Quick Hits: Melky, Cruz, Red Sox, Cardinals
Four teams have at least a 98% chance of reaching the postseason this year, according to Baseball Prospectus' Playoff Odds Report. The Yankees, Rangers, Nationals and Reds look like playoff teams now, but they all saw what happened to the Braves and Red Sox last year, so I doubt any contending teams intend on coasting from this point on. Here are today’s links…
- The chances that Melky Cabrera will appear in a potential postseason game or re-sign with the Giants this offseason are "close to nil," according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters, including Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, that the team wouldn't attempt to retain Juan Cruz if he clears waivers (Twitter link). The Bucs have younger players who have passed Cruz, according to Hurdle. Cruz was designated for assignment earlier today.
- The Red Sox "weren't trying very hard" to trade Josh Beckett before the non-waiver trade deadline, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. The Rangers and Braves are believed to be among the teams that spoke to Boston's executives about Beckett, Heyman writes. One unnamed GM said "Boston's first priority has to be to trade Josh Beckett'' this August. Another executive suggested the Rangers could make sense for Beckett, who would have to be placed on waivers to be traded this month.
- The Cardinals signed 16-year-old right-hander Ronald Medrano, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. Medrano has touched 90-91 mph with his fastball and has shown good feel for his secondary pitches. He had been considered one of the top Nicaraguan prospects available, according to Badler.
- Nationals first rounder Lucas Giolito re-injured his pitching elbow and will be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, ESPN.com's Keith Law reports. Giolito, who was at one point a candidate to be selected first overall, signed for $2.925MM after the Nationals drafted him 16th overall in June.
Red Sox Notes: Crawford, McClure
The latest news on the Red Sox who, at 59-63, are currently on pace to suffer their first losing season since 1997…
- Clay Buchholz told the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham that he was surprised by the decision to let McClure go (Sulia link). Buchholz said he had a good relationship with McClure and spoke to him daily.
- Carl Crawford will undergo Tommy John surgery on Thursday, the team announced via press release. The surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews. Two seasons into the seven-year deal Crawford signed with Boston, he'll have appeared in just 161 games and batted .260/.292/.419. As a position player, Crawford will likely have a shorter recovery time than pitchers who undergo the procedure. For example, Reds shortstop Zack Cozart had Tommy John last August and was ready for Spring Training this season.
- In a second press release, the Red Sox announced that they've fired pitching coach Bob McClure. Assistant pitching coach Randy Niemann will take over the position in the interim. Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal tweets the following quote from Boston GM Ben Cherington: "This wasn't working out. We felt like we need to make a change. The best thing to do was to give everyone a fresh start." Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com adds that the decision was performance-based, not because of clashes with manager Bobby Valentine (Twitter link).
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post tweets that McClure will be a candidate to take over the Rockies' pitching coordinator. As Renck points out, McClure is familiar working with pitchers at an altitude. McClure spent seven years as a pitching coach with the Rockies between Triple-A and the Major League club from 1999-2005.
Los Angeles Notes: Ellis, Lackey, Wells, Greinke
The Dodgers lead the NL West by the slimmest of margins (half a game) over the Giants, but their American League counterpart isn’t so well-positioned. The Angels are just two games above .500 after losing four games in a row and they’re now 4.5 games behind the Wild Card leaders. Here's the latest on Los Angeles' two teams…
- Catcher A.J. Ellis explains how this year's trade deadline unfolded from the point of view of the Dodgers’ players in a guest column at Buster Olney's ESPN.com blog. Ellis acknowledges that players refresh MLBTR in search of news as the trade deadline approaches. "Few of us would admit to religiously checking websites like MLBTradeRumors and Twitter feeds looking for rumors, but we do," he writes.
- Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times would not be surprised if the Angels try to engage the Red Sox in trade talks about a possible John Lackey for Vernon Wells deal this offseason (Twitter links). Wells, who has $42MM on his contract after 2012, could be a fit in Fenway Park, DiGiovanna writes. Lackey, who pitched in Anaheim from 2002-09, has $30.5MM remaining on his contract after 2012.
- The trade that sent Zack Greinke to Anaheim hasn't worked out as well as expected for the Angels, Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel writes. Greinke has a 6.19 ERA in five starts since being traded.
AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Hughes
Let's take a look at some items on the Red Sox and Yankees as they get set to square off tonight..
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman will soon have to decide where they stand on Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, who are both set to hit free agency after next season, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. When asked about how he views the two long-term, Cashman responded, “That is stuff I can’t answer at this stage. It is a two-way street. It is a negotiation for two sides. So it is all for another day."
- Sources told Andy Martino and Roger Rubin of the New York Daily News that the text message from Adrian Gonzalez to Red Sox ownership about Bobby Valentine was actually authored by catcher Kelly Shoppach. The catcher was later traded to the Mets, clearing room in Boston for Valentine favorite Ryan Lavarnway.
- The Yankees are often criticized for their hefty payroll, but the club has done an outstanding job of stockpiling low-cost veteran players, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal praises Cashman for his patience on the open market and his aggressiveness in small trades and on the waiver wire.
Cafardo On Ellsbury, Bourn, Ross, Cook, Millwood
In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that despite the perception that Jacoby Ellsbury would like to leave Boston down the line, a source says that he would actually like to stay if at all possible. Neither side has asked the other to consider a long-term deal, but that could certainly change in the offseason. Here's more from Cafardo..
- In last week's column, Cafardo wrote that Braves officials thought Michael Bourn would not re-sign when he becomes a free agent due to a less-than-stellar track record with Scott Boras clients. However, Boras told Cafardo that he has had an excellent relationship with General Manager Frank Wren and the club as a whole. The agent says he is not ruling out Atlanta at all and added that Bourn enjoys playing there.
