• Chat today, 2pm CST.
• Players on the disabled list can't pass through waivers in August, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.
• The Yankees, Rangers, and Red Sox nearly reached a deal on Friday that would've sent Mike Lowell to New York, Jarrod Saltalamacchia to Boston, and prospects to the Rangers, reports WEEI's Alex Speier.  A Lowell deal with the Blue Jays had been discussed in April and June, but both potential trades were killed due to health concerns.
• Lefty Jack Taschner filed for free agency, according to MLB.com's transactions page.  Taschner had been designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Friday.
• First-round pick Chris Sale will join the White Sox today as a reliever, reports Baseball America's Jim Callis, making the lefty the first to reach the bigs from the 2010 draft class.
• With Thomas Diamond's MLB debut yesterday, Joe Pawlikowski of FanGraphs looks at what's come of the DVD trio.

• After missing out on Roy Oswalt, the Cardinals are looking elsewhere for pitching, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Mid-level starters like Jake Westbrook or Aaron Cook could be fits for the Cards.  The asking price for Cook, says Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, is a bullpen piece and a prospect. 
• The Angels don't appear to have made Bobby Abreu available, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).
• The Mets finalized their over-slot deal with Erik Goeddel, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). They agreed to give the 21-year-old righty a $350K bonus.  MLBTR first reported an agreement had been reached on July 4th. 
• The Dodgers designated Jack Taschner for assignment according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (via Twitter).
• The Astros released Tommy Everidge to make room for Brett Wallace, according to the Round Rock Express website.
• Teams have asked the Brewers about Jim Edmonds, according to Scott Miller of CBS Sports.
• GM Doug Melvin tells Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that things are quiet for the Brewers right now.
• The Rangers pursued Roy Oswalt and Prince Fielder aggressively, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter).
• The Mets asked the Cubs about Tom Gorzelanny, according to Heyman (Twitter link).
• The White Sox signed former major leaguer Jon Adkins to a minor league deal, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Twins, Phillies and Giants are losing interest in Ty Wigginton, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
• Jason Frasor tells Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star that he hears the latest from MLB Trade Rumors whether he wants to or not, since his friends tell him about the latest rumors.
• I talked trades with Rob Shaw and Michelle Steele of Bloomberg Sports. You can check out the video clip at USA Today.

Taschner, 32, posted a 6.05 ERA, 7.9 K/9, and 3.7 BB/9 in 19.3 innings for the Pirates this year before being designated for assignment on June 8th.  He later elected free agency after refusing an outright assignment to the minors.  Taschner's line against lefties in his brief time with the Pirates was odd – he struck out nine and walked one in 6.6 innings, but also allowed eight hits and seven runs.

The Dodgers' bullpen features lefties Hong-Chih Kuo and George Sherrill.  Kuo must be used carefully, while Sherrill has struggled. 

In 17 appearances this season, Taschner posted an ERA of 6.05 with 7.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9.  The 32-year-old threw his fastball at an average of 89.6 mph in 2009 but has seen that dip to 88.8 in 2010.  His pitch velocity has steadily declined across the last three seasons.

Taschner's strikeout (7.9 K/9) and walk (3.7 BB/9) numbers are better than they have been in recent years, but he is allowing lots of hits, as usual. Though he has struggled mightily against right-handed batters in his career, Taschner's rate stats have historically been better against lefties (8.3 K/9, 4.0 BB/9).

At the moment, Pittsburgh's 40-man roster is full, but they have to find room for relievers Jack Taschner and D.J. Carrasco, who've made the team. One spot can be freed up by placing reliever Jose Ascanio on the 60-day disabled list as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Price mentions that the other 40-man spot is likely to come at the cost of Hayden Penn, Ramon Vazquez, John Raynor, or Steve Pearce.

The Pirates claimed Penn off waivers just last week, but that doesn't mean they aren't willing to designate him for assignment today. He's out of options, so he'd have to clear waivers to be sent to the minors anyway. As a Rule 5 Draft selection, the Pirates have to keep Raynor on their 25-man roster all season or offer him back to the Marlins. Pearce has a leg up on the other guys because he has a minor league option remaining.

Vazquez will earn $2MM this season, but was told that he wasn't on the team a few weeks ago, making him a candidate to be either traded or released. Cutting him loose and eating his salary isn't the most desirable move, but it's probably best for the team. After a breakout season with the Rangers in 2008, Vazquez hit just .230/.335/.279 in 239 plate appearances last year, but at least he's capable of playing all over the infield. With Bobby Crosby and Ronny Cedeno on board, that last point may be moot.

Joel Hanrahan is likely to start the year on the 15-day DL because of an elbow issue, so the team could carry Penn to start the season. Optioning Pearce and releasing Vazquez would give the team the 25-man and 40-man roster spots for Taschner/Carrasco, then they'd just have to figure out what to do with Raynor, who's in a unique spot. We'll find out their decision by this afternoon, one way or the other.

Taschner allowed 38 hits and 20 walks in 29.1 innings for the Phillies last year, striking out 19. The former Giant mixes a 90 mph fastball with a slider and a change-up. Taschner is left-handed, but lefties have a .293/.366/.408 line against him in his career.

