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Quick Hits: Astros, Blue Jays, Yankees, Wolf, Appel

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Blue Jays first round draft choice Marcus Stroman has been suspended for 50 games for violating the minor league drug prevention and treatment program, the team announced. Stroman, who obtained a $1.8MM bonus earlier in the summer, maintains that he “unknowingly ingested a banned stimulant that was in an over-the-counter supplement.” He wasn’t the only former first rounder suspended today. Josh Sale, who was selected 17th overall by the Rays in 2010, also obtained a 50-game suspension, according to Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune (on Twitter).

Here are Tuesday’s links…

  • “We’re continuing to assess our list of candidates,” said Astros GM Jeff Luhnow to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart about the club's managerial search. “We need someone that’s going to be good at teaching, someone good at inspiring and basically working with the front office and help us achieve our goal of becoming as competitive as possible."
  • The Yankees hadn’t placed Alex Rodriguez on waivers as of yesterday morning, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports. Though the Yankees would like to dump Rodriguez and the $114MM remaining on his contract for luxury tax purposes, Davidoff says A-Rod and the Yankees have a pretty good relationship these days.
  • ESPN officially announced an eight-year extension for the rights to broadcast MLB games. John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal reports that the deal is worth $700MM per year for a total of $5.6 billion. The deal also covers digital, international and radio rights.
  • Four teams showed interest in Randy Wolf when he hit the free agent market, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). The Athletics were one of the teams with serious interest in Wolf before he agreed to sign with the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (on Twitter).
  • ESPN.com's Keith Law previews the 2013 amateur draft class, suggesting it projects as one of the weakest in years. Mark Appel, the Pirates' first round selection in 2012, projects as a top talent for 2013 along with college right-hander Ryne Stanek.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Quick Hits: Clemens, Plouffe, Drew, Ortiz

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On this date 20 years ago the Mets sent right-hander David Cone to the Blue Jays for 24-year-old second baseman Jeff Kent. Cone helped Toronto win the first of two consecutive World Series titles and Kent went on to become a borderline Hall of Famer (though he spent his most productive seasons in San Francisco). Here are today’s links as we await the next major trade of the 2012 season…

  • Alan Blondin of the Houston Chronicle writes that Roger Clemens called his recent performance for the Sugar Land Skeeters a favor to Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti. Clemens told Blondin he doesn't have plans for further pitching performances, but cautioned, "That could change in a couple days." 
  • Twins general manager Terry Ryan feels that now is the time for Trevor Plouffe to step up and establish himself as the team's long-term answer at third base, writes Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN. Mackey quotes Ryan as saying Plouffe "[has] the rest of the year" to show the Twins that third base isn't a position they need to address.
  • Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson and general manager Kevin Towers told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that they don’t regret trading Stephen Drew to Oakland, even though Willie Bloomquist experienced a setback in his return from a back injury. “No. We wanted to see what [Jake] Elmore was capable of doing,” Towers said. “He’s held his own, I think, defensively out there.”
  • David Ortiz, a free agent this offseason, wants to re-sign with the Red Sox, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. “This is what I know and this is something I want to be part of,” Ortiz said.
  • The Athletics and Astros have improved their farm systems considerably in the last year, Jim Callis of Baseball America writes in this week’s edition of Ask BA.
  • The Blue Jays should have publicly told the Red Sox that manager John Farrell is off-limits long ago, Shi Davidi writes at Sportsnet.ca. The Blue Jays have failed to limit speculation about the possibility of Farrell returning to Boston, Davidi writes. Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos has said the Blue Jays won’t announce an extension with Farrell, even if the sides agree to one.

Steve Adams contributed to this post.

Athletics Acquire Jesse Chavez

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The Athletics announced that they acquired right-hander Jesse Chavez from the Blue Jays for cash considerations. Oakland's 40-man roster is now full.

Chavez, 29, posted an 8.44 ERA with 11.4 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 in 21 1/3 innings with the Blue Jays this year before getting designated for assignment. He has spent most of the season starting games at Triple-A, where he has a 3.98 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 95 innings. The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks made the Blue Jays an offer for Chavez earlier this year, but Toronto declined.

AL East Notes: Pettitte, Torrealba, McClure

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A few notes out of the American League East, where the Yankees owned a four-game lead over the Rays entering Tuesday night's action …

  • Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte hasn't ruled out the possibility of pitching again in 2013, writes Chad Jennings of the Journal News. "I definitely can’t tell you right now that I would say there’s no way I’m going to play," Pettitte said. The 40-year-old left-hander, who signed a one-year, $2.5MM minor league contract in March, is currently rehabbing a broken ankle he suffered in late June and hopes to return before the season's over.
  • Blue Jays catcher Yorvit Torrealba said he had several suitors after being released by the Rangers earlier this month but decided to sign a minor league deal with Toronto because he'd have more playing time, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com (Twitter link).
  • Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine remained vague as to why pitching coach Bob McClure was relieved of his duties on Monday, according to Dan Duggan of the Boston Herald. McClure was hired last offseason before Valentine was, but Valentine said he was on-board with having McClure as his pitching coach during the interview process.

