Bleacher Report - Articles by Eli Greenspan

Peavy Out For a Month

Eli Greenspan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Padres pitcher Jake Peavy is expected to miss at least a mont h with an ankle injury, meaning he may be out until after the All-Star Break. He was scratched from his Saturday start verse the Angels, a start you can expect the Angels would be watching closely. However, an MRI revealed a tear behind his right ankle.

"I was getting treatment and we were getting by," said Peavy, who had the ankle heavily taped for his previous two starts and did limited work between outings. "Up until yesterday, I thought it was manageable. It could have gotten ugly if we didn't take the action that we did."

Peavy is 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 starts this season. He vetoed a trade to the White Sox earlier this season, and this injury does not help the Padres chances of dealing him before next offseason.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Should Dodgers Trade Juan Pierre?

Eli Greenspan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:04:00 -0400

Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre has stepped up big time since Manny Ramirez was suspended, hitting .352 with 28 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, and a .412 on-base percentage.

Pierre has three years and $28.5 million left on his contract, and has a limited no-trade clause.

While I think the Dodgers should trade Pierre, mostly because of the prospects they could net, it may not be worth it to eat a large portion of his salary.

Pierre is a great fourth outfielder and gives you a speed off the bench. He can bunt almost on command and gives pitchers headaches when he reaches base.

If you were Ned Colletti, would you trade Juan Pierre?

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Heath Bell To the Cubs?

Eli Greenspan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:39:00 -0400

Padres closer Heath Bell is 2-1 in 25 games, with a 1.42 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP, but is making just $1.5 million in 2009. Bell won't be a free agent until after the 2011 season, but his salary will continue to climb if he continues to throw the ball well. If the Padres were to make the closer available, we should expect to see a lot of teams calling.

One source believes one of those teams could be the Cubs. Current Cubs closer Kevin Gregg has been very inconsistent, and Carlos Marmol hasn't been as dominant as he was in 2008.

Angel Guzman is emerging as a solid late inning reliever, taking a lot of time away from the struggling Aaron Heilman. The Cubs' bullpen used to be rock solid, and now it is a huge question mark.

Cubs starter Randy Wells should have three wins, but the bullpen has blown the lead three times, denying him of his first career win. A Guzman-Marmol-Bell tandem would make for one of the best in baseball.

The Yankees are a possible destination for Bell also.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Philadelphia Phillies Eye Brad Penny

Eli Greenspan — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:24:00 -0400

A scout has confirmed an ESPN.com report that the Phillies called the Red Sox about pitcher Brad Penny. Despite a 5-2 record, Penny owns a 5.85 ERA in 11 games with a 1.60 WHIP. The Red Sox have John Smoltz, Clay Buchholz, and Michael Bowden all performing well in Triple-A, meaning they will likely join the team soon.

Penny will be a free agent at seasons end and is making $5 million in 2009. The Phillies are in serious need of pitching, but shouldn't part with a young pitching prospect for him. The Red Sox reportedly ask for shortstop Jason Donald, who is hitting .226 with one home run in Triple-A.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Angels Could Move Erik Aybar

Eli Greenspan — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:57:00 -0400

Angels shortstop Erik Aybar hit .303 in the month of May, bringing his season total to a .277 average with one home run. Aybar, 25, is blocking top prospect Brandon Wood, who is hitting .308 with 11 home runs in 39 games for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. If the Angels were to trade Aybar, it would open up a spot for the long awaited Wood.

Ken Rosenthal mentions in his Full Count that the Mets, Cardinals, or Royals could be possible destinations, but I wouldn't rule out the Padres either. The Padres are looking to trade Jake Peavy, but do not want to trade him to the Dodgers. They nearly worked out a trade with the Cubs, but it is becoming more clear that the Cubs can't make a move until the ownership is settled, which at the current pace, probably won't be complete until Opening Day 2010.

If the Angels were to package Aybar in a deal with three other prospects, they could probably land starting pitcher Jake Peavy. Trevor Reckling and Trevor Bell are two solid young pitchers that the Padres could target.

