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NL East Notes: Phillies, Harper, Mets

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The latest from the NL East…

Outrighted To Triple-A: Sean West, Harold Garcia

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We'll keep track of which players get outrighted off of 40-man rosters right here…

  • The Marlins outrighted left-hander Sean West to Triple-A New Orleans after he cleared waivers, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald tweets. West spent the 2011 season as a starter with New Orleans, posting a 5.59 ERA in 87 innings.
  • The Phillies announced that they outrighted infielder Harold Garcia off of their 40-man roster. He'll miss most of the season recovering from microfracture surgery on his right knee. Garcia, 25, spent the 2011 season with the Phillies' Double-A affiliate, but appeared in just 12 games. The shortstop/third baseman has a .292/.372/.432 line in 1634 minor league plate appearances over the course of seven seasons.

Phillies Looking For Infield Help

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The Phillies already have a good deal of infielders in camp but are in search of more depth, multiple major league sources tell Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.  The club has health concerns about both first baseman Ryan Howard second baseman Chase Utley as they have yet to play in a game this spring. 

Sources say that left field could also be a position the Phillies are looking to bolster.  With Howard sidelined, John Mayberry Jr. might have to pitch in at first base.  Help at third base might also be in order as Placido Polanco is coming off surgery to repair a double groin tear.

Phillies Notes: Blanton, Gillies, Thome

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The latest the the Phillies, who are looking for a sixth consecutive NL East title in the increasingly competitive NL East…

  • The perception among most baseball people is that Joe Blanton is available for the right price, David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News writes.
  • Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said outfielder Tyson Gillies has the skillset to play in the Major Leagues, according to Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "He has better tools than a lot of the guys we've got," Amaro said. "He just needs to play. The poor guy hasn't gotten a chance to play. He's still young." Gillies, 23, missed all but three games in 2011 and played in only 28 games in 2010.
  • The Phillies’ projected 25-man roster consists of many older players, but Sheridan writes that "it's more important to get better than simply younger.” The Phillies added players such as Jim Thome (41), Ty Wigginton (34) and Chad Qualls (33) this past offseason.
  • Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer explains why Thome's defensive work will affect the Phillies' ability to work him into their lineup.

Cafardo On Phillies, Blanton, Lannan, Ramirez

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In this morning's column, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe takes a look at some of the emerging storylines in the American League East.  In New York, Francisco Cervelli is set to be the backup catcher, but could become trade bait for the Yankees with Austin Romine knocking on the door.  The catching situation with Tampa Bay is also worth keeping an eye on as Jose Molina needs a backup.  The Rays could pick up Ivan Rodriguez or deal from their pitching surplus to fill the vacancy.  If they trade Jeff Niemann or Wade Davis, Cafardo writes that it would be for a catcher.  Here's more from Cafardo..

  • The Phillies are making it clear to teams that they would eat as much as $2MM of Joe Blanton’s $8MM deal in a trade.  Moving Blanton would allow the Phillies to have payroll flexibility and bump Kyle Kendrick into the No. 5 spot in the rotation.  Yesterday, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos scouted the Phillies game and left after Blanton's exit.
  • Meanwhile, the Nationals continue to dangle left-hander John Lannan.  The club is spreading word that the 27-year-old is available in a deal, particularly one for a center fielder.
  • The Braves are in need of a left field power bat and right-hander Jair Jurrjens could be the trade bait for one.
  • At some point, Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar will have to move to second base to make room for Cuban shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.  Escobar loves being a shortstop, so there is a bit of trepidation among some in the organization as to how he will accept this.
  • Meanwhile, many feel that the Marlins' Hanley Ramirez won't stay happy for long at third base and eventually will demand a trade.
  • With several teams in the market for a center fielder, Cafardo asked a National League scout if the Yankees would entertain a deal for Brett Gardner.  Gardner is currently slated to start in left field for the Yanks but a National League scout said that at some point the club might seek out a more traditional left field option.
  • The Red Sox are impressed with Chris Carpenter's live fastball but privately they are not happy with what they wound up getting in exchange for Theo Epstein.

AL East Notes: Blue Jays, Blanton, Yankees, Pineda

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On this day in 1966, the Orioles acquired catcher Cam Carreon from the Indians in exchange for leftfielder Lou Piniella.  Sweet Lou became an everyday major leaguer in 1969 with the Royals and made his way back to the American League East with the Bombers in 1974.  Here's what's happening in the AL East today..

  • Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos scouted today's Phillies game and left after Joe Blanton exited the game, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  
  • Even though Brandon League has blossomed into an All-Star closer for the Mariners, Anthopoulos has no regrets about the trade that shipped League to Seattle and brought Brandon Morrow to Toronto, writes Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.  The Blue Jays signed Morrow to three-year, $21MM contract extension this winter with a team option for 2015.
  • Red Sox right-hander Michael Bowden is out-of-options and fighting to make the big league roster, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com.  The 25-year-old appeared in 14 games for the BoSox last season.
  • There's a great deal of excitement surrounding Michael Pineda as he gets set for his first year in pinstripes, but GM Brian Cashman is looking to pump the brakes on fans' expectations for him, writes Jeff Bradley of the Star-Ledger.  Cashman doesn't view Pineda as an "instant number two" but instead as a long-term asset with a great deal of promise.

