How To Use MLBTR
An explanation of the many ways to enjoy MLB Trade Rumors:
- If the main site doesn't load perfectly on your cell phone, try the more mobile-friendly mlbtraderumors.mobi. It's a simple page that shows you just the headlines and lets you click through to what you want to read.
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- If you want only the hard news in the form of transactions, our transactions page is the ticket. You can also get only the transactions via Twitter or RSS.
- To return to the main page at any time, just click on the title or the Home button on the navigation bar below the title.
- The navigation bar will cover many of your needs. Use the About dropdown to learn about this site or any of its writers.
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- Also under the tools tab is our Transaction Tracker, which enables you to search about anything and everything to do with baseball trades, signings and extensions.
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- Feeds By Team is a very useful dropdown. Hover over it to see all 30 teams. Click on the team name to bring up a page of every post containing information about that team, with the latest on top. These are the same pages you'll find if you go to the Rumors By Team section on the sidebar and select A's Rumors, Angels Rumors, etc.
- Also under the Feeds By Team dropdown, you'll find RSS and Twitter buttons. Those links allow you to follow a single team's rumors via RSS or Twitter. Did you know we have a separate Twitter account for each of the 30 teams? For example you can follow @mlbtrtigers, where you would get the latest Tigers updates.
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- On to the sidebar. It begins with a list of our Top Stories, which our writers update any time major hard news occurs. Go here for a quick update on the most important stories. Below that is the site's Search Box, where you can type in any player's name and get the latest on him.
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Cafardo On Norris, Crisp, Papelbon, Vazquez
Now that the draft is over, teams are focusing more on bolstering their rotations with one more piece, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. No one more aggressive in the pursuit of pitching than Orioles GM Dan Duquette who knows that one veteran starter could make all the difference. While they're anxious to improve their starting five, it doesn't sound as if the O's will be in the mix for someone like Cliff Lee. “We’re looking for a starter and a reliever,” said Duquette. “We’d like to solidify our pitching all around because that’s the name of the game, really. We have to look at everything. Don’t think we’re going to be in the market for a big-money pitcher, but there seem to be some guys out there that we might focus on and see where it takes us.” Here's more from today's column..
- The Astros will craft a game plan early this week for how to approach their veteran assets. Teams are already calling about Bud Norris, who has a cheap $3MM salary, but won't be cheap to acquire. The Orioles, Giants, and Pirates have kicked around the idea of acquiring Norris, but one National League exec says there will be about a dozen teams interested before all is said and done.
- It seems like a no-brainer for the A’s to pick up Coco Crisp's 2014 option for $7.5MM, but he'll be in demand if they don’t. Even though he's 33-years-old, there aren’t many top center fielder/leadoff hitter types out there. Jacoby Ellsbury will be the No. 1 guy in that department, but , one American League special assignment scout said Crisp might be a better low-cost option because “he can do everything Ellsbury can do. Neither of them have an arm, but Coco is still fast, a very good outfielder, and can still be a game-changer.”
- The Phillies believe there are at least three teams — Red Sox, Tigers, and Cardinals — that may have some interest in Jonathan Papelbon at the trade deadline and the Phillies are scouting those teams with a potential deal in mind. General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said last week that he’s not ready to “blow up” the Phillies, but a Papelbon trade could help retool the club.
- Teams continue to nudge Javier Vazquez into coming back to pitch, but the right-hander seems to be content with staying with his family, according to a source familiar with Vazquez’s thinking.
- The Red Sox can trade Stephen Drew now that June 15th has come and gone, and they would have no problem finding a taker given the lack of shortstops around baseball. However, Boston firmly believes that Drew is their guy. One National League GM doesn't quite understand their infatuation with the shortstop. “They’re either trying to justify the $9.5MM they paid him, or they’re not sold on [Jose] Iglesias, who could start for 29 other teams.”
- If the White Sox decide to finally bolster their farm system, they could get some helpful prospects back by moving right-hander Jesse Crain. The reliever is becoming a top name on wish lists around baseball.
- While many baseball people remain focused on Giancarlo Stanton’s availability in a deal, 25-year-old Logan Morrison is now healthy and has returned to the lineup. The Marlins first baseman/outfielder is a big lefthanded hitter who will be monitored closely by scouts over the next month.
Nationals Sign Drew Ward
The Nationals have signed third-round pick Drew Ward to a deal worth $850K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (via Twitter). The Oklahoma high schooler was set to attend Oklahoma University, but the allure of joining the Nats' system coupled with the lucrative deal was apparently too much to resist.
The third baseman boasts serious power and a strong arm according to Baseball America, who has Ward ranked as the 87th best prospect in the draft. The prospect is a unique case as he graduated high school in three years and was granted special permission to enter the 2013 draft rather than 2014. Because he was pegged for '14, scouts didn't bear down on him last summer, making it difficult to evaluate him.
Ward got considerably more than the slot recommendation as the value of the No. 105 pick is $491K. The youngster is advised by The Legacy Agency.
Miguel Olivo Seeks Release From Marlins
Catcher Miguel Olivo was placed on the restricted list earlier today due his dissatisfaction with the Marlins over playing time. The veteran now says that he is seeking an outright release from the club so that he can find a better opportunity elsewhere, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
“I’m just praying to God they release me and don’t be selfish,” he said. “I’ve been very professional. I’ve done everything I could to help the team. They’re only hurting one person, and that’s me. I’m a nice person. I don’t want to hurt nobody.”
