Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sano, Pedro, Sabathia, Lopez
On this date 14 years ago, Darryl Strawberry signed a one-year deal with the Yankees for $675K, four months after being released by the Giants and five years after leaving New York to sign with the Dodgers as a free agent. Interestingly, this would be the most lucrative season of his career as it marked the final year of his Dodgers contract that would pay him $5.3MM in '95. Straw was never traded, but we are a little over one month from this year's trade deadline. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Around the Majors spoke with Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus about Miguel Sano and the international signing period.
- River Ave. Blues doesn't feel the Yankees will be able to find a spot for Pedro Martinez and doubts he could still be effective in the AL East.
- Bleacher Nation finds the Cubs' interest in Pedro Martinez "strange," noting that they have no money to spend and that the Cubs need bats, not arms.
- Jorge Says No! puts together a list of the teams that could be sellers over the next six weeks.
- MLB Notebook looks at when it may be best for teams to deal specific players, including Erik Bedard, Juan Pierre and Matt Holliday.
- Capitol Avenue Club goes back and reevaluates the C.C. Sabathia trade now that the Brewers have used the draft picks acquired for losing Sabathia as a free agent.
- Goat Riders of the Apocalypse feels that Felipe Lopez would be a "cheap and quick upgrade" for the Cubs offense.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
International Prospect Update
ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. updates us on three international prospects:
- The Mariners and Rangers are interested in signing Guillermo Pimentel. Arangure hears that the Mariners could sign the left-handed slugger with a $2MM bonus.
- The Brewers, Indians and Padres are the leading candidates to sign outfielder Jose Alberto Pena.
- Jose Julio Ruiz, who defected from Cuba, is working towards becoming a free agent. Some say Ruiz, 25, resembles an older, less powerful version of Dayan Viciedo.
Stark On Deadline Deals
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that, with only five teams more than six games under .500, it's a tough time to be a buyer. Here are the details from his latest Rumblings and Grumblings:
- There are many trade candidates in Washingon, but free agent-to-be Nick Johnson is the likeliest to move of them all.
- Adam Dunn's price would be "astronomical" according to one executive.
- One of Danys Baez and George Sherrill will likely be dealt, and it seems more likely that Baez will move. As one official says, "he's throwing great, but he's still Danys Baez."
- The D'Backs would prefer to move prospective free agents, like Doug Davis and Chad Tracy. Stark writes that Davis could fit on the Mets.
- One executive believes Brian Giles "should get released."
- Cla Meredith could bring a decent return for the Padres, who could also move Chris Young and Kevin Kouzmanoff.
- The Royals could move reliever Ron Mahay.
- At this point the Astros still aren't likely to sell. No one expects them to move Roy Oswalt, but Ivan Rodriguez, LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde could be dealt if the Astros decide to sell.
- One official says the Pirates would "love to move Jack Wilson."
- Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee aren't going anywhere, but Mark DeRosa is becoming "more marketable by the minute."
- Matt Holliday will hit the market if the A's don't play very well for the next few weeks. The A's will want the equivalent of a first rounder and a sandwich pick and, because few elite bats are available, at least one exec thinks they'll get a good return.
- The A's are worried he'll accept arbitration if they offer it, but Stark hears that Scott Boras would likely direct Holliday towards a better hitter's park, even if it was for less money.
- The Red Sox aren't in a hurry to deal Brad Penny. If they go for a shortstop, they'd want a short-term fix only.
- The Rockies- definitely not sellers right now- could eventually look to add a setup man.
- Delmon Young is "exceptionally available."
- The Brewers won't discuss dealing Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar.
- The Rays would like to add a reliever, but they're one of many teams that can't add much payroll.
Odds And Ends: Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox
More links for Thursday afternoon…
- Jorge Arangure of ESPN.com says the Yankees could make a "splash" on July 2nd, when the international signing period begins.
- Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe compares Brad Penny and A.J. Burnett. Kilgore says Burnett has an advantage, "but not an 82.5-to-5 edge." That's how much more Burnett signed for last offseason.
- A spokesman for Tom Ricketts says the family's deal to buy the Cubs is still on, according to the AP (via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
- David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News has a gut feeling the Phillies will make a deal "in the very near future." He points out that Pat Gillick and scouting director Gordon Lakey are in Philadelphia.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers signed four more picks, including second rounder Cameron Garfield.
-
Danny Knobler of CBS Sports heard that the Red Sox front office has wondered the same thing most of us have: how would this season look if Mark Teixeira had landed in Boston?
Odds & Ends: Cubs, Brewers, Twins
Some notes from around the horn as another top potential trade piece, Erik Bedard, hits the DL:
- Dave Cameron at Fangraphs gives a neat Pitch/FX examination of Mark DiFelice's stellar year.
- ESPN relays an AP report on the Cubs sale, with a rep from the Ricketts family calling stories that the conversations were stalling "untrue."
- Ken Davidoff at Newsday believes the market for starting pitching is thinning, as he sees Jarrod Washburn as the top option available.
