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Don Wakamatsu Firing Reactions

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The Mariners fired manager Don Wakamatsu today, and Triple A Manager Daren Brown will take over for the final 50 games of the season. Here are some reactions to the firing and some thoughts on potential long-term replacements:

  • Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik "strayed from his scouting background and based too many decisions on sabermetric data" in crafting this year's team, suggests Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
  • The firing wasn't a surprise to anyone who follows the team closely, if you ask Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times (on Twitter).
  • Larry Stone of the Seattle Times considers possible replacements for Wakamatsu, including Joey Cora, Bobby Valentine and Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell.
  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney speculates that Valentine could be a good fit in the Emerald City (Twitter link).
  • Olney hears that there's unrest in the Mariners' scouting and player development departments (Twitter link).
  • MLB.com's Corey Brock wouldn't be surprised if the Mariners considered Padres hitting coach Randy Ready for the managerial opening (Twitter link).
  • Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner says the Mariners fired Wakamatsu because the team was playing poorly and because Ken Griffey Jr. became unhappy.
  • Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says Wakamatsu is a good baseball man who could help another organization (Twitter link).

Mariners Fire Don Wakamatsu

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The Mariners fired manager Don Wakamatsu, tweets Brock & Salk of ESPN 710.  They add that pitching coach Rick Adair, bench coach Ty Van Burkleo, and performance coach Steve Hecht were also let go.  The Mariners confirmed the moves in a press release, stating that Daren Brown will step up from Triple A to manage the club and Carl Willis will take over as pitching coach.  A key quote from GM Jack Zduriencik:

"I no longer have confidence that Don, Ty and Rick are the right long-term fit for our organization. New leadership is needed and it is needed now."

Wakamatsu took over as Mariners manager before the '09 season.  His team posted a 85-77 mark in '09 but stands at 42-70 this year.  Zduriencik had voiced his support for Wakamatsu six days ago.

Odds & Ends: Cardinals, Blue Jays, Morrow, Delgado

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Some links to check out as Brandon Morrow just misses no-hitting the Rays…

No Trade Imminent For Mets

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The Mets scratched Fernando Martinez and Ruben Tejada from their Triple-A lineup last night, leading to speculation that a trade could be in the works. Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reported that the team was "in dialogue" with the Mariners, but for now, no trade is imminent.

As FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweets, Martinez or Tejada have not been placed on waivers, so neither player could be traded at this point. Rubin indicated that Martinez may have been one player on the move in a hypothetical deal with Seattle, but Rosenthal suggests that the late scratches just involve "internal stuff." Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes confirms (via Twitter) that both players will join the big league club in Philadelphia.

Baseball America ranked Martinez and Tejada third and ninth respectively among Mets' prospects heading into this season. The 20-year-old Tejada earned some time in the majors earlier in the year, hitting .212/.297/.250 in 122 plate appearances, while Martinez has spent the season in high-A and triple-A, posting an overall slash line of .256/.321/.458.

Carlos Delgado Drawing Interest

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12:48pm: The White Sox have had extensive conversations with Delgado's agent, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. More than four teams are interested in the first baseman, including the Red Sox and Angels, according to Levine.

8:00am: The White Sox are showing interest in Carlos Delgado and are not the only potential fit for the first baseman, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Agent David Sloane told Rosenthal that his client has received two minor league offers and could be ready for the major leagues after a couple weeks in the minors.

The Rockies’ interest in Delgado depends on Todd Helton’s health, the Mariners want to see Delgado work out before deciding whether to pursue him and the Angels have checked in before. Those three teams and the Boston Red Sox could be fits, as the 38-year-old wants to play for a contending team that would have lots of at bats for him.

Delgado, who has 473 career home runs, hinted this summer that he would like to join the 500-homer club. He hasn’t played since last year and is recovering from arthroscopic hip surgery. 

