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Astros Claim Craig Tatum

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The Astros claimed catcher Craig Tatum off of waivers from the Orioles, MLBTR has learned. Tatum, 28, has three partial seasons of catching experience at the Major League level and isn't yet eligible for arbitration. He joins backstops Jason Castro, Humberto Quintero and Carlos Corporan on Houston's 40-man roster, which now includes 36 players.

Tatum has a .223/.291/.264 line in 299 MLB plate appearances and has stopped 21% of stolen base attempts against him. In eight seasons as a minor leaguer, the 2004 third round pick has a .249/.316/.377 batting line and has stopped 35% of stolen base attempts.

The Astros have confirmed the move.

Quick Hits: Shields, Giambi, Sizemore, Beltran

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After one of the greatest, wildest, sloppiest and most exciting games in baseball history, we're going to see a Game Seven tomorrow night.  It will be the first seventh game in the Series since the Angels needed the maximum to beat the Giants in 2002.

As we prepare for the last game of 2011, here are some news items….

  • In an interview with 620-WDAE radio (reported on by Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times), James Shields says he thinks the Rays will pick up his $7MM option for 2012 and he will pitch for the team next season.  The Rays are a near-lock to pick up Shields' option but they could shop the right-hander for a trade this winter.  
  • Smith also notes that Shields' option could be worth as much as $8MM depending on an innings-pitched incentive clause and how Shields fares in AL Cy Young voting.
  • Jason Giambi is considering declining his side of his $1MM mutual option for 2012, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post.  We heard last month that the Rockies were going to pick up their side of the option, so the decision appears to be up to Giambi.
  • If Grady Sizemore had played his exact career with another team and the Indians had a chance to sign him, the Tribe wouldn't even consider the move, argues Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  That's how Pluto frames the Indians' decision about Sizemore's $9MM option for 2012.
  • The Red Sox and Giants will both be contenders for Carlos Beltran this winter, reports Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link).
  • The Angels should rehire former scouting director Eddie Bane, opines Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles.  Bane was fired by then-GM Tony Reagins last year but still has a good relationship with owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino.
  • The week's minor league transactions are recapped by Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
  • After getting burned on the Michael Gonzalez and Kevin Gregg signings, "it’s unlikely that the Orioles will spend big money on a closer" this winter, says Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com.

Orioles Front Office Notes: Stockstill, Watson

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The Orioles announced nearly three weeks ago that Andy MacPhail will not return as the club’s president of baseball operations in 2012. They haven’t introduced a replacement yet, so here’s the latest on the club’s search for a new general manager:

  • The Orioles will interview their own director of player development, John Stockstill, for the GM position Friday, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
  • The team is "closing in" toward resolution, according to MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli (on Twitter).
  • The Orioles are expected to interview one or two more candidates for their GM job, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Jerry Dipoto of the Diamondbacks, Tony LaCava of the Blue Jays and De Jon Watson of the Dodgers all interviewed well, according to Connolly. We heard earlier in the week that Thad Levine of the Rangers may also interview for the position.
  • Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com lists two people who could become the Orioles’ next scouting director. Dipoto could hire Indians crosschecker Chuck Ricci and LaCava could hire Blue Jays crosschecker Marc Tramuta, according to Kubatko. Former Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan recently joined the Phillies.
  • For more on LaCava, Dipoto and Watson check out MLBTR's GM Candidate pieces.

Latest On Orioles’ GM Search: Watson, LaCava

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The Orioles have interviewed Tony LaCava of the Blue Jays and Jerry Dipoto of the Diamondbacks for their GM opening and both meetings were lengthy and thorough, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Here's the latest on the Orioles' search:

  • Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears that LaCava is the "stealth favorite" for the job (Twitter link).
  • Connolly expects the Orioles to continue interviewing candidates after they speak with De Jon Watson of the Dodgers tomrrow. Thad Levine of the Rangers is one possibility.
  • For more on LaCava, Dipoto, Levine and Watson check out MLBTR's GM Candidate pieces.

Front Office Notes: Orioles, Cashman, Cubs, Padres

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Theo Epstein is officially the Cubs' president of baseball operations and the Red Sox have announced that Ben Cherington will be Boston's next GM, but there's still lots of front office turnover on the horizon. Here are the latest details from around MLB:

  • De Jon Watson's interview for the Orioles' GM job will take place on Wednesday, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). I spoke to Watson, the Dodgers' assistant GM, last month. He's up against Jerry Dipoto of the Diamondbacks and Tony LaCava of the Blue Jays.
  • Chase Headley and Heath Bell told Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune that they expect a smooth transition from Jed Hoyer to Josh Byrnes when Hoyer leaves the Padres to become the Cubs' new GM.
  • Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune explains that Cubs president Crane Kenney will move exclusively to the business side now that Epstein is the club's president of baseball operations. Kenney is a polarizing figure in Chicago and the role he played in obtaining Epstein is unclear, according to Sullivan.
  • Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says letting assistant GM Randy Bush go would be a mistake for the Cubs.
  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman met with Hal Steinbrenner in New York today and Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the sides expect to be able to complete a new deal for Cashman with relative ease (Twitter link).

The Orioles’ GM Search: Watson, White

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The Orioles have already interviewed Diamondbacks senior vice president Jerry Dipoto and Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava of the Blue Jays for their vacant General Manager job.  Who else will be considered for the post?

