Quick Hits: Rockies, Mets, Giants, Blue Jays
The Blue Jays designated Edwin Encarnacion for assignment on this date two years ago, and he cleared waivers two days later once the 29 other MLB teams had passed on him. Encarnacion now has 20 homers and a .283/.351/.574 slash line, so he's making a strong case for inclusion in next month's All-Star Game. Here are today’s links…
- The Rockies would have to be overwhelmed to trade Rafael Betancourt or Matt Belisle, so deals are highly unlikely, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (Twitter links). Teams don't generally view the Rockies as a team with lots of assets to trade, according to Olney.
- The Mets are going to wait a few weeks before "digging into" the trade market, Olney tweets.
- GM Brian Sabean told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that the Giants identified Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan as trade targets this past offseason because, in spite of their flaws, they’re both impact MLB players. “We're talking about switch-hitters who can hit almost anywhere in the lineup, play all three outfield positions and help you on both sides of the ball. There's a lot to like," Sabean said. Check out Crasnick’s piece for a detailed look at how the Giants scouted and built their new-look outfield.
- The Blue Jays have been telling teams they can’t take on any salary, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).
Draft Signings: Chargois, Lovegrove, Oswalt
The latest noteworthy draft signings from around MLB, starting with a trio of pitchers…
- The Twins have signed second round selection J.T. Chargois, according to Baseball America's Jim Callis (on Twitter). Chargois served as Rice's closer, and Callis notes that he can get his 93-95 mph fastball as high as 98 mph to go along with a plus curveball.
- The Indians signed third round selection Kieran Lovegrove for $400K, as Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported yesterday. The high school right-hander has a fastball that sits in the low 90s and has touched 94. His slider can be a wipeout pitch, and he has the makings of a decent changeup, according to Baseball America. The ASU recruit was born in South Africa, and he played some cricket growing up. He and two teammates have their own charity, the Going to Bat foundation.
- The Mets signed seventh round selection Corey Oswalt for an over-slot bonus of $475K, Callis reports (on Twitter). The projectable high school right-hander has a fastball that sits in the 89-92 mph range.
Quick Hits: Bay, Indians, Brewers
Happy Father's Day to all dads! Jim Thome, a father of two, became just the fourth player in baseball history to hit 100 home runs for three different clubs with his solo shot in the Phillies' game against the Blue Jays. Thome joins Alex Rodriguez, Reggie Jackson, and Darrell Evans in that exclusive club.
- Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters, including Adam Rosenbloom of MLB.com, he is concerned about the playing career of Jason Bay, who is on the disabled list with his second career concussion. "We've got to put ourselves in his shoes, and decide what we think is the best for the future," Collins said.
- Indians GM Chris Antonetti will not show any apprehension approaching the trade deadline after the mixed results of the Ubaldo Jimenez deal last year, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I continue to trust our process and evaluators," said Antonetti. "If we feel the right guy is out there, and it's the right trade, we'll certainly be willing to make it. I don't think we'd operate any differently."
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes the Brewers recent sweep at the hands of the Royals may cause the team to be sellers at the trade deadline. Haudricourt points out the Brewers will have several question marks heading into 2013 including the starting rotation, first base, outfield, and shortstop.
Draft Signings: Brewers, Rockies, Red Sox, Mets
So far this year we haven’t seen as many substantial draft bonuses as in years past, Yahoo’s Jeff Passan notes (on Twitter). In the previous five drafts, 16 players obtained $6MM or more, but Byron Buxton may be the only player to sign for $6MM this year, now that the new collective bargaining agreement is in place. Here are today’s noteworthy draft signings from the second round and on…
- The Indians announced that they signed second round selection Mitch Brown. The high school right-hander obtained an over-slot bonus of $800K, MLBTR has learned. Adam Karon and Tripper Johnson of Sosnick/Cobbe Sports represent Brown, who entered the draft as the 44th-best eligible prospect, according to Baseball America.
- The Brewers signed second rounder Tyrone Taylor for $750K, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports (on Twitter). MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy had reported earlier in the week that the Brewers were nearing a deal with the athletic high school outfielder.
- The Rockies announced that they have agreed to sign 28 selections, including their top six picks and 12 of their first 14 selections (Twitter link).
- The Red Sox announced that they have signed 11 picks, including second rounder Jamie Callahan and fourth rounder Ty Buttrey. Callahan obtained a $600K bonus, according to Callis (on Twitter). Buttrey obtained an over-slot bonus of $1.3MM, Callis tweets.
- The Mets signed fourth rounder Branden Kaupe for $225K, Callis reports (Twitter link). The switch-hitting shortstop has very good speed, according to Baseball America.
Draft Signings: Mariners, Mets, Royals, A’s, Pirates
Here are today's latest draft signings, with the most recent updates up top..
- The Mariners signed sixth-round pick Timmy Lopes for $550K, well over the pick value of $198K, according to Callis (via Twitter). The infielder out of California is said to have a good bat, not unlike his older brother Christian Lopes who was drafted by the Blue Jays last year. The M's also announced that they signed 26 others from this year's draft and have now inked 25 of their first 30 picks.
