Blue Jays Claim Chris Schwinden, DFA Farquhar
The Blue Jays announced that they have claimed right-hander Chris Schwinden off of waivers from the Mets and designated Danny Farquhar for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Schwinden will report to the team's Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate.
Schwinden, 25, was DFA'd by the Mets yesterday as one of two moves needed to make room on the 40-man for right-hander Elvin Ramirez and catcher Josh Thole. Aside from two starts and a relief appearance for the Mets, Schwinden has spent the year with Triple-A Buffalo. In nine starts there, the 6'3" hurler posted a 2.59 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9.
Farquhar, also 25, has spent the year with Double-A New Hampshire after pitching mostly at the Triple-A level in 2011. In 20 appearances this year, Farquhar has a 2.97 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9.
Wright Won’t Discuss Contract During Season
David Wright told Ed Coleman of WFAN Radio that he will not discuss a new contract with the Mets during the season, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The third baseman has also let the club know that he won't negotiate in-season, a team source told Mike Puma of the New York Post (via Twitter). Wright is earning $15MM this season with a club option for 2013 worth $16MM.
Earlier this week, GM Sandy Alderson said that he planned on offering the 29-year-old a new contract at some point during the season. Mets CEO Jeff Wilpon supported that notion, but added that the club wasn't necessarily in a rush to get a deal done.
Wright has been outstanding thus far in 2012, boasting a slash line of .365/.463/.565 with five homers in 203 plate appearances.
Quick Hits: Beltran, Angels, Mercedes, Cruz
The Nationals reinstated Michael Morse from the disabled list today in a move that should help the team score a few more runs. Morse hit 31 homers and posted a .910 OPS last year, so he should help a Nationals offense that ranks 13th out of the 16 NL teams in scoring. Here are today's links…
- Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger reconstructs the trade that sent Carlos Beltran to San Francisco for Zack Wheeler in a must-read piece that includes the recollections of the baseball people who helped shape the deal.
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle suggests the Giants are more likely to add bullpen or bench help than make a blockbuster move this summer (via Sulia).
- Angels GM Jerry Dipoto reflected on the season's first two months with Barry Bloom of MLB.com.
- Edgar Mercedes was arrested in the Dominican Republic on charges of smuggling Cuban players into the D.R., Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. However, a Dominican judge released Mercedes from jail without charges, Listin Diario reports (via Badler). Mercedes is a prominent trainer who represented players such as Yoenis Cespedes.
- The Pirates announced that they've activated Juan Cruz from the restricted list. They placed the right-hander on the restricted list earlier in the week.
Mets Designate Chris Schwinden For Assignment
2:06pm: The Mets designated Schwinden for assignment and optioned Rob Johnson to Buffalo, the team announced (on Twitter).
11:18am: The Mets placed right-hander Chris Schwinden on waivers, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports. By placing Schwinden on waivers the Mets will create one of two 40-man roster spots required for right-handed reliever Elvin Ramirez and catcher Josh Thole.
Schwinden, 25, has appeared in three games for the Mets this year, making two starts. He has spent most of the season at Triple-A Buffalo, where he has a 2.59 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 48 2/3 innings over the course of nine starts.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Manny Acosta
The latest outright assignments from around MLB…
- The Mets outrighted Manny Acosta to Triple-A Buffalo after the reliever cleared waivers, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. The Mets designated Acosta for assignment earlier this week after a particularly difficult outing against the Phillies.
New York Notes: Cabrera, Swisher, Wright
The 27-23 Yankees sit in third place in the American League East and the 28-23 Mets occupy third place in the National League East. Here's the latest from New York on an off day for the city's two teams…
- Baseball officials are skeptical that Melky Cabrera can sustain his performance as an elite player, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. However, there’s no denying that Cabrera has played at an All-Star level since the 2011 season. “He has turned into one of the better hitters in the league,” Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers said. Sherman chronicles Cabrera’s journey from extra outfielder in New York to middle-of-the-order hitter in San Francisco.
- Sherman suggests the budget conscious Yankees will probably not sign Cabrera or Nick Swisher when the switch-hitting outfielders hit free agency after the season.
- Ken Davidoff of the New York Post offers a template for how the Mets can handle David Wright’s contract status in the coming months and years. Davidoff suggests the Mets offer Wright an extension later this year — maybe $115MM for six years — and exercise their 2013 club option if he declines to sign. The Mets could then listen to trade offers for the third baseman and make a deal if an exceptional offer emerged. Though the Mets can’t control the result of their discussions with Wright, they can manage the process, Davidoff writes.
Mets Intend To Offer Wright Extension During Season
WEDNESDAY: Mets CEO Jeff Wilpon spoke to ESPN New York's Adam Rubin and backed up Alderson's statement, though he didn't make it sound like getting a contract worked out with Wright is an urgent matter.
"As Sandy said I think last night, [Wright is] under contract this year," said Wilpon. "We have an option for next year. There's no gun to anybody's head. So let it just play out. And at the right time Sandy and I will discuss it and it'll move on."
TUESDAY: Earlier this month we heard that the Mets were likely to offer David Wright a long-term contract, and today GM Sandy Alderson confirmed to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that an offer will be made during the season. He would not disclose the size of the offer or when the superstar third baseman could expect it.
"I would expect sometime before the season's over, we will have a conversation," said Alderson. "I'm hopeful he'll be here a long time."
Wright, 29, is making $15MM this season and has a club option for 2013 worth $16MM. He came into the day hitting .373/.474/.578 with five homers and more walks (32) than strikeouts (29). Ryan Zimmerman's six-year, $100MM extension with the Nationals seems like just a starting point for a new Wright deal given his superior performance record and durability.
Mets Designate Manny Acosta For Assignment
TUESDAY: The Mets made the move official (on Twitter).
MONDAY: The Mets will designate reliever Manny Acosta for assignment tomorrow, a baseball official told Mike Puma of the New York Post (via Twitter). The move will create roster space for fellow right-hander Chris Schwinden.
Acosta, 31, served up a three-run homer to the Phillies this afternoon to raise his ERA to 11.86 with 9.4 K/9 and 6.1 BB/9. In six big league seasons, Acosta owns a 4.13 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 for the Mets and Braves.
Quick Hits: Vazquez, Oviedo, Acosta, Montero
Happy Memorial Day! Here are today’s links…
- It doesn't sound as though Javier Vazquez has baseball at the forefront of his mind. When asked what he's up to, friends of the pitcher told Peter Gammons of MLB.com (via Twitter) that he's playing semi-pro tennis. In April, the right-hander said that he's not planning on playing but also wasn't ready to announce his retirement.
- MLB announced an eight-week suspension for Juan Carlos Oviedo, the right-handed pitcher formerly known as Leo Nunez, for engaging in age and identity fraud (Twitter link). Oviedo is making his way back to the Marlins after a prolonged absence.
- Mike Puma of the New York Post wonders if Manny Acosta's days with the Mets could be numbered (Twitter link). Acosta has an 11.86 ERA after allowing three runs to the Phillies this afternoon.
- The Diamondbacks were willing to pay up to keep Miguel Montero’s two-way play on the roster, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes. While Montero isn’t hitting much so far this year, he has thrown out 39.2% of potential base stealers since the beginning of the 2011 season. He recently signed a five-year, $60MM contract with Arizona.
Quick Hits: Cubs, Braves, Quentin, Utley
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.