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RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/17/2013 11:16:15 AM

sixthwi

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Zoilo

I have to wonder how many here were sorry to see "Papi" leave the Twins. He seemed to be injured the majority of the time.

I was. I also thought it was ridiculous that they tried to make him hit to all fields. If they are stupid enough to do that to Sano they should be shot.

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Post #: 176

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/17/2013 11:27:02 AM

Todd G

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While aggrevating, the miss on Ortiz was understandable. He was injured a lot, and when we released him the BoSox were the only team interested. He got a 1 year $1 million contract.

Then again, a million bucks can buy a lot of steroids.

Post #: 177

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/17/2013 12:55:27 PM

SoMnFan

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Fascinating stats flying this morning on Cabrera and Chris Davis.
Miggys actually blowing away his triple crown numbers.
Both of them have unbelievable out-of-the-strike zone numbers.
That's incredibly important IMO. When you're great, you're not going to see much meat. You better adjust and learn how to hit trash.
These two have made it an art.

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Post #: 178

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/17/2013 12:56:48 PM

Mr. Ed

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95 rbi's for Miggy. We got a jar of Miggy's Salsa from someone who was in Detroit recently.

And Prince has 69 rbi's. Win by offense

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Post #: 179

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/17/2013 12:58:15 PM

SoMnFan

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Some will be happy to know he also is blowing away WAR stats.
Ya know ... Wins Above keanuReeves

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Post #: 180

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/18/2013 4:27:26 AM

JT2

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Fascinating stats flying this morning on Cabrera and Chris Davis.
Miggys actually blowing away his triple crown numbers.
Both of them have unbelievable out-of-the-strike zone numbers.
That's incredibly important IMO. When you're great, you're not going to see much meat. You better adjust and learn how to hit trash.
These two have made it an art.

Cabrera is exceptional in that regard.

Just think what your boy Gardy could do with him. He'd be much more disciplined at the plate.

Post #: 181

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/18/2013 1:28:21 PM

SoMnFan

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5 NL trades that must happen

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty ImagesPhiladelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee could find a new team within the National League.

With the All-Star Game behind us, the focus in baseball now turns to the next big event of the season, the July 31 deadline to trade players without having to pass them through waivers. Unlike some other sports, a lot frequently happens at baseball's trade deadline, and any big name on a weak team can find his way into a new uniform.

Given baseball's seemingly interminable wait to resume after the All-Star break, what better time to bring out the what-if machine? Here's a look at five trades featuring National League "buyers" that make too much sense not to happen.

Trade No. 1: Pittsburgh Pirates acquire pitcher Cliff Lee from the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Alen Hanson, pitcher Luis Heredia and second baseman Dilson Herrera

At 56-37, the Pirates are in a commanding position to at least grab one of the wild-card spots. While the offense has had issues this season, and the pitching staff is leading the NL in ERA, the opportunity to bring in a pitcher like Lee is tough to overlook. Lee's not cheap, with two years and $50 million remaining on his contract. But given that it's only two years, there's no star pitcher the Pirates could bring in with a contract that tempting at any time.

It's tough to bump someone from the rotation, but what Pirates pitcher would you rather have in a one-game wild-card play-in in a couple of months, or in crucial games in the NLCS or World Series? Besides, having a glut of quality starting pitchers is a problem that has plagued exactly zero teams in baseball history.

The biggest hurdles are the Phillies, and possibly Lee himself. The Phillies still see themselves as contenders by virtue of being around .500, despite having an offense and pitching staff both worse than NL average. That the Phillies are a half-game behind the Nationals is more a reflection on the Nationals having a disappointing year than the Phillies having a good one.

The Pirates will have to give the Phillies real value for Lee, even with his existing contract. They may get away without losing Jameson Taillon or Gregory Polanco, but they're going to have to give up somebody in that top tier. It takes value to get value.

The final hurdle is Lee, who has a no-trade clause to 20 teams that he gets to refresh every year. The full list hasn't been made public -- though certain teams have been leaked as being or not being on the list -- but whether the Pirates are on or off it, no-trade clauses get waived all the time. It just sometimes takes a little sweetening.

Trade No. 2: Washington Nationals acquire pitcher Jake Peavy from the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Nate Karns, second baseman Tony Renda and outfielder Steven Souza

While the Nats still retain most of the reasons that many, including myself, saw them as a powerhouse team going into the season, they're an underdog at this point thanks to playing .500 ball and now looking up at the wild-card leaders.

