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Morosi On Braves, Tigers, Cardinals, Greinke

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The Braves are looking at possible bullpen upgrades in addition to starting pitching options, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). Here are more news items from Morosi with precisely two weeks to go before this year’s trade deadline…

  • The Tigers would like to add a left-handed starter, but are wary of taking on all of Wandy Rodriguez’s contract, Morosi reports (on Twitter). Rodriguez earns $10MM this year and $13MM next year. His contract includes a $13MM option for 2014 that becomes a player option if the Astros trade Rodriguez. 
  • Jason Vargas is a similar pitcher to Rodriguez on a more affordable contract who could appeal to the Tigers, in my opinion. Alternatively, Houston could absorb salary to facilitate a trade.
  • The Cardinals continue to monitor the market for starters and relievers, Morosi and Ken Rosenthal write. The Mariners recently scouted Cardinals pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins, but it’s not known if the teams are actively discussing a trade for Vargas or anyone else.
  • Morosi gets the sense that Brewers right-hander Zack Greinke will stay put in Milwaukee this year (video link).
  • Morosi explains that he believes Cole Hamels is a better fit for the Rangers than the Angels (video link).

Central Links: Castellanos, Cardinals, Miller, Crowe

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Between baseball's two Central divisions, at least six teams figure to be buyers, and more could emerge depending on how the coming weeks play out. The White Sox, Tigers, Indians, Reds, Pirates, and Cardinals could all add pieces prior to July 31, and here are some links pertaining to those clubs…

  • The Tigers are telling teams that top prospect Nick Castellanos is unavailable in any trade "at least right now," according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports echoes that sentiment, tweeting that he'd be "very surprised" if the Tigers move Castellanos for a rental (Twitter link).
  • The Cardinals were one of the teams in on Ben Sheets prior to his signing with the Braves, tweets Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who adds that the Cards continue to look for upgrades to their rotation.
  • Cardinals top prospect Shelby Miller has struggled in 2012, but B.J. Rains of FOX Sports Midwest quotes GM John Mozeliak as saying, "Clearly we're still very high on him" (Twitter link).
  • The Indians announced that Trevor Crowe has been released from Triple-A Columbus (on Twitter). The former No. 14 overall pick is now 28 years old and has managed just a .736 OPS in parts of five Triple-A seasons. He batted .245/.295/.329 in three Major League stints.

NL Central Notes: Cardinals, Greinke, Reds

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There’s confusion in baseball front offices as executives navigate the trade deadline for the first time under the sport’s new collective bargaining agreement, Yahoo’s Jeff Passan writes. Last offseason MLB and the MLBPA added one Wild Card berth per league and changed the rules regarding draft pick compensation. Here’s the latest from the NL Central…

  • John Mozeliak traded Brett Wallace, Clayton Mortensen and Shane Peterson for Matt Holliday in 2009, but the Cardinals GM told Passan he probably wouldn't make the same trade today because of the new draft compensation system. 
  • Mozeliak also explained that teams are demanding significant returns with two weeks to go before the trade deadline. "The ask is high," he told Passan.
  • Brewers manager Ron Roenicke is thinking about 2013 and beyond when it comes to Zack Greinke’s place on Milwaukee’s roster, Yahoo’s Tim Brown reports. "Yes, I'm concerned right now, but I'm also concerned with next year and the year after," Roenicke said. Greinke will miss his scheduled start on Wednesday as the Brewers look to get him some rest.
  • The Reds are drawing more fans this year, so John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer suggests the team can probably take on payroll at the upcoming trade deadline.

NL Central Notes: Cubs, Dempster, McClellan, Baker

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Yesterday we learned that ten teams have shown legitimate interest in acquiring Ryan Dempster, including the Dodgers, Tigers, Yankees, Braves, Indians, and White Sox.  Here’s more on the Cubs pitcher plus other items from the NL Central..

  • The Cubs will look to trade Dempster now in part so that his presence doesn’t affect their marketing of Matt Garza later this month, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req’d).  While the Dodgers once looked like the favorite to land the veteran, it’s now unclear if they can outgun the rest of the field to trade for him.
  • After undergoing shoulder surgery, pitcher Kyle McClellan believes that he has probably pitched his last game for the Cardinals, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  McClellan will be arbitration eligible for the third time this winter and says that he anticipates being non-tendered.  The 28-year-old makes $2.5MM this year and would probably command upwards of $3MM in arbitration.
  • Reds skipper Dusty Baker isn’t sure if the club will ask him to return for next season but he sounds like he’d be ready to move on to another team if the opportunity isn’t there, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  “At this point in my career, this point in the season, I have as much say about it as the organization does. And that’s not sounding cocky or arrogant,” Baker said.

Cafardo On Betancourt, Lester, Vargas, Liriano

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe spoke about Florida baseball with Bud Selig and he had mixed emotions on how successful it is, as he's frustrated with the Rays' attendance figures but noted that the Marlins' numbers are up significantly after the opening of their park.  "They’ve run a great operation," the commissioner said. "They’re a very competitive organization, a very competitive team. As I study the attendance every day and looking at where they are, to see they’re No. 29 [in attendance] is inexcusable. Nobody can defend that."  Here's more from today's column..