- The Mets signed third-rounder Matt Koch for $425K, slightly below his pick value of $445K, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. The right-hander has a 92-96 mph fastball and flashes good slider and changeup.
- The Royals signed fourth-round pick, Stanford infielder Kenny Diekroeger, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Just one of Kansas City's top ten picks remain unsigned.
- The A’s announced that they agreed to terms with center fielder Herschel Powell (20th round), right-hander Lee Sosa (26th), shortstop Christopher Wolfe (30th), and first baseman John Wooten (37th).
- The Pirates announced that they signed eight draft picks, including infielder Eric Wood (sixth round). Pittsburgh has now inked nine draft picks in total and continues to negotiate with eighth-overall pick Mark Appel.
Quick Hits: Dickey, Mariners, Byrd
The Yankees signed right-hander Cory Wade on this date last year, just two days after the Rays released him. The 29-year-old has pitched 67 total innings for the Yankees in the past year and he owns a 2.28 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in pinstripes. Here are today's links…
- Mets right-hander R.A. Dickey told Newsday’s David Lennon that he hopes "to be the best pitcher in the big leagues." The 37-year-old knuckleballer has a 2.44 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 81 innings heading into tonight's start against the Rays. The Mets figure to exercise his 2013 option after the season.
- George Soto, the son of Dominican trainer Enrique Soto, presented himself as four years younger than he really was when he signed a $700K deal with the Mariners in 2007, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. Soto was 21 when he signed, not 17, as he suggested.
- There have been a number of inquiries on outfielder Marlon Byrd, but no deal is imminent, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports (on Twitter). The Red Sox released Byrd yesterday, making the ACES client a free agent.
Quick Hits: Teahen, Soler, Ethier, Hamilton, Youkilis
The Dodgers officially announced their five-year, $85MM extension with Andre Ethier this afternoon on a day that featured lots of draft news. Here are some of Tuesday’s non-draft-related links, starting in Los Angeles…
- Mark Teahen can opt-out of his minor league contract with the Nationals if not called up by June 15th, MLBTR has learned. The 30-year-old has hit .293/.347/.404 with Washington's Triple-A affiliate while playing all four corner spots.
- Jorge Soler is still in the process of securing a visa prior to officially signing with the Cubs, reports MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (on Twitter). That could take about a week.
- The Dodgers’ deal with Ethier could eliminate them from the Josh Hamilton sweepstakes after the season, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes (Twitterlinks). This could limit Hamilton’s leverage with the Rangers whenever the sides resume contract talks.
- Olney points to the abundance of quality outfielders nearing free agency and suggests it makes sense for the players to accept deals now instead of waiting for what could be a buyer’s market.
- There are no new developments in contract discussions between Cole Hamels and the Phillies or Zack Greinke and the Brewers, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).
- GM Sandy Alderson told Ken Davidoff of the New York Post that the Mets haven't drawn up plans to buy or sell this summer. Davidoff suggests that the Mets could decide to stay the course at the upcoming trade deadline.
- One scout watched Kevin Youkilis play and wasn’t impressed, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). "For what he costs, he can't do anything," the scout said.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Mets To Sign Kevin Plawecki
The Mets have agreed to sign supplemental first round draft pick Kevin Plawecki, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports. He'll obtain a $1.4MM bonus.
The Mets chose the Purdue catcher with the 35th overall selection as compensation for losing Jose Reyes to free agency. MLB recommends a bonus of $1.47MM for the 35th overall selection, according to Baseball America.
Alderson & Cashman Talk Trade Deadline
The Yankees beat Johan Santana and the Mets in the 2012 Subway Series opener last night, but before the game each club's GM answered questions about the upcoming trade deadline. Let's round up their quotes…
- "If we're in the race, as I expect we will be, I don't believe that money is going to be an issue for us," said Mets GM Sandy Alderson when asked about making additions during a chat with fans at MLB.com. "We'll be looking for ways to help the ballclub. It's very possible we'll still need help in the bullpen at that time, but there may be some other areas of need that will emerge and we'll have to address."
- In a MLB.com chat with fans, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said his "preference would be not to do anything" at the trade deadline. "You'd like to have everything here in front of you, but that's never the case," he added. "So right now it's way too early to tell you what's lacking … It's too early for me to say what we're looking for (at the deadline) just yet, if anything."
Outrighted To Triple-A: Allen, Satin
The latest outright assignments…
- The Rays outrighted Brandon Allen to Triple-A after he cleared waivers, Roy Commings of the Tampa Tribune tweets. The Rays designated Allen for assignment earlier in the week.
- Josh Satin has cleared waivers and will return to Triple-A Buffalo, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The Mets designated the 27-year-old infielder for assignment two days ago. He had posted a .274/.359/.380 line in 206 plate appearances at Buffalo before getting called up to the Major Leagues.