Phillies Notes: Hamels, Victorino, Manuel
The Phillies' trades in the past week are signs that the club is getting ready to send off even more pieces, opines Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (video link). Philly hasn't quite put Cole Hamels out on the trade market yet, but as they sit far behind the first-place Nationals, it seems inevitable. Morosi says that moves involving Hamels and Shane Victorino look likelier by the day. More on the Phillies..
- The Phillies might be saying publicly that they're not prepared to sell, but that doesn't appear to truly be the case, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. One rival executive who talked to a high-ranking Phillies official told Knobler, "They told me, 'If we lose any more games, we could be selling soon.'"
- Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel agreed with a reporter’s observation that the team's season riding on these next three weeks, writes Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Meanwhile, Victorino argued that the returns of Roy Halladay and Ryan Howard will make a major impact on the club and will be bigger than any two acquisitions the Phillies could possibly make.
- Victorino also told reporters, including Todd Zolecki of MLB.com (via Twitter) that he doesn't think his days in Philly are numbered and it's up to the team to show the front office that they can win as-is.
NL Central Notes: Carpenter, Pirates, Reds
Here's the latest out of the NL Central..
- Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter will undergo season ending surgery after recurring symptoms made it evident that the right-hander would be unable to pitch through thoracic outlet syndrome, writes Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. The 37-year-old, who is in the first season of a two-year, $21MM contract, says that he has every intention of pitching in 2013.
- The Pirates lead this summer's group of all-in buyers, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com. Olney writes that the Brewers' model of 2008 seems perfect for the Pirates to follow and in some ways, they're in a better position to trade because of the amount of pitching talent in their pipeline.
- The Reds have signed eighth-round selection Seth Mejias-Brean, MLBTR has learned. The third baseman played college ball at the University of Arizona.
Int’l Signings: Barrera, Cruz, Esteves, Gomez, Dodgers
The 2012 international free agent signing period opened today and plenty of signings will be coming in as teams look to spend within their $2.9MM allotment. We'll be keeping track of all of the day's major agreements under $1MM right here..
- The Athletics are finalizing an agreement with Luis Barrera that would pay the Dominican outfielder $450K, tweets MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez. Sanchez's colleague Jonathan Mayo ranked Barrera as the No. 13 prospect in this year's class.
- Badler also adds that the Indians have signed Dominican shortstop Grofy Cruz for a bonus of $400K. Cruz is expected to shift to third base soon, and is praised by Badler for his strong arm and raw power.
- Dominican third baseman Kelvin Esteves signed with the Braves for a $300K bonus, Badler writes. Badler praises Esteves' bat speed and raw power from the right side.
- The Dodgers also signed Dominican shortstop Cristian Gomez to an undisclosed bonus, writes Badler. Gomez was widely expected to receive a low six-figure bonus.
- The Dodgers issued a press release to announce four international signings: right-handers Lenix Osuna and William Soto, left-hander Victor Gonzalez, as well as catcher Julian Leon. Osuna is the son of former Dodgers righty Antonio Osuna. Soto hails from Venezuela while the other three were all signed out of Mexico. Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times tweets that the club spent about $1MM total on the four players.
- The Mets, who earlier today signed shortstop Amed Rosario to a $1.75MM bonus, also signed Venezuelan shortstop Miguel Patino and Dominican second baseman Franklin Correa, tweets ESPN's Adam Rubin. Rubin also notes that Rosario's bonus is the highest the Mets have ever given to an international free agent. That honor had previously gone to Fernando Martinez ($1.3MM).
Phillies Gauging Trade Interest In Cole Hamels
Monday: Olney adds that the Phillies are focused on acquiring help at third base and in the outfield in any trade for Hamels (Twitter link).
Sunday, 2:30 pm: The Phillies' asking price for Hamels is said to be a package of four to five prospects, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com. Olney adds rival executives believe such a package could be hard to come by with the new rule preventing teams from offering arbitration to potential free agents acquired in trade (via Twitter).
12:22 pm: The Phillies have begun calling teams to see about trade interest in Cole Hamels, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The left-hander will be eligible for free agency after earning $15MM in his walk year. Heyman writes there has been no progress made in contract negotiations.