John Lackey is going to be a free agent at the end of the season and will likely command a good deal despite the down economy. However, if the Angels add Peavy, it gives them a lot of leverage in negotiations with Lackey. If Lackey decides to sign elsewhere, the Angels would likely receive a compensation draft pick.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

JJ Putz: Likely Done With Mets

Eli Greenspan — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:29:00 -0400

Mets relief pitcher, J.J. Putz, is scheduled to have elbow surgery, and will be out for 10-12 weeks. Putz, who is 1-4 with a 5.22 ERA in 29 games, has not made a successful transition to the set-up role.

"If you look at the way I was pitching, I wasn't really getting out in front and letting loose," he said. "I knew it was going to hurt. Mechanically, I was trying to make an adjustment to protect it from hurting. At the same time, I had zero stuff when I went out on the mound."

The Mets hold a one million dollar buyout on Putz's 8.6 million dollar club option, which could be exercised with the emergence of Bobby Parnell.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Braves Acquire McLouth

Eli Greenspan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:18:00 -0400

The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates in exchange for pitchers Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke, and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.

This is a solid move for both clubs, but especially for the Braves. McLouth had a breakout year last season, hitting .276 with 26 home runs in 152 games. McLouth is 27, and should provide the Braves with some much needed support in the middle of their lineup.

The Pirates acquire Charlie Morton, who is 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 starts this season. He is a 1.05 WHIP.

Locke, 21, is 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in 10 starts in the Carolina League.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Atlanta Braves Release Glavine

Eli Greenspan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:02:00 -0400

The Atlanta Braves cut ties with future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, releasing him just a day after throwing six scoreless innings in a rehab start.

Glavine, who is recovering from minor elbow surgery, was clocked between 83-86 mph on his fastball.

"I don't know what else I can do," Glavine said after Tuesday night's game, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Physically I felt good and I feel like I'm ready."

Glavine is still a couple week away from returning, and it is possible he could get picked up if he wanted to continue pitching. The Nationals would benefit from his presence.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Rosenthal: Nats Will Draft Strasburg

Eli Greenspan — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:42:00 -0400

Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Nationals will draft Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick in June's draft. Strasburg's advisor, Scott Boras, is looking for a record $50 million signing bonus.

The Nationals do expect to sign Strasburg, but do not feel pressure to sign him after failing to sign their first round pick last year.

Rosenthal points out that if the Nationals fail to sign Strasburg, they will receive the number two overall pick in the 2010 draft. If they continue to play like they are now, they could receive the first and second overall pick in 2010.

Boras is known to hold out until the last possible moment, getting the most money for his client. Expect these negotiations to go until the August 15 deadline.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Milwaukee's Corey Hart Drawing Interest

Eli Greenspan — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:15:00 -0400

Brewers outfielder Corey Hart is drawing interest from several teams, including the Tigers, Giants and Red Sox. Hart, who is hitting .256 with five home runs and a .330 on-base percentage, is making $3.5 million this year. The Brewers are asking for pitching in return, something all three of those teams have.

Hart isn't a game changer or team leader, so he likely would not have the impact of a, let's say, Matt Holliday. However, a team like the Giants, who are in need of a corner outfielder who could hit 20 home runs, would benefit from him.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Rockies Could Trade Cook

Eli Greenspan — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:45:00 -0400

Rockies ace Aaron Cook is off to a disappointing start since winning 16 games in 2008. He is 3-2 with a 4.82 ERA in 10 starts, including a complete game shutout.

Cook is a solid pitcher, but is playing for a struggling ball club in hitters' heaven. Cook has two years and $18.25 million left on his contract, with a mutual option for 2012. The Rockies have several strong young pitchers in the minor league system, and it should only get better after June's amateur draft.

While there is talk that Erik Bedard will be traded, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has not said they are going to move him. Peavy is expected to be made available, but his price could take a hit if his ankle injury does not heal.

Cook will cost a couple prospects, but nothing like Peavy or Bedard. The Phillies would be smart to ask about Cook has only pitched once at Citizens Bank Ballpark, but is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in seven innings.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Jeff Francouer On the Trading Block?

Eli Greenspan — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:33:00 -0400

Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution thinks it may be time to unload Braves outfielder Jeff Francouer.

Francouer is hitting .259 with three home runs, has struck out 24 times, and owns a .282 on-base percentage.

The problem is, Francouer has no plate discipline. Some talent evaluators believe he is the easiest guy to pitch to because he swings at everything. Francouer was once considered the Braves top prospect, so it is hard to believe that at age 25 he is a complete bust.

