Archives for March 2011

Red Sox Purchase Reyes’ Major League Contract

By Zachary Links | March 26, 2011 at 2:58pm CDT

2:58pm: Terry Francona announced that the Red Sox have purchased the left-handed reliever's contract, according to the Boston Herald's Scott Lauber (via Twitter). To make room on the 40-man roster, the club has moved right-hander Junichi Tazawa to the 60-day DL.

Francona added that Reyes will still be competing with Alfredo Aceves, Hideki Okajima, and Matt Albers for the final two bullpen spots, tweets Speier.

2:08pm: Boston left-hander Dennys Reyes can opt-out of his minor league deal in a matter of hours if he is not added to the club's major league roster. Reyes has been told that the BoSox have purchased his big league contract, tweets Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. The deal is not yet finalized as the club has to find a way to fit him on the 40-man roster.

It should be noted, however, that the soon-to-be 34-year-old told the press that he's still waiting on word from the club, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (via Twitter).

The veteran's opt-out date was originally set for today but the two sides agreed this week to push the deadline up to Sunday. Reyes hasn't ruled out extending his opt-out date once more, tweets Alex Speier of WEEI.com. If Reyes makes the big league roster, he will earn $900K with incentives that boost the deal's value to $1.4MM in total.

Cubs Will Try To Trade Carlos Silva

By Mike Axisa | March 26, 2011 at 1:28pm CDT

1:28pm: Silva says that there is "no chance" of him reporting to Iowa, tweets Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. The soon-to-be 32-year-old added that he felt pitching coach Mark Riggins wasn't up front with him about how they planned to use him, Sullivan tweets.

12:20pm: After annointing Andrew Cashner as the fifth starter, the Cubs have told Carlos Silva that they will try to trade him according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (on Twitter). The team would like Silva to consider a stint in the minors for depth purposes should they be unable to move him.

Silva, 32 next month, is owed $11.5MM in 2011, but the Mariners are paying $5.5MM of that according to Cot's. He's been simply awful in camp, allowing 32 hits and 27 runs in just 17 1/3 innings. He posted a 4.22 ERA in 21 starts (113 innings) last season, though he missed time after having surgery to correct an irregular heart rate.

Both the Yankees and Nationals were scouting Silva earlier this month, but the former has since finalized their rotation plans.

Dodgers Release Ron Mahay

By Mike Axisa | March 26, 2011 at 12:06pm CDT

The Dodgers have granted Ron Mahay his release according to Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter links). The left-hander was recently informed that he was not going to make the team.

Mahay, 39, signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers last month, but he allowed eight runs and 15 baserunners in 7 1/3 innings this spring. He owns a 3.83 ERA in a career that spans parts of 14 seasons, holding lefties to a .232/.303/.386 line.

Mariners Release Gabe Gross

By Mike Axisa | March 26, 2011 at 11:49am CDT

Gabe Gross requested and has been granted his release from the Mariners reports MLB.com's Greg Johns (on Twitter). The outfielder hit just .077/.200/.231 in 23 at-bats this spring after signing a minor league deal last month.

Gross, 31, hit just .239/.290/.311 for the A's last year. He's a .239/.330/.385 hitter in 1,680 career plate appearances, though his defense in right field has been particularly strong.

Mike Hampton Retires

By Mike Axisa | March 26, 2011 at 11:00am CDT

Veteran left-hander Mike Hampton has informed the Diamondbacks that he has decided to retire, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com. He originally told GM Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson that he was leaning that way on Thursday.

"It just wasn't there," said Hampton. "In fairness to [The Diamondbacks] and fairness to myself I'm just done. It's not a decision that's easy to make. It's not one you make overnight. It had been two weeks that different thoughts have been creeping in my head. Then all of the sudden I felt, I think this is going to be it."

Hampton, 38, made a brief comeback with Arizona late last season, throwing 4 1/3 innings across ten appearances. He was in camp with them this year after signing a minor league deal in December.

Although the latter half of his career was filled with injury and ineffectiveness, Hampton was one of the game's best starters in the late-1990's, pitching to a 3.35 ERA in 184 starts with the Astros and Mets from 1995 through 2000. He pitched poorly for two years with the Rockies after signing an eight-year, $123.8MM contract that was then the largest deal in baseball history. Hampton finished his career out with the Braves, Astros, and D'Backs, and owns a 4.09 ERA in 2268 1/3 career innings.

AL Central Notes: Indians, Gonzalez, Tigers

By Mike Axisa | March 26, 2011 at 8:52am CDT

Some Saturday links from a few midwestern AL clubs…

Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain-Dealer says the Indians' Opening Day payroll projects to be just north of $42.4MM, the third straight season it's shrunk. Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, and Fausto Carmona account for close to 63% of that total. The payroll sat at $81.6MM just two seasons ago.
The Tigers sent Danny Worth, Adam Wilk, and Andy Dirks to minor league camp today, indicating that Enrique Gonzalez has made the team. MLB.com's Jason Beck tweets that the club doesn't have to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate Gonzalez until next week.
Noah Trister of the AP (via The Detroit Free Press) explains how the Tigers rebuilt on the fly thanks to the three-way trade that sent Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson to the Yankees and Diamondbacks, respectively.

