Rumors for June, 2011
Brewers designate Sergio Mitre for assignment
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The Milwaukee Brewers have designated right handed pitcher Sergio Mitre for assignment according to Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel.
The team also recalled left handed pitcher Zach Braddock, first baseman Mat Gamel from Triple-A Nashville and outrighted right handed pitcher Justin James to Nashville adds Haudricourt.
Mitre was 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA in 33 innings throughout 22 games for the Brewers in 2011.
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Should the Astros trade Hunter Pence?
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It appears that Hunter Pence will remain with the Astros at least for the rest of the 2011 season. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the only way the Astros trade Pence is if new owner, Jim Crane, is approved before July 31 and orders such a move.
Rosenthal believes though, that the odds of Crane consenting to a trade of Pence in one of his first acts are slim, but he suggests that the team should at least consider the idea.
Although team officials see Pence as “a core player for the future”, the right fielder is getting expensive. He is making $6.9 million and he’s arbitration-eligible for two more seasons.
Rosenthal says that the Astros should rebuild around pitching, and he suggests that the Astros could try to trade Pence to the Braves for a package built around one or more of the Braves’ young pitchers.
That way they would save some money, stack up with young valuable arms and start the rebuilding process.
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Pirates acquire Miguel Perez from Nationals
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired catcher Miguel Perez from the Nationals for cash considerations or a player to be named later reports Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Perez was hitting .429 with 1 RBI in 7 AB’s for the Nationals’ Class-A team this season. In 2010, he hit .280/.329/.357 with 14 RBI’s in 157 AB’s for the Indians’ Double-A team.
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Rosenthal on: Attendance, Diamondbacks, Bell and Cardinals
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Here is the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports:
– White Sox GM, Kenny Williams, has frequently spoken about how attendance influences his trade activity. Over the weekend, a General Manager of a potential seller said he was surprised how tight money was for a number of teams, so teams with low levels of attendance will probably limit their trade activity even if they are contenders.
– The Diamondbacks are still looking for relievers, and GM, Kevin Towers spent part of last week scouting bullpen arms at the team’s Triple-A affiliate. Towers’ plan is to look internally before seeking external solutions.
Sam Demel, who is recovering from shoulder tendinitis will probably rejoin the team soon. They also have righty Yhency Brazoban and lefty Alberto Castillo as candidates for middle-inning roles.
Rosenthal says that in a perfect world Towers would trade for one of the Padres relievers like Mike Adams, but he adds that the Padres are unlikely to trade him, and “they sure aren’t sending him to Towers.”
– The Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers are the teams that have shown the most trade interest in Heath Bell in the past. The Dodgers will probably become sellers at the deadline. The Red Sox could use bullpen help, but GM, Theo Epstein, will be reluctant to move premium young talent for a reliever says Rosenthal. The Rangers have enough young arms, and would be in better position to absorb the remainder of Bell’s $7.5 million salary according to Rosenthal.
– This summer’s market will be full of relievers so the Cardinals could try to acquire two pitchers to reinforce the seventh and eighth innings rather than push for a closer. Rosenthal adds that they do not plan to pursue a hitter in the absence of Albert Pujols.
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Indians designate Adam Everett for assignment
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In a Tweet by Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, he reports that the Cleveland Indians have designated Adam Everett for assignment. Bastian speculates that Everett could be headed for retirement.
Everette signed a Minor League deal with the Tribe in January 2011 and was under contract with the team for $700,000.
In 34 games with the Indians this season, Everett was hitting .217/.277/.233.
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Rangers interested in Mets’ Beltran and Rodriguez
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According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Texas Rangers are interested in New York Mets’ outfielder Carlos Beltran and closer Francisco Rodriguez.
Either player won’t come cheap for the Rangers. Beltran is owed about half of the remainder of his $18.5 million contract for 2011. While the Mets may be willing to eat most of that they would expect a large bounty of prospects in return.
Rodriguez reportedly was open to being a setup man in the right situation (despite having a $17.5 million 2012 vesting option if he finishes 55 games), but those reports were later debunked by journalists close to the pitcher. It wouldn’t be surprising if he has a change of heart should a team offer him a contract extension.
