Quick Hits: Rangers, Jerry Dipoto, Ryan Dempster
With the calendar set to turn to August in less than two weeks, the Pirates continue to shock the baseball world with their sights on winning the National League Central. Winners of seven of its last ten, Pittsburgh owns the best record in baseball since June 16 thanks to the strong play of Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez. McCutchen, one of the frontrunners for league MVP, boasts a batting average of .470 during that time frame with Alvarez leading the Major Leagues with home runs over the last five weeks (h/t Jon Heyman).
Let's catch up on the latest news and headlines from around the league…
- Rangers manager Ron Washington told Jim Bowden of ESPN.com that Texas is willing to consider trading any of its prospects except for Jurickson Profar if the team looks to acquire a piece for another World Series run (Twitter link).
- Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto spoke with Bowden about the team's plans for the non-waiver trade deadline and said that he's working incredibly hard to improve his roster but that the trade market has proven to be difficult (via Twitter).
- With the Dodgers cooling on Ryan Dempster, the Braves have emerged as the favorites to land the right-hander, report Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com. Potential suitors, including the Cardinals and Nationals, are wary of parting with better prospects for what could prove to be a rental given Dempster's status as a free agent at the end of the season.
- After signing Carlos Quentin to a multiyear deal earlier on Sunday, the Padres are in preliminary talks with Huston Street with hopes of retaining his services well into the future, writes Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.
West Notes: Rangers, Padres, Giants
The Rangers head into their Sunday night matchup against the Angels with an ailing starting rotation. The Rangers have scratched Roy Oswalt from his start tomorrow and Colby Lewis is scheduled to have his forearm examined tomorrow before he's given the green light to make his scheduled start on Tuesday. The Rangers don't believe Oswalt's injury is serious, but he and Lewis can both wind up on the disabled list, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Elsewhere from the AL and NL West:
- Despite their rotation woes, the Rangers' chief trade deadline goal is to add bench depth, tweets Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.
- With the signing of Carlos Quentin completed earlier today, the Padres are now turning their attention to closer Huston Street. Miller tweets talks are ongoing, but nothing is close right now.
- The Giants are not considering Rick Ankiel to fill their need for a power bat off the bench, tweets Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com. Baggarly says the Giants crave a right-handed bat at both corner infield spots and the outfield.
- Add the A's to the list of team interested in the Padres' Chase Headley, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.
Padres Sign Carlos Quentin
The Padres have announced the signing of Carlos Quentin to a contract extension through the 2015 season with a mutual option for 2016.
“We are very pleased to extend Carlos’ contract,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes in a statement announcing the extension. “He provides a real threat in the middle of our lineup and brings an intensity and edge to our club. As a San Diegan, he is very invested in the success of the Padres.”
The Padres did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but Corey Brock of MLB.com tweets Quentin will receive $9.5MM in 2013 and 2014, $8MM in 2015, and, if the 2016 option is picked up, $10MM. In a separate tweet, Brock reports Quentin is guaranteed a $3MM buyout of the option, if he plays over 320 games the next three years. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.com writes the deal includes a full no-trade clause, a pivotal stipulation for Quentin.
Quentin's name has popped up quite a bit in trade rumors with the outfielder drawing interest from several clubs including the Pirates, Giants, Indians, and Reds. The outfielder has looked strong this season since returning from knee surgery, hitting .273/.389/.525 with nine homers in 40 games.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, who first reported the agreement, notes that the club viewed Michael Cuddyer, Edwin Encarnacion, and Josh Willingham – who all received three-year deals – as fair comps for the 29-year-old. Of the three, Quentin's deal is most similar to Cuddyer's, whose contract is worth $31.5MM over that span.
In years past, the Padres' financial situation has hampered them from keeping some of their biggest stars, but San Diego was able to retain the outfielder thanks in large part to their new ownership. Both the current group and the incoming group signed off on the deal to keep Quentin in San Diego.
The Padres might not stop with a new deal for Quentin and are looking to lock up right-hander Huston Street next, according to Rosenthal. The club may just look to guarantee his $9MM mutual option for 2013 but the 28-year-old would likely prefer a multi-year pact.