West Coast Links: Dodgers, A’s, Frandsen, Padres

By Luke Adams 2 | March 25, 2011 at 10:10pm CDT

The Dodgers are off to an unlucky start this spring, with Casey Blake, Jon Garland, and Vicente Padilla expected to open the season on the disabled list. The bad news continued today; Dioner Navarro will head to the DL with a torn oblique, according to Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles, while Tim Redding left today's game with back pain, writes MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. More from the NL and AL West:

The Dodgers informed Ron Mahay that he won't make the club's Opening Day roster, reports Gurnick. Mahay has an out clause in his contract, so the team is waiting to hear whether the left-hander will accept a minor league assignment.
Frank McCourt declined comment on the Dodgers' ownership situation today, saying he'll address it at a later date. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times has the details.
Given his most talented roster yet, Athletics manager Bob Geren will face increased expectations this season, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Speaking of the A's, they sent Chris Carter down to the minors today, Jane Lee of MLB.com tweets. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has more on Carter, who figures to be the DH in Oakland whenever the Hideki Matsui era ends.
Kevin Frandsen, who was released by the Padres today, is hoping to catch on with another team soon, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock. "We've got a decent amount of interest," Frandsen said. "I showed I was healthy and that I can play. I know I can play in the big leagues."
With Mat Latos suffering from shoulder troubles, Tim Stauffer will start Opening Day for the Padres, tweets Brock.

Quick Hits: Sabathia, Lopez, Castillo, Rangers

By Luke Adams 2 | March 25, 2011 at 9:05pm CDT

Links for Friday night, as Brandon Beachy continues to impress….

Speaking to Jack Curry of the YES Network, Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia stuck to his vow to avoid commenting on his opt-out clause until after the season. However, he added "I'm a Yankee" and said he can't see himself "playing anywhere else" (Twitter link).
Rodrigo Lopez says he has no regrets about signing with the Braves, despite not earning a spot in the rotation, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman and Alden Gonzalez.
We heard earlier in the week that the Braves were looking to deal Lopez, with MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith running through some potential suitors. Although Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Braves are more likely to trade Lopez than Kenshin Kawakami before Opening Day, he cautions that there's no rush for Atlanta – Lopez has an out in his contract, but not until June.
Within Rosenthal's piece, a scout expresses doubt about Luis Castillo's chances of making the Phillies. MLB.com's Todd Zolecki says time is running out on Castillo's spring audition.
Endy Chavez and Esteban German are among the players the Rangers sent to the minors today, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Meanwhile, with Tommy Hunter likely sidelined until May, Alexi Ogando could re-enter the Rangers' rotation mix, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

Central Notes: Royals, Indians, Cubs, Brewers

By Luke Adams 2 | March 25, 2011 at 8:23pm CDT

It's been a busy Friday for baseball's Central divisions, which have already featured prominently in a pair of trades and a pair of retirements. But the day's not over yet….

In addition to acquiring John Whittleman, the Royals finalized two more minor league trades today. The team sent Gaby Hernandez to the White Sox and Alex Caldera to the Nationals, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (Twitter links). The Royals figure to receive cash in return for both right-handers, according to Dutton.
The Indians made a few roster decisions, naming Jack Hannahan the Opening Day third baseman and reassigning Doug Mathis and Anthony Reyes to the minors, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the battle for the last spot in the Cubs' bullpen is down to Carlos Silva, Casey Coleman, and Marcos Mateo. Rosenthal figures that, considering his salary, Silva will get the first crack, but notes the Cubs have said they want to open with the best possible team. MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has more on Coleman's quest for the final bullpen opening.
Zack Greinke is confident that early-season injuries, including his own, won't set the Brewers back significantly, as he tells Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.

Heyman On Emaus, Red Sox, Yankees, Rangers

By Luke Adams 2 | March 25, 2011 at 7:28pm CDT

In a column for SI.com, Jon Heyman discusses the new-look Rays, examining the team's chances in a competitive AL East. While one Rays person candidly acknowledges "we've got a lot of holes," the general consensus around baseball is that it would be a mistake to discount the defending division champs. Here are a few other highlights from Heyman:

Rule 5 pick Brad Emaus has the Mets' second base job locked up "no matter whether they pretend there's still a competition ongoing."
Jarrod Saltalamacchia seems ready to become a starting catcher in the bigs, says one scout. Even so, the Red Sox would like to add a third backstop, if one were available via trade, to start the year in the minors behind Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek.
Heyman thinks Austin Romine may be the best bet for the Yankees' backup catcher opening. However, as we heard yesterday, Gustavo Molina continues to look like the favorite for the roster spot, according to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports agrees, and suggests the role will be important, given potential concerns about Russell Martin.
The Rangers made attempts to acquire a closer, but never came close to landing one, which resulted in Neftali Feliz keeping the job.
Heyman adds Jorge Cantu's name to the list of possible fits at third base for the Marlins.

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