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NL Central Notes: Reds, Cardinals, Bartlett, Cubs

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Let's take a look at some items out of the NL Central, including a Point-Counterpoint on the Cardinals and Jason Bartlett..

  • The Reds' biggest need at the trade deadline will be at shortstop if Paul Janish doesn't turn things around at the plate, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.  The 28-year-old is hitting .221/.250/.260 so far this year.
  • Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals should be "all over" Jason Bartlett if the Padres make him available.  While Gordon likes what Ryan Theriot has brought to the table this year, he believes that his substandard defensive play at shortstop is hurting the club.
  • Meanwhile, Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch presents a respectful dissent to the case for Bartlett.  While Bartlett is a better option defensively than Theriot, the gap between the two at the plate is too large to overlook.
  • Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald wonders if it's time for a regime change with the Cubs’ baseball operation.  Miles points out that GM Jim Hendry is getting to rebuild his club for a third time, something few major-market GMs get to do.

Cardinals Have Inquired On Heath Bell

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Fernando Salas has converted all ten of his save opportunities in 2011, so the Cardinals may not need another closer this summer. But in case Salas, Ryan Franklin, Eduardo Sanchez, Mitchell Boggs and the rest of the St. Louis bullpen don't offer enough late-inning stability, the Cardinals are doing their homework. They're among the teams that have checked in on Padres closer Heath Bell, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).

Bell, 33, earns $7.5MM this year and hits free agency after the season. He converted his fourth save in as many days tonight and now has 14 on the season to go along with a 1.96 ERA, 7.0 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. The Rangers have also checked in on Bell, whose trade value I explored last week.

Quick Hits: Pirates, Reyes, Mariners, Galarraga

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Links for Sunday, after John Danks was unable to get his first win of 2011 this afternoon….

  • It seems likely that the Pirates will place Ryan Doumit on the disabled list after he injured his ankle today, and Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh-Tribune Review says (on Twitter) that Dusty Brown would get called up to replace him since Jason Jaramillo is also hurt. Pittsburgh's 40-man roster is full, so a move will have to be made to accommodate Brown.
  • Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger reports (on Twitter) that Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was again asked about his contract following today's game. "I've told you like a million times already," said Reyes, an impending free agent. "If [an extension] comes, it comes. If not, I'm going to continue to play."
  • Larry Stone of The Seattle Times spoke to Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik about the upcoming draft, who indicated that he will not draft based on team need and that they have a group of about five players they're specifically targeting for the second overall pick.
  • Bob Cohn of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote about the importance that decision-making plays into the success of small market teams.
  • Armando Galarraga wasn't pleased about his demotion to Triple-A, writes Chris Gabel of the Reno Gazette-Journal. The right-hander was blunt about why he stayed in the Diamondbacks' organization and accepted his minor league assignment: "The money. They have to pay me $2.3MM to come here."
  • The trade pulled off by the Yankees, Tigers, and Diamondbacks in 2009 was the rare three-way deal that worked out for each team, says Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
  • Asked whether the Indians could pursue Jim Thome this summer, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer points out that if the Twins make him available, it likely won't be until after he hits his 600th home run. Hoynes doubts that the veteran slugger is a fit for the Tribe anyway.
  • While the Red Sox committed over $300MM to Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez this year, their smaller investments are also paying dividends, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
  • P.J. Walters was removed from the Cardinals' 40-man roster and cleared waivers earlier this weekend, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Quick Hits: Gonzalez, Cardinals, Posey

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On this date in 1968, MLB announced two new expansion teams: the Montreal Expos and the San Diego Padres. The Expos’ ancestors (the Nationals) and the Padres occupy last place in their respective divisions this year. Here’s the latest from the Major Leagues: 

  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that the Tigers kicked around the idea of trading for Adrian Gonzalez when he was with the Rangers in 2004-05 (Twitter link). However, talks never got very far and the Rangers dealt the first baseman to San Diego.
  • A rival GM told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he expects the Cardinals to make a “major push” to acquire talent this summer, since this could be St. Louis’ last playoff run with Albert Pujols.
  • Giants catcher Buster Posey would be “infinitely safer” at first base because he’d stay fresher, according to Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle (she acknowledges that Posey adds plenty of value as a catcher).
  • An NL executive who could benefit from Posey’s absence was rattled by the catcher's injury because he's good for baseball, according to EPSN.com’s Buster Olney.

Astros Claim Blake King Off Of Waivers

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The Astros have claimed right-handed pitcher Blake King off waivers from the Cardinals, according to a team press release.  The 24-year-old was placed on the Astros 40-man roster and optioned to Double-A Corpus Christi.

King failed to impress in 2011 at the Triple-A level after spending the bulk of his time in Double-A Springfield.  In 58 career Double-A appearances, the 6-foot-1 hurler has a 3.47 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 7.1 BB/9.

Heyman On Reyes, Rodriguez, A’s, Minaya

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We know that Mets owner Fred Wilpon doesn’t think Jose Reyes is a $142MM player, but how do other insiders see it? Jon Heyman of SI.com hears from five MLB executives who estimate Reyes will sign for somewhere between $45-108MM after the season when he hits free agency. Here’s the latest from around the majors, with a focus on Reyes’ Mets:

  • Francisco Rodriguez, who can veto trades to ten teams, told Heyman that he understands baseball is “a business” and deals happen.
  • There’s no chance the Mariners trade Felix Hernandez now that they’re playing better, according to Heyman.
  • If the White Sox make a starter available, Edwin Jackson could be the one to hit the trade market, as he’s eligible for free agency after the season. 
  • Over the weekend, MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk weighed in on what a “bad” season would mean for Albert Pujols. Heyman says Pujols will surely do well even if his off-year continues, since the Cardinals “aren't going to lower their offer of nine years and more than $200MM.”
  • Ivan Rodriguez repeated that he wants to play three more years.
  • Despite the recent controversy involving A’s manager Bob Geren and relievers Brian Fuentes and Huston Street, Heyman says the skipper “isn't going anywhere.”
  • The Indians are one of a few teams that has shown interest in former Mets and Expos GM Omar Minaya.

