Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Angels Rumors

Angels To Sign Hunter Green

By | at

The Angels will sign second-round pick Hunter Green to a $942k deal today, MLBTR's Chris Cotillo has learned. MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reported yesterday that a deal was near. Green, who is advised by Jet Sports Management, receives a bonus right at the slot recommendation for the 59th overall pick with which he was chosen. (Slot bonus info courtesy of Baseball America.)

The left-hander was taken with the Angels' first overall pick. (The club forfeited its first-round choice when it inked Josh Hamilton in free agency.) Had he not signed, Green was destined for the University of Kentucky.

Green appeared higher than his draft slot on many pundits' boards. Baseball America slotted him as the 31st best draft prospect, ESPN's Keith Law put him at number 42, and MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo rated Green 48th. While placing Green lower than his colleagues, Mayo explained that the still-lanky youngster is projectable both with his body and his three offerings (fastball-curve-change). Law concurred (Insider link), calling Green inconsistent but "very intriguing." 

Orioles Seeking Rotation Upgrades

By | at

At 42-31, the Orioles have the second-best record in the American League. That impressive win total comes despite the fact that their starting pitchers, as a whole, have the fourth-worst ERA in the Majors at 4.76. Given that number, it's no surprise to see MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli write that the Orioles will be in the market for starting pitching help in her latest Orioles Inbox. According to Ghiroli, names like Ricky Nolasco, Bud Norris, Jason Vargas and Joe Saunders are on the team's radar. She adds that Mike Pelfrey's name has also surfaced.

No one from that group stands out as an ace-caliber pitcher, which meshes with Ghiroli's statement that the Orioles "would like to add at least one more pitcher to help eat innings and keep the bullpen fresh." That trade could come prior to the July 31 non-waiver deadline, or, if asking prices are high, executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette could make a waiver trade in August as he did in 2012 when he acquired Saunders from the Diamondbacks for Matt Lindstrom.

Asked about the Orioles seeking a potential upgrade at second base via the trade market, Ghiroli said that the team isn't looking for second base upgrades. Baltimore is satisfied with the defense of Ryan Flaherty, and Brian Roberts is nearing a rehab assignment. According to Ghiroli, the Orioles would prefer to "[funnel] any and all resources and trade chips into helping out the rotation."

Not surprisingly, the Orioles aren't willing to discuss Kevin Gausman or Dylan Bundy in trades, which is likely the reason for focusing on second- and third-tier trade targets. Of the five names mentioned, Norris figures to have the highest asking price. Only he is controlled beyond 2013; each of the other four can be free agents at season's end.

Earlier this season the O's were said to be looking for a top-of-the-rotation starter, but they seem to have shifted that focus. Given their unwillingness to part with Gausman or Bundy, it stands to reason that acquiring an ace-caliber arm would've been an unrealistic goal.

Minor Moves: Lou Montanez, Chris Robinson

By | at

Here are today's minor moves from around the league…

  • The Angels have signed Lou Montanez to a minor league contract and assigned him to Double-A Arkansas, tweets Ryan Dunleavy of New Jersey Press Media. Montanez, 31, had been playing in the independent Atlantic League and compiled a .313/.359/.478 batting line for the Somerset Patriots. The Cubs selected Montanez with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2000 draft, but he's hit just .223/.258/.328 in 129 big league games between the Cubs and Orioles.
  • The Orioles have traded catcher Chris Robinson has been traded to the Padres for cash, CSNBaltimore.com's Rich Dubroff tweets. Robinson will be assigned to the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in Tucson. The 29-year-old was batting .241/.268/.278 in 29 games for the Tides this season.

Chris Cotillo contributed to this post.

