Stark On Dempster, Adams, Reyes, Braves
Jayson Stark leads his latest column for ESPN with a debate with colleague Buster Olney about realignment possibilities. He notes that his sources say there's no chance divisions are dissolved and baseball becomes two 15-team leagues. On to Stark's other rumblings…
- An NL executive who spoke with Cubs GM Jim Hendry says there's no likely scenario where Ryan Dempster is traded. Earlier today, there were indications the Yankees at least have an eye on Dempster, who has full no-trade rights and a $14MM player option for 2012.
- Padres reliever Mike Adams also is likely to stay put, as the Padres are only interested in trading impending free agents Heath Bell and Chad Qualls.
- Jose Reyes might not be Brian Sabean's type of player, says one baseball man who speaks with the Giants' GM regularly. Still, Stark's source wondered if the liberation of winning last year's World Series might compel Sabean to take more chances. Of course, the Mets are looking like potential buyers right now.
- The Braves are "aggressively positioning themselves to deal for an outfield bat as soon as they can find a team ready to open its sell-off shop for business," writes Stark, and they've already checked in on Josh Willingham and Hunter Pence. We outlined potentially available power bats earlier this month.
Outrighted: Poreda, Patterson, Dinkelman
Outrighted to Triple-A today:
- The Padres announced that both Aaron Poreda and Eric Patterson have cleared waivers and accepted their assignments to Triple-A, reports MLB.com's Corey Brock (on Twitter). Patterson was designated for assignment last week, Poreda earlier this week.
- The Twins outrighted second baseman/corner outfielder Brian Dinkelman to open a 40-man spot for Joe Mauer, according to the team. The move also cleared room on the active roster for Mauer.
Padres Designate Jorge Cantu For Assignment
The Padres have designated infielder Jorge Cantu for assignment, reports Ted Mendenhall II of ESPN Radio 1700 San Diego (Twitter link). As Mendenhall notes, the move opens a spot on San Diego's 40-man roster.
Cantu signed an $850K contract with San Diego in January and he hit just .194/.232/285 in 155 plate appearances for the Friars, making 37 starts (26 at first, 10 at third and one at second). His versatility may entice another team to give him a look but his numbers have tailed off considerably since his .289/.345/.443 performance with Florida in 2009.
Padres Designate Aaron Poreda For Assignment
The Padres designated lefty Aaron Poreda for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for starter Anthony Bass, reports Sarah Trotto of The Arizona Daily Star.
Poreda, 24, had a 7.31 ERA, 9.6 K/9, 9.3 BB/9, and 0.3 HR/9 in 32 innings for the Padres' Triple-A club this year. Most of the innings came in relief, a role he's been in for the majority of his Padres career. The former first round pick was the key component in Kevin Towers' July 2009 deal that sent Jake Peavy to the White Sox, though Clayton Richard has emerged as the more valuable piece. The Padres also received Adam Russell, who was later sent to the Rays in the Jason Bartlett trade.
Poreda was ranked tenth among Padres prospects prior to the 2010 season by Baseball America. Even then there were concerns about his delivery and control, but he was still considered worthy of a late-inning bullpen future. Since then Poreda has walked more than a batter per inning.
Padres Agree To Terms With Jace Peterson
The Padres have agreed to terms with Jace Peterson, whom they selected in the supplemetary round of Monday's Draft, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter). Peterson will receive a bonus of $624,600, which matches MLB's recommended figure for his slot, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America.
Peterson, a left-handed-hitting infielder out of McNeese State, was the 58th overall pick and the Padres' fifth selection. The Padres gained the pick when Type B free agent Kevin Correia turned down their arbitration offer and signed with the Pirates. On Friday, the Padres signed their first first-round pick, Corey Spangenberg, who was selected at No. 10 overall.
San Diego has now agreed to terms with 19 of its 53 picks, with first-rounder Joe Ross (25th overall) and supplementary picks Michael Kelly and Brett Austin (48th and 54th) among the notables who remain unsigned.
Padres Sign Cory Spangenberg
Padres first round pick Cory Spangenberg has passed his physical and signed, reports MLB.com's Corey Brock (Twitter links). He received a $1.86MM bonus, approximately MLB's slot recommendation.
