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Miguel Angel Sano Rumors: Thursday

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5:16pm: According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins have offered a deal around $3MM, contingent on verification of Sano's age and identification.  It seems most of these clubs are willing to hold off until both have been verified.

3:34pm: Arangure Jr. says he's been assured the Pirates haven't offered Sano a deal. As he says, the difference between an offer and the parameters of a deal may just be "semantics," especially since Sano's age is still under investigation.

2:55pm: Kovacevic hears from multiple sources that the Pirates offered Sano a deal yesterday morning. However, nothing will likely materialize before MLB completes the investigation into Sano's age.

2:27pm: Roch Kubatko of MASN.com reports that the Orioles won't be signing Sano in the immediate future.

1:25pm: Arangure Jr. hears that the MLB investigation into Sano's age won't be completed today. Safe to say he won't sign today then.

12:24pm: MLB.com's Jen Langosch reports that the Pirates have not yet made Sano an offer.

9:47am: ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. hears that the Pirates haven't made Sano an offer yet.

8:56am: Today marks the beginning of the international signing period, when teams can start signing the latest crop of young international stars and the Pirates are starting the day off aggressively. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports they are believed to have offered Miguel Angel Sano a contract, the terms of which are still unknown. 

The Pirates will have to overcome a number of obstacles to sign Sano, however:
  • The Twins and Orioles are still in the mix and Baltimore could out-spend both teams.
  • The Pirates have a Latin American budget of $2MM, but Sano will likely command a bonus north of $3MM and could approach Michael Ynoa's record of $4.25MM. GM Neal Huntington says the Pirates could expand the budget under special circumstances, something they'd almost certainly have to do to sign Sano.  
  • There are lingering questions about the shortstop's age which must be resolved.  

In spite of this, Huntington says he expects to do "very well" internationally this year.

Twins Release Luis Ayala

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The Twins released Luis Ayala after failing to trade him, according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He was designated for assignment after struggling on the mound and failing to get along with manager Ron Gardenhire.

Ayala's name came up in trade talks with the Pirates, and there are indications that Eric Hinske was part of the discussions until he was dealt to the Yankees. Now that Ayala's a free agent he could sign on with one of the many teams seeking bullpen help, like the Rangers or Marlins.

Stark On Dodgers, Giants, Brewers

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In this ESPN Radio segment, Jayson Stark says the Dodgers will go after the best starting pitcher they can find. There's no elite starting pitching out there now, but Ned Colletti is looking to turn some up. Here are the rest of Stark's rumors:

  • The Giants need an impact hitter and they're "in on every bat out there."
  • Matt Holliday is not a likely fit for the Cardinals.  
  • Stark says Doug Davis is a good fit in Milwaukee.  
  • The Mets are more interested in left-handed first basemen, so Nick Johnson still looks like a good fit for them.
  • The Tigers are looking for a bat, The White Sox could add pitching and the Twins want relievers.

Twins Beginning To Seek Bullpen Help

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The Twins are looking for relief pitching, according to MLB.com's Kelly Thesier, but their search is just beginning. Manager Ron Gardenhire's been using R.A. Dickey in the eighth inning, but he'd like one more reliever for the late innings. At this point, Gardenhire says the team will wait to see who becomes available.

"There has been talk of people, but just the beginning phases," he said. "It's not people out there, but people who could be out there."

Gardenhire's Twins are 40-39, four games behind the Tigers in the AL Central. After designating Luis Ayala for assignment, their 'pen is even thinner.

Olney On August Moves, Mauer, Indians

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After explaining how Ricky Romero's change-up has become such a weapon, ESPN.com's Buster Olney provides us with some new rumors:

  • We should expect a buyer's market in August when few teams will submit waiver claims on players for fear of getting stuck with a contract they can't afford.
  • Some good news for the Twins fans who are dreading the day Joe Mauer hits free agency: his agent, Ron Shapiro, represented Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr., who both stayed with one team their entire career. Mauer becomes a free agent after next year.
  • Rafael Betancourt, Carl Pavano and Jamey Carroll could be the next Indians moved. None of the three are under contract for 2010.

Odds And Ends: Belliard, Atkins, Ayala

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Some links to peruse as we await the baseball equivalent of the Shaq trade…

Pirates Interested In Luis Ayala

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9:28pm: John Perrotto has another article up, saying the Pirates are only interested in Ayala at a "greatly reduced cost," i.e. the "vast majority" of the $700k still owed to him would need to be picked up by the Twins.

8:22am: The Pirates are interested in trading for reliever Luis Ayala, according to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. John Perrotto of PiratesReport.com confirms the Pirates' interest in the 31-year-old righty, who was designated for assignment by the Twins on Monday. 

Ayala requested a trade weeks ago because he wanted a bigger role in the Twins' bullpen. He makes $1.3MM this year.

Twins DFA Luis Ayala

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TUESDAY, 8:34pm: According to MLB.com's Kelly Thesier, Ayala requested a trade from the Twins three weeks ago.

"He asked for this, and when you ask out of here, you will get out of here," said manager Ron Gardenhire.  "It's simple."  The right-hander apparently wanted a setup role, but "wasn't pitching well enough to be an eighth-inning guy," according to Gardenhire, the Twins' ultimate decision-maker.

MONDAY, 4:22pm:  ESPN relays an AP report that says the Twins designated reliever Luis Ayala for assignment to make room for right-hander Bobby Keppel.

Ayala signed with Minnesota for $1.3MM this winter, but he didn't pitch as well as the Twins had hoped. He allowed eight walks and 38 hits in just over 32 innings, striking out 21. He allowed four home runs this season, most recently to Lance Berkman on Saturday during the Astros' come-from-behind win.

Twins Release Henry Sanchez

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LaVelle E. Neal III of The Star Tribune reports that the Twins have released first baseman Henry Sanchez. Sanchez was the club's supplemental first round pick in 2005, taken three picks before Clay Buchholz. Sanchez hit just .216-.297-.358 in 91 minor league games, missing considerable time with various injuries. He was suspended 50-games for violating baseball's drug policy earlier this year.

MLB Investigating Miguel Angel Sano’s Age

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ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. reports that MLB investigators are looking into Miguel Angel Sano's age after the Twins requested more detail on the top Dominican prospect's background. Sano says he's 16, but some believe he's older because of his physique. The investigation will include a DNA test and could prevent a quick signing when the international signing period begins on July 2nd. Any player caught lying about his age receives a one-year suspension from MLB. 

Arangure reports that Sano's expected to sign with the Twins or Pirates as long as he's not suspended.
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