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Rosenthal On Freese, Cardinals, Reynolds, Dodgers

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has lots of good stuff in this weekend's edition of Full Count.  Here's a look at some of the highlights..

  • The Cardinals' promotion of Kolten Wong could be the first step towards the club trading David Freese.  Obviously, Freese isn't having a good year, but the free agent market at third base this offseason will be very thin this season and will be headlined by veterans such as Juan Uribe and Michael Young.  Freese is under club control through 2015 and while he's not an All-Star, it's easy to see teams making a play for him.
  • Mark Reynolds had interest from a number of clubs but he signed with the Yankees because they offered him the best opportunity of any interested club.  The Orioles thought about a reunion, but he only would have DH'd against left-handed pitching.  The Royals also thought about Reynolds, but they expect Mike Moustakas to come back soon from his calf injury and the Rangers checked in but didn't have an immediate major league opening.  
  • The Dodgers will be the x-factor in Robinson Cano's free agency and they could be spurred by their recent success to make a play for him.  The Dodgers have been indicating that they won't spend like crazy forever and could dedicate their resources to new deals for Clayton Kershaw and Hanley Ramirez.  However, they could also move one of their surplus outfielders and find the spare cash for the second baseman.

AL Central Notes: Tejada, Abreu, Indians, Gardenhire

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Earlier this afternoon, Royals infielder Miguel Tejada was suspended for 105 games after a pair of positive tests for Adderall. Tejada will serve his suspension for the rest of this season and is expected to retire rather than sign with a team and serve the remainder of the punishment in 2014. He issued the following statement:

“I apologize to my teammates, the Royals organization and to the Kansas City fans. I have a medical condition that requires medication to treat. I took that medication while re-applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Under the requirements of the Joint Drug Program, I made a mistake in doing so.”

Here's more out of the AL Central…

  • The White Sox will attend Cuban first baseman Jose Dariel Abreu's showcase next month, writes Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago. Executive vice president Kenny Williams told Hayes that the Sox need to see more of Abreu before making a decision, but spending money is something the team isn't afraid to do. Paul Konerko is a free agent at season's end, and Adam Dunn will be off the books following 2014.
  • In his latest Q&A with readers, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that while Alex Rios would've been a good fit with the Indians, the financial commitment to him was too much for the Tribe. Hoynes also tackles questions on acquiring a middle-of-the-order bat and Asdrubal Cabrera's struggles and trade value.
  • Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he's not worrying about his own future following the dismissal of Phillies manager Charlie Manuel yesterday: "In all honesty, this is my 12th year (managing the Twins). It doesn't get much better than that. Managers just don't stay in places like that. I feel like I've been blessed. I'm lucky. I'm not going to sit here, if this is my last year, and mope, believe me. If it is my last year in Minnesota, I'm going to enjoy the hell out of it." Prior to Manuel's firing, he, Gardenhire and Mike Scioscia of the Angels were baseball's longest-tenured managers.

Miguel Tejada To Be Suspended For 105 Games

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1:25pm: Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets that Tejada did file an appeal, but he ultimately lost and will serve the entirety of the 105-game ban.

12:56pm: Royals infielder Miguel Tejada will be suspended for 105 games by MLB for the use of the banned amphetamine Adderall, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports. Passan explains that, as Tejada had already tested positive in the past, two more recent positive tests provided the basis for the suspension, which is the third-longest in MLB history. (The second positive test resulted in a 25-game ban, with the third adding an additional 80 games.)

Tejada has elected not to appeal the suspension. Already on the 60-day DL, his suspension will nevertheless be applied over this season's 41 remaining games. Passan says that the 39-year-old former MVP is expected to retire rather than sit out the 64 additional games at the beginning of next year.

After failing to make a big-league appearance in 2012, Tejada signed a minor league deal with the Royals this past off-season. Appearing primarily at second and third, Tejada had posted a reasonably productive .288/.317/.378 line over 167 plate appearances for the Royals this season.