Washington's a better team than the other teams in the league that would miss the playoffs if the season ended today, but being an underdog means the Nats have to shore up their weak spots with a little bit of urgency. Dan Haren was a good risk for Washington to take going into the season, but he's been inconsistent and you can't ignore the shoulder pain he's had recently.

If Washington wants to make a run, someone with a little more short-term upside is a must. Provided, of course, Peavy's rib fracture is fully healed.

Trade No. 3: Colorado Rockies acquire second baseman Chase Utley from the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Corey Dickerson and pitcher Chad Bettis

Since we already convinced Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. to retool a little for next year, there's no reason not to trade Utley. David Cameron wants to send Chase Utley to the A's, but Utley would also make an excellent fit for the Rockies.

I like D.J. LeMahieu, but Utley is much better right now. Despite all the injuries, Utley remains a fantastic glove at second base at age 34, and his offensive numbers are right at his career averages (OPS+ 123 vs. career OPS+ of 126). The sand in Todd Helton's hourglass is quickly running out and with a wide-open division, a power lefty bat at a prime defensive position is hard to pass up in a rental situation.

Trade No. 4: Los Angeles Dodgers acquire third baseman Aramis Ramirez from the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Joc Pederson

Pederson's going to be a solid player in the majors, but his utility to the Dodgers -- who have three outfielders signed through the time the sun becomes a red giant and incinerates the earth, and some guy you may have heard of named Yasiel Puig -- isn't what it would be on other teams. The Brewers shouldn't get greedy and ask for more. In fact, I'd personally try to squeeze more out of the Brewers if I'm the Dodgers, though I wouldn't expect them to do so.

A-Ram isn't the power bat he once was, but even with Juan Uribe playing admirably this year, Ramirez is a better player when he's on. Even after a trade, Uribe won't go wasted on a team that gives way too many at-bats to Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker.

Trade No. 5: San Francisco Giants acquire pitcher Ervin Santana from the Kansas City Royals for outfielders Gary Brown and Mac Williamson

If I told you in March that Tim Lincecum would have the second-best ERA in the Giants' starting rotation, better than Matt Cain or Ryan Vogelsong, you'd probably assume that The Freak was having a huge bounce-back year and making a run at the NL Cy Young award or something.

Instead, it merely means that the Giants had their rotation, one of the team's strengths in recent years, drop off the cliff like in one of those old Road Runner cartoons.

The Giants aren't quite out of it, and an additional starter is necessary for them to maximize their chances of playing meaningful games come September. Santana being actual trade bait is unusual, but he's had a legitimately solid season and San Francisco could use him even if he's only a mid-rotation guy going forward.

AT&T Park is a rough home for lefty sluggers with less power than Barry Bonds, and given that Santana's downfall is frequently the home run. He may be that rare player who doesn't mind that the Bay Area seems to be about 20 degrees at night during the summer.

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Post #: 182

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/18/2013 1:29:46 PM

SoMnFan

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5 AL trades that must happen

Steve Mitchell-US PresswirePhillies second baseman Chase Utley could find a new home in the American League.

With the trade deadline now just a couple of weeks away, the obvious buyers are still waiting for several of the sellers to decide to actually sell. Maybe they just need the right kind of motivation, so we'll provide it for them here. Here are five deals that AL teams should make in order to bolster their rosters for the stretch run, or maximize value as they continue to build.

Trade No. 1: Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Michael Choice, second baseman Jemile Weeks and starting pitcher Michael Ynoa

Utley is an absolutely perfect fit for the A's. He does all the things that Oakland values, and despite his health issues over the past few years, he remains an elite player when he's on the field. His 126 wRC+ this year equals what Dustin Pedroia is doing for the Red Sox, and no one thinks he's over the hill. If he stays healthy, Utley could easily add two wins to the A's total over their rotation of second basemen, and he would provide another left-handed bat to a lineup that could use some thump from that side.

Ruiz, meanwhile, would provide the team with another catching option and a guy who could form a formidable platoon with John Jaso. While Derek Norris hasn't been bad, and Ruiz has been pretty lousy since coming off the disabled list, Ruiz has continued to pound left-handed pitching, which is Jaso's primary flaw. He's also good at gunning down would-be base stealers, and could serve as a defensive upgrade when the A's want to put their best run-prevention lineup on the field.

To get the Phillies to sell, the A's have to give them enough of a return to forfeit the right to make Utley a qualifying offer. Michael Choice may be the bait that would make Ruben Amaro bite. Choice ranked as the A's third-best prospect on Keith Law's preseason top 10, and while he hasn't yet taken a big leap forward, he's held his own in Triple-A and isn't that far from the big leagues. Given the Phillies' reliance on Delmon Young this season, they could certainly use some talent in the outfield. Choice could be able to contribute as soon as next season.

