Guess who's back? Baseball bits: Wakamatsu, Carter, Coghlan, Arencibia, Sale, Morrow

Lots of baseball news today as I return to the blogosphere...

- In a move that surprised many, the Seattle Mariners fired Manager Don Wakamatsu. Wakamatsu, who was named manager prior to the 2009 season, and a dismal Mariners team, that was supposed to be the dark horse contender in the American League West thanks to a revamped (now disbanded) roster, sit at 42-70 in last place sporting the second-worst record in the American League, thanks only to the struggle of the Baltimore Orioles. As well, Seattle fired pitching coach Rick Adair, performance coach Steve Hecht and bench coach Ty Van Burkleo

"I'll be all right," the 47-year-old Wakamatsu said. "I've been in this game a long time, and I have a lot of people pulling for me -- most of all my family."

Wakamatsu, the first Japanese manager in baseball, joins the Florida Marlins' Fredi Gonzalez, Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Hinch, Baltimore Orioles' Dave Trembley, and the Kansas City Royals' Trey Hillman on the list of managers who have been fired this season.

In his managerial career, which began in 2009, he is 127-147 lifetime. In his first season as manager in 2009, Wakamatsu led the Mariners to an 85-77 record after finishing 61-101 in 2008. There was much promise for the 2010 Mariners, who sported an opening roster that consisted of newbies ace LHP Cliff Lee, OF Milton Bradley, and 2B Chone Figgins to combine with the likes of RHP Felix Hernandez and OF Ichiro Suzuki & Franklin Gutierrez. However, the team on paper was not the team on the field. The Mariners struggled early and continued to slide, ultimately watching as Lee was traded to Texas, Bradley dealt with injuries and anger issues, and Figgins, for lack of a better term, sucked and butted heads with Wakamatsu.

"I have concluded that these changes needed to be made now and that they are in the best interest of the Mariners as we move forward," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "Don, Ty and Rick are all good baseball men and they have done their very best. But we are where we are. I no longer have confidence that Don, Ty and Rick are the right long-term fit for our organization. New leadership is needed and it is needed now."

"Everybody is evaluated at all times," he said. "As we go forward, you have to realize there is always an evaluation process going on at all times. You take a week at a time, a month at a time, a season at a time with everyone."

Wakamatsu's new replacement, Daren Brown, who managed the Triple-AAA Tacoma team for the Mariners' farm the past three seasons, will begin his career tonight as interim manager against the Oakland Athletics. Roger Hansen, the Mariners' minor league catching coordinator, will be Brown's bench coach, while Carl Willis, the Mariners' minor league pitching coordinator, will be his pitching coach.

Wakamatsu, a catcher, was an 11th round draft pick in 1985 by the Cincinnati Reds, played 11 seasons in professional baseball, mainly in the minor leagues in the farm systems of the Reds, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Mariners, and Milwaukee Brewers before retiring in 1996. He appeared in the major leagues in 1995 with the Chicago White Sox and played in just 18 games while hitting .226.

It's unknown whether Wakamatsu will manage in 2011.

- The Oakland Athletics, although 7.5 games back and in second place in the AL West, aren't calling it quits just yet. While the division leading Texas Rangers look like the favorites to seal up the division, the A's are giving it one last fighting chance by promoting top prospect first baseman Chris Carter today from Triple-AAA Sacramento, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Carter, 23, was part of the six-player package, which included RHP Brett Anderson and SASWFM favorite OF Carlos Gonzalez, from the Arizona Diamondbacks to Oakland for RHP Dan Haren in 2007. Originally a 15th round draft pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2005, he was traded to Arizona for OF Carlos Quentin during the 2007 off season and flipped to Oakland.

A power-hitting first baseman who ranked #28 on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list prior to 2010, Carter has transformed himself into an elite home run hitter. He flew up prospect lists in 2007, while playing in the White Sox's farm system Single-A team, belting 25 home runs and sporting a .291 average before he was traded to Arizona and later Oakland. He proved 2007 was no fluke by breaking out in 2008, hitting 39 home runs with 104 RBIs for Oakland's Single-A+ Stockton. As a result, he ranked #76 on the top prospect list. In 2009, he continued to dominate, hitting 28 home runs with a .329 average and 115 RBIs between AA-AAA and moving up to #28 on the top prospect list.

Before his call-up today, he was hitting .262 with 27 home runs and 89 RBIs for Triple-AAA while playing 94 games at first base and 20 split in right and left field. Due to the recent injuries of 1B Daric Barton, LF Matt Watson, and INF Adam Rosales, Carter's call-up was almost a no-brainer. He will make his debut tonight and joins an elite 2010 Rookie Class. The scary thing? That's not even the whole class: Pedro Alvarez, among others, is missing from the list.

- Florida Marlins' LF Chris Coghlan will undergo surgery on his left knee Wednesday, after injuring himself in a walk-off celebration on July 25 when delivering a celebratory pie-in-the-face to teammate Wes Helms. Coghlan, who thought he would be able to rehab the injury, could miss the remainder of the season.

"I went out there and threw three days ago, and I think that's when it really hit me that, 'OK, I'm not going to be able to do this,' " he said Sunday. "I had too much sharp pain in my knee."