• The Phillies are looking to upgrade at third base, as we've heard before. Chone Figgins figures to be too expensive for their liking, and they'll look for a shorter, more affordable contract. Zolecki names the same possibilities we heard earlier in the week: Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, and Placido Polanco.
• Philadelphia has interest in Fernando Rodney, but it may not be mutual, as Rodney likely would prefer a team with whom he can close. As Zolecki writes, that is "not an option" in Philly.
• The Phillies have seven impending free agents: Paul Bako, Miguel Cairo, Scott Eyre, Pedro Feliz, Pedro Martinez, Chan Ho Park, Matt Stairs, and Jack Taschner. Zolecki says Park and Eyre are the two most likely to return, with Ruben Amaro Jr. already having contacted Park's agent.
• Bako's return hasn't been ruled out, but Amaro has said that he's seeking a backup catcher. Feliz is in a similar situation, with his return not being ruled out but the team looking to upgrade.
• If Stairs returns, it will be on a minor league contract. Taschner and Martinez are not expected to return.
• The futures for Eric Bruntlett, Clay Condrey, and Tyler Walker are in question.

The Phillies acquired Taschner in the offseason in exchange for catcher Ronnie Paulino.

Correa, 21, has a career 8-10 record with a 4.52 ERA in 34 games (29 starts) in the minor leagues.

Paulino will likely be the backup catcher to John Baker. Paulino, 27, hit .278 in 304 games with Pittsburgh from 2005 to 2008.

FRIDAY, 9:08am: According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Phillies acquired lefty reliever Jack Taschner today for catcher Ronny Paulino.  The Phils had acquired Paulino from the Pirates on December 10th.

Taschner, 31 in April, allowed lefties to hit .279/.339/.394 line last year.  They knocked him around in '07 even worse, so he's not the perfect fill-in for J.C. Romero.

• Chat today, 2pm CST.
• The White Sox sent last year's first-round pick Gordon Beckham to Double A to play shortstop, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
• Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle talked to Astros GM Ed Wade about the difference between guaranteed and non-guaranteed contracts.
• El Lefty Malo expects the Giants to trade lefty Jack Taschner and go after free agent Will Ohman.  Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News dismissed an internet rumor about Taschner and the Tigers.  Not sure where that came from.
• Alex Speier of WEEI projects Boston's Opening Day payroll to be under $120MM, its lowest since '03.  Speier suggests this could allow midseason financial flexibility.
• Chico Harlan of the Washington Post asks whether the Nationals will try to avoid an eventual Super Two status for Jordan Zimmermann.
• Bart Given says Shawn Hill made the right decision in signing with San Diego.
• Oil Can Boyd hopes to pitch in Ottawa in the Cam-Am Baseball League.
• The Royals Authority 2009 Annual is on sale now – check it out.

• RotoAuthority examines A's starter Trevor Cahill from a fantasy baseball perspective.
• Today's chat has been pushed to Wednesday at 2pm CST.
• The Blue Jays demoted Matt Clement, according to Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star.  Clement is trying to decide whether to accept the assignment. He allowed 11 runs and 12 walks in 10.3 spring innings.
• WEEI's Alex Speier looks back at the shockingly low price in prospects the Red Sox paid to acquire Curt Schilling from Arizona.  The D'Backs were eyeing players such as Jon Lester, Hanley Ramirez, and Kelly Shoppach, but didn't make any of them a requirement.
• Tyler Bleszinski of Athletics Nation has part 2 of his interview with A's GM Billy Beane.  Beane notes his great relationship with Scott Boras.
• I spoke to Tyler Hissey and Doug Gray of Minor League Notebook Weekly yesterday.
• Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post says the Nationals should not draft Stephen Strasburg unless he'll sign in the $9-10MM range of David Price and Mark Prior.  ESPN's Rob Neyer explains that many can't-miss pitchers did indeed miss.
• Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle talked to Giants lefty Jack Taschner about the possibility of being traded.
• Bart Given of Inside the Majors says the Blue Jays should keep Travis Snider at Triple A until May 15th so that they'll control him for the 2015 season.

Taschner's velocity is intact, but he admits that his command of his two-seam fastball has been off this Spring, leading to his 6.23 ERA and 12 walks through 8.2 IP so far. Taschner stresses that he's fine physically.

Taschner, 31 in April, posted a 4.88 ERA last year to go along with a 1.69 WHIP and .292 opponent batting average. His numbers improve only slightly against lefties, who hit .279 against the southpaw last season. He's set to make $835K this season, which is a financial break compared to signing Will Ohman. It's hard, however, to buy Taschner as a lefty specialist when opposing lefties have hit .288 off of him for his career.

• The Astros plan to give Chris Johnson a chance to win the third base job, but Stark says Juan Uribe, Jose Bautista, and Jeff Baker "could still show up on their shopping list in the next two weeks."
• Stark heard "rumblings the Yankees are poking around again on Mike Cameron's availability." Back in December, the Yanks and Brewers were pretty close on a deal.
• Eric Milton is looking decent and appears to be the frontrunner for the Dodgers' fifth starter job (given Pedro Martinez's asking price).
• Will Ohman seeks a one-year, $1.75MM deal with easily-reachable incentives for another million.  He also prefers the West Coast, and Stark believes the Padres and Giants are more likely than the Dodgers.  Like the Dodgers, the Phillies and Marlins have interest at a lesser price.  Stark has also heard the Phils connected to Giants lefty Jack Taschner.
• Shawn Camp, Geoff Geary, John Buck, and Geoff Jenkins are currently available.  The Phillies would eat almost all of the $8MM owed to Jenkins.