Archives for June 2009

The Disqualified List

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 2:45pm CDT

Another term for the MLBTR Glossary…

Players who violate the terms of their contract can be placed on the disqualified list, which prevents them from collecting service time and money. For example, the Nationals threatened to put Alfonso Soriano on the disqualified list when he refused to play the outfield in 2006, as this AP story shows.

Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts.

Heyman: Ten Teams That Could Add Payroll

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 12:54pm CDT

Jon Heyman of SI.com provides a list of ten teams that could add payroll. He adds the Angels, Brewers, Red Sox and Brewers to the list we assembled last week. Here are his ten teams:

The Red Sox could add payroll, but they don't have significant needs.
The Mets could add payroll and they need a hitter who can play first, the outfield, or both.
The Phillies could add payroll to acquire pitching.
The Angels, with several contracts expiring this year (Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey, Chone Figgins), could add salary.
The Giants could take on payroll to add a bat.
The Brewers and Cardinals could both free up money to add a pitcher or hitter.
The Tigers, White Sox and Dodgers round out Heyman's list, but he warns us not to rule out the Yankees.
Don't look for the White Sox to deal prospects away to increase their playoff chances, even though they trail the Tigers by just 5.0 games.
On another note, no one's called the Mariners about Adrian Beltre.

Jason Bay Was Nearly A Brave

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 12:20pm CDT

We know that the Braves and Rays almost acquired Jason Bay from the Pirates at last year's trade deadline. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com has some specifics on who the Pirates would have received in return and just how close the Braves came to completing the deal:

The Braves would have sent Concepcion Rodriguez, Brent Lillibridge, Brandon Jones and Jeff Locke to the Pirates.
Interestingly, Locke was eventually dealt to the Pirates for another All-Star outfielder, Nate McLouth.
The Braves actually had Bay's name sewed onto a jersey. I wonder who has it now…
Pirates president Frank Coonelly called the deal off since he wanted more major league talent in return.
Bay had no idea that he came so close to becoming a Brave and said he's happy to be in Boston.

Odds And Ends: Reds, LaRoche, Francoeur

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 12:05pm CDT

Rangers Want Pitching, Unlikely To Add Salary

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 11:40am CDT

Rangers president Nolan Ryan told Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he'd like to add a starter or a durable reliever, though it will be difficult for Texas to take on salary in a deadline deal.

There are free agent pitchers available, but Ryan isn't sure if the team will pursue any of them. The Rangers have been linked to the now-rehabbing Ben Sheets for months, but he's not ready to return to action. In theory Pedro Martinez could be an option, but Ryan said the Rangers wouldn't be able to meet his salary demands.

Mets Release Pena, Valentin

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 11:18am CDT

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports that the Mets released Wily Mo Pena and Javier Valentin from Triple A Buffalo.

Pena, 27, has 77 major league home runs to his name, including 26 with the Reds in 2004. He was hitting .276/.296/.414 with 5 homers in Buffalo. Valentin's best years came in Cincinnati, where he played half of his ten major league seasons. This season the 33-year-old was hitting .260/.360/.416 in Triple A.

Rays Rumors: Pedro, Sheffield

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 11:09am CDT

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times provided a pair of quick but interesting Rays rumors on the weekend:

The Rays have no interest in Pedro Martinez as a starter. Here's a rundown of some other teams rumored to be interested in Pedro.
Gary Sheffield wants to play two more seasons and retire with the Rays. Sheffield's 40 and the market for aging DH types has really slowed, but he does have an OPS of .876. The Rays already have Pat Burrell next year- would they have any interest in Sheffield?

Odds And Ends: Wedge, Penny, Mets

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 10:36am CDT

Some links to start the week off…

Bud Shaw of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Indians wouldn't improve if they fire Eric Wedge.
As this poll shows, 71% of Plain Dealer readers want Wedge fired.
Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer suggests the Indians' inability to develop better pitching shows in the standings.
MLB.com's Ian Browne says Brad Penny's becoming more and more valuable, especially to the Red Sox.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets' chance to deal Jose Reyes, David Wright or Carlos Beltran for three or four cheap, young players has likely come and gone.
The Moneyball movie, which was to star Brad Pitt, is now in jeopardy.

Prospect Updates: Strasburg, Harper, Sanchez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 10:11am CDT

Updates on some of baseball's best prospects;

It's fair to expect intense negotiations between Stephen Strasburg, Scott Boras and the Washington Nationals this summer. In this Philadephia Inquirer article by Don McKee, Jered Weaver says his negotiations were too "frantic" back when he was a top college pitcher like Strasburg.
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the D'Backs are creating so many new ways to lose that they could end up with a worse record than the Nationals and the chance to take Bryce Harper first overall next June.
Dave Mackall of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Pirates first rounder Tony Sanchez is "not oblivious" to the critics who say the Pirates drafted him too early.
Pedro Alvarez has been promoted to AA, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Steve Melewski of MASN.com reports that Mychal Givens was surprised when the Orioles drafted him. O's scouting director Joe Jordan says he'd be surprised if Givens signs soon.

Tigers Rumors: Magglio, Boras, Guillen

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 9:38am CDT

A closer look at the drama between the Tigers, Magglio Ordonez and Scott Boras, along with a couple other Tigers notes:

Boras told MLB.com's Jason Beck that he wasn't delivering a message to Jim Leyland when he spoke out against the Tigers' decision to bench his client. Boras says he'd phone Leyland if he wanted to talk to him.
Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press says Boras did phone Leyland- the problem is, the call came in the middle of yesterday's Tigers game.
Leyland believes Boras overreacted to the team's decision.
Ordonez could return to the Tigers' lineup against the Cubs tomorrow, according to Jason Beck.
And Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that Carlos Guillen is feeling better and could be ready for action by early July.
The Tigers are looking to trade for a power bat regardless.

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