  • The Orioles have received permission from the Dodgers to interview De Jon Watson for their GM position, an industry source tells Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun.  Watson serves as the Dodgers' assistant GM and player development director and recently spoke to Ben Nicholson-Smith about possibly becoming a GM.
  • Watson's interview should take place early next week, perhaps as early as Tuesday, Connolly tweets.
  • There were doubts whether Los Angeles would grant the Orioles permission to speak to Watson, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.  Yesterday, the Marlins officially denied the club permission to interview Dan Jennings.
  • Meanwhile, the O's have yet to ask permission to speak with Dodgers assistant GM Logan White, says Connolly (via Twitter).  That conversation could still take place as the Orioles are expected to talk to a few more people before they conclude their search.  White was profiled in our GM Candidate series earlier this month.

AL East Notes: Ortiz, Orioles, Hellickson

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Until the Red Sox and Cubs agree to compensation for Theo Epstein’s departure, Boston’s GM situation will dominate headlines out of the American League East. Here’s the latest news from the division, starting with an update on the Red Sox…

  • Alex Speier of WEEI.com previews the market for David Ortiz and concludes that he won't have an overwhelming number of suitors this offseason. Speier suggests the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Angels and Mariners are possible fits for the slugger, though some of those teams won't have strong interest. I can see the Orioles getting involved, depending on who their next GM is.
  • Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com previews the Orioles' 2012 bullpen and points out that there's a lot of uncertainty at this point. Jim Johnson could move to the rotation, Willie Eyre and Jo-Jo Reyes could be non-tendered and the Orioles are likely to add relievers from outside of the organization.
  • Congratulations to Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson, who is Baseball America's 2011 Major League Rookie of the Year. The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 2.95 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 over the course of 189 innings in his first full season.

Quick Hits: Byrnes, Reds, Uehara, Young, Inge

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The World Series is tied at a game apiece after the Rangers' thrilling 2-1 victory over the Cardinals tonight.  As we look forward to Game Three on Saturday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, here are a few news items to round out the evening…

  • The Diamondbacks will receive "a significant level of financial relief – and perhaps total relief" when and if Josh Byrnes becomes the Padres' new general manager, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.  Byrnes had five and a half years remaining on his contract with Arizona when he was fired on July 1, 2010, but the Snakes could be off the hook for the remaining four years left on that deal should Byrnes get another GM job.
  • There is nothing new to report on the Reds' negotiations with Brandon Phillips or Francisco Cordero, Reds GM Walt Jocketty tells MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
  • Koji Uehara has told people close to him that he wants to return to the Orioles, reports MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli.  After being dealt to Texas in July, Uehara struggled in the first two rounds of the playoffs and was left off the Rangers' World Series roster.  The Japanese right-hander made enough appearances to activate a $4MM vesting option for 2012, so if the O's want Uehara back, the Rangers would probably be happy to unload him.
  • The Red Sox have given the Athletics permission to interview pitching coach Curt Young about the pitching coach vacancy in Oakland, reports Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.  Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group (Twitter link) reports Young and the A's are already in negotiations.  Young served as Oakland's pitching coach from 2004-2010 before going to Boston to replace John Farrell last winter.
  • The Tigers have enough money coming off the books this winter that Tom Gage of the Detroit News thinks Brandon Inge's contract could be swallowed if the team can find a better third base option on the trade market.  Inge is set to earn $5.5MM in 2012 and the Tigers hold a $6MM club option on their longtime third baseman for 2013.

The Orioles’ GM Search: Jennings, Watson, Dipoto

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The Orioles have interviewed Jerry Dipoto of the Diamondbacks and Tony LaCava of the Blue Jays for their open GM position. Here's the latest on the team's search with the most recent updates up top:

  • As expected, the Marlins have officially denied the Orioles' request to interview Dan Jennings, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).  Jennings is halfway through an eight-year contract with the Marlins, reports Connolly, and this is the fourth time in four years that the Marlins have turned down another club's request to interview Jennings, Florida's assistant GM and vice-president of player personnel.
  • The Orioles are expected to contact Dodgers assistant GM De Jon Watson about their GM position, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. They haven't scheduled additional interviews at this point, but more are coming.
  • Dipoto probably has the edge at this point, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Connolly explains why Dipoto might prefer the Orioles to the Angels. Los Angeles is interviewing many candidates, but the Orioles won't interview many more than two, so Dipoto's chances of getting an offer from Baltimore seem good. Connolly notes that the Orioles would look bad if they want Dipoto then let him slip away to the Angels.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that Dipoto had a "terrific" interview with the Orioles (Twitter link).
  • For more on LaCava and Dipoto, check out MLBTR's GM Candidate pieces from earlier in the year.

Orioles GM Rumors: Dipoto, Levine

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Arizona's Jerry Dipoto interviewed for the Orioles' GM opening yesterday, and Toronto's Tony LaCava is scheduled for today.  The latest:

  • Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that Dipoto has a “good shot” at the job (Twitter link).
  • The Orioles originally planned to interview at least four candidates, according to Steve Gould of the Baltimore Sun.  They've interviewed Dipoto and Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava so far and it would be surprising if they don't interview more people.
  • Dipoto will also interview for the Angels job, and Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com expects him to get one of the two GM positions.  Kubatko notes that the Orioles are likely to reassign director of player development John Stockstill, replacing him with coordinator of minor league instruction Brian Graham.
  • Kubatko hears Rangers executive Thad Levine could be interviewed later, but he'd be surprised if the Orioles hire him (Twitter link).  Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun believes Levine will be interviewed if the Orioles haven't hired someone by the end of the World Series.  The Rangers' assistant GM is an Alexandria, Virginia native who told MLBTR he "grew up a big Orioles fan."
  • Connolly tweets that as of Tuesday evening, the Orioles had not asked permission to talk to Levine, the Dodgers' De Jon Watson or Logan White, or the Angels' Tony Reagins, and the Marlins' Dan Jennings may be denied permission.  He also considers the Tigers' Al Avila a longshot.
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