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Quick Hits: Hatcher, Wright, Giants, Duffy, Draft

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The Angels announced that Mickey Hatcher has been removed from his job as the team's hitting coach.  Hatcher will be replaced by Jim Eppard, who had been the hitting coach at Triple-A Salt Lake City.  This was Hatcher's 13th year as the Angels' hitting coach, and his firing is surely a response to the club's overall lack of offense this season, particularly from Albert Pujols.  (Ironically, Pujols hit three singles in today's 4-0 win over the A's.)  Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times thinks this move came from owner Arte Moreno and is another sign that GM Jerry Dipoto is in charge of the team, not Mike Scioscia (both Twitter links).

Here are some items from around the majors…

  • David Wright told Adam Rubin of ESPN New York that he hasn't been approached by the Mets about a contract extension and he hasn't thought about the possibility of in-season negotiations.  We heard on Sunday that the Mets will likely offer Wright a multiyear contract, possibly sometime this summer.
  • Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan, both free agents after the season, told Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that they'd be open to midseason contract talks with the Giants but are both just focused on baseball for now.
  • Danny Duffy's Tommy John surgery is just the latest blow in what has been a hard-luck season for the Royals, writes Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star.  The Royals will essentially lose a year of control over Duffy (who will accumulate service time while on the DL) and "the pressure on the Royals…to sign a frontline starting pitcher this winter just intensified," said Mellinger.
    Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/14/3610785/royals-pain-continues-with-duffys.html#storylink=cpy
  • High school outfielder Byron Buxton holds the top spot in Baseball America's ranking of the top 100 prospects in the June amateur draft.  The Astros hold the #1 overall selection.
  • ESPN's Buster Olney looks at ten starting pitchers who could be trade candidates this summer.
  • The early results of last offseason's trades are evaluated by MLB.com's Joey Nowak.
  • Marlins Park is proving to be very pitcher-friendly, but Marlins president David Samson told reporters (including Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post) that the team wasn't planning to move in the fences after the season.

Angels Place Torii Hunter On Restricted List

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The Angels have placed outfielder Torii Hunter on the restricted list due to personal reasons and plan to select the contract of Ryan Langerhans from Triple-A Salt Lake, according to Tim Mead of the Angels (via Twitter).  Hunter's Texas-based son was charged with a crime earlier today, according to a report from NBC Dallas Fort Worth.

Hunter, 37 in July, is in the final year of a five-year, $90MM pact.  So far this year, the outfielder is hitting .256/.328/.413 with five homers in 33 games.  Players on the restricted list do not count toward a team's 25-man or 40-man roster. 

AL West Notes: Rangers, Hamilton, Angels, Trout

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Here’s a look at the American League West and the division-leading Rangers..

  • While teams are salivating over Josh Hamilton’s impending free agency, Joel Sherman of the New York Post cautions that a long-term, monster deal could backfire on the club that signs him.  Sherman also touches on Albert Pujols’ early slump and wonders if the Angels would make the deal again knowing what they know now.
  • Signing Hamilton to a big contract is a high-risk, high-reward proposition for the Rangers, writes John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.  The Rangers are working to protect themselves financially in the event of more off-the-field trouble or major injuries.
  • How did Angels outfielder Mike Trout fall to the No. 25 pick in the 2009 draft?  There were a number of factors involved, including some anti-New Jersey bias, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Hamels, Jones, Bourjos, Padres

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has new Full Count video up, so let's dive in…

  • Rosenthal says it's interesting that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro declined comment after Nationals GM Mike Rizzo criticized Cole Hamels for intentionally hitting Bryce Harper. It may be an indication that the relationship between the club and the free agent-to-be left-hander is touchier than it has been in the past.
  • Hot starts by the Orioles and Adam Jones should reduce the chances that the center fielder is traded this summer and could create momentum for a long-term deal. Jones has emerged as a leader in the clubhouse and is a piece they could build around going forward, along with prospects Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado.
  • The Nationals have been trying to acquire Peter Bourjos since last offseason, but the Angels view the center fielder as a long-term asset and possible replacement for Torii Hunter. Hunter will become a free agent after the season, but that does not mean Bourjos is untouchable.
  • The Padres have Huston Street, Carlos Quentin, and four starting pitchers on the disabled list, and Rosenthal says they could infuse some young talent into the roster by trading some of their back-end starters. They need Tim Stauffer (elbow) to get healthy and for Clayton Richard (5.32) to pitch better first.

Angels Not Actively Shopping Peter Bourjos

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Despite reports to the contrary, Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto denies that the club is actively shopping centerfielder Peter Bourjos, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).  Yesterday, the Angels were said to have had preliminary discussions with the Nationals involving Bourjos.

"We are not actively shopping him or looking for a fit for him. We believe he's an asset for us," Dipoto said.

