Odds And Ends: Santana, Sano, Zambrano
More links, with less than a week remaining for contenders to add pieces…
- Pete Abraham of the Journal News says the Brian Cashman and the Yankees were smart not to trade for Johan Santana, even though it seems likely that the Mets will get their ace back.
- Matthew Carruth of FanGraphs argues that Santana won't likely be worth the $90MM-plus remaining on his extension.
- Ryan Zimmerman's extension has worked out well for the Nationals, and Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors believes the team deserves some credit.
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that talks between the Pirates and Miguel Angel Sano have stalled. The Pirates made a formal offer at the beginning of July, but pulled it back more than a month ago.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says Carlos Zambrano's next meaningful start will come on Opening Day 2010.
- It looks like top Japanese amateur Yusei Kikuchi will play in Japan, as Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker shows.
- Jerry Ford of PerfectGame.org says Bryce Harper has been overhyped. But has his ability been overrated? Not at all – Ford says he has tons of potential. Check out the entire piece for a wide-ranging discussion of the top prospect.
Arangure Jr. On Chapman, Sano, Padres
ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. has some good inside info on the international free agent market, as always. Let's scope out his latest:
- Despite reports that the Padres had been interested in top talent Miguel Angel Sano, a Padres executive "assured" Arangure that the team would not be signing Sano. Investigation into Sano's age is ongoing.
- Arangure believes that the recent acquisition of Alex Rios by the White Sox takes them out of the running for top Cuban pitching talent Aroldis Chapman. It had been rumored that the White Sox were one of the top suitors for Chapman, as the Sox already field Cuban stars like Jose Contreras and Alexei Ramirez.
- The Padres are said to be scouting Edgar Ferreira, who Arangure says is the top Dominican amateur pitcher still unsigned. They'll watch him pitch tomorrow. Ben Badler at Baseball America ranked Ferreira the 11th overall best international free agent this season.
Odds And Ends: Sano, Red Sox, Pedro
Another round of links for the afternoon…
- ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. says the Angels looked at Miguel Angel Sano, but aren't close to offering the Dominican shortstop prospect a deal.
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox signed Jason Thompson, their 11th round pick, for $300k. The team also appears to be on its way to signing 10th rounder Brandon Jacobs for second-round money.
- Ben Klayman of Reuters reports that at least a third of MLB teams will send out send out season ticket renewal offers earlier than usual to keep revenues flowing.
- As MLB.com's Todd Zolecki notes, Pedro Martinez will start for the Phillies Wednesday and bump Jamie Moyer to the bullpen.
Sano Age Investigation Continues
Miguel Angel Sano, said to be the prize of the international free agent market this year, was reported to have passed Major League Baseball's age investigation recently. However, Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com is reporting that investigations into Sano's age are still ongoing, and that the Pirates are the only team who have given him a formal offer.
Mayo says that offer is now off the table, and it was reported to be much less than the Cardinals' contract given to Wagner Mateo, which was the highest bonus awarded this season. Sano's agent Rob Plummer claims he never wanted offers in the first place as the investigation was in process, while the Pirates say their offer had a deadline that expired. Still, Pirates GM Neal Huntington says he maintains interest in Sano as investigations continue, and Mayo says Sano should still receive huge offers should his age be proven.
If Sano's age is determined to be falsified, he will be denied a work visa in the United States.
Odds And Ends: Volquez, Hamilton, Pirates
Time for some afternoon links…
- Over at SI.com Jonah Keri looks back at a win-win trade that lost its luster. Josh Hamilton and Edinson Volquez seemed like perfect fits for their new teams just last year, but injuries have shelved both.
- In his MLB.com chat, Pirates president Frank Coonelly defended the organization's choice to flip Jason Bay for prospects last summer. FanGraphs values Andy LaRoche's 2009 performance more than Bay's, believe it or not.
- Coonelly says the Pirates are the only club to have offered Miguel Angel Sano "significant dollars." Don't expect Sano to sign until the investigation into his age is complete, however.
- Brandon Phillips would consider playing short if the Reds want him to, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Odds And Ends: Jays, O’s, Dodgers, Sano
Some links to read this morning…
- Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian that the Jays will need improved offense to contend next year.
- The Orioles have nearly completed their rebuilding process, MLB.com's Spencer Fordin says.
- Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun suggests the O's could make room for Brian Matusz by parting ways with Melvin Mora.
- Diamond Leung reports that the Dodgers acquired Harvey Garcia from the Pirates for a PTBNL or cash.
- The Dodgers never acquired a big-name starter, so Yahoo's Tim Brown says the team will have to win without a Manny Ramirez-esque infusion of talent this summer- unless they add a pitcher who clears waivers, of course.
- What's new with Miguel Angel Sano? His agent wants to let interest develop, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Several teams are interested, including the Pirates.
Odds & Ends: Sano, Marlins, Beattie, Mariners, Reds
Saturday night (link) fever…
- Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com reports that Orioles director of international scouting John Stockstill met with representatives for Miguel Angel Sano in recent days. "We certainly expressed an interest in him becoming a Baltimore Oriole," Stockstill said.
- After speaking with president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest, Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald says that the Marlins are definitely not sellers as the trade deadline approaches.
- Former O's GM Jim Beattie was on 96.3 The Big Jab in Portland, ME earlier today, and told a story about a deal that would have sent A.J. Burnett and Mike Lowell to Baltimore at the 2005 trade deadline had it not been shot down by owner Peter Angelos.
- MLBTR's own Ben Nicholson-Smith was on the same station earlier today talking trade deadline. Give it a listen.
- Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times says that if the Mariners get a really good offer for Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn, or Russell Branyan, they should take it considering the team's recent swoon.
- Tyler Hissey at Around The Majors wrote about some of the Reds' deadline options.
- With the deadline now less than a week away, make sure you follow MLBTR on Twitter to get your updates even faster.
MLB Completes Sano Investigation
MLB has completed its investigation into the age and identity of top Dominican prospect Miguel Angel Sano, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sano's identity has been confirmed, but investigators haven't yet confirmed his age. He says he's 16 and might not be allowed into the States if he's lying. Sano would certainly be in line for a smaller bonus if he's older than he claims.
Orioles Rumors: Huff, Scott, Meredith, Sano
The Orioles could move a number of their players; here are the latest rumblings on the subject:
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the O's aren't enthused about dealing Luke Scott or Aubrey Huff.
- Roch Kubatko of MASN.com notes that Oscar Salazar is out of options, so the Orioles did well to trade him for bullpen inventory and acquire Cla Meredith.
- Steve Melewski of MASN.com hears that the Orioles remain "very interested" in Miguel Angel Sano, but it could be a month before the Dominican shortstop signs.
Sano Investigation Not Done Yet
MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch writes that Major League Baseball's investigation of Dominican phenom Miguel Angel Sano's age is not done yet, despite previous reports.
It was reported yesterday that Sano's age had been verified at 16, however the investigation will run into the middle of this week. The Pirates made an offer back on July 2, and the Orioles, Twins, and Rangers have all expressed interest in the top prospect as well.