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Cafardo On Kazmir, Upton, Broxton, Ramirez

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In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wonders if roster manipulation is rampant in baseball.  Cafardo points to the pulled quad muscle injury of Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald as a possible example.  McDonald wasn't showing any signs of injury and when asked about it, he gave a "no comment".  It's possible that Boston simply wanted to get McDonald more playing time with Mike Cameron eating up the lion's share of the reps.  Things such as this, Cafardo writes, are happening all around baseball.  Let's see what else is happening around the majors:

  • As poorly as left-hander Scott Kazmir has pitched in the last two seasons, there are at least five teams looking at him in the Rockies, Marlins, Padres, Rangers, and Diamondbacks.  It also wouldn't be a surprise if the Yankees jump into the mix considering their pitching needs.
  • There always seems to be a should-we-or-shouldn’t-we-trade B.J. Upton dilemma for the Rays. The Nationals could be a fit as they'd like a young center fielder they can grow with.  The question is: is he available?  All signs point to yes.
  • Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton has been on the shelf since May with an elbow injury, but the club could move him if they're lagging in the standings.
  • The Marlins' recent slide has skipper Edwin Rodriguez on the hot seat and it's no secret that the club has been keeping an eye on Ozzie Guillen for quite some time.  Guillen has one year remaining on his deal with the White Sox.
  • The Dodgers owe Manny Ramirez more than $8MM in deferred payments but the charismatic twelve-time All-Star is collecting a lot more than that.  The BoSox owe him quite a bit of money too, roughly $32MM over 16 years.  Boston will pay Ramirez through 2026, when he’ll be 54-years-old.

Minor Moves: Carter, Ramirez, Dopirak, Redding

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The latest minor moves…

  • Baseball America's Matt Eddy posted a comprehensive list of recent minor league transactions, including a swarm of draft pick signings and undrafted free agent pickups from the last week.
  • The Rays released Chris Carter according to the Triple-A International League transactions page. The 28-year-old hit .270/.309/.460 with ten homers in 233 plate appearances.
  • The Astros released catcher Max Ramirez and first baseman/DH Brian Dopirak, tweets Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.  The Astros had signed Ramirez in May after he'd been released by the Cubs.  Dopirak was added in December.  Both players had OBPs under .290 in their brief Triple-A stints.
  • The Phillies signed righty Tim Redding to a minor league deal, tweets MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.  The 33-year-old posted a 6.59 ERA in 13 starts for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate this year.
  • The Angels inked righty Jerome Williams for their Triple-A rotation, tweeted his agency Full Circle Sports Management.  The 29-year-old was drafted 39th overall by the Giants back in '99, one pick after the Rangers grabbed Colby Lewis.  Williams hasn't pitched in the bigs since '07.

Quick Hits: Rays, Pena, Phillies, Dodgers, Royals

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Dustin Ackley will make his debut tomorrow, but Blue Jays righty Zach Stewart got his first taste of The Show today against the Orioles.  Stewart, acquired by former Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi in the July '09 Scott Rolen deal, ranked 44th on Keith Law's preseason top 100 prospects list for ESPN.  On to today's links…

  • Baseball America's Jim Callis reports that the Rays are on the verge of signing supplemental first round picks Jeff Ames and James Harris. The team signed two other supplemental first rounders earlier today.
  • Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe hears that the Diamondbacks are considering calling up Wily Mo Pena for interleague play (on Twitter). Pena has not been in the big leagues since 2008, but he's hitting .356/.431/.736 with 21 homers for Arizona's Triple-A affiliate, and he could DH in AL parks.
  • Andy Martino of The New York Daily News speculates about the possibility of Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran winding up with the Phillies at the trade deadline.
  • The Phillies "are making inquiries on established and pricey veterans" as they search for a right-handed hitting outfielder, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.  We covered this topic on Monday, under the impression that pricey players were not a fit.  If the Phillies do have these types on the radar, players like Michael Cuddyer and Ryan Ludwick could enter the mix in my opinion.
  • MLB is interviewing former Dodgers executives as its investigation nears its conclusion, reports Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times. 
  • The first player from the 2011 draft class could be the Diamondbacks' Trevor Bauer, in the opinion of ESPN's Jason Churchill and Keith Law, assuming they sign him (Insider required).
  • I talked Royals with Nick Wright of 610 Sports yesterday; download an mp3 of the audio here.

Rays Sign Draft Picks Blake Snell, Kes Carter

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7:06pm: MLBTR has learned that Snell has signed for $684K, exactly slot money. He is represented by Adam Karon and Tripper Johnson of Sosnick Cobbe Sports. Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets that Carter signed for $625K, which is slightly below slot. 

