Quick Hits: Orioles, White Sox, Dodgers
The Orioles have lost 17 of their last 24 games, but they're just half a game out of the Wild Card race, so their top baseball executive says the team’s future is now. Dan Duquette told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the Orioles are "going to try to do everything [possible] to get into the playoffs this year.” Here are today’s links…
- The White Sox agreed to sign Dominican corner outfielder Hanlet Otano, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. The 16-year-old Otano has raw power from the right side, according to Badler.
- Austin Jackson, Mark Trumbo and Jason Kipnis make appearances in Dave Cameron's latest pieces about the MLB players with the greatest trade value.
- The Tigers, Red Sox and Dodgers figure to be among the most aggressive teams in summer trade talks, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. The Tigers are pursuing starting pitching, Olney reported this morning.
- Dodgers chairman Mark Walter told Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that the Dodgers won't pass up ways of improving their team this summer, even if it means boosting payroll. "I'm not trying to save a dollar," Walter said. "I'd rather say we have a great team and maybe spend a little too much."
Orioles Designate Brad Bergesen For Assignment
The Orioles designated right-hander Brad Bergesen for assignment to create roster space for Tommy Hunter, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (Twitter links). The Orioles, who confirmed the roster move, added Bergesen to the 40-man roster yesterday, but didn't call on him to pitch.
Bergesen, 26, had posted a 4.03 ERA with 4.6 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 80 1/3 innings at Triple-A before getting promoted. He posted a 5.70 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 101 innings a year ago, when the Orioles used him in a hybrid role as a starter and reliever.
Bowden On Padres, Tigers, Indians, Royals, Pirates
Here's the latest from around the league, courtesy of ESPN's Jim Bowden…
- The Padres have fielded offers for both Huston Street and Carlos Quentin, but they've yet to seriously debate any of them internally.
- The Tigers are seeking a second base upgrade and would like to acquire Darwin Barney from the Cubs for a mid-level prospect.
- The Indians are looking all over to acquire an outfield bat, but they are unable to take back a significant contract and are unwilling to move their best prospects.
- Meanwhile, the Royals are trying to convince the Indians or Reds to take Jeff Francoeur so they can promote Wil Myers from Triple-A.
- The Pirates are aggressively trying to land a middle of the order bat while the Orioles are seeking starting pitching and a third base upgrade.
- There have been rumors of a Mike Morse for B.J. Upton trade, according to Bowden. The Nationals are also looking to add a starter with Stephen Strasburg's innings limit approaching.
- The Giants have no plans of making a deal similar to the one they made last year, when they traded Zack Wheeler for a rental (Carlos Beltran). They are looking for a bat or two, however.
Competitive Balance Lottery Results
Baseball’s first Competitive Balance Lottery took place in New York City today. The lottery, which allocates additional draft picks to small-market and low-revenue teams, provides teams with draft choices they can choose to use or trade. The Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, Royals, Athletics, Pirates, Padres, Rays, Reds, Rockies, Marlins, Brewers and Cardinals were eligible to obtain draft picks. The Tigers were also eligible, though only for the group of selections that takes place after the second round. Here are the results, via MLB.com:
Selections Between First & Second Rounds (Round A)
- Royals
- Pirates
- Diamondbacks
- Orioles
- Reds
- Marlins
Selections After Second Round (Round B)
- Padres
- Indians
- Rockies
- Athletics
- Brewers
- Tigers
The Rays and Cardinals did not receive a pick in either of the Competitive Balance Lottery Rounds.
Tigers, White Sox, Orioles Asked About Richard
The Tigers, White Sox and Orioles checked in on Padres left-hander Clayton Richard, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). All three American League teams are known to be seeking starting pitching depth.
Richard, 28, has a 3.83 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in an NL-best 127 innings this year. He earns $2.7MM in 2012 and will remain under team control as an arbitration eligible player through 2014. He has a career ERA of 4.12 with 6.0 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in five seasons with the White Sox and Padres.
Padres GM Josh Byrnes figures to get calls on players such as Richard, Edinson Volquez and Chase Headley, but all three players are under team control past 2012. One team said the Padres' asking price for Headley is the highest market price, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported on Twitter today.
Competitive Balance Lottery Takes Place Today
Baseball’s first Competitive Balance Lottery takes place today, when small-market and low-revenue teams will have the chance to win extra selections in next year’s amateur draft. The ten smallest-market teams and ten lowest-revenue teams will have the chance to win extra selections in 2013, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
There’s overlap between small-market teams and low-revenue teams, so there are 13 clubs involved in the first-round lottery: the Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, Royals, Athletics, Pirates, Padres, Rays, Reds, Rockies, Marlins, Brewers and Cardinals. The first six selections will be made between the first and second rounds of next year’s draft. A second group of six picks will be available to the teams from the first group that didn’t get an early pick, plus the Tigers. The second group of selections will be made after the second round of the draft.
