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Padres Release Kevin Frandsen

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The Padres released Kevin Frandsen, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (on Twitter). Frandsen signed a minor league deal in January that would have paid him $575K for making the big league team after the Angels non-tendered him.

The Padres are looking for a utility player who can handle shortstop and are specifically interested in Alberto Gonzalez and Robert Andino, who are both out of options.

Frandsen, 28, has 32 games of big league experience at shortstop, but most of his experience has come at second and third. He has a .243/.302/.335 line in 626 MLB plate appearances with the Giants and Angels. A right-handed hitter, Frandsen has also played both corner outfield positions in the majors.

Olney On Harang, McClellan, Feliz

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As Spring Training winds down and teams make their final roster cuts, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney has the latest from around the majors…

  • Aaron Harang signed with the Padres because he has family ties to San Diego, but there’s another reason the right-hander’s a good fit for his new club. Olney and Scott Regan estimate that 13 of the 43 home runs Harang gave up in Cincinnati from 2008-10 would not have been home runs in San Diego. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes identified the Padres as a good match for Harang last October.
  • The Cardinals like what they’ve seen from Kyle McClellan in the rotation. "It's what we would've expected," GM John Mozeliak said. "He has a strong repertoire of pitches. The big challenge for him is going to be going through a lineup multiple times." For more on McClellan's new role, click here.
  • Olney reports that the Rangers will probably decide whether to use Neftali Feliz as a starter or as a closer by the weekend. A week ago, 55% of 6,670 MLBTR readers said Feliz belongs in the ‘pen for 2011.

Rosenthal On Bell, Gonzalez, Marlins, A’s

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There are still no signs that the Padres are willing to trade Heath Bell before Opening Day, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Padres have started discussing an extension with their closer, who hopes to continue his career in San Diego. Here are the rest of Rosenthal’s rumors, including more on the Padres:

  • The Mariners made a strong push for Adrian Gonzalez last Spring Training, according to Rosenthal.
  • The Marlins aren’t likely to look outside of the organization for help if they demote Matt Dominguez, according to Rosenthal. Florida’s front office does not have much payroll flexibility.
  • The Padres and A’s are looking for backup infielders who can play short. We heard over the weekend that the Padres are looking at Alberto Gonzalez and Robert Andino. Luis Hernandez of the Mets is also drawing trade interest, possibly from Oakland and San Diego.

Padres, Heath Bell Talk Extension

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Padres GM Jed Hoyer met with agents Sam and Seth Levinson of ACES last week for 2-3 hours to discuss a possible extension for Padres closer Heath Bell, according to MLB.com’s Barry Bloom. Bell repeated that he would like to stay in San Diego and is willing to take a discount to remain with the Padres, as long as the team can be flexible, too.

"My biggest thing is that I'd like three years," Bell said. "That's my biggest thing. If it means taking less money, then that's something I'll do to make sure I'm here for the next three years or more."

Hoyer told Bloom that the sides had a “good meeting" and that he’d like to keep Bell. The closer, who will hit free agency after the season if the sides don’t reach a deal, said he’s open to negotiating an extension during the season.

Bell, 33, will earn $7.5MM this season in his final season of arbitration eligibility. He saved 47 games last year, when he posted a 1.93 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 and made his second consecutive All-Star team.

Padres Looking At Alberto Gonzalez, Robert Andino

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Earlier this month we heard that the Padres were looking for a utility player for their bench, and it appears they've turned their attention to Alberto Gonzalez and Robert Andino. MASNsports.com's Phil Wood reports that San Diego has been "looking hard" at the Nationals' utility infielder, while MLB.com's Corey Brock says Andino is on the radar as well (Twitter link). Both players are out of options.

Gonzalez, 28 in April, has spent the last two full years and part of a third in the nation's capitol, hitting .266/.302/.350 overall. He has plenty of experience at second, third, and short, and has also dabbled at first base and in right field. The Padres currently have Jarrett Hoffpauir, Kevin Frandsen, and Jesus Guzman in camp competing for the utility infielder's job, and the Nats have depth at the position with Jerry Hairston Jr. and Alex Cora.

Andino, 27 in April, is a .226/.275/.318 career hitting in 440 plate appearances, most of which have come with the Orioles. The vast majority of his playing time has come at short, though he's also seen time at second, third, left, and center fields. Baltimore has Cesar Izturis, Nick Green, and Brendan Harris on their utility infielder depth chart as well.

