Odds and Ends: Pudge, Reds, Boras, Gordon
Links from around the league on Tuesday evening…
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle writes that the Astros got good value in return for Pudge Rodriguez.
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer talks to Reds GM Walt Jocketty about the plan for his team's future.
- Kevin Kaduk at Yahoo.com argues that Scott Boras neither won nor lost the Strasburg contract negotiations.
- Matthew Pouliot at NBCSports.com writes that the Royals "hit a new low" by demoting Alex Gordon.
- And Baseball America breaks down each team's total spending on the first ten rounds of the draft.
Deal For Bill Hall In The Works?
Brewers GM Doug Melvin tells MLB.com's Adam McCalvy that he's speaking with teams interested in Bill Hall. The Brewers have until Friday to deal Hall, who they designated for assignment last Wednesday. Melvin suggests that a trade is a real possibility.
Rosenthal On Trembley, Yankees, Wagner
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes the Orioles should stick with manager Dave Trembley next year because his teams haven't quit; they've just been overmatched. Rosenthal says it looks like Trembley's "a goner." Here are the rest of the rumors:
- Rosenthal says Jim Riggleman and even Bobby Cox are among the managers with uncertain futures.
- The Yankees inquired on Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, but lost interest when the Reds refused to send money along.
- The Yankees are looking for starting pitching, but aren't likely to add anyone before rosters expand at the beginning of September.
- Billy Wagner could be a trade target, but the Mets would have to be prepared to take on salary in any deal.
- Rosenthal says Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera, Luis Valbuena, Carlos Santana and others should give the Indians strength up the middle for years.
Odds And Ends: Reds, Alvarez, Holliday
Some links for Monday morning…
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer believes the Reds should be quiet on the free agent market after the season because they have many needs and very little money. And why don't they have enough money? They've spent too much on big contracts already.
- But Scott Miller of CBS Sports says small-market teams can still contend. He points to recent winners such as the Twins, Indians, Rays and Rockies to show that low-budget teams can succeed.
- A year ago this time, Pedro Alvarez was the center of attention as he signed with the Pirates. Now, he's heating up in the minors, but he won't make his MLB debut this year, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- Erik Manning of FanGraphs says he was wrong to assume the Cards gave up too much to acquire Matt Holliday, who's been on an extended tear since joining his new club.
Gammons’ Latest: Greene, Angels, Strasburg
Peter Gammons has a new blog post up at ESPN, in which he writes about the wildcard races and what they mean for baseball. Bud Selig takes a lot of heat, but I don't think there's any arguing that the wildcard is one of his greatest achievements.
Anyway, Gammons drops a few rumor nuggets at the end of the piece, so let's round 'em up…
- The Red Sox did not pursue Cardinals shortstop Khalil Greene when he cleared waivers. Remember to check out out handy dandy list of players who have already cleared waivers.
- The Angels are reportedly interested in Heath Bell, who was put on waivers yesterday. Several GMs "expressed doubt that the Padres would be able trade him." I, for one, think the Pads would have no problem moving him if they really wanted to.
- One GM says the Angels "should take Francisco Cordero. The Reds will move him."
- Gammons says that most baseball people think the Nationals will sign Stephen Strasburg "if negotiations with Scott Boras do not get contentious." He guesstimates that Strasburg could get $22MM for three years, which would allow him to go to arbitration for three years and land another big payday. Or three.
Reds Sign Top Two Picks
5:12pm: MLB.com's Mark Sheldon says the deals for Leake and Boxberger aren't done yet. The players still have to take physicals, which could push the signings back to Monday.
3:09pm: According to Jim Callis of Baseball America, the Reds have agreed to terms with their top two picks from June's First-Year Player Draft. Right-hander Mike Leake, taken eighth overall, signed for $2.27MM while right-hander Brad Boxberger, taken in the supplemental first round, signed for $857K. Both bonuses exceed MLB's slot recommendations.
