Odds & Ends: Tracy, Braves, Brewers, Phillies
Links for Friday, as the international signing period begins…
- Chad Tracy's agent told MLB.com's Bill Ladson that his client has interest in playing for Mike Rizzo's Nationals, since Rizzo, Arizona's former scouting director, drafted Tracy in 2001 (Twitter link).
- You can listen to MLBTR's Tim Dierkes talking trades on the YES Network's Off the Wall podcast right here.
- Earlier in the week we heard that the Braves weren't crazy about David DeJesus and that remains true, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Morosi says the Braves are not pursuing DeJesus or Jose Guillen.
- The Brewers would listen to offers for Todd Coffey and Carlos Villanueva, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse (via Twitter).
- Assistant GM Scott Proefrock told Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer that the current edition of the Phillies has to perform. Chase Utley will miss eight weeks or more and Placido Polanco will miss three to four weeks, so the Phillies’ depth will be tested if they don’t make a trade.
- As expected, the Yankees promoted Dustin Moseley, according to Conor Orr of the Star Ledger. Some teams called the Yankees to inquire about the righty's availability as his opt-out date drew nearer.
- One GM who just did an overview of the Royals' farm system told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that he's impressed by the team's prospects.
- D'Backs president Derrick Hall says the team won't likely start searching for a permanent GM until the offseason, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (via Twitter).
- Not surprisingly, the D'Backs have yet to ask the Dodgers for permission to interview assistant GM Logan White, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
- Red Sox supplemental rounder Anthony Ranaudo is looking to be paid like a top-ten pick, according to Amanda Comak of the Cape Cod Times. Check out the complete list of first rounders to sign right here.
- The Brewers released Triple A outfielder Trent Oeltjen, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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.
Olney’s Latest: Giants, Zambrano, Fielder, Orioles
In today's Insider-only blog entry, ESPN.com's Buster Olney ranks baseball's most irreplaceable players, with Albert Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez heading his list. Here are a few other highlights from the column:
- Responding to Henry Schulman's San Francisco Chronicle piece about the Giants' need for bullpen help, Olney identifies two roadblocks. According to general managers, the relief market is "very, very thin." On top of that, a group of GMs polled by Olney named Brian Sabean as the most difficult GM to trade with.
- The Cubs have tried to deal with Carlos Zambrano's past outbursts because of his talent and his $91.5MM contract. After the latest blow-up though, it appears the club has run out of patience. According to Olney, there's "an overriding perception within the organization" that Zambrano hasn't cared about living up to his end of the deal.
- Given the non-existent extension negotiations between Prince Fielder and the Brewers, Olney says the team has two options: trade Fielder and receive a lesser return than fans would expect, or keep the 26-year-old and try to re-sign him after 2011.
- Buck Showalter had a very good interview with the Orioles, who will also interview Eric Wedge this week (Twitter link).
Brewers Not Discussing Fielder Extension With Boras
Brewers GM Doug Melvin isn't currently engaged in discussions with Scott Boras about a possible extension for Prince Fielder, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Though Melvin didn't speculate about whether negotiations could re-open in the future, he confirmed that "there's nothing going on at this time."
Haudricourt suggests "word around Miller Park" is that Fielder and Boras shut down contract talks after declining the team's initial offer. For his part, Fielder seems unaware of any negotiations: "I haven't really heard anything about it. I'm not sure if it's a hiatus or not. I'm just focusing on playing baseball right now."
In one of our recent polls, many of you opined that the Brewers ought to trade both Fielder and Corey Hart, but Melvin might be more inclined to explore deals in the offseason rather than before July 31st.
"A position player has to be a perfect fit. There are only so many teams competing for the players [during the season]," Melvin explained. "A lot of them have certain positions filled. So, you're only talking about one or two teams [to trade with]. In the off-season, things change. Players go to other teams as free agents. Teams lose players. You can get more teams involved."
Fielder will earn $10.5MM this year and will be eligible for arbitration for the last time in 2011. Assuming he hits free agency following that season, the slugger figures to be looking for Mark Teixeira money.
Rosenthal’s Full Count: Zambrano, Angels, Brewers
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com has a new Full Count video up, so let's dive in…
- The fact that Carlos Zambrano is a 29-year-old pitcher still capable of winning 12-15 games a year should be enough to allow the Cubs to trade him, but of course the team will have to a eat a large chunk of the $45MM left on his deal. Rosenthal reminds us that the Cubbies came ahead financially when they moved Milton Bradley this winter.
- The Angels still want to add a first baseman, and Adam Dunn is on their list of potential targets. If they do make a move for Dunn or perhaps Adam LaRoche, incumbent first baseman Mike Napoli could become trade bait.
- The Nationals have yet to get serious in any discussions about a contract extension with Dunn.