"It matters more to the public how you get injured, especially with the circumstances of how it happened to me," Coghlan said. "But to me the bottom line is I was injured, and it's disappointing. It's tough watching your team going out there and compete, and you're not able to help."

Coghlan, the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year, was hitting .268 with 5 home runs and 28 RBIs through 91 games in the outfield for the Marlins. While he has played primarily OF in the major leagues, he played second base in the minor leagues. Due to the recent emergence of top prospects Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton in the corner outfield spots, along with once top prospect CF Cameron Maybin waiting in the wings to re-establish himself, Coghlan seems to be the odd-man out in the outfield. There was talk of the Marlins trading All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla due to contract issues and moving Coghlan to second base, but instead they traded 3B Jorge Cantu to Texas, and want Coghlan to be the club's starting third baseman once he returns from injury. Coghlan, however, hasn't put any thought on the recent demands.

"Right now I haven't even focused on that -- too much focus on my knee," he said. "Let me get surgery and let me get back. Obviously as that process goes on, I'll be thinking more about third base."

The recovery, which is estimated at four-to-eight weeks, could allow Coghlan to possibly return at the end of the season for a few games, which very well could be at third base. The Marlins, who sit 9.5 games out and in fourth place in the NL East, aren't giving up hope yet, and neither is Coghlan.

"I will do everything in my power to get back healthy as quick as I can," he said.

- Lastly, here are some things I enjoyed after this interesting week in baseball:

1. How about that debut for Toronto Blue Jays' catching prospect J.P. Arencibia huh? 4-5 with 2 home runs in his debut? Wowzers. I don't think you could honestly have a better debut.

Well, unless you're this guy.


2. Did you hear about LHP Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox?

Talk about skyrocketing...

Sale, the South Siders' first round (13th overall) pick in the 2010 draft in June, made his major league debut on August 6th. He pitched in just 11 games in the minors for A+ and AAA combined, going 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA, striking out 19 in 10.1 innings for a (inflated due to service time) 21.3 k/9 rate. The tall, lanky lefty is the first player from the 2010 draft making the jump from A+ to AAA to the majors.

"First time I see this guy on tape I said 'Why don't we have him tomorrow?'" White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I like what I see on tape. He's got a lot of guts. We're excited to have him."

"Being here is an honor and a privilege," Sale, 21, said, "and I'm going to do everything I can to stay up here. These are important outings. It's not like we're 10 games back or 10 games up. If I get into a game, it's the real deal. I have to perform well."

He's off to a good start, giving up just one hit and one walk in 0.0 innings (one game, he didn't get any outs). Put him in the Hall Of Fame already .


3. Uh, the Toronto Blue Jays' RHP Brandon Morrow's performance Sunday? A complete game with 17 strikeouts is awfully nice, but losing the no-hitter in the 9th with two outs will sting, especially when that was an easy play that 2B Aaron Hill should have had. Nonetheless, he beat the Tampa Rays, which is good for the Yankee fans, as they are on a five game losing streak and now sit 2.5 games out. If the Rays had been no-hit, it would have been the fifth time they were involved in a no-hitter in the past two seasons. Wow.

"Oh, Canada" indeed.

Mets notes: Francoeur, Cordero, Oswalt

- According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the New York Mets are trying to trade right fielder and now fourth outfielder, Jeff Francoeur. Francoeur, 26, has been the Mets' starting right fielder since coming over in a trade from the Atlanta Braves in 2009 and was the starter this year. However, a starting outfielder his whole career, Francoeur has lost substantial amounts of playing time to sit on the bench in favor of Carlos Beltran, the Mets' highest paid player and star center fielder, who returned from arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday.

Angel Pagan, who was acquired before the 2008 season in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, replaced Beltran in center field until his return and now has taken over everyday duties in right field due to his breakout season and strong play. In 2010, Francoeur is hitting a measly .243/.295/.378 and has an OPS of just .673 (the second lowest of his career) with 8 home runs (he hit 29 in 2006, but hasn't hit 20 since) and 42 RBIs while striking out 56 times in 336 plate appearances compared to the 28 year-old Pagan's line of .311/.367/.480, .847 OPS, with also 8 home runs, 44 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and just 50 strikeouts in 359 plate appearances while also playing better defense with a .991 fielding percentage compared to a .984 %. Francoeur strikes out an average of 117 times per season.

Mets' Manager Jerry Manuel has also shown a greater liking to playing Pagan. Pagan is a better defensive player who is also faster on the base paths as well as in the outfield. He's also a better selective hitter than the free swinging Francoeur. Francoeur is also a good defensive player who has a Roberto Clemente-esque type arm, meaning it's a cannon. "Frenchy" started the season on a tear, but cooled off in May and has slumped since.

According to Puma, "the team is trying to trade the right fielder, and could have a deal in place by the time the Mets finish their series in Los Angeles this weekend.

Francoeur would welcome a trade, according to a person friendly with the right fielder, if it gave him a chance to play every day."