Minor Moves: Mike Ekstrom

By | at

Here are Sunday's minor moves from around MLB:

  • The Angels have signed right-hander Mike Ekstrom to a minor league contract and he will report to Triple-A Salt Lake, reports Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle confirmed the signing on Twitter after tweeting yesterday Ekstrom had a opt-out in his deal with the A's, which he exercised. The 29-year-old last appeared in a MLB game with the Rockies in 2012 posting a mark of 6.31 ERA, 5.2 K/9, 1.1 BB/9, and 12.1 H/9 in 15 2/3 innings (15 games). This year with Triple-A Sacramento, Ekstrom has marginally better numbers of 5.10 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, and 11.7 H/9 in 30 innings (20 games). 

Minor Moves: Richardson, Cabral, Thomore

By | at

Here are Friday's minor moves from around the league…

  • The Angels have signed left-hander Dustin Richardson to a minor league deal, MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo reports.  Richardson posted a 3.31 ERA over 16 1/3 relief innings (despite issuing 15 walks and 18 hits in that stretch) with the Red Sox in 2009-10.  He has spent the last two seasons with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters.  Richardson was suspended for 50 games for PED use in 2012 but his suspension has since been lifted due to compliance with MLB and his time away from affiliated baseball.
  • The Yankees have outrighted left-hander Cesar Cabral to Double-A, the team announced today (passed on by Mike Axisa of the River Ave Blues blog.)  Cabral was taken by the Royals from the Red Sox in the 2011 Rule 5 draft and then dealt to the Yankees, though he missed the entire 2012 season with an elbow injury.
  • The White Sox have acquired outfielder Carl Thomore from the Rockies in exchange for cash, according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy (on Twitter). Thomore was a second-round pick by the Rox as recently as 2011, but he's hit just .196/.308/.309 in 58 games in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Thomore has recovered from a devastating leg injury suffered in high school (as chronicled by Brian Falzarano of MaxPreps.com two years ago) to make it to pro ball.
  • Five players currently reside in DFA limbo: John Baker and James Darnell of the Padres, Ramon Ramirez of the Giants, Ramon Hernandez of the Dodgers and Kelly Shoppach of the Mariners.

Draft Signings: Evans, Armstrong, Horstman

By | at

Here are today's most notable signings from Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft (slot information courtesy of Baseball America)…

  • The Royals signed fourth round draft pick Zane Evans, Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets.  Evans signed for $400K, below the $450.4K assigned slot value for the 114th overall pick.  Evans was both a catcher and a right-handed relief pitcher at Georgia Tech and Callis believes Kansas City will use him as a catcher.
  • The Reds have signed third-rounder Mark Armstrong, Callis reports (via Twitter).  Armstrong, a high school right-hander who had committed to Pitt, signed for exactly his assigned slot value of $496K.
  • The Mariners have signed St. John's left-hander Ryan Horstman, Callis reports (via Twitter).  Horstman, one of the few college freshmen eligible for the draft, was taken in the fourth round by the M's and signed for $550K, a significant bump up from his slotted price of $437.6K.
  • Junior college right-hander Kenyan Middleton tweeted that he has officially signed with the Angels earlier today. Middleton, the No. 95 overall pick, is advised by Tripper Johnson of Sosnick & Cobbe. His slot carries an assigned pick value of $541K.
  • The Cardinals signed third-rounder Mike Mayers for a little more than a $500K bonus — about $58K below his assigned pick value — according to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Mayers is a right-hander out of Ole Miss.
  • Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets that the Phillies signed fourth-rounder Jake Sweaney for $400K. Sweaney's deal is $21K below slot. The high school catcher was committed to Oregon and has a plus arm with power potential in his bat.
  • The Twins signed third-rounder Stuart Turner for a $550K bonus that is well below the No. 78 pick's assigned value of $703K, Callis tweets. The Mississipi backstop was regarded as the best catch-and-throw college catcher in this year's draft, and Callis notes that he had a strong year at the plate too.
  • Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports that the Cardinals have agreed to an over-slot deal with 10th-rounder Malik Collymore. The Canadian high school second baseman will receive a $275K signing bonus, which is significantly larger than the recommended $135K.
  • Eleventh-round selection Spencer Navin also received a significantly over-slot deal, tweets Callis. The Dodgers gave the Vanderbilt backstop $300K — three times the $100K maximum for draft picks after the 10th round. Players drafted after the 10th round don't count toward a team's bonus pool as long as they sign for $100K or less. In other words, the $200K excess to sign Navin will count against the Dodgers' draft pool.
  • The Astros have signed fourth-round pick Conrad Gregor for a bonus of $482K, tweets Callis. The Vanderbilt first baseman has good patience and athleticism but has yet to tap into his power, Callis adds. Gregor signed for full slot value.

