Rumors
Roy Oswalt Rumors: Saturday
Free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt popped back up on the rumor radar yesterday, as he recently auditioned for the Red Sox and Phillies. He also plans to throw for two more teams and is reportedly looking to sign relatively soon so he can be back on the mound by next month. Let's keep track of the day's Oswalt rumors right here, with the latest up top...
- Oswalt threw for the Rangers yesterday, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The situation is the same as it was this offseason, however. Oswalt wants to start but Texas doesn't have a spot for him with both Scott Feldman and Alexi Ogando serving as extra starters in the bullpen. Rosenthal thinks the Rangers could trade Colby Lewis to make room for Oswalt, but there's no indication they're considering it, and there's no guarantee Oswalt would be better than Lewis (Twitter).
- Oswalt's return to the Phillies is possible but not probable, explains Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.
- The Rangers were simply doing their due diligence with Oswalt, a source told Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram (via Twitter).
Quick Hits: Lind, Rhodes, Renteria, Hunter
Saturday evening linkage ... The Marlins are likely to discuss acquiring Blue Jays DH Adam Lind, but their pursuit will be tempered, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel (via Twitter). Miami optioned struggling first baseman Gaby Sanchez to Triple-A New Orleans today. Free agent Arthur Rhodes has remained in playing shape in case a team becomes interested in signing a lefty reliever, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Rhodes last pitched last season for the Cardinals. Free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria has turned down two offers and apparently wants to remain retired, according to Heyman...Blue Jays Place Adam Lind On Outright Waivers
The Blue Jays placed recently demoted slugger Adam Lind on outright waivers on Friday, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
If Lind is claimed, the claiming team will assume the balance of the four-year, $18MM extension he signed early in the 2010 season. That deal also includes club options for 2014-16, with corresponding buyouts. If he goes unclaimed, he will remain with Toronto but will be removed from the 40-man roster.
Lind signed his extension on the heels of a breakout 2009 in which he posted a .305/.370/.562 line with 35 homers. The 1B/OF/DH has fallen well short of that since then, however, hitting .238/.289/.420 with 52 homers in 1,287 plate appearances from 2010 till his demotion to Triple-A this week.
Outright waivers are irrevocable, meaning the Jays wouldn't be able to pull Lind back if another team were to claim him. However, an AL executive tells Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that there's "no chance he gets claimed" (Twitter link).
Orlando Hudson To Sign With White Sox
Free agent Orlando Hudson claims that he is set to sign with the White Sox, according to Peter Gammons of MLB.com (via Twitter). The second baseman was released by the Padres on Thursday afternoon.
The veteran was hitting just .211/.260/.317 in 35 games for San Diego this year and wasn't terribly helpful in grooming the club's young talent. Hudson will earn $5.5MM this year as well as the $2MM buyout he is owed for the 2013 season.
Giants Notes: Melvin Mora, Orlando Hudson
The Giants signed Brad Penny to a minor league contract last night, bringing the right-hander back as possible bullpen help. Here is the latest news out of San Francisco...
- The Giants had one text conversation with Melvin Mora's agent according to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter), but there was "absolutely no offer made." Mora recently told a Venezuelan newspaper that he had received offers from both the Giants and Reds.
- Baggarly says (on Twitter) there is no consensus within the organization about signing the recently released Orlando Hudson. The Giants infield is short at the moment, but Pablo Sandoval will return soon and the club expects to get Freddy Sanchez back from his shoulder problems at some point.
Blogs
Purple Row :: Mariners 10, Rockies 3, picking up other hobbies would be advised now.
There are MLB teams worth watching in the major leagues, quality teams that give a combined effort on both...DRAYS BAY :: Cobb Dials In, Joyce Wyles Out; Rays Beat Braves 5-2
The Cobb salad may have been invented in Los Angeles, but theTalking Chop :: Rays Slam Delgado, Braves Fall 5-2
Randall Delgado had pitched great his previous three starts, but this one was anything but great. Delgado walked five hitters and surrendered a grand slam home run in a 5-2 loss to theA Red Sox Fan In Pinstripe Territory :: Sox Even Series, Fox Effs Stuff Up
We've won 7 of 9 with tonight's 7-5 win in Philadelphia. Many dongs hit--Aviles, Papi, Brooks, Salt. I heard the first half of this one in the car on the way home from NYC*, but made it home in time to see the second half of Fox's "talk about Twitter...and also the game" fest. And wow, Buck and McCarver sure are dumb.** Padilla threw his Padillphus pitch, and Buck announced it as if he'd been unaware that this pitch was part of Vicente's arsenal. This is something the announcer sho...Bless You Boys :: Pirates 4, Tigers 3 Snap Reaction: It only takes one man to beat the Tigers - Andrew McCutchen
The Pittsburgh Pirates bounced bac...Cincinnati Reds: Is Scott Rolen Done for the Season Yet Again?
