Rumors for July, 2011
Angels, Braves and Indians looking for offense
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According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, the Los Angeles Angels are looking for an offensive upgrade. Earlier this week, we learned that the Angels and Cubs could be working on a deal that would ship Aramis Ramirez to Anaheim.
Ramirez, 33, is hitting .298/.346/.497 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs in 86 games for the Cubs this season. He’s in the final year of his five-year contract. He’s owed roughly $7 million for the remainder of the season.
Morosi also says that the Braves are looking for a bat, preferably a right handed hitter. He points out that the Braves have the worst OPB in the Majors against left handed pitchers.
According to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, the Indians have been “kicking the tires for offensive help in trade market.” The question with them though is talent, not money says Castrovince, they will have to give up to make a deal he says.
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Houston Astros release Gustavo Chacin
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The Houston Astros have released Gustavo Chacin, Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle reports. Chacin was at Triple-A at the time of his release.
The Astros signed the left-handed pitcher to a Minor League deal in late December 2010.
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Roger Clemens perjury trial ends in mistrial
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The perjury trial that involved ex-baseball star Roger Clemens ended in a mistrial on Thursday after jurors heard statements in a prosecution video that were previously ruled inadmissable until later in the case, CNN’s Larry Lazo reports.
This is what CNN said:
“U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said prosecutors should have modified a video that showed a congressman talking about a deposition from the wife of Clemens’ old teammate, former New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, during a 2008 congressional hearing. Walton had decided earlier that prosecutors couldn’t include references to Laura Pettitte’s testimony unless it was brought up on rebuttal.”
The decision came on the second day of testimony in the trial. A hearing on September 2 will decide whether to retry the case.
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Several teams looking for relief pitching
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According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, he reports that several teams are looking for relief help. Those teams include the Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and maybe the Chicago White Sox.
The biggest name out there that’s likely to be traded is San Diego Padres’ closer Heath Bell. Earlier this week, we learned that the Yankees, Rays, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Phillies, Cardinals and Angels are all candidates for his service. Bell has said that he has no preference as to which league he plays in.
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Tigers focused on trading for a starting pitcher
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The Detroit Tigers are focused right now on trading for a starting pitcher according to a source close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports. He says that even though the Tigers have interest in Carlos Beltran, they’re focused on acquiring a starter.
Earlier this month, we learned the Tigers were interested in right handed pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who has been the subject of several trade rumors as of late.
Morosi also adds that for the moment, the Tigers are not having serious dialogue with the Royals for Jeff Francis or the Astros for Wandy Rodriguez or Brett Myers. They’re not pursuing Ryan Dempster either according to Morosi.
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Nationals sign 4 players selected in the 2011 Draft
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The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with four players selected in the 2011 Draft according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
Right handed pitchers Taylor Hill, Greg Holt (eight round), Dixon Anderson (ninth round) and left handed pitcher Nicholas Lee have all agreed to contracts, though the details are not known.
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Nationals release LHP J.C. Romero – signs Minor League deal with the Yankees
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The Washington Nationals gave left hander J.C. Romero his unconditional release today according to Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com. ESPN’s Buster Olney adds that he Romero quickly signed a Minor League with the Yankees and could pitch tonight for the Yankees’ Triple-A team.
Yeasterday, we learned that Romero was planning to opt out of his deal with the Nationals if they didn’t promote him before tomorrow, July 15th. He then planned to sign a Minor League deal with the Yankees according to Olney.
The Nationals signed Romero to a Minor League deal late in June who has been outstanding so far at Triple-A. He was given his unconditional release by the Philadelphia Phillies on June 24.
The Yankees are in need of left handed relievers since Damaso Marte and Pedro Feliciano have been injured, and Boone Logan hasn’t been reliable for them so far.
Romero was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 24 relief appearances for the Phillies this season. The 35-year-old was designated for assignment on June 16.
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Rockies looking to add a starting pitcher
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Rockies General Manager, Dan O’Dowd, said last week in Atlanta that he would like to acquire at least one starting pitcher the team can control beyond this season, whether the Rockies are in the race or not reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
It has been rumored that the Rockies could be willing to move right hander Ubaldo Jimenez, but according to Renck, there’s little the Rockies could acquire that would justify trading him. Unless, as he says, somebody is willing to give them a front-of-the rotation starter, a top Major League ready arm and a slugging outfielder.
Jimenez, is under contract through 2014 if both club options are exercised, and over the next three years he’s set to make $17.95 million. That’s quite affordable for an ace, even though this season he has struggled from time to time.
If Jimenez performs better in the second half, the team will probably keep him, but if he struggles, they could use him as trade bait this winter to fill multiple holes says Renck.
The right hander is 4-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 104.3 innings throughout 17 starts for the Rockies this season.
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Brewers looking to improve at SS and 3B
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According to sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Milwaukee Brewers are planning on improving the left side of their infield. While the team isn’t engaging in any talks right now for a shortstop or third baseman, the team will determine its payroll flexibility on a case-by-case basis.
Rosenthal suggests that one possible fit is Dodgers’ infielder Jamey Carroll, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy or Royals third baseman Wilson Betemit.
The Brewers left side that includes Yuniesky Betancourt and Casey McGehee rank fairly low in their offensive numbers in addition to their below-average defensive abilities.
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San Francisco Giants looking to spend for a bat
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The San Francisco Giants are looking to add several million dollars to their payroll than part with their top prospects, a source close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says.
The target for the Giants includes a middle-of-the-order hitter than a player at any particular defensive position. Morosi speculates that New York Mets’ outfielder Carlos Beltran would fit into that philosophy. Another option the Giants could go after is Ramon Hernandez should the Reds decide to part with their catcher.
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