Padres Rumors

Quick Hits: Aardsma, Angels, Padres

By Zachary Links | April 2, 2011 at 10:06pm CDT

Saturday Night Links..

Mariners pitcher David Aardsma, the subject of many trade rumors before undergoing hip surgery in December, could be back on the mound sooner rather than later, writes Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.
Versatile multi-position players need to be developed and compensated well, writes Peter Gammons of MLB.com.
Shoulder soreness will keep Joel Pineiro out of the Angels' rotation for longer than first anticipated, but Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times writes that the club will fill the void internally.
Former Padres draft pick Griffin Benedict has retired as a player to join the club as a bullpen catcher, writes Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Griffin is the son of former major league catcher Bruce Benedict.

NL Notes: Kroon, Edmonds, Dodgers, Padres

By Mike Axisa | April 2, 2011 at 8:10pm CDT

Links for Saturday, as Ichiro Suzuki will attempt to pick up the one hit he needs to tie Edgar Martinez for the most in Mariners history (2,247)…

Giants pitcher Marc Kroon confirmed (via Twitter) that he has decided to remain with the Giants and report to Triple-A Fresno. The right-handed reliever said at various points this offseason that he would not accept a demotion to the minors.
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer wasn't shocked by Edmonds' recent comments regarding the Reds.
MLB.com's Mark Sheldon passes along a quote from Jim Edmonds, who blasted the Reds in a recent radio interview. "The worst thing I did was accept that trade for [Reds GM] Walt Jocketty," said Edmonds, who went from the Brewers to the Reds last summer. "I should have shut it down and went home. I would be healthy right now and probably playing." He also criticized the Reds' medical staff.
ESPN's Tim Kurkjian listed 11 stories to watch in 2011, including the impending free agencies of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.
Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers opened the season with a payroll exceeding $95MM, up from $83MM last year. The team also owes $15MM in salary deferments from previous seasons.
Tim Sullivan of The San Diego Union-Tribune explains why a recent Forbes report indicating that the Padres had a $37.2MM operating income in 2010 could be misinterpreted.

Minor Deals: Rangers, Padres, Marlins

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | April 1, 2011 at 4:09pm CDT

The Braves made a pair of minor deals yesterday; here are today's minor moves…

The Rangers released several minor leaguers including former major leaguer Ty Taubenheim, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The Padres released right fielder Kellen Kulbacki, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter). The 40th overall selection in 2007, Kulbacki has a .273/.357/.448 line in four pro seasons.
The Marlins released right-handed reliever Brett Sinkbeil, according to Eddy (on Twitter). Sinkbeil, the 19th overall selection in 2006, spent 2010 on the Marlins' 40-man roster and boosted his strikeout rate to 8.0 K/9 as a reliever at Triple-A.

Mets Acquire Allan Dykstra For Eddie Kunz

By Tim Dierkes | March 29, 2011 at 12:44pm CDT

The Mets acquired first baseman Allan Dykstra from the Padres for righty Eddie Kunz in a swap of former first-round picks, tweets Darren Smith of XX 1090.

Dykstra, 24 in May, hit .241/.372/.438 in 469 plate appearances at High-A last year. He was drafted 23rd overall by the Padres in '08. Two years ago, Baseball America ranked him eighth among Padres prospects, praising his "plus-plus raw power and plate discipline" while expressing concern about a hip ailment and his lack of athleticism. Dykstra did not crack BA's top 30 Padres prospects '10 or '11. He's one of Paul DePodesta's guys, tweets Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.

Kunz, 25 in April, posted a 5.34 ERA, 5.1 K/9, 5.5 BB/9, and 0.6 HR/9 in 111 1/3 Double-A innings last year, including 12 starts. Drafted 42nd overall in 2007 as a supplemental pick for the loss of Roberto Hernandez, Kunz last made the Mets' top 30 prospects one year ago at the #25 spot. According to BA, Kunz's stock plummeted as his fastball and slider regressed and he struggled with his command and conditioning.

Quick Hits: Padres, Pirates, Rangers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 28, 2011 at 10:00pm CDT

Links from around the majors as Armando Galarraga makes Arizona's rotation…

One scout tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that every team is kicking the tires on bullpen help, back-of-the-rotation starters, utility players and backup catchers (Twitter link).
Scouts break down former Padres, current Padres, and other West Coast teams for Tom Krasovic of Inside the Padres. One scout says there's "no doubt" that Cameron Maybin can play center field in spacious Petco park.
Top Pirates prospects Stetson Allie, Jameson Taillon and Tony Sanchez have little in common off of the field, but are looking forward to making an impact in Pittsburgh, writes Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers are looking for a shortstop for Triple-A and suggests Luis Cruz, Tony Abreu and Juan Castro are options.