- The Brewers are still searching for pitching, and the Blue Jays could be a potential match. Toronto likes Double-A infielder (and Canadian) Brett Lawrie, but the Brewers would be reluctant to trade him. They would have to consider it if he could land them someone like Brett Cecil or Shaun Marcum, though.
- Arizona will probably not want to keep both Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson since they combine to make over $20MM next year, but Haren's value isn't what it once was. One baseball person told Rosenthal that "[Haren]'s not at the top of anyone's list, he's just another name."
Brewers Owner Doesn’t Intend To Dismantle Team
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that he doesn’t intend to rebuild completely just because the Brewers aren’t in contention. The Brewers know that players like Corey Hart and Prince Fielder will appeal to other teams, but the sluggers can also help the Brewers achieve Attanasio’s goal of winning in 2011.
“We think we have a very good team,” he said. “Our intent isn’t to dismantle the team simply because we may not make the playoffs this year.”
Attanasio said he hopes the Brewers keep Fielder this summer, since he’s a “big Prince fan.” GM Doug Melvin, who will be the one fielding offers for the first baseman, has satisfied the team’s owner, though the Brewers' pitching has been largely disappointing since 2008. Attanasio said he’s pleased “from an overall standpoint” with Melvin’s work and that the Brewers will address their 2011 option for manager Ken Macha after the season.
Poll: Should The Brewers Deal Fielder And Hart?
Corey Hart leads the National League in home runs and Prince Fielder already has a home run title. Both realize they could be dealt given the Brewers' 31-40 start, but that doesn't mean GM Doug Melvin will decide to trade them away. Each slugger is arbitration-eligible one last time in 2011, so the Brewers could hold onto them for next year. But given the team's need for pitching, Melvin could listen to offers. Hart's value might never be higher, but Prince isn't hitting for quite as much power as usual, so the Brewers have some decisions to make.
Should the Brewers trade Fielder and Hart?
Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.
Odds & Ends: Pomeranz, Marlins, Everett, Valentine
Links for Wednesday…
- Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that fifth overall pick Drew Pomeranz is scheduled to go to Cleveland on Monday to take a physical and "hear the Indians' sales pitch." Hoynes says there have been no negotiations to date.
- Marlins' president David Samson told Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald that they're "not ready to say for certain that trade didn't work," referring to the Miguel Cabrera blockbuster (Twitter link). Both Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, the two centerpieces of the deal for Florida, have struggled in the big leagues and are currently in the minors.
- Upon hearing about Boston's interest in his services, Adam Everett said "I haven't heard that, but great team, great city, and it sounds interesting," according to FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi (via Twitter).
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets the leaders in wins above replacement, or WAR, from last year's free agent class. Andy Pettitte tops the list, followed closely by Livan Hernandez and Aubrey Huff.
- Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post notes (via Twitter) that the Marlins spoke with Bobby Valentine this morning. The Marlins' opening interests Valentine.
- Prince Fielder and Corey Hart tell Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that they realize they could be traded. Morosi says the Brewers should trade Hart for pitching, but Hart would prefer to stay in Milwaukee.
- Kenny Williams told Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune that the White Sox could become buyers.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the Blue Jays could trade pitching away this trade deadline (Twitter link).
- Chris Iannetta told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that he did his best to ignore rumors that the Red Sox were interested in him.
- At this point, Pedro Martinez doesn't want to think about whether he'll play this year. He told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that he doesn't know anything right now.
- Steve Gould of the Baltimore Sun reminds us that 2009 first rounder Matt Hobgood is still a teenager and says Orioles fans should be more patient with the tall righty.
- MLB.com's Fred Claire shows that the Orioles are looking for the kind of stability that was once found in Baltimore and that the Angels now have.
Brewers Agree To Terms With Second-Round Pick
Milwaukee has "come to terms with" second-round draft pick Jimmy Nelson, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Nelson, a right-hander from the University of Alabama, was taken 64th overall by the Brewers and is the highest-picked of the club's selections to have signed thus far. First-rounder Dylan Covey is the only one of Milwaukee's first six picks that has yet to agree to a contract.
Nelson was 107th on Baseball America's Top 200 pre-draft rankings. The pitcher was described as a "big-bodied potential innings-eater [who] can dominate off heavy fastball."
Brewers Release Brian Bruney
The Brewers released Brian Bruney, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Twitter). Bruney signed with the Brewers earlier in the month, after the Nationals released him.
Bruney pitched 3.1 scoreless innings at Triple A Nashville after signing with Milwaukee. The right-hander's control evaded him at the big league level this year; he walked more than a batter per inning in 19 appearances with the Nationals. Bruney, who has struck out nearly a batter per inning in his major league career, had an acceptable walk rate as recently as 2008.