Olivo, who was signed by the Marlins at the end of spring training for $800K, has a .203/.250/.392 slash line with four home runs in mostly part-time duty this season. Those numbers line up with his output in the previous two seasons with the Mariners, but it’s a drop from his career line of .241/.275/.417.
The catcher stormed out of Marlins Park in street clothes before last night’s game as the National Anthem was playing, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. There’s a chance that the Marlins try to trade Olivo as he sits on the restricted list without pay.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Puig, Myers, Burke, Pettitte
On this date in 2002, a designated hitter was not used in a full slate of major league games for the first time since 1972 thanks to 14 interleague contests all being played in National League parks. Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..
- Lasorda's Lair looks at the emergence of Yasiel Puig.
- Rays Colored Glasses wonders how the Rays will make room for Wil Myers.
- Guy Speed discusses Greg Burke's sidearm delivery with Rick Peterson.
- Baseball News Source doesn't feel that Andy Pettitte is a Hall of Famer.
- Blue Jays Plus believes that it's time for a catching change.
- True Sport Blog wanted to see Ian Kennedy suspended for 25 games.
- Monkey With A Halo sees Jason Vargas as a trade candidate.
- NASORB isn't wild about the Mariners' promotion of Mike Zunino.
- MLB Reports looks the high-priced teams that could be finished.
- I R Fast delivers a scouting report on Jose Alvarez.
- Yankees Fans Unite worries that the Yankees have missed out on international free agents.
- MLB Injury News examines Bryce Harper's knee.
- Marlin Maniac spoke with Logan Morrison.
- Redbird Rants profiles Matt Carpenter.
- i70 Baseball asks if the Royals should buy or sell.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.
Cubs Outright Eduardo Sanchez
FRIDAY: Sanchez has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Iowa, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (on Twitter).
TUESDAY: The Cubs announced that they have designated right-hander Eduardo Sanchez for assignment. The move will create room for the newest member of the Cubs, Henry Rodriguez.
Sanchez, 24, was claimed off of waivers from the Cardinals back in May. In 43 career relief appearances for St. Louis, Sanchez posted a 3.40 ERA with 9.6 K/9 and 5.8 BB/9. He pitched in six games for the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate this year and allowed eight runs while tallying seven strikeouts and seven walks.
Minor Moves: Slama, LaRoche, Bantz, Madrigal
Today's minor moves:
- The Twins have released right-handed reliever Anthony Slama to make 40-man room for recently-signed righty Cody Eppley, tweets Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Slama has not seen MLB action since 2011. He struggled to a 13.50 ERA in 13 1/3 innings with the Twins' Triple-A affiliate this season, including an unsightly 0.64 K/BB ratio.
- The Blue Jays outrighted Andy LaRoche to their Triple-A affiliate after he cleared waivers, according to a press release. Toronto designated LaRoche for assignment two days ago to clear a roster spot for Chien-Ming Wang. The 29-year-old appeared in just one game for the Jays this season and went 0-for-4.
- The Mariners announced that they have outrighted Brandon Bantz to Triple-A Tacoma. The catcher was DFA's earlier this week after playing in just one game for the varsity squad.
- The Diamondbacks have sold right-handed reliever Warner Madrigal to Japan's Chunichi Dragons for an undisclosed sum, the team announced in a press release. The 29-year-old had been solid this year at Triple-A Reno, where he sported a 2.75 ERA in 36 innings of work and maintained a 10.2 K/9 against 3.5 BB/9.
Jeff Todd contributed to this post.
Indians Sign Clay Rapada
The Indians announced that they have signed left-hander Clay Rapada as a minor league free agent. The 32-year-old has been assigned him to Triple-A Columbus.
Rapada went to camp this spring on the Yankees' 40-man roster and made ten appearances at Triple-A Scranton, posting a 4.66 ERA with four strikeouts and four walks in 9 and 2/3 innings. Rapada saw a career-high 38 1/3 big league innings for the Yankees last season, pitching to a 2.82 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9.
The Virginia State product has faced 251 left-handed hitters in his Major League career and held them to a .168/.257/.236 batting line. However, right-handers have found success against him, hitting .342/.459/.613 in 135 plate appearances.
Giants Designate Ramon Ramirez For Assignment
The Giants have designated Ramon Ramirez for assignment, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Giants have ten days to trade or waive Ramirez and chances are he’ll be outrighted to Triple-A Fresno.
Ramirez, 31, saw just 5 and 2/3 innings of work this year for the Giants. For his career, Ramirez owns a 3.42 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 across parts of eight big league campaigns.
The move will allow San Francisco to promote 24-year-old right-hander Jake Dunning who has posted a 1.75 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 23 games for the club's Triple-A affiliate.
Rick Ankiel Elects Free Agency
Outfielder Rick Ankiel has elected free agency from the Mets, according to the MLB.com transactions page. The Mets designated the 33-year-old for assignment on Saturday to clear roster space for fellow outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
Ankiel was hitting .194/.254/.387 for the Mets but wasn't used a whole lot in the last week of his tenure in Nw York. The converted pitcher has hit .241/.302/.423 in 2,111 plate appearances for the Cardinals, Royals, Braves, Nationals, Astros, and Mets.