Francoeur makes $5 million this season, with just $2 million remaining for the season. He's a eligible to be tendered a contract through arbitration, but most think that he could be a non-tender candidate if he continues to struggle. Once a promising top prospect in the Atlanta Braves' organization (and he's from Georgia, how much better could it get? Can you say Jason Heyward?), a first round draft pick who went 23rd overall, Francoeur showed flashes of potential early in his career from 2005-2007, his best years, but he lost his power to try to improve his plate discipline and has been a below 20 home run hitter with a poor average ever since.

2005, his rookie year, he hit .300 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs in 70 games, impressing scouts and finishing third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after being named the Braves best prospect before the season by Baseball America. 2006, his first full season, he hit .260 with a career-high 29 home runs while driving in 103 RBIs, living up to the hype that surrounded him coming out of the minors. It looked like the best of Frenchy was to come. In 2007, Francoeur's average rose to .293, but the home run total went down to 19 and his RBI total was finalized at 105 for the season. For the 2008 season, many thought it would be the season that Francoeur would put average, power and driving in runs all together for a monster season. However, Francoeur struggled in 2008, hitting just .239 with 11 home runs and 71 RBIs. 2009 wouldn't get any better for Frenchy, as he struggled early and hit .250 with 5 home runs and 35 RBIs for the Braves before being traded to the Mets for Ryan Church on July 11. New York was where he improved, hitting .311 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs putting his season total at .280, 15 home runs and 76 RBIs. Francoeur has driven in just an average of 63 RBI since 2008 and hasn't driven in 100 or more RBI since 2007, when he drove in a career-best 105.

Jeff is a great clubhouse guy, is very durable (he played 162 games, two full seasons, back to back years in 2006/2007 which were his best seasons), and could still be a great player. He's still just 26 and is still loaded with the potential that he had earlier in his career. I could see him going back to being a 30 HR and 100 RBI guy if he can fix up his swing and his plate discipline. Always one of my favorite Mets (I don't have a lot), I hope he does well elsewhere and gets to start if he is traded. I also hope he proves the Mets wrong. A contending team could definitely use him.

The Bleacher Report suggests that a trade of Francoeur to the New York Yankees makes the most sense in that Francoeur, who could greatly help the Yankees improve their bench, can rotate with center fielder Curtis Granderson and start against lefties, Granderson's weakness, while Granderson starts against right handers, Francoeur's weakness. In essence, if it were to happen, Francoeur would play left field on days lefties would pitch, pushing Brett Gardner to center field on those days. Frenchy, according to the article, would be filling an Eric Hinske-type role for the Yankees. He would come cheaply and would be a great clubhouse guy to go along with Nick Swisher to form great chemistry in the Yankees' clubhouse.

- In other news, the Mets signed right handed relief pitcher and former Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals stellar closer Chad Cordero to a minor league contract. He will head to Triple-AAA Buffalo. Cordero, 28, had labrum surgery two years ago after the start of the 2008 season. The rehab time and uncertainty of his effectiveness led to his release from the Nationals. Cordero, who was one of the top National League closers before the surgery, saved 128 games for the Nats/Expos, including 47 saves in 2005 as a 23 year-old with a 1.82 ERA, his best season. Cordero missed the entire 2009 season rehabbing and was signed by the Seattle Mariners prior to the start of the 2010 season. In nine games with Seattle, Cordero-as most pitchers who have shoulder surgery do-struggled, posting a 6.52 ERA while allowing 10 hits, 7 earned runs, 5 walks, 1 home run, and getting 6 strike outs in 9.2 innings before being optioned back to Triple-AAA on July 15th. Rather an accept another minor league assignment, Cordero opted for free agency and the Mets pounced, hoping Cordero would be the missing piece to improve their bullpen. Omar Minaya, former Expos' GM and now Mets' GM, drafted Cordero 20th overall in 2003 and always liked Cordero. The Mets expect a short-term minor league assignment before Cordero joins the team's bullpen.

- According to multiple sources over the past few days, the Philadelphia Phillies, who sit just a half game back of the Mets in the NL East standings at 48-46, have inquired on Houston Astros' pitching ace Roy Oswalt to try to trade for him to improve their rotation. Oswalt however, recently expressed his preference to play in St. Louis for the Cardinals, who, reportedly, are in talks to acquire the right hander built around a package that includes top pitching prospect Shelby Miller. Talks are currently at an impasse over salary, but officials suggest that a deal could get done. The Phillies are still monitoring the talks and are actively involved in trying to trade for Oswalt. If acquired by the Phillies, Oswalt joins a potentially threatening rotation that includes Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and now J.A. Happ/Vance Worley. The Mets would need to trade for another top flight pitcher if Oswalt were to be acquired by the Phillies (it looks more like he's going to St. Louis) in order to maintain second place. Around The Horn Baseball thinks that Francoeur, along with top pitching prospect Jenrry Mejia, could be headed to Houston soon so that the Mets could acquire Oswalt.

Chicago Cubs' Manager Lou Piniella retiring after 2010 season

After 40 years in baseball, 18 years as a player and 22 as a manager, Lou Piniella has decided to walk away from the game.

Well, at the end of the season that is.

Today, Piniella announced that he would be retiring from baseball at the end of the 2010 season, once his contract as Manager of the Chicago Cubs expires.

