Quick Hits: Trout, Pirates, White Sox
MVP awards are supposed to be based on a player's value to his team, but voters don't ordinarily take contract considerations into account, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports notes. If they did, Passan says the Angels' Mike Trout, who is making just $510K this year compared to Miguel Cabrera's $21MM, would likely win the AL MVP this year. The next-most-valuable player, when considering performance and salary, would be Matt Harvey, who is making $499K. Of course, players like Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw, who have higher salaries but also provide spectacular performance, are still extremely valuable even after factoring in their contracts. But Passan quotes Padres analyst Chris Long, who makes a distinction between value (that is, the degree to which a player outperforms his salary) and mere performance. Most MVP debates only consider the latter. Here are more notes from around the Majors.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington says that he believes fewer players are being placed on waivers than last August, and that more players are being claimed, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review tweets. That might suggest it will be difficult for the Pirates, and perhaps other teams as well, to pull off August trades.
- GM Rick Hahn has the White Sox on the right course, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago writes. Hayes argues that Hahn's trading has added high-level prospects (particularly Avisail Garcia, acquired from the Tigers in the Jake Peavy deal) and depth (in the form of the other three prospects acquired from the Red Sox in the same deal). Hahn also cleared salary by trading Peavy, Alex Rios, Matt Thornton and Jesse Crain. "Although this wasn’t how we wanted to spend the July and August trading periods, overall we are pleased with both the return talent-wise as well as the flexibility created by the deals," says Hahn.
- With their trades, the White Sox cleared $10.7MM in salary in 2013 and $27MM in 2014, Baseball America's Matt Eddy notes. Eddy has compiled a list of what each team traded at the deadline, and what it received in return.
AL Notes: White Sox, Vargas, Morneau
GM Rick Hahn of the White Sox says he plans on spending more on young talent in 2014, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports. The White Sox have saved plenty of money in their recent trades of Jake Peavy and Alex Rios, and it sounds like Hahn doesn't plan on using those savings on Major League payroll right away. "It's going to go to making the big league club better for the long haul, no doubt," says Hahn. "One of the positives of an unfortunate season like this is we're going to have the opportunity in all probability to spend a lot more money on amateur talent." Before the season, Baseball America ranked the White Sox's farm system the second-worst of any organization. Hahn also says the White Sox could continue trading this August. Here are more notes from the American League.
- The Angels are no longer in the playoff hunt, but free-agent-to-be Jason Vargas still has something to play for, the Los Angeles Times' Mike DiGiovanna writes. Vargas will soon rejoin the Angels' rotation after missing more than a month with a blood clot. Before that, he had a 3.65 ERA with 6.1 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 91 1/3 innings this season. His performance down the stretch will likely impact his standing on the free agent market this winter, says DiGiovanna, who also notes that the Angels are interested in keeping Vargas around. One possibility is that the Angels could deal Vargas this month, then attempt to acquire him again once he becomes a free agent.
- Twins first baseman Justin Morneau isn't sure about his waiver status, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes (on Twitter). "I have no idea if I’ve been put through waivers or claimed on waivers or whatever it is," Morneau says. "That’s still a possibility." Morneau is making $14MM in the final year of his contract.
Minor Moves: Mike Ekstrom, Julio Borbon
Here's your collection of minor moves from Tuesday…
- The Angels released right-hander Mike Ekstrom from Triple-A Salt Lake, according to the Pacific Coast League's transactions page. Ekstrom, who turns 30 at the end of this month, posted a 5.19 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 26 innings for the Bees this season. He's appeared in the Majors for at least one inning each year from 2008-12, but he has just a 5.61 ERA in 61 career big league innings.
- Julio Borbon has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Iowa, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link). The Cubs designated the speedster for assignment last Friday after he hit just .202/.284/.279 in 117 plate appearances after being claimed off waivers from the Rangers earlier this year.
