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Archives for July 2010

Astros Discussing Berkman Deals

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5:41pm: The White Sox consider Berkman a backup plan since they don't expect to acquire Adam Dunn, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).

4:14pm: The Astros are discussing possible trades involving Lance Berkman, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported this afternoon (via Twitter) that a high-ranking executive told him the Astros could move Berkman and start rebuilding.

Like former teammate Roy Oswalt, who was traded to Philadelphia earlier today, Berkman has a no-trade clause and can veto any deal. About $5.4MM remains on Berkman's $14.5MM salary this season. The Astros hold a $15MM option for next year, but they can buy it out for $2MM. Berkman is hitting .245/.372/.436 so far in 2010.

Padres Acquire Miguel Tejada

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The Padres were supposed to be trading Adrian Gonzalez right about now. Instead, they traded for someone to hit behind him. The Padres and Orioles agreed to a deal that will send Miguel Tejada and cash to San Diego for minor league pitcher Wynn Pelzer.

Tejada, the 2002 AL MVP, is no longer an elite hitter. In fact, he's hitting just .269/.308/.362 this season. His defense has also been below-average in recent years, according to UZR, though he can play third or shot.

Tejada makes $6MM this year and the Padres and Orioles will split the $2.2MM remaining on his contract. He projects as a Type B free agent, though an offer of arbitration seems unlikely.

Baseball America ranked Pelzer seventh among all Padres prospects before the season. The 24-year-old is a power pitcher whose fastball sits in the mid-90s. As a starter, he has a 4.20 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in AA this year, but BA said he could become a closer in time.

The Cardinals and Phillies also showed interest in Tejada this month.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun first reported that a deal seemed likely and added detail later on. MLB.com's Corey Brock and Dan Hayes of the North County Times also contributed elements of the story. The Orioles and Padres have confirmed the deal.

Astros, Blue Jays Swap Anthony Gose & Brett Wallace

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Just minutes after the Astros officially acquired Anthony Gose, they sent him to the Blue Jays for Brett Wallace. The Blue Jays obtained Wallace for Michael Taylor last winter right after the Roy Halladay trade. Now, the first baseman could become the heir to Lance Berkman in Houston. 

The Blue Jays believe Gose, 19, is an "athletic, Gold Glove caliber center fielder," Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told the FAN 590. They tried to acquire him in the Halladay deal and again this spring. Meanwhile, Astros GM Ed Wade says Wallace is a "hitting machine," according to Alyson Footer of the Astros (via Twitter).

ESPN's Jayson Stark first reported that the Astros were sending Gose to Toronto and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Twitter that the Astros were getting Wallace in return. The Blue Jays confirmed the trade.

Orioles Hire Buck Showalter

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3:20pm: The O's officially announced the hiring and noted that interim manager Juan Samuel will once again be the club's third base coach.

1:22pm: Showalter's contract runs through 2013, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. 

12:42pm: The Orioles have hired Buck Showalter as manager, reports ESPN's Tim Kurkjian.  Showalter's first game will be Tuesday against the Angels.  Kurkjian notes that Eric Wedge, Bobby Valentine, Rick Dempsey, and current interim manager Juan Samuel also interviewed for the job.  Showalter brings an 882-833 career record and two Manager of the Year awards from his career managing the Yankees, Rangers, and Diamondbacks.

Phillies Acquire Roy Oswalt

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Just one win shy of the Astros' franchise win record, Roy Oswalt is leaving the only team he's ever known.  The 32-year-old righty approved a trade to the Phillies, who sent J.A. Happ and low minors prospects Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar to Houston for Oswalt and $11MM.  The Astros then flipped Gose to the Blue Jays.  The Phillies will not pick up Oswalt's 2012 option, but will add $1MM to the buyout as compensation.  Seven months after trading Cliff Lee to the Mariners for prospects, the Phillies added a different ace to their rotation to support Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels.  Oswalt has a 3.42 ERA, 8.4 K/9, and 2.4 BB/9 in 20 starts this year.

