The Rangers “took a hard look” at Twins righty Ervin Santana during his most recent outing, according to LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star-Tribune (via Twitter). Texas is in need of rotation depth, as its current depth chart shows, and that may well remain an area of interest even if the club is able to add a higher-end starter. While the veteran Santana doesn’t come with a ton of upside at 33 years of age, he has long been a solid pitcher and would deliver some much-needed dependability. He has averaged over 180 innings annually dating back to his rookie campaign in 2005, and is still working with the same velocity and generating about the same swinging strike rate that he has for much of his career. Santana is owed $13.5MM this year and the two to follow, though, so there’d be some financial negotiating to work through.
Here are some more notable developments as the pitching market continues to take shape:
- Rays righty Alex Cobb will make his first rehab start on Wednesday, per a club announcement (h/t to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, via Twitter). Cobb, who is working back from Tommy John surgery, can remain on assignment for 30 days. His timeline probably isn’t a determining factor, but so long as he remains on track it certainly would make it easier for Tampa Bay to move a starter.
- Mariners righty Felix Hernandez is set to throw three simulated innings on Wednesday, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune tweets. If all goes well, it seems that he could soon begin a rehab stint — which could help Seattle assess its rotation needs as the deadline draws into focus.
- Asked about the possible need for pen reinforcement, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said today that his club “can’t ignore anything,” Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets. St. Louis figures to be among many teams eyeing relievers over the next month. With Trevor Rosenthal losing his closing gig and Kevin Siegrist hitting the DL, an already somewhat-questionable unit has increasing concerns.
- The Red Sox are still angling to shift Joe Kelly into their big league bullpen, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports on Twitter. A final move won’t be made until after the All-Star break, once he’s completed his rehab stint. Clay Buchholz, too, could be moving back to the relief corps after failing to impress upon his return to the rotation, as Mastrodonato writes.
- The Yankees have temporarily bumped righty Nathan Eovaldi to the bullpen, Chad Jennings of the Lo Hud Yankees Blog reports. It appears that he’ll be replaced in the rotation by Chad Green for now, but expectations are that Eovaldi will be back among the starting five after the All-Star break. Skipper Joe Girardi explained that the move was motivated by the team’s need to have arms ready for relief work, though clearly Eovaldi’s distinct struggles of late play a major role in the decision.
TheCanoShow
I think Miley will be the one to get dfa when Felix comes back
sascoach2003
Miley hasn’t pitched badly today against Houston. I can’t see him being the one.
TheCanoShow
That’s pretty been his season, 7 innings 2 runs one start then 3 starts of 5 or fewer innings allowing 5 or more runs.
JS11
Miley could be Boston’s new number 4
pickandersen
No. Boston is the team that traded him to Seattle. They won’t want him back.
User 4245925809
Change of scenery could fix his problem, never know how that works out with players when a guy has been decent, then moves to a team and is just the opposite.. Beltre’s 5y in Seattle being another before and after.
Think Boston would take back Miley happily..IF.. Seattle would either take back another salaried player worth the approximately 13m he’s owed between the rest of this year, next year and the buyout on his 2018 contract, or include something special in the deal to entice them..
steelerbravenation
With everybody always seemingly ready to put Red Sox proposals together for Julio Teheran does anybody think the Yankees would be willing to make a push ? And if so what would it take to make it happen ?
Sanchez, Refsnyder & Gamel for Teheran ??????
sascoach2003
You’ll have to ask cj815.He’s the Braves asst GM. It’ll need to involve at a minimum of 4 teams, though…
Chris815
First stop j.o.2nd it been reported that it would take a lot more then that . I’ve put together trade before for him other day for yankees that would be 3 team deal but strait up well yankees would have to give bigger trade then miller trade
bsteady powers
And Wizards
seamaholic 2
Not enough. Would need Mateo instead of Refsnyder (who has little value), or else add Judge. Teheran is a legit #2, at least. Would be the Yanks best pitcher.
Sam.rhodes16
More. Ref just isn’t good. Sanchez is high risk but equally high reward. I don’t know enough about gamel to comment on him.
But Teheran brings more back easily given contract and performance.
seamaholic 2
Are you a computer randomly picking names from organizational lists?
Connorsoxfan
Umm why would ANYONE think that Teheran and Vizcaino are worth a bag of beans?!
cardfan2011
The bullpen definitely needs help
steelerbravenation
Hey Cards fans seems like Vizcaino can be had what would in your opinion be a match ???
sascoach2003
Because you’re going to have to overpay, Wong and Pham for Vizcaino. All young and controlled. Maybe take back Peterson or D’Arnaud with Vizcaino.
seamaholic 2
Vizcaino isn’t worth that much. His FIP is up close to 3 now. High BB rate and a K rate that is likely to come down. He’s a good pitcher but not the kind of reliever that is worth two major league (or near major league) pieces. If the Cards get him, it will be for a couple guys you’ve never heard of unless you’re a Cards farm fanatic.
bbritton209
As a Braves fan who lives near Springfield, MO (Cards AA team) I would gladly trade you Vizcaino for a package that included Luke Voit. It wouldn’t be a straight up 1 for 1 trade but a package that includes him would be fine by me.
goducksgoagogo
Eovaldi to the bullpen in favor of a 37th round draft pick with one 6 inning win over the Padres. Yeesh!
sascoach2003
Does seem like a knee-jerk reaction, doesn’t it? Sometimes, you just have to let pitchers pitch through troubles. Imo, that can’t happen from the bullpen if you’re a starter.
philliesrule
What is up with u and ur trades?
steelerbravenation
I wouldn’t mind a Vizzy for Wong straight up and Teheran for a package involving Sanchez as the main piece. With all the talk bout the Red Sox not giving up more than 1 of their top prospects I don’t see the Yanks giving up Bird, Judge, Severino or Mateo. They have another catcher in the lower minors projected to be as good if not better than Sanchez.
So who would realistically be a part of a deal. Acevedo, Sanchez, Headley & Lindgrun for Teheran & Olivera ???? Would anybody do that deal.
dwhitt3
No one is gonna trade for Oliver’s
dwhitt3
*Olivera
seamaholic 2
Braves would get absolutely crucified if Sanchez was the main piece in a Teheran trade. And they’d deserve it.
Connorsoxfan
Severino is starting to look like the second coming of Henry Owens.
steelerbravenation
Why would that be? In the beginning of the year I was being crucified by guys saying Teheran wasn’t worth Sanchez. We need a catcher and he is MLB ready with tremendous offensive potential. I could see more having to go to the Braves now with the season Teheran is having plus the contract he is signed to but I don’t feel 3 top 10 Yankee prospects is an underpay. Throw in some cash to cover Headley’s contract. Coppy said it would take a young hitter of similar contract length.
Now if the 2 pitchers are not enough maybe throw in Refsnyder as well. I don’t know enlighten me on what would work. I think the 2 teams match up well in needs. Braves need a catcher Yanks need a SP. It should be about filling in the other pieces to make it happen.
steelerbravenation
If Sanchez is not part of a deal I don’t wanna see Julio traded then.