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Archives for June 2012

Mets Designate Josh Satin For Assignment

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The Mets announced that they designated infielder Josh Satin for assignment (Twitter link). The club placed right-hander Chris Young on the paternity list and activated outfielder Jason Bay and right-hander Pedro Beato from the disabled list in corresponding moves.

Satin has appeared in one game for the Mets this year, spending most of the season at Triple-A Buffalo. The 27-year-old has a .274/.359/.380 line in 206 plate appearances at Buffalo, where he has played first, second and third base. He owns a .304/.393/.458 batting line in five minor league seasons.

Rays Designate Brandon Allen For Assignment

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The Rays designated Brandon Allen for assignment upon reinstating him from the disabled list today, MLB.com's Bill Chastain reports. The 26-year-old must clear waivers before the Rays can assign him outright to the minor leagues.

Allen appeared in seven games for the Rays, who claimed him off of waivers from the Athletics in April. His brief tenure in Tampa Bay included a walk-off home run on April 26th but was otherwise unremarkable. Allen has a .203/.290/.375 line in 389 MLB plate appearances and experience at first base and left field.

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Jeff Suppan Elects Free Agency

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Jeff Suppan has elected free agency, according to the Padres’ website. The Padres removed Suppan from the roster to create room for Yasmani Grandal last week, designating the right-hander for assignment.

Suppan posted a 5.28 ERA with 2.1 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 30 2/3 innings with San Diego this year. The Padres signed the 37-year-old to a minor league deal worth $950K in February. Lapa/Leventhal represents Suppan, a veteran of 17 MLB seasons.

Olney On Quentin, Appel, Pirates

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General managers don’t expect many frontline hitters to be available in trades this summer, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports. Here are more of Olney’s notes:

  • Carlos Quentin of the Padres could be the most sought-after hitter on the trade market, but teams may have concern over the outfielder’s injury history. Olney speculates that teams such as the Reds, Rays, Indians, Dodgers, Braves, Blue Jays, Pirates and Marlins could have interest in Quentin depending on how the next two months unfold. In case you missed it, I set out to determine Quentin’s trade value last week.
  • It was somewhat surprising to see potential first overall selection Mark Appel stay on the board until the Pirates made him the eighth pick of the draft, but executives from many teams had Appel projected as the fourth or fifth-best pitcher available, Olney reports. The presence of agent Scott Boras wasn’t scaring teams off, the clubs simply preferred other players.
  • Most of Olney’s sources believe the Pirates did well to select Appel eighth overall, yet there’s an expectation that the team won’t be prepared to spend wildly and forfeit future draft picks to complete a deal.

Kendrick Expects More Consistency From Upton

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Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick said in a radio interview on XTRA 910 AM that he expects more consistency from Justin Upton (full quotes via Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic).

“He’s certainly not the Justin Upton that he has been in the past and that we would expect of him,” Kendrick said. “He’s 24 years old and it’s time for him to be a consistent performer and right now this year he’s not been that.”

Upton, who's now in the third year of a six-year, $50MM contract, has a .243/.340/.365 batting line in 212 plate appearances this year. He told reporters, including Piecoro, that Kendrick is entitled to his view.

“He’s the one who makes the decisions around here,” Upton said. “Whatever decision he decides to make or whatever he thinks about me, it’s ultimately his decision.”

In the same interview Kendrick voiced concern that Stephen Drew and his representatives at the Boras Corporation are “more focused on where Stephen's going to be a year from now than going out and supporting the team that's paying his salary.” Scott Boras responded, pointing out that it’d be best for both Drew and the Diamondbacks if the shortstop plays.

The 26-30 Diamondbacks trail the Dodgers and Giants in the NL West following a breakout 2011 season that saw them take the division with 94 wins. Piecoro explained the dynamic between Upton, Kendrick and manager Kirk Gibson in a recent blog entry.

Kendrick “Disappointed” In Stephen Drew

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Diamondbacks Managing Partner Ken Kendrick says that he's disappointed with Stephen Drew and his slow return to the field from injury in an interview today with Brad Cesmat of XTRA Sports 910 (via Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic on Twitter).  Kendrick believes that the shortstop is overly focused on protecting his future value rather than his maximizing his current production.

"I think Stephen and his representatives are more focused on where Stephen's going to be a year from now than going out and supporting the team that's paying his salary," Kendrick said, before adding that Drew hasn't been direct when presented with these concerns by the club.