- Six players are currently in DFA limbo: Laynce Nix of the Phillies, Michael Schwimer of the Blue Jays, Brent Lillibridge of the Yankees, Adam Rosales of the Rangers, Josh Sullivan of the Rockies and Yusmeiro Petit of the Giants.
Tommy Hanson Joins The Legacy Agency
Angels right-hander Tommy Hanson has changed agents and is now represented by Greg Genske of The Legacy Agency, according to Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal (on Twitter). Hanson had previously been represented by Scott Boras.
The 26-year-old Hanson was acquried by the Halos this offseason in a one-for-one swap that sent Jordan Walden to the Braves. A one-time top prospect who posted a 3.28 ERA through his first three Major League seasons, Hanson has seen his velocity and strikeout rates decline sharply, and his command has worsened as well. He's battled a forearm injury this season and has also spent time on the DL with back and shoulder injuries dating back to 2011.
Hanson has a 5.29 ERA with 7.0 K/9, 3.6 BB/9 and a 34 percent ground-ball rate in just 63 innings in his first season with the Angels. He's earning $3.73MM in 2013 and is controlled through the 2015 season via arbitration.
By switching to The Legacy Agency, Hanson joins an agency that represents many notable Major Leaguers, including Carl Crawford, Adam Dunn, Edwin Jackson, Aaron Hill, Jose Reyes and many more. For additional agency info on nearly 1,900 Major League and Minor League players, check out MLBTR's Agency Database. If you see any omissions or errors within the database, please email us at mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.
AL West Notes: Wilhelmsen, Smoak, Green, Rangers
Earlier today, the Mariners released Jason Bay after the outfielder hit .204/.298/.393 in 68 games for the club. Meanwhile, the Rangers announced that Colby Lewis will undergo hip surgery that will end his 2013 season. Here's more out of the AL West…
- The Mariners recently demoted struggling closer Tom Wilhelmsen to Triple-A Tacoma, and MLB.com's Greg Johns tweets that the team is going to experiment with him as a starter. Seattle isn't officially announcing that Wilhelmsen will convert to a starting role at this time, but he did start for Tacoma today with unsuccessful results. Wilhelmsen allowed three runs on three hits (two homers) with four strikeouts in two innings.
- Justin Smoak's turnaround has transformed him from one of the Mariners' problems to part of the solution, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. The Mariners still have plenty of decisions on their hands this offseason to produce a winning season, however, he adds.
- The Angels have called up infielder Grant Green in place of Daniel Stange and inserted him into the lineup, tweets Angels director of communications Eric Kay. Green, a former first-round pick, was acquired from the Athletics for Alberto Callaspo last week in a rare intra-division trade.
- In an appearance with Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio, Rangers GM Jon Daniels shot down previous reports that the team was willing to trade Matt Garza for a bat. He also said reports that the team wouldn't welcome Nelson Cruz back in 2014 after accepting his 50-game suspension were inaccurate (Twitter links).
Angels Release Ryan Madson
The Angels have released reliever Ryan Madson, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports (on Twitter). Madson signed a one-year, $3.5MM deal with the Angels last November to bolster what turned out to be a weak bullpen. The investment didn't pay dividends, however, since Madson hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2011 — he spent all of 2012 recovering from Tommy John surgery, and has not yet pitched in 2013, except in one May rehab appearance with Class A+ Inland Empire. Madson threw bullpen sessions in Arizona last month.
Madson has a 3.59 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 630 career innings pitched. He posted a 2.37 ERA with 9.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 2011 with the Phillies.
Minor Moves: Martinez, Marte, Urquidez
Monday's collection of minor moves from around the league…
- The Indians outrighted right-hander Joe Martinez to Triple-A Columbus over the weekend, according to the International League transactions page. Martinez was designated for assignment last week and has a 5.88 ERA in 19 games (16 starts) for Columbus this season.
