Draft Signings: Ledbetter, Rhame, Westbrook
Here's a look at the latest notable draft signings from Day 2 and Day 3..
- The Mariners inked sixth-rounder Corey Simpson to an above-slot $400K deal (suggested value: $245K), Callis tweets. The Texas high school catcher/first baseman possesses massive power and a strong arm.
- The Rangers signed third-round right hander David Ledbetter, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Ledbetter's deal comes with a $350K bonus, less than the slot amount of about $521K, tweets Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com.
- Dodgers sixth-round pick Jacob Rhame agreed to a deal worth $300K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The right-hander, who boasts a solid sinker, got about $70K more than the suggested value for his slot, per BA's rundown.
- The Diamondbacks went well above slot to sign shortstop Jamie Westbrook, according to Callis (on Twitter). The fifth-rounder got $450K, more than the suggested $318K for his draft position.
- One of the fastest players in the draft didn't waste much time in putting his name on the dotted line. The White Sox inked third-round pick Jacob May to a $525K deal, tweets Callis.
- Orioles 16th round pick Randolph Gassaway agreed to sign, Callis tweets. The high school first baseman will get a bonus of $100K.
- Outfielder Charcer Burks signed for $170K with the Cubs, tweets Callis. That's slightly more than the suggested ~$149K for where he was taken in the ninth round.
White Sox Sign First-Rounder Tim Anderson
The White Sox have signed first round pick Tim Anderson to a deal worth $2.164MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The shortstop out of East Central Community College in Dectaur, Mississippi is advised by Reynolds Sports Management.
Anderson ranked 25th among draft prospects according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. Baseball America ranked him as the draft's No. 26 prospect, while ESPN's Keith Law ranked him 37th. His $2.164MM deal matches the exact slot recommendation for the No. 17 pick.
Mayo writes that Anderson's speed is his best asset, noting that he should be a base-stealing threat with occasional power to his pull side. All three evaluations feel he has a chance to stick at short, though BA notes that average arm strength could force him to move.
Anderson is the sixth first-rounder from this year's draft to sign with his team. Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune first reported that the two sides were nearing an agreement.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
White Sox Nearing Deal With First-Rounder Anderson
The White Sox and first-round pick Tim Anderson are on the verge of finalizing a deal, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. Anderson, a shortstop from East Central Community College in Dectaur, Miss. is flying to Chicago take a physical, according to Gonzales.
Anderson, who is advised by Reynolds Sports Management, ranked 25th among draft prospects according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. Baseball America ranked him as the draft's No. 26 prospect, while ESPN's Keith Law ranked him 37th.
Mayo writes that Anderson's speed is his best asset, noting that he should be a base-stealing threat with occasional power to his pull side. All three evaluations feel he has a chance to stick at short, though BA notes that average arm strength could force him to move.
The assigned pick value for the No. 17 overall selection is $2.164MM, according to Baseball America.
White Sox Outright Leyson Septimo
Here are today's minor moves from around the league…
- The White Sox reinstated left-hander Leyson Septimo from the 60-day disabled list and outrighted him to Triple-A Charlotte, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). The 27-year-old allowed eight runs in 14 1/3 innings for the South Siders last season and has a 5.17 career ERA in the minor leagues with 10.6 K/9 but a whopping 7.6 BB/9.
Central Notes: Ventura, Royals, Cardinals
While the NL Central features three of baseball's best teams (Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds), only the Tigers have managed to keep above the .500 mark in the AL Central. Here are some notes from around baseball's central divisions..
- Robin Ventura reaffirmed his commitment to the White Sox, reports Doug Padilla of ESPN.com. Amid speculation over his desire, as well as the team’s possible seller status at the trade deadline, Ventura stated, "It's just one of those where I know I have my contract and it's going to go (to the end) and then you talk again. But because of this situation, I'm not going anywhere."
- Joe Werner of ESPN.com takes a look at how the Royals have transformed as an organization. While the club’s farm system was once highly regarded, because of trades and under performance, the Royals are still struggling at the big league level.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com weighed in on a host of topics, including the Cardinals hitting preparation, as well as steroids (Subscription Required). Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday gave his opinion on the latter, stating that fans should not have to wonder which players are clean and "and players shouldn't, either."
AL Draft Notes: White Sox, Tigers, Yankees, Orioles
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
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.
Minor Moves: McGuiness, Troncoso
Here are today's minor transactions, with the newest moves at the top of the page…
- The Rangers have purchased the contract of first baseman Chris McGuiness from Triple-A Round Rock and created a spot for him on the 40-man roster by moving Colby Lewis to the 60-day DL, according to a team press release. McGuiness will fill in for Mitch Moreland, who was put on the 15-day DL in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old McGuiness is a left-handed hitter who was acquired by Texas from Boston as part of the Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade in 2010. McGuiness has an .858 OPS at Triple-A this season.
- The White Sox have purchased the contract of right-hander Ramon Troncoso from Triple-A Charlotte, the team announced. Troncoso, 30, signed a minor league deal with Chicago in January after spending all of 2012 with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. Troncoso posted a 3.92 ERA, 2.07 K/BB and 6.4 K/9 in 197 1/3 IP out of the Dodgers' bullpen from 2008-11. In corresponding moves, the Sox also recalled righty Deunte Heath from Triple-A, optioned Brian Omogrosso to Triple-A and placed Jake Peavy on the 15-day disabled list.
Jake Peavy To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Rib Fracture
One of the summer's most intriguing trade chips has likely been taken off the market, as the White Sox announced yesterday that Jake Peavy will be shut down for the next four-to-six weeks with a non-displaced rib fracture. The veteran right-hander began to feel the injury on Sunday and attempted to make his scheduled start on Tuesday night against the Mariners but only lasted 2 1/3 innings (allowing six runs) before being pulled from the game.
“It’s just unfortunate,” Peavy told reporters, including Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago. “It’s unfortunate that something crazy like this comes about….The hardest thing is there is nothing to do to help a bone heal quicker. You don’t cast it. You feel normal, but yet you can’t even ride a bike, your breathing. There’s not a whole lot.”
The 32-year-old already had a checkered injury history but appeared to be in good health and good form in 2012 (when he posted a 3.37 ERA over 219 innings and made the AL All-Star team) and through this season, as Peavy had a 3.62 ERA before Tuesday's tough outing in Seattle.
Peavy's injury hurts the White Sox on two levels. His absence could put an end to Chicago's hopes of getting back to .500 and into the playoff race, and it also means that the club has one less major asset to sell at the trade deadline if they choose to look ahead to 2014. Peavy wouldn't start pitching until after the All-Star break even in a best-case scenario, leaving very little time to prove that he's healthy enough for another team to give up anything significant in a deal.
Peavy recently said he had accepted the idea of being traded and was open to joining a contender, though his preference was to spend the rest of his career with the White Sox.
White Sox Outright Tyler Greene
WEDNESDAY: Greene cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com (on Twitter).
SUNDAY: The White Sox have designated infielder Tyler Greene for assignment, Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com reports (on Twitter). The move clears space for Gordon Beckham, who is returning from the disabled list.
The White Sox acquired Greene near the start of the season, shortly after he was released by the Astros. In 54 plate appearances with Chicago, Greene hit .235/.278/.373. In 743 career plate appearances with the White Sox, Astros and Cardinals, Greene has hit .225/.291/.357.