- The Red Sox are very interested in pursuing a new deal with Cody Ross, who will be coming off of a one-year, $3MM pact this winter. With many teams in need of a righthanded bat, he could likely net a Josh Willingham-type three-year, $21MM deal.
- The Orioles, Nationals, and Dodgers may be among teams looking at Red Sox pitcher Aaron Cook now that he is on trade waivers.
- Mariners pitcher Kevin Millwood has not been placed on trade waivers yet but he could be one of the more sought-after pitchers once he is. “He’s got ice water in his veins and he knows how to get big outs,” said a veteran scout. “A guy like that isn’t going to do the Mariners any good going forward but he could solidify a rotation.”
- Cubs personnel are disappointed that Alfonso Soriano won’t waive his 10-and-5 rights to go to the Giants. The outfielder doesn't want to play in a colder climate that could adversely affect his hitting.
Red Sox Notes: Blue Jays, Farrell, Varitek
Here's a look at the latest on the Red Sox as they get set to take on the Yankees in the Bronx..
- There has been a great deal of speculation that the Red Sox could look to lure back Blue Jays skipper John Farrell should they choose to part ways with Bobby Valentine, but Farrell shot down the talk, writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Farrell reminded reporters that he is still under contract in Toronto while General Manager Alex Anthopoulos noted that the club's policy only allows for departures in the event of a promotion.
- Farrell's contract runs through next season but it may make sense for both Toronto and Boston to work out a deal, opines Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd). Olney adds that the Red Sox came close to reaching an agreement with Toronto last fall. The Blue Jays, he writes, should present Farrell with an extension offer beyond 2013, and should look to trade him to Boston should he decline.
- While many people have opined that former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek would make sense as the club's next manager, WEEI.com's Kirk Minihane argues that Boston needs an outsider as its skipper.
Red Sox Release Mark Prior
The Red Sox have released right-hander Mark Prior, according to Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times (via Twitter). The move was made in order to create space for the newly-acquired Pedro Beato.
Prior, 31, hooked on with the Red Sox in early May as he looked to attempt yet another comeback. During his time in Triple-A Pawtucket, Prior posted a 3.96 ERA with 13.7 K/9 and 8.3 BB/9 in a small sample size of 25 innings of work. The second-overall pick in 2001 was brilliant in the early portion of his career but has not pitched in the majors since 2006 thanks to a series of shoulder problems.
AL East Notes: Red Sox, Lester, Orioles, Reynolds
Yesterday, Red Sox President Larry Lucchino took some time to talk to the press in the midst of the team’s recent turmoil. Lucchino told reporters, including Tim Britton of The Providence Journal (via Twitter), that despite the criticism the club has faced in recent weeks, “The cynical, jaded media do not necessarily capture the voice of the fan base.” Here’s more out of Fenway and the rest of the AL East..
- Boston has been a desirable free agent destination for the better part of the last decade, but pitcher Jon Lester isn’t sure if that is still the case, writes Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald. “I don’t know,” Lester said. “It’s always been a demanding place to play, but until the last two years, it always was about baseball. Now we’ve got things written and said about guys’ personal stuff as human beings, as people. Now you’re starting to question people’s manhoods. That’s where it gets hard.” Meanwhile, Lucchino doesn’t believe that the drama will dissuade players from wanting to come to Boston.
- Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com wonders if Mark Reynolds may be playing himself into the Orioles‘ plans for 2013 with his recent hot streak. Baltimore is unlikely to pick up his $11MM option for next season but they could non-tender him and bring him back for considerably less. In total, Reynolds isn’t having a stellar year by his standards, hitting .220/.335/.413 with 12 homers in 355 plate appearances.
- If the Red Sox decide to make a managerial change, Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests Jason Varitek as a good fit for the clubhouse. The success of Robin Ventura of the White Sox and the Cardinals’ Mike Matheny should make clubs feel better about first-time managers, Sherman opines.
- Meanwhile, Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com has a different ex-player in mind: Bill Mueller. Mueller is currently serving as a special assistant in the Dodgers‘ front office and like Varitek, doesn’t have any managerial experience.
Red Sox Place Aaron Cook On Trade Waivers
The Red Sox have placed Aaron Cook, Felix Doubront, and Andrew Miller on trade waivers, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Cafardo notes that while Doubront won't be going anywhere, Cook is a trade candidate.
In ten starts this season, Cook has a 4.58 ERA with 1.1 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9. The 33-year-old inked a minor league deal with Boston over the winter, worth $1.5MM prorated upon his promotion to the big leagues. The Red Sox waited until the 11th hour to call him up rather than trigger his opt-out clause, but ultimately putting him on the big league roster in early May.
The right-hander was said to be drawing "modest interest" from clubs in late July. The Rangers were scouting Cook at one point last month but wound up backing off closer to the deadline.
Red Sox Acquire Beato To Complete Shoppach Deal
The Red Sox have acquired right-hander Pedro Beato from the Mets as the player to be named later in the Kelly Shoppach trade, reports ESPN's Keith Law (on Twitter). New York acquired Shoppach earlier this week.
Beato, 25, has pitched to a 4.67 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 71 1/3 relief innings with the Mets over the last two seasons. They originally acquired him as a Rule 5 Draft pick from the Orioles prior to last season, then retained his rights by keeping him on the roster all summer. Beato has pitched to a 4.14 ERA in 37 Triple-A innings this season while also missing time with a shoulder problem.