Weeks and Ynoa are lottery tickets whose early promise has mostly fizzled, but both could still develop into big leaguers at some point. Weeks is showing good on-base skills in Triple-A, though he might end up as a utility infielder. Ynoa, fresh from giving up a home run in the Futures Game, still throws hard but might profile best as a reliever. These guys provide some upside, but Choice is the guy who makes this deal work for Philadelphia. The A's would likely prefer to keep him in their organization, but facing an opportunity to make a substantial upgrade in a dogfight of a division race, they should take the plunge. You can replace a prospect like Michael Choice, but flags fly forever.

Trade No. 2: Seattle Mariners reliever Tom Wilhelmsen, reliever Oliver Perez, outfielder Michael Morse, starting pitcher Joe Saunders and shortstop Brendan Ryan to the Detroit Tigers for starting pitcher Rick Porcello and outfielder Avisail Garcia

It's no secret that the Tigers need to upgrade their bullpen, and this move could give them a potent relief corps in October. While Wilhelmsen has struggled with his fastball command this year, he was a dominating closer a year ago. He may very well just be a mechanical tweak away from blowing hitters away again. The Tigers have been looking for a long-term solution to their ninth-inning problems for a while, and Wilhelmsen could very well be the guy to take that role for the next several years.

By acquiring Perez at the same time, they won't have to rush Wilhelmsen into a high-leverage position right away, giving him time to find his command in lower-pressure situations. Perez has been a revelation as a reliever, showing that he can get hitters out from both sides of the plate and would give the Tigers another left-handed reliever besides Drew Smyly who isn't a pure specialist.

In Morse, the Tigers would get a power hitter to split time between the outfield -- they're already punting defense, so might as well go all the way -- and 1B/DH, giving Victor Martinez some rest or Prince Fielder an off day against a tough lefty. Saunders gives them a steady No. 5 starter, to replace Porcello, who could potentially be yet another bullpen weapon in October. His career numbers against left-handers are lethal, and he could more easily move into a playoff relief role given his splits. Ryan serves as a defensive upgrade and shortstop depth, capable of entering games late to provide a boost to the team's run prevention.

Giving up Porcello just as he's learned how to strike hitters out is a real cost, but he's once again posting results that don't line up with his talent level. Using him as bait opens the door for Smyly to move back into the rotation next year, plus, it keeps the team from having to surrender top prospect Nick Castellanos. The Mariners have the opportunity to evaluate Porcello away from the Tigers' dreadful infield defense and could use him as a mid-rotation starter for 2014, while Garcia gives them another outfield body in their search for anyone better than Jason Bay.

Trade No. 3: Chicago White Sox reliever Jesse Crain to the Boston Red Sox for shortstop Deven Marrero

The two Sox already swapped prospect for reliever in the Matt Thornton trade, but they should go another round by shipping Crain to Boston for a shortstop who is as blocked as any prospect in the game. Before landing on the disabled list, Crain was among the best relievers in baseball, and he's overcome minor arm problems with no long-term effects before. While he might not have the proven closer label, he's a serious weapon. The Red Sox need talent more than a guy with a label and an inflated ego.

Marrero, the Red Sox's first-round pick in 2012, might seem to be a high price to pay for an injured reliever rental, but he has no future in Boston. Defensive wizard Jose Iglesias has already reached Boston, and elite prospect Xander Bogaerts isn't far behind. A move to third base is both impractical because of his limited offensive abilities and the presence of Garin Cecchini. There's just no future with the Red Sox for Marrero, and the White Sox could begin grooming him as Alexei Ramirez's replacement.

Trade No. 4: Seattle Mariners designated hitter Raul Ibanez to the New York Yankees for starting pitcher Phil Hughes

The Yankees have been dangling Hughes around for weeks, looking to exchange some of their pitching depth -- especially a guy who is basically guaranteed to head elsewhere when he becomes a free agent at the end of the year -- for an injection of offense. Ibanez is miraculously having the year of his life at age 41, launching 24 home runs in the first half of the season despite beginning the year as a bench player. The Yankees are clearly familiar with Ibanez, and his swing is still tailor-made for their home ballpark. If he keeps defying age as he has this year, he could provide some much-needed power to their lineup.

