Mets Notes: Trades, Qualls, Lidge, Street
The Mets' deadline discussions with other clubs have not started "in earnest" and have been limited to cursory conversations so far, a baseball source told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Apparently, teams that might be sellers were largely unwilling to concede they were ready for that position yet. The official also projected that trades across baseball will likely be more about absorbing salary than parting with prospects. Here's a look at the Mets tonight..
- A team insider told Rubin that the players available now might not be worth acquiring for the Mets. Players available now such as Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge likely wouldn't be gamechangers for the Mets.
- The Mets are already actively working to get bullpen help and called the Padres to ask about Huston Street, a source tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Street's prior issues with bench coach Bob Geren would also not be a factor if there is a fit.
Central Notes: Cubs, Brewers, Astros, Twins
Items out of the AL and NL Central divisions..
- Jed Hoyer of the Cubs, Doug Melvin of the Brewers and Jeff Luhnow of the Astros figure to be among the busiest general managers in baseball as the trade deadline approaches, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) writes.
- Twins general manager Terry Ryan has changed his team's draft philosophies because of Target Field, writes Spencer Fordin of MLB.com. Minnesota used to look at left-handed pitchers and hitters, but he said that the team's new outdoor facility favors right-handed hitters and outfielders who can cover a lot of ground.
- Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN Radio (via Twitter) supports the Twins' new contract for Ryan Doumit, saying that the club has problems but doesn't mind a $7MM deal for a catcher with pop.
Brad Lidge May Not Return In 2012
Reliever Brad Lidge has yet to decide if he will try to come back and pitch for another team in 2012, writes Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. The veteran was released by the Nationals earlier this week.
Lidge has returned home to his native Colorado since being cut and said he is happy spending time with his family. Meanwhile, he has instructed his agents to take calls from interested teams.
Lidge, 35, came to the Nats on a $1MM deal in January but was sidelined by sports hernia surgery in late April and struggled in his return earlier this month. "Lights Out" had a 9.64 ERA with ten strikeouts and eleven walks in 11 appearances for Washington this year. For his career, Lidge owns an ERA of 3.54 with 11.9 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 for the Astros, Phillies, and Nats.
Athletics Notes: McCarthy, Balfour, Smith, Fuentes
The A's could be gearing up for a sale closer to the deadline, but for now Oakland sits at 37-40 as they enter tonight's game in Texas and may look to see how things play out. In the interim, the club would like to move left-hander Brian Fuentes. Here's the latest out of Oakland..
- In addition to Fuentes, the A's will also be willing to move Brandon McCarthy once he is healthy, major league sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The right-hander has a 2.54 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 through 12 starts this season. However, Rosenthal notes that his injury concerns could require extra rest from which ever team may acquire him. Sources add that the A's are under no financial pressure to make moves.
- The A’s also are open to moving right-hander Grant Balfour, but will seek more in return than they would for McCarthy, Rosenthal writes. Balfour is under control for 2013 with a $4.5MM club option.
- A source also tells Rosenthal that outfielder/DH Seth Smith is unlikely to be traded. Smith makes just $2.415MM this season and is and under club control through 2014.
- Fuentes politely declined to comment when asked about trade rumors or whether he has requested a trade, tweets Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group.
Dodgers Notes: Cubs, Brewers, Dempster, Lee
Earlier today the Dodgers officially announced the signing of Cuban outfielder Yasel Puig to a seven-year deal. The news of the agreement sent shock waves through baseball this week and clearly shows that the club is very serious about getting back into signing top Latin American players. Here's more out of Los Angeles..
- The Puig deal could be just the start of major moves to come from the Dodgers, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. According to major league sources, they have talked multiple times to the Cubs, Astros, and Brewers. They've also touched base with a number of other teams, including the Mariners, Royals, Twins, Blue Jays and Padres, sources said. The Dodgers would like to add a hitter, a starting pitcher, and a left-handed reliever.
