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Red Sox Notes: Free Agents, Lucchino, Valentine

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Is there any doubt that the Red Sox will be one of the most talked-about teams of the 2012-13 offseason?  September has barely begun and yet there is already heavy speculation about how the Sox will approach the manager situation and the tens of millions in payroll space freed up by last month's trade with the Dodgers.  Here's the latest out of Beantown…

  • The Red Sox could eschew big moves this winter and instead making lower-profile one-year signings in January or February, writes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.  Dan Haren, Mike Napoli, Brandon McCarthy or Edwin Jackson are players Boston could look to sign to "pillow contracts" if those players couldn't find acceptable longer-term deals elsewhere.
  • Team president Larry Lucchino didn't comment on Bobby Valentine's controversial interview on WEEI radio, telling ESPN Boston's Joe McDonald that he hadn't heard the interview and that "talk shows are talk shows."  Lucchino did agree with Valentine's description of the Red Sox season as "miserable."
  • Lucchino confirmed owner John Henry's statement that Bill James will have a larger role with the team.  James has served as a senior adviser to the Red Sox since 2003.  "He's never been gone, but he will be even more active than he's been in recent years.  He will be more centrally involved in the evaluation process," Lucchino said.
  • The Mariners made the right move in hiring Eric Wedge as manager over Valentine in 2010, writes Larry Stone of the Seattle Times.  Valentine was one of several candidates who interviewed for the job and there were rumors that Ichiro Suzuki was pushing for Valentine to be hired, though this was denied by both Ichiro and the Mariners.

Red Sox Acquire Guillermo Quiroz

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The Red Sox acquired minor league catcher Guillermo Quiroz from Seattle for cash considerations, the Mariners announced. The 30-year-old has experience in seven MLB seasons, and last appeared in the Major Leagues as a member of the 2010 Mariners.

Quiroz posted a .278/.362/.483 batting line in 347 plate appearances at Triple-A Tacoma in 2012 after signing as a minor league free agent last December. He also hit 15 home runs and represented the Rainiers at this year's Pacific Coast League All-Star Game.

Mariners Designate Johermyn Chavez For Assignment

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The Mariners announced that they have designated outfielder Johermyn Chavez for assignment. The move creates a 40-man roster spot for the team, which added Mike Carp, Luis Jimenez, Shawn Kelley, Alex Liddi, Hector Noesi, Carlos Triunfel and Casper Wells to the active MLB roster today.

Chavez spent most of the 2012 season with Seattle's Double-A Jackson affiliate. The 23-year-old posted a .232/.339/.386 batting line in 288 plate appearances at that level this year. The Mariners now have 10 days to trade, release or outright Chavez, who was dealt to Seattle with Brandon League for Brandon Morrow.

Quick Hits: Cubs, Miller, Felix, Joseph

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In the same game that Jamey Carroll hit his first home run since August 2009, Adam Dunn struck out tonight to become the sixth player in MLB history with 2,000 punchouts. Dunn joins Reggie Jackson, Jim Thome, Sammy Sosa, Andres Galarraga and Alex Rodriguez as members of the 2,000K club. Here are tonight's links:

  • Cubs manager Dale Sveum is pleased with the job that interim hitting coach James Rowson has done since taking over for Rudy Jaramillo in June, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. Rowson could figure into next season's plans, as Sveum plans to address the 2013 coaching staff in the season's final weeks.
  • MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch has quotes from Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny about the club's decision to promote Shelby Miller. A start is possible down the stretch for Miller, according to Mozeliak.
  • Many wonder when Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik will change his stance on listening to offers for Felix Hernandez, but that day doesn't appear to be here. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe asked the Seattle GM if it was a possibility and received a simple "No," as an answer (Twitter link).
  • While he's struggled at the plate, Tommy Joseph has still impressed the Phillies since being acquired in the Hunter Pence trade, writes Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Joseph's defense has impressed the Phils, and they still project plus power from the promising catcher.

International Notes: Mariners, Rangers

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We'll keep track of today's international news right here..

  • The Mariners have signed 16-year-old Dominican third baseman Leurys Vargas for $400K, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.  Vargas, who stands at 6'3", 215 pounds, is the son of former big league lefthander Yorkis Perez.  Badler writes that he has great bat speed and raw power from the left side but could be moved to first base because of his size. 
  • The Rangers signed Luis Terrero, a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic, Badler writes.  The 6'0", 180 pound shortstop is built similarly to a young Juan Uribe and has a solid righthanded bat.  Terrero has a chance to stick at shortstop but his build might push him over to second or third base.

Millwood Clears Waivers; Vargas, Felix Claimed

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Kevin Millwood cleared waivers but two other Mariners starters were claimed by rival teams, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (Twitter links). Jason Vargas and Felix Hernandez were claimed, but they aren't going anywhere, according to Morosi. 

Millwood, a free agent this offseason, can now be traded to any team. He'd be eligible for postseason rosters if Seattle trades him before midnight tonight. Otherwise he can still be traded, but only as a regular season player. He earns a $1MM salary and has a 4.28 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 145 innings.

Vargas would be more than a rental, since he’s arbitration eligible again this offseason. The left-hander earns $4.85MM this season and can expect a raise to $8MM or so for 2013. Vargas, 29, has a 3.90 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 184 2/3 innings with Seattle. 

It would be a major surprise if Hernandez were traded. The 26-year-old is a leading Cy Young candidate again with an AL-best 2.43 ERA in 196 2/3 innings. He'll earn $19.5MM in 2013 and $20MM in 2014 under his current contract.