The rebuilding Mariners wouldn't seem to have much use for a free-agent-to-be, but as an extreme fly-ball pitcher with a home run problem, Hughes should be intensely interested in pitching on the West Coast next year, hoping the marine layer can knock down some of his meatballs and turn them into outs. With a two-month trial run in Seattle, the Mariners could see how Hughes' approach would play in reconfigured Safeco Field. Just 27 years old, Hughes could potentially be an interesting free agent for a team that lacks pitching depth behind Felix Hernandez and should have money to spend this winter, and swapping Ibanez for him would give them a few months to see him up close and personal before deciding whether or not to be a bidder.

Trade No. 5: Miami Marlins reliever Chad Qualls to the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Josh Lueke

After a couple of awful seasons the past few years, Qualls is throwing harder than ever and has seen his strikeout and ground-ball rate both spike, allowing him to resume his previous position as a quality right-handed setup guy. With Kyle Farnsworth struggling, the Rays could use a righty who can come in and induce a double-play grounder when needed, and Qualls fits the bill perfectly.

In Lueke, the Marlins would be getting a guy with the upside of a late-inning reliever, but a past that he won't ever escape from. It would be best for MLB to have Lueke work in the most anonymous setting possible, and it doesn't get any more anonymous than pitching for the Marlins right now.

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Post #: 183

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/18/2013 1:36:41 PM

Mr. Ed

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So the Twins have nothing to offer in a "has to happen" scenario? Nice.

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Post #: 184

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/18/2013 1:44:12 PM

SoMnFan

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Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffft
We're still in this thing, my man!!!!!!

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Post #: 185

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/18/2013 2:50:15 PM

twinsfan

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Missed this trade:

Acquired LHP Matt Thornton and cash considerations from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for OF Brandon Jacobs.

It doesn't seem like there are as many minor trades as there used to be. What happened to swapping minor leaguers for minor leaguers? Isn't that the kind of thing that keeps GMs busy during the week? Trade that AA guy for that A guy. Trade that A guy for that AAA guy. Unless I'm looking in the wrong place, that kind of thing just doesn't happen anymore.

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Post #: 186

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/18/2013 2:55:08 PM

twinsfan

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Miss this one:

Agreed to terms with RHP Jose Mesa on a minor league contract.

Looks like ol' Joe Table is back.

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Post #: 187

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/19/2013 7:42:53 AM

SoMnFan

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Olney
What Cubs can get for Garza

A highly ranked executive marveled the other day at the incredible shift in the trade market over the past 15 years. It used to be, he said, that if you had a good veteran pitcher -- even someone not far from free agency -- you could get three of another team’s top 10 prospects. “And really, it wasn’t hard to get that,” he said.

But as salaries have increased, the perceived value of prospects has skyrocketed, to the point that many officials believe that they are coveted far beyond their actual worth. A top Class A pitching prospect is now worth as much as say, someone such as Matt Garza. Another official said Thursday, “Now, if you get one of a team’s top prospects [for someone like Garza], plus a couple of other middling minor leaguers to round out the deal, you’re doing pretty well,” he said.

The Cubs have been pushing other teams for their last, best offers, sources say, with the Texas Rangers long thought to be the team with the most reason to be aggressive and the team most likely to make the deal (and now probably the closest). Martin Perez is a finished product and in the big leagues, and he is a major league ready pitcher who would probably create the most splash for the Cubs.

But given the realities of the marketplace, the Cubs are more likely to get C.J. Edwards, a former 48th-round pick who has had an excellent season in Class A -- where he has 122 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings, with a 1.83 ERA -- or Luke Jackson, another young pitcher who is more advanced but is also still probably two years away from pitching in the big leagues. These are two players who don’t necessarily have the buzz among casual fans that Perez does.

But they are attracting a lot of conversation among rival evaluators, and given the Cubs’ possible timetable for the promotion of their growing stock of minor league talent -- it probably will be 2015 when Albert Almora, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler become rooted in the big leagues -- it makes sense for Chicago to invest in a high-end pitching prospect still developing.

I’m filling in on "Mike & Mike" today, so I couldn’t get to all the links. Here’s some stuff:

1. The Indians are looking for a left-handed reliever.

2. By calling up Henry Urrutia now, the Orioles give themselves a couple of weeks to evaluate the DH candidate. He is 6-foot-5, 195 pounds and isn’t a plus runner, and isn’t a big power guy either -- but the left-handed hitter smokes line drives to the opposite field. The Orioles are 14th among 15 teams in OPS at DH, and they are looking for some kind of spark at the position, and for their lineup; eventually, somebody behind Chris Davis needs to hit better because he’s going to see fewer and fewer strikes, inevitably.

