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Draft Notes: Williams, Cordell, Reinheimer

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This weekend's draft meant the start of a path to the big leagues for top picks like Mark Appel, Kris Bryant and Jonathan Gray, but also lots of unknowns selected on the Day Three. Former big-league outfielder Gabe Kapler reflects on his status as a late-round nobody in an essay for WEEI.com. While we're busy fussing over the signings of first-round picks, Kapler writes, "the next Kevin Youkilis will be covertly advancing through the minor league system on his way to winning a World Series championship with a bunch of other idiots." Here's more on the draft.

  • The Rangers have signed 11th-round pick Ryan Cordell, a junior outfielder from Liberty, for $100K, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (via Twitter). Signings of $100K or less after Round 10 do not count against teams' bonus pools. Baseball America ranked Cordell the No. 196 prospect in the draft.
  • There hasn't been any specific announcement of a signing, but MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports (via Twitter) that the Brewers' top pick, Missouri high school pitcher Devin Williams, is taking a team physical. Williams was a second-round pick; the Brewers lost their first-rounder when they signed Kyle Lohse.
  • Mariners fifth-round pick Jack Reinheimer will finalize his deal with his new team tomorrow, Nathan Summers of Reflector.com reports (via Twitter). Reinheimer, a junior shortstop from East Carolina, was the No. 147 pick in the draft.
  • ESPN's Keith Law's AL draft recap (Insider-only) features praise for the Athletics (who gambled on high-upside picks like Bobby Wahl, Kyle Finnegan and Dustin Driver in the middle rounds) and Yankees (who nabbed Eric Jagielo, Aaron Judge and Ian Clarkin with their three late-first-round picks).

East Notes: Phillies, Harper, Marrero, Cano

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In the aftermath of a 20-inning loss to the Marlins, the Mets designated Rick Ankiel for assignment and recalled Kirk Nieuwenhuis. However, the team's biggest concern was the health of young ace Matt Harvey, who left the game with stiffness in his lower back. But as Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports, Harvey is apparently fine and will make his next scheduled start on Friday. Here's more news from around MLB's East divisions:

  • The Phillies' recent hot streak may have turned the club from sellers to buyers, argues Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Brookover notes the discussion just last week was about which top players would be unloaded, whereas now it is about what pieces could be added to the young core. 
  • Nationals GM Mike Rizzo downplayed Bryce Harper's visit to orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion regarding the bursitis in the outfielder's left knee, according to MLB.com's William Ladson. "There's no worry," Rizzo said. "It is our protocol that players get a second opinion on any part of the body that we feel is a disabled list-type of injury. Guys get second opinions all the time here, and every guy that we put on the disabled list has gotten a second opinion." Harper is eligible to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday and is expected to rejoin the team then.
  • Chris Marrero may be up to stay, although the first baseman is temporarily serving as the Nationals' 26th man for today's doubleheader reports Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. The former first rounder may help the Nationals' disappointing offense get going, as Marrero has hit for a .306/.355/.502 line in 228 plate appearances.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that the Alex Rodriguez saga hurts Robinson Cano in his negotiations with the Yankees in a way you might not expect.  While Rodriguez’s record deal looks like it has soured from a value perspective, Sherman argues that the negative attention the contract has gotten has been even more detrimental. Cano is the top ranked free agent on MLBTR'S 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings.   

Edward Creech contributed to this post.

Stark On Miguel Cabrera, Kershaw, Nolasco, Stanton

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Jayson Stark's latest Rumblings & Grumblings column for ESPN came out yesterday; here are some highlights.

