Angels Not Actively Shopping Peter Bourjos
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Olney On Angels, Penny
The Cardinals’ bullpen struggled early on in the 2011 season but recovered to help St. Louis win the World Series. This provides hope for teams with early-season bullpen issues such as the Angels, as Buster Olney explained at ESPN.com this morning. Here are some more notes from Olney:
- Angels GM Jerry Dipoto says the club needs to restore Jordan Walden’s confidence. "We need for Jordan to be good,” he said. “He's going to be an important part of things here."
- The Angels are struggling for many reasons in Dipoto’s view, but the bullpen remains a clear area of concern, especially with recent injuries to Scott Downs and LaTroy Hawkins. Dipoto acquired Ernesto Frieri from the Padres over the weekend.
- Brad Penny has offers from MLB teams to start or pitch out of the bullpen, Olney reports. Penny, who recently became a free agent, expects to choose a team soon. He had been dealing with shoulder issues while under contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Quick Hits: Rays, Wright, Mets, Oswalt, Weaver
Sunday afternoon linkage..
- The Rays could look out-of-house for an answer at third base, but Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes that they could get by with what they already have.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports opines that the Mets should consider trading third baseman David Wright this offseason. If the Mets were to trade Wright mid-season, the third baseman would have the ability to void his $16MM option for 2013, weakening his trade value. Instead, Rosenthal suggests that they wait to exercise his option and then shop him.
- Jake Peavy said of friend Roy Oswalt, "I can promise you: He's getting ready to play," tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
- Angels pitcher Jered Weaver has no regrets about signing a five-year, $85MM extension with the club last summer, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. As a free agent, Weaver could have gotten a deal similar to what Cole Hamels is expected to earn, in the neighborhood of $20MM per season.
Rosenthal On Montero, Pirates, Rays, Lee
Here's a look at the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero could be the next to end up in a tug of war between the Angels and Rangers. Angels GM Jerry Dipoto, of course, used to be with Arizona and the Rangers could lose Mike Napoli on the open market. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks are looking for a young catcher as insurance if they lose Montero.
- The Pirates should be in position to trade Alex Presley or Jose Tabata once Starling Marte refines his strike zone judgement in Triple-A. Presley will increase his value if he can prove that he is a solid leadoff option. As for Tabata, he is under a club-friendly deal through 2016 with club options through 2019.
- The addition of a second wild card in each league could reduce the number of sellers at the deadline which could put the Rays in position to extract maximum value for one of their starters such as Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, or Alex Cobb. The Rays will be more willing to part with rotation depth when they're looking at the final few months of the season.
- Derrek Lee has continued working out and is said to be in excellent shape. Rosenthal wonders if he would want to play for the Brewers after they lost Mat Gamel to injury as he turned down offers from the Pirates and several other teams last offseason. Lee would probably need to be convinced that Milwaukee is ready to win and will likely seek a contract similar to what Johnny Damon got from the Indians – $1.25MM plus $1.4MM in incentives.
Quick Hits: Angels, Marlins, Bell, Padres
A look around the league as the Rays look to extend their winning streak to seven games as they take on the A’s at home..
- A 10-17 start isn’t what Angels owner Arte Moreno had in mind when he committed $317.5MM to Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson this winter, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. As for Pujols’ slow start, DiGiovanna argues that one month and 26 games is more than a small sample size.
- The Marlins were well aware of Heath Bell‘s declining numbers when they gave him a three-year, $27MM deal but have been caught off-guard by his command issues, writes Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.
- Matt Eddy of Baseball America weighs in on the trade the Padres’ acquisition infielder Alexi Amarista in the Ernesto Frieri trade with the Angels. Amarista, Eddy writes, doesn’t have the tools to last as a regular on a good team but can carve out a career as a reserve and see time at multiple positions.