Odds & Ends: Draft Signings, Reds, Marlins
News on draft signings is picking up–let's take a look:
- Joe Smith at the St. Petersburg Times says the Rays have signed their fifth-round pick, 1B Jeff Malm.
- The Rays also came to terms with their ninth-round pick, LHP Kevin James, for a $625k bonus, says Jim Callis at Baseball America.
- John Fay at the Cincinnati Enquirer believes the Reds' recent moves indicate the team is looking to balance the budget. How can we explain the Scott Rolen deal, though?
- Juan C. Rodriguez at the Sun-Sentinel is reporting that the Marlins have agreed to terms with their second-round selection, RHP Bryan Berglund. No word on the terms just yet.
Odds & Ends: Bedard, Rays, Hall, Brewers
A few more loose links I rounded up…
- Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik told Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times that he "has not ruled out offering some type of extension deal to injured pitcher Erik Bedard." Of course, the club will monitor Bedard's recovery from shoulder surgery before doing anything.
- The Rays have signed fourth rounder Luke Bailey for $750K according to Baseball America's Jim Callis. Bailey was arguably the top high school catcher in the draft, but he blew out his elbow in the spring and needed Tommy John surgery.
- The Cincinnati Enquirer's Tom Groeschen mentions that the Reds have interest in infielder Bill Hall, who was DFA'd by the Brewers earlier this week.
- According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, the Brewers "appear headed toward a deal with their highest remaining unsigned selection, University of Tennessee outfielder Kentrail Davis." A month ago we heard that negotiations between the two sides had "gotten ugly." McCalvy also mentions that the Crew signed 5th rounder D'Vontrey Richardson and 15th rounder Del Howell.
- Larry LaRue of The News Tribune says the Mariners "may be on the brink of agreement with high school outfielder Nick Franklin." Seattle selected Frankin 27th overall, and LaRue notes that he'll take a physical tomorrow.
- Jack Etkin of Inside The Rockies reports that the team has released veteran reliever Mike Timlin. Timlin preferred to be home with his wife and children rather than go out on a road trip with the Triple-A Colorado Springs. The move was not performance related and there were no hard feelings on either side.
- The Nationals have signed eighth rounder Roberto Perez, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladsen. The Nats have now signed 10 of their top 12 picks, but they're still waiting on the big guy at the top.
Odds And Ends: Meche, Hall, Red Sox, Pirates
Time for another round of links…
- Via Twitter, Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Royals told the Yankees they don't want to trade Gil Meche.
- MLB.com's Mark Sheldon hears that the Reds have "some interest" in the recently-DFA'd Bill Hall.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Red Sox signed 26th rounder Miles Head for $335k, which is more than double MLB's recommended bonus.
- The Red Sox are also nearing deals with David Renfroe and Madison Younginer, whose could each sign for seven figures.
- Callis reports that the Pirates signed 12th rounder Jeff Inman for $425k. Yet another over-slot signing for the Pirates and now Callis says they've been more aggressive than any other team.
Red Sox Acquire Alex Gonzalez
2:55pm: According to their team Twitter, the Reds are sending cash to Boston to help cover the remainder of Gonzalez's $5.4MM salary. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Reds are sending $1.1MM along. When you figure in the $500k buyout, there's a minimum of about $2MM remaining on Gonzalez's deal.
1:20pm: Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox are sending minor league shortstop Kris Negron to Cincinnati in the deal. The Red Sox selected the 23-year-old in the seventh round of the 2006 draft and he's now hitting .264/.338/.347 with 20 steals in high-A ball.
1:13pm: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe says the deal is complete, though the Red Sox have yet to make an official announcement.
1:03pm: Peter Gammons of ESPN.com reports that the Red Sox are finalizing a deal to acquire Gonzalez.
12:17pm: The Red Sox acquired shortstop Alex Gonzalez from the Reds, according to Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe. It's not known what, if anything, the Reds will receive in exchange for Gonzalez, who just cleared waivers. He makes $5.4MM this year and there's a $6MM option on his contract for next year that the Red Sox can buy out for $500k. Dzen expects the Red Sox to release Chris Woodward.