Rumors for May, 2011
Athletics designate LHP Jerry Blevins for assignment
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The Oakland Athletics have designated left handed pitcher Jerry Blevins for assignment according to the team official Twitter account. Blevins though, will remain on the 40-man roster.
The team also recalled left handed pitcher Josh Outman. Outman last pitched in the Majors in 2009 with the A’s, that season he was 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 67.2 innings throughout 14 games, 12 starts. Blevins had a 4.61 ERA in 13.2 innings this season with the A’s.
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Twins will try to trade Kevin Slowey
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Back in March, we learned that the Twins made right handed pitcher Kevin Slowey available after they selected Scott Baker as their fifth starter. Since the team didn’t find a taker for Slowey at the time, they decided to make him a reliever.
Slowey though, has been struggling this season as a reliever posting a 4.91 ERA in 14.2 innings throughout six relief appearances. According to La Velle E. Neal III Slowey looks headed to Triple-A Rochester to stretch out as a starter, but probably to audition for another team.
Manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson met with the right hander over the weekend about his role on the club, and Gardenhire believes the best thing is to find Slowey a place to start.
“I honestly think the right thing [is to let Slowey start somewhere], and that’s what we’re trying to talk about now,” Gardenhire said on a radio show on 1500ESPN. “We talked with Kevin, we’re going to talk with Billy [Smith, Twins GM] when we get home and try to figure out the right thing for Kevin to make sure he keeps his arm in good shape and all those things.”
Slowey told Gardenhire during the meeting that it’s tough for him to work coming out of the bullpen, and after Sunday’s game he suggested he might be better off elsewhere.
“I understand our situation here,” he said. “I understand the starters we have here, and I understand that, even given past successes as a starter, this might not be the right fit for me anymore.”
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Injury update: Byrd, Chapman, Uribe, Utley and Perkins
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Marlon Byrd suffered multiple fractures in his face and was placed on the Disabled List reports Matthew Pouliot of NBCSports.com. Byrd was hit by a pitch in Saturday’s game against the Red Sox and had to spend the night in a hospital.
– Left handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman will begin his rehabilitation assignment in Triple-A Louisville on Monday according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Chapman has been on the Disabled List since May 16 with left shoulder inflammation.
– According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers have placed infielder Juan Uribe on the Disabled List.
– It appears that Phillies second baseman Chase Utley could be making his 2011 debut on Monday according to David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News. Utley packed up his things in Florida last night in order to fly back to Philadelphia.
– LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune tweets that left handed pitcher Glen Perkins is headed to the Disabled List with right oblique strain.
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Philadelphia Phillies sign Scott Podsednik
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According to a Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Philadelphia Phillies have signed Scott Podsednik. Podsednik had previously made a request to the Toronto Blue Jays to release him in mid-May and that release was granted by the team.
The Jays signed Podsednik to a Minor League contract in mid-February of this season. Had he made the big league roster, he would have made $1 million. There was talk that either the Los Angles Angels or the Los Angeles Dodgers would sign the the speedy outfielder. The Angels were looking for a leadoff hitter and depth for their outfield especially in the wake of not signing Carl Crawford this winter.
In 17 games for the Blue Jay’s A+ and Triple-A teams, he hit .254/.365/.352 with 0 home runs and 7 RBIs.
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Pirates not actively shopping Joel Hanrahan
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The Texas Rangers recently inquired about Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports. The 29-year old is 13 for 13 in save opportunities this season with a 1.66 ERA.
The Pirates though are not actively shopping Hanrahan according to Rob Biertempfel of MLB.com. The team is almost at .500 at the moment and are seeing a boost in their attendance at PNC Park (via Biertempfel), so dealing an important piece like Hanrahan would probably affect it negatively.
Rosenthal points out that the Pirates currently hold an MLB record of 18 consecutives losing seasons and are desperately trying not to improve that mark. Not that they have a shot at winning the NL Central, but them finishing above .500 would be a very productive year.
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Suspect in Bryan Stow’s beating arrested
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According to ABC 7, a suspect in the Bryan Stow beating has been arrested. Los Angeles police said they believe the man is one of the two attackers who severely beat Bryan Stow in a Dodgers Stadium parking lot on March 31.
At about 7 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team descended on an East Hollywood apartment building with a warrant in hand.
