Indians Designate Dan Wheeler For Assignment
The Indians have designated right-hander Dan Wheeler for assignment, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (Twitter link). No corresponding roster move has been announced by the Tribe as of yet.
Wheeler was tagged for six earned runs in an inning of work today, ballooning his ERA to 8.76 in 12 1/3 innings of work. The 34-year-old seemed to have lost the ability to miss bats this season, as he struck out only two hitters during that time. After walking just eight batters in all of 2011, he walked seven in his short Cleveland tenure and his average fastball dropped from 89.2mph to 88.3mph.
Wheeler signed a one-year, minor league deal with the Indians this offseason and has appeared for the Astros, Rays, Mets, and Red Sox in his 13-year Major League career.
Indians Designate Nick Weglarz For Assignment
The Indians have designated outfielder Nick Weglarz for assignment, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com (via Twitter). The move will allow the club to call up infielder Jose Lopez, who was DFA'd earlier this month.
Weglarz, 24, has hit .226/.366/.411 in parts of four seasons at the Double-A level. The outfielder also spent 50 games with the team's Triple-A affiliate in Columbus in 2010.
Quick Hits: Youkilis, Wang, Twins, Wheeler
Expanded instant replay was included in the new collective bargaining agreement, but Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that the league is no rush to implement a new system. MLB executive vice president Joe Torre told Morosi they want to "make the game better without dragging it on."
Here's the latest from the around the league as Thursday turns into Friday…
- "I have no idea," said Kevin Youkilis to ESPN's Gordon Edes when asked what the arrival of Will Middlebrooks means for his future with the Red Sox. Youkilis can become a free agent after this season and is in the middle of a make or break year.
- The Nationals may have a better chance of trading Chien-Ming Wang than John Lannan, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Wang is currently on the DL with a hamstring issue, but Lannan has a 6.10 ERA in Triple-A.
- "This is just something that we've got to do right now," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire to LaVelle E. Neal III of The Star Tribune following last night's roster shakeup. "We need to make some changes. We need some hits. We need some new life in here, the whole package."
- Dan Wheeler declined to comment when asked if he though about accepting the Red Sox's offer of arbitration last offseason, writes Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal. Wheeler would have received a guaranteed big league contract had he accepted arbitration, but he instead settled for a minor league deal with the Indians.
Quick Hits: Indians, Hernandez, Hamilton, Dodgers
On this day four years ago, the Padres released Jim Edmonds after he hit just .178/.265/.233 through 26 games. On May 14th, the Cubs picked up the veteran for the prorated portion of the league minimum. Edmonds proved to be a fantastic bargain as he hit .256/.369/.568 with 19 homers across 85 games. Here’s a look at tonight’s linkage..
- Indians manager Manny Acta said that Roberto Hernandez‘s camp initially believed that his visa issues would’ve been resolved by now, tweets MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. Hernandez remains in the Dominican Republic.
- Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton doesn’t believe that his past troubles will make his free agency “complicated,” writes Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated. The soon-to-be 31-year-old added that his relationship with the club his deep and one that he hopes to extend.
- In order to keep the Dodgers fan base on board, Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times implores the new ownership group to be forthcoming from this point forward. Dilbeck notes that while Magic Johnson’s ownership stake is known to be roughly 3%, the rest of the breakdown is still under wraps.
Quick Hits: Draft, Sizemore, Royals, CBA, Greinke
Some links from around MLB…
- ESPN's Keith Law posted a list of the top 100 prospects in this year's amateur draft. High school outfielder Byron Buxton and high school shortstop Carlos Correa top the list.
- "I love this game and I don't see myself calling it quits anytime soon," said Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (Twitter link). Sizemore is currently on the DL with a back issue, the latest problem in a long line of injuries in recent years.
- Royals owner David Glass says he hasn't spoken to anyone about selling his team despite rumors to the contrary, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. "I've not talked to anyone, nor has any of my family talked to anyone," he said.
- Ben Badler of Baseball America explains how teams and player representatives are working to side-step the international spending restrictions imposed under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement. MLB is aware of the loopholes and would object more strongly to some than others.
- Recent extensions talks haven’t taken place for Zack Greinke, Cole Hamels or Tim Lincecum, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. Greinke and Hamels are eligible for free agency this offseason, while Lincecum is under team control through 2013.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports points out that Edinson Volquez of the Padres looks like a trade candidate (Twitter link). However, six of the right-hander’s seven starts have been at Petco Park, a generally forgiving environment for pitchers.\
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Rangers Acquire Ryan Spilborghs From Indians
The Rangers have acquired outfielder Ryan Spilborghs in exchange for cash considerations, according to a press release from the Indians. The 32-year-old has been assigned to Triple-A Round Rock.
Until this winter, Spilborghs had spent his entire career with the Rockies and hit .279/.360/.437 for the club last season. For his Triple-A career, Spilborghs owns a .332/.400/.503 slash line. The veteran will provide Texas with depth in the absence of Leonys Martin who will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks with a thumb injury.
The Tribe inked Spilborghs to a minor league deal in January and the outfielder passsed on his right to opt out of his deal on April 3rd. Spilborghs' contract calls for him to earn a base of $1MM if he makes the major leagues.
