Ben Sheets Throws For Teams
Righty Ben Sheets threw for scouts today in Monroe, Louisiana, MLBTR has learned. Scouts from the Phillies, Braves, Yankees, and Angels were in attendance.
Sheets, 33, signed a one-year, $10MM deal with the Athletics in January 2010 despite missing all of the '09 season due to a partial tear in the flexor tendon near his right elbow. He made 20 middling starts for the A's in 2010 before going down for a second flexor tendon procedure in August. At the time, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Sheets actually had three procedures done on his elbow, including Tommy John surgery.
Word is that Sheets didn't want to return to baseball unless he felt 100%, and he'd like to help a team down the stretch. Assuming he flashes his old form in throwing sessions, Sheets will be a popular free agent this summer.
AL East Notes: Guerrero, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees
The Blue Jays released Vladimir Guerrero yesterday morning at the slugger's request. Here's a bit of news on the 37-year-old and more from around the American League East..
- The Tigers' interest in Guerrero is lukewarm, a source told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). It's not clear if Detroit will pursue him at this point. Bean Stringfellow, the veteran's agent, says his client is not retiring and plans to continue playing.
- Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine says that it's only human for Kevin Youkilis to be upset by trade rumors, writes Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald. Earlier today, the third baseman confessed that this season hasn't been terribly fun for him.
- Yankees Triple-A catcher Francisco Cervelli could help several teams in the majors but continues to serve as the club's insurance policy, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The catcher told Heyman that he has no hard feelings against the Yankees.
- Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (via Twitter) sees supplementary first round selection Matt Smoral signing with the club for over-slot, but not for twice as much as the $1MM recommendation.
AL East Notes: Youkilis, Orioles, Chamberlain
Roger Clemens won his 300th MLB game and joined the 4,000 strikeout club on this date in 2003, when he pitched the Yankees to victory against the Cardinals. Here are today's AL East links…
- Kevin Youkilis said this year hasn't been fun and realizes he might be traded, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports. “If I get traded, I get traded. Nothing you can do,” Youkilis said.
- Steve Tolleson, Miguel Gonzalez and Xavier Avery are candidates to join the Orioles should Endy Chavez go on the disabled list, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com writes. Baltimore could also call on Lew Ford or Nate McLouth, but doing so would require opening a spot on the 40-man roster.
- The perception that the Yankees' handling of Joba Chamberlain led to his Tommy John surgery frustrates GM Brian Cashman, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. The right-hander has started throwing bullpen sessions and is "clearing all the hurdles" to return to the Major Leagues in 2012.
Rosenthal On Phillies, Dempster, Soriano, Chavez
Phillies general partner David Montgomery told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he’s not thinking about trading away established players since opportunity still exists for his 29-33 club. “Come August or something, maybe we feel differently,” Montgomery acknowledged, noting that the team’s current goal is to re-enter the playoff picture.
Here are more rumors and notes from Rosenthal…
- Though the Cubs want to add talent, they are reluctant to start a long rebuilding process. Of all the Cubs, Ryan Dempster is most likely to be traded, according to Rosenthal. One general manager said the right-hander seems like a “classic Ned Colletti buy,” so don’t be surprised if the Dodgers show some interest in Dempster.
- Rosenthal speculates that the Indians could be a fit for Alfonso Soriano. Though the Cubs would be paying most of the outfielder’s salary in any trade, Soriano can still hit, especially against left-handers. Rival teams expect the Indians to be aggressive this summer, and they could use a right-handed bat like Soriano.
- Teams aren’t sure that Wandy Rodriguez would succeed in the American League.
- One person said there’s “no chance” the Red Sox could obtain prospects for Kevin Youkilis without paying most of his salary.
- The Reds want to add a left-handed hitter, Rosenthal reports.
- Though Eric Chavez can still play, preparing for games has become “a huge hurdle to climb physically.” The Yankees and White Sox were the only teams to show interest in the 34-year-old this past offseason, and he would have been content to retire if necessary.
- Don’t be surprised if the Giants look to acquire a reliever, Rosenthal writes.
- One executive wonders if the Orioles could trade Brian Matusz in a deal for a more established starter.
AL East Notes: Yankees, Gonzalez, Red Sox
The Yankees topped the Mets last night 4-2 behind a solid showing from Phil Hughes. Here's more on the Bombers and the AL East..
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman says that he's not looking for an outfielder in the wake of the latest news on Brett Gardner, but Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger thinks that he'll have to consider making a deal. Gardner's latest setback could leave him sidelined until after the All-Star break.
