Minor Moves: Shane Lindsay, Daryl Jones
Here are Saturday's minor moves…
- The White Sox have signed Shane Lindsay according to the MLB.com transactions page. The 27-year-old right-hander signed with the Cubs last month but only made three appearances in their farm system before being released. Lindsay has allowed eight runs in six career big league innings, all coming with the ChiSox last year.
- The Reds have released Daryl Jones according to the International League transactions page. The 25-year-old outfielder hit .187/.282/.363 in 104 Triple-A plate appearances this season. Baseball America ranked Jones as the fourth best prospect in the Cardinals system prior to the 2010 season.
Rosenthal On Victorino, Red Sox, Braves, Brewers
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new Full Count video up, so let's round up the rumors…
- The chances of the Phillies trading Shane Victorino may be greater than the chances of them trading Cole Hamels. The Dodgers, Reds, and possibly the Yankees could be fits for the outfielder, who originally asked Philadelphia for a five-year extension. They're unwilling to give him a contract that long.
- The Red Sox are likely to be one of the most active teams at the trade deadline. If they keep Franklin Morales in the rotation, they're likely to seek another left-hander for the bullpen. They could also acquire a starter and shift Morales back into a relief role.
- The Braves are not as adamant about not trading their top young pitchers as they were at this time last year mostly because there are more appealing choices on the market. They're looking for consistency and could part with one of Mike Minor, Julio Teheran, or Randall Delgado if they view someone like Matt Garza as a difference-maker.
- The Brewers remain more likely to sell than not, but they would still like to return to contention quickly. They could ask for big league pitching instead of prospects for Zack Greinke, plus Francisco Rodriguez figures to have value on the trade market. GM Doug Melvin is getting calls about John Axford and Jose Veras, and the trio of Randy Wolf, George Kottaras, and Shaun Marcum (if healthy) remain trade bait.
Checking In On The Latest $100MM Contracts
Every year a few players join baseball’s exclusive $100MM club with free agent deals and mega-extensions. Last offseason was no different — eight players signed nine figure deals. The contracts were all for five years or more, so it’s far too early to call them successes or failures. As the season approaches its halfway point, let’s check in on baseball’s newest $100MM contracts:
- Albert Pujols, ten-year, $240MM contract - Pujols had a painfully slow start, but he has raised his batting line to a respectable .270/.332/.461. His last 40 games have been legitimately Pujols-like: 11 home runs and an OPS over 1.000.
- Joey Votto, ten-year, $225MM extension - It's impossible to have a complete discussion about baseball's best hitters without considering Votto. The 28-year-old leads the National League in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, walks, doubles and wOBA, so this deal couldn't be going any better for the Reds.
- Prince Fielder, nine-year, $214MM contract - Fielder continues to hit at an All-Star level, though he has a relatively modest total of 12 home runs. Unfortunately for Tigers fans Mike Ilitch's bold investment hasn't been enough to keep the team above .500.
- Matt Kemp, eight-year, $160MM extension - Hamstring issues have sidelined Kemp, who was the best hitter in the National League for the first month of the season.
- C.C. Sabathia, five-year, $122MM extension - Sabathia, now on the disabled list with a strained groin, is in the midst of yet another tremendous season. He has a 3.45 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 107 innings.
- Matt Cain, five-year, $112.5MM extension - Cain's enjoying his best season as a Major Leaguer. He has a career-best ERA (2.27), strikeout rate (9.0 K/9) and walk rate (1.9 BB/9) through 107 innings. The Giants' decision to invest in Cain still looks like a good one.
- Jose Reyes, six-year, $106MM extension - Reyes' offensive numbers have dropped off across the board this year, no thanks to a 60 point dip in batting average on balls in play.
- Ryan Zimmerman, six-year, $100MM extension - Zimmerman's off to a slow start at the plate despite two home runs in his past three games. He missed two weeks with shoulder soreness earlier in the year and has just a .235/.297/.350 batting line.
Reds Sign Jeff Gelalich
The Reds have signed supplemental first-round pick Jeff Gelalich for $825K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. The bonus amounts to slightly less than the $898K assigned value for the No. 57 slot.