Padres Release Oscar Salazar

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 28, 2011 at 7:32pm CDT

The Padres released infielder Oscar Salazar, the team announced. San Diego acquired Salazar in the 2009 trade that saw the Orioles acquire Cla Meredith, who was also released this month.

Salazar played first, second, third and both corner outfield positions last year, posting a .237/.318/.336 line in 148 plate appearances. The Padres acquired Alberto Gonzalez earlier today, so they no longer needed the 32-year-old Salazar.

In related moves, the Padres called Cedric Hunter up from Triple-A, optioned Wade LeBlanc, Aaron Cunningham and Everth Cabrera to Triple-A, reassigned Randy Flores, Guillermo Quiroz and Logan Forsythe to minor league camp and placed Eric Patterson on the 15-day DL.

Padres Acquire Alberto Gonzalez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 28, 2011 at 4:57pm CDT

The Padres acquired Alberto Gonzalez from the Nationals for right-hander Erik Davis and cash considerations, the teams announced. The Padres, who had been working to upgrade their bench, were looking hard at Gonzalez this week. The A's, Astros and Braves were also eyeing the infielder over the weekend.

Davis split the 2010 campaign between three levels, posting a 3.52 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 143 1/3 innings as a starter. The 24-year-old right-hander has made just eight starts above Class A, where he spent the first two seasons of his pro career. Davis, who played at Stanford with Nationals reliever Drew Storen, led all minor league pitchers with 30 wins in 2009-10.

Gonzalez, 27, played in 114 games last year, appearing at every infield position and in right field. He hit .247/.277/.301 last year in his fourth MLB season.

The move boosts the chances that Mets infielder Luis Hernandez goes unclaimed while on waivers.

Diamondbacks Will Not Sign Kevin Frandsen

By Luke Adams 2 | March 28, 2011 at 4:25pm CDT

MONDAY: The D'Backs won't be signing Frandsen after all, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter).

FRIDAY: Less than 24 hours after being released by the Padres, Kevin Frandsen has found another home in the NL West. Frandsen has agreed to sign with the Diamondbacks, according to Jeff Fletcher of BayBridgeBaseball (via Twitter). Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic adds (via Twitter) that the deal is pending a physical and the 28-year-old will head to Triple-A Reno.

Following his release, Frandsen told MLB.com's Corey Brock that he hoped to catch on with another team soon, and he didn't waste any time in fulfilling that goal. The Diamondbacks will be the third NL West club to sign Frandsen, who saw big league playing time in parts of four seasons with the Giants. The Lapa/Leventhal client earned 173 plate appearances for the Angels in 2010, hitting .250/.294/.319.

Alberto Gonzalez Drawing Interest

By Luke Adams 2 | March 27, 2011 at 10:57am CDT

At least four teams have "serious interest" in the out of options Alberto Gonzalez, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (via Twitter). Ladson names the Athletics, Astros, Padres, and Braves as teams who are eyeing the Nationals' infielder.

Last Sunday, we heard the Padres were "looking hard" at Gonzalez, who has the ability to play an array of defensive positions. Though the 27-year-old posted just a .578 OPS in part-time duty for the Nationals a year ago, he has played well this spring, hitting .365/.400/.404. Still, with Jerry Hairston Jr. and Alex Cora on board, there may not be room for Gonzalez on the Nats' Opening Day roster.

West Coast Links: Dodgers, A’s, Frandsen, Padres

By Luke Adams 2 | March 25, 2011 at 10:10pm CDT

The Dodgers are off to an unlucky start this spring, with Casey Blake, Jon Garland, and Vicente Padilla expected to open the season on the disabled list. The bad news continued today; Dioner Navarro will head to the DL with a torn oblique, according to Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles, while Tim Redding left today's game with back pain, writes MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. More from the NL and AL West:

The Dodgers informed Ron Mahay that he won't make the club's Opening Day roster, reports Gurnick. Mahay has an out clause in his contract, so the team is waiting to hear whether the left-hander will accept a minor league assignment.
Frank McCourt declined comment on the Dodgers' ownership situation today, saying he'll address it at a later date. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times has the details.
Given his most talented roster yet, Athletics manager Bob Geren will face increased expectations this season, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Speaking of the A's, they sent Chris Carter down to the minors today, Jane Lee of MLB.com tweets. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has more on Carter, who figures to be the DH in Oakland whenever the Hideki Matsui era ends.
Kevin Frandsen, who was released by the Padres today, is hoping to catch on with another team soon, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock. "We've got a decent amount of interest," Frandsen said. "I showed I was healthy and that I can play. I know I can play in the big leagues."
With Mat Latos suffering from shoulder troubles, Tim Stauffer will start Opening Day for the Padres, tweets Brock.

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