NL West Notes: Melky, Alonso, Rosario
The Giants clinched the NL West Division title this past weekend, despite having lost Melky Cabrera for the remainder of the regular season due to a failed drug test. As the 2010 World Champs gear up to make a run at a second title in three years, here are some links surrounding the division…
- Sergio Romo appeared on "Inside Pitch" with Casey Stern and Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM and said the Giants would welcome Cabrera back with open arms if he returned to the team during the playoffs. "Why wouldn't we want him on our team?" asked Romo, before going onto call Cabrera a "great teammate" whose talent would improve the team's chances of winning it all.
- Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso was on a trip to Spain with his sister and friends (including Manny Machado) last winter when he learned of his trade, writes MLB.com's Corey Brock. Alonso was there courtesy of his team at the time, the Reds, to watch his favorite soccer team — Real Madrid. Brock's article is a terrific look at how trades can affect players on a personal level, and contains quotes from Alonso, Machado, and GMs Walt Jocketty (Reds) and Josh Byrnes (Padres).
- Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario is the best rookie that no one is talking about, writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Heyman suggests that Rosario is could be outperforming other, more commonly discussed candidates.
NL Central Notes: Astros, Ausmus, Reds
Earlier today, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the job of Pirates GM Neal Huntington isn't completely secure. Manager Clint Hurdle appears to have won over upper management, however. Here are some more notes from the NL Central as Chris Carpenter returns to action against the Cubs…
- Brad Ausmus told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart (via Twitter) that he enjoyed meeting with the Astros but has withdrawn his name from consideration for their managerial job. The former catcher may also be a candidate for the Marlins if they move on from Ozzie Guillen.
- The Astros interviewed former MLB catcher Brad Ausmus for their managerial opening, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). Ausmus, who played 18 seasons with the Astros, Padres, Tigers and Dodgers, is now a special assistant with the Padres.
- Several National League executives have been predicting for weeks that Ausmus is the favorite for the job in Houston, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports (on Twitter). Nick Cafardo reported yesterday that Rays bench coach Dave Martinez and Red Sox bench coach Tim Bogar are frontrunners for the position. Interim manager Tony DeFrancesco and Nationals third base coach Bo Porter are also candidates.
- The Reds are a better team this year than they were in 2010, when they last appeared in the postseason, Rosenthal writes.
Reds Notes: Ludwick, Baker, Speier
The Reds clinched a postseason spot with today's 5-3 victory over the Cubs. Cincinnati will return to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons and the team's magic number to clinch the NL Central stands at just two. Here's the latest from the Queen City…
- "I've told numerous people I like it here," Ryan Ludwick told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. "I'm definitely going to do everything in my ability on my side to stay here. I know it's a business and budgets become factors in an organization. I'm really hoping everything works out." Ludwick signed a one-year, $2.5MM deal with the Reds in January that contains a $5MM mutual option for 2013, with a $500K buyout. The outfielder has enjoyed a big comeback season, hitting .276/.349/.532 with 26 homers in 460 plate appearances entering today's action, so it's a pretty good bet that the Reds will exercise their end of Ludwick's option.
- Dusty Baker will be at Great American Ballpark on Friday for the Reds' game with the Dodgers, though it isn't clear if Baker will resume his duties as manager, GM Walt Jocketty told media (including Sheldon). Baker is in hospital in Chicago undergoing tests for an irregular heartbeat, and Jocketty said his manager was feeling good when he visited him on Thursday morning.
- Bench coach Chris Speier has been managing the Reds in Baker's absence and Speier told reporters (including Sheldon) that he hopes to at least receive an interview for a managerial opening this winter. "I think everybody in baseball understands that I would love to have the opportunity to at least go through the interview process and be part of that," Speier said. "That's never been a secret. I don't put myself out there. People know what I've done and what I am capable of doing. The reputation that I hopefully have around is one that if it's warranted for an opportunity, that I will get that."
Free Agent Stock Watch: Ryan Madson
Is it possible for a free agent to have much stock after he missed the entire season due to injury? It is when you've been one of the best relief pitchers in baseball for the last half-decade and are still just 32 years old.
The Reds invested a one-year, $8.5MM contract in Ryan Madson last winter only to watch him blow out his elbow and require Tommy John surgery near the end of Spring Training. They came into today with an 11-game lead in the NL Central thanks in part to Aroldis Chapman, who has emerged as one of the two or three most dominant closers in baseball in Madson's stead. The team survived the injury just fine.
