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Tigers Designate Collin Balester For Assignment

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WEDNESDAY: Balester has been designated for assignment and Berry has been called up, the team announced (on Twitter).

TUESDAY: The Tigers will designate Collin Balester for assignment tomorrow according to Brian Britten, the team's director of media relations (on Twitter). The move will clear a roster spot for Quintin Berry.

Balester, 25, pitched to a 6.50 ERA with nearly as many walks (11) as strikeouts (12) in 18 innings this season. Detroit acquired him from the Nationals for Ryan Perry this offseason. Balester is out of options and needs to clear waivers before he can go to Triple-A.

Quick Hits: Lidge, Hamels, Worley, Ortiz

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On this date in 2003, the Tigers signed Jair Jurrjens as a 17-year-old amateur free agent out of Curacao. He made his big league debut with Detroit in 2007 before being traded to the Braves as part of a package for Edgar Renteria. Here's the latest from around the league…

  • "They're going to have to ante up … he hasn't been willing to take discount so far," said former Phillies reliever Brad Lidge to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com when asked about Cole Hamels' impending free agency (Twitter links). Lidge also speculated about a fit between his former teammate and the Dodgers.
  • A second opinion confirmed that Phillies right-hander Vance Worley does not need Tommy John surgery but will have to pitch with bone chips in his elbow for the rest of the season, reports MLB.com's Todd Zolecki (on Twitter).
  • Red Sox GM Ben Cherington told reporters (including WEEI.com's Alex Speier) that he feels David Ortiz has taken his leadership to a new level this season (Twitter link). He said he feels good about the relationship between the team and the DH, who is due to become a free agent after the season.

Roy Oswalt Rumors: Tuesday

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Roy Oswalt recently threw for the Red Sox, Phillies, and Rangers, and Texas will reportedly consider signing the free agent right-hander in the wake of Neftali Feliz's elbow injury. Here's the latest on Oswalt…

  • The Red Sox and Oswalt have not discussed a contract, reports Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). GM Ben Cherington didn't deny that the right-hander worked out for the team according to Tim Britton of The Providence Journal (on Twitter), but he said there was nothing additional to report.

Mets Not Interested In Jason Marquis

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The Mets have no interest in right-hander Jason Marquis, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post (on Twitter). He was designated for assignment by the Twins earlier today.

Marquis, 33, is a native New Yorker and has made no secret of his desire to pitch near home through the years. He posted an 8.47 ERA with more walks (14) than strikeouts (12) in seven starts and 34 innings for the Twins this season, but just last year he pitched to a 4.43 ERA in 132 innings for the Nationals and Diamondbacks.

Mike Pelfrey's injury has forced the likes of Miguel Batista and Jeremy Hefner into the Mets' rotation, so a fit between the club and Marquis seemed obvious.

Orioles Still Looking To Upgrade, Add Pitching Depth

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The Orioles sit atop the AL East with a 27-16 record at the moment, and GM Dan Duquette wants to make sure his team stays there. Duquette told MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli that he is still actively seeking ways to upgrade his roster and add pitching depth (Twitter link).

Baltimore's bullpen (2.29 ERA) has been one of the best in baseball this season but the rotation (4.34 ERA) still needs some work. Zach Britton (shoulder) could return next month, though adding an established innings eater to Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen would give the club its best starting trio in years. A lefty reliever could be in order as well, though that is just my speculation.

Manager Buck Showalter announced before today's game that Brian Roberts (concussion) will begin a minor league rehab assignment tomorrow and is expected to re-join the team in 20 days. His return should help improve the club's .222/.265/.402 batting line out of the leadoff spot, which has been a bit of a revolving door because of injuries. The recently signed Miguel Tejada could bolster the infield as well.

Roy Oswalt Rumors: Saturday

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Free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt popped back up on the rumor radar yesterday, as he recently auditioned for the Red Sox and Phillies. He also plans to throw for two more teams and is reportedly looking to sign relatively soon so he can be back on the mound by next month. Let's keep track of the day's Oswalt rumors right here, with the latest up top…

  • Oswalt threw for the Rangers yesterday, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The situation is the same as it was this offseason, however. Oswalt wants to start but Texas doesn't have a spot for him with both Scott Feldman and Alexi Ogando serving as extra starters in the bullpen. Rosenthal thinks the Rangers could trade Colby Lewis to make room for Oswalt, but there's no indication they're considering it, and there's no guarantee Oswalt would be better than Lewis (Twitter).
  • Oswalt's return to the Phillies is possible but not probable, explains Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.
  • The Rangers were simply doing their due diligence with Oswalt, a source told Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram (via Twitter).

Giants Notes: Melvin Mora, Orlando Hudson

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The Giants signed Brad Penny to a minor league contract last night, bringing the right-hander back as possible bullpen help. Here is the latest news out of San Francisco…

  • The Giants had one text conversation with Melvin Mora's agent according to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter), but there was "absolutely no offer made." Mora recently told a Venezuelan newspaper that he had received offers from both the Giants and Reds.
  • Baggarly says (on Twitter) there is no consensus within the organization about signing the recently released Orlando Hudson. The Giants infield is short at the moment, but Pablo Sandoval will return soon and the club expects to get Freddy Sanchez back from his shoulder problems at some point.

Brewers Designate Vinnie Chulk For Assignment

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The Brewers have designated Vinnie Chulk for assignment, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The move clears a spot on the roster for left-hander Juan Perez.

Chulk, 33, allowed 21 baserunners and ten runs in nine innings for Milwaukee this season, his first big league action since 2009. He pitched to a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings for their Triple-A affiliate before being recalled.

Giants Sign Brad Penny

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SATURDAY: Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com reports that Penny will make the pro-rated portion of a $500K salary while with the big league team (Twitter links). He says the contract language is open-ended, but the target date to have Penny on the roster is May 30th.

FRIDAY: The Giants have signed Brad Penny to a minor league contract reports John Shea of The San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). The Legacy Sports Group client will head to Extended Spring Training next week and is considered a bullpen candidate.

Penny, 33, threw for GM Brian Sabean, manager Bruce Bochy, and pitching coach Dave Righetti today according to Shea (on Twitter). The right-hander started the year with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks but requested his release after just one start. Penny pitched to a 5.30 ERA in 31 starts for the Tigers last season and spent the second half of 2009 with the Giants, posting a 2.59 ERA in six starts.

NL Links: Braves, Mets, Oswalt, Dodgers, Wood

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Here are some links from the National League as the Cardinals and Dodgers play baseball's only intra-league game of the night…

  • Dave O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hears the Braves have not ruled out signing Roy Oswalt, but he assumes their interest depends on the price (Twitter link). Oswalt has begun auditioning for teams.
  • The Mets, meanwhile, are not in the running for Oswalt according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
  • Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times praises Dodgers GM Ned Colletti for his job building the team that owns baseball's best record.
  • The Reds tried to sign Kerry Wood this offseason, manager Dusty Baker told John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). "But he loves Chicago, and Chicago loves him," said Baker.
  • The Cubs will announce Wood's new position with the team tomorrow, reports Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). He's expected to become a special assistant.
  • After Wood announced his retirement today, Baseball America compiled some old scouting reports from his days as a prospect. "Scouts say Wood is so advanced that he should be ready for the big leagues faster than all but one or two college pitchers," said the publication when Wood was a high school senior in June 1995, less than three years before he made his big league debut.

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