"It's been a wonderful experience," he said. "There's no way that I won't cherish the memories here."

During his playing days, Piniella began his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He was traded twice, first to the Cleveland Indians and then to the Kansas City Royals. Lou won the AL Rookie of the Year in 1969 after he finished with a batting line of .282 with 11 homers and 68 RBIs with the Royals. In 1973, The Royals traded him to the Yankees and Piniella would play the rest of his career with the Yankees before retiring as a player in 1984.

Piniella played 11 of his 18 seasons with the New York Yankees, five with the Kansas City Royals and also had brief stints with the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. Piniella retired as a player in 1984, finishing with a career batting line of .291 with 1705 hits and 102 home runs.

Retirement from the game as a player wouldn't keep Ol' Sweet Lou from being involved in it. In 1986, he became the Manager of the Yankees, leading the team to a 90-72 record, which was only good for second place in the AL East. Piniella again managed the Yankees from 1987-1988 before moving on to manage the Cincinnati Reds from 1990-1993. In 1990, Piniella's first year as Reds' Manager, he led the team to a World Series Championship. For the 1994 season, Piniella accepted a contract from the Seattle Mariners, a team he would manager for the next 10 years. Piniella was unsuccessful in bringing a championship to Seattle, even when the Mariners finished the 2001 season with a 116-46 record only to be eliminated in the playoffs. After the 2002 season, his last in Seattle, Piniella returned home to Tampa, where he would accept a job as Manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Piniella would manager the Devil Rays from 2003-2005 before being bought out for the 2006 season, finishing in last place two of the three seasons.

Piniella stayed out of baseball for the 2006 season, spending it at home and not managing. However, he had that itch to get back in the game again. Prior to the 2007 season, the Cubs offered Piniella a four-year contract to which he would accept to become the Cubs' Manager and was determined to help the club win its first championship in almost 100 years. In Piniella's first season in Chicago in 2007, he led the Cubs to the NL Central Division title with an 85-77 record. The Cubs however, would be swept and eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2008, Piniella led the Cubs to a second straight division title, this time the team finishing with a record of 97-64, good for third best in the league. However, the 2008 playoffs would yield the same fate for the lovable losers, as this time they were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Piniella and the 2009 Cubs didn't exactly live up to expectations the following year, finishing 83-78 in second place in the Central and missing the playoffs.

This season, the 2010 Cubs have been the worst Cub team under Piniella's tenure. The team is currently at a 42-52 record, 10 games under .500 and are in fourth place in the Central and making it look more as if year 102 without a championship is not their year. One has to wonder if the wear and tear of the 2010 season may be the reason for Piniella's retirement.

"Why is the announcement now as opposed to September?" Piniella said. "For a couple reasons. First of all, I get asked all the time. I don't want to mislead anybody about my intentions. At the same time, more important, it gives Jim Hendry ample opportunity to find a new manager for this organization and he can do it where he doesn't have to be secretive about it, or anything else."

When asked why he didn't resign immediately, Piniella shot back with the response, "Why? I signed here for four years. I'm going to honor the contract."

Known for his classic rants on the field with umpires and even players (Rob Dibble in 1992), base-throwing, dirt-kicking, hat tossing, and screaming, Piniella has had a remarkable impact on baseball and will not be forgotten.

When asked if he would be involved as a special assistant or consultant, Piniella replied, "I enjoy this game, I really do. I love this game. So that would be a good way to stay involved, but not in an everyday basis. It could be anywhere. There are no plans one way or another." said Piniella during a press conference.

Piniella said that he wants to return home and is ready to call it a career.

"I've been away from home since 1962. That's about 50 years."

Piniella, now 66, ranks fourth among active managers with a career record of 1,826-1,691 (.519) behind Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, and Tony LaRussa.

Ryne Sandberg, longtime and Hall of Fame Cubs' second baseman, has been named as the favorite to manage the Cubs for the 2011 season. Sandberg, who is currently the Manager of the Triple-AAA Iowa Cubs, has expressed a desire to manage in the big leagues. It would be truly fitting for the longtime Hall of Fame Cub to manage the very team he played for.

"I need to focus on what I'm doing here in Des Moines with these players and what my job is right now," Sandberg said. "If the time came, if I was considered for that job in Chicago, I think that'd be a terrific thing just to be considered. The whole goal of any minor leaguer is to get to the major leagues, and I think that includes coaches and managers like myself."

Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa, Bobby Valetine, and Joe Girardi are other free agent managers who could be considered.

Cubs GM Jim Hendry has said that the position will be discussed prior to the 2011 season.

But there is one question....

Has Sweet Lou simply given up on the 2010 Cubbies?

Think again.

"I'm proud of our accomplishments during my time here and this will be a perfect way for me to end my career," he said. "But let me make one thing perfectly clear: Our work is far from over. I want to keep the momentum going more than anything else and win as many games as we can to get back in this pennant race."

"Look, we're still not eliminated," Piniella said. "We've got time. Stranger things … I managed a team in Seattle, for instance, that was 13 ½ out on Aug. 1 and went to the American League Championship finals. That could happen here, we just need to get hot."

Classic Sweet Lou.

