MLB
– The Angels have acquired RHP Dan Haren from the D’Backs for LHP Joe Saunders, LHP Patrick Corbin, RHP Rafael Rodriguez and prospect LHP Tyler Skaggs from the Angels for RHP Dan Haren. Wow – the D’Backs just traded an ace under team control through 2013 at decent money for a package for next to nothing. Haren has fanned an NL-leading 141 batters this season but posted just a 4.60 ERA in 141 innings. A change of scenery should do him some good, as Arizona’s organizational acrimony and bullpen woes may have gotten into his head. Haren was 73-52 with a 3.48 ERA from 2005-2009. He’s owed $33M on a contract which runs through 2012 and includes a club option for 2013.
While Saunders was solid in 2008, going 17-7 with a 3.41 ERA, his career stats are more or less in line with his current 2010 stats, posting a 4.62 ERA in 20 starts. He’ll be improperly placed at the front of the Arizona rotation. The Angels were reportedly reluctant to include him, but the Halos won the deal pretty badly, so it’s the least they could do, I guess. Skaggs was Los Angeles’ 8th-best prospect heading into the season, according to Baseball America. The 40th overall pick of the 2009 draft is tall and projectable and looks at this point like a future mid-rotation pitcher. The 18-year-old is 8-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 82.1 innings for Single-A Cedar Rapids this year.
Rodriguez has posted a 4.50 ERA in 32 2/3 career innings pitched, striking out only 11. He’s pitched only one game for the Angels this year and was in the minors at the time of the trade. Rodriguez was once signed to the biggest bonus paid by the organization to a Dominican prospect, but wasn’t even ranked amongst the club’s top-10 prospects by Baseball America in the off-season. His potential appears to be no more than middle-relief.
According to SI’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees are unwilling to trade pitching prospects RHP Hector Noesi or RHP Dellin Betances in a deal for Haren. The Yankees have also been reluctant to engaged in trade talks regarding RHP Joba Chamberlain, but have said they’re willing to move RHP Ivan Nova and RHP Zach McAllister.
– The Astros have asked the Dodgers for either OF Matt Kemp or 1B James Loney in a deal for RHP Roy Oswalt, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Understandably, the Dodgers are unwilling to part with either play, and rightfully so, as both return prices are fairly high, although Loney is more reasonable. Meanwhile, the Astros are not high on the Cardinals’ farm system and the Cards remain skeptical that the Astros would deal Oswalt within the division, regardless of the offer. The Phillies are the darkhorse in the sweepstakes, although it’s unclear of Oswalt would waive his NTC to go there. Stay tuned.
– The Tigers have placed 2B Carlos Guillen (right calf strain) and OF Magglio Ordonez (fractured right ankle) on the 15-day DL. Guillen re-aggravated the calf injury Saturday night in the loss to the Blue Jays. It’s not clear at this point how much time he is expected to miss. Maggs will miss 6-to-8 weeks with the injury, which means we won’t see him again until September.
Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports that the Tigers have “great interest” in Nationals’ 1B Adam Dunn. With Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen sidelined, this makes all sorts of sense. Detroit desperately needs the offense Dunn provides if they hope to stay in a three-team race for the AL Central. Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, however, told MLB.com that he won’t trade top prospects for rentals. The Nats reportedly are asking for the moon in Dunn talks, so that would seem to rule out the Tigers for now.
– The price tag for Jays’ LHP Scott Downs is high, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. The Jays feel that they should be given extra in any deal for Downs since he’s likely to become a Type A free agent at the end of the season, meaning they could receive a pair of draftStay tuned.
– The Phillies could wind up trading OF Jayson Werth for a “No. 4-type starter,” according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. The Phils have reportedly been discussing a three-team trade involving Werth, but if that doesn’t work out and they’re unable to land either RHP Roy Oswalt, they could trade the outfielder directly for a lesser pitcher. Stay tuned.
– ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports that rival executives believe the Nationals will trade RHP Matt Capps. Capps, who signed a one-year/$3.5M deal with the Nats in January after being non-tendered by the Pirates, has been one of the best off-season bargains in baseball. He’s eligible for arbitration in the winter, but whether the Nats are willing to pay $6-7M next season for him will determine whether or not he’s moved. And it’s doubtful, since RHP Drew Storen and LHP Tyler Clippard appear capable of taking on the closer role. Capps has 24 saves and a 2.93 ERA in 44 appearances.
– The Rangers are “coming hard” for Marlins’ 3B Jorge Cantu, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. The Rangers would love to add a righty bat, but the Marlins aren’t convinced they should be sellers at the deadline just yet. But even if they aren’t going to be all-out sellers, Cantu still could be moved, as the team thinks 1B Logan Morrison could replace Cantu’s production. Rosenthal’s source says RHP Leo Nunez and RHP Ricky Nolasco will not be dealt, while 2B Dan Uggla and OF Cody Ross are unlikely to be traded.
– The Twins have placed 2B Orlando Hudson (right oblique strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 24. Hudson missed nearly three weeks earlier this season with a wrist injury and now heads back to the DL after straining his oblique on Friday against the Orioles.
– The Giants have placed LHP Jeremy Affeldt (left oblique strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 21.
– The A’s have placed RHP Ben Sheets (elbow) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 20. Sheets missed the end of the 2008 season and all of 2009 with an elbow injury. The righty said his elbow has been swollen the last two or there starts. He’s not sure how much time he’ll miss, saying that it could range from “it’s nothing,” and he just misses a bit of time on the DL, to he could be done for the season. GMs that had been eyeing Sheets can feel free to cross him off their wish list.