After a few flash bangs, people from the targeted apartment unit began to be escorted out by police. Among them was a man with a bald head and tattoos on his neck and arms, a description that appeared to match the vague sketches released by police of one of the two suspects.
Police officials declined to give details, including the name of the suspect, saying only that the investigation was ongoing. It is unknown if police know the identity of the second suspect.
Check back later as we look for more details.
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Nick Cafardo on Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes and Chipper Jones
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Here’s the latest from the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:
– Cafardo doesn’t think the Red Sox should regret trading Hanley Ramirez to the Florida Marlins.
– The New York Mets called up 21-year-old Ruben Tejada last week to play second base – maybe with the intention of moving him to shortstop if the team trades Jose Reyes. One scout added, “If they hear the right deal, they will do it. They can’t afford not to and let him leave as a free agent and not get value for him.’’
– The Braves would like to add some offensive insurance especially with Chipper Jones playing with a small meniscus tear in his right knee.
– If the Houston Astros become sellers, candidates that could be on the move include Brett Myers, Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn.
– There’s high praise for right-handed pitcher Matt Barnes out of the UConn.
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Will the Orioles sign Adam Jones to a multi-year deal?
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Though the Orioles are 20-24, their future appears bright as they have many young stars that are ready to have that “breakout” season. Adam Jones‘ representatives at CAA feel he is next in line for that breakout season which is why they rebuffed the Orioles talks this winter of a multi-year deal. Orioles’ GM Andy MacPhail tells MASNSports.com’s Amber Theoharis that they visited the idea of a multi-year deal but didn’t get very far.
“We actually, in Adam’s case, had a brief conversation with Casey Close of CAA at the last winter meetings and talked about, you know, we’d be interested in talking about it in the following parameters,” MacPhail said. “But I think they felt like Adam was still on the ascent and wanted him to play and further establish himself, and they may very well be right.”
The Orioles still have Jones under control (through arbitration) for the 2012 and 2013 seasons before he can become a free agent. He is signed for a modest $3.25mm this season and if he continues on the pace he is currently on .293 avg with 5 home runs and 24 RBI he could see a substantial pay raise.
Jones will turn 26 this August and will be only 28 when he is scheduled to hit the free agent market. Jones is on pace to set new career high marks in home runs and RBI this season. His previous career highs were set in 2009 with 19 home runs and 70 RBI.
The Orioles are obviously interested in a long-term deal, but will Jones and his representatives see the financial stability a long-term deal can provide, or will they go year-to-year and try to cash in when he becomes a free agent and also maximize his value through the yearly arbitration process.
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Phillies’ payroll on the verge of MLB’s $178MM luxury tax
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The Philadelphia Phillies currently have a payroll of just over $175 million according to CSNPhilly.com, but by season’s end, the payroll could be even higher.
If after all performance and award bonuses are paid out to players the Phillies’ payroll exceeds $178 million, they will have to pay the MLB’s luxury tax. This means the Phillies would have to pay 22.5% for every dollar they go over $178 million.
According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, the payroll concerns could be a “hurdle” when it comes to deadline trades. The Phillies are in need of offense, but unless they are able to unload some salary elsewhere, it may be difficult for them to address that need.
Players like Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Carlos Quentin, Ryan Ludwick and Carlos Beltran will probably be available at the trade deadline, but it will be difficult for Phillies GM, Ruben Amaro Jr. to trade for any of them.
The Phillies could unload some money by trading Raul Ibanez, who is owed $11.5 million, but it’s unlikely they could find a taker. Another option could be Joe Blanton, but his recent injury could make it difficult to move him.
Salisbury says that the Phillies’ other “hurdle” is their farm system. They could trade a young pitching prospect because they have depth there, but they’re thin on top level prospect position players.
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Rockies designate Felipe Paulino for assignment
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According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies have designated right handed pitcher Felipe Paulino for assignment. The Rockies have called up Greg Reynolds to fill the vacant bullpen spot.
Manager, Jim Tracy says that Paulino “just wasn’t getting the job done.” adds Renck.
Earlier today, Renck said, via Twitter, that Paulino went into a closed door meeting with Tracy.
Paulino was 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA.
Paulino was acquired this past winter from the Astros in exchange for Clint Barmes.
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