Seattle Mariners trade LHP Cliff Lee and RHP Mark Lowe to Texas Rangers for 1B Justin Smoak, RHP Blake Beavan, RHP Josh Leuke and INF/OF Matt Lawson

What a day.

A day where the story was that the New York Yankees were on the verge of acquiring Cliff Lee, instead it'll be the Texas Rangers.

The Texas Rangers will be sending 1B Justin Smoak, who was their top prospect before debuting this year, and three additional prospects to Seattle in return for Lee and RHP Mark Lowe.

Smoak, the Rangers first round draft pick, went 11th overall in 2008 to Texas. He's been often compared to having a Mark Teixeira-like ceiling. Smoak has struggled so far in his rookie campaign, batting .209/.316/.353 with 8 home runs and 34 RBI in 70 games, while striking out 57 times in 235 plate appearances. The switch hitter will now take his high ceiling talent to Texas where he will continue his hopefully long, career. The Rangers were willing to part with Smoak and the three prospects due to the strength of their farm system, which was ranked #1 in baseball.

Seattle will be sending Texas both Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe. Lee, as we know, is 8-3 on the season with a 2.34 ERA, tops in the AL. Lowe however, is missing the rest of the season with back surgery, so I'm puzzled by that. The Mariners will also be sending cash to the Rangers.

So Texas' package topped the Yankees, hooray for them. At least the Yankees now a) don't have to face Lee tonight, and b) get to keep Jesus Montero. It just means now that, since the Rangers won't be able to re-sign Lee because of their bankruptcy, the Yankees will sign Lee in the off season as a free agent. I'm really curious as to why the Rangers traded within the division...

This was a really good trade for both sides. The Rangers acquire the pitcher that they need for the playoff push to headline their starting rotation. Lee should help the Rangers maintain their lead in the AL West. The Mariners acquire a young future star in Smoak and three other additional prospects for the future. I can't say yet if the Yankees' offer was better because we don't know who the three other prospects are.

I'll have more later.

Update, 5:30 PM - The Mariners will acquire two pitchers and a position player from Texas, along with Smoak. It's been reported that the Rangers will also send top pitching prospect RHP Blake Beavan in the trade. Beavan, 21, is having a monster year in Double-AA Frisco: 10-5 with a 2.78 ERA in 17 starts.

Update, 5:36 PM: - The Mariners will also acquire RHP Josh Lueke and INF/OF Matthew Lawson. Leuke, 26, a relief pitcher, is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 15 games this season for Double-AA Frisco. Lawson, 25, is an infielder/outfielder who's hitting .277/.371/.438 with 7 home runs and 34 RBI in 345 plate appearances in 76 games for Double-AA Frisco.

Outside of Beavan and Smoak, the Mariners got nothing. The Yankees' package was much better, as well as much younger. Whatever, I'm glad the Yankees still have Montero.

OFFICIAL: Yankees not getting Cliff Lee

Jack Curry of the YES Network breaks the news. Click the link to see.

And that's that.

You have GOT to be kidding... CLIFF LEE NOT GOING TO YANKEES IN TRADE

This morning, it looked like Cliff Lee was getting ready to be fitted for pinstripes in a deal that would have sent the southpaw to the Yankees for top prospect Jesus Montero and others.

But now, it's not happening.

Reported by MLBTradeRumors, the Seattle Mariners have pulled out of the deal with the Yankees. The Yankees it seems, are stunned and disappointed and may pull away from the Lee trade talks. What is most likely to have happened is that another team topped the Yankees offer. Seattle has questions about David Adams' injured ankle which is understandable, but how could they reject Montero?

I just want to know this:

Jack Zduriencik, (The Mariners' GM) what on Earth are you thinking?! How could reject Jesus Montero, the #4 best prospect in the game? Do you honestly think you're going to get a better package?!

This morning, I was opposed to the trade because Montero was involved. However, I got used to it and I thought this was a great trade and that while it would be hard to lose Montero, you have to give to get. But just as I get over Montero, this happens. What a joke.

I'm really curious to see what package Seattle gets that could top the Yankees' offer. It looks like Lee could be headed to Texas now.

On the bright side however, the Yankees get to keep Montero, which makes me happy. Sacrificing Montero for a three month rental of Lee would have pointless. Now at least, Jesus can hopefully have a career with the Yankees.

But the deal could still happen, so we just have to wait and see.

According to RiverAveBlues:

"Buster Olney says they have concerns about the “identity” of the second player; I wonder if that means they now want someone else instead of Adams."

"The Yanks wanted to “strike aggressively, strike quickly, and get a resolution to this,” but the Mariners appear to be shopping for alternatives. The Rangers, hamstrung a bit by their financial troubles, says Sherman (Joel Sherman of the NY Post), are now “working hard” to land Lee. I’d be surprised if the Yanks are willing to keep this deal on the table much beyond first pitch tonight and if the Mariners can wrest a package from Texas better than the one Brian Cashman appears to be offering."

It appears as though the deal with the Yankees is on hold, but I'd be shocked if Seattle finds a better package of prospects. At least for now, the Yankees can keep Montero. I'd prefer for the Yankees to just get Lee in the off-season and that way they have both Montero and Lee.

I thought this was a done deal.

