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Stark On Pence, Phillies, Braves

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Of all the teams in baseball, the 18-30 Astros are likeliest to become sellers this summer, in the eyes of ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. Yet Stark suggests there may be a shortage of sellers, since so many teams are within striking distance of a playoff berth. Here are the details, as the summer trade market starts to take shape:

  • Houston GM Ed Wade says it makes sense to explore “anything that builds the type of depth that will get us where we need to be."
  • Rival teams believe Wade would listen to offers for players like Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez, Clint Barmes and Bill Hall, but the GM says he’s “going to be very protective of [Houston’s] younger players."
  • Stark hears that the Braves, Orioles and Phillies have some interest in Hunter Pence. A rival executive says Wade would need an immense haul to justify trading Pence, who is under team control through 2013.
  • The Phillies’ interest in Pence may be overstated. Pence’s $6.9MM salary appears to be about double what Philadelphia can add and at this point, the Phils are just creating a shopping list of possible targets.
  • The Braves are “actively stepping up” their search for hitting. They’ve been looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder and would also like a utility infielder who can handle shortstop. They signed longtime shortstop Julio Lugo yesterday.

Quick Hits: Lee, Branyan, Simon, Francona

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Happy birthday to Matt Wieters!  The Orioles catcher turned 25 today, and he celebrated with a 2-for-4 performance in Baltimore's 8-3 win over Washington.

Here's some news from around the majors….

  • The Rangers' offseason courtship of Cliff Lee is recapped by Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.  Lee was brilliant against his former team today, holding the Rangers to just five hits and two walks over eight shutout innings in a 2-0 Philadelphia victory.
  • The Mariners don't have any room, or particular need, for Russell Branyan, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.  Branyan was released by the Diamondbacks earlier today.  
  • The Orioles activated Alfredo Simon from the restricted list a day earlier than expected and he was available to pitch today against the Nationals, reports Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Terry Francona was Jim Hendry's choice to manage the Cubs had Dusty Baker not taken the job before the 2003 season, reports Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com.  Francona was also a finalist to manage the White Sox (along with Cito Gaston) before Ozzie Guillen was hired. 
  • Jamey Newberg of The Newberg Report looks at the Rays' cheap, effective bullpen revamp from this past offseason as an example of how the Rangers should approach improving their relief corps.

Orioles Explored Long-Term Deal With Adam Jones

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The Orioles spoke with Adam Jones' representatives last winter about a possible multiyear deal, Andy MacPhail tells MASNsports.com's Amber Theoharis, though negotiations didn't get very far.

"We actually, in Adam's case, had a brief conversation with Casey Close of CAA at the last winter meetings and talked about, you know, we'd be interested in talking about it in the following parameters," MacPhail said. "But I think they felt like Adam was still on the ascent and wanted him to play and further establish himself, and they may very well be right."

Jones and the O's avoided arbitration by settling on a $3.25MM contract for 2011.  Jones still has two more arbitration years left and he'll be in line for a nice raise if he continues his current .293/.343/.446 line through the rest of the season.  Theoharis notes that MacPhail's pattern since becoming Baltimore's president of baseball operations is to sign key players (i.e. Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts) to extensions long before they hit free agency, so MacPhail no doubt feels the sooner the O's can get Jones locked up, the better.

Stark On Marquis, Papelbon, Lowe, Phillies

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ESPN's Jayson Stark recently chatted with fans about several topics, including these hot stove-related items…

  • Stark predicts there won't be "a lot of difference-making starters" available at the trade deadline this summer, so a lower-tier arm like Jason Marquis could garner some interest if Washington makes him available. 
  • It has been widely assumed that this is Jonathan Papelbon's last year in Boston, but Stark isn't so sure the stopper will find a better deal elsewhere.  "He'll test the market," Stark writes, "but you'll have a ton of closers out there this winter. [Papelbon] might not get what he thinks he'll get."
  • Stark hears from teams who have "kicked the tires" about acquiring Derek Lowe that the Braves want to keep the veteran right-hander.  (Stark's ESPN colleague Buster Olney reported the same earlier this week.)  Atlanta values its starting pitching depth, which has already been tested this season with Brandon Beachy's current DL stint.
  • The Phillies "can't add anybody who makes even modest money unless ownership signs off on it," which could leave them unable to make a major acquisition at the trade deadline.
  • Stark has heard from some general managers that "eventually, there will be a push to get rid of the DH" to get both leagues playing under the same set of rules.  Such a rule change would be years away from being implemented, however, since teams have spent a lot on players who they intended to use as designated hitters now or in the future.
  • The Orioles don't seem like they'd be willing to trade Jeremy Guthrie, and Luke Scott "isn't an easy guy to deal" given his controversial political views.
  • Jesus Montero "isn't ready" for the majors yet, according to some International League scouts.