3. The Royals are going to keep pushing, says Dayton Moore.

4. Alex Rodriguez continues to make progress.

5. Billy Hamilton’s swing got slammed.

6. Clay Buchholz had another setback. The Red Sox may have reason to look for a starting pitcher in the next 12 days, because they may well be blocked in the waiver period. Jake Peavy could be a nice fit for them. This won’t cause a trade panic, writes Scott Lauber.

7. David Murphy looks at the Phillies’ place.

8. Jose Fernandez is likely to be shut down in late August or early September.

9. Rotation uncertainty has the Rangers looking for a starter.

10. Chances are the Rangers will trade Jurickson Profar in the offseason, if not sooner, writes Tim Cowlishaw.

11. Peter Bourjos suffered a setback.

12. The pressure is on Theo Epstein to make a Garza deal, writes Paul Sullivan.

And today will be better than yesterday.

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Post #: 188

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/19/2013 10:14:59 AM

SoMnFan

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Jeter back on the DL until July 27 (quad)
Lillibridge recalled.

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Post #: 189

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/19/2013 10:19:14 AM

Mr. Ed

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Jeter back on the DL until July 27 (quad)
Lillibridge recalled.

Tried too hard to come back too soon. Needed more scrub games.Not his style, so he pays the price for not being in "gameshape"

Which is always something I get a kick out of in MLB. Of the "major" sports, it's the EASIEST to be in shape for.

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Post #: 190

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/19/2013 10:22:34 AM

Trekgeekscott

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Jeter back on the DL until July 27 (quad)
Lillibridge recalled.

Tried too hard to come back too soon. Needed more scrub games.Not his style, so he pays the price for not being in "gameshape"

Which is always something I get a kick out of in MLB. Of the "major" sports, it's the EASIEST to be in shape for.

What is game shape in baseball anyway?

You have guys like Prince Fielder and Kent Hrbek, and John Kruck and Greg Luzinski etc etc in baseball history that most people would describe as mildly at the least, pear shaped. This and golf are the only sports (if you can call golf a sport) where one doesn't need to be chisled to be good.

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Post #: 191

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/19/2013 12:04:11 PM

SoMnFan

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The Chicago Cubs told Matt Garza's agent that they would trade the right-hander to add inventory for the future, Garza told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine on Friday.

"They told my agent [earlier in the week] that they were going to move me," Garza said. "They said as much as they like me they need to add inventory for the future. I want to stay, but that doesn't seem possible now."

The Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays have been told to make their final bids for the pitcher, sources told Levine. Fox Sports reported late Thursday that the Rangers are closing in on a deal for Garza.

Garza said he was originally scheduled to pitch on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies but was told by the Cubs he will start on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks instead if he's not traded first.

Reports last week said the Cubs and Garza's camp talked about a contract extension, but the pitcher said that doesn't appear to be an option.

"There really was not another offer on a contract at this point," Garza said.

Texas has coveted Garza, who can become a free agent at the end of the season, for the past four seasons. The teams almost agreed to a deal for Garza last year, but he injured his elbow in a late July start and did not pitch again until May 2013. Rangers third-base prospect Mike Olt was one of those players talked about the last time around and will be in the mix again if a deal between the two is made. The Cubs asked for pitcher Martin Perez and were turned down by the Rangers, according to a source.

Cleveland needs a top-of-the-rotation pitcher to make a run at the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. The Cubs have made it known that they want third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall in return, according to sources. Chisenhall, 24, has underachieved for the Indians, batting .243 with six home runs and 25 RBIs, but he has made some strides lately, batting .270 in June and .289 in July. The Cubs might have to expand the deal by sending a major league infielder back to Cleveland if Chisenhall is dealt.

The Dodgers have offered starting pitching for Garza but not their two top prospects, according to sources. Los Angeles recently fortified its rotation by trading for pitcher Ricky Nolasco.

Garza believes his soon-to-be former team is headed in the right direction.

"I don't think we are far away from winning," Garza said. "You look at our pitchers and the competitive way of the team. That is not my call. It looks like I will be pitching elsewhere soon."

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Post #: 192

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/20/2013 7:58:38 AM

SoMnFan

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BOSTON -- Last month, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said it was only a matter of time before the Red Sox renewed talks that began last winter with Dustin Pedroia regarding a contract extension for the second baseman.
That time has come. No sense in waiting to see what kind of dollars new agent Jay-Z commands for his hottest baseball client, Robinson Cano, who is entering free agency after the season.
According to a major league source, the Red Sox made a formal offer to Pedroia and his New York-based agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, over the All-Star break in New York, where Pedroia coincidentally replaced Cano in the American League lineup after the Yankees second baseman was struck by a pitch.