We'll just have to wait and see, a deal between the Yanks and Mariners could still get done.

But you have to imainge that Brian Cashman* the Yankees' GM, must be PISSED.

...for now.

*That's Brian Cashman pictured above.

Yankees trade for Cliff Lee "imminent" NOT HAPPENING

First, we heard the Mets.
Then the Rangers.
And most recently the Twins.

But now, it's the New York Yankees.

The Yankees and Seattle Mariners have agreed on a trade that would send All-Star Ace LHP Cliff Lee to the Yankees for three prospects. The deal isn't done yet, but it's close to being finished.

I woke up to 15 text messages asking me if this was true and I thought "what's going on?"

Then I went online. The first thing I thought when I saw this trade this morning: "Holy $%#^$&!"

The word so far is that the prospects are C Jesus Montero, 2B David Adams, and a Player To Be Named Later.

I'll have more when this all becomes official!

The Latest on Cliff Lee, Updates

With only a few weeks to go until the July 31st trading deadline, trade talk is poised to heat up. Cliff Lee, the most prized and sought after trade target, is on the block and has been coveted by every team. The rumors about a Lee trade are starting to heat up. We'll be monitoring how it goes today and we'll provide all rumors heard.

• Yesterday, the Twins offered the Mariners a package of prized catching prospect Wilson Ramos and 2008 first-rounder, outfielder Aaron Hicks. Ramos, who debuted this year and was hitting .296 in the majors, is hitting .208 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI at Triple-AAA Rochester through 52 games. Hicks is hitting .260 with 5 home runs, 34 RBI, and 11 stolen bases at Single-A Beloit. Both Hicks and Ramos were ranked one and two respectively, on Baseball America's Twins' Top 10 Prospects List. Various reports have said that both sides are still far from a deal. It's very unorthodox for the Twins to trade their top prospects, especially since their team is made up of homegrown players. The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Rangers and Reds are among other teams interested in acquiring the ace left-hander.

• Via MLBTradeRumors and Twitter, Peter Gammons is reporting that rumors of a B.J. Upton - Cliff Lee deal are going around and that a third team could be involved with the Tampa Bay Rays and Mariners.

• More from MLBTradeRumors: Olney hears that the Mariners "really like" Brewers prospect Brett Lawrie (Twitter link). The 20-year-old second baseman recently made Baseball America's mid-season All-Star team. Lawrie "still strikes out too often and is a work in progress at second base," but is among the offensive leaders at AA. The Mariners have 2009 first rounder Dustin Ackley, also a second baseman, hitting well in AA, though Ackley's presence doesn't mean they can't pursue Lawrie.

• Morosi hears that talks between the Mets and Mariners have not progressed much (Twitter)
  

• B.J. Upton, now involved in the Lee rumors, tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times that he doesn't want the Rays to trade him (Twitter link). Joe Maddon also talks to Topkin about the Upton rumors, saying there's "nothing from our end regarding that being true."

• The Yankees believe they could trade for Lee if they wanted to, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).

• The Yankees are “kicking the tires” on Lee, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The source estimates that the Yanks have less than a 50% chance of obtaining Lee and suggests the Yankees could flip Javier Vazquez to another team if they do acquire Lee.

• The Rays are on the periphery of the Lee sweepstakes, according to Rosenthal’s sources, who confirm that B.J. Upton-Cliff Lee trade talk surfaced amoung scouts last night.

• The Tigers like Lee, but aren't optimistic about acquiring him, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

Mariners have set parameter to Lee trade with Mets

Geoff Baker, who covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times, has heard a new rumor involving the Cliff Lee sweepstakes. I dissected the sweet spots of the article:

- "And today, as Lee gets set to face the Yankees in the Big Apple, the buzz about a possible deal with the crosstown Mets is growing louder and louder."

- "There had been talk that a shoulder injury to Mejia two days ago may thwart New York's bid to land Lee. Mejia is expected to start throwing again within a couple of weeks and as colleague Larry Stone wrote this morning, Mets GM Omar Minaya is reminding folks that his team has other prospects to deal. And there's growing pressure on him to make that deal. The Philadelphia Phillies are not the offensive juggernaut they were expected to be and a Lee acquisition could give the Mets just enough to hold them off and win the NL East. And possibly advance to a World Series."

- "Yes, the Cards offering up the 19th overall pick in last year's draft, pitcher Shelby Miller, is intriguing if true. But he's still a few years away and, if anything, the M's could be better off leveraging those rumors in order to squeeze a better package out of other suitors. As good as Miller could be, he might never be as good as Mejia is right now at a level much closer to the big leagues. And if Mejia is off the table because of the injury, or the M's want a position player instead? Then, you make the deal about catcher Josh Thole, 23, (Photo Credit: AP) a prospect who already posted a .356 OBP in his first 56 plate appearances in the big leagues last season. Throw Thole and Pagan together and you've likely upgraded your catching -- at least offensively --and left field spot for this year and beyond."

- "Word out of New York is that the Mariners have set a Thole-Pagan-pitching prospect trio as the parameters to any Lee deal. It doesn't surprise me the M's would be looking at Pagan as the deal's secondary piece, since he's a better major leaguer right now than any left fielder the Mariners could put out there. At worst, if Michael Saunders were to develop, Pagan would make an excellent fourth outfielder on a championship caliber club. Not a last-place club, a championship caliber club. And there's a huge difference."