Meanwhile, agent Scott Boras was quick to respond and denied the notion that his client is taking his time in coming back from his ankle injury.  Boras told Piecoro that the suggestion flat out doesn't make sense.

"If you're talking about what the best thing Stephen can do for himself, that's to play baseball and play a lot of it," Boras said. "I don't think he wants anything different. That's the best thing he can do for Stephen and for his team. Why would he not want to play? The guy's going to be a free agent."

Drew has been out of action since fracturing his ankle on a slide into home plate nearly a year ago.  The 29-year-old is earning $7.75MM this season with a $10MM mutual option for 2013 ($1.35MM buyout).

Draft Notes: Appel, Correa, Astros, Blue Jays

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Earlier this evening, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow made it known that he expects to sign first-overall pick Carlos Correa this week.  According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the deal will likely be in the vicinity of $5MM.  Houston has until July 13th at 4pm CDT to sign the top pick, but it sounds as though they'll have it done with plenty of time left on the clock.  Here's tonight's batch of draft news..

  • Some executives (though, not Pirates execs) told Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter) that Mark Appel was drafted about where they had him on their boards, at No. 8.  The right-hander was in the mix for the first-overall pick but appears to have priced himself out of consideration.
  • Astros scouting director Bobby Heck said the team had a pool of five players they were considering with the top pick and did not decide on Correa until the afternoon of the draft, writes Conor Glassey of Baseball America.  All things considered, Glassey writes that there were only a few surprises on the first day of the draft.
  • Potential signability issues scared some teams off from outfielder Anthony Alford, but the Blue Jays pulled the trigger on taking him in the third-round anyway.  Alford, who is committed to Southern Miss on a football scholarship, has been scouted by Toronto all season long, writes MLB.com's Chris Toman.

This Date In Transactions History: Bill Buckner

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Everyone makes mistakes.  However, not everyone draws the ire of an entire fan base and a city for their errors in life or on the baseball diamond.  For a long time, it seemed as though Bill Buckner would never be forgiven by the Red Sox faithful for his infamous play.  The Mets, seemingly on the verge of elimination in Game Six of the 1986 World Series, mounted a comeback in the 10th inning that should have been extinguished by Mookie Wilson's slow roller to first base.  Buckner, hampered by two bad ankles, let the ball squeak through his legs, allowing the Mets to score the winning run, tie the series at 3-3, and capture the title two days later at Shea.

Buckner remained with the club for the 1987 season until he was released in early July after hitting .273/.299/.322 with two homers in 75 games.  His final 57 games with the Angels were much stronger as he posted a slash line of .306/.337/.432 with three home runs.  Prior to the 1990 season, the Red Sox signed the 40-year-old Buckner and the veteran received a standing ovation when he was introduced at the home opener on April 9th.  Buckner's Beantown homecoming would be short-lived, however, and on this date in 1990, the veteran would retire upon being released by the Red Sox.

The first baseman made just 48 plate appearances in his second Boston go-round but would retire with a strong 22-year body of work to reflect upon.  Buckner came into his own as a member of the Dodgers before enjoying his prime with the Cubs, where he hit .300/.332/.439 across eight seasons.  While Buckner's most memorable moment on the field was his gaffe October of 1986, the first baseman was able to wrap up his impressive career on good terms with the Fenway Park crowd.

Nats Talked With Dodgers And Rockies About Lannan

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The Nationals have had recent discussions with the Dodgers and Rockies about pitcher John Lannan, but no trade is close, major league sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Sources say that the Nats want a club to pay the rest of his remaining salary and give up at least one legitimate player.

Talks between the Dodgers and Nationals have been only preliminary, according to sources, while the Rockies kicked the tires on the pitcher before being turned off by the price.  For the Dodgers, Lannan would be an alternative to left-hander Ted Lilly while he is sidelined with a shoulder issue.

Lannan, 27, is now owed less than $3.5MM of his $5MM total salary.  The left-hander will be arbitration eligible this offseason and is in line for free agency the year after.  Lannan has been less-than-stellar through ten starts with Triple-A Syracuse, posting an ERA of 5.62 with 4.5 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9.

Astros Expect To Sign Correa By Thursday

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General Manager Jeff Luhnow said that the Astros expect to sign first-overall pick Carlos Correa by Thursday, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com (via Twitter).  The high school shortstop was tabbed by Houston after the club also considered Stanford right-hander Mark Appel and other top prospects.

The deal is expected to be worth roughly $5MM, sources tell Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  The Astros were considering a few other options very late in the game as one source told Heyman that the decision "came down to the last thirty seconds.''

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