5:25pm: The Rays have signed supplemental first round draft picks Blake Snell and Kes Carter, reports Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times (on Twitter). No word on either player's signing bonus, but MLB's slot recommendation for the 52nd and 56th overall picks is approximately $684K and $644K, respectively.

Snell, a high school left-hander from Washington, was the 52nd overall selection, taken with the pick Tampa Bay received as compensation for losing Joaquin Benoit. Baseball America's Advanced Draft Database (subs. req'd) notes that he throws 88-92 with a curveball and changeup that are "just average at best."

Carter, an outfielder from Western Kentucky, was the 56th overall selection and was taken with the pick the Rays received for losing Randy Choate. Baseball America says he flashes all five tools with a smooth lefty swing and good plate discipline. They note that his health and struggles against left-handed pitchers are a concern.

Draft Notes: Lamb, Bichette, Josh Bell, Beede

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Two months away from the signing deadline, we won't be seeing over-slot signings anytime soon.  Still, here's the latest.

  • Clemson lefty Will Lamb, chosen 83rd overall in the second round by the Rangers, signed at slot for $430,200, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  • Dante Bichette Jr., drafted 51st overall by the Yankees in the supplemental round, tweeted that he'll "officially a Yankee very very soon."  The Yanks received that pick as compensation for the loss of Javier Vazquez.  Slot for that pick is around $695K.  You can learn more about Bichette over at River Ave. Blues, where Mike Axisa profiled the slugger.
  • ESPN's Keith Law tweets that he's told there is no dollar figure that would change Josh Bell's mind about going to college.  Bell, drafted 61st overall by the Pirates, was one of the top draft talents but has made it clear he will honor his commitment to the University of Texas.  Of course, he also hired Scott Boras as his advisor, so clearly the Pirates think there's a chance he can be signed.
  • The Blue Jays' first pick (21st overall) was high school righty Tyler Beede; Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein tweets of rumors that the Jays had a pre-draft deal done with him.  Law tweeted a few days ago that Beede is going to sign for about $3MM, which would be about $1.7MM over slot.
  • The Rays exceeded slot on second round pick Granden Goetzman, signing the prep outfielder for $490K according to Baseball America's Jim Callis.  The Rays went over slot by less than five grand, though, and Callis says teams can exceed slot by up to five percent without going through the commissioner's office.  Goetzman went 75th overall but was actually the Rays' 11th pick.
  • If you have ESPN Insider, Law has a post up with names to watch for the 2012 draft.

Quick Hits: Miller, Dodgers, D’Backs, Rays, Trades

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Here are a few items of note as Justin Verlander narrowly misses his second no-hitter of the season:

  • Red Sox lefty Andrew Miller, currently in Triple-A, will remain with Boston and not opt out of his contract, as we inferred earlier today. Now, we know why: Miller will likely soon be called up and added to the rotation, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
  • With their financial future hazy, the Dodgers should take notes on how successful small-market teams like the Rays and Marlins operate, writes Tom Krasovic of West Coast Bias.
  • The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with seven more Draft picks — bringing their total up to 30 of the 52 players they selected — including third-rounder Justin Bianco, according to a club press release.
  • The Rays signed second-round pick Granden Goetzman, writes Anthony Chiang of MLB.com.
  • This season's relative league-wide parity has led to a slow-developing trade market, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com (via Twitter). An AL executive told Morosi, "Too many teams still in it."

Felipe Lopez Clears Waivers

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TUESDAY: For the second time this season, Lopez has cleared waivers after being DFA'd and accepted his assignment to Triple-A Durham, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (via Twitter).

SATURDAY: The Rays have designated Felipe Lopez for assignment and activated Elliot Johnson from the disabled list in a corresponding move, according to the Tampa Tribune (via Twitter).

It's been an interesting ride for Lopez and the Rays. He fell out of favor after not hustling and was DFA'd last month upon Evan Longoria's return from the DL. However, Lopez cleared waivers, accepted an assignment to Triple-A Durham and was later recalled. The Rays hope this DFA will play out similarly, writes Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.

The well-travelled Lopez owns a .265/.334/.393 in 11 Major League seasons. He signed a minor league deal with Tampa Bay prior to this season.

Contenders In Need Of First Base Help

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As many as six contenders might aim to improve at first base as we approach the trade deadline: the Rays, Angels, Braves, Pirates, Giants, and Diamondbacks.  Let's take a closer look.

