Marlins Designate Brian Barden For Assignment
The Marlins have designated infielder Brian Barden for assignment, tweets Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post. The move frees up for a roster spot for infielder Donnie Murphy, who was summoned from Triple-A.
Barden, 29, hit just .179/.281/.179 in 32 plate appearances for Florida this season, and is a career .211/.268/.303 hitter in close to 200 big league plate appearances. He played every infield spot except first base, but it wasn't enough to keep him with the team.
Marlins Inquired On Octavio Dotel
The Marlins have asked the Pirates about Octavio Dotel, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse. Marlins relievers have combined for a 4.66 ERA and though Dotel's 4.55 mark doesn't appear much better, he is a reliable arm who still strikes more than one batter out per inning (though he is walking a characteristically high number of hitters this year). Dotel has 17 saves, while the Marlins have blown 12.
The 37-41 Marlins trail the Braves by 8.5 games in the NL East. They opened the season with a $47MM payroll, even after they were prompted to raise their payroll, so adding Dotel's $3.25MM salary will be a consideration. A trade wouldn't necessarily mean a payroll increase, though; the Rangers and Giants showed this week that payroll-neutral deals are possible. The Pirates' $4.5MM option for 2011 becomes mutual if he is traded, so the Marlins would not have the rights to him after this season if they made a deal.
The Marlins have been looking for relievers for months and their search recently led them back to Armando Benitez. There's no indication that the Marlins are serious about acquiring Dotel, or even that they have decided to be buyers this summer. They and others teams considering relievers may pursue arms such as Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, Kevin Gregg, Matt Capps, D.J. Carrasco, Kerry Wood and Joakim Soria this month.
Odds & Ends: Utley, Valentine, Giants, Haren
Links for Thursday, as Travis Wood prepares to make his first major league start….
- Chase Utley's injured thumb requires surgery, tweets MLB.com's Peter Gammons, and MLB.com's Todd Zolecki adds that the second baseman will go under the knife later today. After Utley and Placido Polanco hit the disabled list, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith examined the Phillies' infield options. Jim Bowden of Sirius XM Radio also has some ideas for the Phils (Twitter link).
- Bobby Valentine on how the Marlins handled their managerial search: "It's very disturbing, confusing and it was insulting at times, but it's over." Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post has the details.
- Fangraphs' Dave Cameron offers his opinion on the Giants' next move, concluding that David DeJesus is "exactly what the doctor ordered."
- The Mariners' performance at Yankee Stadium this week is what Jack Zduriencik envisioned when he acquired Cliff Lee to complement Felix Hernandez, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. However, this recent surge doesn't change the fact that the M's will move Lee, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.
- David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News breaks down the reasons why a Dan Haren trade appears unlikely for the Phillies.
James Houser Clears Waivers
WEDNESDAY: Houser was outrighted to Triple A New Orleans, according to the Marlins via Twitter.
FRIDAY: The Marlins designated James Houser for assignment and called up Jose Veras, according to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez (via Twitter). The Marlins have cut three left-handers this week: Houser, Renyel Pinto (released) and Hunter Jones (released). Houser's replacement is no stranger to the DFA; the Marlins designated Veras in April.
Houser, 25, appeared in one game for the Marlins this year. He allowed three runs in 1.1 innings in the Marlins' loss to the Orioles last night. Veras, a 29-year-old righty, struggled through four early-season appearances with the Marlins, but has since posted a 4.60 ERA with 11.4 K/9 in 24 appearances at Triple A.
The Marlins' search for relievers has led them to Armando Benitez, who pitched a scoreless inning in Triple A last night after signing yesterday.
Edwin Rodriguez To Manage Marlins For 2010
Edwin Rodriguez will remain the Marlins' interim manager for the remainder of the 2010 season, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports (via Twitter) that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria told the team the news today. The Marlins, who have been linked to Bobby Valentine ever since they fired manager Fredi Gonzalez, will reevaluate their long-term options after the season.
The Marlins were reportedly considering D'Backs third base coach Bo Porter for the opening after philosophical differences between Valentine and the team became apparent. Valentine was considered the favorite for the job and appeared to have won it as recently as a few days ago.
Rodriguez, who had been managing the Marlins' Triple A affiliate, has two wins since taking over, including one last night in his native Puerto Rico. Overall, the Marlins are 2-4 under Rodriguez.
Rosenthal On Cliff Lee, MacDougal, Dunn, Valentine
Cliff Lee starts tonight at Yankee stadium, and it figures to be one of his last outings in a Mariners uniform. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports leads his column with an examination of the market for Lee, noting that "the acquisition cost should be lower than the last two times he was traded." Rosenthal sees no obvious favorite for the lefty at this time, though Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times believes "the buzz about a possible deal with the crosstown Mets is growing louder and louder." Rosenthal's other rumorage:
- The Nationals have until Thursday to decide whether to promote Mike MacDougal. Otherwise, he can elect free agency. The hard-throwing righty has a 4.71 ERA, 5.6 K/9, and 4.7 BB/9 in 21 minor league innings.
- Rosenthal confirms other reports that the White Sox and Angels like Nationals slugger Adam Dunn. He notes that Dunn "does not want to become a DH."
- One executive feels that Jose Guillen will continue to hit well with the contract year carrot dangling. Yesterday we learned from ESPN's Buster Olney that the Royals are pushing hard to move Guillen and will eat much of the $6.3MM remaining on his contract. As for David DeJesus, an exec told Rosenthal the Royals "want to hit a home run" in any trade.
