Dodgers Seek Starting Pitcher
TUESDAY: The Dodgers continue to work hard to add a starting pitcher, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter). Olney points out that the Dodgers are willing to take on major salaries and suggests Mark Buehrle could be a possibility.
MONDAY: Eight of the 25 players on the Dodgers’ active roster have been acquired in trades since the end of July and they may not be done dealing yet. The Dodgers are looking for another starting pitcher, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (Twitter links). However, they aren’t close to any trades and don't expect to be able to acquire an impact starter.
The Dodgers have already traded for two starters since the waiver trade period began in August: Joe Blanton and Josh Beckett. Clayton Kershaw, Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano round out the rotation for the Dodgers, who can only trade for MLB pitchers who have placed on waivers. To this point no available starting pitchers are known to have cleared waivers (Joe Saunders cleared, but was traded over the weekend).
GM Ned Colletti must complete a deal by Friday for an acquisition to be eligible for postseason play. The Dodgers could trade for a starter in September, but he would not be eligible for the postseason should the Dodgers qualify.
Quick Hits: Giants, Ross, Rangers, Morneau, Royals
One of the largest trades in baseball history was made official on Saturday, but here's a look at what else is going on in baseball…
- The Giants' search for an outfielder is going "nowhere fast," reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The Dodgers and Diamondbacks have waiver priority and can block deals, though San Francisco likes having Gregor Blanco's defense in left for their fly ball pitching staff.
- Following their recent major move, the Red Sox want to keep Cody Ross according to Rosenthal (on Twitter). Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston says that Ross knows this and an extension could happen before the end of the season (Twitter links). Talks have not yet begun, however.
- The Rangers have claimed a number of players this month, including Justin Upton according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. The club is looking for a number of ways to improve prior to August 31st.
- Before moving on to Adrian Gonzalez, the Dodgers made another attempt to acquire Justin Morneau last week according to Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times. They tried to land the Twins' slugger prior to the trade deadline as well.
- There is mutual interest between the Marlins and Carlos Lee about a return next season, reports MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Earlier this month we heard that Lee wanted to return to Miami, but the club's intentions were unclear.
- Royals GM Dayton Moore told Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star that the team's focus this offseason will be the pitching staff, including an attempt to re-sign Jeremy Guthrie.
- Jonny Gomes told Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle that he would like to return to the Athletics next season. The 31-year-old is hitting .248/.360/.478 with 15 homers in 267 plate appearances this year.
Quick Hits: Ortiz, Marlins, Scioscia, McCann
As if the Rays didn't have enough top starting pitching, Alex Cobb is providing Tampa Bay with some high-quality innings. The right-hander threw a complete game, four-hit shutout of the Athletics today, leading the Rays to a 5-0 victory over their fellow AL Wild Card contenders. Minus his August 18 outing (eight runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Angels), Cobb has a 1.46 ERA in five starts since July 27.
Here are some items from around the majors…
- David Ortiz doesn't think his Achilles injury will result in a lesser contract this winter, reports WEEI.com's Rob Bradford. The Red Sox slugger feels his still-potent bat will outweigh concerns about his age or fitness. “That’s what everybody is looking for right now,” Ortiz said. “They don’t care if you’re a catcher, first base, DH, whatever. If you can produce, trust me, you’re going to play.”
- For the Marlins to rebound from their disappointing 2012 campaign, manager Ozzie Guillen feels the team needs to decide if it will take a step back next season or reload for another run at a playoff spot, reports MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
- Rumors about Mike Scioscia's job security with the Angels has been "a distraction," GM Jerry Dipoto tells Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. "Mike has been the manager of this team for a long time. He has a very long track record that suggests he's qualified. I say, let him do his job." Angels owner Arte Moreno said on Tuesday that he isn't considering changing managers.
- Brian McCann's willingness to play through oblique and shoulder injuries has limited his production for the last year and could affect his next contract, writes MLB.com's Mark Bowman. McCann is in the last guaranteed season of his six-year contract with the Braves, and despite the catcher's struggles, the Braves are very likely to pick up their $12MM option on McCann for next season. Past 2013, however, McCann's injury history could keep him from scoring a big deal on the free agent market or in an extension from Atlanta.
- The Rangers are one of baseball's top teams right now but face a number of questions this offseason, writes Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Gil Velazquez
The latest outright assignments from around MLB…
- The Marlins outrighted Gil Velazquez to Triple-A New Orleans, the team announced on its website. The Marlins designated the infielder for assignment four days ago after he appeared in two games with Miami. Velazquez, 32, has posted a .314/.392/.383 batting line in 421 plate appearances with New Orleans this year.
Quick Hits: Clemens, Giants, White Sox
MLBTR extends its best wishes to Michael Weiner, who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. The executive director of the Players Association expects the treatment to last about one month, according to an MLBPA press release. Here are today's links…
- Roger Clemens told reporters he’s “nowhere near” the shape he’d have to be in to pitch at the MLB level, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports (Twitter link). The seven-time Cy Young Award winner signed a contract with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters and will pitch on Saturday. One rival executive speculated that the Astros could be a fit for Clemens, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The exec pointed out that Clemens has a good relationship with Astros owner Jim Crane.
- It’s unlikely but not impossible that the Giants will trade for Heath Bell this season, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter). Bell would have to be placed on waivers for the Giants and Marlins to complete a trade. Approximately $19MM remains on Bell's contract, so it seems likely that he'd clear waivers.