Yet more worrying news came out of the Cincinnati Reds camp today. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com, the shoulder injury to veteran third baseman Scott Rolen has the Reds' training staff worried that he may not return for the remainder of the season.Currently labeled as indefinitely out, Rolen's injured shoulder is the same injury that prematurely ended his 2011 season. It was hoped that Rolen would return sooner rather than later, as original reports stated that he could avoid missing extended time.
Rolen was batting a meager .172 prior to being placed on the disabled list, with two home runs and 11 runs batted in. His batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage are all career lows.
In the last year of his contract and pushing the envelope at 37 years old, Rolen could have played his last game in a Reds uniform if he is indeed out for the season. This season could likely be the shortest of Rolen's long career, having gone on the disabled list after only playing in 29 games.
In the absence of Rolen, youngster Todd Frazier should draw the majority of starts, although veterans Wilson Valdez and Miguel Cairo should factor in for some time at the hot corner. The recently promoted Mike Costanzo could also see the occasional start if he remains in the majors.
The absence of Rolen leaves a major hole in the lineup for Cincinnati. If Frazier cannot step up and fill the void, GM Walt Jocketty may be forced to make a trade for a bat to bolster the lineup as the trade deadline approaches in July.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Reasons to Believe the Phillies Can Still Take NL East
At the quarter pole of the 2012 season, the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in unfamiliar territory—staring up at the rest of the National League East. And while the Phightins are off to their slowest start in the last five years, there's still reason to believe Philadelphia can claim its sixth consecutive division crown.
Here are five good reasons to believe.
Los Angeles Angels vs. San Diego Padres Preview
The San Diego Padres stand as the worst injury-bitten team in Major League Baseball. Mark Kotsay becomes the latest player to be added to the injured list, as the Los Angeles Angels make the 90-minute drive further south in California to visit the Padres Saturday night.Albert Pujols has rebounded from his early-season woes by opening a seven-game hitting streak and launching his first home runs of the season to the relief of Angels fans. The Padres send a number of prospects into the mix, having utilized nine starting pitchers so far in 2012.
Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout of the Angels boast the best batting averages and are a threat to power long shots at Petco this weekend. The Padres will need to strategically scout the Angels' weaknesses—something they failed to do on Friday when the Padres yielded seven runs to the Angels, while Angels' ace Jered Weaver proved dominant.
With more than 100 games remaining, both teams have an uncertain future. The Padres have one of the best farm systems and lowest payrolls in baseball. The Halos lie on the other end of the spectrum. Trades could be likely for both franchises to acquire key pieces necessary to propel them through the year.
The aforementioned Mike Trout has sparked his team as a leadoff man. During his short tenure, the Angels' winning percentage has been .588 when Trout leads off. Peter Bourjos watches from the bench, seeing his own speed left underutilized for the present time.
Dan Haren takes the mound Saturday night for the Angels, hoping to get the club closer to the .500 mark. San Diego's Eric Stults will make his first start after being waived by Chicago on Wednesday.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Philadelphia Phillies: Just Waive Jim Thome Already
Cincinnati Reds: Narrow Win over Yankees Reveals Disturbing Problem
The Cincinnati Reds played well Saturday in narrow victory at Yankee Stadium. Homer Bailey is showing signs of being the starter that, for years, fans were told he was. The bats were alive, and the Reds made the most of their opportunities. Joey Votto is looking hot, Heisey and Phillips are heating up and talents like Costanzo are revealing their worth. But that's not all the 6-5 win over New York revealed.
The ninth inning came calling again for Sean Marshall.
