Phillies Release Willy Taveras
The Phillies released Willy Taveras, MLBTR has learned. The Phillies signed the speedy outfielder earlier in the month, not long after the Nationals released him. The A's, who are paying most of Taveras' $4MM salary, released him in February, so this marks the third time the former NL stolen base champ has been released this year.
After struggling to produce offensively through 37 plate appearances for the Nats, Taveras moved on to the Phillies' Triple A team. He didn't fare much better in Lehigh Valley, where he hit .208/.255/.271 in 104 plate appearances.
However, Taveras can still point to his age (28), his ability on the base paths (9/9 in stolen base attempts at Triple A) and his record as a solid defender (career UZR/150 of 8.7). Taveras did post a .367 OBP for the 2007 Rockies, but it has been years since he has done much at the plate.
Infield Options For The Phillies
Today Chase Utley and Placido Polanco became the latest star infielders to hit the disabled list. Greg Dobbs and Brian Bocock got called up, but the Phillies will have options if they decide to pursue infielders who can help between now and the All-Star break, when Utley and Polanco may be ready to return.
The Red Sox and Rockies have been quiet since losing Dustin Pedroia and Troy Tulowitzki, respectively. The Red Sox acquired Eric Patterson, but so far neither club has made a major move. Since Polanco is hurt, the Phillies have a hole at third, but they may find themselves considering many of the same players who have been linked to the Red Sox and Rockies.
Adam Everett, Mark Grudzielanek, Garrett Atkins, Edwin Encarnacion and Akinori Iwamura are not on MLB rosters and could presumably be acquired for a small financial commitment. Jhonny Peralta, Miguel Tejada, Adam Kennedy, Willie Bloomquist and Mike Aviles are in the majors, but could be available. Ty Wigginton, Dan Uggla and Kelly Johnson would be expensive and the Phillies wouldn't have room for them once their injured players return.
It's not clear whether the Phillies will weather the storm like the Rockies or pursue a player who can start in Utley and Polanco's absence and fill in once Philly's stars return. Utley will see a hand specialist tomorrow, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). Until the Phillies know the severity of their second baseman's sprained thumb ligament, they can't do much more than scour opponents' rosters in case they need to make a deal.
Phillies Prioritizing Starting Pitching Depth
The Phillies are prioritizing starting pitching depth this trade deadline, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter). They are looking to add a middle-of-the-rotation starter, probably someone better than Jeremy Guthrie. Few available starters short of Cliff Lee– the Phillies' biggest 2009 acquisition- and Roy Oswalt are definitively better than Guthrie, but arms like Fausto Carmona, Edwin Jackson and Brett Myers could be fits – at least in theory.
It seems unlikely that the D'Backs would trade Jackson in the near future, since he no-hit the Rays over the weekend. Myers is having an excellent season in Houston, but there's no guarantee that Ruben Amaro Jr. would be interested in bringing him back to Philadelphia so soon after the sides parted ways.
Another former Phillie, Pedro Martinez, plans to pitch in 2010, but he wouldn't be ready for major league action without weeks in the minor leagues. The Phillies maintain that they're not close to bringing Pedro back.
Roy Halladay has been one of the best pitchers in the National League, Cole Hamels has pitched well, though he has been homer-prone and Jamie Moyer has been reliable. Joe Blanton pitched well against the Twins and Indians in his last two starts, but he and Kyle Kendrick have been Charlie Manuel's least reliable starters in 2010.
Greg Dobbs Clears Waivers, Heading To Minors
WEDNESDAY: Dobbs cleared waivers, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki (via Twitter). Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer hears from agent Dan Horwits that Dobbs will accept a minor league assignment.
TUESDAY: The Phillies designated Greg Dobbs for assignment, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki (via Twitter). In related moves, the Phillies activated Jimmy Rollins from the DL, put Carlos Ruiz on the DL and called up Mike Zagurski (Twitter link).
Dobbs, 32 next week, has about $770K remaining on the two-year $2.5MM deal he signed before last season. He can play all four corner positions, but has posted just a .152/.222/.242 line in 73 plate appearances this season. The Phillies rely on Dobbs off the bench, but he is just 10/79 as a pinch hitter in 2009-10. Back in 2008, Dobbs set the franchise record for pinch hits in a season with 22.