It's possible that the Phillies are just scoping out early interest in Hamels just in case, Heyman tweets, but the calls make the odds of a trade seem real at this point. Less than a week ago, it was reported that the club was not ready to put Hamels or outfielder Shane Victorino on the block.
There should be no shortage of interest in the 28-year-old and the Rangers could be one of the more aggressive suitors for him. Texas is said to be scouting Hamels as well as Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Dontrelle Willis To Retire
3:50pm: The Orioles confirmed that Willis is retiring, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.
2:36pm: Pitcher Dontrelle Willis is considering retirement and is not expected to make next start for the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (via Twitter). The left-hander has been in the O’s system since signing a minor league deal in March.
Willis was placed on the restricted list by Baltimore in late April after a difference of opinions between him and the organization. The 30-year-old left Triple-A Norfolk believing that he was going to be granted his release but instead was placed on the restricted list because GM Dan Duquette did not authorize the move. Willis planned on filing a grievance against the Orioles but instead returned to the club’s farm system.
The southpaw wound up making just three relief appearances and one start for Triple-A Norfolk after all was said and done. Willis originally signed a one-year, $1MM deal with the Phillies in December of last year but was released in March.
Willis owns a career 4.17 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 for his career and has earned nearly $41MM over the course of his career, according to Baseball-Reference. The pitcher known as D-Train burst on to the scene as a 21-year-old with the Marlins and captured the National League Rookie of the Year award with a brilliant campaign. Two years later, Willis finished second in Cy Young voting to Chris Carpenter, posting 2.63 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9.
Rays Sign Jose Mujica
The Rays agreed to sign right-handed pitcher Jose Mujica for $1MM, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. Mujica is trained by Carlos Guillen at his academy in Venezuela.
The right-hander just celebrated his 16th birthday on June 29th and is rated by Baseball America as the best pitching prospect this year in Latin America. Mujica had a strong showing in the MLB prospect showcase alongside top talent from Venezuela and Dominican Republic last February. Guillen has said that Mujica's aggressiveness reminds him of Felix Hernandez and a young Freddy Garcia, writes Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com.
Phillies Notes: Hamels, Howard, Halladay
Yesterday we learned that the Phillies have begun calling teams to see about trade interest in Cole Hamels. Here's the latest on the left-hander..
- An executive who spoke with the Phillies says he can't see them unloading Cole Hamels and other pieces until after Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay return in mid-July, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. denounced rumors of the club shopping Hamels and told reporters, including Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer, that he plans to keep the pitcher in Philly in the "short term and long term." When asked if he believes re-signing Hamels is realistic, he answered in the affirmative. Meanwhile, a baseball source says contact between the GM and Hamels' agent, John Boggs, has been almost nonexistent.
- The Phillies will not be trading any major piece anytime soon, opines Gelb. Gelb believes that Amaro has simply been gauging interest in his top pieces and won't necessarily move anyone.
Yankees Sign Luis Torrens
The Yankees have signed Venezuelan catcher Luis Torrens for $1.3MM, writes Ben Badler of Baseball America. Torrens is ranked as the second-best international prospect in this July 2nd class.
The 16-year-old is a former shortstop and third baseman who converted to catcher in February. Staying behind the plate would obviously enhance Torrens' value but Badler writes that teams have been drawn to him for his bat. The Yankees have a connection with Torrens as he trained with the club's international scouting director Carlos Rios.
Twins Sign Amaurys Minier
The Twins have signed Amaurys Minier for $1.4MM, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. The infielder, ranked as the No. 12 international prospect, is currently at shortstop but is likely to transition to third base soon.
The Dominican has plus power from both sides of the plate but scouts hope that he can improve on his pitch recognition skills. Sources told Badler (sub. req'd) that has a chance to land one of the top three bonuses from the island among this year's group and so far Minter is second only to Amed Rosario, who signed for $1.75MM with the Mets.
Mets Sign Amed Rosario
The Mets have signed Dominican shortstop Amed Rosario for $1.75MM, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The figure might mark the largest bonus given to a Dominican player during this signing period, Badler tweets.
Badler writes that Rosario might be the most divisive player in Latin America. Those who like him say that he has strong fielding instincts, hands, and arm strength. Other scouts fear that he is prone to strikeouts with his uppercut stroke. The Astros and White Sox are in the former camp as they were also interested in the shortstop.