West Rumors: Beltre, Hultzen, Neshek, Rockies

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Some links from the left coast…

  • Adrian Beltre told Scott Miller of CBS Sports that he signed with the Rangers instead of the Angels because he felt Texas gave him "the best chance to put a ring on [his] finger." The third baseman wouldn't elaborate on the talks he had with the Halos before signing.
  • ESPN's Keith Law hears that the Diamondbacks love Virginia left-hander Danny Hultzen, a projected first round pick (Twitter link). Arizona holds the third and seventh overall picks in this year's draft, and Hultzen owns a 62:4 K:BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings this spring.
  • Dan Hayes of The North County Times tweets that new Padre Pat Neshek isn't guaranteed to make the team because he still has a minor league option remaining.
  • Troy Renck of The Denver Post (via Twitter) could see the Rockies checking in on Michael Young now that the Rangers are reportedly willing to eat half of the veteran's salary.
  • Renck also tweets that if Chone Figgins were made available, Colorado would be interested in him as a player but disinterested overall because of his hefty contract. Figgins is entering year two of a four-year deal worth $36MM, plus a vesting 2014 option for $9MM.

Padres Claim Pat Neshek Off Of Waivers

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The Padres announced that they have claimed right-hander Pat Neshek off of waivers from the Twins.  The news was first broken by the reliever himself on his Twitter feed.

Neshek first broke into the Majors with Minnesota in 2006. Over his first two seasons, the side-armer posted a 2.68 ERA through 107 1/3 innings of work with fantastic marks of 10.6 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. He struggled out of the gates in 2008 and was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his throwing elbow. After months of attempting to rehab without surgery, Neshek underwent Tommy John in November of that year.

He returned in 2010 but struggled with an inflamed tendon in his pitching hand leading to a decrease in strikeouts and some command issues. The 30-year-old Neshek has made 132 career relief appearances over parts of four seasons with the Twins. He owns a career 3.05 ERA with 10.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9, but his minor league numbers since his injuries (4.35 ERA, 5.9 K/9, 3.3 BB/9) aren't as encouraging.

MLBTR's Steve Adams also contributed to this post.

Quick Hits: Peavy, Kontos, Rowand, Reyes

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Some links to round out this Monday evening..

Padres Return George Kontos To Yankees

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The Padres announced that they returned Rule 5 draft pick George Kontos to the Yankees. 

The 25-year-old split the 2010 season between Class A, Double-A and Triple-A, posting a 3.60 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 45 innings. It was his first action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in July of 2009 and his first extended stint as a reliever. Baseball America ranked Kontos 27th among Padres prospects this offseason and suggested that his future is in the 'pen, since he hasn't developed a quality change-up and struggles to throw strikes at times.

Kontos has appeared in 97 minor league games (73 starts) since the Yankees selected him in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. Overall, he has a 3.47 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in the minors. The right-hander posted a 9.82 ERA in three spring appearances.

Bell Would Accept Discount To Stay With Padres

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Heath Bell has gone as far as saying it would be his "dream" to stay in San Diego on a long-term deal. We've also heard that the two sides will discuss a multiyear deal this Spring, and if that's not enough for Padres fans, the 33-year-old closer said in an MLB Network Radio interview today that he'd accept less money to remain a Padre.

"I definitely would take less just to sign [in San Diego] just because it's the Padres and I want to stay here," said Bell. "I'm very open to take a discount but it has to be knowing that I'll be able to stay here and not what happened to Jake Peavy. Even though Jake had a no-trade clause, [the Padres were] just pushing to get him out. I really don’t want that to happen" (all Twitter links).

Two years ago, Peavy's name headlined trade rumors for what seemed to be an eternity, as his contract had become too burdensome for the Padres to handle. He was nearly traded to the White Sox once and vetoed the deal. At the trade deadline though, Peavy changed his tune and was sent to the south siders (after several more months of trade rumors).

Bell's 89 saves over the last two seasons lead all of baseball, and he owns a 10.6 K/9 and 2.32 ERA through 139 2/3 innings to go along with them. If a deal can't be worked out, Bell will likely be the most desireable name on an impressive list of free agent relievers.

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