Odds And Ends: Beckham, Rangers, Peterson, Drew
A few more minor notes from the MLBiverse…
- Marc Lancaster is reporting that Tim Beckham, the top pick of the Rule 4 draft, will be visiting Tropicana Field at the end of the week and his father believes that a deal will be in place by the end of the weekend. The rest of the first rounders could sign quickly once Beckham and the Rays set the benchmark.
- Jamey Newberg wonders if the Rangers will have a hard time making trades because their farm system is so deep. The Rays might have the same problem.
- Jeff Passan names his All-Overpaid and All-Underpaid teams.
- Could Rick Peterson reunite with Barry Zito in San Francisco?
- Dave Cameron says J.D. Drew was worth the money.
- A reader emailed in saying he saw Mets scout Jerry Krause at the White Sox-Pirates game. Krause might be the game’s most publicly recognizable scout.
Braves Interested In Randy Winn?
According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Braves are one team with "apparent interest" in Giants right fielder Randy Winn. Winn can play all three outfield positions. Lately the Braves have been using Brandon Jones in left, Gregor Blanco in center, and Jeff Francoeur in right. Matt Diaz will be out several more weeks with a knee injury, while Mark Kotsay has a lower back issue.
Winn, 34, is hitting a respectable .298/.359/.447 in 288 plate appearances. Winn’s line would look better in center field, but Blanco has a tidy .375 OBP going. Winn makes $8MM this year and $8.25MM in ’09. He can block trades to ten teams. I imagine Brian Sabean would settle for a marginal prospect if a team would take on all of Winn’s contract.
Odds And Ends: Lo Duca, Cabrera, Nady, Bay
A few more minor notes from the MLBiverse…
- Jay Gibbons joins the Long Island Ducks.
- The Giants may have to trade for a long-reliever. Bruce Bochy admits that his team is without a long-reliever and will work to find extra innings from his middle relievers.
- With Paul Lo Duca coming off the DL, the Nationals will now have three catchers. Chico Harlan feels the Nats will hope that Lo Duca plays well in his return to increase his trade value.
- Nick Cafardo believes that the White Sox will let Orlando Cabrera walk at the end of the season as a free agent, feeling that their double-play combination of the future is in the system and not far away.
- Bob Smizik doesn’t see the Pirates landing any top prospects for Xavier Nady or Jason Bay, should they be dealt.
Odds and Ends: Astros, Reds, Mariners, Mets
Light day for baseball today, with only five games on the docket. Perhaps these links can fill the void.
- Despite the recent MLB.com article about the Astros’ hunt for starting pitching, two Houston Chronicle writers (Richard Justice and Brian McTaggart) are wondering whether the ‘Stros should wave the white flag.
- Interesting post from Larry Stone – he quotes John McLaren calling Erik Bedard a "100-pitch pitcher."
- Tim Lincecum on his birthday dinner plans: "Give me McDonald’s or Pizza Hut." Both fine choices.
- Joel Sherman busts out a few speculative paragraphs on potential trades for the Mets if they become sellers.
- Walt Jocketty denies Sherman’s report that he wants to clean house.
- RotoAuthority discusses expected win totals for starting pitchers.
Cubs Eyeing Giants or A’s?
Cubs Special Assistant to the General Manager Gary Hughes attended an A’s-Giants game recently, according to Henry Schulman. Could be nothing, since Hughes is based in the Bay Area. But here at MLBTR I like to put all the info in front of you.
Schulman’s source indicated that the Cubs have not asked about the apparently available Randy Winn.
Odds and Ends: Bradley, Floyd, Threets
Let’s round up some links.
- Juan Rincon rejected the Twins’ Triple A assignment. Anyone want him?
- The Reds received a 23 year-old righty named Henry Arias from the Royals to conclude the March Brad Salmon deal.
- I had forgotten about this…the Royals almost acquired Milton Bradley a year ago for Leo Nunez but the deal was voided.
- Paul Hagen offers some pitching ideas for the Phillies.
- David Cameron explains why the Mariners are so bad.
- The international signing period begins on July 2nd; pitcher Michel Inoa heads the class. It’s been suggested the A’s could offer him $4MM.