Phillies Acquire Mike Sweeney

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The Phillies acquired Mike Sweeney from Seattle for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to a Mariners press release. The 37-year-old has six homers and a .263/.327/.475 line for the Mariners this year. However, Sweeney has been on the disabled list since late June with back spasms and was just activated.

He'll presumably become a pinch hitter and occasional first baseman for Charlie Manuel's Phillies once  Ryan Howard returns from the DL. Until then, Manuel told reporters that he'll use Sweeney regularly at first base. He made five All-Star teams as a first baseman/DH, but has only played 25 innings in the field this year.

Sweeney makes just $650K this year before becoming a free agent, so there won't be a ton of money changing hands in the deal. If the Mariners obtain a player instead of cash, they'll likely get a fringe prospect, but GM Jack Zduriencik says he wanted to see Sweeney play for a contender and will be "pulling for him to succeed in Philadelphia.”

The deal means all 14 American League teams and every NL team with a worse record than the Phillies passed on Sweeney. It's possible that every NL team passed on him, but that cannot be verified.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported the deal on Twitter. 

Waiver Trade Candidates: AL West

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The current AL West picture: the Rangers hold a wide lead, the Angels and Athletics are on the fringe of contention, and the Mariners are out of it.  Waiver trade candidates:

The Rangers could consider moving Rich Harden, though the righty came off the DL on Saturday and had a fine start.  Even with Derek Holland lurking in Triple A, though, I think it makes sense to maintain the depth.  Scott Feldman, recently shifted to the bullpen, could clear waivers.

Angels veterans Bobby Abreu, Brian Fuentes, Hideki Matsui, Fernando Rodney, Scot Shields, and Juan Rivera could all clear waivers, in my estimation.  The relievers could generate interest, though.

Athletics assistant GM David Forst recently told ESPN's Jayson Stark they're seriously considering "bringing back the same 25 guys next year."  Forst may not have meant that literally, but it doesn't appear they'll dump contracts.

As for the Mariners, Milton Bradley figures to clear waivers if he returns from the DL this month.  Chone Figgins might clear too, but if he's claimed the Ms have to at least consider bailing on his contract.  Jack Wilson might get through, with $5MM owed next year.  Same goes for Casey Kotchman, a non-tender candidate after the season.  Jose Lopez isn't too expensive, so he might be claimed.  I imagine Russell Branyan would be claimed as well.  Various lightly-paid Mariners veterans could be moved in minor deals: Jamey Wright, Mike Sweeney, Josh Bard, and Ryan Langerhans come to mind.

For our primer on the waiver trade rules, click here.

Odds & Ends: Dodgers, Rangers, Maya, Lowell

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Sunday night linkage..

Braves Inquired On Chone Figgins

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3:38pm: The Braves asked the Mariners about the availability of Figgins, tweets Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, and were denied.  It seems odd to me that Figgins would be unavailable – would he even be claimed on waivers next month?

2:35pm: The Mariners approached the Braves about taking Chone Figgins off their hands, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.  Crasnick adds that the Braves are also making a late bid for a reliever.

1:43pm: The Braves are working on potential deals for hitters and relievers, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Consitution, and there's a "reasonable chance" something gets done by the deadline.

Multiple Teams Eyeing Brandon League

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2:06pm: Aside from the Dodgers and Rays, add the Marlins to the mix for League according to Stark.  Not a big surprise.

1:51pm: The Rays are unlikely to make a deal today, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark.

1:41pm: The Dodgers are also in on League, tweets Ken Rosenthal.

1:13pm: The Rays are interested in Scott Downs and Brandon League, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter links). Tampa Bay added Chad Qualls this morning, but lost Grant Balfour to the DL for 4-6 weeks with an intercostal strain (Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reporting on Twitter). 

Downs and his former teammate, League, will not come cheap, according to Sherman, but the Rays continue looking for relief help despite a thin, highly-priced market. The Giants may be in serious talks with the Blue Jays regarding Downs and reportedly have interest in League, too.

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