- GM Kenny Williams built the AL Central-leading White Sox, but he doesn't expect to be named MLB's executive of the year, Toni Ginnetti the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "If you don't win it when you win a World Series, you ain't going to win it,'' Williams said.
Marlins Considering Extension For Stanton
Marlins president David Samson acknowledged that the Marlins have had some internal discussions about a possible long-term extension for 22-year-old outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post reports. However, Samson declined to say whether the Marlins intend to approach Stanton about an extension this coming offseason.
"I don’t think it it has been anything concrete," Samson said.
Stanton will be arbitration eligible following the 2013 season (assuming he doesn’t qualify for super two status this year) and he’ll be eligible for free agency after 2016. Recent extensions for the likes of Carlos Gonzalez ($80MM), Andrew McCutchen ($51.5MM), Jay Bruce ($51MM) and Justin Upton ($50MM) could figure in to extension talks for Stanton. However, Stanton's power numbers could separate him from that group altogether.
The Marlins discussed the possibility of presenting Stanton with a "big, crooked" contract offer before the 2012 season, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported. MLBTR's Mike Axisa examined the possibility of an extension for Stanton during the offseason.
Wasserman Media Group, the agency that represents Stanton, is currently wrapping up a long-term extension for another talented 22-year-old National Leaguer, Starlin Castro.
Marlins Designate Gil Velazquez For Assignment
The Marlins have designated Gil Velazquez for assignment, reports Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald (on Twitter). In related moves, Miami optioned Scott Cousins to Triple-A and activated Emilio Bonifacio and Donnie Murphy off the DL.
Velazquez, 32, had one single in eight plate appearances with the Marlins since being called up earlier this week. The middle infielder hit .314/.392/.383 with three homers in 421 Triple-A appearances before coming up to the show. Velazquez has also seen big league time with the Red Sox and Angels in his career.
Quick Hits: Astros, Braves, Indians, Choo, Marlins
The Braves beat the Mets at Citi Field tonight to remain atop the Wild Card chase in the National League. Atlanta found their way into the playoff chase as expected, but with a different cast of characters than planned. Here's today's look around the league..
- The Astros announced that they have named Mike Elias their new amateur scouting director in a press release. Bobby Heck, who filled the same role since October 2007, will not have his contract renewed. Elias worked with Astros GM Jeff Luhnow in the Cardinals' front office.
- David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution gives Braves GM Frank Wren credit for not only managing to plug the rotation's holes on the cheap, but making it as formidable as it was supposed to be when the season began. While it's unknown how well free agent pickup Ben Sheets and recent acquisition Paul Maholm will hold up, both have looked strong through seven combined starts. Regardless, both pitchers will cost the Braves less than $4MM in 2012.
- Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer looks at how the Indians can position themselves to contend in 2013. Hoynes suggests that the Tribe starts by parting ways with Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore, who are both eligible for free agency at the end of the year. Beyond that, he writes that trading Shin-Soo Choo could bring Cleveland some solid pieces in return. So far, the rightfielder has rebuffed the club's efforts to keep him in the fold beyond next season.
- Carlos Lee has done exactly what the Marlins hoped he would when they acquired him from the Astros last month, tweetsJuan Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel. In 32 games with Miami, Lee has a .291/.382/.355 slash line and an OPS not far off from what he posted in Houston earlier this year.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Quick Hits: Padres, Cubs, Bourn, Sheets, Braves
Earlier today, the Indians released right-hander Derek Lowe after designating him for assignment earlier this month. The veteran is willing to start or relieve and there's reportedly a sense that he'll return to the National League. While we keep an eye on where the veteran might land, here's tonight's look around baseball..
- As first reported by Jim Callis of Baseball America, Padres scouting director Jaron Madison is leaving the organization to join the Cubs. The 36-year-old will take over as Chicago's scouting director while Tim Wilken has been reassigned to the role of Special Assistant to president Theo Epstein, the team announced.
- One Braves official believes that if Michael Bourn had an agent other than Scott Boras he might already have a new contract with the club, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. People who know Nationals GM Mike Rizzo believe that Bourn has always been at the top of his wish list and the Phillies, Reds, and Marlins are also potential suitors this winter.
- Ben Sheets wasn't entirely confident about his return to the big leagues, but the veteran has looked tremendous so far, Knobler writes. The 34-year-old isn't sure how long he'll continue pitching but he says that he wants to leave on his own terms as opposed to being forced out by injury.
Carlos Lee Has Spoken To Marlins About 2013 Return
The Marlins had a deal in place to send Carlos Lee to the Yankees before the trade deadline, but the first baseman invoked his no-trade clause for the second time this season. Despite that, Lee told Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald that he is happy in Miami and hopes to return to the team in 2013.
“I like this team,” said Lee. “I don’t know what their plans are, but I like it here.”
Spencer hears the Lee's representatives at Wasserman Media Group have already spoke to the club about coming back next season, though they would like to use Logan Morrison at first base.
The 36-year-old Lee has hit .301/.398/.369 with one homer and more walks (17) than strikeouts (13) in 123 plate appearances since being acquired from the Astros. He is making $18.5MM this summer, the final year of the six-year, $100MM contract he signed with Houston prior to 2007.