Indians Notes: Lopez, Jimenez
It was on this day in 1952 that the Indians used a record 23 players in a game against the Washington Senators. Despite using nearly their entire roster, the Indians still lost, 7-6, on Pete Runnels' walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth.
Here's the latest from Cleveland…
- Jose Lopez has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A, tweets MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. Lopez was designated for assignment on Tuesday so the Tribe could create a roster space for Johnny Damon.
- "Keep in mind, there was risk on both sides of the deal," Indians president Mark Shapiro said to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer when discussing last year's trade with the Rockies that brought Ubaldo Jimenez to the Tribe. "It's often like that when you trade a lot of pitchers, but they do get hurt [more often than position players]." Shapiro and GM Chris Antonetti both feel it's much too early to evaluate the trade, but Pluto feels the early returns don't favor the Indians thanks to Jimenez's struggles and mechanical issues.
- You can keep up on all of MLBTR's Indians coverage on our Tribe-centric Facebook page, Twitter and RSS feeds.
Indians Designate Jose Lopez For Assignment
The Indians designated infielder Jose Lopez for assignment, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets. The move creates roster space for Johnny Damon.
Lopez played in five games for the Indians this year, appearing at both corner infield positions. The 28-year-old has a lifetime .262/.293/.398 line in nine MLB seasons with the Mariners, Rockies, Marlins and Indians. The Indians signed Lopez to a minor league contract in December.
Quick Hits: Young, Cook, Dodgers, Cashman, Beltran
It was on this day in 1956 that Frank Robinson hit his first Major League home run, en route to 586 career homers and a legacy as one of baseball's all-time greats. Today, the Orioles are honoring Robinson with a statue at Camden Yards that will be unveiled before tonight's game with the A's.
Some notes from around the Majors…
- The Reds have made it a priority to establish a strong bond with their fans — and hopefully increase attendance — by retaining popular players like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, explains Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
- Former Expos/Nationals closer Chad Cordero told reporters, including Bill Ladson of MLB.com, that he'd like to make a comeback next season (Twitter link).
- Delmon Young could be activated from the Tigers' restricted list by Tuesday or possibly even Monday night depending on the outcome of his evaluation by a counselor on Monday, Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told reporters, including Chris Iott of MLive.com. If Young is judged to require treatment for anger management and/or alcohol abuse, however, he would be sidelined for an indeterminate amount of time.
- Bobby Valentine told reporters (including WEEI.com's Rob Bradford) that the Red Sox are considering using Aaron Cook as a reliever. Cook can opt out of his contract if he is not called up to Boston's Major League roster by May 1 and the Sox have no clear spot for Cook in the rotation. Cook has made just one relief appearance in the last eight seasons but recently said he's open to the idea.
- There's no language in Cook's contract that would preclude a trade, notes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal, although he adds there's no reason to think the Red Sox would want to do that (via Twitter).
- The sale of the Dodgers to the Magic Johnson/Stan Kasten/Mark Walter ownership group is expected to be closed by Monday, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
- "This is a massive decision gone wrong right now," Yankees GM Brian Cashman told ESPN New York's Wallace Matthews in regards to the Michael Pineda/Jesus Montero deal and Pineda's subsequent season-ending shoulder injury. "So all scrutiny is fair….Our fans are right to be upset about this. I'm devastated by it," Cashman said.
- Besides the Cardinals, Carlos Beltran said the Indians pursued him the hardest in the offseason, reports FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter). Beltran said he ultimately chose to sign with St. Louis because he wanted to play for the World Series champions and remain in the National League.
- The Brewers have transferred Chris Narveson to the 60-day DL and called up reliever Vinnie Chulk to take Narveson's spot on the 40-man roster, the team announced via Twitter. Mike McClendon was optioned to Triple-A in another corresponding move. Narveson will undergo shoulder surgery on Tuesday that will sideline him for the rest of the 2012 season.
MLBTR's Dan Mennella contributed to this post.
Quick Hits: Rays, Inge, Red Sox, Indians
On this day in 1997, the Yankees traded Ruben Rivera, Rafael Medina, and $3MM to the Padres for players to be named later, Homer Bush, and minor leaguer Gordon Amerson. A little more than a month later, the Padres later sent Hideki Irabu to the Yankees as one of the PTBNLs to complete the deal. Here's a look at today's links..
- It looks like the Rays will need to go out and find help behind the plate, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Even though Tampa Bay appears to be in browsing mode at the moment, big name catchers such as A.J. Pierzynski, Geovany Soto, and Kurt Suzuki could all be available. Lower tier possibilities include Miguel Olivo, Chris Snyder, George Kottaras, and Bobby Wilson.
- As Brandon Inge continues to take more and more criticism, Terry Foster of The Detroit News thinks that it's time for the Tigers to let him go. Inge is making $5.5MM this season and can be bought out of his $6MM option in 2013 for $500K.
- The only former Rangers teammate that pitcher Vicente Padilla has had a real problem with is new teammate Marlon Byrd, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (Twitter links). The pitcher, now with the Red Sox, was released by Texas in 2009 for behavior that was seen as a distraction to the clubhouse.
- The Indians need to do a better job of building through the draft, writes Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer.