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Odds & Ends: Zambrano, Millwood, Orioles, Ausmus

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Let's check out some tidbits from around the web on this Fourth Of July eve..

Odds & Ends: Dodgers, Mets, Orioles, Lee

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Links for Friday night, as Roy Oswalt and Mat Latos duel in San Diego….

Stark On Wigginton, Lopez, Atkins, Lee

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Unlike the Red Sox and Rockies, who may try to avoid making a trade to replace their injured infielders, the Phillies are "trying like hell" to find an infield bat, writes ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. Stark breaks down the Phillies' options and shares some Cliff Lee rumors in a new blog entry:

  • Enough teams are interested in Ty Wigginton that the Orioles can be patient in their attempts to get maximum value for him. The Phillies, on the other hand, need an infielder now, so they'll either have to meet Baltimore's asking price or look elsewhere.
  • A scout tells Stark that some people in the Phils' organization like Jose Lopez "a lot."
  • The Phillies have never been overly interested in Garrett Atkins, and that hasn't changed now that he has become available.
  • Kelly Johnson, Jhonny Peralta, Jose Bautista, and Miguel Tejada are also possibilities to varying degrees for Philadelphia.
  • The Phils don't want to move Domonic Brown, Jarred Cosart, Anthony Gose, or Trevor May for an infielder, but would discuss anyone except Brown for a top starting pitcher.
  • The Reds "are more interested than they're letting on" in Lee, while the Yankees also continue to monitor the Mariners' left-hander.
  • The Rangers and Dodgers would love to acquire Lee, but would have to give up a slew of prospects to avoid taking on his salary.
  • According to Stark, there have even been rumblings that the Rays could be a match for the M's ace if they were willing to move B.J. Upton.

Yankees Interested In Ty Wigginton

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The Yankees have some interest in Ty Wigginton, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse. Price suggests the Yankees would be interested in the 32-year-old as a part-time player, rather than as an everyday starter.

In 299 plate appearances for the Orioles this season, Wigginton has hit .258/.342/.465, and his versatility has provided the O's even more value. In addition to logging significant time at first and second base, he has started a handful of games at third base. Though Wigginton hasn't spent any time in the outfield this season, he has shown in the past that he can play there if needed, recording 30 games in left field for the Astros in 2008.

For their part, the Orioles are reportedly looking for a young shortstop in exchange for Wigginton. If they were to discuss a trade with the Yankees, the first name the O's would bring up might be Eduardo Nunez, who Baseball America ranked 14th among Yankees prospects heading into 2010. The 23-year-old shortstop is in the midst of a breakout year (.313/.358/.416) for the Yanks' Triple-A affiliate, making it somewhat unlikely that New York would move him to rent Wigginton. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports doesn't think any team will part with a promising young shortstop for Wigginton, calling Baltimore's demand a "self-defeating stance."

Wigginton is earning $3.5MM in 2010, the final season of a two-year pact with the O's. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, Wigginton recently left agent Dan Lozano and hired the Levinson Brothers, presumably in anticipation of his upcoming free agency.

Orioles Notes: Dempsey, Wedge, Izturis, Wigginton

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Some news from the city of Omar, McNulty and Stringer Bell…

  • Former Oriole and current MASN broadcaster Rick Dempsey interviewed today for the club's managerial job, and Dempsey talked about the experience with Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Connolly notes that this is the fourth time Dempsey has been interviewed in regards to a managerial opening with the club.
  • Connolly also reported that former Indians manager Eric Wedge had his second interview today.
  • Earlier today, MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli reported that Josh Bell's promotion doesn't mean that a Ty Wigginton or Miguel Tejada deal is imminent.  In a more detailed blog entry, Ghiroli added this quote from Baltimore president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail: "I might have [a trade] on the horizon…We've had conversations, and the more you get close to the end of the month the more conversations you are going to have. But there's nothing right around the corner that I'm aware of."
  • Ghiroli adds that MacPhail also denied that Cesar Izturis could be made available for a trade if Tejada was switched back to the shortstop position.
  • ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that Wigginton "would be a great target" for the Phillies as a replacement for Chase Utley.