- Had things gone differently, Gio Gonzalez might have been on the hill for the Red Sox this weekend rather than the Nationals, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The Sox pursued Gonzalez aggressively when the Athletics shopped him last offseason, but balked at the huge prospect haul they would have had to give up.
- In addition to a consistent Daisuke Matsuzaka, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe opines that the Red Sox need to land a No. 1 starter if this season is going to matter.
Yankees Not Looking For Outfield Help
Left fielder Brett Gardner has played just nine games this season due to a right elbow strain, and today he suffered a setback that will likely keep him out through the All-Star break. Despite that, Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters (including Chad Jennings of The Journal News) that he hasn't looked into trading for outfield help just yet.
“I haven’t been looking,” said Cashman. “That doesn’t mean that (it’s out of the question). Now you’ve passed the draft, people will be more interested in having conversations. I have not had any conversations with anybody about anything.”
The Yankees have primarily used Raul Ibanez in left during Gardner's absence, though Andruw Jones, Jayson Nix, Eduardo Nunez, and Dewayne Wise have all seen time out there as well. Depending on how Gardner's visit with Dr. James Andrews goes on Monday, the Yankees could either remain patient or be pressed into aggressively scouring the trade market. The outfield market figures to be highlighted by Carlos Quentin and Josh Willingham this year.
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."
Jorge Soler Rumors: Friday
The Astros, Cubs, Pirates, Indians, Red Sox, Phillies, Yankees and Blue Jays appear to have some interest in Jorge Soler, while the Marlins and Mets are not pursuing him. The Cuban outfield prospect must sign by July 2nd if he aims to avoid spending restrictions imposed under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement. Here’s the latest:
- Angels GM Jerry Dipoto confirmed to Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times that they "won't be a player" for Soler (Twitter link). "I don't know who his agent is. Tells you how involved we are," added Dipoto.
- The next round of bids for Soler are due this weekend, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter). The Cubs, Yankees, Braves and Dodgers have been the most aggressive teams so far, Olney reports.
- Ben Badler of Baseball America reports that Soler may be trying to establish his residency paperwork through Haiti, instead of the Dominican Republic, where he has been living and working out. Some agents say they would never consider trying to establish a Cuban player's residency through Haiti, which is not known for accurate record keeping.
- However, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com hears that MLB verified Soler's residency in Haiti before granting him free agency (Twitter link). It's not an issue, according to Crasnick's source.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
AL East Notes: Reyes, Rundles, Blue Jays
David Price is set to face C.C. Sabathia in the Bronx tonight, but this battle of lefty aces has been pushed back to 6:30 CST due to a rain delay. While you're waiting, check out these notes from around the AL East…
- The Yankees have signed 22-year-old Dominican right-hander Manolo Reyes, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. The contract is worth $600K but is contingent on Reyes obtaining a visa and passing an MLB investigation into his identity and age, as Reyes has already served one year-long suspension due to problems with his paperwork. Reyes was originally signed by the Braves in 2009.
- The Orioles signed left-hander Rich Rundles to a minor league contract. The 31-year-old had been pitching for the Atlantic League's Lancaster Barnstormers, who announced the transaction on their website. Rundles appeared in nine games (six IP with a 1.50 ERA) for the Indians in 2008-09 and was originally drafted by the Red Sox in 1999 when Dan Duquette was Boston's general manager.
- The Blue Jays are going well under slot with some of their early draft picks, signing tenth-round pick Alex Azor to a $1K bonus (as reported by Chris Toman of MLB.com) and sixth-rounder Eric Phillips to a $5K bonus, according to Rogers Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. As Davidi's piece outlines, the Jays' strategy is to free up money in their draft pool to lock up some of their perceived tough-sign picks. One such higher pick, supplemental first-rounder Matt Smoral, has reportedly agreed to sign with Toronto for a signing bonus almost double the recommended slot value.
Cubs Notes: Garza, Soler
A couple of items on the 19-37 Cubs..
- The Cubs are saying that they'll try to sign Matt Garza, but rival GMs believe that there is a decent chance of a trade, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. It could come down to an AL East battle for his services, Heyman adds, with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays all in the mix.
- The Cubs were one of several teams that had representatives at Jorge Soler's workout today, writes Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com. Cubs GM Jed Hoyer admitted that the club has done their fair share of homework on the highly-touted prospect. “We’ve been following this carefully and we certainly plan to be involved," Hoyer said.