- "Asking for top players means you have to maximize what other teams are going to get. That means a full half-season of Lee. If the M's truly want something along the Thole-Pagan-prospect lines -- a fantastic haul, in my opinion -- then they can't dither for another few weeks and wait for the deadline to approach. You likely won't get a much better package than that, even from the Twins.

While Wilson Ramos might be a slightly better catcher than Thole, you're talking about a position where the M's still have a good prospect in Adam Moore and it's only one position out of nine being addressed in the trade return, along with a fourth starter type like Kevin Slowey being acquired as well. This team already has a bunch of fourth and fifth starters. Deal with the Mets, and you're filling two holes at once. Pagan is a good left fielder who can field, get on-base and put up an .800 OPS, which would instantly make him one of the better all-around guys on this Seattle team.

Even if Thole is slightly worse as a catcher than Ramos, as long as he gives you a chance at upgrading what the team already has, you still come out ahead in that deal because you've filled two lineup spots. And filled them effectively, not just with junk."

Also, I got this from Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest:

- "We all know the Mets interest in Cliff Lee, but to date all we have heard is what they don’t want to give up in a deal.

Yesterday, NYBD talked to a league source that indicated parameters of a deal would include Josh Thole, Angel Pagan, and a prospect for Cliff Lee. At this point I don’t have an idea what kind of prospect they would be looking for, but I would have to assume it would be pitching."

- "It should be obvious why Lee isn’t in Queens yet since Pagan is one of the players, along with Ike Davis, Jenrry Mejia and Jonathon Niese, the Mets are rumored to not want to part with.Again, I don’t believe the Mets should have to overpay for what essentially will be a rental. Thole and a pitching prospect (i.e. Jeurys Familia) should be more than enough."

Wow.

It seems as though Seattle definitely wants OF Angel Pagan and C Josh Thole, but they also want an additional pitching prospect. I agree with Silva that the Mets should offer Pagan, Thole and Familia. That would be a steal if the Mets would be willing to part with those players. Can you imagine a 1-2-3 of Santana-Lee-Pelfrey? Oh my goodness, there's your NL East Champs and NL Champs right there.

It seems Cliff Lee may be making his final start for the Mariners tonight, and what better way to close it out and up your stock than by beating the New York Yankees?

It seems as though the "Cliff Lee to the Mets" rumors keep heating up. We'll be updating all day, making sure to bring you everything that's heard and whispered. Keep it here, because it seems like a deal could be done tonight.

Reports suggest Mets may be frontrunner for Cliff Lee

We've heard the Mets interested in Cliff Lee, but never before like this.

On Sunday, Jenrry Mejia suffered a posterier cuff strain during his second start in Double-AA. Now, analysts are saying that it could be possible for the Mets to acquire Lee without sacrificing Mejia. From MLBTradeRumors:

"Will Jenrry Mejia's posterior cuff strain prevent the Mets from trading for Mariners ace Cliff Lee? GM Omar Minaya obviously could not talk specifically about Lee when asked by Kevin Kernan of the New York Post "if the Mejia setback is a setback to trade possibilities." But Minaya kept a brave face and replied, "I don’t think so because I think we have other very good possibilities." At least one of Minaya's current players does think the team lost its chance to acquire Lee with Mejia's injury, according to Kernan."

The post goes on to say that the Mariners would have interest in Ike Davis, the Mets' star rookie sensation, but that the Mets would bluff at trading him. Instead, the consensus is that Seattle wants young hitters, and their best bet is to go by the Double-AA route. Tim Dierkes' believes that the Mets could not acquire Lee with Fernando Martinez as the center piece, seeing as how his stock has considerably falling, just hitting a robust .248/.299/.397 at Triple-AAA Buffalo.

Mark Hale of the New York Post suggests that the Mets could afford to trade for Lee if they would sacrifice a package of prospects including: INF Ruben Tejada, OF Fernando Martinez, SS Wilmer Flores, RHP Jeurys Familia, INF Reese Havens and C Josh Thole. In my opinion, that is too much to give talent to give for Cliff Lee. Maybe I'd package Tejada, Thole, and Familia with some lower level guys, but that's all the top talent I'm giving. Giving all that talent would wipe out the Mets' farm. It's reported that in any trade for Lee, Seattle wants a catcher, which explains why they have looked so thoroughly at the Yankees' minor league system and scouted Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, J.R. Murphy, Gary Sanchez, and Kyle Higashioka.

However, contrary to MLBTradeRumors last report, the Mets may be interested in trading Mejia to Seattle if Lee gives the Mets a negotiating window to sign to an extension. It's unlikely and it's been said that the Mets would not give up Mejia, Jonathon Niese, and Davis for Lee.