Rosenthal On Swisher, Brewers, Dodgers

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The Pirates know what it’s like to fall out of contention after playing well for four months and they hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s late-season struggles. “Our young players have been through it once,” Pirates GM Neal Huntington told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. “They don’t ever want to go through it again.” Here are the rest of Rosenthal’s notes from around MLB…

  • The Yankees aren’t ruling out keeping Nick Swisher when he hits free agency after the season, but it seems more likely that he’ll sign elsewhere. It appears that Swisher will be tied to draft pick compensation this winter.
  • The Blue Jays will likely discuss an extension with manager John Farrell this offseason so he doesn’t enter the 2013 season without long-term security. If Farrell isn’t ready to commit to an extension, the Blue Jays could look to work out a deal with the Red Sox, who previously employed Farrell as their pitching coach.
  • Rosenthal points out that Marco Scutaro has provided the Giants with offense and versatility since San Francisco acquired him from Colorado last month.
  • Though the Brewers’ season has generally been disappointing, the team has developed Mike Fiers into a promising starting pitcher, found a second catcher in Martin Maldonado and traded for shortstop Jean Segura. The Brewers are impressed by Aramis Ramirez’s leadership, according to Rosenthal.
  • Rosenthal suggests we shouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers make another waiver trade before the month of August ends. They already acquired Joe Blanton from the Phillies in one waiver deal.
  • Could the Rays trade David Price to the Rangers for a package of players built around Elvis Andrus and Martin Perez this winter? Rosenthal speculates about the possibility, but there’s no indication the sides are discussing a deal.

Napoli, Mathis Talk Contracts, Hitting, Defense

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Few observers would argue that Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis have similar strengths relative to their fellow MLB catchers. Anything but. One is a power hitting All-Star; the other is a defensive specialist with a history of below-average offensive performances. While categorizing the players themselves as opposites would be overly simplistic, they have taken divergent paths in one significant respect: their contracts.

Both Napoli and Mathis entered the 2012 season with one-year deals, five-plus years of service time, and free agency approaching quickly. Napoli has tabled extension talks for now and is still on track to hit free agency this offseason. Meanwhile, Mathis bypassed the open market last week for the security of a two-year, $3MM extension. Deciding to give up free agency with six weeks to go in the season was difficult for the Blue Jays catcher.

Mike Napoli - Rangers (PW)

“It was. There’s no doubt about that,” he told MLBTR this past weekend. “Ever since you come into professional ball that’s what you wait for really. You get to see what kind of teams want you for the first time ever. It was tough giving that up, but the Blue Jays made the decision worth my while and we got something done.”

Mathis said contract talks began a little more than a month ago and accelerated after the non-waiver trade deadline passed. For someone who has played exclusively on one-year deals, the security of a multiyear contract had considerable appeal.

“It’s big,” he said. “We’re in this game to stay, you want to stay around as long as you can and try to get that tenure in and try to be with a team that you think is going in the right direction and win some ballgames and that’s where this organization is at.”

While Mathis and his representatives at Jet Sports Management undertook the task of negotiating a contract in the midst of the season, Napoli said he hasn’t had recent talks with the Rangers. He’s now on the disabled list with a quad injury and doesn’t appear to be thinking about free agency.

“I really can’t control any of that right now,” Napoli told MLBTR. “I want to be [in Texas]. I want to stay here, but I’m just worried about getting back on the field and trying to help our team get in position to make a run at it.”

Multi-Dimensional

Napoli and Mathis have existed and co-existed on opposite ends of the offensive spectrum as Major Leaguers. A total of 37 catchers have appeared in at least 400 games since 2006, the first year Napoli and Mathis got considerable playing time at the MLB level. Napoli leads the group of 37 with a .502 slugging percentage and he ranks second in OPS, trailing only Joe Mauer. Conversely, Mathis ranks last in on-base percentage (.256), slugging percentage (.314) and OPS (.570) since 2006.

Yet the Blue Jays saw enough from Mathis on defense and at the plate to extend him through 2014. Napoli said he was pleased to see his longtime teammate obtain a multiyear contract. And he suggested Mathis’ offense — a career-best .664 OPS with seven home runs — might be sustainable.

“I played with him in the minors so I’ve seen him hit,” Napoli said, alluding to Mathis' minor league successes at the plate. “To see him come back and be able to do it again is good. He looks comfortable. He’s playing and having fun.”

If Mathis’ bat has been a pleasant surprise, Napoli’s is a known commodity. Mike Piazza and Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Roy Campanella are the only catchers in baseball history to out-homer Napoli through seven MLB seasons. Napoli may not be Cooperstown-bound, but he should still get credit for his glovework as well as his offense, according to Mathis.

“He’s always been able to hit,” Mathis said. “And I always thought he was a pretty good [defensive] catcher too. He had some injuries early and I guess kind of got a bad rap over there with the Angels. I’ve been around him for a long time through the minor leagues and in the big leagues and always knew he had it in him. I knew he was going to hit and become a good hitter, but I’m really happy to see what kind of catcher he evolved into.”