Francouer hit .293 with a .338 on-base percentage in 2007, but has hit .249 since then.

The Braves probably won't get much in return for Francouer, but the Braves need a big bat in their lineup, and Francouer is not it. The Texas Rangers are a possible landing spot, but a team like the Pittsburg Pirates could take a low risk chance on Francoeur and put him in right field.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Padres Shopping Kouzmanoff

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:43:00 -0400

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times said in a recent article that the Padres have expressed a willingness to move third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. Kouzmanoff would fill the void left by Aramis Ramirez, who will be out for six to eight weeks after separating his shoulder. Kouzmanoff is hitting .236 with four home runs in 42 games this season, and is a .260 career hitter.

Kouzmanoff shouldn't cost more than a pitching prospect or two, but I doubt the Cubs make a move for him. Even though the Cubs appear to be falling apart, it looks like they will ride this out and hope for a second half resurgence of Aramis Ramirez. Both Milton Bradley and Geovanny Soto have shown no signs of a turnaround, and Derek Lee is hitting just .248 with five home runs. It might be time to get Jake Peavy, it might be time to call up Jake Fox. If the Cubs do not turn things around this homestand, there should be some changes to the roster.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Washington Nationals and the 2009 MLB Draft

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 25 May 2009 11:32:00 -0400

The Nationals have the first and tenth pick in the draft this year, presenting them with an opportunity to add two very good young players to their farm system. The Nationals have a tendency to draft college pitchers and high school hitters, no matter their success rates.

With Stephen Strasburg, the presumptive No. 1 pick, the Nats will have to wait nine more picks to make their next selection.

If Tanner Scheppers is around when they make their second selection of the first round, I recommend selecting him. To add two top arms like that in a span of ten picks would do wonders for their rotation. Other guys that could be around then include Alex White, Zach Wheeler, and Tyler Matzek.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Umps Out to Get Bradley?

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:12:00 -0400

Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley told reporters Sunday that umpires are forcing him to swing at bad pitches by widening his strike zone. Bradley, suspended for one game for allegedly bumping an umpire last month, said other umps were getting back at him for the incident.

"Unfortunately, I just think it's a lot of "Oh, you did this to my colleague," or "We're going to get him any time we can," Bradley said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "As soon as he gets two strikes, we're going to call whatever and see what he does. Let's try to ruin Milton Bradley."

I wonder if the Cubs will come out and support Bradley on this. Bradley has done a lot of talking this season, despite hitting just .188 with four home runs in 96 at-bats. The Cubs signed Bradley to a three year deal worth $30 million, so he might be hard to move this season. But if Bradley continues to talk and not hit, expect him to be out of Chicago pretty quickly.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Phillies Eye Starters

Eli Greenspan — Sun, 24 May 2009 11:16:00 -0400

The Phillies are in dire need of pitching and need to act fast if they want to stay in contention in the National League East. After Hamels and Myers, the Nos. 3-5 pitchers all have ERAs over 6.80.

J.A. Happ has made a couple good starts, but he has been pitching well out of the

bullpen. Top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco is 0-5 with a 6.31 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A, and there aren't any other viable minor league options.

On the free agent market, you could probably get Pedro Martinez or Mark Mulder at a bargain rate, but they are no guarantee to be successful.

The Phillies do have a lot of options though. They could look to the Mariners and ask about Erik Bedard, who is 2-2 with a 2.64 ERA. They could also inquire about Doug Davis of the Diamondbacks, who is in the last year of his contract and likely won't cost very much.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Jake Peavy Exclusive Part III

Eli Greenspan — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:00:00 -0400

In the final installment of my exclusive interview with Jake Peavy, we talked about Kevin Towers and his time with the Padres.

Little did we know that just a week after we talked, he would have to make a major career decision. I

want to try out this new interview format for upcoming interviews, and I would appreciate it if you would leave a comment to let me know what you think of it.

Jake Peavy on Kevin Towers and the Padres front office

“I certainly have the utmost respect for Kevin [Towers]. He’s done a tremendous job through the years that I have been here. When the guys been given some money to spend – a competive payroll, so to speak – he’s put a very competitive team on the field. We’ve won a couple division titles since I have been here, competed down to the last days in ’04, ’05, and ’06. We played in a play-in game in ’07. With him mixing and matching talent and personality. It has been a great relationship.”

