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Steve Trachsel Designated For Assignment

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According to Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles designated pitcher Steve Trachsel for assignment today.  The move was expected, given Trachsel’s 8.39 ERA and 0.59 K/BB in 39.6 innings this year.

The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec talked with Trachsel this spring and got the impression that he’d retire if the Orioles let him go (unless another team puts him in the rotation).

Brewers Not Interested In Brian Roberts

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According to Ken Rosenthal today:

Here’s a deal that makes sense: Brian Roberts for Rickie Weeks. The Brewers, who recently had two scouts watching the Orioles, are interested in Roberts, but it remains to be seen whether they are ready to give up on Weeks.

Brewers GM Doug Melvin denies the report, stating that his scouts "were watching the Orioles as part of their normal assignments."  The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt has mentioned before that Melvin has always been frank and honest with him, and this is no exception.  Melvin even revealed that the Orioles tried to get the Brewers involved during the spring as competition for the Cubs.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Roberts, Bonds, Dunn

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column; let’s discuss.

  • Rosenthal notes that many contenders will need relief help come July.  We’ve got a list of available relievers here.
  • The Brewers are interested in second baseman Brian Roberts.  Rosenthal suggests they offer Rickie Weeks for Roberts and another player.  Rosenthal notes that the various rumored springtime Cubs offers are now off the table.
  • Barry Bonds is not a consideration for Boston even if David Ortiz’s injury becomes long-term.  Rosenthal believes Adam Dunn could be on the radar under that scenario.

Talking Retirement: Smoltz, Trachsel, Mercker

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Today we’ve got a trio of pitchers who may be ready to call it quits.

  • John Smoltz will have season-ending shoulder surgery.  Retirement is not out of the question, but right now he’s got his eye on returning in ’09.
  • Jeff Zrebiec talked with Steve Trachsel in spring; he’ll probably retire if the Orioles release him.
  • Hal McCoy expects Kent Mercker to hang it up.  He’s on the 60-day DL with a sore back.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Padilla, Greinke, Hatteberg

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Let’s discuss Ken Rosenthal’s lastest column.

  • There’s some chatter that the ’09 draft class will be weak.  This could motivate teams to trade their impending free agent stars this July rather than collect compensation picks.
  • Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson has "fallen out of favor with some in the organization."  Rosenthal believes he’d be a hot commodity if fired.
  • The Rangers are open to trading Vicente Padilla, as you’d expect.  We’ve heard some crazy things about the asking price.
  • While the Royals don’t seem to consider Zack Greinke untouchable, they’d have to be bowled over to trade him.
  • The Yanks probably don’t have room for Ben Broussard, and the Orioles could swoop in and sign him if he’s granted free agency this month.
  • Look for Scott Hatteberg to become a free agent today; interest appears to be tepid.
  • The Florida teams are willing to spend money for midseason upgrades.  They’re understandably reluctant to trade prospects.
  • Doesn’t seem like Orlando Cabrera will be signing long-term with the White Sox.

Mayo’s Latest: Alvarez, Orioles, Cashner

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MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo has some draft tidbits tonight.

  • The idea has been floated that the Rays could draft Pedro Alvarez with an eye on moving Evan Longoria to second base down the road.  Alvarez’s position really shouldn’t be a concern – Carlos Pena might be gone by the time he’s ready.  Mayo’s heard buzz that the Rays have narrowed it down to Alvarez or Buster Posey, despite what Tim Beckham’s dad said.
  • Standard speculation is that the O’s are looking at Brian Matusz and Justin Smoak, but Mayo’s heard there might be a non-Beckham dark horse.
  • The White Sox have Smoak, Yonder Alonso, and perhaps Andrew Cashner on their radar at #8.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: 2008 Amateur Draft

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With last year’s top pick, David Price, making his pro debut yesterday, we are now two weeks from the 2008 "Rule 4 Draft" and the top of the draft is not as clear this time around. There are five candidates that could go in the top slot: Buster Posey, the FSU catcher; Vanderbilt’s third baseman Pedro Alvarez; San Diego lefty Brian Matusz; Southern California high school catcher Kyle Skipworth, and Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham. Earlier this week we heard that the Rays were leaning towards Posey or Alvarez, while the Pirates were said to be torn between Alvarez and Beckham with the second pick. Recent mock drafts from Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, have Beckham going to the Rays with the top pick.

Let’s take a look at what is being said about the upcoming draft in the Blogosphere…

  • Minor League Ball ranks the top 30 prospects, with Posey and Beckham at the top of the board, while Alvarez’ injury knocks him down to #8.
  • Baseball Mastermind would like to see a push for a little more hype in the baseball draft and feels that baseball fans would benefit from more debate on the merits of the available talent. They also can’t see the Rays taking Alvarez with the top pick now that they have Evan Longoria locked up to a long-term deal.
  • DRays Bay wonders if recent reports of the Rays drafting Beckham or Posey were just smoke-screens to lower the price on Alvarez, who is a Scott Boras client.
  • Rays of Light note that Alvarez would be the ideal choice, but believe signability may be too big of a factor to ignore, making Posey more attractive.
  • Bucs Dugout feels a team should select the best available player with the second pick, but suggests that a team like the Pirates, that is still several years away from contending, may be better off drafting high school talent. The idea is that an Alvarez will not help a Bucs club in ’09 or ’10 while a Beckham will remain under the team’s control for more years.
  • Camden Depot doesn’t sound very excited about the prospect of the Orioles drafting Matusz.
  • McCovey Chronicles is hoping that Alvarez falls to the Giants at #5.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Griffey, Baek, German, Wells

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Here’s today’s link collection.

Markakis To Talk Extension After Season?

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The Orioles have been slow to embrace the trend of signing young players long-term to save money.  Granted, they don’t have any obvious extension candidates aside from right fielder Nick Markakis.  Jeremy Guthrie, maybe, but he’s represented by Scott Boras and isn’t a star player.  Seems too early for Adam Jones.  Earlier this month, Buster Olney wrote that the Orioles plan to wait at least three years before talking to Markakis or Jones about extensions.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun has a new article up discussing Markakis’ situation.  He notes that Markakis’ agent hasn’t had substantive contract talks with the Orioles, but discussions are expected this winter since he’ll be arbitration-eligible for the ’09 season.  Connolly says the O’s aren’t concerned about saving money during the arb years; they’d be focused on buying out free agent seasons.  So they could definitely continue to wait even as fans get uneasy about Markakis.  Connolly figures Markakis’ salary will jump up to the $2.5-5MM range in ’09.

Connolly suggests Alex Rios might be a good comparable for Markakis.  Rios basically gave up two arb years for $15.6MM and four free agent years for $49MM. 

Indians Prefer Infield Acquisition?

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Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer believes the Indians’ preference to be to acquire an infielder, if they are to explore the trade market.  If so, they might pass on discussing potentially available outfielders such as Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, and Jason Bay.  However, Hoynes notes the Indians’ past interest in Dunn.

Hoynes believes the Brian Roberts rumblings could resurface, perhaps a month or two from now.  Peter Gammons suggested in April that the Orioles’ decent start might cause Peter Angelos to mandate retention of Roberts.

Some other possibly available infielders: Garrett Atkins, Nick Johnson (perhaps six weeks from now), Aubrey Huff, Mark Grudzielanek, Jose Castillo, Cristian Guzman, Felipe Lopez, Melvin Mora, Chad Tracy, and Mark Ellis (once he recovers from a strained hamstring).  It seems easier to acquire an impact outfielder.  Regardless, Hoynes believes the Indians would use their starting pitching surplus to engineer a trade.

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