Up Next

Mathis is set for the foreseeable future, yet the uncertainty and opportunity of the open market looms for Napoli. His agent, Brian Grieper, had preliminary extension talks with the Rangers, but the sides agreed to table discussions following the All-Star break.

Grieper suggested in April that Napoli would seek a contract worth more than Victor Martinez’s four-year, $52MM deal and less than Yadier Molina’s five-year, $75MM deal. Miguel Montero’s five-year, $60MM contract could also figure in to talks when they resume after the season. Napoli's leg injury won’t help his free agent stock, and neither will the dropoff in production (at least compared to his exceptional 2011 year). Still, catchers who can hit are always in demand.

As baseball executives and agents prepare to navigate a new set of rules for the first time, this winter’s transactions promise to be as complex as ever. The Rangers could make Napoli a one-year qualifying offer worth $13MM-plus under the sport’s new collective bargaining agreement. Such an offer would link Napoli to draft pick compensation and could affect his free agent value, but it’s not a possibility on which he chooses to dwell.

“My agent explained it to me and I understand it, but I let him take care of it,” Napoli said. “He fills me in on everything I need to know.”

Until the offseason begins, that won’t be much. But once the free agent bidding gets started, Napoli can expect his share of calls.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

Rosenthal On Andrus, Headley, Ichiro, Victorino

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (video link) has posted his latest edition of Full Count, so let's dive in..

  • The Rangers likely promotion of top prospect Jurickson Profar doesn't necessarily mean that they'll trade Elvis Andrus this offseason, but its possible. Profar is 19-years-old with many years of club control ahead of him while Andrus has only two years left on his contract after this season. Andrus is a Scott Boras client, making an extension unlikely.
  • The Padres want one more piece for their rotation to support Clayton Richard and Edinson Volquez and Chase Headley could be the piece to help them make that happen. San Diego didn't get the prospect package that they wanted for Headley before the deadline but they could get a solid big league pitcher for him this winter.
  • The Giants made a serious run at Ichiro Suzuki at the deadline before he wound up with the Yankees. GM Brian Sabean instead went for Hunter Pence as he felt the lineup needed more power. Rosenthal wouldn't be surprised if the Giants pursue Ichiro in free agency, depending on how they feel about re-signing Melky Cabrera.
  • A source told Rosenthal that the Pirates could have gotten Shane Victorino from the Phillies before the deadline for Brad Lincoln. Of course, Pittsburgh instead sent Lincoln to the Blue Jays for Travis Snider.

Red Sox Notes: Blue Jays, Farrell, Varitek

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Here's a look at the latest on the Red Sox as they get set to take on the Yankees in the Bronx..

  • There has been a great deal of speculation that the Red Sox could look to lure back Blue Jays skipper John Farrell should they choose to part ways with Bobby Valentine, but Farrell shot down the talk, writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.  Farrell reminded reporters that he is still under contract in Toronto while General Manager Alex Anthopoulos noted that the club's policy only allows for departures in the event of a promotion.
  • Farrell's contract runs through next season but it may make sense for both Toronto and Boston to work out a deal, opines Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd).  Olney adds that the Red Sox came close to reaching an agreement with Toronto last fall.  The Blue Jays, he writes, should present Farrell with an extension offer beyond 2013, and should look to trade him to Boston should he decline. 
  • While many people have opined that former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek would make sense as the club's next manager, WEEI.com's Kirk Minihane argues that Boston needs an outsider as its skipper.

Outrighted To Triple-A: Abreu, Ekstrom, Igarashi

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Here are the latest outright assignments, courtesy of the MLB.com transactions page…

  • The Blue Jays have outrighted right-hander Juan Abreu to Triple-A. Toronto claimed the 27-year-old off waivers from the Astros earlier this week. He's pitched to a 7.04 ERA in 46 Triple-A relief innings this year.
  • The Rockies have outrighted right-hander Mike Ekstrom to Triple-A. The 28-year-old was designated for assignment earlier this week after allowing 11 runs in 15 2/3 relief innings for Colorado this season.
  • The Yankees have outrighted right-hander Ryota Igarashi to Triple-A. New York claimed the 33-year-old off waivers from the Blue Jays earlier this season, and he's allowed four runs during his three innings in pinstripes.
  • The Twins have outrighted outfielder Rene Tosoni to Triple-A. The 26-year-old hit .218/.299/.314 in 293 plate appearances at various levels of Minnesota's farm system this year.

Astros Acquire Comer To Complete Ten-Player Deal

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The Blue Jays have sent right-handed pitching prospect Kevin Comer to the Astros to the complete last month's ten player trade, the team announced. The original deal included Francisco Cordero, Ben Francisco, Brandon Lyon, and J.A. Happ, among others.

Comer, 20, was the 57th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He's pitched to a 3.95 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 43 1/3 innings in the low levels of Toronto's farm system this year. ESPN's Keith Law says (on Twitter) that Comer's fastball velocity has been down into the upper-80s this season. Baseball America ranked him as the 17th best prospect in the Blue Jays' system in their Prospect Handbook before the season.

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