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on March 26th and he'll begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday. Needless to say, his option won't vest.
- Lance Berkman, Rangers: $13MM option vests with 550 plate appearances. Berkman has 282 plate appearances to his credit and the good news is that despite whispers that he might call it quits after his latest hip troubles, he pledges to return this season. Unfortunately for him, his rehab assignment isn't scheduled to get underway until the end of this week and 550 sounds like a longshot.
- Roy Halladay, Phillies: $20MM option vests with 259 innings pitched (combined 415 innings pitched between '12 and '13). This was a longshot to begin with, but shoulder surgery earlier this season makes this one impossible.
- Brett Myers, Indians: $8MM option vests with 200 innings pitched in 2013 and a passed physical after the season. After logging 21 and 1/3 innings in 2013, Myers was sidelined with tendinitis and a mild ligament sprain in his right elbow and has yet to return. When he does come back, it's possible that the Tribe will move him to the bullpen.
- Barry Zito, Giants: $18MM option vests with 200 innings pitched. Zito has racked up 111 and 1/3 innings through 21 starts this season. Zito probably won't get to lock in his sizable 2014 salary.
- Johan Santana, Mets: His $25MM option could have vested with 215 innings pitched or winning the 2013 Cy Young Award, but he won't have a chance at that thanks to a season-ending tear in his pitching shoulder.
It's also worth noting that Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano has a $8MM club option for 2014, but it can vest at any of three levels – $5MM, $6MM, or $8MM – based on the number of days he is not on the DL this year with a recurrence of his right arm injury. It's not known how many days the hurler must steer clear of right arm trouble in order to trigger each level of his option, however. The left-hander made his season debut on May 11th and has a 2.02 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 through 16 starts this season.
NL Central Notes: Brewers, Huntington, Ramirez
Here's a look at the latest out of the National League Central..
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes the right side of the infield and filling out the starting rotation are the major decision points for the Brewers' brain trust before the team gathers next spring in Phoenix.
- Within the same piece, Haudricourt notes the rationale of Pirates GM Neal Huntington for not trading away prized prospects for a much-needed outfield bat. "We were willing to do something stupid," Huntington said. "We just weren't willing to do something insane."
- While the players involved in the Matt Garza trade are getting settled in with their new clubs, there are still Rangers players that could wind up joining the Cubs, including Neil Ramirez. Ramirez, who could be the PTBNL if the Cubs don't instead opt for a duo of different Texas pitchers, is waiting to learn his fate, write T.R. Sullivan and Master Tesfatsion of MLB.com.
Ed Creech contributed to this post.
D’backs Designate Then Option Tony Sipp To Triple-A
3:35pm: The Diamondbacks have tweeted Sipp has been optioned to Triple-A Reno.
10:22 am: The Diamondbacks have designated Tony Sipp for assignment, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). The move will create roster space for right-hander Brandon McCarthy.
Sipp, 30, had a 3.86 ERA on the year with 10.2 K/9, 5.0 BB/9, 1.10 HR/9, and 28.1% groundball rate in 32 2/3 innings this season. He was drafted in the 45th round by the Indians in '04, joining Arizona in the December 2012 three-team deal involving Shin-Soo Choo, Drew Stubbs, Didi Gregorius, Trevor Bauer, and others.
Noteworthy August 2012 Trades
The non-waiver trade deadline is in the rearview mirror, but MLB teams can continue making deals until August 31st. What kind of trades can we expect in August? Of course, last year brought us the massive blockbuster between the Dodgers and Red Sox that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Nick Punto to L.A. and brought James Loney, Ivan De Jesus, Allen Webster, and two players to be named later who became Rubby De La Rosa and Jerry Sands. Let's take a look back at the rest of last August's notable deals using MLBTR's Transaction Tracker to get an idea of what might be in store..
- Nationals acquire Kurt Suzuki
- Dodgers acquire Joe Blanton
- Tigers acquire Jeff Baker (later DFA'd and traded to the Braves at the end of the month)
- Red Sox acquire Danny Valencia
- Orioles acquire J.C. Romero
- Mets acquire Kelly Shoppach
- A's acquire Stephen Drew
- Diamondbacks acquire Matt Lindstrom
- Yankees acquire Steve Pearce
- Orioles acquire Joe Saunders
- Rays acquire Ben Francisco
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Haren, Crain, Angels
On this date in 2004, the Cardinals announced that their new ballpark scheduled to open two years later will also be known as Busch Stadium, continuing a tradition over a half a century old, In 1953, a month after Anheuser-Busch purchased the Cardinals, the brewery bought Sportsman's Park renaming it Busch Stadium and then kept the name in its new downtown stadium which opened in 1966 calling the facility Busch Memorial Stadium. Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..
