Rosenthal On Cardinals, Athletics, Stanton
Ken Rosenthal's latest column for FOX Sports begins with a look at the Braves' rotation without veteran Tim Hudson, who sustained a season-ending ankle fracture last night. Rosenthal notes it's a very young group without Hudson, and seems to be lacking a true number one starter. Such a pitcher is probably not available on the trade market, which I imagine the Braves will be eyeing more keenly. Elsewhere from Rosenthal's column:
- The Cardinals are not actively pursuing the Astros' Bud Norris or the Blue Jays' Mark Buehrle. The Cards didn't push for Matt Garza, but did scout Jake Peavy's last start. Ervin Santana is available as well, but Rosenthal wonders if "a trade might not be worth the trouble," given the Cardinals' current group of talented young pitchers.
- The Red Sox never got serious on Garza due to concerns with his injury history. The Red Sox and Tigers were the other AL clubs in on reliever Francisco Rodriguez, who was recently traded to the Orioles.
- After making a late run at Garza, the Athletics are interested in Peavy and Santana. Sometimes it helps to add to a strength, explains Rosenthal.
- The Rangers ask the Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton "every week," a Major League source tells Rosenthal, and keep hearing "no." In addition to Alex Rios of the White Sox, the Rangers are considering Justin Ruggiano of the Marlins and Chris Denorfia of the Padres. However, they have "not mounted a serious push" for Ruggiano, while the Padres don't plan to trade Denorfia or teammate Carlos Quentin.
- "Some with the Brewers" wonder if the presence of Ryan Braun might make it more difficult to attract free agents.
- The Phillies are "narrowing their search for a backup center fielder," writes Rosenthal, and the recently-designated Chris Dickerson could be one option.
Knobler On Rios, Royals, Braves, Rangers
Here’s a look at the latest trade rumblings from Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com..
- We know that the Rangers have interest in Alex Rios, but the Royals also like the White Sox outfielder, Knobler writes. The Royals have been talked about more as sellers and we know that they’re willing to discuss Ervin Santana, but KC has also been looking to add under-control players who could fill their needs in right field or at second base. It’s not clear how much the division rivals have talked, however.
- The Braves need their hitting to improve, but they’re scouring the market for bullpen help, writes Knobler. The main focus has been on finding a left-handed reliever, but they’ve also looked at right-handed bullpen help and even at starting pitchers. Left-handers like the Brewers‘ Mike Gonzalez and James Russell of the Cubs would make sense for them. Marlins lefty Mike Dunn has also been mentioned by some teams, but the Braves have been told he won’t be traded.
- In addition to Rios, the Rangers also have their eye on the Mets‘ Marlon Byrd (Twitter link). Last week it was said that the Mets need to be “overwhelmed” to trade Byrd.
Royals Willing To Listen On Ervin Santana
The Royals are willing to listen to offers for Ervin Santana and would deal him for the right offer, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com (via Twitter). The availability of the righty "changes the market for starting pitching," Rosenthal adds in a second tweet.
Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star also hears that Santana is available (Twitter link), but cautions that the price will be steep. The 30-year-old undoubtedly becomes one of the top starters on the block, as he's pitched to a sterling 3.18 ERA in 130.1 innings this year, posting a 7.2 K/9 and a 1.9 BB/9. Any acquiring team would be on the hook for the remaining portion of his $13MM salary this season. Meanwhile, the Royals would lose the ability to make him a qualifying offer, so we can expect that their asking price will exceed the value of a compensatory pick in the 2014 draft.
The news marks a change in posture for Royals GM Dayton Moore, as Dutton reported just a week ago that Moore wouldn't entertain offers for Santana. However, Kansas City is currently 46-51, and at eight games behind the first place Tigers heading into tonight's matchup with the Orioles, appear to have a slim chance of making the playoffs.
Angels Claim J.C. Gutierrez Off Waivers
The Angels have claimed J.C. Gutierrez off of waivers from the Royals, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com (via Twitter). The right-hander was designated for assignment by Kansas City earlier this month in order to make room for Wade Davis as he returned from paternity leave.
The 30-year-old has a solid 3.38 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 25 relief appearances this season. Over the course of his career, Gutierrez has a 4.58 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in parts of five campaigns for the Astros, Diamondbacks, and Royals. The well-traveled reliever boasts a mid-90s fastball and so far in 2013 he’s been clocking in with a career high 95 mph average.
