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Quick Hits: Cubs, Braves, Quentin, Utley

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The Cubs are trying to break an 11-game losing streak, their longest in 15 years, as they take on the Pirates this afternoon at PNC Park.  Manager Dale Sveum has changed closers, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.  Sveum didn't reveal who would replace Rafael Dolis if a save opportunity presents itself, but Sullivan writes he did mention James Russell and Casey Coleman. 

Here are some more links on this Sunday before Memorial Day.

  • MLB.com's Mark Bowman tweets the Braves may be looking for starting pitching because of the struggles of Mike Minor and Jair Jurrjens.  Bowman cautions money will be an issue.
  • Manager Bud Black told reporters including Bill Center of the San Diego Union Tribune that Carlos Quentin could make his Padres debut this week when the team travels to Chicago.  Quentin has yet to play this season because of knee surgery performed in March. 
  • Chase Utley also hasn't seen action in 2012 because of a knee injury.  Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com writes Utley is feeling better but there is still no timetable for his minor league rehab.  Salisbury points out Utley has been working in left field to ease the strain on his knees and to work on his agility.
  • Kevin Mulvey has retired, reports ESPN New York's Adam Rubin.  Mulvey had been pitching in relief with the Mets' Double-A affiliate.  Mulvey was part of the Johan Santana trade and rejoined the Mets late in spring training after being released by the Diamondbacks.

Mets Release D.J. Carrasco

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The Mets released reliever D.J. Carrasco, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports (on Twitter). The Mets had designated the right-hander for assignment nine days ago.

Carrasco, 35, appeared in four games for the Mets this year, allowing six hits, including two home runs, in 3 2/3 innings of work. He'll earn $1.2MM in 2012, the final season of his two-year, $2.4MM contract. The eight-year veteran is now available to other teams for the MLB minimum salary of $480K. Gaylord Sports Management represents Carrasco.

Quick Hits: Wright, Oviedo, Broxton, Catchers

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Here's the latest from around the league as Thursday turns into Friday…

Dickey Hoping For Contract Extension With Mets

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R.A. Dickey owns a 3.13 ERA in parts of three seasons with the Mets, and he'll earn $4.25MM this year before a $5MM club option ($300K buyout) comes into play for 2013. Dickey is thinking beyond next season though, admitting to Mike Puma of The New York Post that he is open to a contract extension.

"I like it here and I want to be here,” he said. “I feel like the team is moving in the right direction, and I want to be a part of the solution. Now it’s up to them. If I’m in those plans, [addressing the contract] is one way to make it known."

Dickey, 37, is one of the biggest bargains in baseball and as Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote in our Contract Issues series, the club is very likely to exercise his option. He signed a two-year, $7.8MM deal prior to last season and an extension could look very similar, another year or two at $5-6MM annually on top of the option for 2013.

Mets Not Interested In Jason Marquis

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The Mets have no interest in right-hander Jason Marquis, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post (on Twitter). He was designated for assignment by the Twins earlier today.

Marquis, 33, is a native New Yorker and has made no secret of his desire to pitch near home through the years. He posted an 8.47 ERA with more walks (14) than strikeouts (12) in seven starts and 34 innings for the Twins this season, but just last year he pitched to a 4.43 ERA in 132 innings for the Nationals and Diamondbacks.

Mike Pelfrey's injury has forced the likes of Miguel Batista and Jeremy Hefner into the Mets' rotation, so a fit between the club and Marquis seemed obvious.

NL Links: Braves, Mets, Oswalt, Dodgers, Wood

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Here are some links from the National League as the Cardinals and Dodgers play baseball's only intra-league game of the night…

  • Dave O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hears the Braves have not ruled out signing Roy Oswalt, but he assumes their interest depends on the price (Twitter link). Oswalt has begun auditioning for teams.
  • The Mets, meanwhile, are not in the running for Oswalt according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
  • Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times praises Dodgers GM Ned Colletti for his job building the team that owns baseball's best record.
  • The Reds tried to sign Kerry Wood this offseason, manager Dusty Baker told John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). "But he loves Chicago, and Chicago loves him," said Baker.
  • The Cubs will announce Wood's new position with the team tomorrow, reports Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). He's expected to become a special assistant.
  • After Wood announced his retirement today, Baseball America compiled some old scouting reports from his days as a prospect. "Scouts say Wood is so advanced that he should be ready for the big leagues faster than all but one or two college pitchers," said the publication when Wood was a high school senior in June 1995, less than three years before he made his big league debut.