NL East Notes: Fielder, Mulvey, Marlins, Elarton

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Here's the latest from the NL East…

  • Prince Fielder said he wouldn't have minded playing for the Nationals, telling media (including Amanda Comak of the Washington Times) that he enjoyed his meeting with Nats management in December and was interested in playing with the club's young stars, particularly Bryce Harper.  Fielder said he wasn't sure if Washington ever presented him with a formal contract offer.
  • The Mets have signed right-hander Kevin Mulvey to a minor league contract, according to the club's minor league Twitter feed.  Mulvey was originally drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 2006 draft.  He was part of the trade package New York sent to Minnesota in the Johan Santana deal and, in 2009, was sent by the Twins to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Jon Rauch.  The D'Backs released Mulvey last week.  Mulvey last pitched in the big leagues in 2010 and has a 7.90 ERA in 27 1/3 career Major League innings.
  • The early impression of the Marlins' new stadium is that it favors hitters when the retractable roof is open and favors pitchers when the roof is closed, reports Robbie Levin of the Miami Herald.
  • Scott Elarton's trip with his son to a Phillies/Rockies game last summer was the first step in Elarton eventually signing a minor league deal with the Phillies, reports Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  The 10-year veteran last pitched in the Majors in 2008 and his last taste of pro ball was 16 games with the White Sox Triple-A affiliate in 2010.

Cole Hamels Links: Thursday

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Cole Hamels allowed four hits and recorded two strikeouts over 3 2/3 shutout innings today in a Spring Training start today against the Pirates.  Here's the latest on the possible 2013 free agent, as rumors continue to swirl about his long-term future with the Phillies…

  • John Boggs, Hamels' agent, has left Florida after having "several conversations" with Phillies management about an extension for the southpaw, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.  "At this point, we're not going to discuss the negotiations," Boggs said.  "But I'm trying to remain positive. And that's all I'd like to say."  Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. also didn't comment on negotiations, as per club policy.
  • Jimmy Rollins tells CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury that he thinks the Phillies will spend whatever it takes to ensure that Hamels remains in Philadelphia. “He’s not going anywhere. He was drafted by this organization, raised by this organization and became a superstar in this organization," Rollins said.  "If you know anything about this organization, that means he’s not going anywhere….I don’t give a damn about the luxury tax or nothing. It’s not a financial situation. You sell out a hundred something straight games, they have plenty enough money to sign a pitcher like Cole Hamels."
  • Another of Hamels' teammates, Cliff Lee, weighed in on the importance of performing in a contract year, reports MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince.  "[Hamels] finally gets a chance to get what he's worth," Lee said. "You've finally got some control over your future and what's going to happen. It's an earned right. He's to that point. So, this year is obviously a big year for him."  

NL East Notes: Lannan, Samson, Reyes, Hamels

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National League East teams averaged 84 wins last year, more than any division in baseball except the AL East. Here are some links from Florida, where NL East teams are preparing for the 2012 campaign…

  • Bill Ladson of MLB.com hears from one person who believes the Nationals will trade John Lannan before Opening Day. The Nationals might seek prospects for Lannan, a Spring Training trade candidate.
  • Marlins president David Samson recently said Miami's politicians are "not the intellectual cream of the crop," according to the business publication Miami Today. Samson suggested the population of Miami, which partially funded the Marlins' new stadium, is unintelligent. "We're not the smartest people in Miami," he said. His words are causing a stir, but he told the Miami Herald that he was "misquoted, misrepresented, mis-everything." UPDATE: Here's a clip of the comments. To my ear it does appear they were taken out of context.
  • Samson also said Jose Reyes was all about the money this offseason, but Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that Reyes would have considered a deal worth less than $106MM from the Mets and was shocked when New York didn't make him an offer. Reyes would have seriously considered a five-year deal if the Mets had offered one, Martino reports.
  • Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com asked three agents what Cole Hamels would obtain as a free agent after the season and heard guesses in the $150-175MM range. C.C. Sabathia’s seven-year, $161MM deal remains the record for pitchers, but Hamels could challenge it if he hits free agency after 2012.

Latest On Cole Hamels

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3:15pm: The sides aren't close to a deal, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets.

1:41pm: Negotiations between the Phillies and lefty Cole Hamels are heating up, in the opinion of Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.  Hamels' agent John Boggs is spending the week in the Clearwater area and has been talking to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.  Boggs finds a deal unlikely before he leaves, but he's not setting a deadline.

For Hamels' vague thoughts on his next contract from a few weeks ago, click here.  Hamels, Matt Cain, Zack Greinke, Anibal Sanchez, and Brandon McCarthy are the best starters eligible for free agency after the 2012 season.

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