Jake Peavy on his time with the Padres and what the future will look like

“I certainly understand that I need to bring an attitude and a certain type of leadership to this team. I’m the longest tenured guy with the Padres here. It is very weird for me to say because it feels like yesterday that I was one of the youngest players in the clubhouse. We are starting over here, we are rebuilding. We have a lot of young guys searching and we need to be showing hopefully how to go about your business the right way. I certainly try to do that along with David Eckstein and some other guys."

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Mets Serious About DeRosa

Eli Greenspan — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:44:00 -0400

FanHouse has confirmed that the Mets have engaged the Indians in talks concerning Mark DeRosa. DeRosa would be a huge upgrade over current utility man Ramon Martinez. DeRosa is hitting .253 with 6 home runs and a .319 on-base percentage in 39 games this season.

The value he brings a team is both on and off the field. DeRosa can play first, second, third, and shortstop adequately, and is a solid corner outfielder. Off the field, DeRosa is a great clubhouse guy and leader, who can handle the media at ease. The Mets do not have much depth in their minor league system, so it will be interesting to see what type of package they put together.

The Indians should ask about Brad Holt, 21, who is 2-1 with 3.99 ERA in six starts this season. Holt projects well long term and is showing some tendencies of a front of the rotation starter. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is 34/8, and he hasn't walked more than two batters since his first start, when he gave up four.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Jake Peavy Rejects White Sox Trade

Eli Greenspan — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:12:00 -0400

Padres pitcher Jake Peavy invoked his no-trade clause, rejecting the proposed trade to the White Sox.

"As of right now, this is the best place for us to be. We made that decision for the time being," Peavy said before Thursday night's game against San Francisco.

Peavy, who is 3-5 with a 3.82 ERA and 69 strike outs, will make his scheduled start Friday versus the Cubs. I wonder if teams now know that the Padres are ready to deal if they will step up and make a big move. The Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Brewers, Astros, Rockies, and Dodgers are the most logical teams based on current situations.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

White Sox Trade up to Peavy

Eli Greenspan — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:56:00 -0400

The White Sox have agreed in principle to a trade that would send former Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy to the White Sox for pitching prospect Aaron Poreda and pitcher Clayton Richard, among others. Peavy, who has a full no trade clause, must decide if he wants to play in Chicago.

Peavy could choose to accept the trade just to get out of San Diego. While he is the longest tenured player there, reporters constantly question his desire to play for the Padres. He would be joining the White Sox, where his close friend, Scott Linebrink, currently sets up for closer Bobby Jenks. However, he would be jumping leagues and be joining a team where he might not have as a huge of an impact. Not only that, but some people wonder if he would want to play for manager Ozzie Guillen.

Update

Here is what his agent, Barry Axelrod, said: "If I had to make a bet on it, I would guess that Jake would say he's not ready to take that step today. But he wouldn't necessarily preclude it at any time in the future.''

Peavy is obviously more comfortable in the NL. The White Sox are going to really have to sell the White Sox and American League to Jake Peavy. Guaranteeing his 22-million dollar option for 2013 would be a start. I think the White Sox should consider adding incentive-based bonuses each year into his contract. Throwing more money at this might not be the best move, but giving Peavy some motivation while making him the face of this rotation might work in favor of the White Sox.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Strasburg Update and the Washington Nationals' Decision

Eli Greenspan — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:20:00 -0400

San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the presumtive No. 1 pick in this year's draft, pitched seven-and-two-thirds scoreless innings, improving to 13-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 102 innings. He has struck out 180 this season. He exited the game with back cramps, but Strasburg said it is nothing serious.

The Nationals have a big decision to make in the next couple weeks. Strasburg is going to be tough signing, probably holding out all the way until the deadline, which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering he has set a new career high in innings pitched.

The Nationals should seriously consider Tanner Scheppers at the No. 1 pick. He has incredible stuff and is expected to rise quickly, assuming he can stay healthy.

Dustin Ackley Update

I wrote about Dustin Ackley last week, basically disagreeing with Peter Gammons' evaluation. I watched some more game footage of him at the plate and I have to admit, I was pretty impressed.

