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Quick Hits: Biogenesis, Abreu, Mariners, A’s

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Major League Baseball considers the Biogenesis investigation closed in terms of looking into players, but they're still investigating the possible involvement of some agents, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).  Here's more from around baseball..

  • Speaking of Biogenesis, MLB released a statement saying that Miguel Tejada did not warrant any discipline based on what they uncovered in the investigation, tweets Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.  Of course, Tejada will still have to serve his 105-game suspension for amphetamine use.
  • Jose Dariel Abreu is working on establishing residency in Haiti and there isn't an open showcase scheduled yet, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (on Twitter).  Abreu has drawn interest from several clubs so far including the Red Sox, Orioles, Pirates, and White Sox.  
  • The status of Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik is expected to be updated if not entirely clarified within the next few days, people familiar with the situation tell Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  When asked about speculation that the M's could make a play for Brian Cashman, club president Chuck Armstrong spoke positively of the Yankees GM but wouldn't discuss him in context.
  • The Athletics continue to look for catching help as they have been for the past couple of weeks or so, tweets Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
  • In retrospect, the Cardinals really could have used Kyle Lohse this season, writes Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

AL West Notes: Rangers, Ogando, Astros, A’s

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The Rangers have a narrow half-game lead over the Athletics as they seek a third division championship in four seasons. Meanwhile, the news is positive on Mariners manager Eric Wedge, who tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he will come back strong from the stroke he suffered about a month ago. Here's more out of the AL West …

  • Alexi Ogando has hit the disabled list for a third time this season thanks to inflammation in his right shoulder, but Rangers GM Jon Daniels told reporters, including Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, that he's not considering signing a pitcher from outside the organization to replace him (Twitter link). In a follow-up tweet, Wilson adds that Daniels and the Rangers will continue to view Ogando as a starter in 2013, but his future role is a topic of conversation for next year.
  • Following today's DFA of lefty Wade LeBlanc, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart notes that 14 of the 25 players on the Astros' active roster are rookies (on Twitter).
  • The Athletics have extended their player development contract with their Class-A affiliate in Stockton through the 2016 season, according to Janie McCauly of the Associated Press (Twitter link).

Athletics Sign Mike Zagurski

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The Athletics signed lefty reliever Mike Zagurski to a minor league deal, MLBTR has learned.  He has a September 1st opt-out.  Zagurski, 30, opted out of his deal with the Yankees on Thursday.

Zagurski joined the Pirates on a minor league deal in January, but only made six big league appearances for them.  In 47 1/3 Triple-A innings this year, he has a 2.66 ERA, 14.3 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, and 0.76 HR/9.  Zagurski was originally drafted by the Phillies in the 12th round in 2005, a round which also produced Matt Joyce, Craig Stammen, and Adam Rosales.

The A's currently have two lefty relievers on their active roster in Jerry Blevins and Sean Doolittle.  It's possible that rehabbing southpaw Brett Anderson will remain a starter with Bartolo Colon hitting the DL with a groin strain.  Aside from Zagurski, the A's have a few lefty relief options at Triple-A in Pedro Figueroa and Hideki Okajima.

AL Notes: Reynolds, Green, Callaspo

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We'll begin a quiet morning in baseball with a few links from the American League …

  • Mark Reynolds started his Yankee tenure with a bang, ripping a two-run homer, going two-for-five, and adding another RBI on the evening. As Mark Feinsand and Roger Rubin of the New York Daily News report, Reynolds and his new teammates and manager all seemed pleased with his signing after the game. The Yanks will hope that Reynolds catches one of his patented hot streaks down the stretch this year.
  • The Angels' acquisition of young second baseman Grant Green in exchange for Alberto Callaspo is looking better and better in the eyes of MLB.com's Lyle Spencer (via Twitter). Spencer says that Green evidently has the kind of talent that it is worth taking a chance on. After an underwhelming (0-for-15) stint with the Athletics earlier this year, Green has been on fire early in his Angels tenure. In his 36 plate appearances with the Halos, Green has posted a .433/.528/.500 triple-slash. 
  • For his part, Callaspo's .229/.308/.371 line since joining the A's corresponds to the OPS+ mark (92) he put up in Anaheim this year. With his defensive metrics trending down, Callaspo seems unlikely to put up more than one win above replacement this season (whether measured by Fangraphs or Baseball Reference) for the first time since he became a regular. He will earn $4.875MM next season before becoming a free agent the following year.

Minor Moves: Nakajima, Robinson, Hayes

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Today's minor moves from around the league…

  • The Athletics have outrighted Hiroyuki Nakajima off their 40-man roster, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets.  Nakajima will remain with Triple-A Sacramento, where he has spent the entire season.  The Japanese infielder signed a two-year, $6.5MM deal with Oakland in December and posted a .282/.336/.368 line in 324 minor league plate appearances.
  • The Padres purchased the contract of catcher Chris Robinson from Triple-A Tucson, the team announced.  In corresponding moves, Nick Hundley was put on the paternity list and Jason Marquis was transferred to the 60-day DL.  Robinson, 29, was dealt from Baltimore to San Diego in June.  The London, Ontario native was a third-round pick of the Tigers in the 2005 draft and has a .275/.320/.355 line in 2326 PA over nine minor league seasons.
  • The Royals have outrighted catcher Brett Hayes to Triple-A Omaha, according to the Pacific Coast League transactions page. Hayes, 29, was designated for assignment after appearing in just three big league games for Kansas City this season. He's batted .231/.280/.441 in 68 Triple-A contests and is a career .219/.366/.364 hitter in 146 games at the Major League level — all of which came with the Marlins prior to his brief stint with the Royals.
  • With Hayes having been outrighted, just two players are currently in DFA limbo: Ryan Roberts of the Rays and Elliot Johnson of the Royals. Both were designated for assignment yesterday.