The UCLA product was key to the Bruins' College World Series run this spring and Callis writes that he has average or better tools across the board as a right fielder. With Gelalich in the fold, the Reds have wrapped up all of their picks in the first ten rounds and are roughly $92K under their total bonus pool.
Draft Signings: Fontana, Benincasa, Amaral, Foody
Let's keep track of the day's non-first and supplemental first round signings here…
- The Astros have signed second rounder Nolan Fontana, the team announced. Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (on Twitter) that he signed for $875K, slightly above the $844K slot for the 61st overall pick.
- The Nationals have signed seventh rounder Robert Benincasa, the team announced (on Twitter). The right-hander from Florida State was slotted for approximately $145K.
- The Reds have signed seventh rounder Beau Amaral according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Slot money for the pick is $146K.
- The Cardinals have agreed to terms with 12th rounder Max Foody on an above slot $385K bonus according to Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The high school left-hander hails from Florida.
- The Orioles have signed 26th rounder Lucas Herbst, reports Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Baltimore has signed 23 draft picks all together.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Willie Harris
We'll keep track of today's outright assignments right here, with the latest up top…
- The Reds have outrighted Willie Harris to Triple-A according to MLB.com's transactions page. Cincinnati signed the 34-year-old utility player to a minor league contract this offseason and has already outrighted him once before this season. Harris has hit .114/.170/.205 in 48 plate appearances for the Reds and .245/.309/.318 in 123 plate appearances for their Triple-A affiliate this year.
Draft Signings: Kivel, Reynolds
Let's keep track of the day's notable non-first and supplemental first round draft signings here, with the latest up top…
- Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets that the Reds have signed tenth round pick Jeremy Kivel for a $500K bonus — well above the slot recommendation of $125K. Kivel, a high school right-hander out of Texas, can throw his heater at 95 mph but missed most of this season due to a torn ACL.
- Second rounder Matt Reynolds has signed with the Mets according to his Twitter feed. The third baseman out of Arkansas was the 71st overall pick, which is slotted for $724K.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Mills, Carrasco, Ambriz
The latest minor moves..
- The Indians traded first baseman Beau Mills to the Reds for cash considerations, tweets Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer. The former first-round pick has been assigned to Double-A Pensacola.
- The Braves signed reliever D.J. Carrasco to a minor league deal. The Mets, who are responsible for the majority of Carrasco's $1.2MM salary, released the 35-year-old in late May after he allowed six hits, including two home runs, in 3 2/3 innings, according to the CBSSports.com transactions page.
- The Astros signed right-hander Hector Ambriz to a minor league deal. The Indians released Ambriz this past Sunday after he posted a 3.55 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 in 33 Triple-A innings, according to CBSSports.com.
Reds To Sign Nick Travieso
The Reds will officially sign first round pick Nick Travieso, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports. Travieso, the 14th overall selection, will obtain a $2MM bonus.
MLB recommended a $2.375MM bonus for the 14th selection, so the Reds save toward their overall draft cap with the agreement. The high school right-hander has a fastball that touches 98 and a hard slider, Jim Callis of Baseball America tweets.
Draft Signings: Dodgers, Reds, Tigers, Rangers
MLBTR has updated lists of which first and supplemental first round picks have agreed to terms. Here are the latest notable draft signings from the second round and beyond…
- The Dodgers have agreed to terms with sixth round selection Joey Curletta for $172K, MLBTR has learned. Curletta has impressive right-handed power and a strong throwing arm, but he's a slow runner, according to Baseball America.
- The Reds signed fifth rounder Mason Felt to an over-slot deal worth $318K, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (on Twitter). The high school left-hander has the potential for a plus fastball and curve. The Reds signed a number of other selections, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
- The Tigers have signed third rounder Austin Schotts for $389K, Callis tweets. The high school shortstop has very good speed and some power, according to Callis.
- The Rangers signed second round pick Nick Williams for $500K, Callis tweets. Williams, a high school outfielder, has great tools despite his inconsistent spring performance, according to Callis.
- The Rangers signed another second round pick, Jamie Jarmon, for $602K, Callis tweets. NFL teams were interested in the athletic high school outfielder.