  • There have been enough informal conversations between Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers on a contract extension that both sides expect a deal to get done, a friend of the player tells Stark.  The tricky part is that a new deal would begin with the 2016 season, at which point Cabrera will be 33.  It seems likely that Cabrera would need an average annual value in the $30MM range, but Stark's sources picture anywhere from three to five additional years.
  • Some of Stark's sources don't consider Yankees second baseman and #1 2014 free agent Robinson Cano the type of player to build a team around.  One exec, though, told Stark, "I can't imagine him leaving."
  • Stark hears Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw seeks a ten-year deal, which would be the first for a pitcher since Wayne Garland signed a ten-year, $2.3MM deal in 1977 (those were different times).  One exec can't possibly see Kershaw leaving L.A., and could picture $200-210MM over seven years.  Even that would be well beyond C.C. Sabathia's record seven-year, $161MM deal, which was signed on the open market with the Yankees after the '08 season and included an opt-out clause.  I feel that Kershaw's agents at Excel Sports Management have to score an opt-out in any new deal, especially with the Dodgers giving them to Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
  • One exec suggests the Angels offer Mike Trout the Buster Posey deal, which amounted to eight years and $159MM in new money.  Stark says "folks around the game" do not see Trout signing, however.
  • The Orioles and Yankees are "leading the parade of teams that already have interest" in Miami's Ricky Nolasco.  The 30-year-old is easily the highest-paid Marlin, and should have about $7.7MM remaining on his contract at the trade deadline.  Nolasco has a 3.61 ERA in 82 1/3 innings, and sports his best strikeout rate since 2010.
  • Would anyone sign Alex Rodriguez, if the Yankees end up releasing him?  "No chance," says one executive.
  • The Marlins have shown no interest in dealing right fielder Giancarlo Stanton midseason, say clubs that have inquired, though Stark thinks Marcell Ozuna's emergence could push them toward trading Stanton this winter.  Stanton should return from a hamstring injury next week.  

AL Draft Notes: White Sox, Tigers, Yankees, Orioles

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The first ten rounds of the MLB amateur draft are in the books, with rounds 11-40 set to begin this afternoon. A chain reaction at the top of the first round led to several surprises, writes Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. When the Indians passed on Colin Moran with the fifth pick in favor of high school outfielder Clint Frazier, the Marlins were excited to find Moran waiting for them at number six. The two players that Miami was expected to be debating with their slot, in turn, fell to other teams: the Pirates were able to get youngster Austin Meadows at number nine, while college starter Braden Shipley slid all the way to the Diamondbacks with the fifteenth pick. Here are some notes on the early draft hauls of a few American League clubs:

  • ESPN's Keith Law broke down the first ten rounds of each of the American League clubs. You should check out the entire piece for all the details (Insider subscription required). 
  • Law praised the White Sox for prioritizing upside in its first-round selection of shortstop Tim Anderson, though he was less high on the club's drafting of pitcher Tyler Danish (who Law says "has the worst arm action I've seen in this draft class") in the number 55 slot. Likewise, Law was underwhelmed by third-round center fielder Jacob May but felt that the Sox' fourth-round chioce, Andrew Mitchell, could be a steal if he can develop an effective third pitch.
  • Among the AL clubs, Law was perhaps most critical of the Tigers. Listing the limitations of the college starters that the club went with at the top of the draft, Law writes that Detroit "may not have drafted a starting pitcher or everyday player through the first 10 rounds." 
  • Among the teams that had a solid start to the draft, according to Law, were the Yankees. New York had three of the first thirty-three picks, all sitting between number twenty-six and thirty-three. Law opines that the club "nailed" those selections by getting a combination of power (Eric Jagielo and Aaron Judge) and young, high-upside pitching (Ian Clarkin).
  • Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich provided some interesting insight on the draft process to MASN's Steve Melewski. The team is excited about its fifth-round selection, young pitcher Travis Seabrooke, who Rajsich says has a big frame and improved while the team watched him closely. Meanwhile, Melewski says that Baltimore's tenth-round choice, college catcher Austin Wynns, could be a target for an under-slot signing to free up some cash to ink other players. 