Spangenberg, in infielder out of Indian River Junior College in Florida, was the tenth overall pick in this week's draft. The Padres received that pick as compensation for failing to sign Karsten Whitson last year. San Diego would not have received another compensation pick next year if they failed to sign Spangenberg.
NL West Notes: Giants, Ludwick, Burroughs
No team in baseball has scored fewer runs than the Giants, who have the best record in the National League West. They aren't the only team in the division that's having trouble scoring. The Padres are 29th in MLB in runs and the Dodgers are 25th. Here's the latest from the low-scoring NL West…
- The Giants promoted 21-year-old catching prospect Hector Sanchez from Class A to Triple-A, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Giants GM Brian Sabean has expressed confidence in Eli Whiteside, but the club is eyeing other catchers.
- Padres GM Jed Hoyer and Reds GM Walt Jocketty shot down a rumor about a possible Ryan Ludwick–Chris Heisey swap, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer, respectively.
- D'Backs third baseman Sean Burroughs is back in the Major Leagues after five years of late nights and parties, writes MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. "I always say I went out to Vegas to become a rock star," Burroughs said.
Heyman On Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, D’Backs
In the aftermath of Bob Geren’s dismissal, Jon Heyman of SI.com lists a handful of managers with suspect job security. Though 2011 probably won’t be a big year for managerial firings, Jim Riggleman of the Nationals and Edwin Rodriguez of the Marlins are on Heyman’s list. Here are the rest of his rumors:
- Geren had "lost" the Athletics' clubhouse, according to people with Oakland ties.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman doesn’t expect elite starting pitching to be available this summer. "I just don't see a No. 1 pitcher you can pinpoint,'' Cashman said.
- The Yankees will look for starting pitching and left-handed relief.
- The Red Sox will also be looking to add a southpaw to their ‘pen.
- Boston people expect top prospect Jose Iglesias to prove himself as the shortstop of the future and people don’t expect the Red Sox to “make a play” for Jose Reyes.
- Competing executives say the Twins will “do what’s right” for the organization this summer, even if that means trading Major Leaguers for prospects. Watch out for the last-place Twins, who have won seven of eight.
- Executives say the D’Backs, Padres, Pirates, Rays and Red Sox had strong drafts.
Quick Hits: Spangenberg, A’s, Beltran, Cubs, Twins
First Eric Hosmer, now Mike Moustakas. The Royals are calling up their other super-prospect according to Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star (on Twitter), optioning Mike Aviles to Triple-A to make room on the roster. Moustakas hit .287/.347/.498 for Triple-A Omaha in 250 plate appearances, and congrats to him for reaching the show.
Here's the latest from around the league…
- Padres assistant GM Jason McLeod told Dan Hayes of The North County Times that first round pick Cory Spangenberg will be in San Diego tomorrow to take his physical, indicating that a deal is all but done (Twitter link).
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says that the Padres and Athletics are unlikely to start selling pieces anytime soon (Twitter link). The call-up of Anthony Rizzo and firing of Bob Geren gives both clubs a new look that they'll first take a chance with.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says that Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran is willing to waive his no-trade clause to join a team with a chance at a championship.
- Although calls are being made for a fire sale, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times says it won't be easy for the Cubs to move some of their bloated contracts.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince explains why there is no quick fix for what ails the Twins.
- Big money contracts for relievers like Rafael Soriano, Pedro Feliciano, and Hisanori Takahashi haven't worked so far, and MLB.com's Tom Singer says that could change the way teams build bullpens in the future.
- The Diamondbacks have come to terms with 23 draft picks according to a team press release. The highest pick of the group is fourth rounder Evan Marshall.
- Derrick Goold of The St. Louis-Post Dispatch reports that the Cardinals have inked tenth round pick Lance Jeffries (Twitter link).
Padres Designate Eric Patterson For Assignment
The Padres have designated Eric Patterson for assignment, reports Marty Caswell of XX1090 Sports Radio (Twitter links). Will Venable has been called up to take his spot on the roster, and is expected to serve as a fourth outfielder.
Patterson, 28, was the player to be named later in the Adrian Gonzalez trade. He started the season on the disabled list, but returned in April and has hit just .180/.272/.292 in 103 plate appearances. Patterson played all over the field for San Diego, seeing time at all three outfield spots as well as at second base.