Marlins To Sign Luis Ayala
According to John C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Marlins have agreed to terms with Luis Ayala.
That didn't take long. Ayala was designated for assignment on June 23 and released this afternoon by the Twins. The 31-year-old right-hander allowed eight walks and 38 hits (including four home runs) in just over 32 innings with Minnesota. He'll spend a few outings at Triple-A New Orleans before joining the Fish.
Miguel Angel Sano Rumors: Thursday
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 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
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.
Stark On Dodgers, Giants, Brewers
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
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.
Olney On August Moves, Mauer, Indians
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
Some links to peruse as we await the baseball equivalent of the Shaq trade…
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson reports that Ronnie Belliard isn't sure if he'll play another season.
- Mark DeRosa tops the list of infielders most likely to be traded, if you ask Matthew Pouliot of NBC Sports.
- Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post says the Rockies shouldn't deal anyone but Garrett Atkins.
- Huston Street believes getting traded led to a "good opportunity," according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer says Luis Ayala is far from irreplaceable.
- I'll be talking rumors on the TEAM 1380 in St. Louis at around 6:20 CST tonight, so tune in if you get the chance.
Pirates Interested In Luis Ayala
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.
Twins DFA Luis Ayala
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
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.