Rosenthal On Victorino, Lee, Padres, Ramirez
Here's a look at the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- The Indians and Pirates have been linked to most of the big available bats but Cleveland is placing a greater priority on finding a starting pitcher. Johnny Damon has been hitting well this summer and the Tribe doesn't think that they'll be able to top his output via trade. As for the Pirates, they're first in the majors in runs since June 1st and but would like to bolster their OBP. Shane Victorino would make sense for them down the stretch, Rosenthal opines.
- The Dodgers are the one team that could swallow Cliff Lee's contract in a trade, but it's hard to see what the Phillies could gain from such a deal when looking at Los Angeles' thin farm system. Lee could be a strong candidate to be moved as GM Ruben Amaro Jr. looks to build for the future and the hurler can only say no to eight clubs without his permission.
- The Padres are talking about keeping Carlos Quentin, Huston Street, and Edinson Volquez as they're optimistic about their chances next season. Their play of late has been encouraging and they believe that they can be serious players next season when their pitching is healthy again. The one guy who is still likely to go is Chase Headley as he can be replaced with Jedd Gyorko and the offers for him should be strong.
- The Marlins demonstrated their willingness to trade Hanley Ramirez in their talks with the Red Sox and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them step up their efforts before the deadline. The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, A's, Mariners, and Pirates could all use a shortstop or third baseman, but it's not clear if they'd be willing to take on his hefty contract.
Astros Claim Mark Hamburger Off Waivers
Astros GM Jeff Luhnow announced that the Astros have claimed right-hander Mark Hamburger off waivers from the Padres, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com (via Twitter). San Diego designated the 25-year-old for assignment on Thursday.
Hamburger was designated for assignment twice inside of 30 days with the Rangers also DFA'ing him in June. The right-hander owns a career 3.99 ERA and 8.1 K/9 rate in 198 minor league games.
Gammons On Hamels, Dodgers, Headley
Peter Gammons of MLB Network weighed in with some notes on Twitter today. Let’s round them up…
- Three teams say they've backed off on Cole Hamels because they believe the Phillies will get him signed. The Phillies are willing to offer Hamels a six-year extension in the $130MM range.
- The Dodgers don't expect to acquire Padres third baseman Chase Headley. Buster Olney reported this week that the Padres' asking price on Headley is remarkably high. The third baseman will be under team control as an arbitration eligible player through 2014.
- One general manager doesn't expect a Zack Wheeler-caliber prospect to be traded this summer. To weigh in on the possibility of trading prospects for established stars, check out today’s MLBTR’s poll.
Stark On Rays, Volquez, Butler, Phillies
The chances of Cole Hamels getting traded are diminishing, but they haven't disappeared, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports. The Phillies are trying to sign the left-hander to a long-term deal, but will weigh trade offers if they can’t agree on an extension. Here are Stark’s latest rumors…
- The Rays would be looking for a combination of high-end young pitchers, a young catcher and a controllable hitter if they discuss trades involving James Shields and Jeremy Hellickson. Wade Davis is drawing as much interest as Shields, now that he’s pitching well out of the Tampa Bay bullpen, Stark reports.
- The Astros have told rival teams that they’d absorb a substantial percentage of Wandy Rodriguez’s salary in a trade if it allows them to get “the best value back.”
- The Padres aren’t shopping Edinson Volquez, but they haven’t made him untouchable.
- Teams don’t expect the Marlins will trade Josh Johnson, who’s under contract for 2013.
- Brandon McCarthy’s history of shoulder problems diminishes his trade value. “He's not going anywhere," one executive predicted to Stark.
- The Nationals haven’t been focused on finding a center fielder.
- Hunter Pence is attracting as much interest as anyone on the Phillies, including Hamels. However, the Phillies have downplayed their interest in trading the right fielder. Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Blanton, Placido Polanco and Kyle Kendrick would be available if the Phillies decide to sell this month, Stark reports. Rollins can veto any trade and would only accept deals to West Coast contenders.
