Heyman On Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, D’Backs
In the aftermath of Bob Geren’s dismissal, Jon Heyman of SI.com lists a handful of managers with suspect job security. Though 2011 probably won’t be a big year for managerial firings, Jim Riggleman of the Nationals and Edwin Rodriguez of the Marlins are on Heyman’s list. Here are the rest of his rumors:
- Geren had "lost" the Athletics' clubhouse, according to people with Oakland ties.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman doesn’t expect elite starting pitching to be available this summer. "I just don't see a No. 1 pitcher you can pinpoint,'' Cashman said.
- The Yankees will look for starting pitching and left-handed relief.
- The Red Sox will also be looking to add a southpaw to their ‘pen.
- Boston people expect top prospect Jose Iglesias to prove himself as the shortstop of the future and people don’t expect the Red Sox to “make a play” for Jose Reyes.
- Competing executives say the Twins will “do what’s right” for the organization this summer, even if that means trading Major Leaguers for prospects. Watch out for the last-place Twins, who have won seven of eight.
- Executives say the D’Backs, Padres, Pirates, Rays and Red Sox had strong drafts.
Orioles, Nationals Interested In Bill Hall
For a player that hit .224/.272/.340 before being released by the Astros, Bill Hall is drawing quite a bit of interest. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that both the Orioles and Nationals have interest in Hall, and he mentions that the Yankees could get in the mix as well.
Baltimore's interest stems from Brian Roberts' injury and uncertain status while Washington sees him as a super-utility player. It's unclear how that would work, since Jerry Hairston Jr. figures to return to that role once Ryan Zimmerman comes off the disabled list. Rosenthal says New York's level of interest is unclear, but they would presumably use him off the bench.
Hall, 31, will be collecting checks for the rest of his $3MM salary from Houston, less the pro-rated portion of the league minimum that his new team (whoever that ends up being) will pay him. Despite his ugly showing with the Astros, Hall did hit .247/.316/.456 with 18 homers for the Red Sox just last year, and he can play pretty much any position on the field.
Draft Notes: Appel, Brooks, Bichette
On this date two years ago, the Nationals selected the most heavily-hyped amateur pitcher in history with the first pick of the amateur draft: San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Since the '09 draft, Strasburg has signed a $15.1MM contract, posted a 2.91 ERA in an electrifying rookie season and had Tommy John surgery. Here are some draft-related links for Thursday…
- The draft is officially over, so MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo is already looking ahead to 2012, when Stanford right-hander Mark Appel could be the first overall selection.
- The Royals agreed to terms with ninth round pick Aaron Brooks last night, MLBTR has learned. The right-handed pitcher led the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes in a number of categories and finished third in the NCAA in BB/9.
- Conor Glassey and John Manuel analyze each team's picks and approach at Baseball America.
- Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer said supplemental first rounder Dante Bichette Jr. isn't overly pampered, though he has family ties to the game, according to Chad Jennings of the Journal News. "He is a worker," Oppenheimer said. "His regimen, his schedule, his routine, from the way he eats to the yoga to spending time at the gym to hitting. It’s second to none.” Bichette’s father made four All-Star teams with the Rockies.
Olney On Padres, Wood, Pirates
Teams like the Yankees, Rangers and Cardinals may not have to wait much longer for bullpen help. There will probably be relievers available immediately, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. Here’s the latest on the relief market and other notes from Olney:
- The industry-wide expectation is that the Padres will trade Heath Bell soon.
- Executives wonder if the Padres will decide to take advantage of Mike Adams' substantial trade value and trade him now. The setup man is under team control through 2012.
- Rival teams will presumably call the Cubs to see if Kerry Wood would accept a trade. The right-hander signed a discounted $1.5MM contract last offseason because he wanted to return to Chicago.
- Grant Balfour, Luke Gregerson and Michael Wuertz are other possible trade candidates, according to Olney.
- Though the Pirates have developed more top talent under Neal Huntington, it’s an important year for the GM, who doesn’t have a contract after 2011. The Pirates drafted aggressively once again this year, so Huntington and his scouting staff will have a number of tough signs this summer, such as high schooler Josh Bell.
New York Notes: Posada, Reyes, Citi Field
As Paul McCartney gets ready to make his debut at the new Yankee Stadium, here's the latest news from the Big Apple…
- The Yankees "don't want to release [Jorge Posada] at all," but they may be forced into such a move if Posada's hitting doesn't pick up by the All-Star Break, writes ESPNNewYork.com's Ian O'Connor. For now, there is no talk of a Posada release since the club wants to keep him on the roster until Derek Jeter reaches the 3000-hit plateau. Of course, baseball is the last thing on Posada's mind today as his 11-year-old son underwent his latest surgery to attempt to correct a birth defect in his skull. We at MLBTR send our best wishes to the entire Posada family.
- Can the Mets afford the fan backlash that will come from trading Jose Reyes? Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal asks the question, and also gets this interesting quote from author Vince Gennaro: "The odds that this is the new [Reyes] and that he's going to have a five-year run that even remotely resembles this are miniscule….But that's not where the fan base is going to come from. They're going to look at this as one more sign, if he gets dealt, of a lack of commitment by ownership."
- The Mets may explore moving in the fences at Citi Field this winter, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. “There’s always going to be a preferred class, whether it’s pitchers or hitters, in situations like this, but I want to make sure it’s a fair ballpark,” said GM Sandy Alderson.
- Tyler Clippard and Mark Melancon are two of the ex-Yankee relievers who are having fine seasons in 2011, writes Mike Axisa of the River Ave Blues blog.