Yahoo! Sports reported the deal could be in the $100 million range and average more than $20 million a year, which by annual average value would make Pedroia the highest-paid middle infielder in the game's history, eclipsing the $18.9 million per-year average Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter had in the 10-year, $189 million deal he signed in 2001. That's a distinction Pedroia isn't likely to hold for long, as Cano is expected to seek more in both dollars and years.

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Post #: 193

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/20/2013 12:52:39 PM

lylej

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

The Chicago Cubs told Matt Garza's agent that they would trade the right-hander to add inventory for the future, Garza told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine on Friday.

"They told my agent [earlier in the week] that they were going to move me," Garza said. "They said as much as they like me they need to add inventory for the future. I want to stay, but that doesn't seem possible now."

The Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays have been told to make their final bids for the pitcher, sources told Levine. Fox Sports reported late Thursday that the Rangers are closing in on a deal for Garza.

Garza said he was originally scheduled to pitch on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies but was told by the Cubs he will start on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks instead if he's not traded first.

Reports last week said the Cubs and Garza's camp talked about a contract extension, but the pitcher said that doesn't appear to be an option.

"There really was not another offer on a contract at this point," Garza said.

Texas has coveted Garza, who can become a free agent at the end of the season, for the past four seasons. The teams almost agreed to a deal for Garza last year, but he injured his elbow in a late July start and did not pitch again until May 2013. Rangers third-base prospect Mike Olt was one of those players talked about the last time around and will be in the mix again if a deal between the two is made. The Cubs asked for pitcher Martin Perez and were turned down by the Rangers, according to a source.

Cleveland needs a top-of-the-rotation pitcher to make a run at the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. The Cubs have made it known that they want third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall in return, according to sources. Chisenhall, 24, has underachieved for the Indians, batting .243 with six home runs and 25 RBIs, but he has made some strides lately, batting .270 in June and .289 in July. The Cubs might have to expand the deal by sending a major league infielder back to Cleveland if Chisenhall is dealt.

The Dodgers have offered starting pitching for Garza but not their two top prospects, according to sources. Los Angeles recently fortified its rotation by trading for pitcher Ricky Nolasco.

Garza believes his soon-to-be former team is headed in the right direction.

"I don't think we are far away from winning," Garza said. "You look at our pitchers and the competitive way of the team. That is not my call. It looks like I will be pitching elsewhere soon."

Chisenhall for Garza would be a nice trade for the Indians.

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Post #: 194

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/20/2013 12:53:54 PM

SoMnFan

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Yep agree
Garza would be a great "get" for the Tribe.
They'll need some help down the stretch

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Post #: 195

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/20/2013 4:04:28 PM

SoMnFan

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Olney with some thoughts on Burton
Nothing about Perk

BOSTON -- The Farmers' Almanac weather forecast might be more reliable than a guesstimate on how relief pitchers will fare. The Boston Red Sox added Eric Gagne at the deadline in 2007, when his ERA was 2.16, and within a few weeks he appeared to develop a case of the yips. He allowed 17 runs in his 25 innings with the Red Sox, another way of saying they didn't get their money's worth.

Reliever Heathcliff Slocumb had a 4.13 ERA for the Mariners after joining them in a deadline deal -- after Seattle surrendered Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe for him, in what turned out to be one of the most one-sided swaps in history.

Bullpen investments are frightening for general managers. In an era in which a six-inning outing is considered good work by a starting pitcher, there are almost always outs to be accounted for at the back end of each game, and no good team wins without good work from its relievers. You have to have it.

But most relievers work like tides, with their flows and ebbs, and teams will try to catch them when they're on the rise.

There are a lot of teams looking for bullpen help. Boston might head the list, given the devastating shoulder injury to Andrew Bailey. Arizona. Detroit. The Dodgers. The Indians. Atlanta.

There just aren't a lot of good options on the market, some general managers report, and in so many cases, it's unclear what you'll be getting.

Some of the available relievers who are throwing effectively of late:
(And yes, these are small sample sizes -- which matter in July in a way they don't any other time of the year.)

Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers

He has pitched effectively the past couple of months, pushing his ERA down to 1.14. Some evaluators believe he'd be a solid add for Boston because of his history as a closer -- and he's 10-for-10 in save chances. He could be a good fit for Arizona, too.

John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers

His whole career has been built on streaks, from All-Star-worthy bursts of success to the slumps that caused him to be dropped out of the closer role. Since May 15, Axford -- working as a piece in the middle of the Milwaukee pecking order -- has allowed a run in just one of 30 outings, taking his ERA from 9.00 to his current 3.63.

Chad Qualls, Miami Marlins

He knows he's being talked about, as Clark Spencer writes.

Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins

He hasn't allowed a run in his past seven outings and has allowed just three hits in his past seven innings. Interestingly, it appears that he has gone away from using his changeup as much in that time.

Matt Lindstrom, Chicago White Sox

He has allowed earned runs in just two of his past 26 outings.

James Russell, Chicago Cubs

Other teams say Chicago is pushing to move him before the end of the month, and, in his role as left-handed specialist, he's been good lately.

Mike Gonzalez, Milwaukee Brewers

The Indians, Atlanta and others are looking for a lefty, and his experience would be attractive to them.

Relievers who have been struggling:

Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees
Since coming off the disabled list, he has allowed 10 earned runs in 14 innings, with seven walks.

Kevin Gregg, Chicago Cubs
He's been excellent for most of this season, but, in the past month, there have been some rough outings. He has allowed runs in six of his past 11 outings.

Relievers with an incomplete grade:

Jesse Crain, Chicago White Sox
The calendar has become a factor because he might not be ready to pitch by July 31.

If he shows he's healthy in the next 11 days, he'll be coveted, and could make sense for just about any contender. From Crain's perspective, it'd better for him to take as much time as possible to recover from shoulder soreness because he'll be a free agent in the fall. For the White Sox, it'd be better if he were back on the mound sooner rather than later.

Around the league

• Red Sox GM Ben Cherington will keep an open mind about adding a reliever, writes Scott Lauber, and they added Brandon Lyon and Jose Contreras.

• Josh Collmenter could get an even more prominent role in the Arizona bullpen -- maybe even a shot at closer.

• You cannot stop the Tampa Bay Rays, you can only hope to contain them. They might be the most dangerous American League team right now.

• Matt Garza was right in the middle of trade talk Friday. Stay tuned. The two sides are working through some issues, as Jeff Wilson writes.

• A whole bunch of scouts were on hand to see Bud Norris.

• The Red Sox told Dustin Pedroia last year that he was the player they want to build around, followed that up with contract talk and, as Gordon Edes writes, made a formal proposal in recent days.

• Brandon Phillips said he was lied to by his bosses.

This was Phillips being Phillips, writes Hal McCoy.

• Rival executives believe the Mariners, despite their ugly situation in the AL standings, are extremely ambivalent about trading before the deadline. It is important for Seattle to demonstrate progress the rest of this year, the officials say, and the Mariners might be focused on winning as many games as possible rather than on adding prospects.

• Seattle's offense is improving, and Brad Miller clubbed a couple of homers Friday.

• Raul Ibanez would rather stay, writes Larry Stone.

• The Dodgers keep winning, with a whole lot of help from Hanley Ramirez.

From ESPN Stats & Information: Yasiel Puig has received most of the credit for the Dodgers' resurgence, but, overall this season, Hanley Ramirez has a better batting average (.382 versus .381), more home runs (9 versus 8) and more RBIs (27 versus 19). Their season stats are very close, but, since the Dodgers' recent run, Ramirez has clearly been the team leader on offense.

• The Royals must take advantage of the many games they have left with the Tigers and Indians, and Ervin Santana shut down Detroit on Thursday.

• The Cardinals went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position Friday, pushing their 2013 average to .339 in those situations. The sample size has grown to more than 900 plate appearances.

Some of that came from Jake Westbrook on Friday.

• The timing of this was surprising: Alex Rios got pulled for not playing hard, at a time when other teams are trying to decide whether to invest in him for 2013 and 2014.

Dings and dents

1. Sean Marshall suffered a bit of a setback, and Ryan Ludwick is making progress, as John Fay writes.
2. Aramis Ramirez plans to be patient.
3. Within this notebook, there is word that Brett Myers has been shut down.
4. Matt Holliday still feels a little tug from his hamstring.
5. Ross Detwiler is going to miss at least another week.
6. Derek Jeter is on the disabled list, again. And Zoilo Almonte is headed there, too.
7. Nolan Reimold is likely out for the year. He has talent, but just can't stay healthy.
8. The follow-up exam on Clay Buchholz was benign.
9. Yunel Escobar expects a quick return.
10. Jason Heyward and Justin Upton expect to be back soon.
11. Lance Berkman has started baseball activities.
12. Ryan Vogelsong is making progress.

Friday's games

1. The Indians' defense betrayed them.
2. The Phillies moved into second place by pounding the Mets, as Matt Gelb writes.
3. Brett Gardner used both hands to slam his helmet to the ground right in front of the umpire after a strike three call -- and knew afterward that he had made a mistake.
4. Jered Weaver owned Oakland, again.

