Diamondbacks Agree To Sign Stryker Trahan
7:36pm: Trahan agreed to a straight slot bonus of $1.7MM, reports Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com (on Twitter).
4:30pm: The Diamondbacks announced that they have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Stryker Trahan. Terms of the deal are not yet known for the catcher tabbed with the 26th pick.
The slot recommendation for the selection is $1.7MM. The D'Backs have also signed their first six picks, eight of their first ten, 17 of the first 20, and 31 drafted players in total.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Cardinals Claim John Gaub Off Waivers
The Cardinals have claimed left-hander John Gaub off of waivers from the Rangers, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter). Gaub was designated for assignment on Thursday to create room on the 40-man roster for Tanner Scheppers.
The 27-year-old posted a 3.42 ERA with 12.2 K/9 and 6.5 BB/9 in 50 Triple-A appearances for the Cubs last season. Gaub pitched in 16 games for the Rays' Triple-A affiliate and 5 for the Rangers' Triple-A team this year.
Athletics Claim Danny Farquhar Off Waivers
The Athletics announced that they have claimed pitcher Danny Farquhar off of waivers from the Blue Jays. The right-hander will be optioned to Triple-A Sacramento while Andrew Carignan has been transferred to the 60-day DL.
The move marks a return to the A's organization to Farquhar, who joined Oakland in November 2010 as a part of the Rajai Davis deal. The 25-year-old was soon sent back to Toronto in April for David Purcey. Farquhar owns a 2.97 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 20 Double-A appearances this year.
Brewers Sign Victor Roache
FRIDAY: The Brewers announced that they have signed Roache.
THURSDAY: The Brewers have agreed to terms with their first-round pick (28th overall) Victor Roache, reports Jim Callis of Baseball America (Twitter link). Roache, an outfielder from Georgia Southern University, will receive a $1.525MM bonus, slightly below the recommended slot price of $1.65MM. Roache is represented by Reynolds Sports Management.
Roache told 1250 WSSP Radio (h/t Jaymes Langrehr of Disciples Of Uecker) yesterday that his signing was imminent. "I’m coming into Milwaukee Thursday to get my physical and sign a contract, do the press conference and all that," Roache said. "You know, because of my injury from my college season, it was possible I might get shipped off to Phoenix and then start rehabbing, or I might come back home and find someplace here to rehab. Once I get my hand and wrist back fully 100%, they’re going to ship me off and we’ll start playing."
Brewers scouting director Bruce Seid told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (via Twitter) on Wednedsay that the team was "close with a lot of the top guys."
Rockies To Sign Jeff Francis
FRIDAY: The sides agreed to a Major League deal, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
WEDNESDAY: It appears that left-hander Jeff Francis has an agreement in principle with the Rockies, sources tell Troy Renck of The Denver Post (via Twitter). Renck adds that he expects the veteran to start this weekend.
If Francis does indeed sign with the Rockies, he'll return to where he pitched from 2004-10. Francis owned a 4.22 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 215 1/3 innings for the Rockies in 2007.
The Reds released Francis earlier this week after he opted out of his contract. The 31-year-old posted a 3.72 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 77 1/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville.
Braves Sign Lucas Sims
THURSDAY: Sims will obtain a bonus of $1.65MM, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (on Twitter). The Braves announced that they have signed Sims (Twitter link).
WEDNESDAY: Braves scouting director Tony DeMacio revealed that the club agreed to sign first round pick Lucas Sims, according to Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The right-hander from Georgia's Brookwood High School was tabbed with the 21st overall pick. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed but the pick has a suggested bonus of $1.825MM.
In addition to Sims, the Braves also reached agreement with their other top five selections. That includes second round pick Alex Wood (left-handed pitcher), third round pick Bryan De La Rosa (catcher), fourth round selection Justin Black (center fielder, already signed), fifth rounder Blake Brown (right fielder), and sixth round pick Josh Elander (catcher).
Quick Hits: Street, Soler, Mets, Prior, Draft
Links from around baseball as Wednesday becomes Thursday..
- Padres closer Huston Street is excited to return to action but is also aware that he might not stay long with the trade deadline less than two months away, writes Dan Hayes of the North County Times. Street is earning $7.5MM this season with a $9MM team option for 2013 that can be bought out for just $500K.
- A number of teams seem to be in on Jorge Soler, but it doesn't appear that the Mets will be one of them. Despite the recent Bernie Madoff settlement, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com (via Twitter) hears that the club still doesn't plan to pursue him.
- Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal spoke with Mark Prior about his latest effort to get back to the big leagues with the Red Sox. Boston signed the right-hander to a minor league deal last month.
- Agent Scott Boras told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he believes the draft has become a "mockery" after the changes to the rules under the new collective bargaining agreement.
- Major League Baseball vice president/baseball development Jimmie Lee Solomon has been fired by commissioner Bud Selig, industry sources confirm to Eric Fisher of the Sporting News. Solomon spent 21 years working with MLB. Josh Leventhal of Baseball America first reported the news on Tuesday.
- Matthew Leach of MLB.com previews the upcoming trade deadline and the teams that are straddling the fence between buying and selling.
Diamondbacks Unlikely To Trade For Kevin Youkilis
The D'Backs have not spoken to the Red Sox regarding Kevin Youkilis, a source with knowledge of the situation told Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com. The source also termed Youkilis’ possible acquisition as a “long, long shot” because of financial reasons.
If the Diamondbacks do decide to pursue Youkilis, left-hander Joe Saunders seems the most likely candidate to be involved, but the source said that it's "unlikely" that the club is looking to trade Saunders. The 30-year-old has a 3.65 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 through eleven starts.
Arizona stretched their budget to $75MM when they inked free agents Jason Kubel and Joe Saunders last winter and would have to dump salary to make any deal work. Youkilis, 33, is earning $12MM this season and a $13MM option for 2013 that can be bought out for $1MM.
Cubs Notes: Garza, Soler
A couple of items on the 19-37 Cubs..
- The Cubs are saying that they'll try to sign Matt Garza, but rival GMs believe that there is a decent chance of a trade, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. It could come down to an AL East battle for his services, Heyman adds, with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays all in the mix.
- The Cubs were one of several teams that had representatives at Jorge Soler's workout today, writes Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com. Cubs GM Jed Hoyer admitted that the club has done their fair share of homework on the highly-touted prospect. “We’ve been following this carefully and we certainly plan to be involved," Hoyer said.
NL East Notes: Stanton, Marlins, Halladay, Nationals
The Nationals topped the Mets tonight 5-3 behind a solid performance from starter Edwin Jackson. Here's a look at tonight's items out of the National League East..
- Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton admitted to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com that the thought of a multiyear deal crossed his mind recently when Adam Jones signed a five-year, $85.5MM extension with the Orioles. However, the rightfielder made it clear that he's not dwelling on it either. "It's not like I'm thinking, 'Tomorrow I'm going to get a call or we're going to have a meeting','" Stanton said. "I really don't care until the time comes. The better I play, maybe the faster they'll want to do something."
- Phillies hurler Roy Halladay likely won't hit the required number of innings to help make his 2014 option vest, but he still hopes to end his career in Philadelphia, writes MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Halladay is set to earn $20MM in each of the next two seasons with a $20MM vesting option for '14.
- The Nationals have held workouts for 16-year-old outfielder Gustavo Cabrera and 17-year-old shortstop Wendell Rijo, two of the top Dominican prospects eligible to sign before July 2nd, a person with knowledge of the situation tells Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.