O’s & Yanks Sign Mid-Round Picks
Jeff Zrebiec from the Baltimore Sun writes that the Orioles have agreed to terms with 11th-round pick Michael Ohlman. The 6'4", 215 pound catcher hit .550 and stole 23 bases in 24 attempts in his senior year at Lakewood Ranch High School. Terms of the deal are unknown.
Also, Paul Strelow from the State newspaper in South Carolina reports that the Yankees have agreed to terms with 14th-rounder Graham Stoneburner. Stoneburner was 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA this past season for Clemson, and has already reported to the Yankees' rookie league affiliate in Tampa. (Hat tip NoMaas Yankees Draft Spot)
Odds & Ends: Yankees, Orioles, Scheppers
A buffet brunch of links–come get your fill:
- Ken Davidoff at Newsday reports that the Yankees are confident first-round pick/secret agent from the future Slade Heathcott will sign, likely for a bonus around $2MM.
- Jeff Zrebiec at the Baltimore Sun talked to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who assures that manager Dave Trembley's job is safe through this season. Trembley has a club option for 2010.
- Yahoo Sports' Gordon Edes believes that we will see draft picks as commodities to be traded in the near future, as it "makes too much sense."
- Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker discusses the possibility that Tanner Scheppers pitches in Japan, and concludes that most international free agent signings in NPB are "low-risk, low-reward."
- Lane Meyer at NoMaas talked to Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer about the draft and potential signings.
Odds & Ends: Strasburg, White Sox, Rangers
Here's a few links to the get night started right…
- Ben Goessling of The Washington Times reports that a "club source said managing principal owner Ted Lerner, team president Stan Kasten and acting general manager Mike Rizzo all flew to California last week to visit with (Stephen) Strasburg." It is unknown if Scott Boras was part of the meeting, or if Strasburg took the physical necessary to sign a Major League contract.
- Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse tweets that Erik Bedard had his "bursa debrided & labrum repaired" when he underwent shoulder surgery. He can resume baseball activity in 4-6 months, right in the middle of his impending free agency.
- Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune writes about the payroll challenges facing White Sox GM Kenny Williams in 2010. The team has $68.3MM tied up in ten players next year - including the recently acquired Jake Peavy and Alex Rios – and will owe considerable raises to Carlos Quentin and John Danks, both of whom are arbitration eligible for the first time. Gonzales says that "probably means the Sox will listen to offers for closer Bobby Jenks."
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that Rangers first round pick Matt Purke is in town for a physical, but no deal is imminent. The club just wants to get that part of signing process out of the way because negotiations might go down to the wire. GM Jon Daniels said "They are where you would expect them to be. We still have a gap, a divide, to bridge. That's not unusual three days before the deadline. They have been amicable discussions. He agreed to submit to the physical and get that completed just to get it behind us so we can focus on negotiations. We don't want any hurdles if we negotiate late."
- In news that involves players who have actually signed, Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Rangers have inked 14th rounder Chad Bell to a $450K bonus. He's the third player Texas has signed for more than MLB's recommended $150K maximum after the fifth round.
- Chad Jennings of The Times Tribune mentions that Josh Towers is expected to return to the Triple-A Scranton rotation next week. The Yankees DFA'd Towers last weekend, but he apparently declined to become a free agent in favor of having a job.
Odds And Ends: Meche, Hall, Red Sox, Pirates
Time for another round of links…
- Via Twitter, Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Royals told the Yankees they don't want to trade Gil Meche.
- MLB.com's Mark Sheldon hears that the Reds have "some interest" in the recently-DFA'd Bill Hall.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Red Sox signed 26th rounder Miles Head for $335k, which is more than double MLB's recommended bonus.
- The Red Sox are also nearing deals with David Renfroe and Madison Younginer, whose could each sign for seven figures.
- Callis reports that the Pirates signed 12th rounder Jeff Inman for $425k. Yet another over-slot signing for the Pirates and now Callis says they've been more aggressive than any other team.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Deadline, Rios, Yanks
On this date two years ago, the Yankees and Padres failed to reach an agreement on a trade for Kei Igawa after San Diego claimed the pitcher on waivers. The Yankees also chose not to let Igawa go to the Padres for just the waiver claim. Since then Igawa has made two starts for the Yankees and has spent the entire '09 season in Triple-A. With several teams active in the waiver market this season, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Around the Majors takes a look at how the deadline deals have worked so far.
- The Blue Jay Hunter looks at what the Alex Rios move could mean for the Jays moving forward.
- The Sports Bank gives 11 reasons why Alex Rios was a good pick up for the White Sox.
- A Game Of Inches argues that the White Sox would have been better off acquiring a minor league center fielder.
- UmpBump makes the case that the Alex Rios move was good for both sides.
