Rosenthal On Tejada, Rockies, Mets
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports argues that the Cubs don't need to make a trade, they just need their hitters to start producing. Here are his most recent rumors:
- Ed Wade says Miguel Tejada's impending free agency is part of the reason the Astros aren't asking him to move from shortstop to third base. Tejada would probably move, but Wade would rather not ask him to.
- The Rockies are looking hard for relief help. They were interested in Joel Hanrahan earlier in the season, but he's much less appealing now.
- LaTroy Hawkins, Chad Qualls and Takashi Saito are all more appealing than Hanrahan, but Rosenthal says they're "longshots."
- The Rockies aren't that interested in Cla Meredith and Danys Baez.
- One GM said the Royals are under pressure to win as many games as possible this year.
- The D'Backs believe Doug Davis has more value as a trade chip because he projects as a Type B free agent. Check out the latest Elias rankings here.
- One official believes the Mets are better off with Daniel Murphy than Nick Johnson.
- When the Cardinals inquired on Matt Holliday they heard the A's aren't looking to move him and would require a strong offer to part with him.
Brandon Backe: Free Agent
According to MLB.com's Alyson Footer, Brandon Backe has cleared waivers and rejected an assignment to Triple-A Round Rock. He is now officially a free agent.
Brandon Backe Designated For Assignment
According to Alyson Footer, the Astros designated pitcher Brandon Backe for assignment to make room on the roster for Felipe Paulino. Backe, 31, allowed 15 runs and 21 hits in 13 innings. This year he's dealt with an intercostal strain; he had Tommy John surgery in September of 2006. Backe still has about $870K coming on this year's contract, so the Astros will have to assume most of that. Jason Grodsky of MLB.com has a few comments from Backe and Astros GM Ed Wade. Backe hopes to latch on as a starter somewhere.
Backe is probably best known for his solid postseason work for the Astros in 2004 and 2005.
Astros Agree To Terms With Jiovanni Mier
THURSDAY, 9:05am: Richard Justice of the Chronicle reports that the deal is for $1.358MM, which is slightly over slot.
3:35pm: Mier told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart that he reached a deal with the Astros, pending a physical later in the week.
2:55pm: Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle reports that Astros scouting director Bobby Heck says "talks are still ongoing" with Mier.
WEDNESDAY, 12:10pm: ESPN.com's Keith Law reports that the Astros agreed to terms with first round pick Jiovanni Mier. As Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reported after the draft, Mier is an 18-year-old shortstop with good field awareness and a good bat.
Last month, ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill said Mier has the potential to add power, but really excites scouts because of his defense.
Click here to see which first rounders have signed so far.
Odds & Ends: Webb, Padres, Corpas, Nationals
Some Friday evening linkage…
- Nick Piecoro says that if Brandon Webb's latest setback requires surgery, it would give the club pause about picking up his $8.5MM option for 2010.
- Paul DePodesta runs through all of the Padres' recent roster moves.
- Rockies reliever Manny Corpas had an MRI on his right elbow today according to Patrick Saunders. Both the team and Corpas were surprised since he has pitched effectively of late. Depending on the severity of the injury, this may impact the Rockies' decision to trade closer Huston Street.
- Thomas Boswell at The Washington Post says we "will see little or nothing for a long time" regarding negotiations with first overall pick Stephen Strasburg. Boswell also says the Nats have begun to discuss which free agents they will pursue next offseason, and the general assumption is that they will go after a reliever.
- Alyson Footer tweets that the Astros have signed three draft picks, including third rounder Jonathan Meyer.
- CBSsports.com's Scott Miller spoke to Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, who indicated that they haven't decided to sell off movable pieces yet.
- Dean Jones Jr. writes that the Orioles signed a pair of undrafted free agents out of Towson: infielder Gary Helmick and catcher Jason Stifler.
Stark On Deadline Deals
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that, with only five teams more than six games under .500, it's a tough time to be a buyer. Here are the details from his latest Rumblings and Grumblings:
- There are many trade candidates in Washingon, but free agent-to-be Nick Johnson is the likeliest to move of them all.
- Adam Dunn's price would be "astronomical" according to one executive.
- One of Danys Baez and George Sherrill will likely be dealt, and it seems more likely that Baez will move. As one official says, "he's throwing great, but he's still Danys Baez."
- The D'Backs would prefer to move prospective free agents, like Doug Davis and Chad Tracy. Stark writes that Davis could fit on the Mets.
- One executive believes Brian Giles "should get released."
- Cla Meredith could bring a decent return for the Padres, who could also move Chris Young and Kevin Kouzmanoff.
- The Royals could move reliever Ron Mahay.
- At this point the Astros still aren't likely to sell. No one expects them to move Roy Oswalt, but Ivan Rodriguez, LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde could be dealt if the Astros decide to sell.
- One official says the Pirates would "love to move Jack Wilson."
- Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee aren't going anywhere, but Mark DeRosa is becoming "more marketable by the minute."