Minor Moves: Nakajima, Robinson, Hayes

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Today's minor moves from around the league…

  • The Athletics have outrighted Hiroyuki Nakajima off their 40-man roster, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets.  Nakajima will remain with Triple-A Sacramento, where he has spent the entire season.  The Japanese infielder signed a two-year, $6.5MM deal with Oakland in December and posted a .282/.336/.368 line in 324 minor league plate appearances.
  • The Padres purchased the contract of catcher Chris Robinson from Triple-A Tucson, the team announced.  In corresponding moves, Nick Hundley was put on the paternity list and Jason Marquis was transferred to the 60-day DL.  Robinson, 29, was dealt from Baltimore to San Diego in June.  The London, Ontario native was a third-round pick of the Tigers in the 2005 draft and has a .275/.320/.355 line in 2326 PA over nine minor league seasons.
  • The Royals have outrighted catcher Brett Hayes to Triple-A Omaha, according to the Pacific Coast League transactions page. Hayes, 29, was designated for assignment after appearing in just three big league games for Kansas City this season. He's batted .231/.280/.441 in 68 Triple-A contests and is a career .219/.366/.364 hitter in 146 games at the Major League level — all of which came with the Marlins prior to his brief stint with the Royals.
  • With Hayes having been outrighted, just two players are currently in DFA limbo: Ryan Roberts of the Rays and Elliot Johnson of the Royals. Both were designated for assignment yesterday.

AL East Links: A-Rod, Jeter, Ellsbury, Myers, Jones

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According to a "60 Minutes" report, members of Alex Rodriguez's inner circle obtained unredacted Biogenesis documents in February and leaked the names of Ryan Braun, Francisco Cervelli and Danny Valencia (who was later cleared) to Yahoo Sports.  Michael Radutzky of CBS News writes.  Rodriguez talked to the media (including Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York) today and denied leaking the names of any fellow player, particularly his Yankee teammate Cervelli.  The third baseman also warned that more details in the case would be made public in the coming days: 

"You know, I've been a member of this union for 20 years, and it is important for all the guys to understand that my loyalty is to this union and it would never happen, it would never occur and it didn't happen. Let's make one thing clear: For the next seven weeks, it is going to be a very bumpy road. Every day expect a story like this, if not bigger."

Here are some more items from around the AL East…

  • Given the uncertainty of Rodriguez's situation and Derek Jeter's health, the Yankees will need to explore alternatives at third base and shortstop this winter, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes.  Under Sherman's scenario, Jeter would play half his games at shortstop and the rest at first base or as the Yankees' primary DH against right-handers.
  • As least 12 teams project to be suitors for Jacoby Ellsbury this winter, Fangraphs' Paul Swydan writes.  The Red Sox are one of those teams, as "GM Ben Cherington isn’t letting Ellsbury go without a fight," though Swydan notes that the Sox could be in a position crunch in left field (with Jackie Bradley, Daniel Nava and Jonny Gomes) if they re-sign both Ellsbury and Mike Napoli.
  • The Rays still look like the winners of the Wil Myers/James Shields trade, despite the Royals' recent hot streak, Grantland's Rany Jazayerli opines.
  • The hiring of Buck Showalter was the key move that turned the Orioles from also-rans into contenders, outfielder Adam Jones writes in a guest piece for Buster Olney's column (ESPN Insider subscription required).

Royals Acquire Emilio Bonifacio

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2:24pm: Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told reporters, including Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, that the Royals claimed Bonifacio off waivers and a trade came together quickly this morning. The trade will be completed by mid-September, and it sounds like the Jays will receive cash (Twitter links).

12:07pm: The Royals announced that they have acquired Emilio Bonifacio from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash or a player to be named later.  Bonifacio's name popped up in trade talk in late July but he wasn't moved prior to the non-waiver deadline.

