A’s Release Chad Gaudin
The A's released Chad Gaudin and outrighted Edwar Ramirez to Triple A, according to a team press release. Both pitchers were designated for assignment over the weekend.
As MLBTR's Luke Adams pointed when the A's designated Gaudin for assignment, the righty had good strikeout and walk rates this year (10.4 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9), but was hit hard and posted an ERA of 8.83. The A's designated Ramirez for assignment after a seven game stint in which he walked as many batters as he struck out (ten).
The 27-year-old Gaudin was effective as recently as last season. His hit and homer rates are considerably higher than usual this year, but some pitching-starved team may sign him. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says (via Twitter) that he thinks Gaudin will attract interest.
Odds & Ends: Pirates, Yankees, Storen, Mets
Links for Sunday night..
- The Pirates have promoted Bryan Morris to Double-A after a sensational start to the season, writes Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. The 23-year-old starter, who has a 0.60 ERA, could earn another promotion by August according to GM Neal Huntington. Morris was one of the main pieces the Pirates received in the Jason Bay trade in July of '08.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter) points out that three former Yankees set-up men have been released in the last 24 hours: Chad Gaudin, Edwar Ramirez, and Brian Bruney.
- Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty says that the club has not yet determined Drew Storen's role and that they will "ease him in", tweets Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
- Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com writes that Mets GM Omar Minaya will accompany the team on their trip to Atlanta, though a team official insists that he will be there just to lend support.
Athletics Designate Edwar Ramirez For Assignment
Edwar Ramirez has been designated for assignment by the Athletics, tweets Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The move had to be made in order to create space for Jack Cust.
Ramirez has bounced around the American League so far in 2010. The Yankees designated the right-hander for assignment in February, then in early March traded him to the Rangers, who dealt him to the Athletics later in the month.
The 29-year-old pitched in seven games for Oakland this season, recording a 4.91 ERA in 11 IP. Control was once again an issue for Ramirez, whose ten free passes this year raised his career rate to 5.4 BB/9.
Odds & Ends: Davis, Cano, Athletics, Pirates
As today's games try to top Ubaldo Jimenez's no-hitter and the Mets' marathon victory, let's browse a few links….
- The Astros will likely make a roster room to clear the way for Lance Berkman's return, tweets Alyson Footer of MLB.com.
- A Mets official told Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated that the club has to "win now" (link goes to Twitter). Earlier today, Mike Jacobs was DFA'd in a move that could clear space for Ike Davis.
- Benjamin Kabak at River Ave. Blues looks back at the Alfonso Soriano–for-Alex Rodriguez trade, and how the Rangers had the opportunity to select Robinson Cano as a second player in the deal. Instead, they chose Joaquin Arias. Think they regret that one?
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post lists ten players and managers who are on the hot seat two weeks into the 2010 season, with Jerry Manuel and Dave Trembley earning the top two spots. Mike Puma of the New York Post writes that Mets' players have jumped to Manuel's defense, while Bill Madden of the New York Daily News thinks that Orioles' players have given up on Trembley.
- With Michael Wuertz nearly ready to come off the DL, the Athletics will have to clear a roster spot for him. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle runs down a few of the players whose status could be in jeopary, including the recently acquired Edwar Ramirez and the out-of-options Chad Gaudin.
- The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic examines the Pirates' organization in search of pitchers with ace potential.
- In a mailbag, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer defends the Indians' signings of supposed "marginal, aging players." He also notes that if the Indians end up losing the Cliff Lee deal, they have no one to blame but themselves, since they scouted many of the same Phillies prospects when they discussed a potential CC Sabathia trade in 2008.
- Fantasy baseball season is in full swing, and saves are at a premium as always. Don't forget to follow @closernews to keep up with the ever-changing late-inning scenarios in Major League Baseball!
Athletics Acquire Edwar Ramirez For Gregorio Petit
The Athletics acquired reliever Edwar Ramirez from the Rangers for infielder Gregorio Petit, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Rangers confirmed the news in a press release, adding that recent waiver claim Hernan Iribarren cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A.
The Rangers had acquired Ramirez from the Yankees on March 9th for cash considerations; the Yanks had designated him for assignment to make room for Chan Ho Park. Ramirez, 29 in a few days, whiffed 10.6 per nine in his 98.3 career big league innings with the Yankees. Walks and home runs were a problem, though not nearly as much in recent Triple A stints. Heading into the '08 season, Baseball America praised Ramirez's "top-of-the-scale changeup" but was unimpressed with the rest of his offerings.
Petit was designated for assignment by the A's on February 1st to make room for waiver claim Steve Tolleson, and the infielder cleared waivers. Petit, 25, hit .244/.292/.336 in Triple A last year while playing second base, shortstop, and third base. Before the '06 season, Baseball America described Petit as a "plus defender at shortstop."
Rangers Acquire Edwar Ramirez
The Rangers acquired reliever Edwar Ramirez from the Yankees for cash considerations, tweets Jack Curry. Ramirez had been designated for assignment on February 28th to clear a spot for Chan Ho Park.
Ramirez, 29 this month, whiffed 10.6 per nine in his 98.3 career big league innings with the Yankees. Walks and home runs were a problem, though not nearly as much in recent Triple A stints.
Odds & Ends: Ramirez, Sheets, Cardinals, Reds
Sunday night linkage..
- Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner tweets that it'll be interesting to see which sabermetric-friendly team will ink recently-DFA'd pitcher Edwar Ramirez. Cameron's bet is on Tampa Bay.
- Jason Churchill of ESPN (Insider subscription required) explains why second basemen aren't often selected in the first round of the amateur draft. He writes that the best athletes usually play center field and shortstop in high school and college. The second basemen typically come from the shortstops who cannot keep up with the position defensively.
- Ben Sheets threw live batting practice for the first time with the A's and impressed the coaching staff with his velocity, according to the Associated Press. Sheets inked a one-year deal with Oakland worth $10MM plus performance bonuses in late January.
- Felipe Lopez's arrival may mean less at-bats for Julio Lugo, writes Matthew Leach of MLB.com. Lugo sounds less-than-thrilled about a reduced role but said that his agents have not approached the Cards about a move.
- Dusty Baker isn't worried about his contract situation, writes Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The Reds skipper is entering the final season of a three-year pact.
- Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes that despite trading away several highly-rated prospects in the last 19 months, the Phillies still have talent in their farm system.
Yankees Designate Edwar Ramirez For Assignment
The Yankees designated Edwar Ramirez for assignment, according to a team press release. The move was necessary to make room on the 40-man roster for Chan Ho Park, whose signing is now official.
Ramirez pitched 22 innings out of the Yankees' bullpen in 2009, recording a 5.73 ERA. The 28-year-old righty did show promise in his time with New York though, striking out 116 batters in 98.1 career major league innings.