– Yankees’ LHP Andy Pettitte (strained groin) says he’s not having any problems and that he expects to return to the Yankees much sooner than anticipated, according to the AP. Pettitte had to be removed from last Sunday’s start with the groin ailment. He played catch Saturday from 60 feet for about 5 minutes and will fly to Florida on Monday to continue his rehab. The Yankees have pegged mid-August for Pettitte’s return, but it sounds like he thinks he can be back earlier than that.
– The Pirates have designated RHP Brendan Donnelly for assignment. The Pirates signed Donnelly to a ludicrous one-year/$1.35M contract with performance-based incentives over the winter using money they saved by non-tendering RHP Matt Capps. And it totally bit them in the ass. Donnelly, 38, had one stint on the DL and posted a 5.58 ERA in 38 games while healthy.
– The Indians have placed LHP Aaron Laffey (left shoulder fatigue) on the 15-day DL etroactive to July 20.
– The Pirates have placed C Ryan Doumit (concussion) on the 15-day DL.
– The Nationals have placed RHP Luis Atilano (bone chips in right elbow) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 21.
– The Rangers have placed C Matt Treanor (sprained right knee) on the 15-day DL.
– The Rockies have transferred OF Eric Young to the 60-day DL.
NBA
– The Bulls are reportedly prepared to sign G Tracy McGrady if he seems healthy during his workout in Chicago on Monday and can convince the team he is willing to accept a bench role. G Derrick Rose has expressed his support for signing T-Mac. He appeared in 30 games for the Knicks last season, averaging 9.4 points and 3.9 assists in 26 minutes per game.
– The Clippers have re-signed G Rasual Butler. He set a Clippers’ single-season record for 3-pointers made in a season (149), but minutes may be scarce this season.
WWE
– 7 wrestlers released by WWE on April 22, 2010 are now free to join TNA Wrestling (or any wrestling promotion for that matter) as their respective 90-day no-compete clauses have expired. Among those let go that fateful day were Mickie James, Shelton Benjamin, Katie Lea Burchill, Jimmy Wang Yang, Slam Master J, Kung Fu Naki and Mike Knox. The contractual clause was put in place to prohibit wrestlers from immediately competing with nationally televised promotions following their release.
– Jim Ross announced on his official website that Ricky Steamboat has been released from the hospital. The WWE Hall of Famer is convalescing at a relative’s home in Florida and slated to return to FCW to continue training developmental talent in a month or so.
– Former WWE Women’s Champion Sable gave birth to a 9 pound boy this past Wednesday. This would be her third child, and second with husband Brock Lesnar. Lesnar said at the post-UFC 116 press conference that she was due to give birth in two weeks.
– While squashing the unidentified member of The Straight Edge Society on last night’s episode of SmackDown, Big Show unmasked him, revealing former Tag Team Champion Joey Mercury. Mercury re-signed with WWE earlier this year and had been working as the masked man of CM Punk’s group since April.
NFL
– According to ESPN, a high-ranking Rams official says that a formal offer for WR Terrell Owens could come on Monday. The Rams asked agent Drew Rosenhaus if Owens would consider playing for a non-contender, and Rosenhaus of course said his client would consider it. A formal offer from the Rams would mean the Bengals would need to step it up if they really want him.
– Despite speculation of wanting a new deal, Vikings’ RB Adrian Peterson said Sunday that he will report to training camp on time. Peterson “seemed somewhat annoyed” about the rumours he’s disgruntled or in search of a raise.Peterson will make roughly $6.5M this season, which is almost three times as much as Titans’ RB Chris Johnson’s recent salary bump will pay the 2,000-yard rusher. Peterson did say that his agent has at least preliminarily discussed a new contract with the Vikings.
– Ravens’ rookie LB Sergio Kindle (head) is expected to make a full recovery, a source tells beat writer Aaron Wilson. Kindle remains under observation in an Austin, Texas hospital after falling down two flights of stairs on Saturday. He has gotten much better over the last day or two, although the exact injury is unknown at this point. He’s still expected to sign his rookie deal at some point this week, although Wilson points out that there’s no rush now.
– The Giants have signed LB Keith Bulluck to a 1-year deal. Bulluck, who is 33 and coming off an ACL tear, can earn up to $2.5M this season. Just seven months removed from his surgery, Bulluck is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery.
NHL
– The Blackhawks have signed F Jack Skille to a 1-year/$600K deal.
TNA
– Lance Storm, who has been highly critical of TNA Wrestling’s creative process in recent years, posted a blog on his official website saying he declined their offer to appear at next month’s Hardcore Justice pay-per-view event.
“I was asked if I would be interested in taking part in the TNA: One Last Stand PPV. I think it was big of them to extend me the offer, considering my general opinion of the TNA product, and want to I thank them for that, but I will not be taking part.”
“I feel it would be hypocritical of me to work the show, considering my out outspoken views of the TNA product. I have a great deal of respect for the boys who will be working the show as well as the great workers on the TNA roster, but I have no desire to be a part of the TNA creative process. As for ECW, One Night Stand in 2005 was my farewell and am content in letting sleeping dogs lie.”
– Those within TNA suggest Desmond Wolfe is currently in the doghouse. The British wrestling star has developed a reputation for being difficult to work with, which has affected his push in the organization. Company officials are also down on Matt Morgan, who has been discussed as being part of Ric Flair’s Fortune group. Hernandez’ two botched Border toss attempts during their Steel Cage bout at Victory Road were blamed on “The Blueprint” since Hernandez is a favorite among management. On the contrary, officials are said to be high on MCM following their Victory Road performance.
VoV
Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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