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Giants Option Burriss To Triple A

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San Francisco just shook things up. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Gate reports the team optioned Emmanuel Burriss to Triple A Fresno and purchased the contract of Matt Downs, a 25-year old infielder. Burriss had been without a hit since June 4. Schulman writes,

"We feel now's the time Manny needs to go down and work on some things," [manager Bruce] Bochy said. "It's fair to say he's had his struggles." Bochy called this a "little hiccup" in Burriss' career and said, "He'll be back." Specifically, the Giants want Burriss to work on leadoff-type at-bats: bunting, using the whole field, etc…"

Catcher Steve Holm was DFA'd to make space for Downs on the 40-man.

Discussion: What Should The Tigers Do?

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With Carlos Guillen's season in jeopardy due to a disclosed shoulder injury, and the AL Central very much up for grabs, Rob Neyer wonders if the Tigers will now be motivated to trade for an impact hitter. Neyer notes Detroit's left field ranks 13th in the AL in OPS and their internal options are not the solution.

The Tigers are ready to deal and can add payroll, as reported earlier today by Drew Sharp. But do they need hitting or pitching?

Mario Impemba, the Tigers play-by-play announcer thinks the Tigers "have some hard decisions to make in the upcoming weeks or so and I think they'll make them," reports James Schmehl of MLive.com.

It wouldn't be unconscionable to see Dontrelle Willis be released, and for the Tigers to devour his $10MM owed in '09 and $12MM in '10. Armando Galarraga continues to get hit hard. Impemba also notes Rick Porcello's arm needs to be protected and the youngster can't be relied on to throw 200 innings. Yet Impemba feels the Tigers won't win if Miguel Cabrera, Placido Polanco, and Magglio Ordonez don't meet expectations.

It seems logical to slot Zach Miner into the rotation for Willis or Galarraga, but what else can the team do? If a left field power bat is what they need, and they're willing to expand payroll, could Matt Holliday (if available) be a realistic option? Brad Hawpe? Or do they need pitching more? The Tigers are currently in first place, three games up on the Twins in the AL Central.

Jesse Crain Optioned To Triple A

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Joe Christensen reports Jesse Crain has been optioned to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Glen Perkins, back from the DL. Crain carries a cumbersome 8.15 ERA and is returning to the minors for the first time since 2004.

Christensen notes that should Denard Span need to go on the DL, "it sounded like the team would promote an outfielder." So Crain may not soon be back. In 2009, he is making $1.7MM in the final year of his 3 year, $3.5MM deal, with one year of arbitration remaining.

Smoltz Set To Return On June 25

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John Smoltz is scheduled to return to the Majors next Thursday, June 25, against the Nationals. This will slot the 42-year old between Josh Beckett and Jon Lester in the rotation, barring a change in probables.

According to AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman, Terry Francona suggested he may use a six-man rotation for a "short period of time" so don't hold your breath for any immediate trade activity. The Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin tweets it would be "for a couple turns, but not as a long-term solution, Francona said." She also notes that Smoltz will not face the Braves in this set-up.

Last Friday, MLBTR readers discussed what the Red Sox should do with their starting pitching surplus. Answers varied, to say the least.

Designated For Assignment

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When teams want to clear roster space without immediately parting ways with the player they're removing from their roster, they can designate him for assignment. The move always clears a 40-man roster spot and when a player gets designated off of the active roster, a 25-man roster space opens up as well. The team then has ten days to assign the player to the minor leagues, trade him, or release him.

Players who have the right to refuse a minor league assignment benefit from the ten-day window, and it buys time for the team as well. For a team to assign a player to the minor leagues, he must first be exposed to all other teams on irrevocable outright waivers. If no one claims him, he can be released or outrighted to the minors.

A player's ability to refuse a minor league assignment depends on his service time and contract status.

Thanks to Rob Neyer's Transactions Primer and Cot's Baseball Contracts. Check out the MLBTR Glossary for more explanations of transactions terms.