Quick Hits: Orioles, Cardinals, De La Rosa, Matsuzaka

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Links for Tuesday night, as Tigers catcher Alex Avila enjoys his third career two-homer game…

  • Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli that he will continue considering internal and external replacements for Brian Roberts, who won't return before the end of May (Twitter link). 
  • Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explains that the Cardinals demoted Mitchell Boggs in spite of his strong 2011 numbers because they can stretch him out at Triple-A. The Cards could have near-term needs for starters or middle relievers. 
  • On a related note, GM John Mozeliak told Tom Krasovic of MLB.com that he may explore trades for relievers at the deadline. However, Mozeliak says it’s still too early to predict with certainty that the bullpen will be the Cardinals’ biggest need this summer.
  • Rockies left-hander Jorge de la Rosa has a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, the team announced (on Twitter). Tommy John surgery appears to be a likely option for de la Rosa.
  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post suggests we should keep Kevin Slowey in mind as a possible target for the Rockies should they look outside of the organization for rotation depth (Twitter link).
  • Yahoo's Jeff Passan calls Daisuke Matsuzaka a "$103MM migraine" and reports that the right-hander has ignored what the Red Sox have wanted him to do since signing with Boston. Matsuzaka, who has a sprained UCL, might never pitch for the Red Sox again if he needs Tommy John surgery, according to Passan.
  • Jim Bowden of ESPN.com previews his top five potential sellers at this year's trade deadline: the Mets, Astros, Twins, Cubs and Padres.

Brian Broderick Returned To Cardinals

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The Cardinals accepted Rule 5 selection Brian Broderick back from the Nationals, according to Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com (on Twitter). The Nationals get $25K back from the Cardinals to complete the transaction.

Broderick pitched 12 1/3 innings for the Nationals this year and allowed 16 hits and three walks while striking out four. Manager Jim Riggleman has not used the 24-year-old right-hander since May 13th. The Nationals claimed Broderick after a 2010 season in which he posted a 3.66 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in 150 innings as a starter in Class A and at Double-A.

Quick Hits: Holliday, Twins, Astros, Nats, Red Sox

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Some links to browse through on your Sunday afternoon…

What A “Bad” Season Does For Albert Pujols

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With all of the discussion surrounding what Albert Pujols may earn in free agency this winter, the common factor that everyone counted on was that Pujols would…well, continue to hit like Albert Pujols in his contract year.  There was no reason to expect that 2011 would be any different from Pujols' usual superlative campaign, given his history of good health and incredibly consistent performance.

Though 46 games into 2011, however, the Machine hasn't yet kicked into full gear.  Entering Saturday's action, Pujols had seven homers and a .266/.338/.412 line.  These are above-average numbers (a 109 OPS+) compared to the average player but they're far below Pujols' career norms.  To give you an idea of how amazing Pujols has been in his career, his current .751 OPS is a whopping .290 points below his career 162-game average of 1.041.

Pujols has been a bit unlucky this year (a .260 BABIP) and in all likelihood, the slugger's final 2011 stats will be close to his usual Cooperstown-level standard.  But for a player that is hoping to sign a historic free agent contract this winter, any drop in form is a big setback.  Suppose, for a moment, that Pujols doesn't heat up and he finishes the season with a .750 OPS — what would such a performance do to the "Albertageddon" market this offseason?

Though Pujols' record of production and durability is almost unmatched in baseball history, one average year drops his price tag considerably.  Suddenly, more teams consider the wisdom of giving a mammoth deal to a player who turns 32 next season and who might already be on the decline.  With a .750 OPS season, Pujols' target suddenly goes from the heights of matching Alex Rodriguez's record deal with the Yankees to trying to match Adrian Gonzalez's seven-year, $154MM deal with the Red Sox.  Even with a poor season, Pujols should still be able to match Gonzalez's contract given that teams like the Cubs and Nationals could be in the bidding this winter and both teams have a history of overpaying for veterans they really want.

Oddly enough, a weak season would probably increase the chances of Pujols staying in St. Louis.  While Pujols undoubtedly would be confident of a return to form in 2012, he also doesn't want to spend his final years in a new city being booed as a contractual millstone around his new team's neck.  In St. Louis, even if Pujols does decline, he'll always be a local hero.  The Cardinals reportedly offered something akin to a nine-year deal worth $200MM last spring, and I could see the Cards making a new offer with a roughly-similar average annual value (say, $20-$25MM per season) but only for five or six guaranteed years.  With an offer like that plus the bonus of being a St. Louis icon for the rest of his life, Pujols could very well accept and choose to try and rebound in a familiar environment.

Another intriguing possibility is that Pujols might go in the other direction and take on more risk in the wake of a letdown year.  What if Pujols looked for a one-year, $28.5MM deal this winter?  It would give Pujols a chance to prove himself worthy of a multiyear deal, give agent Dan Lozano bragging rights at topping the average annual value of Roger Clemens' $28MM contract in 2007, and it would considerably increase the list of potential suitors.  Even if Pujols faltered in 2012, he'd still have one year's worth of a big payday under his belt, and given his career achievements, could still find something like a two-year, $40MM deal in the 2012-13 offseason.

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