- Matt Holliday will hit the market if the A's don't play very well for the next few weeks. The A's will want the equivalent of a first rounder and a sandwich pick and, because few elite bats are available, at least one exec thinks they'll get a good return.
- The A's are worried he'll accept arbitration if they offer it, but Stark hears that Scott Boras would likely direct Holliday towards a better hitter's park, even if it was for less money.
- The Red Sox aren't in a hurry to deal Brad Penny. If they go for a shortstop, they'd want a short-term fix only.
- The Rockies- definitely not sellers right now- could eventually look to add a setup man.
- Delmon Young is "exceptionally available."
- The Brewers won't discuss dealing Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar.
- The Rays would like to add a reliever, but they're one of many teams that can't add much payroll.
Rosenthal On Buyers And Sellers
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports predicts whether six of the teams on the fringes of the playoff race will become buyers or sellers between now and July 31st, providing some rumors along the way:
- The Cardinals, who are not interested in Miguel Tejada, are tracking Mark DeRosa.
- Carl Pavano, Jamey Carroll and Rafael Betancourt could all become trade candidates.
- The Indians will only move Victor Martinez or Cliff Lee if they're overwhelmed.
- Rosenthal predicts the White Sox will be buyers. After all, their offense has lots of room for improvement and they're just 3.0 games behind Detroit.
- If the Rockies sell, they could have two impressive trade chips in Jason Marquis and Huston Street.
- One GM predicts that demand for Street will be so intense that he'll command more in return than Matt Holliday will for the A's.
- The Yankees, Rangers and Dodgers could have interest if Street hits the market.
- The Astros won't likely add payroll, but Rosenthal doesn't expect them to sell.
- Along with Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn, the Mariners have Adrian Beltre. We don't know if any of them will hit the market, but Beltre's been hitting better for the last six weeks.
- The Marlins are looking for a reliever who can set up for Matt Lindstrom.
- Rosenthal predicts the Marlins will try to compete for as long as possible before considering deals for Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla and Jeremy Hermida.
Edes On Tejada, Nationals, Shapiro
Yahoo's Gordon Edes updates us on the Cardinals' search for a bat and more in his most recent column. Here are the details:
- The Cardinals aren't interested in Miguel Tejada, but they are looking to add offensive help at third or in the outfield.
- Some have criticized the Pirates for taking Tony Sanchez fourth overall, but Edes hears they chose him because they like his tools and believe he's polished enough to reach the majors before most players in the draft.
- The Nationals would move Elijah Dukes or Lastings Milledge. Ryan Zimmerman is their only untouchable player.
- The Rangers have interest in Nick Johnson.
- There is speculation that Indians GM Mark Shaprio could be promoted to club president, with Chris Antonetti becoming GM. Edes hears that we won't see an in-season shake-up.
- Bill Lajoie, one of the decision-makers behind the deal that sent Hanley Ramirez to Florida, doesn't second guess the move.
- Edes heard from one scouting director who believes Bryce Harper is stronger than Chipper Jones, Alex Rodriguez or Manny Ramirez when they were in high school. However, some scouts wonder whether Harper would be better if he didn't rush to the majors.
Odds And Ends: Harper, Pirates, Hanley
Some links for Tuesday morning…
- Be here at 2pm CST for this week's chat.
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says one Nationals official broke into a broad grin after describing Bryce Harper's ability.
- In a piece that's worth reading completely, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tries to determine when the Pirates expect to contend. Some within the organization can imagine results by 2011 and Neal Huntington says Pirates fans won't have to wait until 2015.
- Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says top pick Matt Purke expects to complete a deal with the Rangers.
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says the Rangers have a better, younger, cheaper team than the Astros, but that doesn't mean Houston couldn't make things interesting this year.
- Eric Chavez told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he's "dreading" his upcoming back surgery.
- Carlos Guillen may not play again this season, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwuakee Journal Sentinel says it's clear the Brewers need a starter.
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that Torii Hunter talked with the Giants when he was a free agent after the 2007 season.
- Hanley Ramirez doesn't think Theo Epstein wanted to trade him to the Marlins, according to John Tomase of the Boston Herald.
Minor League Transactions
Baseball America released this week's set of minor league transactions, and there was plenty of interesting movement. Let's break it down.
- The Indians signed reliever Mike Gosling to a minor league pact. The Twins released Gosling earlier this month. He last pitched in the big leagues for the Reds in 2007.
- The Tigers released Jason Tyner. You probably remember that the Brewers traded Tyner to the Tigers back in April for literally nothing.
- Marlins youngster Cameron Maybin was suspended for "aggressively arguing a call and bumping an umpire."
- The Astros removed Geoff Geary from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to Triple-A.
- The Angels signed former Orioles wunderkind Val Majewski to a minor league pact.
- Chris Burke was granted free agency by the Padres. He fashioned just a .207-.270-.305 batting line in 89 plate appearances this season.
- The Giants released Jesse Foppert, who was once the best pitching prospect in the game. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2005.