2013 Contract Issues: New York Mets

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The Mets are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:

Eligible For Free Agency (6)

  • D.J. Carrasco - Carrasco, currently in DFA limbo, has no reason to expect a roster spot in 2013, since he's no longer a member of this year's team.
  • Jon Rauch - Rauch has seen his strikeout rate dip to 4.9 K/9 so far this year, and he's generating fewer swings and misses than before. It would be understandable if the Mets' confidence in Rauch were diminishing.
  • Ramon Ramirez - A one-year, Major League contract seems like the most probable outcome for Ramirez this offseason.
  • Ronny Cedeno - The addition of Cedeno has been a success so far, and he's still just 29. Presumably he'd prefer a starting job if one's available to him as a free agent.
  • Scott Hairston - Hairston remains a capable extra outfielder, though it's too early to know what the Mets' outfield needs will be this winter. Alternatively, the Mets could stick with internal options like Mike Baxter.
  • Tim Byrdak - Byrdak has been effective as a Met and could be a fit again in 2013. He won't obtain a qualifying offer from the front office, nor will any of the team's other free agents.

Contract Options (2)

  • David Wright: $16MM club option with a $1MM buyout. Wright can void option if traded. The Mets will exercise Wright's option and they're expected to try to work out an extension with the hot-hitting third baseman. Wright leads the NL in batting average (.411) and on-base percentage (.513), so he'll be paid like a superstar on his next contract.
  • R.A. Dickey: $5MM club option with a $300K buyout. Dickey will be a bargain for this price, and I expect the Mets to exercise the option.

Arbitration Eligible (8)

Pelfrey will presumably be non-tendered, and Acosta will have to pitch better to avoid a similar fate this December. It's possible Torres could be non-tendered despite his defense and .352 on-base percentage. His salary ($2.7MM this year) is on the rise and the Mets have outfielders Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Jason Bay. Though four of the Mets' key players will head to arbitration for the first time this winter, this doesn't figure to be a prohibitively expensive class, assuming Pelfrey obtains his release.

2013 Payroll Obligation

The Mets have committed $54.5MM to next year's payroll, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. Their 2012 payroll is below $100MM for the first time since 2004, but they may be able to spend more freely now that the team's owners have reached a settlement to resolve their involvement in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme.

NL Links: Giants, Diamondbacks, Mets, DeWitt

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The Padres placed Orlando Hudson on release waivers earlier today, and the veteran second baseman figures to draw some interest once he clears and becomes a free agent. Here's the latest from around the so-called Senior Circuit…

  • Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com hears from a source that available infield options are "not great" and the Giants must remain patient with Charlie Culberson (Twitter link). Hudson could make sense for San Francisco, though that is just my speculation.
  • Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers has spent the last few days with his staff looking over ways to improve his club, reports MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. "I can't tell you if there's going to a move or not," said the GM. "Maybe none, but we just kind of want to re-evaluate where we're at, and if there are any other options out there that might make us better and kind of spark the club a little bit."
  • "The bullpen has been a frustration. There's no question about that," said Mets GM Sandy Alderson to reporters (including MLB.com's Spencer Fordin and Ethan Asofsky) after designating D.J. Carrasco for assignment last night. "At some point, you have to start making changes, and [this] was a step in that direction. It's not that we have outstanding candidates in the minor league system at this point. We've got some good candidates, but like a number of our other prospects, perhaps they're not ready to pitch at this level."
  • Blake DeWitt accepted his outright assignment and will head to Triple-A tomorrow, reports Doug Padilla of ESPN Chicago. The Cubs designated DeWitt for assignment then outrighted him off the 40-man roster, but he could have refused the assignment and elected free agency.

Mets Designate D.J. Carrasco For Assignment

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The Mets have designated reliever D.J. Carrasco for assignment, according to the team's official Twitter page.  The right-hander appeared in just 2.1 innings for the Mets so far this season.

Carrasco, 35, couldn't find much work in the crowded Mets bullpen and the team looked at him as a trade candidate in early March.  At the time, the Marlins were mentioned as a possible fit because of the pitcher's time playing for Ozzie Guillen in Chicago.  Another official mentioned that the Angels could have interest as GM Jerry DiPoto traded for Carrasco while with the D'Backs.

The veteran owns a 4.50 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 across eight big league seasons.  Carrasco is set to earn $1.2MM this year, the final season of his two-year pact.

NL East Notes: Wang, Nationals, Phillies, Mets

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Some intra-divisional action in the National League East tonight as the Braves and Marlins are underway in Miami.  More out of the division..

  • Nationals hurler Chien-Ming Wang told reporters, including Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, that he'd be willing to move into the bullpen when he returns to the majors.  However, Kilgore writes that the Nats are unlikely to ask him to do that.  Washington currently has a surplus of starting pitching with Ross Detwiler in the fifth spot and John Lannan in Triple-A.
  • Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) writes that the Phillies should make trades to replenish their thin farm system.  Acquisitions such as Cliff Lee and Hunter Pence have cost them youth but moving potential free agents Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino could change that if they decide against signing them.  Bowden also opines that the Red Sox should explore the trade market.
  • Mets owner Fred Wilpon may be iffy on David Wright as a superstar, but he would like him as a son-in-law, tweets David Lennon of Newsday.  "If I had another daughter, I’d love if she married a David Wright," said Wilpon.
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