Rumors for June, 2011
Toronto Blue Jays release Dewayne Wise
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According to John Lott, writer for the National Post, the Toronto Blue Jays have released outfielder Dewayne Wise. Wise didn’t fit in to the Blue Jays’ plans so the team let him go so that he could pursue other opportunities. He was hitting .338 at Triple-A Las Vegas.
The outfielder may be best remembered for his perfect game saving catch for Mark Buehrle in 2009 while with the Chicago White Sox. In eight Major League seasons, he has hit .222/.260/.382.
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Astros release Francis Beltran, sign Jacob Meskin
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The Houston Astros have released Minor League pitcher Francis Beltran according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Beltran last pitched in the Majors in 2008 with the Tigers. He was 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings throughout 11 games. This season he had a 19.89 ERA in 6.1 innings with the Astros Triple-A team.
The team also announced they signed catcher Jacob Meskin as a non-drafted free agent adds McTaggart.
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Jon Heyman on possible Drew or Oswalt retirement, Ramos and Reyes
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Here’s the latest from Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated:
– The Texas Rangers fired hitting coach Thad Bosley. Bosley “didn’t mesh” with their hitters.
– The Minnesota Twins are having second thoughts about trading catching prospect Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps last year.
– It would not shock baseball people if J.D. Drew or Roy Oswalt retired at the end of the year.
– Heyman suggests that Jose Reyes of the Mets is so hot right now that the team has to make a respectable offer to him at this point.
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Relievers that could be on the move before the deadline
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The trade deadline is closing in and some teams like the Yankees, Cardinals and Rangers are looking to add some depth to their bullpen. ESPN’s Buster Olney writes in today’s column that bullpen help could be available immediately for teams looking to add relievers.
Although up to this point there are no teams considered to be sellers, there are plenty of relievers that could be moved according to Olney:
– Grant Balfour and Michael Wuertz from the A’s. Balfour is under contract for this season and next, for $3.75 million this year and $4 million next year and is having a good season posting a 2.81 ERA. Wuertz is usually effective when healthy, and the recent A’s losing streak plus Bob Geren’s firing could force them to move pieces.
– Mike Adams, Luke Gregerson and Heath Bell of the Padres. We’ve talked about this a couple of times before. The Padres are in desperate need for offense, and they could be willing to deal one or more of their tops relievers to get some offense in return.
– Kerry Wood appears to be an extremely attractive piece, because he’s only making $1.5 million, but that’s only because he gave a home town discount to the Cubs as he lives in Chicago and wanted to be close to his family.
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Oakland Athletics fire manager Bob Geren
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According to the team’s official Twitter account, the Oakland Athletics have relieved Bob Geren of his duties as manager. Bob Melvin has been named interim manager, and is the heavy favorite for the full time job, Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports.
Geren managed the team from 2007 to June 2011. During his span as the A’s manager he was 334-376.
The team started the season with aspirations that their young starting rotation could give them a chance to compete in the AL West, but after Brett Anderson’s injury, the A’s have lost four starting pitchers in the past three weeks.
Besides that, Brian Fuentes made some comments about Geren that could have triggered the alarms in the front office. Late in May, Fuentes was used in the eight inning against the Angels and he was charged with the loss. After the game, Fuentes compared Geren to his other managers.
“It’s a pretty big difference,” he said. And said he wasn’t the only one with negative thoughts about the manager. “I don’t think anybody knows what direction he’s headed.”
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Injury updates: Chamberlain, Ramirez, Hundley, Cook and Longoria
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– The New York Yankees have placed right handed pitcher Joba Chamberlain on the Disabled List with a strained flexor muscle reports Craig Calcaterra of NBCSports.com.
– Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said that Hanley Ramirez could begin a rehab assignment this weekend with the Marlins’ Class-A team in Jupiter according to Tom D’Angelo of the Palm Beach Post. The short stop is eligible to return from the DL on Tuesday.
