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Draft Updates: Bonuses, Green, Sanchez, Epstein

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The updates keep flowing in as the countdown to the draft continues…

Rosenthal On Spilborghs, Peavy, Aybar

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that teams began calling the Rockies about Ryan Spilborghs last week when Carlos Gonzalez was called up. Here are the details from Rosenthal's column:

  • The Phillies, Red Sox and Tigers were among the teams inquiring about Spilborghs. 
  • The Rockies will likely take their time fielding offers for Spilborghs and their other trade candidates. Jason Marquis, Huston Street and Brad Hawpe could all be dealt, but the Rockies aren't in a hurry to part with them.
  • Rosenthal finds it hard to imagine the Padres trading Jake Peavy before the offseason unless the Cubs get permission to take on his contract or a surprise bidder emerges.
  • The Angels could trade Erick Aybar for a bat or a reliever and make Brandon Wood their everyday shortstop. The Red Sox, Mets, Royals and Cardinals could use help at short.
  • The A's, riding a seven game win streak, are not involved in any trade talks right now.  
  • The Angels would love to deal Gary Matthews Jr. for another overpaid player, but it's tough to match up bad contracts.  
  • The Mets made a "blunder" when they paid $36MM for Oliver Perez when they could have gone after, Randy Wolf, who's only guaranteed $5MM.

Atkins Could Lose Playing Time, Trade Value?

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What to do with Garrett Atkins? The cleanup hitter for the Rockies has not been cleaning up, hitting .190 with only 5 homeruns and a mere .579 OPS. He's seen his slugging percentage decline each year since 2006.

Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies have five players for four infield spots and Atkins is likely to be the odd man out. If he can produce at the plate, the Rockies will play him with hopes that he'll regain significant trade value. If he can't, will the Rockies want to use him off the bench? Atkins does have minor league options remaining.

Atkins recently changed contact lenses and has seen recent improvement (albeit in a small sample size), hitting 2 of his 5 homeruns on June 4. Yesterday, Renck wrote, "Atkins has three hits in the past two games, emerging from his offensive coma. The Cardinals are seeking a third a baseman, but like all suitors, are waiting to see if Atkins consistently regains his swing." Atkins is making $7.05MM this season.

What would you do? Choose your own adventure: Send Atkins down to hope he regains his swing in Triple A? Shop him at his current value? Wait until the trade deadline to see if Atkins can demonstrate his power potential?

Price’s Latest: Draft, Red Sox, Astros, Giants

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Ed Price of MLB FanHouse has a new article up, with notes on the draft and around the Majors.

  • Price writes, "'The bottom line is there is a consensus,' said an industry source who monitors the draft closely, 'and that consensus is: There's no consensus after [Stephen] Strasburg.' The source said he has counted 63 players who could be taken in the 32 choices of the first round."
  • Price also gives us an industry insiders "educated guess on the top five: Strasburg to Washington, [North Carolina's Dustin] Ackley to Seattle, Vanderbilt lefty Mike Minor to San Diego, former Missouri right-hander Aaron Crow to Pittsburgh and Georgia high-school right-hander Zack Wheeler to Baltimore."
  • Due to free-agent compensation picks and "the rule that gives a team that fails to sign a high choice a corresponding pick the next year", the White Sox have 3 of the first 61 picks. Arizona has 7 of the first 64. Colorado has 3 of the first 34. The Angels have 5 of the first 48.
  • The Mets first pick is 72nd overall. The Phillies first is 75th.
  • The first three rounds of the draft are this Tuesday, with the first round on MLB Network.
  • The Astros are not in "dump mode," says Price. Quoting a person familiar with Drayton McLane, "'His track record is when everybody says you should dismantle [he doesn't]," the person said. 'He's been so lucky.'"
  • With Jed Lowrie returning and the ballclub winning, the Red Sox are not looking to add a bat and instead can wait to see if David Ortiz improves.
  • The Giants want a bat, but they won't give up premium young pitching.

Rockies Sign Adam Eaton

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Troy Renck at the Denver Post reports that the Rockies have signed righty Adam Eaton to a minor-league deal. Eaton was released in late May by the Orioles.

Eaton, 32, posted an ugly 8.56 ERA and 28/19 K/BB ratio for the O's in 41.1 innings before being cut. He'll slide in to provide depth at Triple-A Colorado Springs after the Rockies' recent promotion of Josh Fogg.

Talkin’ Ryan Spilborghs

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With the promotion of 23-year-old outfielder Carlos Gonzalez from Triple-A, Ryan Spilborghs now stands as the fifth outfielder in Colorado.  He's not an All-Star, and probably never will be, but Spilborghs deserves a bit more playing time than he'll get with the Rockies. Thus, he's on the proverbial trading block.

As Troy Renck of the Denver Post reported Friday evening, "The Red Sox have interest in Spilborghs, and Tampa and Atlanta are looking for outfield help.  The Cubs have always liked Spilborghs as well."

ESPN.com's Rob Neyer reported the Braves' interest on Friday, but with the Nate McLouth deal in the books, is he really a good fit?  Is Spilborghs destined for reserve duty wherever he goes?  For reference, the 29-year-old is batting .262/.326/.440 with five home runs, 25 RBI and six stolen bases in 168 at-bats this season.  He's earning close to the league minimum.

Heyman On Braves, Tejada, Helton

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Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Braves gave off the impression that Tom Glavine was merely a "famous, low-priced insurance policy" when they released him two days ago. He has more on the Braves and the rest of the majors; let's take a look:

  • John Smoltz told Heyman that he once turned down $53MM from the Yankees to sign with the Braves for $30MM.
  • The Braves are now unable to add payroll.  
  • That could make it tough for them to reacquire Mark DeRosa, who's on the block and would be a nice piece for Atlanta.
  • One executive said Justin Upton has "a lot of Ken Griffey Jr. in him." Check out Tim's Q&A with Upton to see how the former number one pick handles the hype.
  • Miguel Tejada's name has surfaced in trade talks, but most contenders see him as a third baseman and some don't like his bat anymore.
  • The Rockies are willing to discuss dealing "nearly every player" they have. Heyman says "they'd probably love to find someone" to take on Todd Helton's contract. He's owed about $50MM still, so I'd think the chances are slim.

Odds And Ends: Nats, Astros, Putz, Brewers

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More links for Friday afternoon…

Rockies DFA Grilli

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According to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post the Rockies designated pitcher Jason Grilli for assignment to make room for reliever Matt Daley. Grilli has an unusual line so far this year. In 19.1 innings he has 22 strikeouts, but he's allowing over two baserunners per inning.

In a separate move, the Rockies called up outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, one of their acquisitions in the Matt Holliday deal. So far, Gonzalez has an OPS over 1.000 in Triple A.

2010 Options: Colorado Rockies

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Let's scope out the options facing the Colorado Rockies this coming offseason.

  • Yorvit Torrealba – $4MM mutual option with a $0.5MM buyout. Torrealba's taken a backseat to Chris Iannetta in playing time, turning in a .649 OPS in 61 at-bats this season. He's faced some tough personal issues as of late as his son and brother-in-law were recently freed from kidnappers in Venezuela. The Rockies were apparently shopping Torrealba in March, which probably points toward a buyout at the season's end.
  • Alan Embree – $3MM club option with a $0.25MM buyout. Embree's been fairly horrendous versus both righties and lefties this season, posting a 6.60 ERA in 15.1 innings, and just officially lost his set-up role last week. Chances are he's bought out.
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