Madson, however, faces an uncertain offseason. He pitched to a 2.89 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 329 2/3 innings from 2007-2011, including a 32-save campaign in his walk year last season. Agent Scott Boras spent the offseason trying to secure a multiyear pact – at one point it appeared that Madson would be returning to the Phillies before they signed Jonathan Papelbon – before taking the one-year deal from the Reds in late-January.
There isn't much precedent for relievers entering free agency coming off Tommy John surgery, but Manny Corpas did it a year ago. He ultimately took a minor league contract with the Rangers before hooking on with the Cubs this past winter. Given his pedigree, Madson should still be able to land a guaranteed contract this offseason, though it might be of the low-base salary plus incentives variety.
It's worth noting that there is an $11MM mutual option ($2.5MM buyout) in Madson's contract with the Reds. It seems likely that he would exercise his half of the option, but the Reds are unlikely to do the same given Chapman's emergence plus Sean Marshall's presence as the backup plan. Acquiring a pitcher of Madson's caliber on a low-base salary deal is very intriguing and something I'm sure multiple clubs will offer him after the season.
Photo courtesy of US Presswire.
Central Links: Berkman, Reds, Span, Twins
Some links pertaining to baseball's two central divisions, as the White Sox and Tigers square off in the first game of a pivotal four-game series…
- Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told reporters, including B.J. Rains of FOXSportsMidwest.com and Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, that Lance Berkman will have season-ending surgery on his knee tomorrow. As Strauss points out, the procedure puts Big Puma's career in serious jeopardy (Twitter links).
- Reds minor leaguers Ernest (Niko) Vasquez and Jamie Walczak both tested positive for amphetamines and received 50-game suspensions, according to this Associated Press report (hat tip: Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News). Vasquez, a third baseman, and Walczak, a right-handed pitcher, will begin their suspensions next season.
- The Twins' lineup should be able to produce in 2013 even if they bolster their pitching staff by trading Denard Span this coming offseason, Phil Mackey of 1500ESPN.com writes. Mackey notes that the move would give Chris Parmelee a spot in the lineup by letting him play right field. He also notes that the Twins have a surplus of outfielders with both Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks having turned in strong Double-A seasons.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Valaika, Smith
We'll keep track of tonight's outright assignments here..
- The Reds have outrighted infielder Chris Valaika and right-hander Jordan Smith to Triple-A Louisville, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com (via Twitter). Valaika, 27, has a .223/.268/.347 batting line in 85 games for Louisville this year. Smith, 26, appeared in 51 Triple-A games this season and posted a 4.76 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
Quick Hits: Swisher, Utley, Hamilton, Hairston
Chris Corrigan of the High-A ball Palm Beach Cardinals made history tonight by throwing a perfect game in his start against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Corrigan, 24, was a 30th-round selection for the Cardinals in the 2009 amateur draft and carried a career 4.04 ERA in 102 minor league games (25 starts) entering tonight. Corrigan's gem was the first minor league perfect game since Jeanmar Gomez threw a perfecto for Double-A Akron in 2009. As for the Stone Crabs, they're an affiliate of (who else?) the Rays, who have been perfecto'd three times in the last four years at the Major League level.
Some news and notes from around the baseball world…
- “Every team needs a guy like [Nick] Swisher,” an AL executive tells Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. “You watch him play every day and you can see how much he cares. I wish every player cared that much.” Feinsand suggests that the Yankees could re-sign Swisher and move Brett Gardner to center field, thus creating room to trade the more expensive Curtis Granderson. MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith recently looked at Swisher's free agent stock.
- Chase Utley took some groundballs at third base before today's game and he told reporters (including MLB.com's Todd Zolecki) that he had approached the Phillies about getting some reps at third in order to "create some more flexibility as far as the organization is concerned." Utley spent a season playing third in 2002 in Triple-A before but hasn't played at the hot corner since.
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. commented on Utley's trial, noting that "in a perfect scenario," Utley could hold down third base until prospect Cody Asche is ready, theoretically for the 2014 season. Amaro cautioned reporters (including Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer) that it's hypothetical since Asche has yet to play above Double-A.
- Billy Hamilton will "probably not" be called up for September, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty tells MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Jocketty noted that the decision wasn't finalized yet, however, and that he was going to watch Hamilton play in person this weekend.
- Mets outfielder Scott Hairston believes the Diamondbacks claimed him off waivers, he tells Adam Rubin of ESPN New York (Twitter link). The Giants were known to be interested in outfield help and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports speculated earlier this month that the D'Backs would likely try to block Hairston or Juan Pierre from getting to their NL West rivals. Rosenthal also reported that the team that claimed Hairston did so as a blocking maneuver.