- The Giants seek stability in their left-handed relief crew (currently Jeremy Affeldt and Dan Runzler), but the need could be addressed internally.
- The Cardinals "likely will wait until at least the All-Star break to fully assess their needs." The starting pitching situation will depend on the recoveries of Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse.
- At another link, Rosenthal updates the Bobby Valentine-Marlins situation.
Bobby Valentine Rumors: Monday
4:10pm: The Marlins are "strongly considering" Bo Porter, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter). So what does that mean for Valentine? It's hard to say. Marlins president David Samson would not comment on Valentine to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post (Twitter link).
9:00am: The Marlins' flirtations with Bobby Valentine have become a confusing saga, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. On one hand, the FOX writers report that the Marlins already informed the commissioner's office that Valentine is out of the running for their manager position. Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel learned via email from Valentine last night that no formal interview has been scheduled. On the other hand, Valentine told ESPN last night that he's "in the middle of the process." One Rosenthal and Morosi source backs up Valentine's suggestion that talks are ongoing.
What's caused the impasse? Rosenthal and Morosi's sources differ, with one citing "philosophical differences" between Valentine and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and another pointing to opposition from president David Samson. In another column, Rosenthal deems the drama an embarrassment to the organization. He also calls the interviews of Bo Porter and Edwin Rodriguez "a mockery of Commissioner Bud Selig’s guidelines for minority hiring."
Odds & Ends: Branyan, Orioles, D’Backs, Marlins
Links for Sunday..
- Returning to a former team is nothing new for Russell Branyan, writes JR Radcliffe for MLB.com.
- Eric Wedge had a great interview with the O's, tweets Jon Heyman of SI.
- Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic writes that D'Backs manager A.J. Hinch doesn't want his players to worry about being dealt.
- Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was sorry to see skipper Fredi Gonzalez go, writes Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald.
- Andy MacPhail said that the O's "gambled" and lost when they gave Garrett Atkins a one-year, $4.5MM deal, writes Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun.
- Carlos Gomez hopes that he can live up to the expectations the Brewers had for him when they acquired him from the Twins, writes MLB.com's Jordan Schelling.
- Former Oriole and current MASN broadcaster Rick Dempsey isn't sure if his upcoming meeting with O's GM Andy MacPhail can be considered an official interview for the managerial position, writes Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer doesn't envision a club taking Jhonny Peralta at the trade deadline.
- Cubs GM Jim Hendry stands by his investment in Carlos Zambrano, writes the Daily Herald's Bruce Miles. Hendry gave the hurler a five-year, $91.5MM extension in 2007.
Valentine Not In Running For Marlins Job
10:12pm: The talks broke down not over Valentine's salary desires, but over philosophical differences, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. While their source indicated that the team's decision is final, the FOX Sports duo writes that the volatility of Valentine and owner Jeffrey Loria creates the possibility for a reversal.
Interim manager Edwin Rodriguez will remain manager for the Marlins' series against the Mets in Puerto Rico and the foreseeable future. The Marlins now figure to expand their search to other candidates.
9:30pm: Valentine is no longer a candidate for the job, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
7:57pm: On ESPN's Baseball Tonight, Valentine declined to quantify the chances of him becoming the Marlins' next skipper, writes Capozzi:
“I can’t mention that chance or percentage because I’m in the middle of the process," said Valentine.
Meanwhile, Valentine remains a candidate for a job, a high-placed source tells Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).
5:27pm: Valentine says that he has no idea if he's still in the running for the Marlins job, tweets Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post.
4:55pm: Bobby Valentine is no longer in the running for the Marlins' managerial position, tweets Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. Heyman added (also via Twitter) that he is uncertain of what derailed talks between the two parties as all signs pointed to the job being his just a few days ago.
On Friday, the former Mets manager and the Marlins reportedly had a tentative agreement in place. Valentine, a friend of owner Jeffrey Loria, has been linked to the Florida job since Fredi Gonzalez was let go earlier this week. On that same day, Bobby V told the Orioles that he was no longer interested in managing their club.
Odds & Ends: Patterson, Marlins, League, Zambrano
Some Saturday links as the Red Sox suffer their latest injury, this one involving Clay Buchholz and running the bases…
- FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal tweets that the Red Sox's acquisition of Eric Patterson came together quickly; they had yet to inquire about him as recently as noon Eastern time today.
- Marlins' first base coach Dave Collins abruptly resigned today, reports Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post. He wonders if the move may be related to an imminent Bobby Valentine hiring, but president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said that was not the case (all Twitter links).
- Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says (via Twitter) that Brandon League is the Mariners' second best trade chip behind Cliff Lee. The hard-throwing righty reliever is owed approximately $590K the rest of the season, and is under team control for two more years.
- With the Yankees facing off against the Dodgers, Tyler Kepner from the New York Times reminds us that Alex Rodriguez was almost a Dodger back in 1993. Fortunately for the Mariners, the first pick still alternated yearly between the AL and NL back then.
- In the comments of his blog, the Atlanta Journal Constitution's David O'Brien says that conversations with people across the Braves organization yesterday have him convinced more than ever that Fredi Gonzalez will be the Braves' next manager.
- Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times says the Cubs may have reached the "breaking point" with Carlos Zambrano, and says they're probably better off eating the $45MM left on his contract and trading him away.
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier says that Dustin Pedroia's foot injury is going to test Boston's less than stellar infield depth.
- Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer says that the Indians will probably be able to make smaller deals like they did last year with Rafael Betancourt (to the Rockies) and Ryan Garko (to the Giants).