Indians Still Undecided On Luis Vizcaino
According to Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indians watched reliever Luis Vizcaino audition yesterday. Their dilemma:
The Indians apparently want to sign him but are debating whether he should be added to the major-league club or go to Class AAA Columbus on a minor-league deal.
Vizcaino is a free agent after having been released by the Cubs. He figures to sign for the Major League minimum. MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince indicated yesterday that Vizcaino will join the team's big league bullpen this today.
Odds & Ends: Isringhausen, Sturtze, Molina
Some Sunday morning Odds & Ends:
- So, whatever happened to Tanyon Sturtze? Sturtze never caught on with the Dodgers and was granted his release on May Day last week. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says he is now considering retirement to spend time with his kids.
- In the same piece, Cafardo reports Giants catching prospect Buster Posey has busted five homeruns and notched 22 RBI already in Single A San Jose, putting him on "a fast track to the big leagues." With Bengie Molina entering free agency, the Giants will not feel forced to re-sign him. According to Cafardo, the team would love to retain Molina to act as a mentor for Posey but for the fact that "Molina isn't ready for the mentoring role." Molina told reporters he'll seek a starting job. Finding one should be no trouble whatsoever.
- Also in that same piece, former player Troy O'Leary is developing a baseball reality TV show…
- According to Marc Lancaster, Jason Isringhausen is healthy. His rehab assignment is up May 19 but the Rays seem hesitant to call him up until then. With 10 days to determine what to do with him, it's expected Izzy will slot into the bullpen for Triple-A Durham until the Rays have to make a decision.
- Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com says Luis Vizcaino will join the Indians bullpen this week rather than go through a minor league stint in Triple-A Columbus. Vizcaino hasn't pitched in a game since April 21, right before the Cubs designated him for assignment and released him. Who gets sent down instead? Jensen Lewis or Tony Sipp both have options. Masa Kobayashi is a candidate to be released altogether, says Castrovince.
Vizcaino Could Land Major League Deal
According to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, the Indians' signing of Luis Vizcaino is not yet official because the club is "in the process of deciding if he's ready to help their beleaguered bullpen immediately."
Indians Release Salas, DFA Chulk
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported yesterday that the Indians released Juan Salas and designated Vinnie Chulk for assignment. Reliever Matt Herges was called up, Rafael Perez was demoted and today the Indians added Luis Vizcaino as they revamp their bullpen.
Indians To Sign Luis Vizcaino
1:08pm: MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports that the Indians could announce a move this afternoon.
FRIDAY, 12:19pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports heard that the Indians intend to sign Vizcaino. He will either join the team immediately or tune up in the minor leagues first. The Indians' pitching struggled again last night, allowing 12 runs without recording an out at one point.
THURSDAY, 1:43pm: The Twitter post from Gaylord Sports linked below has been removed.
10:46am: According to Luis Vizcaino's agency Gaylord Sports, the reliever has been acquired by the Indians. The Cubs designated Vizcaino for assignment on April 23rd to make room for Jeff Samardzija. Vizcaino is owed $4MM, and presumably the Cubs will assume $3.6MM of that. They released him at some point, so he signed with Cleveland as a free agent.
The Cubs jettisoned Vizcaino after 3.6 scoreless innings. It seems they never wanted him; acquiring him was just a way to move some of Jason Marquis' salary.
Heyman On Berkman, Oswalt, Cliff Lee
The latest rumors from SI.com's Jon Heyman…
- Astros owner Drayton McLane is unlikely to deal Roy Oswalt or Lance Berkman because of his "personal feelings for them plus the Astros' recent history of strong finishes."
- Cliff Lee is more likely to be traded. Heyman says Lee's value should be "fairly high even in a depressed market."
- D'Backs people wondered why players such as Carlos Quentin performed better after leaving the team and these doubts contributed to Bob Melvin's firing.
- Heyman also looks at some feel-good stories around the game.
Odds & Ends: Draft, Ibanez, Indians
Links for Thursday…
- Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post did a little research on pitchers drafted within the first ten picks. Meanwhile, Boswell's colleague Chico Harlan spotted Nationals' acting GM Mike Rizzo chatting with Scott Boras.
- The latest from Baseball America: Tanner Scheppers' stock is rising, Grant Green's is falling.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan writes about Raul Ibanez. In the article, it's revealed that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't buy into defensive stats outside of fielding percentage.
- ESPN's Tim Kurkjian looks at the early returns on free agent signings.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer learned that Mark Shapiro is initiating the calls to other GMs.
- Will Sommer of Mets Fans Forever chatted with ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.
Indians Release Juan Salas
According to Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser, the Indians released reliever Juan Salas today (hat tip to DRays Bay). The Indians had acquired Salas from the Rays on February 19th, designating Andy Marte for assignment to make room. Salas has a colorful history; here's what I wrote back in February:
Salas, 30, posted a 2.62 ERA in 44.6 Triple A innings last year with excellent strikeout and walk numbers. Salas' history includes a PED suspension, a falsified birth date, and a conversion from third base. Aside from that he's known for his cutter. Salas dealt with an epileptic seizure, a sore elbow, and visa problems in '08.
Meanwhile, Marte went unclaimed and remained with the Tribe. He's off to a .333/.405/.694 start through 11 games.
Graffanino Designated For Assignment
According to an MLB.com press release, the Indians have designated infielder Tony Graffanino for assignment.
The move essentially cleared roster space for highly touted outfield prospect Matt LaPorta, who was acquried from the Brewers in last year's CC Sabathia trade. Graffanino, 37 in June, was 3-for-23 in seven games with the Indians this season. He could get a shot elsewhere as a utility infielder.
Heyman On Nationals, Lee, A-Rod
SI.com's Jon Heyman has a new column up; here are some highlights:
- Heyman spoke with a Nats person who described college pitcher Stephen Strasburg's curve as a "legit hammer." The Nats will have the chance to draft him with their first overall pick this June.
- The Nats could have a solid young rotation soon if they add Strasburg to go along with Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmermann, both 22. John Lannan and Scott Olsen are only 24 and 25, respectively.
- There has been contact between the Nats and Pedro Martinez, though Heyman writes that Pedro makes more sense for a team trying to win now.
- Speculation that Cliff Lee could be dealt is "not crazy at all," especially considering that last year's C.C. Sabathia deal worked well for both the Indians and Brewers.
- Heyman also weighs in on the latest Alex Rodriguez controversy.