Rangers Claim Adam Rosales

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The Rangers have claimed Adam Rosales off waivers from the Athletics for the second time in the past 10 days, the team announced via press release.

Rosales, 30, has been designated for assignment by the A's on three separate occasions in the past five weeks. The first time, he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento. Following a July 31 DFA, he was claimed by the division-rival Rangers. Texas designated Rosales for assignment just three days later, however, in order to make room for outfielder Joey Butler.

Oakland reclaimed Rosales, only to designate him again just days later, this time to clear a roster spot for right-hander Sonny Gray. The versatile Rosales is batting .191/.267/.316 in 154 plate appearances with the A's this season. He didn't get an at-bat in his previous three-game stint with the Rangers.

AL West Notes: Ryan, Jaso, Rosales

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Here's a look at the latest from the AL West:

  • Nolan Ryan met with reporters ahead of the Rangers' matchup with the Astros tonight and said he doesn't anticipate changes in regard to his position as the club's CEO. “Things have settled down and I feel good about the ballclub and the way things are going," Ryan is quoted as saying in an article by TR Sullivan of MLB.com. "You just get through each season and see how you feel and how your health is."
  • The hall-of-famer said he's happy with the club's position following GM Jon Daniels' acquisition of Alex Rios from the White Sox to replace the suspended Nelson Cruz. Ryan also told reporters that he's "thrilled" with Ron Washington's stewardship of the club.
  • John Jaso's absence and the lack of other catchers on the Athletics' 40-man roster mean that Oakland might have to start monitoring the waiver wire for backstops, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. Jaso has been out since July 25 with a concussion.
  • The A's recently designated Adam Rosales for assignment, but Jane Lee of MLB.com notes that the club is a fan of his defense and would probably like to retain him. In the last 11 days, the 30-year-old has been DFA'd twice by the A's and once by the Rangers.

Athletics Designate Adam Rosales For Assignment

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For the third time in just eleven days, infielder Adam Rosales has been designated for assignment, this time by the Athletics, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter.) The move will make room for hurler Sonny Gray on the club's active roster.

Of course, it was the A's who kicked off Rosales's recent movements, designating him on July 31. After being claimed by the Rangers, Rosales suddenly found himself back in Oakland after being designated by Texas. In the course of his travels, the 30-year-old has seen just one at-bat. His triple-slash line stands at .191/.267/.316 over 154 plate appearances.

The Athletics' one-day fling with Rosales is not as cruel as it may seem at first blush. As Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter), the club intends to try and pass Rosales through waivers and keep him in the organization. With the exception of his brief dalliance with the Rangers, Rosales has been with the A's since 2010, bouncing between the big leagues and Triple-A Sacramento.

Athletics Claim Adam Rosales

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Adam Rosales' stay in Texas was brief, to say the least. The Athletics announced on Twitter that they have re-claimed the infielder off waivers from the Rangers after he was designated for assignment last week. Oakland will make a corresponding 25-man roster move tomorrow.

The Rangers claimed Rosales off waivers from the A's on Aug. 2, and he was only property of Texas for three days before being designated for assignment once again. Rosales, 30, is hitting .193/.268/.319 on the season. He didn't receive an at-bat during his three-game tenure with the Rangers. The A's could potentially need the extra infield depth, as new acquisition Alberto Callaspo suffered what was thought to be a minor injury in a home-plate collision yesterday.

A-Rod, 12 Others To Be Suspended Monday

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Alex Rodriguez and 12 other players will be suspended for their involvement with Biogenesis, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Earlier today, we learned Rodriguez is to be suspended through the 2014 season and Heyman names Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Mariners catcher Jesus Montero, Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera, and Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli among the Major League players also expected to be suspended, as well as minor leaguers Fernando Martinez, Jordan Norberto, Fautino de los Santos, and Cesar Puello. Heyman adds there are also three players on the suspension list whose names have yet to become public.

Heyman writes Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera, A's right-hander Bartolo Colon, and Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal will not be suspended in connection with Biogenesis, as they have served 50-game penalties already. 

All or almost all of the other 12 players are expected to accept 50-game suspensions, though there could be an additional holdout or two for appeal beyond Rodriguez, reports Heyman. All the players have the option to appeal, but it is believed close to all of them have made agreements for 50-game bans with MLB, Heyman adds. Players who appeal are eligible to keep playing until their case is heard.

Cruz told reporters, including MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, "I haven't decided what I'm going to do about anything. It's not just about myself, it's also about the team." Today is the 112th game played by the Rangers, so Cruz would be eligible to return for the playoffs (assuming Texas reaches the post-season), if he serves a 50-game suspension beginning Monday. Sullivan surmises the Rangers will recall an outfielder from the minors adding Manny Ramirez is not an option and manager Ron Washington is reluctant to use Jurickson Profar in the outfield. Regardless of what the Rangers end up doing, assistant GM Thad Levine acknowledges, "At this stage of the season, that's a difficult bat to replace."

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