To me, I think that Davis is untouchable, he's the first baseman of the future. Niese is going to be a #3 starter for the Mets for years to come behind Santana and Pelfrey. I'd be comfortable giving up Mejia. Why? Well for starters, you don't have to worry about him hurting you if he becomes good. He'll be in a different league and division, the American League West. Also, he's just a prospect and that's that. Davis and Niese have proved that they can handle the majors, while Mejia, who did come up, was only used as a reliever. If I'm the Mets, I would give up Mejia, but I'd like to find an alternate route to acquiring Lee, even if it means giving up 2 or 3 of my Double-AA prospects.

Yankees 2010 Trade Target: Brandon League

Brandon League, RHP Seattle Mariners
2010 season: 36 G, 5-5, 3.07 ERA, 41.0 IP, 2 SV, 1.10 WHIP

A second round draftee of the 2001 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, Brandon League has shown to be one of the more dominant relievers of the past half decade. Making his debut in 2004, League struggled in his first full season in 2005, as he posted a 6.56 ERA in 35.2 IP in 20 games, allowing an opponent's batting avg against of .302. However, it appeared as though the best of League was still to come. The Sacramento native posted a 2.53 ERA in 42.2 IP in 33 games with 29 strikeouts in 2006. His opponent's batting avg against? .214. Adjustment? I think so.

Going into 2007, League was deemed one of the better relievers in baseball. He struggled through shoulder problems in 2007, lasting only 14 games and posting a 6.17 ERA in 11.2 IP. Many analysts recognized that League's velocity had dropped greatly. Due to advanced strength conditioning during the offseason, League overdeveloped his shoulder muscles, causing the drop-off in velocity. His shoulder problems continued and he eventually needed major shoulder surgery, causing the Blue Jays to place him on the 60-day Disabled List. He would miss the rest of the 2007 season.

League returned in 2008 looking like his 2006 form. His velocity was back, as he posted a 2.18 ERA in 33.0 IP in 31 games. He also had 23 strikeouts and an OBA of .230. League was again back on top. 2009 wasn't as kind to League, as he struggled through the season again. Pitching in a career high 67 games, he posted a 4.58 ERA in 74.2 IP, but had 76(!!!) strikeouts.

Following the 2009 season, League was traded to the Seattle Mariners with minor league outfielder Johermyn Chavez for RHP Brandon Morrow. He's looked sharp so far in 2010, posting a 3.07 ERA in 41.0 IP in 36 games, as well as garnering 2 saves. He also has 31(!!!) strikeouts and an OBA of .214, his lowest since 2006. Due to the Mariners' poor play and sub .500 record at 31-43, last in the AL West, the Mariners have not yet declared themselves open to business, but it sure seems like it could be soon. When they do, League could be one of their best chips.

Recently, FOXSPORTS writer Jon Morosi tweeted that outside of Cliff Lee, the tattoo-addicted League is the Mariners' most attractive trade piece. He's a great reliever, and he's young, just 27, and is still under team control. He could easily help out a team's bullpen. One team with bullpen issues that could be interested? The New York Yankees.

With the bullpen struggling mightly this year, as opposed to last year's breakout, the Yankees are in need of relief help. Chan Ho Park has not met expectations, posting a 7.04 ERA in 19 games, while giving up 6 home runs, after giving up 0 last year, in 23.0 IP. His OBA? .320. Joba Chamberlain has composed himself recently, but he's still at a 5.17 ERA in 33.1 IP in 33 games, while giving up 11 walks, a weakness the set-up man should not have. Then there's the other cast of characters: Damaso Marte, who has been unreliable but not terrible, David Robertson, who struggled early but has recomposed himself, Boone Logan and Chad Gaudin, who are in for mop-up duties but are also pitching poorly of late. And then there's Mo. Do I really have to say anything about Mariano Rivera?

It's obvious that the Yankees need some relief help, especially with Alfredo Aceves still on the DL and with no definate timetable for return. I think that the Yankees could acquire League for maybe a B-Level prospect, such as a Mark Melancon. I think a trade of LHP Boone Logan and RHP Mark Melancon could get a trade for League done. I'd definitely do that trade if I'm the Yankees. League is having another great year, and he's still young and hasn't hit is prime yet. League could work with Chamberlain to set-up Rivera as well as work as a long-man out of the bullpen. He's owed just $1.08 million through this season, so he's cheap, meaning it'd definitely cost at least a B-level prospect. If I'm the Yankees and I can get away with giving up just Logan and Melancon, I pull the trigger.

So while it's still unknown if the Mariners are ready for waive the white-flag, it will be soon. I imagine that the Yankees could be players for League's teammate Cliff Lee due to the recent struggles of A.J. Burnett. If League is made available I would imagine the Yankees to be huge players. Perhaps the Yankees and Mariners could complete a trade that could land the Yankees both Lee and League? That'd be great but I'm just dreaming here! If I'm the Yankees, I'm trying to get League.

Ken Griffey Jr. Retires

According to ESPN, Ken Griffey Jr., "The Kid", has called it quits. After struggling this year with a .184 average, Griffey felt that he wasn't playing his best baseball. He finishes with 630 homeruns, 5th on the all time list, and with a legendary reputation. In his career, Griffey played for the Mariners, Reds, and White Sox. He had one of the most beautiful left handed swings I've ever seen. A first ballot hall of famer, no doubt. We wish him nothing but the best here at the Sport Spot. Here's to Junior. You can see more here.