  • The Red Sox have shown interest in Rockies right-hander Rafael Betancourt and have scouted him a few times.  Boston likely wouldn't want to give up prospects for him but could offer an outfielder.  Recently, Buster Olney of ESPN.com reported that Colorado would have to be overwhelmed to part with the reliever.
  • Jon Lester has been on Pirates' radar along with Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke, Ryan Dempster, and Matt Garza but it doesn’t appear the Sox would move him unless they got an outstanding deal.  Pittsburgh probably won't part with pitching prospect Gerrit Cole which makes a trade unlikely.
  • The Mariners' Jason Vargas has emerged as a hot name for contending teams and one American League GM told Cafardo that teams were hoping to "slip in and take him for less than full value."  Now, however, the M's know that he's in demand and won't just give him away.  The Orioles, Blue Jays, Pirates, Cardinals, and Tigers are among teams that may have interest.  
  • The Blue Jays, Yankees, and Braves have all scouted Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano, who Cafardo suggests should be traded before he falters again.
  • Twins GM Terry Ryan will have to be blown away to part with outfielder Josh Willingham.

Cardinals Sign Brian Fuentes

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The Cardinals have signed Brian Fuentes to a minor league contract, the team announced (on Twitter). The Beverly Hills Sports Council client was released by the Athletics earlier this week.

In 25 innings for the Oakland this year Fuentes posted a 6.84 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9. The 36-year-old left-hander is in the second year of a two-year, $10.5MM contract he signed following the 2010 season. If he's called up to St. Louis, the Cardinals will only owe him the pro-rated portion of the league minimum.

Cardinals, Fuentes Close To Deal

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Left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes is likely to join the Cardinals, sources told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  The veteran had interest from six teams following his release from the A's, including the Cards who considered trading for him after he was designated for assignment.

Earlier tonight, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak confirmed that the club reached out to Fuentes' agents at the Beverly Hills Sports Council, writes Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.  Heyman notes that the pairing makes sense as Fuentes hoped to join a winning team once he hit the open market. 

Fuentes, 36, struggled in 25 innings for the A's this year, posting a 6.84 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9.  For his career, Fuentes owns a 3.58 ERA with 9.4 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9.

NL Central Notes: Reds, Cardinals, Baker, Astros

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Links out of the NL Central..

  • The Reds need a leadoff hitter, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes. Denard Span, Shane Victorino, Juan Pierre, David DeJesus and Coco Crisp could be among the options GM Walt Jocketty considers, Rosenthal suggests.  Recently, MLBTR took a detailed look at the trade market for outfielders.
  • Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said the club's initial focus was landing a starting pitcher but he has now "cast a little larger net to include relief pitching," writes Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  • While skipper Dusty Baker is as feisty as ever, his future with the Reds is hazy, writes Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.  Baker is on the back end of a two-year extension that he signed with the club on the heels of his original three-year pact.
  • New Astros owner Jim Crane held a Q-and-A session yesterday and Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle has the goods.  Crane gave GM Jeff Luhnow a positive evaluation for the first half of the season and credited him for making quality trades with the future in mind.
  • Brewers‬ right-hander Tim Dillard has accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A, tweets club Media Relations Director Mike Vassallo.  Dillard has a 4.38 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 37 innings for Milwaukee this season.

NL Central Links: Greinke, Duncan, Reds

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Here's the latest from the NL Central…

  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin said he hasn't received many phone calls about Zack Greinke, though some teams have subtly expressed interest, reports Tom Haudricourt of the MIlwaukee Journal Sentinel.  “I think, respectfully, general managers don't call when you're eight games out [in the division], six games out of a wild card," Melvin said. "They don't call but their let their interest be known in a different way. Their scouts will talk to our scouts and say, 'We're interested in somebody.' "
  • Melvin also said that it's doubtful Greinke would sign an extension with the Brewers before the trade deadline. "When players get this close (to free agency), there's not many that will sign, at that (talent) level,” said Melvin. “He's a difference-maker to a team that's got a chance to go to the post-season. Unless you're raising the bar (to a higher salary), you usually go on the market.”
  • Dave Duncan served on Tony LaRussa's staff for the All-Star Game but otherwise, the veteran pitching coach seems like he is retired, writes Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Duncan took a leave of absence from the Cardinals last winter to take care of his wife, who is suffering from brain cancer.
  • The Reds need a leadoff hitter, and John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer speculates that Juan Pierre or Denard Span could be a fit.  Fay says it's possible the Reds could acquire a center fielder instead of a left fielder, as Drew Stubbs has struggled this season.

Cardinals Continue To Seek Pitching

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The Cardinals continue looking for starting pitching depth and the team will consider adding a left-handed reliever, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. GM John Mozeliak has suggested a major acquisition is less likely than a modest upgrade, Strauss writes. 

Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels probably won’t be traded to St. Louis this year. The Cardinals are unwilling to trade from their MLB roster, but they may be willing to discuss trades for top pitching prospect Shelby Miller for the first time, according to Strauss. Miller, who entered the season as the 8th-best prospect in the game, according to Baseball America, has struggled in 17 starts at Triple-A, posting a 6.17 ERA.

Though second base is a potential area of need for the Cardinals, Strauss suggests the team is likely to focus on making moves to improve the pitching staff. I recently previewed the trade market for starting pitchers and second basemen.

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