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Los Angeles Dodgers file for bankruptcy
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The Los Angeles Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, according to several news sources including Ken Gurnick of MLB.com and ESPN. The team blames Major League Baseball for refusing to approve a multibillion-dollar TV deal that would have kept the team afloat.
The filing allows the team to receive $150 million in debtor-in-possession financing that will “enable the Dodger organization to fully meet its obligations going forward.” There had been rumors that the team may not be able to make their June 30th payroll obligations of $30 million, but the financing will now allow the club to execute on their day-to-day operations.
“The Dodgers have delivered time and again since I became owner, and that’s been good for baseball,” McCourt said in defense of his team. “We turned the team around financially after years of annual losses before I purchased the team. We invested $150 million in the stadium. We’ve had excellent on-field performance, including playoff appearances four times in seven years.”
The filing adds that the team has been experiencing “cash flow difficulties” in 2010 due to declining attendance and $22 million in deferred compensation and revenue sharing. Players that continue to be on the team’s payroll due to deferred payments include Manny Ramirez at $21 million, Andruw Jones at $11 million, Hiroki Kuroda at $4.4 milion and the Chicago White Sox at $3.5 million.
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Giants acquisition of Jose Reyes is a longshot
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ere have been rumors swirling over the past couple of months that the San Francisco Giants have been targeting New York Mets’ shortstop Jose Reyes in a possible trade. However, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says that such a trade would be a longshot.
Rosenthal cites the Giants already high payroll of $118 million and their reluctance to part with top young talent for a two month Reyes rental. Despite being a premiere player on the Mets, Reyes will become a free agent after the season and the team may be better off getting something in return in what appears to be a non-playoff year.
The FOXSports television personality added yesterday that the Cleveland Indians’ Orlando Cabrera could be a good fit for the Giants. San Francisco liked him in the off-season and they’re getting a good look at the infielder this weekend while the two teams battle in interleague play.
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Injury Updates: Young, Oswalt, Sanchez, Jeter and Andrus
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Left fielder Delmon Young was placed on the 15-day Disabled List with a sprained ankle according to Phil Mackey of ESPN 1500 AM. Young injured his ankle after crashing into the left field wall at Miller Park yesterday.
– Roy Oswalt has a mild bulging disc in his back and will likely be out until August reports Steve Berthiaume of ESPN. Oswalt has been experiencing back issues since May.
– The San Francisco Giants have placed Jonathan Sanchez on the Disabled List with left biceps tendinitis according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. Barry Zito will probably take Sanchez’s spot in the rotation until Sanchez is healthy.
– Derek Jeter took swings yesterday for the first time since landing on the Disabled List reports Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. Jeter took 27 swings off a tee and 30 soft toss swings.
– Elvis Andrus is listed day-to-day until at least Tuesday due to a wirst injury reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Andrus was injured after sliding head first into second base on a stolen base when his left arm got caught beneath his body.
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Pitchers notes: Hanson, Chapman, Matusz and Niese
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Here are a few notes regarding some Major League pitchers:
– Right handed pitcher Tommy Hanson threw a bullpen session Friday and has been cleared to return from the Disabled List. Hanson will start Tuesday against the Mariners reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
– Left handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman yesterday made his first Major League appearance since being placed on the Disabled List on May 15. He struck out the side with only 12 pitches in his outing and hit 101 MPH.
– Orioles manager, Buck Showalter, confirmed yesterday that left handed pitcher Brian Matusz will remain in the rotation and make his next start despite his struggles reports Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
“It seems like a lot of balls squared up off him when he’s kind of down sometimes,” Showalter said. “It looks like he’s getting some outs up. I’ve seen him when he’s good, and he has good command of the fastball. Really all his pitches. Like I said, we’ll keep working, trying to get back to that status.”
Yesterday, the left hander threw only 4.2 innings allowing six runs over nine hits, three of them home runs.
– Jonathon Niese was removed from yesterday’s game with rapid heartbeat according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger added that Niese is “OK” but he expects to undergo further testing next week.
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