• Top Dominican pitching prospect Rafael DePaula admitted to using a false name and lying about his age, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
• Padres CEO Jeff Moorad confirmed something Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse reported last week. The Padres are interested in starting pitching and can spend to acquire it.
• Royals GM Dayton Moore is not yet thinking about manager Ned Yost's future, according to MLB.com's Dick Kaegel.
• MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince hears that Sal Fasano, who currently manages in Toronto's system, is an early candidate to replace Cito Gaston as the Blue Jays' manager in 2011. Fasano, 38, had an 11-year MLB career that included a stint with the Jays in 2007.
• Some GMs think the relatively small number of teams with money to spare will limit the trading we see this summer, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).
• There's not a lot of optimism within the Dodgers' organization that the club will be able to add much payroll to improve its pitching staff, writes Olney (Twitter link). Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told MLBTR's Tim Dierkes that the team's ability to make a deal depends on many variables.
• Check out Will Carroll's top ten GM candidates in this Baseball Prospectus article (subscription required).
• Nolan Ryan may be about to hire former Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker away from the Rays, according to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle.
• Former Astro Chris Burke is considering retirement, according to Michael Grant of the Louisville Courier-Journal. The Reds' Triple A club cut the 30-year-old over the weekend.

• The Indians signed reliever Mike Gosling to a minor league pact. The Twins released Gosling earlier this month. He last pitched in the big leagues for the Reds in 2007.
• The Tigers released Jason Tyner. You probably remember that the Brewers traded Tyner to the Tigers back in April for literally nothing.
• Marlins youngster Cameron Maybin was suspended for "aggressively arguing a call and bumping an umpire."
• The Astros removed Geoff Geary from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to Triple-A.
• The Angels signed former Orioles wunderkind Val Majewski to a minor league pact.
• Chris Burke was granted free agency by the Padres. He fashioned just a .207-.270-.305 batting line in 89 plate appearances this season.
• The Giants released Jesse Foppert, who was once the best pitching prospect in the game. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2005.

1:37pm: According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres rookie shortstop Everth Cabrera may be out for two months due to a hand injury suffered Sunday.  The Padres snagged Cabrera from the Rockies in the Rule 5 draft back in December.

Krasovic talked to Padres GM Kevin Towers, who "said he probably will look outside of the organization for a shortstop."  The current starter for San Diego is Luis Rodriguez. 

So who's available?  Reader Chris F. suggested Oakland's Bobby Crosby.  I imagine that would require the A's eating most of his $5.25MM salary.  I'd expect something lower profile, like Angel Berroa or Luis Rivas.    

Burke, 29, hit just .194/.310/.273 last season in 86 games for Arizona. He saw time at all four infield positions and both outfield corners for the D'Backs in 2008.

Right-handers Kevin Correia, Chris Britton, Greg Burke, Matt Buschmann, Gabe DeHoyos, Will Inman, Mat Latos, Edwin Moreno, Oneli Perez and Mark Prior; left-handers Arturo Lopez and Nick Schmidt; catchers Eliezer Alfonzo, Mitch Canham and Colt Morton; infielders Peter Ciofrone, Chris Burke and Kyle Blanks, and outfielders Chad Huffman and Cedric Hunter.

Padres GM Kevin Towers has said that Correia and Britton have a good chance of making the squad.  Burke’s versatility might also get him a nod.

Buster Olney has contract info: "If Prior pitches in the major leagues, he’ll earn $1 million, and Burke — who will go into spring training with a strong chance of winning the Padres’ everyday job at second — will earn $650,000."

Paul DePodesta has more on the signings, along with info on another minor league acquisition, Virgil Vasquez.

10:05pm: Here is a list of players who were non-tendered today, and therefore became free agents.