- Inside The Zona reflects on the Dan Haren deal.
- Rays Colored Glasses praises the Jesse Crain deal.
- Halos Heaven brings us a feature on the Grant Green trade.
- The Shea Faithful looks at why the Mets held on to Marlon Byrd.
- A's Farm scans the minors in Oakland.
- I R Fast weighs in on pitch sequencing.
- Replacement Level Sox looks back at a fight to remember.
- i70 Baseball asks what should be done with Wade Davis.
- Lasorda's Lair talked with Ron Roenicke.
- Baseball Stooges talks risk and reward.
- Kings of Kauffmann is skeptical about the Royals.
- The Giants Cove breaks down a quiet deadline in San Fran.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.
Cafardo On Morneau, Lincecum, Pence, Polanco
In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that he is surprised to see the Yankees still in the wild card hunt despite all of the chaos they have endured this season. The chaos he refers to, of course, mostly has to do with Alex Rodriguez. The silver lining there is that if they throw the book at A-Rod, then they'll be in position to add to the team via free agency. “The one thing the Yankees don’t have, they don’t have those guys in the minors that can come up and make an impact for them,” said an American League exec. “They won’t have that for a couple of years. So, if they’re going to do a Red Sox-type rebuild, they have a disadvantage. Where Boston has a number of pitchers and positional prospects ready to make an impact, the Yankees don’t. So, they still have to make their impact through free agency and possibly trades.” Here's more from today's column..
- The Twins believe they had enough interest in Justin Morneau that if he continues to hit well and shows power, he could be moved to a contender in a waiver deal. The Blue Jays might claim him but the Rays, Orioles, and Indians might also have some interest.
- Giants righty Tim Lincecum could be a big fish that goes in a waiver deal as some teams like him as a valuable bullpen piece down the stretch. The Giants weren’t offered anything good enough at the deadline, but given his $22MM salary and the fact he’s in the final year of his deal, the Giants may want to free themselves shortly.
- Giants outfielder Hunter Pence will be a free agent but he really wants to stay put and he has expressed that to GM Brian Sabean. However, Sabean told him that if something knocked their socks off they would move him — but nothing materialized. He could be another movable part during August, but the Giants plan to make him a qualifying offer and then try to re-sign him long term.
- Marlins third baseman Placido Polanco is 37 and isn't the strongest fielder, but he remains a possible target for teams such as the Red Sox and Yankees, who need a veteran presence and a guy who can still hit from the right side.
- Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman tried to get Michael Young and Carlos Ruiz from the Phillies. Though neither deal happened, they are both possibilities as waiver deals during the month of August. However, Cafardo notes that Ruiz might not make it past the NL teams in the waiver process.
- Royals right-hander Ervin Santana could theoretically be moved during the waiver period, but it looks like he’s in Kansas City to stay. As one GM said, “He might be the biggest target going in August. Doubt he gets too far, though.”
- When asking General Managers which former GM they miss the most, J.P. Ricciardi got the most responses. Many believe Ricciardi will be a GM again, whether it’s taking over for Sandy Alderson when he wants to step down with the Mets, or with another club. Cafardo runs down Ricciardi's highlights in Toronto and notes that he was working with the club when their wasn't money to work with.
Placed On Waivers: Saturday
The July 31st trade deadline is behind us, but teams can still make waiver trades happen in the month of August. We'll keep track of players placed on waivers today in this post..
- The Dodgers have placed reliever Brandon League on waivers, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). League is obviously a notable name that could draw interest from clubs seeking relief help, but his contract could be a deterrent. League is owed $1.5MM for the rest of this season, $7.5MM in 2014, and $7.5MM in 2015 with a vesting player option for 2016.
Padres Sign Ronny Cedeno
The Padres have signed Ronny Cedeno to a minor league deal, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter). Cedeno was released by the Astros on Sunday along with Carlos Pena.
The shortstop was cut loose by Houston after batting just .220/.260/.298 in 51 games. His departure from Houston cleared the way for the promotion of new starting shorstop Jonathan Villar. Cedeno signed with the Astros in March after being released by the Cardinals.