- Josh's Thoughts takes a look at what the acquisition of Alex Rios by the White Sox means for the Twins and the rest of the AL Central.
- The Pinstriper imagines what the Yankees roster would look like today had they signed Mike Lowell in '07.
- Jorge Says No! says the Jays still need to move Vernon Wells if they ever want to move forward.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Yanks Could Bring Back Damon; Not Matsui
Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks forward to some decisions the Yankees will face this offseason:
- Sherman believes the Yankees would consider bringing Johnny Damon back if he'd sign a one year deal after the season when he hits free agency.
- Damon profiles as a Type A free agent, so the Yankees could offer him a one-year deal in arbitration and receive two draft picks if he signs elsewhere.
- Damon makes $13MM this year and would presumably receive a raise in arbitration. Remember, the Yankees didn't offer Bobby Abreu arbitration last year.
- The Yankees like Hideki Matsui a lot, but they won't bring him back next year because they want to be able to rotate other players in and out of the DH spot.
Stark On Smoltz, Reds, Strasburg, Thome
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark adds the Astros to the list of teams interested in John Smoltz. Here are the rest of his rumors:
- The Cubs could look for another bat and another starter, but it depends on how healthy Aramis Ramirez, Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano are.
- Stark points out that Aaron Harang's 2011 club option becomes a more expensive $14MM mutual option if he's traded. The Reds haven't seemed willing to take on cash in a trade involving Harang or rotation-mate Bronson Arroyo.
- The Yanks don't appear to have interest in either Reds starter, or John Smoltz, for that matter.
- Don't expect any serious negotiating to occur between the Nationals, Scott Boras and Stephen Strasburg before the last minute. Most execs who Stark surveyed expect Strasburg to sign in the end.
- The Braves could re-sign Adam LaRoche after the season, when the first baseman will hit free agency.
- Jim Thome still impresses scouts and should be able to find work as a DH after the season.
- Some teams doubt Vicente Padilla's character because the Rangers are ready to part with him even though they need pitching.
- Some of Alex Rios' former teammates question the outfielder's work ethic and desire.
- Stark hears that Andy Sonnanstine and Jeff Niemann were claimed on waivers and quickly pulled back by the Rays.
- The Braves made a quick run at Victor Martinez before the Red Sox acquired him, but didn't get very far.
- Though their negotiations with Aaron Crow could theoretically continue into late spring, the Royals may impose a deadline of their own to sign their top pick.
Odds & Ends: Reds, Mariners, Yankees
A few more links to peruse this evening:
- Hal McCoy at the Dayton Daily News says that the Reds won't deal Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang, but it's likely that the Reds unload Francisco Cordero to anyone who will take him. It's not clear if Cordero has been placed on waivers just yet.
- Larry LaRue at the Tacoma News-Tribune reports that Mariners' top signee last year, Scott Boras client Josh Fields, has had his development stunted because of a contract holdout.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman doesn't have interest in bringing in FA Mark Mulder, says Peter Abraham at the Journal News.
- The Rangers have signed their fifth-round pick Nicholas McBride, a HS righty, reports T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com.
- According to Dan Barbarisi at the Providence Journal, John Smoltz refused a bullpen assignment to the Sox. This could mean he's only interested in joining another team as a starter, if at all.
Odds And Ends: O’s, Jays, Greene, Brewers
More links on the 80th anniversary of Babe Ruth's 500th career homer:
- Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun says the Orioles are well-positioned in case teams start shedding high-salaried corner infielders.
- MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says the Jays called up Randy Ruiz. Why didn't Travis Snider get the call? His service time probably has something to do with it.
- The Padres filed a grievance after they had to pay Khalil Greene to recover from a self-inflicted hand injury when he was on their roster last year. Now, Tom Krasovic reports that the two sides have come to an agreement, so there will be no grievance hearing.
- Via Twitter, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers designated minor league righty Nick Green for assignment to make room for David Weathers.
- Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports that the Royals claimed minor leaguer John Bannister from the Rangers and assigned him to AA.
- Via Twitter, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says he doubts the Yankees will trade for Bronson Arroyo.
Olney On Rios, Upton, Davis, Smoltz, Webb
ESPN.com's Buster Olney suggests that Alex Rios would sign a deal worth $20MM over two years or $30MM over three if he were a free agent right now. That means the White Sox are paying more than market value for their new outfielder, but clubs can't often acquire talented players in their prime. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors:
- The White Sox are better equipped to win this year and, even though they took on lots of money, they didn't give up a single player to acquire Rios.
- Some talent evaluators are convinced the Rays will listen to offers for B.J. Upton this offseason.
- Olney hears that Doug Davis is currently on waivers and John Smoltz cleared waivers.
- If the D'Backs don't exercise Brandon Webb's $8.5MM option for 2010, he could become a gamble for big-market teams like the Yankees and Red Sox.