Odds & Ends: Sheets, Matthews Jr., Cubs, Red Sox
A few more links for Monday night….
- A scout tells John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link) that he didn't know of any teams scouting Ben Sheets this past weekend.
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets that there's no risk to the Reds signing Gary Matthews Jr., but that he still wouldn't do it.
- Jack Moore of Fangraphs explains how he thinks the Cubs should approach the trading deadline.
- The Red Sox will have the financial flexibility to make a move or two this summer in part because of their abundance of homegrown pitching talent, according to MLB.com's Peter Gammons.
- Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer says the Phillies may need to acquire an arm for the back of their bullpen.
- With July 31st fast approaching, MLB.com's beat writers are fielding a slew of questions about possible trades. Check out mailbags from Anthony Castrovince (Indians), T.R. Sullivan (Rangers), Joe Frisaro (Marlins), and Chris Haft (Giants) for their thoughts on the trade market.
Phillies Designate Scott Mathieson For Assignment
3:06pm: Mathieson has been placed on optional waivers, according to Gelb. Assistant GM Scott Proefrock is hopeful that the club will be able to retain the righthander. Because optional waivers are revocable, they should be able to keep him in the organization.
The Nationals made a similar move in May when they placed pitcher Matt Chico on waivers while still holding options on his contract. The transaction was made to clear a roster spot for Doug Slaten.
12:36pm: Gelb confirmed with assistant GM Scott Proefrock that Mathieson was indeed designated for assignment even though he has minor league options remaining (Twitter link). Proefrock said it was a "procedural move," but would not elaborate.
12:13pm: The Phillies have designated reliever Scott Mathieson for assignment, tweets Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The move frees up a roster spot for catcher Dane Sardinha, who was recalled from Triple-A.
The 26-year-old Mathieson appeared in just one game for the Phillies this year, giving up two runs while recording just two outs against the Twins yesterday. The two-time Tommy John surgery survivor struck out 34 batters in 29.2 innings in Triple-A this year, and is best known for a fastball that flirts with triple digits.
Pedro Plans To Pitch In 2010
THURSDAY, 9:05am: Amaro told Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com that he hasn't spoken to Pedro's representatives in three weeks to a month, though the club would have some interest if Pedro intends to pitch. A source tells Salisbury that Martinez wants significantly more money than the Phillies would be willing to offer.
WEDNESDAY, 11:48am: Pedro Martinez plans to pitch in the second half of the season, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is training in the Dominican Republic and Miami in preparation for a second consecutive second-half return.
Pedro, now 38, pitched to a 3.63 ERA in 44.2 innings last year with 7.5 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9. It wasn’t until August 12th that Pedro made his 2009 debut and the rest seemed to help. His average fastball was 89 mph, higher than any year since 2004.
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was in touch with Pedro last month and confirmed that the dialogue continues.
"We are not negotiating, but we've been talking to him,” Amaro said. “It all depends on whether he wants to play or not."
The Rangers, Cardinals, Tigers, Reds and Mets are among the contenders that could look to add starters. However, a return to Queens seems unlikely, since the Mets appear to have little interest.
Odds & Ends: Lee, Orioles, Cubs, Oswalt, Chipper
Links for Wednesday, before Pedro Alvarez makes his MLB debut…
- Jack Curry of the YES Network (via Twitter) hears from a baseball official that the Phillies are interested in adding a starting pitcher. Curry specifically names Cliff Lee, though I can't imagine the team re-acquiring him just a few months after shipping him to Seattle.
- The Orioles have contacted Buck Showalter about managing the team, according to Tim Kurkjian of ESPN.com.
- The Cubs hired a statistical analyst for the team's baseball operations department, according to ESPN.com's Bruce Levine.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that it's an "extreme long shot" that the Rangers acquire Roy Oswalt.
- One GM told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that teams are now demanding big returns for players who will eventually be traded for less.
- DJ Bean of WEEI.com introduces us to Red Sox fourth rounder Garin Cecchini, who told every major league team he wouldn't sign for less than mid-first-round money. Specifically, Cecchini wants $1.75MM, according to Bean.