Rosenthal On Phillies’ Infield Options

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7:30pm: According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, the Phillies haven't talked to the Nationals about Kennedy.

1:31pm: The Phillies learned today that Chase Utley will be out for several weeks due to thumb surgery, and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com chimes in with some possible replacement options. He notes that the replacement doesn't necessary have to be a second baseman (Twitter link), because the team can use Placido Polanco at that position once he's healthy. That opens up the possibility of a trade for a third baseman.

Rosenthal says that former Phillie Pedro Feliz is an unlikely target, citing a scout who says his bat speed is "gone." Feliz has hit just .229/.255/.317 in 255 plate appearances this year, and his trademark defense has declined back to a -4.3 UZR this season. The Fox Sports scribe throws the names of Miguel Tejada, Ty Wigginton, Jhonny Peralta, Adam Kennedy, and Jose Lopez into the mix (Twitter links). The Mariners are actively trying to move Lopez, according to Rosenthal. 

For the now, Philadelphia will try to tread water with the combination of Wilson Valdez and Greg Dobbs at second and third, respectively. They've combined to hit just .222/.252/.338 in 222 plate appearances this season, and Jack Moore at FanGraphs chronicled just how big of a downgrade this is for the Phillies.

Orioles Call Up Josh Bell

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3:54pm: MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli spoke to Orioles' president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who denied that Bell's promotion had anything to do with a pending trade of either Tejada or Ty Wigginton (Twitter link). 

3:08pm: With Luke Scott headed to the disabled list, the Orioles have called up top prospect Josh Bell from Triple-A according to a team press release. Bell was acquired from the Dodgers in the George Sherrill trade last year, and he's batting seventh in tonight's lineup.

This is Bell's first time in the big leagues, so the team has already delayed his free agency and arbitration eligibility by one season. The 23-year-old was hitting .266/.311/.455 with 24 doubles and ten homers in 309 Triple-A plate appearances before being called up.

Since Bell is a third baseman, it's reasonable to think that this move is the first step towards a Miguel Tejada trade, with the team getting a look at his replacement before they go ahead and take the plunge. The Phillies, Twins, and Angels could all be suitors for the 2002 AL MVP, who is in tonight's lineup as the designated hitter.

Cla Meredith Clears Waivers

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JUNE 30: Meredith cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple A Norfolk, tweets Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.

JUNE 22: The Orioles designated Cla Meredith for assignment, according to the team. The 27-year-old sidearmer has a 5.40 ERA in 15 innings with the O's this year, posting 4.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9. Meredith, who last pitched in the majors on May 27th, was acquired for Oscar Salazar last year. Since his late-May demotion to Triple A, Meredith has a 13.50 in five appearances.

The Orioles demoted Chris Tillman to make room for recent acquisition Jake Fox on the 25-man roster, but they needed 40-man roster space so Meredith loses his spot.

Odds & Ends: White Sox, Lee, Pomeranz, Ripken

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Another round of links, as Nick Swisher prevents Cliff Lee's trade value from getting too high…

Rangers Scouted Jeremy Guthrie, Ty Wigginton

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The Rangers scouted Orioles players Jeremy Guthrie and Ty Wigginton as they prepare for the trade deadline, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.

Guthrie, under team control through 2012, has a 4.30 ERA, 4.8 K/9, and 2.3 BB/9 in 102.6 innings this year.  He's allowed 13 home runs.  In the same year that his salary jumped to $3MM, Guthrie's strikeout rate is getting dangerously low.  Still, the Rangers could use an innings eater with Rich Harden and Derek Holland on the disabled list.

Wigginton is a versatile rental, capable of playing second base, left field, and the infield corners.  He's got a .266/.351/.472 line on the season, including a lackluster June.  About $1.86MM remains on his contract.

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