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What To Expect Before The Signing Deadline

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ESPN.com's Keith Law reminds us that the Reds seemed unlikely to sign Yonder Alonso until hours before the deadline to sign draft picks last summer. It shouldn't be any different this year; here are the details:

  • We'll hear that teams aren't close to signing their picks, but that doesn't mean the two sides won't agree to last-minute deals.
  • Don't expect Stephen Strasburg, Dustin Ackley or Donavan Tate (all Scott Boras clients) to sign much before next Monday at midnight.
  • Law expects Strasburg to sign for about $18-20MM.
  • The commissioner's office will try to limit the number of over-slot signings, but teams can offer whatever they like, so MLB's efforts to hold teams to recommended bonuses may be quixotic in the end.

Eckstein Preferred To Stay In San Diego

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Corey Brock from MLB.com writes that David Eckstein told general manager Kevin Towers he'd prefer to remain in San Diego when the Twins called to ask about his availability, prior to the July 31 deadline.

According to Brock, Towers didn't want to move Eckstein but thought he owed Eckstein the chance to go to a team with some playoff hopes if he desired. Eckstein didn't:

"I want to be a guy who can help these young guys out. I don't think this club is as far off as some people think. They've got to learn how to play the game the right way, because next year, there's not going to be any excuses. These guys are starting to step up."

San Diego is in rebuild mode, with lots of young players such as Kyle Blanks, Chase Headley, and Eckstein's partner up the middle, Everth Cabrera, whom Eckstein enjoys playing with:

"Playing alongside a guy like Everth, that inspires you." 

Eckstein signed a one-year deal with the Padres this offseason worth $850K, but Towers says that he'd like to talk with Eckstein about extending his contract before season's end.

Odds & Ends: Tate, Phillies, Pirates, Indians

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Links? You can't handle the links!

  • ESPN's Jason Churchill notes that third overall pick Donovan Tate was expected to report to UNC's football camp today, and that the Padres are "mum on the negotiations between Tate's adviser, Scott Boras, and the club." If he doesn't sign, Tate will play both football and baseball for the Tar Heels.
  • Peter Gammons of ESPN writes about the Phillies and the rotation depth they've build this year. It seems like whenever we hear a team has pitching depth, it disappears. It's like the Madden cover curse, but crueler.
  • Pirates skipper John Russell admits that his club will "have to look to find a left-hander to solidify [the bullpen], either this season or in time for next season," reports John Perrotto of PiratesReport.com. The Bucs haven't had a southpaw in the pen since trading John Grabow to the Cubs at the deadline. 
  • Terry Pluto of The Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that even though the Indians recent moves were driven by money, they still made sense for the organization.

Olney On Gonzalez, Draft, Strasburg

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Two prominent baseball figures inched closer to retirement yesterday and ESPN.com's Buster Olney recognizes both of them. John Smoltz's fading repertoire brings him closer to retirement than ever and the faltering newspaper industry will push longtime Reds writer Hal McCoy to call it a career after the season. Here are Olney's rumors:

  • Olney hears that the Mariners came closer to obtaining Adrian Gonzalez than the Red Sox ever did.
  • Many teams are believed to have struck deals with their top picks. So why haven't we heard about them? Teams will announce over-slot deals at the last minute so it seems like they're respecting the commissioner's recommended bonuses.
  • Real doubts are beginning to emerge that the Nats will be able to sign Stephen Strasburg. 

Odds And Ends: Wagner, Red Sox, Scherzer

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An assortment of links to get the day started…

Yanks Acquire Chad Gaudin

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11:27pm: Peter Abraham of the LoHud Journal reminds us that the Cubs released Gaudin in April, so they're on the hook for all but the pro-rated league minimum.  Surely the Cubs wish they'd non-tendered Gaudin, but perhaps they needed the spring to decide.  – Tim Dierkes

9:31: Kepner tweets that the "plan is for Gaudin to start off in the bullpen."