Yankees Claim Jeff Marquez
The Yankees claimed pitcher Jeff Marquez off waivers from the White Sox, MLBTR has learned. The 26-year-old righty had been designated for assignment by Chicago on Sunday. The move will require the Yankees to open up a spot on the 40-man roster; Marquez will be in uniform for tonight's game against the Red Sox.
Marquez was drafted 41st overall by the Yankees in 2004 and was later traded to the White Sox as part of the Nick Swisher deal in November of 2008. This year in nine Triple-A starts he posted a 3.97 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 0.9 HR/9 in 47 2/3 innings.
Stark On Montero, Athletics, Phillies
Teams may be able to trade draft picks as soon as next year, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. It also appears that owners and players are leaning toward adding a second Wild Card team in each league and having a one-game playoff between each league's two Wild Card teams to open the playoffs, according to Stark. Here are the rest of his rumors:
- Though the Yankees never officially offered Jesus Montero to the Royals for Joakim Soria last year, executives around baseball are convinced GM Brian Cashman would have parted with the top catching prospect to acquire the Royals’ reliever.
- Athletics manager Bob Geren is at “the top of the ‘First Manager to Get Fired’ charts,” according to Stark. The 27-34 A’s have lost their last seven games.
- One rival scout tells Stark that Josh Willingham is the only Oakland player he’d recommend to his team. Scouts are bearing down on the A’s as possible sellers.
- It’s highly unlikely that the Phillies consider trading Roy Oswalt or prospect Jonathan Singleton for a bat.
Quick Hits: Pettitte, Harper, Gordon
The MLB draft continues today and many of the top remaining players have been selected. High school outfielder Josh Bell went to the Pirates, TCU lefty Matt Purke went to the Nationals and high school righty Dillon Howard went to the Indians. Baseball America has the details and we have some non-draft-related links from around the Major Leagues…
- Andy Pettitte said on the Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York 1050 that he is "loving" being home and that he doesn't expect to play ever again. "If I missed it so much and I felt in my heart like that was the thing I need to do, I would try to start thinking about it and start considering it again," he said. "But I'm just telling you right now, I don't think I will ever pitch again." Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork has the quotes from Pettitte.
- Bryce Harper's arrogance is exactly what baseball needs, according to Yahoo's Jeff Passan. Harper is someone "who permeates popular culture by his actions and achievements," and he's fun to watch, even if you don't always like what he does.
- Though Dodgers prospect Dee Gordon could have used some more minor league seasoning, Rafael Furcal's health issues prompted GM Ned Colletti to call Gordon up earlier than expected, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
- Tom Verducci of SI.com looks back at some of the most productive drafts in recent history, including the 2005 class that produced Justin Upton, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki and many others.
Quick Hits: Zambrano, Stewart, Reds, Hall
We at MLB Trade Rumors are delighted that our site has been selected as one of TIME Magazine's Best Blogs Of 2011. Thanks to TIME for the tip of the cap, and thanks to all of our readers for your support in making MLBTR one of the internet's top sports news sites.
Some news items from around the league….
- Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com and David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune both feel that Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs should part ways in the wake of Zambrano's recent tirade against the club, and that the right-hander would certainly waive his no-trade clause in order to leave town.
- Levine and Haugh each cite the Yankees as a potential trade partner, though it's hard to imagine the Yankees taking on a high-priced pitcher with such baggage. It's even harder to imagine New York parting with a significant player like Joba Chamberlain or Brett Gardner in exchange for Zambrano, as Levine suggests.
- Ian Stewart is "the best player to buy low on," a non-Rockies scout tells Troy Renck of the Denver Post. For that reason, Renck feels the Rockies will hold onto the struggling third baseman until he gets back in form or at least improves his trade value.
- The Reds have won just five of their last 18 games, which has B.J. Bethel of the Dayton Daily News and John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer both calling for a "shake-up." Bethel suggests the club should look for relief pitching, a veteran starter, or a solid bat for left field and/or at third base or shortstop. Fay suggests that a prospect like Yonder Alonso, Todd Frazier or Zack Cozart could help fill those holes in the lineup, and also thinks Cincinnati could deal one of its catchers (Ramon Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan).
- Bill Hall drew some attention from the Yankees last winter and the Bombers could sign Hall for the minimum salary now that the veteran utilityman has been released by the Astros, writes Mike Axisa of the River Avenue Blues blog. As Axisa notes, Hall doesn't offer much more than what the Yankees currently have in bench options, but for a minimum salary, Hall is a no-risk signing.
Quick Hits: Orioles, Danks, Athletics, Yankees, Mets
Tampa Bay selected Jose Bautista off of waivers from the Orioles on this date in 2004. That was, of course, before the Rays dropped the "Devil" portion of their nickname and before Jose Bautista was Jose Bautista..
- The Orioles haven't found a taker for Jake Fox yet and will likely need the full ten days to do so, according to Todd Karpovich and Avi Zaleon for MLB.com. Baltimore DFA'd the 28-year-old on Wednesday.
- Despite his rough start, there's no reason to fret about John Danks' long-term future with the White Sox, writes Brett Ballantini of CSNChicago.com.
- If Bob Geren is to stay on as Athletics skipper beyond this season, the club needs to turn things around, writes Jon Heyman of Sports Ilustrated. Even though things have been rocky in Oakland, Heyman expects Geren to keep his job for the rest of the year.
- The Mets are open to talking trade with the Yankees, writes David Lennon of Newsday. Even though there are obvious hurdles, Lennon wonders if the two could be a match in a deal involving Carlos Beltran.