If the Mariners are serious about trading Vargas or Hernandez — and there’s no indication this is the case — they could wait until the offseason when more bidders emerge. For now GM Jack Zduriencik can only discuss trade scenarios with the team(s) that won the claims on his pitchers.

Jason Vargas, Kevin Millwood On Waivers

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The Mariners have placed both Kevin Millwood and Jason Vargas on waivers, and both players are likely to be claimed, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link). As Rosenthal notes, Vargas is owed just over $1MM for the remainder of the season, while Millwood is owed roughly $200K.

The 29-year-old Vargas is appealing for teams looking to improve their rotation in the short- and long-term; he's controlled through 2013 and is arbitration-eligible for the final time this offseason. Shortly before the trade deadline, MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected an $8.1MM salary for Vargas in 2013. He's pitched to a 3.71 ERA since that projection, so he likely hasn't damaged his stock any.

Overall, Vargas has a 3.75 ERA, 5.6 K/9, 2.3 BB/9 and 40.8 percent ground-ball rate in a whopping 180 innings thus far. Vargas' average of 6 2/3 innings per start is likely another appealing element of his game. Interested teams are likely wary of Vargas' struggles away from the spacious Safeco Field. His 2.62 home ERA is two full runs lower than his 4.63 road mark.

Millwood, 37, has a 4.28 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and 45 percent ground-ball rate in 145 innings for the Mariners this season. Unlike Vargas, he's pitched equally well away from Seattle. The former American League ERA champ signed a minor league deal with the Mariners in January and has gone on to become one of the most successful minor league signees of 2012.

Earlier today it was reported that the Dodgers were in the market for a starting pitcher. Los Angeles has been far and away the most aggressive team in this season's trade market, and they were linked to both Seattle hurlers prior to the non-waiver trade deadline.

Stark On Mariners, Felix, Sizemore, Lohse

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MLB executives tell ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark that they make sure to consider the differences between baseball’s two leagues when evaluating trade candidates. “I think it's safe to say you can look a lot smarter taking a pitcher from the American League to the National League than the other way around," one executive told Stark. Here are some highlights from his latest ESPN.com column:

  • Baseball people expect the Mariners to sign Felix Hernandez long-term instead of trading him, Stark reports. Hernandez is under contract through 2014.
  • Two scouts said they’d recommend signing Grady Sizemore if it doesn’t require much guaranteed money. The outfielder’s season is over and he figures to obtain a one-year, incentive-based contract this winter.
  • One scout said he’d be nervous about trading for Johan Santana given his health issues. The Mets recently shut the left-hander down for the remainder of the season.
  • Cardinals executives have told people they’re going to let Kyle Lohse’s contract situation play itself out. Lohse, who is headed for free agency this offseason, hasn’t had recent contract talks with the team, so it’s a safe bet he’ll hit the open market.

West Notes: Felix, Drew, Giants

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The Mariners have the best record in the American League since the All-Star break (23-13) after winning six consecutive games, as Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times writes. Here’s the latest from baseball’s two West divisions… 

  • In an appearance on on Sports Radio KJR this morning Felix Hernandez gave Mitch Levy a "promise" that there's nothing to worry about regarding a possible change in teams (quote via Baker). Hernandez is under contract through 2014 and Baker says the Mariners should extend him beyond that and build a better team around him.
  • The Athletics and Diamondbacks extensively discussed a possible Stephen Drew trade leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports. The Athletics acquired Drew last night in a move that will reduce Arizona's payroll and provide Oakland with a shortstop who should hit.
  • Manager Bruce Bochy said on MLB Network Radio that it's fair to say the Giants are looking for left field help, according to Jim Bowden (on Twitter). GM Brian Sabean is "working on it now," Bochy said, according to Bowden. Gregor Blanco is the Giants' left fielder for the time being. Sabean says all is quiet for now, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).

Cafardo On Ellsbury, Bourn, Ross, Cook, Millwood

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In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that despite the perception that Jacoby Ellsbury would like to leave Boston down the line, a source says that he would actually like to stay if at all possible.  Neither side has asked the other to consider a long-term deal, but that could certainly change in the offseason.  Here's more from Cafardo..

  • In last week's column, Cafardo wrote that Braves officials thought Michael Bourn would not re-sign when he becomes a free agent due to a less-than-stellar track record with Scott Boras clients.  However, Boras told Cafardo that he has had an excellent relationship with General Manager Frank Wren and the club as a whole.  The agent says he is not ruling out Atlanta at all and added that Bourn enjoys playing there.
  • The Red Sox are very interested in pursuing a new deal with Cody Ross, who will be coming off of a one-year, $3MM pact this winter.  With many teams in need of a righthanded bat, he could likely net a Josh Willingham-type three-year, $21MM deal. 
  • The Orioles, Nationals, and Dodgers may be among teams looking at Red Sox pitcher Aaron Cook now that he is on trade waivers.
  • Mariners pitcher Kevin Millwood has not been placed on trade waivers yet but he could be one of the more sought-after pitchers once he is.  “He’s got ice water in his veins and he knows how to get big outs,” said a veteran scout. “A guy like that isn’t going to do the Mariners any good going forward but he could solidify a rotation.”
  • Cubs personnel are disappointed that Alfonso Soriano won’t waive his 10-and-5 rights to go to the Giants.  The outfielder doesn't want to play in a colder climate that could adversely affect his hitting.
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