AL West Notes: Ramirez, Iwakuma, Astros, Angels

By | at

The latest out of the AL West…

  • Erasmo Ramirez has hurled 15 consecutive scoreless innings in Triple-A Tacoma, and Dave Cameron of the U.S.S. Mariner writes that it's time for him to be recalled and inserted back into the Mariners' rotation. However, he notes that both Jeremy Bonderman and Aaron Harang are coming off dominant outings against a weak Astros lineup, so cutting either would look bad for the team.
  • While some pundits believe that now is the time to sell Hisashi Iwakuma at his peak value, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times writes that the Mariners are better off hanging onto their second ace. As Stone points out, GM Jack Zduriencik has whiffed on trades of established pitchers for young hitters in the past, and Iwakuma is too far from free agency to part with (he's controlled through 2015).
  • Things look bleak for the Astros at the Major League level currently, but Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle writes that hope is on the horizon. Smith examines the wealth of talent at Double-A Corpus Christi, highlighted by Jonathan Singleton, George Springer and Mike Foltynewicz. Smith also discusses pitchers Jake Buchanan and David Martinez as well as left fielder Domingo Santana, whom he calls the team's "most underrated position-player prospect."
  • Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes that trading prospects for short-term fixes has hurt the Angels, and notes the irony of GM Jerry Dipoto's situation. Dipoto was the interim GM of the D-backs when he traded Dan Haren to the Halos for a package highlighted by Tyler Skaggs and Patrick Corbin. Dipoto recalls the "bloodbath" that ensued in the Arizona media, who essentially called the deal highway robbery for the Angels. Dipoto tells Saxon that he was adamant Corbin be included the deal, noting that he and his staff had followed Corbin since his early days in junior college.

Draft Signings: Tarpley, Dixon, Bellinger, Smith

By | at

Here are Thursday's notable signings from Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft (all slot info courtesy of Baseball America) …

