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Odds And Ends: Beltre, Capuano, Blanton

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More links to read in anticipation of John Smoltz's Red Sox debut…

  • Larry Larue of the News Tribune reports that Adrian Beltre will need surgery on his shoulder at some point, but he's trying to play through the pain for now. He says he doesn't want teams to question his health when he becomes a free agent this winter. 
  • Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says we shouldn't expect to see Chris Capuano pitch in 2009. 
  • Check out RotoAuthority for a closer look at a pitcher who may have value in fantasy leagues: Joe Blanton.
  • ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure says the Pirates, Brewers and Tigers are among the teams with the strongest scouting presence in Cuba. 

Knobler On Cardinals, Phillies, Giants

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Danny Knobler of CBS Sports identifies the five neediest teams in baseball. No team will be able to acquire big names easily, however, as officials around the league agree that impact arms and bats aren't available with so many teams in the race. Here's a closer look at Knobler's rumors:

  • The Cardinals have had less production out of the cleanup spot than just about any NL team and GM John Mozeliak says he's "not ignoring" the issue.
  • As one official points out, "thirty teams in baseball could use Mark DeRosa" and the Cardinals could use him most of all.
  • Knobler expects the Phillies to continue looking for a starting pitcher. He doesn't rule out Erik Bedard and says the Phils have considered Zach Duke and Paul Maholm.  
  • The Giants could use a hitter and Knobler hears that Brian Sabean's facing pressure from his superiors to make a move.
  • The Brewers could use an arm, as we know. 
  • Omar Minaya seems more intense than usual, but the many injuries to his players could make it harder for him to justify making one big move. As one Mets official said, the team is in a "bad position."

Heyman On Strasburg, Pedro, DeRosa

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Jon Heyman of SI.com lists some of the best and worst starts to the season. Justin Upton and Marco Scutaro are two of the players to make the first list. Heyman's also got some rumors to pass along; here they are:

  • It is believed that Stephen Strasburg's people don't want him to pitch in the majors this year.
  • Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, is believed to have mentioned Jose Contreras, who signed for $32MM, and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed for $52MM, as comparable players.
  • It doesn't sound like former Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker will end up as the Nationals' next GM, though the Nats are said to be considering names other than Mike Rizzo's for the permanent job. 
  • Heyman says a Doug Davis return to Milwaukee could make sense. 
  • The Rays would like to add a closer without adding payroll, which will be a challenge.
  • Rays GM Andrew Friedman hasn't ruled out Pedro Martinez, but says he's a long shot.  
  • Heyman hears that the Cardinals and Mets are two of the teams calling the Indians about Mark DeRosa.   

Rosenthal On Strasburg, Arroyo, Zobrist

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says most believe the Nationals will sign Stephen Strasburg to a record deal of about $15-18MM this summer. Here are the details:  

  • Rosenthal describes doomsday scenarios for the Nationals and Strasburg to show that the two sides need to come to an agreement. 
  • The Reds can't even consider dealing Bronson Arroyo until Edinson Volquez returns. If Homer Bailey comes up and pitches well, it would be easier for the Reds to part with a starter.
  • If Akinori Iwamura can return this year, Ben Zobrist may become a super utilityman again. Rosenthal wonders if the AL OPS leader is more valuable when he plays multiple positions.
  • The Brewers, who would like to add pitching, could talk with the Braves, who have had interest in Corey Hart in the past.  
  • Nobody's interested in Jeff Francoeur, but the Braves have enviable pitching depth that would entice the Brewers.

Brewers Clinging To Top Prospects

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According to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com, the Brewers aren't likely to part with either third baseman Mat Gamel or shortstop Alcides Escobar before the July 31 trade deadline.

This represents a refreshing change in club philosophy from last season, when Milwaukee unloaded top outfield prospect Matt LaPorta to the Indians for a couple months of CC Sabathia.  Gamel, 23, is batting .244/.326/.402 with two home runs and 12 RBI through his first 82 major league at-bats, while the 22-year-old Escobar is coming into his own at the Triple-A level with 18 doubles, four triples and three home runs in 285 at-bats.

The Brewers are 37-32 this season, one game behind the Cardinals in the NL Central.