However, his inability to play the outfield this season raises some issues for me as a top 10 pick. Outfield can be very tough on a player, requiring a lot of conditioning. Be away from that for a year, and then being asked to adjust in the minor leagues while adjusting to wooden bats and professional pitching, seems like a tough task.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Foulke Pitching Well For Newark

Eli Greenspan — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:53:00 -0400

Newark Bears closer Keith Foulke is off to a good start this season with a 0.75 ERA in 12.1 innings. Foulke is hoping to receive a major league offer soon so he can get back in the big leagues.

"I hope the phone rings today and it's the Diamondbacks and I can pack my stuff and get out of here."

Foulke is competitive, but said he doesn't love some of the behind scenes work that goes with being a ballplayer.

"Everybody laughs when I tell them I don't like baseball," Foulke said. "I don't like the fact that there's so much downtime and I don't like the downtime. It's not like I show up at 7 p.m. and watch a three-hour ballgame. I'm here at 2:30 p.m."

Foulke said he is as healthy as he was in 2003, and if his strong play continues, someone could give him a look.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Red Sox Need DH Replacement

Eli Greenspan — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:03:00 -0400

We're now a month and a half into the season and David Ortiz is still struggling at the plate.

He is hitting .203 with no home runs and a .317 on-base percentage. He can't hit anything but a fastball while struggling to catch up to the fastball depending on the pitchers' speed.

Ortiz is the only DH without a home run, and is slugging just .293.

The Red Sox are two-and-a-half games out of first and will need to pick it up if they want to stay in contention.

Ken Rosenthal suggests the Red Sox trade Clay Buchholz for Rangers prospect Justin Smoak or Cardinals prospect Brett Wallace.

The Red Sox could approach the Indians about Victor Martinez but they are looking for major-league ready pitcher in return like Buchholz or Michael Bowden.

Martinez is hitting .400 with seven home runs in 155 at-bats.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Quick Hits: DeRosa, Martinez, Cubs, Peavy

Eli Greenspan — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits:

Indians third baseman Mark DeRosa has been linked to a couple teams in the past couple days. There is some speculation that DeRosa could go to the Mets. However, the Mets are playing awful defense and DeRosa isn't the best fielder. He is versatile, but he isn't spectacular at any position.
Indians first baseman/catcher Victor Martinez could be made available also, and he would probably draw a lot of interest. He has a 7.2 millon dollar contract, and is hitting .401 so far this season. The Mets could also take a look at him.
It was April of 2007 when the Cubs were put on the market and it looks like the sale will be finalized sometime in July. Just in time for a big blockbuster deal, perhaps.
Stay tuned for Part III of my exclusive interview with Jake Peavy.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Rickie Weeks Out For Season

Eli Greenspan — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:33:00 -0400

Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks will miss the remainder of the season with a wrist tear. Weeks, who was hitting .272 with nine home runs, was just starting to live up to his high expectations.

"I was enjoying myself watching him play," Macha said. "This is one tough guy, a grinder, very intense. It's a shame."

The Brewers must scramble to fill the spot, which will go to Craig Counsell for now. They could talk to the Indians about utility man Mark DeRosa. They worked together a big trade last season and DeRosa would give manager Ken Macha a lot more options on the field.

To read more on DeRosa, click here.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Jake Peavy Exclusive: Part II

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:56:00 -0400

To see Part I of the interview, click here.

The MLB Draft is always an interesting event to follow because you cannot fully judge a team by the moves they make until you see how the players perform at the next level. A team will take a player based on his talent and potential growth, but has no control over how he performs at the next level. They can influence him, but if the player can't handle it, then it throws off his entire development. In the 1999 draft, the Padres were excited about their three first-round picks: Vince Faison, Gerik Baxter, and Omar Ortiz. Little did they know that their fifteenth round pick would turn out to be a future Cy Young award winner, named Jake Peavy. Faison and Ortiz never made it to the major leagues, and the Padres never had a chance to see what Baxter was truly capable of, as he was killed in an automobile accident in 2001.

It was June 1999, and high school senior Jake Peavy was sitting on an offer to play baseball at the University of Auburn in his home state of Alabama. The Padres liked Peavy's competitive nature and love for the game, so they drafted him in the fifteenth round. From there, it was up to Peavy, who could decide to go pro or to Auburn, and re-enter the draft as a junior in 2002.