– The San Diego Padres have activated catcher Nick Hundley from the Disabled List, reports Dan Hayes of the North County Times.
– According to Drew Silva of NBCSports.com, the Colorado Rockies have activated right handed pitcher Aaron Cook from the 60-day Disabled List. Cook made his 2011 debut today against the Padres. He pitched 5.2 innings allowing three runs and six hits.
– Third baseman Evan Longoria was kept out of today’s lineup against the Angels for the third straight day due to a stomach bug reports Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.
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Rangers select paralyzed player in 33rd round
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Johnathan Taylor, an outfielder from the University of Georgia was drafted by the Texas Rangers today in the 33rd round. He hit .335/.442 for the Bulldogs in 2010.
Taylor though, suffered an injury back in March where he fractured two vertebraes in his spine after colliding with teammate Zach Cone, reports Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News.
The outfielder is unlikely to walk again and is considered a tetraplegic because the paralysis has affected all his extremities. The Rangers selected Cone in the second round and thought it would be a nice gesture to select Taylor too.
“We thought selecting Johnathan was the right thing to do,” said Rangers Director of Amateur Scouting Kip Fagg. “We would have drafted him either way, regardless of any other circumstances involving his injury or Zach’s draft status. Our area scout in Georgia, Ryan Coe, has had a relationship with Johnathan since he was a high school player. The club has always liked his passion and ability as a player.
“A few weeks ago, myself and a couple other members of our department visited Zach Cone in Georgia in the course of normal pre-draft activity. We presented Zach with a Rangers jersey for Johnathan that had been signed by the entire club, and asked if Zach could deliver it to his teammate.”
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Orioles have been unable to trade Jake Fox
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According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles have been trying to trade Jake Fox since he was designated for assignment, but they have been unsuccessful.
The 10-day mark for them to make a decision on Fox is Saturday and they will probably have to pass him through outright waivers. Although teams are not allowed to comment on the waiver process, their doesn’t appear to be a trade involving him at this point adds Zrebiec.
The team could lose Fox on the waiver process, but their failure to trade him is an indication that they didn’t receive much interest in him. It’s obviously they wouldn’t have asked for much in return.
Fox was hitting .188/.250/.396 with 2 HR’s and 4 RBI’s in 48 AB’s for the Orioles this season.
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Giants may be looking at another catcher or two
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In an article by Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, he says that a few folks are indicating that the Giants are “ramping up their pursuit of another catcher. Maybe even two.”
San Francisco has been using Eli Whiteside as the team’s everyday catcher after the season ending injury to Buster Posey. Baggarly mentioned that Ivan Rodriguez may not be the best fit for the Giants despite the energy that he brings to the position.
Late last month, former Giants’ catcher Bengie Molina said that he is open to joining his former team if they called. Molina has not played since the 2010 World Series and would need a few weeks to get into baseball shape. He’s familiar with the team’s pitching staff, but there’s a lot of liability that he would bring to the plate.
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Posada and Tejada could be released before the All-Star break
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Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is close to returning from his wrist surgery, and with Brandon Crawford proving to the team that he belongs in the Majors, there doesn’t appear to be much room for Miguel Tejada.
According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, Sandoval is expected to be activated any day now and the team might have to make a decision regarding Tejada. With a .515 OPS (the lowest among all NL players with at least 150 PA), it seems logical to cut him loose and eat the rest of his $6.5 million salary.
Another veteran, Jorge Posada, could be facing the same fate soon if he doesn’t prove the Yankees he can still produce at a Major League level, reports Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com.
Posada, who is just hitting .195, had to play first base yesterday because Mark Teixeira left the game after being hit by Jon Lester in the bottom of the first. That could be Posada’s new role on the team, but it won’t last forever..
It’s not like the Yankees want to release Posada, and he will certainly be there when Derek Jeter reaches the 3,000 hits plateau, but O’Connor says the Yankees will do what they have to do if Posada’s play forces them to to release him.
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