From the Elias Sports Bureau: Weaver is 7-1 with a 0.84 ERA over his past 10 starts against Oakland. That's the lowest earned run average for a major league pitcher over 10 starts against one team since Jerry Reuss had a 0.81 ERA in a 10-start span versus the Astros from 1979 to 1982.

Moves, deals and decisions

1. There is a lot of speculation about whether Justin Morneau might be traded. A key question from the Twins' perspective: Can they get enough in return for what Morneau is at this stage -- a two-month rental -- to justify dealing an established franchise player? Presumably, some of the teams they're dealing with will want a financial adjustment, given that he is due about $6 million for the rest of this season.
2. Keeping Carlos Beltran makes sense for the Cardinals, writes Bernie Miklasz.
3. The Yankees might have to spend this winter.
4. The Yankees need to trade for a bat now, writes Anthony McCarron. The first question the Yankees have to ask before they do that is: Are we good enough to invest in? And you could make a strong case that they are not -- and not really even close to being good enough.
5. An Orioles call-up will get a start tonight.
6. Michael Cuddyer won't be traded, says a Rockies owner.
7. Chase Headley has been moved to the No. 2 spot in the San Diego lineup.

AL East

• Alex Rodriguez wants to play, writes Joel Sherman.

• He's still rounding into form.

AL Central

• Chris Getz got the start at second base Friday.

• The Detroit offense remained on vacation for an extra day, writes Tom Gage.

AL West

• Brandon Barnes hit for the cycle.

• Yoenis Cespedes was out of the lineup with a sore wrist Friday.

NL Central

• This was more like the old Francisco Liriano, with command issues.

• Neal Huntington is not gloating, writes Ron Cook.

NL West

• Todd Helton could be in the homestretch of his outstanding career, as Patrick Saunders writes.

• Chad Gaudin had a strong outing.

Other stuff

• Jerry Seinfeld wasn't happy with his brethren at Citi Field.

• Yasiel Puig is being sued.

• Wrigley Field's rehab plan was endorsed.

• The Marlins will wear throwbacks today.

• Ben Petrick, who is battling Parkinson's, is working with his hometown team.

And today will be better than yesterday.

< Message edited by SoMnFan -- 7/20/2013 4:06:15 PM >

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Post #: 196

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/20/2013 5:59:20 PM

Mr. Ed

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The Angels have designated infielder Brendan Harris for assignment, team communications director Eric Kay announced via Twitter. The team has recalled infielder Tommy Field in a corresponding move, Kay adds.

Harris, 32, was batting .206/.252/.355 in 117 plate appearances this year for the Angels. He has major league experience with all four infield positions, though he's spent the most time at shortstop

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Post #: 197

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/20/2013 6:13:13 PM

SoMnFan

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Kuroda pitched a gem in Fenway today.
Going to the ninth, Yanks up 4-2.

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Post #: 198

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/20/2013 8:33:49 PM

Steve Lentz

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Joined: 7/19/2007
From: Omaha
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

The Angels have designated infielder Brendan Harris for assignment, team communications director Eric Kay announced via Twitter. The team has recalled infielder Tommy Field in a corresponding move, Kay adds.

Harris, 32, was batting .206/.252/.355 in 117 plate appearances this year for the Angels. He has major league experience with all four infield positions, though he's spent the most time at shortstop

Gardy's fault.

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Post #: 199

RE: MLB General Information PT 4 - 7/21/2013 8:03:53 AM

SoMnFan

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Very interesting ...

A no-hitter often defines a pitcher's career, but for Erik Bedard of the Houston Astros it was his short-term future and not immortality that drove him on Saturday.
The left-hander took himself out of his attempt at his first career no-hitter 6 1/3 innings into it.

The journeyman handed the ball over to manager Bo Porter with a stat line of 10 strikeouts, five walks, one earned run, 109 pitches and, oh yeah, zero hits."I asked him, 'Are you sure?' And he said, 'I'm done,' " Porter told reporters after the game, a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
"I've had three shoulder surgeries," Bedard, who was once traded to the Mariners for three eventual All-Stars, explained to reporters. "I'm not going over 110 [pitches]. I'd rather pitch a couple more years than face another batter."
Jose Cisnero finished off the seventh inning but saw the team's no-hit bid end when Michael Saunders hit a two-run double for the Mariners' lone hit of the night.
"It was probably the strangest game I've been involved in since little league to the big leagues," Porter said.
Bedard, who took the loss Saturday despite his noteworthy outing, is 3-7 on the season and entered play Saturday with a 4.41 ERA for last-place Houston.

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Post #: 200