Red Sox Notes: Hochevar, K-Rod, Wilson, Workman
The biggest news of the day from Fenway Park is Dustin Pedroia's seven-year, $100MM extension with the Red Sox, and we already have heard a lot of reaction to the big contract. While locking up Pedroia is a major long-term move for the team, the Red Sox could make a move for their immediate future by adding a reliever before the trade deadline. Here's the latest…
- The Red Sox are interested in Royals reliever Luke Hochevar and have been scouting the right-hander, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports. The two teams haven't engaged in trade discussions, however, as the Royals aren't yet open to dealing their veterans. Hochevar, the first overall pick of the 2006 draft, has posted a 2.00 ERA, 9.5 K/9 and 3.8 K/BB ratio in 36 IP in his first season as a reliever. Hochevar is earning $4.56MM this year and will get an arbitration raise this winter, however, so he could be too expensive for the Royals to retain.
- The Sox had spoken to the Brewers about Francisco Rodriguez but thought Milwaukee's asking price was too high for a reliever who will be a free agent this winter, WEEI.com's Alex Speier reports. Boston will now have to deal with K-Rod in the AL East pennant race now that the veteran righty has been acquired by the Orioles.
- The Red Sox have no current interest in Brian Wilson, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports (via Twitter). The former Giants closer will be showcasing his arm for teams within the next few weeks as he attempts to return from Tommy John surgery.
- Brandon Workman has pitched well as a stopgap starter for Boston but manager John Farrell admitted that even if the righty keeps performing, it wouldn't stop the club from pursuing starting pitching help if necessary. “[GM Ben Cherington] will be aggressive in a situation in a deal that makes sense for us,” Farrell told reporters, including Alex Speier. “I wouldn’t pin our assessment of the trade market on Brandon Workman. He’s not the linchpin to whether we make a trade or not.”
Minor Moves: Hernandez, Gonzalez, Moskos
Here is Tuesday's rundown of minor moves from around the league…
- The Royals acquired outfielder Gorkys Hernandez from the Marlins yesterday in exchange for shortstop Alex McClure, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Hernandez, 25, is a former top prospect and has hit .275/.330/.375 for Triple-A New Orleans this season — numbers that are almost identical to his career marks at the Triple-A level. The 24-year-old McClure has hit just .219/.257/.267 in 274 minor league plate appearances this season.
- Infielder Alberto Gonzalez has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A by the Yankees, according to the International League's transactions page. Gonzalez was designated for assignment over the weekend after hitting just .176/.176/.206 for the Yankees in 34 plate appearances.
- Left-hander Daniel Moskos has signed to play with the EDA Rhinos in Taiwan, according to Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com (Twitter link). The former No. 4 overall selection in the draft was released by the White Sox a month ago and will now join the same team which Manny Ramirez played for earlier this season. Moskos, 27, has a career 4.43 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 439 minor league innings.
- Six players are currently in DFA limbo: Carlos Pena and Ronny Cedeno of the Astros, Brendan Harris of the Angels, Chris Dickerson of the Orioles, J.C. Gutierrez of the Royals and Chris Heston of the Giants.
Central Notes: Royals, Konerko, Gregg, Pirates
Baseball's central divisions have four clear sellers in the Cubs, Brewers, White Sox, and Twins. At seven games out, the Royals are on the bubble. The team sees "a winning record as an important secondary goal even if they don’t reach postseason," according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, so they may stand pat. Meanwhile, the Tigers, Indians, Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds are the five central division buyers. Links from both divisions…
- In a Q&A mailbag, a reader asks Dutton how hot the seat is under Royals GM Dayton Moore. Dutton writes that despite fan criticism for the team's longtime decision maker, there's nothing to suggest his job is actually in jeopardy. Elsewhere in the mailbag, Dutton notes that there is no indication the team is shopping starter Ervin Santana, and that he does not expect the team to reduce payroll next year.
- "We ought to know and be right on the first couple of picks. But it's those middle-round guys that your scouts push and say, 'We need to get this guy,' who make your organization," Royals senior advisor to the GM Mike Arbuckle told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick in regard to former 10th round draft pick Greg Holland, now the team's All-Star closer.
- "Trying to think like another team, usually the guys who are traded are going better than I am," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko told Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune on his minor league rehab assignment in the Southern League. Konerko, 37, is battling a back injury in the last year of his contract with the White Sox.
- Cubs closer Kevin Gregg is on the trading block alongside starter Matt Garza, and Gregg seems ready to jump to a contender. "Garza’s a headline piece, but I think that in the baseball world, people are looking for relievers. I hope I’m on that list," Gregg told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times recently. The 35-year-old has enjoyed an improbable rise back to prominence and the Cubs' closer job, though he has a 7.36 ERA over the last month.