MLB teams can trade the draft picks they obtain in the Competitive Balance Lottery. The picks, which can only be traded once, cannot be sold or traded during the offseason. In theory, the draft picks could be involved in some of this summer’s deadline deals.
The lottery takes place today at 12:30pm CDT/1:30pm EDT in New York and the winners will be announced 75 minutes later. A team’s chances of winning depend on its winning percentage from the previous season.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Dana Eveland
The latest outright assignments from around MLB…
- Dana Eveland cleared waivers and the Orioles outrighted him to Triple-A Norfolk, Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com reports (on Twitter). The Orioles designated the 28-year-old left-hander for assignment two days ago after he posted a 4.73 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 32 1/3 innings. Eveland has already started six games for Norfolk this year.
Cafardo On Betancourt, Lester, Vargas, Liriano
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe spoke about Florida baseball with Bud Selig and he had mixed emotions on how successful it is, as he's frustrated with the Rays' attendance figures but noted that the Marlins' numbers are up significantly after the opening of their park. "They’ve run a great operation," the commissioner said. "They’re a very competitive organization, a very competitive team. As I study the attendance every day and looking at where they are, to see they’re No. 29 [in attendance] is inexcusable. Nobody can defend that." Here's more from today's column..
- The Red Sox have shown interest in Rockies right-hander Rafael Betancourt and have scouted him a few times. Boston likely wouldn't want to give up prospects for him but could offer an outfielder. Recently, Buster Olney of ESPN.com reported that Colorado would have to be overwhelmed to part with the reliever.
- Jon Lester has been on Pirates' radar along with Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke, Ryan Dempster, and Matt Garza but it doesn’t appear the Sox would move him unless they got an outstanding deal. Pittsburgh probably won't part with pitching prospect Gerrit Cole which makes a trade unlikely.
- The Mariners' Jason Vargas has emerged as a hot name for contending teams and one American League GM told Cafardo that teams were hoping to "slip in and take him for less than full value." Now, however, the M's know that he's in demand and won't just give him away. The Orioles, Blue Jays, Pirates, Cardinals, and Tigers are among teams that may have interest.
- The Blue Jays, Yankees, and Braves have all scouted Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano, who Cafardo suggests should be traded before he falters again.
- Twins GM Terry Ryan will have to be blown away to part with outfielder Josh Willingham.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Marlins, ChiSox, Headley, Orioles
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a bunch of new rumors for us today in a pair of videos. Let's round 'em up…
- Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria may soon be faced with the question about selling at the deadline, something he wanted to avoid in the first year of the club's new ballpark. The best thing they could do to improve their farm system likely involves trading guys like Anibal Sanchez, Omar Infante, and the newly acquired Carlos Lee.
- White Sox GM Kenny Williams always thinks big and it would not be surprising to see him get in on pitcher such as Zack Greinke. The problem is that his farm system doesn't have much to offer and they don't want to give up pieces off the big league roster while contending.
- The best guess right now has the Padres keeping Carlos Quentin and trading Chase Headley. Rosenthal says it's simple supply-and-demand; as many as ten teams have shown interest in the third baseman Headley. The team isn't sure they can get more for Quentin in a trade than they would by letting him walk as a free agent and recouping draft picks after the season.
- The Orioles are clearly buyers. They're willing to trade any prospect not named Dylan Bundy or Manny Machado, but they probably don't have enough to get Greinke. They do have interest in lesser arms like Joe Blanton and Jason Vargas, as well as leadoff man Juan Pierre.
- The Brewers could pit the Rangers and Angels against each other in the Greinke sweepstakes. Texas is unwilling to trade Mike Olt, Jurickson Profar, or Martin Perez for a rental, which could create an opening for the Halos if they're willing to deal Major League talent.
- The Phillies do not intend to trade Cliff Lee to create payroll room for Cole Hamels. If they do keep Hamels long-term, they could have $140MM tied up in just eight players going into next season.
Orioles Designate Eveland, Outright Paulino
The Orioles have designated Dana Eveland for assignment and outrighted Ronny Paulino to Triple-A, the team announced. The moves create room on the roster for Miguel Socolovich and Taylor Teagarden. Paulino can refuse the assignment and become a free agent, but he would forfeit the remainder of his $1MM salary.
Eveland, 28, made two starts and a dozen relief appearances for Baltimore this season. He pitched to a 4.73 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 32 1/3 innings. His 2.21 ERA in 36 2/3 Triple-A innings earned him a call-up in the first place. The 31-year-old Paulino has hit .254/.266/.302 in 64 plate appearances for the O's this season while missing time with a fractured toe.