• Aquilino Lopez
• Joey Gathright, John Bale
• Jamie Burke
• Joe Nelson
• Aaron Miles, Randy Flores, Tyler Johnson
• Norris Hopper, Gary Majewski, Matt Belisle
• Doug Mathis
• Daniel Cabrera, Lance Cormier
• Denny Bautista
• Ty Wigginton, Reggie Abercrombie
• Jonny Gomes
• Willy Taveras
• Takashi Saito, Scott Proctor, Yhency Brazoban, Angel Berroa
• Clay Hensley and Charlie Haeger
• Chris Britton and Justin Christian
• Tim Redding
• Chris Capuano
• Kevin Cash
• Chuck James
• Chris Burke, Robby Hammock, Wil Ledezma, Jeff Salazar

Pitchers: Daniel Cabrera, Chad Gaudin, Jimmy Gobble, Brandon Backe, Takashi Saito, Tyler Yates, Wil Ledezma

Hitters: Marcus Thames, Gabe Gross, John Buck, Jose Bautista, Chris Burke, Willy Taveras, Jonny Gomes

What does everyone out there think? Any other non-tender possibilities?  MLBTR posted a speculative list a week ago.

Valverde, 27, is a nasty shut-down closer with two seasons before free agency.  He gets strikeouts by the bushel and can handle the ninth in a tough hitter’s ballpark.

Burke was once the 10th overall pick in the 2001 draft, but he turns 27 in March.  His best year was a .765 OPS in 2006.  The D’Backs hope he can match that and take over for Orlando Hudson after the 2007 season. I have to think his trade value was minimal.

Qualls, 29, has three seasons before free agency.  He’s quietly compiled a 3.39 ERA in 284 career innings. He had a solid strikeout rate last year and also posted a strong groundball rate near 60%.  Josh Byrnes is gambling that Qualls is nearly Valverde’s equal, just without the fancy 40-save season.

Gutierrez, 24, didn’t impress as a starter in Triple A or the bigs this year.  Baseball America recently ranked him as the Astros’ fourth best prospect, with an excellent heater and sometimes plus changeup.  He may end up in relief, but is an intriguing arm.

This trade could definitely work out for Byrnes and Co. – they gave up two years of Valverde for 12 years of Burke, Qualls, and Gutierrez.  If Qualls can be 80% as good as Valverde, the D’Backs win the deal on service time alone.

I just question whether Byrnes got the best possible package for Valverde.  The Astros, meanwhile, did a nice job getting a possibly elite closer for a reasonable package.

The D’Backs also completed another deal, sending closer Jose Valverde to the Astros for Chris Burke, Chad Qualls, and Juan Gutierrez.

Tim will be around later to share his views on the trade.

–Joe

Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun said today that the Orioles believe the Astros have the young talent needed to make a Tejada deal.  Zrebiec notes that a package based on Everett and Luke Scott wouldn’t cut it, either.  Andy MacPhail also discussed Tejada with the Cardinals, Giants, and Angels this week.  The Angels haven’t aggressively pursued him, and Andrew Baggarly said today the Giants are no longer interested.

UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 3:02pm: Still listening to 790…the message is now that the talks are in an "advanced stage" and they do not know the names involved.  There’s also a question of whether Tejada would waive his no-trade.  Ken Rosenthal checks in – the teams have had significant discussions and may have been on the verge at some point.  But nothing is imminent.

UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 1:33pm: ESPN’s Jayson Stark says Andy MacPhail has left Nashville without a deal in place.  But talks about Tejada and Brian Roberts are on the frontburner.  Hopefully Jeff Zrebiec will weigh in soon…

FROM 12-6-07 at 12:39pm:

790 The Sports Animal, a Houston radio station, is reporting that the Astros are close to a deal to acquire Miguel Tejada.  The reported package: Adam Everett, Chris Burke, and a pitcher.  Heard them saying this myself by listening online; they’re talking about it now.

The package sounds light, but maybe better if Troy Patton is the pitcher.  More when I have it.

• The Astros might be "on the verge of a major deal."  Rosenthal notes the availability of Chris Burke and Luke Scott plus the team’s interest in Damaso Marte.  He also says some clubs are after Houston’s young pitching.  Ed Wade spoke of two-way, three-way, and even four-way discussions before he hit the hay last night, but nothing seemed imminent.
• Rosenthal says the Padres might have a better chance of re-signing Milton Bradley than Mike Cameron.  He also implies that the Friars could reach a one-year agreement with Michael Barrett and then shop him.
• Despite Hank’s proclamations, Rosenthal says the Yanks are "lurking" on Dan Haren. Sounds creepy.