- Speaking to Tom Singer of MLB.com, Pirates GM Neal Huntington explained that his strong farm system gives him the confidence to make trades without depleting it. Huntington didn't rule out rental players, saying, "We've never gone in with a premeditated view on rentals, whether we want or don't want them. We've gone into the Deadline to impact that year's club as best we could. Now, while it does not make a ton of sense for us to give up an elite prospect for a two-month rental, you've always got to have the majority of attention on today."
Zach Links contributed to this post.
AL Central Links: Morneau, Royals, Gonzalez, Linares
Earlier tonight, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports took a look at the Twins' trade chips, noting that the market for Justin Morneau is soft at this time, with a few interested parties deterred by the $6MM remaining on the former MVP's contract. Here's more on Morneau and the rest of the AL Central…
- Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes that the M&M Boys (Joe Mauer and Morneau) in Minnesota is coming to an end. Berardino took some time over the All-Star break to talk to Mauer and former teammates Michael Cuddyer, Joe Nathan and Carlos Gomez about Morneau's leadership abilities. All spoke with the utmost respect for the Canadian slugger.
- Royals general manager Dayton Moore is not in sell mode despite the team's recent slide in the standings, writes Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Moore says he won't shift gears and focus on the future, though that doesn't mean he won't acquire players who can help the team beyond 2013. He also won't entertain offers for free-agent-to-be Ervin Santana.
- A source close to Cuban right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez told Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities that there's no steam between the Twins and Gonzalez (Twitter link). Earlier tonight, the Twins were connected to Gonzalez but listed as a long shot due to his price tag.
- The White Sox and Indians are two of the three teams that MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reports as suitors for 19-year-old Cuban right-hander Leandro Linares (Twitter links). The Marlins also have interest in Linares, who does fall under the newest CBA's international signing guidelines.
Royals Outright Pedro Ciriaco
THURSDAY: The Royals have outrighted Ciriaco to Triple-A Omaha, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). It seems likely that the Royals were interested in adding Ciriaco as organizational depth but didn't want to use a 40-man roster spot on him and placed him on waivers. This time, he cleared and was assigned to the minor leagues.
TUESDAY: The Royals claimed shortstop Pedro Ciriaco off waivers from the Padres, according to a team press release. Ciriaco had been designated for assignment on Friday. The Royals now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.
Ciriaco, 27, hit .228/.288/.342 in 126 plate appearances for the Red Sox and Padres this year, spending most of his time at shortstop. Ciriaco was signed by the Diamondbacks out of the Dominican Republic in 2003. He went to the Pirates in a trade deadline deal three years ago, was granted free agency after the 2011 season, signed as a minor league free agent with Boston in January 2012, and was acquired in trade by the Padres in June of this year after they had designated him for assignment.
Prior to the 2011 season, Ciriaco was ranked 27th among Pirates prospects by Baseball America. They noted his "plus speed, smooth glove, and strong arm," suggesting his bat would determine whether he could land an everyday role. The Royals' middle infield mix currently consists of Alcides Escobar, Johnny Giavotella, Miguel Tejada, and Elliot Johnson.
Quick Hits: Gardenhire, Twins, Giants
Chase Lambin is the oldest active minor league player to have never played a game in the majors, but the 34-year-old is still chasing the dream, writes Kent Babb of the Washington Post. Lambin, whose career has taken him to multiple stops in the minors and even Japan, is with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate in Omaha and hoping to get the call up to Kansas City. If it doesn't come this year, Lambin says he'll keep playing until there are no more contracts, whether here in the states or overseas. Here's tonight's look around baseball..
- There have been questions about manager Ron Gardenhire's job security with the Twins, but people around the team tell Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that there's very little chance that he won't be asked back for 2014.
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (Sulia link) spoke with a rival front office executive who said that the Giants'' best trade bait is their pitching in the low minors along with Double-A catcher Andrew Susac in return for big-league talent, if they're buying at the deadline. San Fran is 43-51, 6.5 games back of the first place D'Backs.
- Matt Eddy of Baseball America has the up-to-date international bonus pool figures for all 30 big league teams.
- Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball compiled a list of the players earning bonuses for their appearance in the 2013 All-Star game. The Tigers wound up doling out $400K in bonuses to five players, including Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, and Torii Hunter, who made $100K each for their trip to Queens.