Quick Hits: Dodgers, DeRosa, LaRoche

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Some items of note on Friday night as Danny Espinosa looks to collect a double to complete the cycle in the slugfest between the Nationals and Orioles …

Orioles Designate Troy Patton For Assignment

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The Orioles have designated lefty Troy Patton for assignment from the 25-man roster, per a club press release. The move serves to clear space on the 25-man roster for infielder Ryan Adams, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk.

Patton, a ninth-round pick of the Astros in 2004, appeared in just one game for the O's this season, surrendering two earned runs in 2 1/3 innings on Thursday night against the Yankees. The lefty, now 25, was once a well-regarded prospect and was acquired by Baltimore after the 2007 season in the deal that sent Miguel Tejada to Houston.

AL East Notes: Orioles, Martinez, Lowe, Posada

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Hector Noesi got his first MLB win in unconventional fashion yesterday, pitching in and out of trouble through four innings of scoreless relief against the Orioles. Here’s the latest on the Yankees, the O’s and their division rivals after a bizarre game in Baltimore…

Gammons On Millwood, Catchers, Posada

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MLB Network's Peter Gammons appeared on WEEI's Mut & Merloni show today, and Jerry Spar has the transcript.  A few highlights:

  • The Red Sox called on Kevin Millwood to see if he will go to Triple-A Pawtucket and pitch, according to Gammons (on Twitter). With John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka on the DL, the Red Sox are short on starting pitching.
  • Gammons does not consider Pedro Martinez a likely option.  In a May interview, Pedro seemed to be leaning toward retirement.  There's not much else on the free agent market – Jeremy Bonderman and Jarrod Washburn are unsigned, but it's not clear if they're looking to get back into the game or would consider the East Coast.
  • "Raise your son to be a catcher," advises Gammons, as many teams around baseball in addition to the Red Sox are getting no production at the position.  The average American League catcher is hitting .224/.294/.361 this year, a similar line to the one Ivan Rodriguez had in 2010.
  • If Jorge Posada doesn't start hitting, Gammons can see the Yankees releasing him and calling up Jesus Montero, who is hitting .331/.363/.433 at Triple-A.  In that case Gammons believes Posada would remain in the AL East, signing with the Orioles.  Buck Showalter's final season managing the Yankees coincided with Posada's rookie year. 
  • Speaking of the Orioles, Mark Teixeira spoke to the Baltimore Sun's Luke Broadwater about the team's interest back in '08: "Of the five offers I received, the Orioles were by far the lowest offer and I don't know if they were ever that serious about signing me. We had one meeting and that was it. I'm not sure if they were ever very interested."  Digging through the MLBTR archives, I think the Orioles topped out at seven years, $140MM.  Teixeira added that he expects to finish his career as a Yankee.

AL East Notes: Red Sox, Bautista, Orioles

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On this date two years ago, right-hander Andy Sonnanstine hit third against the Indians after Joe Maddon made an error in filling out his lineup card. Sonnanstine had an RBI double and the Rays won. Here's a round of links from the AL East… 

  • Alex Speier of WEEI.com tells the story of 2006 draft pick Kris Johnson, whom the Red Sox released recently. Boston selected Johnson before Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill and others, though Speier points out that the draft is an imperfect science and notes that the Red Sox had their reasons for selecting the left-hander at the time.
  • Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that he doesn't put himself in the same category as Albert Pujols because the Cardinals first baseman has succeeded for a decade. It's becoming clear that Bautista is the best hitter in the game – at least in 2011.
  • As ESPN.com's Buster Olney notes, the AL East will be a summer-long grind, as the Yankees deal with age, the Red Sox deal with issues at the back of their rotation and the Rays try to keep winning without financial flexibility (Twitter link).
  • Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com previews some Orioles roster moves: Brandon Snyder and Troy Patton will likely take the places of the injured Derrek Lee and Cesar Izturis.

Keith Law’s First Mock Draft

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There is still a lot that can and will change between now and the amateur draft in three weeks, but that didn't stop ESPN's Keith Law from posting his first mock draft today. It's an Insider-only piece, but here are the important points…

  • The Pirates are considering Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon, and have "done their due diligence" on Dylan Bundy. Law notes that "under Neal Huntington the Pirates have long considered value relative to cost in their drafts, sometimes preferring to spend less in the first round when they see opportunities to spend their savings on other appealing prospects in later rounds." He has them taking Danny Hultzen first overall.
  • Everyone Law has spoken to says the Mariners will take Rendon as long as the medicals check out, and he hears from the very good source that there is nothing structural wrong with the Rice third baseman's shoulder.
  • The Diamondbacks will take Hultzen third overall if he's available, and they're hoping for Bundy or Trevor Bauer with the seventh overall pick. That pick is compensation for failing to sign Barret Loux last year.
  • The Orioles have interest in Bundy, Bauer, and Jed Bradley with the fourth pick. Law emphasizes that everyone has told him the Royals want a college pitcher with the fifth pick. The Indians have their eyes on Bauer for eighth overall.
  • High school outfielder Brandon Nimmo is looking for $2MM, and Law has him going to the Rays with the 32nd pick.
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