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Russ Ortiz Opts Out, Becomes A Free Agent

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that Russ Ortiz has exercised a clause in his contract that allows him to become a free agent. The Yankees agreed to let the righty become a free agent if they didn't promote him after three minor league starts. Ortiz pitched well in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the Yanks asked him to remain in the organization, but he declined.

Instead, Ortiz, wants to pitch in the majors for a contender. As Rosenthal points out, the Dodgers are looking for pitching, especially after seeing Hiroki Kuroda take a line drive to the head. 

Yankees Sign First And Second Rounders

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11:40am: Baseball America reports that Murphy signed for $1.25MM. The second rounder, who had committed to playing at Miami, is a catcher with power and good arm strength.

10:41am: The Yankees agreed to sign first rounder Slade Heathcott for $2.2MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. Heathcott, who was a two-way star in high school, will be an outfielder for the Yankees. Callis says Heathcott has "five-tool" potential. ESPN.com and Lane Meyer of NoMaas.org was also right on this signing.

Callis hears that the Yankees signed second rounder J.R. Murphy for an undisclosed amount.

Draft Updates: Miller, Yankees, Jays

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More updates on the final day to sign draft picks…

  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that top Cardinals pick Shelby Miller is in St. Louis for a physical. GM John Mozeliak says talks are "moving in a positive direction" and one official says the sides could end up agreeing on a deal worth about $3.25MM.
  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo hears that the Cards are making progress with Miller, but doubts they'll hand out $3.25MM.
  • Mayo reports that first rounders Tyler Matzek (Rockies) and Matt Purke (Rangers) all have substantial gaps to overcome if they're going to sign today.
  • Zack Wheeler and the Giants are now less than $1MM apart, Mayo reports. 
  • Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Yankees signed righty Caleb Cotham for $675k, which is more than four times the recommended limit for a fifth rounder.  
  • Callis reports that the Blue Jays signed 18th rounder Daniel Webb for $450k, triple the recommended ceiling for late round picks.

Draft Updates: Brewers, Rays, Yankees

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Some more news on signings is trickling in — let's dig in:

  • Tom Haudricourt at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is hearing that the Brewers have essentially agreed to terms with 39th overall pick Kentrail Davis but aren't announcing it so as to not drive up the price of other picks before the deadline. There was a worry that the two sides weren't completely close earlier today. I understand the reasoning behind the secrecy, but doesn't this feel like something that needs to change? It's not like all of these contract figures have been on lockdown in the first place, and chances are they're not going to be in the future either.
  • Jim Callis at Baseball America reports that the Rays awarded fifth-round pick Jeff Malm a bonus of $680k, about five times the slot recommendation for that selection.
  • George A. King III at the New York Post says that the only obstacle in the way of Slade Heathcott and John Murphy becoming Yankees are their upcoming physicals. Heathcott and Murphy are the Yanks' first- and second-rounders, respectively.
  • We know that the Angels have come to terms with Jake Locker, their 10th-round pick, on a $150k bonus. Locker is a top football prospect too, though, and he will reportedly be given free reign to pursue that career, says Jim Callis. Sounds like a pretty nice deal.

O’s & Yanks Sign Mid-Round Picks

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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: Yankees, Orioles, Scheppers

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A buffet brunch of links–come get your fill:

Odds & Ends: Strasburg, White Sox, Rangers

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Here's a few links to the get night started right…

  • Ben Goessling of The Washington Times reports that a "club source said managing principal owner Ted Lerner, team president Stan Kasten and acting general manager Mike Rizzo all flew to California last week to visit with (Stephen) Strasburg." It is unknown if Scott Boras was part of the meeting, or if Strasburg took the physical necessary to sign a Major League contract.
  • Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse tweets that Erik Bedard had his "bursa debrided & labrum repaired" when he underwent shoulder surgery. He can resume baseball activity in 4-6 months, right in the middle of his impending free agency.
  • Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune writes about the payroll challenges facing White Sox GM Kenny Williams in 2010. The team has $68.3MM tied up in ten players next year - including the recently acquired Jake Peavy and Alex Rios – and will owe considerable raises to Carlos Quentin and John Danks, both of whom are arbitration eligible for the first time. Gonzales says that "probably means the Sox will listen to offers for closer Bobby Jenks." 
  • MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that Rangers first round pick Matt Purke is in town for a physical, but no deal is imminent. The club just wants to get that part of signing process out of the way because negotiations might go down to the wire. GM Jon Daniels said "They are where you would expect them to be. We still have a gap, a divide, to bridge. That's not unusual three days before the deadline. They have been amicable discussions. He agreed to submit to the physical and get that completed just to get it behind us so we can focus on negotiations. We don't want any hurdles if we negotiate late."
  • In news that involves players who have actually signed, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Rangers have inked 14th rounder Chad Bell to a $450K bonus. He's the third player Texas has signed for more than MLB's recommended $150K maximum after the fifth round.
  • Chad Jennings of The Times Tribune mentions that Josh Towers is expected to return to the Triple-A Scranton rotation next week. The Yankees DFA'd Towers last weekend, but he apparently declined to become a free agent in favor of having a job.

Odds And Ends: Meche, Hall, Red Sox, Pirates

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Time for another round of links…

  • Via Twitter, Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Royals told the Yankees they don't want to trade Gil Meche.
  • MLB.com's Mark Sheldon hears that the Reds have "some interest" in the recently-DFA'd Bill Hall.
  • Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Red Sox signed 26th rounder Miles Head for $335k, which is more than double MLB's recommended bonus.
  • The Red Sox are also nearing deals with David Renfroe and Madison Younginer, whose could each sign for seven figures. 
  • Callis reports that the Pirates signed 12th rounder Jeff Inman for $425k. Yet another over-slot signing for the Pirates and now Callis says they've been more aggressive than any other team. 

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Deadline, Rios, Yanks

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On this date two years ago, the Yankees and Padres failed to reach an agreement on a trade for Kei Igawa after San Diego claimed the pitcher on waivers. The Yankees also chose not to let Igawa go to the Padres for just the waiver claim. Since then Igawa has made two starts for the Yankees and has spent the entire '09 season in Triple-A. With several teams active in the waiver market this season, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Around the Majors takes a look at how the deadline deals have worked so far.
  • The Blue Jay Hunter looks at what the Alex Rios move could mean for the Jays moving forward.
  • The Sports Bank gives 11 reasons why Alex Rios was a good pick up for the White Sox.
  • A Game Of Inches argues that the White Sox would have been better off acquiring a minor league center fielder.
  • UmpBump makes the case that the Alex Rios move was good for both sides.
  • Josh's Thoughts takes a look at what the acquisition of Alex Rios by the White Sox means for the Twins and the rest of the AL Central.
  • The Pinstriper imagines what the Yankees roster would look like today had they signed Mike Lowell in '07.
  • Jorge Says No! says the Jays still need to move Vernon Wells if they ever want to move forward.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Yanks Could Bring Back Damon; Not Matsui

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks forward to some decisions the Yankees will face this offseason:

  • Sherman believes the Yankees would consider bringing Johnny Damon back if he'd sign a one year deal after the season when he hits free agency. 
  • Damon profiles as a Type A free agent, so the Yankees could offer him a one-year deal in arbitration and receive two draft picks if he signs elsewhere.
  • Damon makes $13MM this year and would presumably receive a raise in arbitration. Remember, the Yankees didn't offer Bobby Abreu arbitration last year.
  • The Yankees like Hideki Matsui a lot, but they won't bring him back next year because they want to be able to rotate other players in and out of the DH spot.
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