"We just weighed our options," Peavy said. "At the end of the day we came to the realization that I wanted to be a major league baseball player. Why not get in the system as an 18-year old kid and start developing towards becoming a major leaguer."

While current big leaguers Gabe Gross and Chris Bootcheck were playing at Auburn in 2000, Peavy was off pitching for the Padres in the minor leagues. Looking back on the situation and where he is now, Peavy stands by his decision to bypass college.

"I certainly was excited to go to Auburn, but at the end of the day and for the betterment of my career, I thought getting some professional training from coaches was best for me."

Part III is coming out tomorrow!
This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

International Baseball Prospect: Interview with Jorge Arangure

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:01:00 -0400

A couple weeks ago, ESPN.com article caught my eye about some of the top international prospects in this years pool. The article was written by Jorge Arangure, and I was curious to find out more about the process.

It is a lot different than the MLB Draft. In the draft, teams can select anyone from the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico.

Following the draft, the team has until Aug. 15 to sign the player and then assign him to one of the minor league teams. In the international pool, the process varies depending on the player and the team.

So I emailed Arangure and asked him if he would be up for answering some of my questions. He was more than happy to and I appreciate his informative responses.

ELI: Is there an age a player has to be before he can be scouted by MLB teams?

JORGE: There is no particular age when a team can simply scout a player. Often, diligent scouts will know about a particular player years before they are eligible to sign. It's not uncommon for a scout to have seen a player when they were as young as 12 or 13.

For example, this January, powerful trainer Edgar Mercedes had a showcase for several of his top prospects which was attended by scouts from almost every team. Among those prospects was Wagner Mateo, who is considered one of the top outfielder's in this year's free agent class.

But also working out were several players who weren't eligible until 2010 and there were even a couple players working out who won't be eligible to sign until 2011. The distinction of course is that teams aren't supposed to even negotiate for those players at this point.

ELI: In some scouting videos, you'll see the same prospect wearing different uniforms. How much contact can teams have with players leading up to the international signing date when they are available?

JORGE: Really, there are no limits on how much contact a team can have with a player. The only limit lies in how much time a prospect can spend at a particular team's academy.

MLB dictates that a prospect can spend a maximum 30 days housed at the academy. But that doesn't rule out that a player can basically work out for the team as much as he wants while not housed there.

ELI: Today, news travels pretty quickly. How connected are the different cities and towns when it comes to baseball. When there is touted prospect somewhere in the D.R. (for example), how do people usually hear about him and how long does it take before he is being talked about here?

JORGE: This is a bit complicated. Usually Dominican trainers will know about a particular prospect much earlier than teams do. Because trainers can sign a contract to represent a player at any age, they have an advantage over teams, who can't sign a player until they are 16.

It's very rare these days for a top prospect to not be a linked with a well-known trainer (aka buscon). Trainers have their own scouts looking for players. And also, you'll get a low level trainer with a top prospect who simply sells or agrees to split the bonus commission with a more well-known trainer so the prospect gets more exposure.

The more well-known trainers can get teams to attend workouts simply because they have produced top players in the past.

Of course there are always exceptions. Many players who get small bonuses often blossom later because no one really can predict how 16 year old kids will develop.

ELI: After the international signing begins, how long does the team have to sign players?

JORGE: There is no time limit on when a team can sign a player. Once a player become a free agent he can sign with whichever team he wants whenever he wants.

A player becomes eligible to sign in a certain year if he turns 16 in that year prior to Sept. 1. If he turns 16 after Sept. 1, then he won't be eligible to sign until July 2 of the following year.

For example, if Player X turns 16 on May 12, then he can sign this year on July 2. But if he turns 16 on Sept. 12, then he must wait until July 2, 2010.

ELI: After a player is signed, what are the next steps for the player? Where is he assigned?

JORGE: Usually, 16-year-old kids signees will spend at least one season in the Dominican Summer League. Kids that young usually aren't deemed physically or mentally ready to travel to the United States to play against high school and college graduates.

That isn't always the case if a player is signed when he's 18 or older. Then a team may deem the player ready to start his pro career in the US.

ELI: Who would you say is the top hitting prospect and pitching prospect in this years pool?

JORGE: The market is shaping up to be that SS Miguel Angel Sano and P Daniel Sanchez are the top hitters and pitchers this year. Sano is a Dominican power hitting shortstop with a strong body that makes likely that he'll end up playing another position at one point.