- The Pirates have asked about tons of hitters, including Billy Butler, but they’re still in a “buy-low frame of mind.” The Royals have told clubs they’d have to be overwhelmed to part with Butler, Stark reports.
- The Rockies are trying to move Marco Scutaro and Jason Giambi, but they’d have to be “bowled over” to deal relievers such as Rafael Betancourt, Matt Belisle and Matt Reynolds.
Sherman On Mets, Hamels, Padres
The asking price for relief help remains high, even for players nearing free agency, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. The Mets, of course, are looking for relievers and they’d prefer to acquire a controllable player, according to Sherman. Here are Sherman’s latest notes, starting with the Mets:
- Acquiring a controllable reliever would provide the Mets with a long-term bullpen option but, it won’t be easy to complete a deal. “The problem is those guys are so scarce, and the cost, at least at this point, is prohibitive,” a Mets official told Sherman.
- The Rays have always liked Lucas Duda, so there’s a potential match between the Mets and Rays, Sherman writes.
- The Mets privately believe that the future of pitching prospect Jeurys Familia may be in the bullpen, so they could promote him in a relief role.
- Cole Hamels could decline an extension offer that’s expected to fall in the six-year, $130MM range, but it wouldn’t be easy to do so, one team executive told Sherman. “My sense is he is comfortable in Philly, they have made the playoffs five years in a row and the $130MM says they value him, so it is going to take a heck of a reason to say no to that.”
- If the Padres’ efforts to lock Huston Street up to an extension fail, they’ll make him available in trades later this month.
NL West Notes: Lee, Upton, Pena, Street, Denorfia
We've already checked out some Giants and Rockies rumors today, so let's look around the rest of the NL West…
- The Dodgers won't trade top pitching prospect Zach Lee for a rental player like Ryan Dempster, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link). We heard earlier today that Los Angeles had made the Cubs an offer for Dempster.
- Though the Diamondbacks and Pirates have had trouble connecting on a trade match for Justin Upton, the outfielder remains "at or near the top" of Pittsburgh's search for a hitter, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
- The Diamondbacks have signed 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Ismael Pena, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. Badler describes Pena as "a 6-foot-3, 175-pound lefty with a sound swing, a good approach and a hit-first, power-second profile. He's an average runner with a 45 to 50 arm on the 20-80 scale."
- Huston Street was "aggressively" pursued by the Mets last winter, a source tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), but through the Mets are searching for bullpen help now, they don't think the Padres will move the closer. We heard earlier today that the Padres were looking to propose long-term extensions to Street and Carlos Quentin before the trade deadline.
- Street and Chris Denorfia have drawn more trade interest than Quentin, reports Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- Also from Center, the Pirates and Orioles are "among the teams pushing hardest" for Chase Headley. Center added the Mariners to the long list of Headley's suitors. The third baseman himself says he has heard "between six and 10 teams" have shown interest.
Padres Planning Extension Offers For Quentin, Street
The Padres are planning to offer multiyear contract extensions to Carlos Quentin and Huston Street and will likely make such proposals before the trade deadline, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Sources say that current owner John Moores and incoming owner Ron Fowler have both "given the go-ahead" to GM Josh Byrnes to try and keep the two players, who have both been frequently mentioned as trade candidates.
The sale of the team is "close" to being approved by Major League Baseball, which is perhaps why the Padres are comfortable in committing millions to the duo. Quentin can be a free agent this winter, while Street is in the last guaranteed season of a three-year, $22.5MM extension he signed with the Rockies before the 2010 season. Street's deal carries a $9MM mutual option for 2013 that will pay him a $500K buyout if the Padres decline.
It would be somewhat of a surprise if the Padres lock up either man since, as Heyman notes, the Padres have traditionally had problems in keeping their stars on long-term contracts and it's "a major step" that the club seems willing to commit to Quentin and Street. Both players have expressed an interest in remaining with the team and Quentin is a San Diego native, though it's a risky move for a small-market team to spend big on a closer (especially given the Padres' deep bullpen) and an outfielder with Quentin's injury history. The team could, of course, still explore trades if they are unable to come to agreements with Quentin or Street before July 31.