- Jon Heyman says this might be Cliff Floyd‘s last season. Floyd has a $2.75MM club option for ’09.
- Howard Megdal considers Scott Schoeneweis and Brian Schneider the Mets’ most tradeable commodities.
- Erick Threets is shocked no team was willing to pick him up and keep him in the Majors. For El Lefty Malo, this serves as a reminder that fans often overvalue their team’s players.
Odds and Ends: Viciedo, Broussard, Rincon, Threets
Time to round ’em up.
- The A’s are leading the charge for international free agent pitcher Michael Inoa; they could offer him $4MM. All teams have scouted him.
- MLB.com’s Jim Molony names the Astros, Yankees, Cardinals, Angels, Mets, and Pirates as teams considering Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo (assuming he becomes a free agent).
- The Orioles would like to sign Ben Broussard, if he’ll accept a minor league assignment. Broussard if mulling his options and should sign within 24 hours. He could step in if the Orioles trade Kevin Millar.
- Jeff Weaver has been released by the Brewers. Weaver’s lost it; he has a 6.22 ERA in nine Triple A starts.
- The Twins have asked Juan Rincon to accept a minor league assignment. If he refuses, the Twins will be on the hook for his salary and he’ll become a free agent. Rincon’s last decent year was 2006.
- No team was willing to keep lefty reliever Erick Threets in the Majors. He cleared waivers and will head to Triple A as a member of the Giants organization.
- Andy Pettitte wouldn’t commit, but admitted it’d be a "joy and an honor" to pitch at the new Yankee Stadium next year.
- Tigers backup catcher Vance Wilson may retire after a setback in his elbow recovery.
Ray Durham Could Retire After Season
Giants second baseman Ray Durham is unsure whether he wants to play in 2009, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. The resurgent Durham is hitting .302/.385/.420 in 192 plate appearances this year. Maybe he’ll choose to go out on a high note.
Durham makes $7.5MM plus incentives this year, plus incentives and a no-trade clause. He should have decent trade value; only Mark DeRosa and Chase Utley have a higher OBP among second basemen. Maybe the Cardinals would be interested.
Odds And Ends: Flurry of DFAs And GM Contract Talks
Tying lose ends on a very slow Saturday indeed.
- In a series of moves, the Jay’s have activated Vernon Wells with less than a month after he broke his wrist in Cleveland and DFA’d Armando Benitez. I guess they’re not going after Bonds.
- Steinbrenner: "There are no plans to sit down and talk with general manager Brian Cashman about his contract status." The G.M.’s contract expires after the 2008 season.
- By activating Jayson Werth from the DL, the Phillies were forced to DFA Chris Snelling, but the young outfielder is out of options. He has three days to accept the assignment or become a free agent.
- In order to make room for the newly-acquired Berroa, the Dodgers DFA’d Terry Tiffee. Dodgers beat writer Tony Jackson thinks he could be more expendable this way if he gets claimed off waivers.
- Bengie Molina is upset by comments made by Giant’s G.M. Brian Sabean after this week’s draft. Sabean said Buster Posey "is on the fast track and Bengie’s clock is winding down."
Alejandro "the intern" Leal writes for UmpBump.com. You can reach him here.
Draft Roundup
Today’s draft links.
- Rany Jazayerli looks at possibilities for the Royals at #3. He hopes they don’t take Eric Hosmer.
- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo has new projections for the top 30. He’s switched the Orioles from Brian Matusz to Aaron Crow at #4, among other changes.
- Keith Law has tons of good stuff…the Giants are eyeing Gordon Beckham, the Reds are considering Brett Lawrie, Jason Castro could go to the White Sox, the Dodgers like Zach Collier, and much more.
- Ken Davidoff is hearing that the Padres are in on Brett Wallace and the Twins like Christian Friedrich.
- Pedro Alvarez would be honored to be picked by the Pirates. Dejan Kovacevic continues to say they’re leaning that way.
- I am considering live-blogging Thursday’s draft, posting each pick here as soon as it’s announced (you would not have to refresh). Would that be helpful?