Melvin On Brewers’ Pitching

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Brewers GM Doug Melvin says the Brewers can't keep trading prospects away for pitching, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Brewers pulled off a deal for C.C. Sabathia last year, giving up Matt LaPorta, but they are apparently unwilling to trade Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel this year. Here are more of Melvin's thoughts:

  • It's harder to deal for pitching when other teams perceive you as vulnerable.
  • It would be easier for Melvin to deal with Mariners GM and former Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik.  
  • Manny Parra will likely stay in the minors for four or five starts.  
  • Melvin talked with the manager and pitching coach down at Triple A Nashville to discuss his options there.  

Heyman: Ten Teams That Could Add Payroll

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Jon Heyman of SI.com provides a list of ten teams that could add payroll. He adds the Angels, Brewers, Red Sox and Brewers to the list we assembled last week. Here are his ten teams:

  • The Red Sox could add payroll, but they don't have significant needs.
  • The Mets could add payroll and they need a hitter who can play first, the outfield, or both.
  • The Phillies could add payroll to acquire pitching.
  • The Angels, with several contracts expiring this year (Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey, Chone Figgins), could add salary.
  • The Giants could take on payroll to add a bat.
  • The Brewers and Cardinals could both free up money to add a pitcher or hitter.
  • The Tigers, White Sox and Dodgers round out Heyman's list, but he warns us not to rule out the Yankees.
  • Don't look for the White Sox to deal prospects away to increase their playoff chances, even though they trail the Tigers by just 5.0 games.
  • On another note, no one's called the Mariners about Adrian Beltre.

Brewers Discussing Possible Rotation Fixes

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MLB.com's Adam McCalvy writes that the Brewers will meet this week to discuss a potential acquisition to boost a struggling rotation. Thursday's starter is currently "to be announced."

With Dave Bush's arm fatigue, and the demotion of Manny Parra and his 7.52 ERA to Triple-A Nashville, the Milwaukee rotation is looking hazy, to say the least. Writes McCalvy:

"… [Ken] Macha will meet with general manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash and the coaching staff early Tuesday afternoon at Miller Park to discuss their options.

Melvin has been looking hard at potential trades, but it appears unlikely that he will be able to acquire a starter as early as this week."

Macha has also said that he's hesitant to move Seth McClung to the rotation, because he's so pleased with what McClung has done in relief this season.

McCalvy also names Tim Dillard, Lindsay Gulin, and Mike Burns, who made an effective spot start earlier in the season, as possibilities to be recalled from Nashville.

Personal speculation: the obvious name that comes to mind is Brad Penny, with all of the rumors surrounding the Boston right-hander. Who are some other names the Brewers could target?

Did Anyone See Pedro Pitch?

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As MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports, the Brewers sent two scouts to the Dominican Republic Friday to watch Pedro Martinez, but never saw him throw a pitch.

"This was twice [this week]," said Dick Groch, the Brewers' director of pro scouting.  "The second time we sent people there, his publicist was there and the publicist says, 'He's on his way.'  He was already 45 minutes late. … We had other workouts to do.  We can't wait forever.  We [told the scout], 'Go. You can't stay there forever.'"

Groch, who wasn't on site, seems to think the handful of scouts from other teams (Yankees, Cubs, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Indians and Angels included) left at the same time.  We haven't been able to confirm that.  Either way, it's pretty clear the Brewers don't have a strong desire to sign the 37-year-old right-hander.

"He might have worked out at a different time," said Brewers GM Doug Melvin.  "We don't know that.  All I know from our people is he wasn't'there when we were told to be. … I don't know what the demands are, but it doesn't matter what they are.  If you can't watch him throw, it doesn't matter what his demands are.  Would you go put an offer on a house without looking at the house?"

Brewers Brass Discuss Ways To Improve Club

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MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports that Brewers GM Doug Mevin, manager Ken Macha, and pro scouting head Dick Groch spoke for nearly two hours in the lobby of the team's hotel yesterday.

"We covered just about everything," Macha said. "The bench, position players, starting pitchers, bullpen."

"Let me put it this way: [Melvin] is keenly aware of avenues that would make our ballclub stronger," Macha said. "But almost every Major League team is still either buyers or they consider themselves [contenders]. There's no fits, like a jigsaw puzzle, where 'You guys need X, we've need Y. You have Y, we have X. Let's do it.' There's not a whole lot of that."

We hear lots of stories like this around this time of year, that most teams are still trying decide to buy or sell and that it's slowing down the trade market. The Brewers were one of the clubs that attended Pedro Martinez's workout yesterday, but McCalvy says Melvin has consistently downplayed his interest in the righthander,

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