- Roger Clemens is planning to start again for the Sugar Land Skeeters on September 7, according to a text the pitcher sent Mark Berman, sports director of FOX 26 KRIV (Twitter link). Clemens, 50, threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his first start with the Skeeters on August 25.
- Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston suggests a few moves the Red Sox should make this offseason, including re-signing David Ortiz and Cody Ross and trying to add Justin Upton and a top-tier starting pitcher.
- Major League Baseball is investigating whether agents Sam and Seth Levinson arranged for former client Paul Lo Duca to meet with PED distributor Kirk Radomski, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Rosenthal On Baker, Medlen, Orioles
Melky Cabrera missed out on a free agent payday of at least $50MM by testing positive for an elevated amount of testosterone, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes. Baseball is focused on improving ways of detecting testosterone and expanding tests for human growth hormone, Rosenthal reports. Here are some highlights from the remainder of his column…
- Dusty Baker might not have much leverage in contract talks with the Reds unless a managerial opening or two emerges, Rosenthal writes. Baker, whose contract expires after the season, earns $4-4.5MM per year and Rosenthal argues he deserves a raise. The Astros will be looking for a manager this offseason and jobs could open up in Boston and Anaheim.
- There’s no talk of the Braves shutting Kris Medlen down, even though he underwent Tommy John surgery at the same time Stephen Strasburg did. The Braves limited Medlen’s innings by starting the season with him in the bullpen.
- The Orioles are able to add payroll, but they didn’t do so in their recent trade with the Diamondbacks. Arizona sent about $300K to Baltimore to account for the difference in the salaries of Matt Lindstrom and Joe Saunders.
- The Orioles put in a claim on Joe Blanton earlier in August, Rosenthal reports. The Dodgers won the claim on the right-hander, who had nearly $3MM on his contract at the time he was placed on waivers.
Rosenthal On Upton, Rangers, Beckett, Drew
Here's a look at the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (video link)..
- It's likely that the Rangers will pursue a trade for the Diamondbacks' Justin Upton this offseason. Upton would join Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar as a part of the team's future offensive core. Of course, Texas will be facing the potential losses of Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli as free agents and Nelson Cruz will be entering his final year under contract. In a deal for Upton, the D'Backs would likely have interest in shortstop Elvis Andrus.
- Stephen Drew is basically on a six-week audition with the A's and the club won't rule out bringing him back for 2013, perhaps even by exercising their end of his $10MM option. Drew's agent Scott Boras has shown a willingness to do one-year deals to help players re-establish value and the shortstop has a strong relationship with Bob Melvin.
- The Red Sox won't regret trading Josh Beckett when they had the chance. Even though this winter's available pitchers aren't necessarily elite, there are plenty of more attractive options than Beckett. Three of the big free agents: Zack Greinke, Ryan Dempster, and Anibal Sanchez, haven't upped their value since being traded and their prices could sink. Dan Haren and Ervin Santana could be available if the Angels decline their options and pitchers like Gavin Floyd and Justin Masterson could be on the trade block.
- The Reds are leaning against promoting Billy Hamilton, who has 148 stolen bases in the minors this season. The idea of using him as a pinch runner in September would be extremely exciting, but the club doesn't believe that he will be ready to play in the majors next season and he would basically be a waste of a 40-man spot.
NL Notes: Reds, Ludwick, Mets, Ramirez
Here's a look at what's happening on the Senior Circuit..
- The Reds have several factors to consider when deciding whether to call up shortstop Billy Hamilton, writes Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Calling up the prospect in September would start Hamilton's service clock prematurely and skipper Dusty Baker says that he won't be among those making the call.
- It's a foregone conclusion that the Reds will exercise their end of Ryan Ludwick's mutual $5MM option for 2013, but the outfielder says that he hasn't thought about what he'll do, writes John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Reds signed Ludwick to a one-year, $2.5MM deal in mid-January after receiving interest from a few other clubs, including the A's.
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson expects the team to improve via trade over the offseason, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Alderson would go on to hint at significant changes, saying that the team needs "an infusion of players, productive players," (Twitter link).
- One National League General Manager says that Hanley Ramirez has been a completely different player with the Dodgers and adds that his energy level is much higher, writes Scott Miller of CBSSports.com. Ramirez has a slashline of .311/.368/.544 in 114 plate appearances for the Dodgers so far.