Bonifacio, 28, came to Toronto in the offseason blockbuster with the Marlins.  The versatile veteran hasn't performed well north of the border, however, hitting just .218/.258/.321 on the year with three homers.  While Bonifacio has never been known for his bat, his .271/.332/.345 slash line in four years with the Marlins was considerably better than what he's done in 2013.

Bonifacio is earning $2.6MM as a second-year arbitration eligible player and KC will be on the hook for the prorated portion of his salary which comes out to about $654K.  The Wasserman Media Group client has one more year of arbitration eligibility ahead of him and can hit the open market following the 2014 campaign.

The switch-hitter has spent significant time at the three outfield posiions, second base, third base, and shortstop.  The deal brings Bonifacio to the same organization as his younger brother, Jorge, who is an outfielder at Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Steve Adams contributed to this post.

Minor Moves: Jake Fox, Francisley Bueno

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Here are Sunday’s minor moves from around MLB:

  • The Diamondbacks have signed 1B/OF/C Jake Fox, Fox writes on Facebook. Fox has been assigned to Triple-A Reno. He had been playing for the independent Somerset Patriots, for whom hit .310/.387/.572 in 2013, with 25 home runs in 374 at bats. Fox played in the Pirates and Phillies systems in 2012, and last appeared in the Majors with the Orioles in 2011.
  • The Royals have announced, via Twitter, they have optioned left-hander Francisley Bueno to Triple-A Omaha. The 32-year-old was designated for assignment yesterday less than 24 hours after making his season debut with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief against the Red Sox. Bueno has excelled at Triple-A this year posting a 2.93 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 31 games (one start) covering 58 1/3 innings.

Charlie Wilmoth contributed to this post.

Royals Acquire Jamey Carroll

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The Royals have acquired infielder Jamey Carroll from the Twins, tweets Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. Both teams have confirmed the trade and the Twins will receive a player to be named later or cash.  Carroll

"I'm excited to go to a team that's been playing really well," Carroll told reporters including Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioner Press (video link). "I hope I can go there and contribute in a positive way. It should be pretty exciting. It's exciting to go and be in this situation."

The Royals, 7.5 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central and 4.5 games out of the second AL Wild Card spot, have lost a pair of second basemen to injury this month. Chris Getz was placed on the disabled list August 1 with a left knee sprain and Miguel Tejada landed on the DL today after suffering a right calf strain last night. Carroll has split his time between second base and third base for the Twins this year while posting a slash line of .230/.284/.262 in 202 plate appearances. Royals manager Ned Yost says Carroll "is a very solid player" and will play mostly at second, but will see time at third, tweets Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star.  

Carroll is in the final season of a two-year, $6.75MM contract he signed with the Twins in November 2011. The deal includes a 2014 mutual option worth $2MM. MLBTR's Zach Links detailed recently the 39-year-old needs 401 plate appearances for the option to vest, so he needs 199 more to reach that mark. If the option does vest, Carroll can decide to take the guaranteed $2MM and remain in Kansas City or accept a $250K buyout and test the open market this offseason.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Royals Designate Brett Hayes For Assignment

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The Royals announced that they have designated catcher Brett Hayes for assignment.  The move will allow KC to activate fellow backstop Salvador Perez from the seven-day disabled list.

Hayes, 29, saw just three games of big league action (all last week) before being DFA'd.  The catcher has a .219/.266/.364 slash line across parts of five major league seasons and a .252/.294/.398 in five Triple-A campaigns.

Royals Designate Francisley Bueno

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The Royals have designated Francisley Bueno for assignment, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).  The right-hander made his sole 2013 big league appearance yesterday, allowing just one hit in 2 and 1/3 innings.

This marks the second time this summer that the 32-year-old has been DFA'd by the Royals – he was also bumped off of the 40-man roster in late June to make way for the reactivation of Danny Duffy.  In 30 relief appearances and one start at Triple-A Omaha this season, Bueno posted a 2.93 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9.

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