Tigers Acquire Aubrey Huff
2:47pm: According to a team press release, the Tigers acquired Huff for minor league righty Brett Jacobson. The Orioles will assign Jacobson, who entered the year as the Tigers' 10th best prospect according to Baseball America, to Class-A Frederick.
2:43pm: Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports that the Tigers are close to acquiring Aubrey Huff from the Orioles. The Tigers, who have been looking for a bat, can now play Carlos Guillen in the field, which gives them more flexibility. Huff makes $8MM and becomes a free agent after the season.
Orioles Sign 11th Rounder For $995k
Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Orioles signed 11th round pick Michael Ohlman for $995k. Now the Orioles, who signed 22nd rounder Cameron Coffey for $990k last week, have awarded the two biggest bonuses to players drafted after the 10th round this year. Ohlman is a catcher with good power and arm stength, Callis says.
O’s & Yanks Sign Mid-Round Picks
Jeff Zrebiec from the Baltimore Sun writes that the Orioles have agreed to terms with 11th-round pick Michael Ohlman. The 6'4", 215 pound catcher hit .550 and stole 23 bases in 24 attempts in his senior year at Lakewood Ranch High School. Terms of the deal are unknown.
Also, Paul Strelow from the State newspaper in South Carolina reports that the Yankees have agreed to terms with 14th-rounder Graham Stoneburner. Stoneburner was 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA this past season for Clemson, and has already reported to the Yankees' rookie league affiliate in Tampa. (Hat tip NoMaas Yankees Draft Spot)
Odds & Ends: Orioles, Angels, Ackley
Some Sunday morning odds and ends from around the league:
- The Orioles received first baseman Rhyne Hughes from the Rays to complete the August 7 deal for Gregg Zaun, says Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. The O's also sent more than $300K to the Rays. According to Connolly, the 25-year old Hughes "hit .313 with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 56 games at Triple-A Durham and .252 with 15 homers and 46 RBIs in 58 games at Double-A Montgomery this season. He struck out 149 combined times in 440 at-bats this year."
- Ed Eagle of MLB.com reports the Angels signed University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker, their tenth round pick. Locker wants to pursue a career in pro-football but views the opportunity with the Angels as a backup plan. According to Eagle, "Locker is considered a potential high-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft."
- Larry Stone of the Seattle Times chimes in on the latest with Dustin Ackley and the Seattle Mariners who need to reach an agreement by midnight tomorrow.
- Miguel Tejada is willing to move to third if it keeps him in Houston, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Lackey A Good Fit For Baltimore?
Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun speculates that pending free agent John Lackey could be a natural fit for the Orioles who are in need of a veteran starter to "help mold a real rotation out of all those promising young arms." This speculation comes on the heels of Lackey's comments from last night's game:
Schmuck does say that he can't imagine the Angels letting Lackey slip away. As it stands, the Angels are waiting until the off season to begin negotiations. In his last 10 starts, Lackey has allowed more than 2 runs only twice with a 66:21 K:BB.
Hughes Sent To O’s, Completes Zaun Deal
According to Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune, the Rays have sent 25-year-old first baseman Rhyne Hughes to Baltimore to complete last week's trade for veteran catcher Gregg Zaun.
Hughes is batting .282/.350/.516 with 22 home runs and 72 RBI this season in 440 at-bats between Triple-A Durham and Double-A Montgomery. He has also struck out 149 times. Zaun, 38, is 5-for-15 with two doubles and a solo home run in his short time with Rays.
Odds & Ends: Yankees, Orioles, Scheppers
A buffet brunch of links–come get your fill:
- Ken Davidoff at Newsday reports that the Yankees are confident first-round pick/secret agent from the future Slade Heathcott will sign, likely for a bonus around $2MM.
- Jeff Zrebiec at the Baltimore Sun talked to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who assures that manager Dave Trembley's job is safe through this season. Trembley has a club option for 2010.
- Yahoo Sports' Gordon Edes believes that we will see draft picks as commodities to be traded in the near future, as it "makes too much sense."
- Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker discusses the possibility that Tanner Scheppers pitches in Japan, and concludes that most international free agent signings in NPB are "low-risk, low-reward."
- Lane Meyer at NoMaas talked to Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer about the draft and potential signings.
Odds And Ends: Dodgers, Davis, Prospects
More links for the afternoon…
- Jon Weisman of the LA Times reports that the Dodgers could be close to signing Garrett Gould.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic notes that it looks like Doug Davis is staying put, even though the Brewers claimed him on waivers.
- The recently-traded Josh Bell and Carlos Carrasco appear on this week's edition of Baseball America's prospect hot sheet.
- Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors says the Red Sox did well to acquire the sure-handed Alex Gonzalez, even if he's only a minor upgrade for them.
- Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports that Orioles manager Dave Trembley doesn't have to worry about his job security through the end of the season.
Odds And Ends: Rays, Astros, Ortiz, Coffey
Some links for Friday morning…
- Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that the Rays are nearing deals with several top draft picks, including first rounder LeVon Washington.
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle doesn't expect the Astros to lower their 2010 payroll by more than about 15%, though attendance is declining steadily.
- Just like old times. As Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe reports, David Ortiz is struggling again.
- How does a 22nd round pick sign for $1MM? Cameron Coffey showed improved stuff this spring, but even he had no intention of signing until the Orioles came at him with a $990k offer recently, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America.
- As Callis notes, the Rangers signed fifth round righty Nick McBride for $325k, which nearly doubles MLB's recommended bonus for his slot.
Odds & Ends: Cubs, Strasburg, O’s
Some more links on a slow night in Rumorville:
- A reader points us to a report out of Korea that says two amateurs have been signed out of Korea. CF Kyung-min Na was signed by the Cubs for 725k and is called "the fastest player in Korean high school baseball," while IF Chan-jong Moon was signed by the Astros for 350k.
- According to MASN Sports' Steve Melewski, Orioles head of scouting Joe Jordan sees recent 22nd-round signee Cameron Coffey as "top two rounds" talent and expects him to pitch next season despite recent surgery.
- Count in Ryan Zimmerman as a fan of Stephen Strasburg. He hopes the Nationals sign the fireballer, says Bill Ladson at MLB.com.
- Roch Kubatko at MASN Sports says that Orioles president Andy MacPhail doesn't have much interest in the recently DFA'd Bill Hall.
- Kubatko also reports that the Orioles are set to determine the player to be named from the Rays in the Gregg Zaun deal this coming Monday.