With the score at 6-3, he had a comfortable lead to work with. Was there pressure? Sure, but nowhere near the kind closers have to deal with on a regular basis.
Taking the mound for the 10th time this year, Marshall gave up four hits and two runs, while only recording a single out. He was relieved by Jose Arredondo who was credited with the save.
Marshall has seven saves on the year and only one blown save. At first glance, his stats might suggest he's playing pretty well. But then you have to ask yourself about his two holds.
Sean Marshall has failed to perform on the mound as a closer, and he's failed twice in the last few appearances to get out of the ninth inning. He's starting to draw the ire of fans and the management as well.
Marshall wasn't brought into the organization to be a closer, but with Ryan Madson's injury, it became apparent that he would be dubbed the new Reds' closer. He looked great in his first appearances, but has only crumbled since.
With an ERA at 5.02 and a WHIP 1.74, he's certainly no longer impressive. Batters are hitting over .300 against the pitcher. Reds' fans and staff are losing trust in Marshall quickly, and his confidence is clearly dwindling.
You might ask, 'what's the answer?'
But that's the problem.
The Reds don't have another pitcher who is really suited to play as a closer. Many have and will continue to call for Aroldis Chapman to take the job, but that's totally unrealistic.
Chapman is a born starter and will have a substantially bigger impact in the rotation once he's out of the bullpen. Asking him to take the mound to close in consecutive days is a death wish with the young southpaw throwing so hard. Injury would be inevitable.
Who's next? Today's closer, Arrendondo? He's pitched well this year, but his career is riddled with inconsistency, which is evident from his walk rate of 4.3 per nine innings pitched.
What about Logan Ondrusek? He lacks experience in closing situations and, although he's been lights out this year, he has a consistency problem that could be worse than Marshall's.
Beyond that, Nick Masset and Bill Bray are injured. Sam LeCure doesn't have the stuff that the closing role calls for. JJ Hoover has very little major league experience. So who does that leave?
The problem the Reds are facing now is Sean Marshall is struggling as a closer, and there's also a lack of pitchers who could replace him.
With a role as important as the closer, waiting for form to return could be a huge mistake. That said, I fully expect Dusty Baker to ride the Marshall train until his confidence returns. Hopefully that's sooner rather than later.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
News
Dunn, ChiSox back strong Danks effort
John Danks pitched shutout ball into the seventh for his first win in nearly a month and Dayan Viciedo, A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Dunn homered as the Chicago White Sox beat the Cubs 7-4 on Saturday night.Red Sox swat four homers, halt Phils' win streak
The Red Sox hit four home runs in a 7-5 victory over the Phillies on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, backing an effective six-inning outing by Jon Lester and evening the Interleague series.Chen's strong outing fuels Royals' victory
Bruce Chen had not beaten the Arizona Diamondbacks for almost 14 years, but the lefty remedied that on Saturday night as he pitched the Royals to a 7-3 victory at Kauffman Stadium.Top of the order powers O's past Nationals
Baltimore's first four hitters -- Robert Andino, J.J. Hardy, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones -- combined for eight of the team's 10 hits and all six RBIs as the O's downed the Nationals, 6-5, on Saturday night at Nationals Park.Three homers help Astros even Lone Star set
The Astros rallied from a season-high four-run deficit and clubbed three homers to beat the Rangers, 6-5, on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at Minute Maid Park.Danks, White Sox power bats knock out Cubs
Lefty John Danks allowed three hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings for his first win since April 22 and Dayan Viciedo and A.J. Pierzynski hit back-to-back homers in the third inning to lead the White Sox to a 7-4 win over the Cubs on Saturday at Wrigley Field. Adam Dunn added his 13th homer.Dodgers put Mark Ellis on DL
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed second baseman Mark Ellis on the 15-day disabled list because of a banged up left knee - making him the fifth position player and fourth regular that manager Don Mattingly has lost in a span of 11 days.Red Sox snap Phillies' win streak
Boston fends off 8th-inning rally by Philly.Astros hit 3 homers, beat Rangers
Justin Maxwell hit one of Houston's season-high three homers to put his team on top in the fifth inning and the Astros held on for a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.Marlins send Gaby Sanchez to minors
Miami Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez has been sent to the minors, a year after he was on the NL All-Star team.