- The Angels have signed infielder Andy Marte to a minor league deal, according to York Revolution play-by-play announcer Darrell Henry (Twitter link). Marte, 29, once ranked as a one of the game's top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America, and was hitting .301/.367/.526 with 19 homers in 96 games for the Revolution in the Atlantic League.
- Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com reports that the Halos have signed right-hander Jason Urquidez out of the Atlantic League (on Twitter). Urquidez, 30, was a 17th-round draft pick of the Diamondbacks out of Arizona State back in 2005. Serving as the closer for the Atlantic League's Lancaster Barnstormers, Urquidez posted a ridiculous 0.25 ERA by allowing just one earned run in 36 innings with 12.8 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9. Urquidez allowed just 19 hits as well, en route to a 0.72 WHIP with Lancaster.
- Four players are currently in DFA limbo: Julio Borbon of the Cubs, Josh Sullivan of the Rockies, Jason Bay of the Mariners and Yusmeiro Petit of the Giants.
Minor Moves: Dontrelle Willis, Ramirez, Pettit
Here are Sunday's minor moves from around MLB:
- The Angels tweeted they have signed left-hander Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract and have assigned him to Triple-A Salt Lake. The 31-year-old, who last appeared in a MLB game in 2011, has been pitching with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League where he has posted a 2.57 ERA, 5.3 K/9, and 4.4 BB/9 in 14 starts covering 87 2/3 innings.
- The Phillies have tweeted the outright assignment of right-hander J.C. Ramirez to Triple-A after he cleared waivers. The 24-year-old, who made his Major League debut this year, was designated for assignment Friday after allowing 13 runs (11 earned) in his last six outings covering 8 2/3 innings.
- The Orioles have released outfielder Chris Pettit from Double-A Bowie, tweets Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com. Petit, who appeared in one game with the Angels in 2011 and ten in 2009, has a slash line of .125/.253/.219 in 77 plate appearances with the Baysox. The 28-year-old has also spent time in the Twins organization and the Mexican League this year.
Dodgers Request Release Waivers On Ted Lilly
AUGUST 4: The Dodgers have requested unconditional release waivers on Lilly, a source told Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com. Lilly will become a free agent, if he goes unclaimed during the 48-hour waiver period.
JULY 25: The Dodgers have designated veteran left-hander Ted Lilly for assignment to clear a roster spot for utility player Elian Herrera, the team announced on Twitter. Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles adds (via Twitter) that the move comes as a result of a disagreement on whether or not Lilly would head to the minor leagues to adjust to a relief role.
Lilly, 37, is in the final season of a three-year, $33MM pact that he signed with the Dodgers prior to the 2011 campaign. He's battled injuries for much of the past two seasons, as evidenced by four separate DL stints since the onset of the 2012 season. He had shoulder surgery last September and has thrown just 23 innings for the Dodgers thus far in 2013. He hasn't pitched at the Major League level since June 4.
Lilly's role with the team has been in question all season, following last season's August acquisition of Josh Beckett and the offseason signings of Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Much was made of the Dodgers' surplus of starting pitchers prior to the season, as Lilly, Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano all appeared to have lost their rotation spots due to the aforementioned acquisitions. Now, only Capuano is left with the big league club, while Beckett and Chad Billingsley have been lost to season-ending injuries.
Edward Creech contributed to this post.
Angels Request Release Waivers On Brad Hawpe
AUGUST 4: The Angels tweeted they have requested unconditional release waivers on Hawpe for the purpose of granting him his unconditional release.
JULY 29: The Angels designated DH/right fielder/first baseman Brad Hawpe for assignment to make room for reliever Daniel Stange, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
Hawpe signed a minor league deal with the Angels in April, and returned to the Majors in parts of June and July for the first time in two years. In 153 Triple-A plate appearances this year, the 34-year-old hit .305/.405/.504. Hawpe was an 11th round pick of the Rockies in 2000, and hit 99 home runs for them from 2006-09, made an All-Star team, and even received a few MVP votes.
Stange, 27, has four big league appearances to his name, coming in 2010 with Arizona.