Daniels On Sheets, El Duque, Trade Deadline

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Rangers GM Jon Daniels answered questions in an online chat hosted by Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News. One thing becomes clear throughout the chat: Daniels will try to win this year:

  • Ben Sheets isn't far enough along to be talking contract, but the Rangers are in touch with his agent.
  • The Rangers could deal prospects away to improve their playoff chances this year, but Daniels doesn't suggest that's likely.  
  • Tom Glavine is "probably not" a fit.  
  • Orlando Hernandez could be ready for the majors by late July. 
  • Daniels says signing Matt Purke and Tanner Scheppers before July 31st wouldn't make him more likely to part with other prospects in a deal.
  • The Rangers talked with Luis Vizcaino before he signed with Cleveland.
  • Could the Rangers pick up a big-time starter? Daniels says "we'll see."  

Odds And Ends: Sosa, Harper, Pedro, Ibanez

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Links for Tuesday evening…

Dodgers Sign Korean High Schooler

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According to MLB.com's Tom Singer, the Dodgers signed a Korean high schooler, Tae-hyeok Nam, to a minor league contract. Nam, an 18-year-old corner infielder, is over six feet tall, with power and speed. As Singer points out, Koreans Chan Ho Park, Hee-seop Choi and Jae Weong Seo all played for the Dodgers. This marks the first time the Dodgers have signed a Korean out of high school.

List Of First Round Draft Picks To Sign

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Here's a list of all the first round picks that shows which first-round picks have signed and for how much:

  1. Washington Nationals – Stephen Strasburg – Agreed to a Major League deal worth $15.1MM guaranteed.
  2. Seattle Mariners – Dustin Ackley - Agreed to a Major League deal worth $7.5MM guaranteed.
  3. San Diego Padres – Donavan Tate - Agreed to a $6.25MM bonus.
  4. Pittsburgh Pirates – Tony Sanchez - Agreed on a bonus of about $2.5MM.
  5. Baltimore Orioles – Matt Hobgood - Agreed to sign for about $2.4MM.
  6. San Francisco Giants – Zack Wheeler  – Agreed to a $3.3MM bonus.
  7. Atlanta Braves – Mike Minor – Agreed to terms on a $2.42MM bonus.
  8. Cincinnati Reds – Mike Leake – Signed to a bonus of $2.27MM.
  9. Detroit Tigers – Jacob Turner  – Agreed to Major League deal with $5.5MM guaranteed.
  10. Washington Nationals – Drew Storen - Agreed on a bonus of about $1.6MM.
  11. Colorado Rockies – Tyler Matzek – Agreed to a $3.9MM bonus.
  12. Kansas City Royals – Aaron Crow - Agreed to sign.
  13. Oakland A's – Grant Green - Agreed to a $2.75MM bonus.
  14. Texas Rangers – Matt Purke - Did not sign.
  15. Cleveland Indians – Alex White - Agreed to a $2.25MM bonus.
  16. Arizona Diamondbacks – Bobby Borchering - Signed for $1.8MM.
  17. Arizona Diamondbacks – A.J. Pollock - Signed, bonus believed to be $1.4MM.
  18. Florida Marlins – Chad James – Agreed to terms on a $1.7MM bonus.
  19. St. Louis Cardinals – Shelby Miller – Agreed to terms on a $2.9MM bonus.
  20. Toronto Blue Jays – Chad Jenkins - Agreed to sign for a bonus of $1.36MM.
  21. Houston Astros – Jiovanni Mier - Agreed to sign for a bonus of $1.358MM.
  22. Minnesota Twins – Kyle Gibson  – Agreed to a $1.8MM bonus.
  23. Chicago White Sox – Jared Mitchell - Signed. The bonus is $1.2MM.
  24. Los Angeles Angels – Randal Grichuk – Signed for a bonus of $1.225MM.
  25. Los Angeles Angels – Mike Trout - Agreed to sign. The bonus is $1.2MM.
  26. Milwaukee Brewers – Eric Arnett - Signed, bonus believed to be about $1.2MM.
  27. Seattle Mariners – Nick Franklin – Signed for a bonus of $1.28MM.
  28. Boston Red Sox – Reymond Fuentes - Signed for a bonus of about $1.13MM.
  29. New York Yankees – Slade Heathcott - Signed for a $2.2MM bonus.
  30. Tampa Bay Rays – Levon Washington - Did not sign.
  31. Chicago Cubs – Brett Jackson - Agreed to terms. Jackson gets $972k.
  32. Colorado Rockies – Tim Wheeler - Agreed to sign. The bonus is $900k, according to BP.

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