Teams love his raw power and he has a strong arm, which means he could end up playing third base. Sanchez is a right-handed hard-thrower from Venezuela. He has an above-average fastball and some teams think he will eventually develop a good slider.

ELI: What teams are most active in scouting players? What team, if there is one, the least active?

JORGE: It's hard to say which teams are more or less active than others simply because some teams choose to bypass paying the big bucks for the big name players and instead focus on cheaper players who they project can be successful major leaguers.

I'd say the most active players on the big names this year are Texas, the Yankees, the Pirates, San Diego, the Dodgers, the Mets, among others. Every team is active in some way. Some just choose to be a bit more clandestine about which players they scout.

ELI: Is there was a way to improve the process? More media access to players, something in the regulations, etc. If there was something you could change, what would it be?

JORGE: If I could change something I'd say i would make it so that players aren't eligible to sign until they are 18. For me this would eliminate some of the age manipulation.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

WIll the Nationals Pass on Strasburg?

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:12:00 -0400

Nationals owner Stan Kasten is telling people that he will pay a fair-market rate for Stephen Strasburg.

If that's so, you can expect these negotiations to carry out all the way until the August 15th deadline, when Strasburg will decide to either sign or sit out a year, a move he has not ruled out.

Strasburg is 12-0 with a 1.34 ERA and 174 strike outs in 13 starts this season, one of which was a no-hitter. Some say Strasburg is major-league ready, but would likely need a couple starts in the minor leagues to adjust to professional hitters.

Even if Strasburg comes up and proves he is ready for the big leagues, he has already thrown 94.1 innings this season, and would probably need to be cut off at around 130 or 140, at most.

If the Nationals were to pass on him for another pitcher, perhaps Tanner Scheppers, they would be paying much less for someone who could be equally as effective. I would be surprised to see the Nationals pass on him, but they might be better off drafting and signing someone who is eager to sign and play.

First round draft picks have been given major league contracts before, so the Nationals are going to have a hard time not agreeing to that, especially because their 2007 first round pick Ross Detwiler has been on the 40-man roster since being drafted.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

The Indians Could Shop Carl Pavano, Mark DeRosa—Not Cliff Lee

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:50:00 -0400

The New York Post suggests that the Indians would likely shop Carl Pavano or Mark DeRosa before they consider trading Cliff Lee. Both Pavano and DeRosa are in walk years and have bargain contracts, making them attractive to teams who may not have unlimited money to spend.

DeRosa is able to play first, second, third, and the corner outfield spots, and can be slotted in several different spots in the lineup. He is a team player who emerged as a team leader in the Cubs clubhouse in just two seasons before he was traded for three prospects.

The Giants could be a possible landing spot for DeRosa. He could fill in all across the infield as well as platoon in left with Fred Lewis. Not only that, but if they let DeRosa walk, they could land a draft pick in the 2010 draft. As for Pavano, he could be an option for the Marlins, who have already been linked to Brad Penny. But Pavano has a 6.33 ERA in eight starts and probably doesn't have much value.

The Indians would be smart to wait to shop Lee until after the season. This gives them the opportunity to scout young prospects, some of whom who may get an opportunity to play for their parent club. Not only that, but teams may be more willing to trade than sign a free agent, making him much more appealing. He will make $8 million in 2010, a very modest contract for an ace.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Nick Johnson: Could the Red Sox Target the Nationals' First Baseman?

Eli Greenspan — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:16:00 -0400

Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson is off to a solid start this season, hitting .333 with three home runs and a .421 on-base percentage. Johnson hasn't had a full season since 2006, missing all of 2007 and playing in just 38 games in 2008. Johnson would give the Red Sox offense a huge boost, especially because David Ortiz is not hitting. Johnson could platoon at first and DH, giving time off to Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Mike Lowell (Johnson at first, Youk to third).

The Nationals would definitely ask for pitching in return, possibly targeting Daniel Bard. ESPN.com's Peter Gammons believes Manny Delcarmen could be a closer in the NL, so the Nationals could ask for Declarmen and a minor league position player. The Red Sox are very protective of their top young pitchers, and I would be surprised to see them trade Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, Junichi Tazawa, or Justin Masterson.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.