Minor Moves: Powell, Loman, Eppley, Patterson

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Here's your rundown of minor moves from around the league for Friday…

  • The Mets have released catcher Landon Powell, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York notes (via Twitter). Powell was hitting .159/.284/.290 for Triple-A Las Vegas. The former first-round draft pick received 363 at bats with the Athletics between 2009 and 2011, hitting .207/.284/.328.
  • The Orioles have acquired first baseman Seth Loman from the White Sox for cash considerations, MLB.com's Scott Merkin tweets. Loman was hitting .223/.324/.471 for Triple-A Charlotte.
  • The Yankees released right-hander Cody Eppley from Triple-A Scranton, tweets Matt Eddy of Baseball America. The 27-year-old pitched 1 2/3 innings for the Bombers this season but accumulated 46 innings out of their bullpen in 2012, posting a 3.33 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9.
  • The Mariners released Corey Patterson from Triple-A Tacoma, according to Tacoma Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto (on Twitter). The former No. 3 overall draft pick and No. 2 MLB prospect (per Baseball America) hit just .175/.224/.270 in 68 plate appearances for Tacoma. He last appeared in the Majors in 2011, when he was included in the Colby Rasmus/Edwin Jackson trade.
  • Minor league shortstop Cale Iorg announced, via Twitter, that he has retired from baseball. The long-time Tigers farmhand and defensive wizard never reached the big leagues and retires with a .215/.267/.336 batting line in the Minors. Baseball America rated him as the best defensive shortstop in the Florida State League in 2008, and he received the same honor in the Double-A Eastern League in 2009.

Charlie Wilmoth contributed to this post.

Yankees Release Chien-Ming Wang

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Chien-Ming Wang has exercised the opt out clause in his contract and the Yankees granted him his release, according to Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger (via Twitter).  Wang, who has been pitching for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, could have opted out on May 31st but put off the decision until today.

We heard last week that the right-hander had interest from six clubs but was unlikely to trigger his opt out clause as none of those teams were willing to offer him a major league deal.  Wang made nine starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, posting a 2.33 ERA with 3.9 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9.

AL East Notes: Yankees, Rodriguez, Orioles

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Despite their public declarations of support, the Yankees desperately hope Alex Rodriguez's hip injury forces him into retirement, writes Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.  If A-Rod has to step away from the game due to his troublesome hip, that could allow them to use insurance to recoup a portion of the $100MM-plus remaining on his deal.  However, it's not just one insurance policy they'd seek to use, it's more than a dozen that combined could cover up to 80% of his remaining salary, sources say.  That means that the Yanks will have multiple companies looking into the third baseman's issues before agreeing to pay up on the policies. Here's more from the AL East..

  • Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has a similar take on the Yankees and A-Rod as he believes that the club is hoping for the 38-year-old to hang it up.  While it's possible that Rodriguez could return to the Yanks lineup and make an impact, the odds are against him as he is trying to recover from a second hip reconstruction with a drug investigation hanging over his head.
  • Orioles pitcher Troy Patton faced his former team, the Astros, earlier tonight.  Alyson Footer of MLB.com (via Twitter) notes that Patton was once considered "untouchable" by Houston, along with Hunter Pence. 
  • There are probably only a few big name pitchers that the Orioles could be interested in trading for, opines Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com.  Ultimately, a deadline deal involving the O's is possible, but it’s not probable.

Yankees Release Clay Rapada

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The Yankees have granted left-hander Clay Rapada his release from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reported yesterday (on Twitter).

The 32-year-old lefty specialist posted a 4.66 ERA in just 9 2/3 innings at Triple-A, striking out four and issuing four walks as well. Rapada saw a career-high 38 1/3 big league innings for the Yankees last season, pitching to a 2.82 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9.

The Virginia State product was signed by the Cubs as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He's faced 251 left-handed hitters in his Major League career and held them to a minuscule .168/.257/.236 batting line. However, right-handers have absolutely crushed him, hitting .342/.459/.613 in 135 plate appearances.