Oswalt asked the Astros for a trade in late May, and talks ensued with the Phillies, Cardinals, Rangers, Padres, and Dodgers, among others.  Astros owner Drayton McLane dealt directly with Phillies president David Montgomery to complete the complicated trade.  As expected, Oswalt's full no-trade clause, his 2012 option, and the $23.46MM guaranteed to him through '11 were significant obstacles.

Happ, 27, finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting last year with a 2.93 ERA in 166 innings.  However, he's tallied only 53 pro innings in 2010 due to an April forearm injury. Happ won't go to arbitration until after the 2011 season and the Astros control his rights through 2014.

Gose, a speedy center fielder playing at the High A level, was ranked sixth among the team's prospects by Baseball America heading into the season.  He rates highly for his speed, defense, and arm tools, but remains a work in progress.

Villar, a shortstop in Low A ball, was ranked 22nd among Phillies prospects heading into the season.  The results haven't been there yet but BA says he has "plus tools across the board except for power."

Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston first reported the agreement late Wednesday night, while Ken Rosenthal, Jayson Stark, Jon Heyman, Matt Gelb, Amy K. Nelson, Jerry Crasnick, and Danny Knobler contributed more information today.

Rangers Seeking Second Base Help

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The Rangers have entered the market for second basemen with Ian Kinsler hitting the disabled list with a groin strain, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith profiled the second base market two weeks ago.  Ty Wigginton, Ryan Theriot, Kelly Johnson, Jose Lopez, Adam Kennedy, Jeff Keppinger, Jamey Carroll, Cristian Guzman, Jeff Baker, and Andy LaRoche are the main names out there.  Morosi reminds us that the Rangers have already been connected to Guzman.

Rosenthal On Dunn, Carmona, White Sox

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Tweets from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, with the latest up top…

  • The Yankees are out on Adam Dunn for now.  Joel Sherman of the New York Post cites several reasons the Yanks cooled on him. 
  • Rosenthal's source puts the Indians' chances of trading Fausto Carmona at one in a million.  Though the Indians are listening, they don't expect to receive a suitable offer.  Carmona, whose ERA jumped from 3.51 to 3.92 after yesterday's disaster, can be controlled through 2014 given his rare three-option contract.
  • Despite Jorge Posada's sore knee, the Yankees are unlikely to pursue a catcher. 
  • The White Sox are exploring hitters other than Dunn, and not all left-handed bats.  With an open DH spot, the Sox have flexibility to take almost any bat.  Rosenthal says they also seek a mid-rotation starter.

Pirates Release Brendan Donnelly

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THURSDAY: The Pirates have released Donnelly, tweets MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.  Perhaps he'll finish strong with a new club, as he did last year.

SUNDAY: The Pirates have designated veteran reliever Brendan Donnelly for assignment, according to the team's official Twitter feed.

Donnelly, 38, signed a one-year deal worth $1.35MM back in January following a strong 2009 with the Marlins. The right-hander struggled tremendously in Pittsburgh, with a 5.58 ERA and nearly as many walks (25) as strikeouts (26) through 30.2 innings of work.

Opponents did hit just .234 against him, but the walks, in combination with allowing six home runs, were what did him in.

Odds & Ends: Joba, Orioles, White Sox, Mets

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Big names have traditionally been traded on July 29th, including Cliff Lee and Mark Teixeira in recent years.  Perhaps today we'll add Roy Oswalt to the list.  Links for Thursday with about 51 hours until the deadline…

Phillies, Padres Eyeing Tejada, Bloomquist

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The Padres' chief infield target is Miguel Tejada, reports CBS' Scott Miller.  They're facing competition from the Phillies, who are also said to be after the Orioles infielder.  Last we heard, the Cardinals inquired but didn't get anywhere.

The Padres and Phillies share another target in the Royals' Willie Bloomquist, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.  Crasnick says the Angels and Yankees have also kicked the tires on the 32-year-old utility man.  Bloomquist is still owed $619K plus performance bonuses.

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