- White Sox GM Kenny Williams told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune that he hasn't given up on his team and wants to see how it fares over the course of the coming week.
- Chipper Jones' agent, B.B. Abbott, told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that Chipper will "absolutely not" retire during the season.
- The Yankees released David Winfree from their Triple A team, according to Donnie Collins of the Times-Tribune.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post points out that the Yankees won't have to pursue free agents Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth if Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson keep playing this well.
Phillies Appear To Be Standing Pat For Now
Philadelphia fans hoping that a trade might snap the Phillies out of their recent poor form may be waiting for a while. Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke to reporters today in New York and MLB.com's Todd Zolecki passes on the news that Amaro doesn't think a roster overhaul is necessary.
"We're not making any major moves here," Amaro said. "This is our team out here and they'll be fine. If we get the guys healthy we'll be fine."
Amaro's comments about the Phillies' lineup ("I don't know if there's anybody better than the players we [have] …we have one of the best nine in the game") seem to indicate that acquiring a position player isn't in the works. The Phillies' problem isn't that their lineup has any obvious holes, it's just that proven stars like Chase Utley and Jayson Werth are in the midst of slumps.
When asked about acquiring pitching, however, Amaro didn't outright dismiss the possibility that his club might pursue an arm. Amaro said that J.A. Happ and Ryan Madson returning from the disabled list "gives us quite a bit of depth," but left unsaid was what the team might do if either hurler has a setback, or isn't up to form once they're off the DL.
Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News pointed out yesterday that the Phillies' large payroll and lack of top prospects (besides Domonic Brown) might also be a factor in a lack of trade deadline action. Even if the Phillies do decide to add a pitcher or some other player for the stretch run, it will likely be a lower-level acquistion rather than the likes of a Cliff Lee.
Odds & Ends: Angels, Brewers, Gordon, Romero
Some links to check out while we wait to see if Jon Garland can help the Padres extend their lead in the NL West…
- Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports that the Angels may take their time in trading for a first baseman, both to save money and to determine if they need to make a big pickup.
- Brewers' first-round pick Dylan Covey is looking for a $2MM signing bonus, which Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes is about $300K higher than MLB's slotted bonus price for a 14th overall selection.
- Haudricourt also reports that Milwaukee's first two picks from the 2009 Amateur Draft (26th overall right-hander Eric Arnett and 39th overall outfielder Kentrail Davis) have both been sent down a level. Arnett posted a 6.87 ERA in 12 starts at the low-A level and is moving down to rookie ball, while Davis goes from high-A to low-A.
- Royals manager Ned Yost tells MLB.com's Dick Kaegel that in spite of Alex Gordon's success at Triple-A, Gordon won't be called back up to the majors until Kansas City can find an everyday space for him.
- Five teams have an interest in outfielder Wilmer Romero in advance of the international signing period opening on July 2, tweets Melissa Segura of Sports Illustrated.
- Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks the Pirates could spend around $10.5MM to sign their draft class since they "need, and want, to flood…their system with talent."
- The already pitching-rich Braves have "the most talented rotation in the minors" at Advanced-A Myrtle Beach, according to Fangraphs' Marc Hulet.
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson sees Washington pursuing a pitcher and a hitter at the trade deadline, and answers a number of hot stove-related questions in a fan mailbag.
- Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times says that the Dodgers haven't made any progress towards acquiring Cliff Lee and are balking at the money left on Roy Oswalt's contract.
- Meanwhile, Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times says the Angels could have Paul Konerko today, if they wanted. He adds that if they do make a trade, they might be better off targeting a third baseman.
- A Mets' official indicated that the team won't discuss an extension with Rod Barajas until after the season, tweets Newsday's David Lennon.
- Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe tweets that Ted Lilly was "begging" the Yankees to sign him before the 2007, but they went for Kei Igawa instead.
- Paul Hagen of The Philadelphia Daily News says the Phillies shouldn't expect a trade deadline boost this year because of a depleted farm system beyond Domonic Brown and close to $140MM in salary commitments for 2011.
- Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle says it might not be until July that the Astros decide to "blow up the roster and start over."
- Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports looks at nine starting pitchers who will be on the market this summer, led by Lee.