New York Notes: A-Rod, Overbay, Francisco, Draft

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The Yankees publicly wish Alex Rodriguez a quick recovery and a return to the lineup, but CBS Sports' Jon Heyman points out that the club may privately hope Rodriguez retires so it can save roughly 80% of the third baseman's remaining salary due to an insurance policy.  Rodriguez would still be paid what he's owed but the Yankees would recoup around $70MM if A-Rod's hip surgery prevents him from taking the field again.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News has a few more items about both the Bronx Bombers and the Amazins…

  • Lyle Overbay has become a crucial depth piece for the Yankees, which has surprisingly led to the career first baseman playing right field.  With Mark Teixeira's wrist still a question mark, the Yankees doesn't want to lose Overbay but still wants to find playing time for the veteran.
  • The Mets are slightly more likely to draft a college player in Thursday's draft since they feel they're a bit closer to contending.  After taking high schoolers in the first round in each of the last two seasons, the Mets could be tempted to take a player who is closer to contributing at the Major League level.
  • Frank Francisco's two-year, $12MM contract stands out as the most glaring of the errors the Mets have made in trying to fix their bullpen, Martino writes in a separate piece.  Francisco hasn't pitched this season due to an elbow problem and threw what Martino described as "the worst bullpen session [several Mets staffers] could remember" in March during Spring Training.  One of the staffers present said the sesssion "was disgusting" and that Francisco "is either hurt or he doesn’t care.”  Sandy Alderson said he thinks Francisco will pitch in 2013 though the GM gave no timetable about when the right-hander could return.
  • As reported earlier today, the Yankees released outfielder Ben Francisco.

AL West Links: Angels, Morales, Mariners, Baker

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The Astros are 5-16 against the Athletics, Mariners and Rangers this season, but are 7-3 against the Angels following their four-game sweep of the Halos in Anaheim.  After last night's defeat, Angels manager Mike Scioscia held a closed-door team meeting and told reporters (including Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times) that "it seems like these four games, a switch flipped off" for his club.  "A series like this certainly can bring the frustration back into the team.  We can't let that happen," Scioscia said. 

Here's the latest from around the division…

  • The Angels are likely to be buyers or inactive at the trade deadline, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez opines.  Gonzalez would "be shocked" to see the Halos start selling significant talent at the deadline since he doesn't believe they would give up on the 2014 season as well, plus, "the Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton contracts don’t really let you go into rebuild mode."
  • The Mariners have no need to pursue an extension with Kendrys Morales now since they'll have leverage on him in free agency this winter, Dave Cameron of the U.S.S. Mariner blog writes.  If the M's make Morales a qualifying offer after the season, Cameron thinks Morales' market will be very thin since no team was willing to sacrifice a first-round pick as compensation for such a limited player; Adam LaRoche's free agency from last offseason is cited as a comparable.  I profiled Morales as a possible trade candidate back in April, but he is hitting well enough (.299/.364/.491 entering today's play) that Seattle may see him as a long-term answer in their lineup if he keeps it up for the rest of the season.
  • Many Mariners fans are calling for manager Eric Wedge and/or GM Jack Zduriencik to be fired, but Larry Stone of the Seattle Times argues that club president Chuck Armstrong or CEO Howard Lincoln could be ultimately responsible for the Mariners' struggles.  "Under the Armstrong/Lincoln regime, this organization has pretty much been run into the ground over the past decade — except for their ability to turn a profit, which the M’s have done almost every season, good, bad, or worse," Stone writes.
  • Jeff Baker tells MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan that the Rangers and Yankees the "main two" suitors for his services last offseason, though "a lot of teams knocked on the door."  Baker signed with Texas in January, before the Yankees' need for corner infield help became so dire.
  • Cavan Biggio is projected to be picked late in the first round or early in the second of Thursday's draft but his famous father isn't putting any pressure on the Astros to pick his son with the 40th overall selection.  "I just didn't want the organization to feel they had to take my son because he's my son. I didn't want my son to feel the Astros took him because he's my son," Craig Biggio tells MLB.com's Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire.  "I stayed away from it, and Jeff [Luhnow] and I have an excellent relationship. We haven't discussed it all, but he knows my feelings where I'm at."  The elder Biggio works as a special assistant to Astros GM Luhnow.
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