  • The Orioles have agreed to terms with Scottsdale Community College lefty Stephen Tarpley, the team's third-round choice, according to Baseball America's Jim Callis (via Twitter). Tarpley, who reportedly touches 95 with his fastball, was signed for just $500 under the recommended $525,500 bonus for the 98th overall choice.
  • Third-round draft choice Brandon Dixon has signed with the Dodgers for the slot recommendation of $566,500, tweets Callis. The University of Arizona third baseman could become a corner outfielder, according to Callis, and is noted for his power potential.
  • The Dodgers have signed fourth-round choice Cody Bellinger, a high-school first baseman, for $700k, tweets Callis. Los Angeles pried Bellinger away from the University of Oregon with the largest over-slot signing to date (by percentage), nearly doubling the recommended $409k bonus. Bellinger is being advised by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
  • The Blue Jays have agreed to terms with their fourth round pick, left-handed high-schooler Evan Smith, according to Callis (on Twitter). Smith, who stands at 6'5", has reportedly touched 93 with his fastball. $96.1k 
  • Cody Dickson, a "projectable" left-hander out of Sam Houston State, will sign with the Pirates for $375k, Callis says on Twitter. The fourth-round pick's bonus falls $54,200 under the slot recommendation.
  • The Reds have signed fourth-rounder Ben Lively for $350k, Callis tweets. The righty mixes four pitches, including a 90-93 MPH heater. His signing bonus comes in at a modest $17.9k under slot. 
  • The Rockies inked fifth-rounder Blake Shouse for $353,900, his exact slot allocation, according to a Callis tweet. Per Callis, the two-way player sits in the low-to-mid 90's with his fastball and also features a hard curve.
  • Third round pick Patrick Murphy signed with the Blue Jays for $500K, Callis tweets.  The Arizona high school right-hander missed the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.  In the past, he has displayed a 93 mph fastball and solid curveball.  Murphy is advised by Jonathan Pridie of Sosnick Cobbe.
  • The Yankees signed third-rounder Michael O'Neill for $501K, according to Callis (via Twitter). The Michigan outfielder is quick and could wind up in center field.
  • Rangers fourth-round pick Isaiah Kiner-Falefa signed for $202K, per Callis (on Twitter). The Hawaiian high school shortstop is a solid defender with a contact-oriented approach. He signed for nearly $184K under slot.
  • Catcher/right-hander Tanner Murphy, a fourth-round pick of the Braves, agreed to a $250K bonus to forego his commitment to Southern Illinois, Callis tweets. Murphy has power in his bat and a strong throwing arm behind the dish, and he's also been clocked at 92 mph on the mound. He signed for a healthy $125K below slot.
  • The Angels have signed third-round pick Kenyan Middleton for a bonus of $450K, tweets Callis. Middleton is a two-sport athlete out of junior college in Oregon who touches 95 mph with his fastball and features a tight slider as well. He signed $91K under slot.
  • The Rays have signed fifth-round selection Johnny Field for a bonus of $250K, Callis reports (on Twitter). Field, an outfielder out of the University of Arizona, will convert to second base and provides most of his value with his bat. He signed for nearly $45K under slot.

Angels Outright Chris Nelson To Triple-A

By | at

THURSDAY: Nelson has cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake, according to Angels director of communications Eric Kay (on Twitter).

MONDAY: The Angels have designated infielder Chris Nelson for assignment in order to clear a 25-man roster spot for Peter Bourjos, who has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times (on Twitter).

Nelson, 27, appeared in seven games for the Halos but received just nine plate appearances, collecting three singles. The Angels were the third team for which the former No. 9 overall draft pick has played this season, as he also saw time with the Rockies and Yankees before being designated for assignment by each of those clubs as well.

Nelson has significant experience at both second and third base throughout his career and is a lifetime .277/.318/.407 hitter at the Major League level. His best season came in 2012 when he hit .301/.352/.458 for the Rockies in 377 plate appearances. Even though his offensive numbers that season were strong, however, Nelson's defense grades out very poorly according to both Ultimate Zone Rating and The Fielding Bible.

Quick Hits: Zunino, Tigers, Ishikawa, Astros

By | at

The Mariners' promotion of Mike Zunino will give the club some 40-man roster issues down the line, writes Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner.  While none of the players on the chopping block for future roster shuffling project to be superstars, "the reality is that if you toss a half dozen fringe prospects overboard, you’re going to end up regretting it," Cameron writes.  Here's more from around baseball..

  • The Tigers have been looking hard for a closer and will continue to do so, tweets Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.  Jose Valverde had a rough outing today versus the Royals as he surrendered a game-tying two run homer in the bottom of the ninth to Lorenzo Cain.
  • Travis Ishikawa can opt out of his deal with the Orioles soon and Dan Duquette wouldn't be surprised if he lands a big league job, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.  Tim Dierkes first learned that the first baseman can opt out of his minor league deal on Saturday.
  • Michael Foltynewicz is evolving into the Astros' best pitching prospect, writes Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.  The No. 19 overall pick in the 2010 draft entered the season as the No. 5 prospect in the club’s farm system, according to Baseball America, and he has only added to his buzz since then.
  • The Angels considered drafting former Florida football star Tim Tebow years ago but he had to be scrubbed from the draft board when he didn't send a completed information card to them, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com.
  • It's too early to determine who will and won't be available at the trade deadline this year, opines Ken Davidoff of the New York Post.
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top