The Royals, Diamondbacks, and Blue Jays also reportedly checked in on the outfielder's availability.  However, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez said earlier today that there's no more truth to the Bourjos-Nationals rumors now than there was this offseason.  The Nats were actively searching for a solution in center field this winter and had the 25-year-old high on their wish list.

The Angels are in need of bullpen support and Washington would be a solid trade partner if it weren't for the injuries suffered by Drew Storen and Brad Lidge. 

AL West Notes: Ross, Hamilton, Angels, League

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Links from the AL West, before the Rangers and Yu Darvish host the Angels and C.J. Wilson in Arlington…

  • The Rangers offered left-hander Robbie Ross to the Mets in a package of players for Carlos Beltran last summer, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter link). The Mets ultimately passed on Ross and obtained Zack Wheeler from the Giants.
  • The Rangers would do well to sign Josh Hamilton to a short-term deal at a high average annual value, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes. A four-year $100MM deal could work, Rosenthal suggests. The MLBPA views drug and alcohol-related contract provisions as unenforceable, according to Rosenthal, who offers a short history of related disputes between teams and players.
  • The Angels aren't seeking outside catching help now, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com tweets. They'll rely on internal options such as Bobby Wilson until Chris Iannetta returns from wrist surgery one or two months from now.
  • Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner says the Mariners should shop Brandon League before his value drops because Seattle's bullpen could manage without him and rival teams would be interested in potential trades.
  • Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak was once a top prospect, but ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden says we should adjust our expectations for him and accept that he’s not going to be a middle-of-the-order hitter.

Angels, Nationals Have Discussed Peter Bourjos

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FRIDAY: MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez hears there's no more truth to the Bourjos-Nationals rumor now than there was this offseason (Twitter link).

THURSDAY: The Angels and Nationals have had preliminary discussions about a trade involving Peter Bourjos, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Royals, Diamondbacks, and Blue Jays also checked in on the outfielder's availability.

It's unclear how far along the talks are, but Bourjos would give Washington the long-term center field solution they've been seeking. Anaheim could use their outfield surplus to shore up the bullpen, a priority according to Morosi. The Nationals are currently without Drew Storen (elbow) and Brad Lidge (hernia) but could be more open to a trade involving a reliever once one or both guys get healthy.

The Angels could also be in the market for a catcher following Chris Iannetta's injury, mentions Morosi. Iannetta will miss up to eight weeks following wrist surgery, the team announced today.

Minor Moves: Trevor Reckling

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The latest minor moves from around the league…

  • The Angels released left-hander Trevor Reckling, as noted by Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter). Reckling, who's still just 22, entered the 2010 season as one of the Angels' top prospects, according to Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus. Reckling posted a 3.73 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 99 innings as a starter at Double-A last year, but allowed 15 walks and 14 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings at Class A this year.

Heyman On Montero, Rivera, Rodney, Hamilton

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Though offseason additions such as Albert Pujols and Heath Bell have disappointed so far this year, other free agent signings are playing well for new teams. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com puts together a list of 25 such players, including C.J. Wilson, Bartolo Colon and Edwin Jackson. Here’s more from Heyman:

  • Heyman hears negotiations between the Diamondbacks and Miguel Montero could start up again soon (Twitter link). Montero, a free agent this offseason, has been seeking a four-year, $52MM deal.
  • The Yankees want Mariano Rivera back in 2013, but he'll have to wait until the season ends to discuss a contract, per team policy (Twitter link).
  • The Angels continue seeking relief help, Heyman tweets. However, few teams are looking to sell just yet.
  • Fernando Rodney says he signed with the Rays because they believed in his ability. "With the Angels they tried to change my mechanics to throw more strikes,'' Rodney recalled. "Here they told me, you come here, we're not going to change anything.''
  • Heyman suggests the Mets should extend manager Terry Collins for doing a “terrific job” (Twitter link).
  • One management person suggested a five-year, $100MM deal could work for the Rangers and Josh Hamilton, Heyman reports. One agent says a seven or eight-year deal worth $25-30MM per season seems more appropriate, assuming there’s protection for the Rangers. For more on Hamilton’s next contract, check out this post from earlier today.

Minor Moves: Stange, White

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Keeping track of the day’s minor moves…

  • The Padres signed right-hander Daniel Stange to a minor league contract, according to the transactions page at CBSSports.com. Stange, 26, has a 4.34 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in seven minor league seasons. He has MLB experience with the 2010 Diamondbacks.
  • The Angels signed right-hander Sean White to a minor league contract, according to the transactions page at CBSSports.com. The 31-year-old pitched in 105 games for the Mariners from 2007-10, posting a 4.16 ERA with 4.0 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9.
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