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Outrighted To Triple-A: Lalli, Galarraga

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The latest outright assignments from around MLB…

Yankees Nearing Deal For Steve Pearce

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The Yankees are nearing a deal that would send Steve Pearce from Houston to New York, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (on Twitter). Pearce, who played for the Yankees' Triple-A team earlier this year, would provide New York with a right-handed bat for the final month of the season.

This post was first published on August 27th, 2012.

Giants Interested In Steve Pearce

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The Giants are interested in Astros outfielder Steve Pearce, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter).  San Francisco is in search of someone who handles left-handed pitching well and Pearce, who boasts a career .275/.345/.490 slash line against southpaws, fits the bill.

The Astros claimed the 29-year-old off waivers from the Orioles less than a month ago.  A trade to the Giants would mean that Pearce has been with five clubs in 2012.  He has been under contract with the Twins, Yankees, Orioles, and Astros all inside of this calendar year.

Astros Owner Open To Signing Clemens

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Astros owner Jim Crane told Mark Berman of FOX 26 Sports in Houston that he is open to the idea of signing 50-year old Roger Clemens. The Astros have not been contacted about signing Clemens this year, but they’re preparing for the possibility, Berman reports. The Astros were in attendance at a recent workout to watch Clemens, who signed with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters this week.

Crane said he doesn’t aim to set up a publicity stunt for the sake of selling a few extra tickets. He’d seek approval from MLB before completing a deal with Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner. Clemens already has a personal services contract with the Astros, Berman notes.

NL Central Notes: Soriano, Marmol, Cardinals, Astros

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It was on this day in 1970 that Roberto Clemente enjoyed his second consecutive five-hit day, becoming the first Major Leaguer in the 20th century to achieve 10 hits over a two-game span.  The Pirates legend nearly outhit his opponents over the same stretch, as the Dodgers managed just 11 hits over those two games, both Pittsburgh victories.

With Clemente's Pirates back in a pennant race, here's the latest from the NL Central…

  • It's unlikely that the Cubs will deal either Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Marmol in August, reports Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.  "The Cubs say they’re still open to making a move, but they have nothing in the works," Wittenmyer writes.  Both players cleared trade waivers last week and Soriano already used his 10-and-5 rights to veto a deal to the Giants before the trade deadline.
  • The Cardinals can make their offense more consistent in 2013 by relying on a number of internal options, opines Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  The only external solution Gordon suggests is that the Cards pick up a veteran shortstop to share time with Rafael Furcal.
  • Nine names have been rumored to be possible candidates for the Astros' managing job, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  Of these nine, only Jim Riggleman has past experience managing in the Major Leagues; Heyman notes this aligns with GM Jeff Luhnow's desire for a more analytical approach to running the club, as detailed in a recent story by Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.

Astros Designate Armando Galarraga For Assignment

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The Astros announced that they have Armando Galarraga for assignment.  The move will create room for right-hander Hector Ambriz, who had his contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The 30-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Astros in late May to help fill a spot in Oklahoma City's rotation.  Galarraga wound up making five starts for Houston this year, posting a 6.75 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 18 walks.  For his big league career, Galarraga owns a 4.78 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9.

NL Central Notes: Wolf, Cardinals, Astros, Cubs

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The Brewers released Randy Wolf on his birthday, but the left-hander says the organization “has been outstanding” and showed him lots of respect, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reports. Wolf will go home to work out in Los Angeles and hope for another MLB opportunity to emerge. Here are some links from the NL Central…

  • The Cardinals’ offseason to-do list includes a potential contract extension for Adam Wainwright, left-handed relief and bench help, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes (on Twitter). Wainwright, who turns 31 in eight days, will earn $12MM in 2013, but he’s eligible for free agency after next year.
  • In case you missed it, the Cardinals agreed to a one-year extension with Jake Westbrook yesterday.
  • The Astros have not interviewed longtime MLB catcher Brad Ausmus for their managerial opening, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports (on Twitter). The Astros replaced Brad Mills with Tony DeFrancesco on an interim basis this week.
  • The Cubs parted ways with six scouts today, ESPN.com’s Keith Law reports (on Twitter).

NL Central Notes: Hart, Marcum, Garza, Clemens

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A few notes from the NL Central to pass along …

  • Brewers outfielder/first baseman Corey Hart told Milwaukee he'd like to remain with the team beyond his current contract, which expires after next season, and is willing to play whichever position he is needed at most, writes Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Hart, slated to make $10MM in 2013, also said that if the interest in keeping him in Milwaukee is mutual, potential extension talks would be best reserved for the offseason.
  • Brewers right-hander Shaun Marcum, an impending free agent, is nearing a return from the disabled list and understands that he is auditioning for the 29 other Major League teams, McCalvy writes. He also notes that Marcum and the Brewers have not engaged in extension talks.
  • The Cubs announced that they have transferred right-hander Matt Garza to the 60-day disabled list, and though his DL stint will expire before the end of the regular season, manager Dale Sveum added that Garza's been "shut down," according to Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com. Ending the season on the DL won't be good for Garza's trade value, but GM Jed Hoyer has said that the right-hander will be part of the team's 2013 rotation.
  • Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said he recently sent scouts to look at Roger Clemens and Scott Kazmir of the independent-league Sugar Land Skeeters, according to the Associated Press. Clemens is rumored to be mulling a return to the Majors.

Quick Hits: Clemens, Giants, White Sox

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MLBTR extends its best wishes to Michael Weiner, who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. The executive director of the Players Association expects the treatment to last about one month, according to an MLBPA press release. Here are today's links…

  • Roger Clemens told reporters he’s “nowhere near” the shape he’d have to be in to pitch at the MLB level, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports (Twitter link). The seven-time Cy Young Award winner signed a contract with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters and will pitch on Saturday. One rival executive speculated that the Astros could be a fit for Clemens, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The exec pointed out that Clemens has a good relationship with Astros owner Jim Crane.
  • It’s unlikely but not impossible that the Giants will trade for Heath Bell this season, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter). Bell would have to be placed on waivers for the Giants and Marlins to complete a trade. Approximately $19MM remains on Bell's contract, so it seems likely that he'd clear waivers.
  • GM Kenny Williams built the AL Central-leading White Sox, but he doesn't expect to be named MLB's executive of the year, Toni Ginnetti the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "If you don't win it when you win a World Series, you ain't going to win it,'' Williams said.

Astros Watched Clemens’ Workout

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Earlier today, Roger Clemens signed a contract to pitch for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters. Clemens had a full workout today, during which he hit 87 mph on the radar gun despite now being 50 years of age. The Skeeters weren't the only team in attendance, however. The Houston Chronicle's Zachary Levine reports that Astros scouting director Mike Elias was on-hand for The Rocket's workout as well (Twitter link). Levine and his colleagues David Barron and Jose de Jesus Ortiz offer the following quote from Astros owner Jim Crane:

“We don’t have any plans, we haven’t had any requests. We’d like to check and see where (Major League Baseball) is on the subject matter before we would do anything.”

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports adds, also via Twitter, that former Astros president and current Skeeters executive Tal Smith wouldn't put an attempted Major League comeback past Clemens. In this video piece for FOX Sports, Rosenthal notes that a 2012 return to the Major Leagues would reset Clemens' Hall of Fame clock. As it is, Clemens is eligible for the ballot following this season; pitching in 2012 would delay that eligibility for another five years.

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