9:17: Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that the Yankees "owe roughly $650K to Gaudin the rest of the year."

9:07: Tyler Kepner of the New York Times is reporting on Twitter that the Yankees have acquired RHP Chad Gaudin from the Padres for a player to be named later.

Gaudin signed a minor league deal with the Padres in April. He is 4-10 this year with a 5.13 ERA, but he is averaging a strikeout per inning and his FIP is at 3.68.

Padres Will Raise Payroll In Coming Years

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Padres CEO Jeff Moorad told MLB.com's Corey Brock that his team's better-positioned to add payroll now that Jake Peavy plays for the White Sox. The Padres expect to gradually raise their payroll to the $70-80MM range, up from this year's opening day total of $43MM. As a result, the Padres could be more active in the free agent market, though Moorad says he would prefer to "fine tune" the roster with free agents and maintain a focus on scouting and player development.

Now that the Padres traded Peavy and the $48MM remaining on his contract, Chris Young's $6.25MM salary will likely be the club's biggest commitment next year.

Heyman On Jays, Gonzalez, Peavy

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Jon Heyman of SI.com calls Toronto's team the "Blew Jays" because he believes GM J.P. Ricciardi blew the Roy Halladay trade talks. Here are the details and a couple other rumors:

  • Heyman says too much talk, too much candor and an overly steep price prevented Ricciardi from making a deal.
  • Heyman hears that Halladay would have approved trades to a variety of teams in the East and Midwest.
  • The Jays never agreed on prospects with the Rangers, but would have sent $5MM to Texas in a possible Halladay deal. 
  • One executive says the Jays "overplayed their hand." 
  • The Padres wanted more than Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie for Adrian Gonzalez.  
  • GM Kevin Towers had a deal more or less in place to send Jake Peavy to Atlanta last offseason before the righty told the Padres he didn't want to go to Atlanta.

Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Irabu, Draft

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Some links to start the morning off…

  • Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wonders if the Red Sox would pull back John Smoltz and Mike Lowell if either veteran was claimed on waivers.
  • Hideki Irabu is closing in on a deal with an independent Japanese team, according to CBS Sports.
  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo points out that there are usually a lot of unsigned draft picks this time of year. He also has a league-wide update on those who have yet to sign this season.
  • If you heard that someone determined the return on investment of top draft picks, you'd probably think it was someone in a front office. But, as Mayo reports, Pirates pitcher Ross Ohlendorf did just that as a student at Princeton.  
  • Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports that the O's haven't made progress with second rounder Mychal Givens.
  • New acquisition Jarrod Washburn told David Mayo of MLive.com that he "felt like a rookie" in his Tigers debut last night. Washburn lost to Brian Matusz, a real-life rookie who won his MLB debut.
  • Like the early 90s Braves, the Padres are building around young arms, according to Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune. 

Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Mora, Halladay

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Some links to pore over as we just miss another no-hitter:

  • Alex Speier at WEEI reports that the Red Sox won't give 16-year-old Dominican hurler Victor Payano a contract, despite being rumored as favorites to sign him. Payano, in line for a bonus around $900k, had failed his physical.
  • Peter Schmuck at the Baltimore Sun notes that top prospect Brian Matusz was called up to start tonight for the O's and they in turn optioned Kam Mickolio to Triple-A. After Melvin Mora's recent spat with manager Dave Trembley, there was speculation Mora would be gone, but he is starting tonight. He still could be moved.
  • Scott Podsednik's improved play has increased his value, but he wants to stay with the White Sox in 2010, says Scott Merkin at MLB.com.
  • Rangers GM Jon Daniels said in an e-mail to Yahoo's Gordon Edes that there was no effort by J.P. Ricciardi to mislead the Rangers in Roy Halladay talks, and Ricciardi was "upfront" about what he wanted.
  • The Padres officially released Mark Prior today, says CBS Sports. The move was reported to be on the horizon by Corey Brock at MLB.com Saturday.
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