- The Twins signed a couple draft picks today, including second-round pick P Billy Bullock, says Tyler Mason at MLB.com.
- The Indians also inked five more of their draftees today, says Dennis Manoloff at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
- A Pirates 26th-round high school draftee, one Matt Dermody, struck out every batter he faced in a six-inning perfect game. His teammate threw a no-hitter immediately after in the double-header.
Rosenthal On Saito, Rangers, Hardy
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Red Sox discussed a trade that would have sent Takashi Saito to Texas for Hank Blalock. The idea lost traction once Josh Hamilton underwent surgery and David Ortiz began hitting better and it's not likely to be revived. However, "several" teams have interest in Saito, who the Red Sox might prefer to deal for a prospect. Here are more details from Rosenthal's column:
- The Rangers remain the leading contenders to sign Ben Sheets.
- They also considered going after Nick Johnson, but are more likely to replace Chris Davis internally if they decide he's not contributing enough at the plate.
- One scout has noticed the Brewers following Erik Bedard and believes they'll make a "strong play" for him.
- J.J. Hardy remains appealing to teams around the league and the Brewers are "constantly" asked about shortstop prospect Alcides Escobar.
- The Red Sox "sniffed around" on a Hardy-Brad Penny swap, but that deal wouldn't work for Milwaukee.
- The Orioles are increasingly willing to deal George Sherrill and Danys Baez.
Odds And Ends: Crow, Willis, Bay
More links for the afternoon…
- Aaron Crow, the Royals' first round draft pick, told MLB.com's Rustin Dodd that this year, he's focused on completing a deal and beginning to play. Last year, he was drafted by the Nationals, but didn't sign.
- Mike Hazen, the Red Sox Director of Player Personnel, told CMSB Media that the team has already begun working on the 2010 draft. Click the link to hear the entire interview.
- The most intriguing name in next year's draft class could be Bryce Harper. Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star says Harper should finish high school early if his "dream is to play pro ball, not flirt in homeroom."
- Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press would like to see the Twins try to acquire Robb Quinlan from the Angels.
- Steve Kornacki of MLive.com wonders whether the Tigers would release Dontrelle Willis and eat the remainder of this year's $10MM contract, plus the $12MM he's owed in 2010.
- Brett Perryman of the Dallas Morning News says the Rangers' number one priority should be to prepare players within the organization to carry the Rangers to the playoffs in "2010 and on."
- ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick says it's hard to imagine Jason Bay signing for less than $60MM over four years or $70MM over five.
- Jeff Gordon includes Reggie Jackson, Orlando Hudson and David Ortiz on his list of the best ever free agent bargains at AskMen.com.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders what the Brewers will do with the slumping J.J. Hardy.
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that the Astros have signed 22 of the players they drafted, including their second rounder, Tanner Bushue.
- MLB.com's Mark Sheldon has a corresponding list for the Reds, who also signed their second rounder.
Brewers Sign First-Round Pick
SUNDAY, 1:06pm: The Brewers official announced the signing of Arnett this morning along with 20 other draftees. Here's the press release.
SATURDAY, 3:44pm: According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, the Brewers have a press conference scheduled for 10:30am CST tomorrow, presumably to announce the signing of first-round pick Eric Arnett.
Melvin: Talk Of Deal “Absolutely False”
MLB.com's Adam McCalvy spoke to Brewers' GM Doug Melvin about some "trade rumors that have swirled on the Internet over the past 36 hours about an imminent trade for a front-line pitcher." Melvin called the rumors "absolutely false," although he did acknowledge speaking to several other GM's recently. He wouldn't acknowledge who exactly he spoke to, or what kind of players were discussed.
The only recent trade talk we've heard involving the Brew Crew lately is that Jake Peavy is too expensive and that Tom Glavine isn't good enough to help. Peavy is out for at least a month with an ankle injury, so he figures to be out of the mix for now.
Let's round up the rest of McCalvy's rumors:
- Neither Trevor Hoffman or Ryan Braun has spoken to Peavy lately, perhaps about pitching in Milwaukee. Hoffman, of course, was Peavy's teammate in San Diego, while Braun played with him in the World Baseball Classic.
- Melvin said he hasn't spoken to Indians' GM Mark Shapiro "in a while," potentially eliminating Cliff Lee as the rumored front-line pitcher.
- Boston GM Theo Epstein called Melvin recently not to talk trade, but to apologize for a rumor about the Red Sox attempting to acquire Corey Hart.
- Melvin said "There's not one team that's saying, 'I'm ready to trade my players,'" specifically mentioning the Mariners.
First Rounder Arnett Agrees To Deal With Brewers
12:28pm: MLB.com's Adam McCalvy confirms the deal and adds that it includes a $1.2MM bonus, which is in line with the commissioner's recommendations. Arnett will report to Rookie league after the weekend to begin his pro career.
11:30am: Eric Arnett, the Brewers' first round pick, has agreed to a deal with Milwaukee. His Twitter says he's now officially a Brewer. MLB.com has video of the college pitcher in action.
Tom Haudricourt suggested Arnett would sign today.