- Speaking of the Cubs, the Dodgers are viewed as a favorite to land Ryan Dempster once he returns from the disabled list, sources suggest to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The two sides haven't talked since the week before Dempster went down but a person familiar with the situation says Los Angeles has a very good chance to land the right-hander.
- The Dodgers are lukewarm to the idea of signing Derrek Lee, and would prefer to explore other options first, a major league source told Rosenthal. Lee would require time at Triple-A and the Dodgers seem to prefer more certainty and perhaps a more immediate solution at first base.
Phillies, Orioles Discussing Thome Trade
The Phillies and Orioles are talking seriously about a deal involving Jim Thome, a source tells Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. recently disclosed that he's open to moving the veteran if there is a deal that makes sense for both the slugger and the team.
After Thome's recent strong showing at designated hitter during interleague play, he is on board with joining an American League club in need of a bat. The Phillies have been reportedly been shopping Thome to teams in need of a DH and a team like the O's would fit the bill.
This post was originally published on June 30th.
Braves Sign Ben Sheets?
Ben Sheets is in a Braves uniform and warming up in the team’s bullpen as they get set to take on the Nationals, tweets David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Sheets has presumably signed with Atlanta but no announcement has been made yet.
White Sox Designate Will Ohman For Assignment
THURSDAY: The White Sox announced that they officially designated Ohman for assignment.
WEDNESDAY: The White Sox are set to designate Will Ohman for assignment on Thursday, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). The 34-year-old has a 5.84 ERA with 4.4 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in 24.2 innings of work this year.
Ohman inked a two-year deal with the ChiSox in January of last year worth $1.5MM in 2011 and $2.5MM this past season. For his career, the left-hander owns a 4.23 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 across ten big league campaigns. Ohman's performance against the Twins this afternoon likely prompted the move as he allowed three runs in two innings of work.
Minor Moves: Yankees, Angels, Guzman, Bogaerts
Today's minor moves..
- The Yankees released Double-A right-hander Adam Miller, tweets Josh Norris of The Trentonian. Miller was ranked as Baseball America's #16 prospect after the 2004 season.
- Right-hander Ysmael Carmona was released by the Angels, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (via Twitter). Carmona made the club's 40-man roster after the 2010 season but has struggled with shoulder issues ever since.
- The Reds released Double-A first baseman Joel Guzman, Eddy tweets. The 27-year-old last appeared in the majors with the Rays in 2007.
- The Cubs cut first baseman Jair Bogaerts, the twin brother of Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts, according to Eddy (via Twitter). Bogaerts came to Chicago as a throw-in in the Theo Epstein compensation trade.
- The Indians released outfielder Ben Copeland, tweets Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. The fourth-round pick in 2005 was a former member of the Giants farm system.
- The Pirates have traded minor league right-hander Shairon Martis to the Twins, tweets Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Biertempfel also tweets that the two sides have yet to work out what the Pittsburgh will receive in return. Martis, 25, has a 4.96 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 15 appearances in Double-A and Triple-A. The hurler also appeared in 20 games for the Nationals in 2008 and 2009.
AL East Notes: Guthrie, Yankees, Stewart, Red Sox
Items out of the American League East..
- Jeremy Guthrie may be a potential fit for the injury-depleted Yankees after enjoying previous success in the AL East while with the Orioles, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman says that he would prefer not to go outside of the organization to solve the team's rotation issues, tweets Jack Curry of the YES Network.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter) also hears from sources that the Yankees will look to handle loss of Andy Pettitte and C.C. Sabathia from within using Freddy Garcia, Adam Warren, and David Phelps.
- Zach Stewart is used to moving around a lot after being a part of three major league trades in the last three years, writes Paul Kenyon of The Providence Journal. Stewart came to the Red Sox along with Brent Lillibridge in the Kevin Youkilis deal.
- The Red Sox signed third-round pick Austin Maddox for $350K, less than the pick value of $400K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. The right-hander out of Florida has a 92-96 mph fastball with a promising slider.