  • The Rays have used Casey Kotchman at first lately, and with a .335/.392/.445 line he has not disappointed.  Kotchman has scuffled in 39 June plate appearances, however, and if that is a sign that he's back to the level of his previous few seasons, the Rays will need to upgrade.
  • Rookie Mark Trumbo is the Angels' first baseman.  He's shown some power, but a .248/.294/.454 line is subpar at the position.  Russell Branyan is also in the mix.
  • The Braves are using rookie Freddie Freeman, who has played fairly close to expectations at .268/.335/.416.  You'd like to see more power, but the Braves might be content here.
  • Pirates first baseman Lyle Overbay is hitting just .236/.305/.369.  Typically the Bucs are not mentioned in posts about contenders, but at five games back they could be more buyers than sellers.
  • Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff has struggled to a .234/.288/.393 line, though he's been better in June.  Given his contract, the Giants will probably stick with him.  Top prospect Brandon Belt could be Plan B if Huff is struggling when the rookie recovers from a broken wrist.
  • The Diamondbacks have been using Juan Miranda and Xavier Nady at first base.  Miranda has been solid overall, though not in June.  Nady hasn't done much.  Brandon Allen is an option at Triple-A.

That makes six contenders that might consider a first base upgrade, though all of them could easily stand pat.  Who's available?  Carlos Pena, Michael Cuddyer, Wilson Betemit, Yonder Alonso, Brad Hawpe, Juan Rivera, James Loney, Derrek Lee, Chris Davis, and Kila Ka'aihue can probably be had, but they're not clear upgrades for anyone.  The best bet to be dealt might be Pena, who is hitting .250/.388/.492 since May 1st.  Loney has also been better lately.

East Notes: Jays, Reyes, Goetzman, Phillies

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It was on this day in 1948 that Babe Ruth made his last public appearance at Yankee Stadium during a celebration of the Stadium's 25th anniversary.  With several of his teammates from the 1923 World Series champion Yankees looking on, Ruth's #3 uniform number was retired, marking the second retired number in Yankees history after Lou Gehrig's #4 was immortalized in 1939.  Ruth passed away soon after this ceremony, on August 16, 1948.

Since the Babe grew up in Baltimore and spent his whole career in New York and Boston, let's stick to some items from the east coast….

  • The Blue Jays have focused on drafting high schoolers under GM Alex Anthopoulos, a strategy that Fangraphs' Reed MacPhail says is a sign that Toronto is ready to spend what it takes to get their picks signed.
  • A Jose Reyes extension could look like the disastrous contracts given to Luis Castillo and Chone Figgins if Reyes' speed lessens as it did with those players, points out Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  That said, Sherman asks "If Reyes played for another team wouldn’t the Mets be going crazy trying to sign him in the offseason? Especially if they were pretending to be the big-market team that ownership wants to claim this franchise still is?"
  • Reyes' "value is greater to the Mets than to other clubs." writes MLB.com's Marty Noble, who thinks the Mets should try to keep such a valuable asset.
  • Granden Goetzman, a second-round pick of the Rays (75th overall) tells The Bradenton Herald's Prep Rally blog that he will sign with the club tomorrow provided he passes a physical.
  • The Phillies have had interest in Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs in the past, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.  Renck isn't sure if Spilborghs is still on the Phils' radar as they search for right-handed hitting outfielders.
  • The Phillies released catcher Joel Naughton to create Triple-A roster space for Jason Grilli's activation from the DL, tweets MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.  Naughton (a native of Melbourne, Australia) has a career minor league line of .261/.318/.356 in seven seasons, though he only has 13 plate appearances above the high Class-A level.
  • The Red Sox have reached agreements with seven of their 2011 draft picks, reports WEEI.com's Alex Speier.  Sixth-rounder Miguel Pena is the highest-drafted of the signed players.

Rosenthal On Willingham, Upton, Reds, Twins

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It's the middle of June and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (video link) says that teams aren't sure if they'll be buying or selling as the deadline approaches..

  • The Athletics certainly look like sellers but they're not ready to just give players away.  Three of their more attractive hitters, David DeJesus, Coco Crisp, and Josh Willingham all make $6MM or less, salaries that are not prohibitive.  The A's can keep all of them, offer them arbitration, and then collect draft picks if they go elsewhere.  Right now, Willingham is the only one of the trio that projects as a Type A free agent.
  • The Rays could sell even while in contention if they believe that they can build something better for the future.  B.J. Upton remains a difficult call for the club.  Desmond Jennings, their top prospect, wouldn't provide as much of an impact.  At the same time, Upton is likely to make more than $6MM next season in arbitration.  Tampa Bay could wait until the offseason to move him but they might get more value if they act sooner.
  • If the Reds wanted to get creative, they could move one of their catchers for starting pitching and promote prospect Devin Mesoraco.  However, the combination of Ramon Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan is one of their strengths and they might not want to disrupt the chemistry between their pitchers and catchers.
  • The Twins are at the bottom of the AL Central but GM Bill Smith says that the team still believes that it's in the race.  It also helps that Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, and Joe Mauer are all expected back soon.  Minnesota isn't ready to pack it in just yet, and they're not quite ready to be mid-season sellers.
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