MLB Daily Dish

Phillies Not Going Hard After Roy Oswalt

2012-05-17T14:12:28Z

Todd Zoleki of MLB.com wrote yesterday that Philadelphia Phillies general manager Rueben Amaro Jr is not looking to sign Roy Oswalt. With the recent injury to right hander Vance Worley, there has been some talk of the Phillies trying to sign the veteran Oswalt.

"We think he's throwing," Amaro Jr. said. "I guess he is. But right now what I'm worried about is our team playing better. That's my focus right now. I feel comfortable with the starters we have. If we get to the point where we're not comfortable with him then that might be something we explore. But I will tell you that right now I'm happy with our guys the way we are right now, unless something changes. I think we've got other fish to fry right now."

The Phillies have had a rough year with injuries, not just to their staff but to players like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. They could use their money to look for replacements, an example could be Kevin Youkilis, as it seems unlikely that they will go after Oswalt.

Twins: Ryan Doumit to 15-Day DL, Ben Revere Recalled

2012-05-17T04:25:35Z

The Minnesota Twins have placed Ryan Doumit on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf and will recall outfielder Ben Revere from AAA Rochester, according to the team:

#Twins place Doumit on 15-day DL with right calf strain. Will recall Ben Revere from AAA Rochester prior to tomorrow's game at Detroit.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 17, 2012

Doumit, 31, was signed by the Twins to a one-year, $3 million deal back in November after seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Spending the majority of his time with the Twins as designated hitter, Doumit has also seen time as catcher, right fielder, and at first base. He's hitting .264/.328/.445, down from his career line of .270/.333/.442.

Revere, a 24 year-old center fielder, comes back to the club after hitting .278/.316/.333 in twenty plate appearances over six games earlier this season. He comes back from AAA Rochester, where he's hitting .322/.354/.333.

Following Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Reds, the Mets announced that they have designated...

2012-05-17T04:01:46Z

Following Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Reds, the Mets announced that they have designated beleaguered reliever D.J. Carrasco for assignment following a couple of rough games — not to mention a woeful year in 2011 — at Citi Field.

Carrasco was given a two-year deal after Sandy Alderson took over the team eighteen months ago, but he's been mostly terrible in a Mets uniform.

Mets DFA D.J. Carrasco, Recall Robert Carson From Double-A - Amazin' Avenue

After making a major deal to shape their World Series-winning roster last season, ESPN's Buster...

2012-05-16T22:45:57Z

After making a major deal to shape their World Series-winning roster last season, ESPN's Buster Olney spoke with executives that expect the St. Louis Cardinals to be aggressive on the trade market once again in 2012. The piece is Insider-only, but it leads with Olney wondering whether, "There be owners who convince themselves that they're destined to be the 2012 version of Bill DeWitt, holding up a championship trophy at the end."

Talking to executives, Olney lists the Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers as three teams that could be out looking for big upgrades in 2012. Last year, the Cardinals made a controversial deal that sent Colby Rasmus to Toronto for a package led by Edwin Jackson, but GM John Mozeliak was ultimately vindicated by the team's victory in the World Series.

Cardinals Rumors 2012: Executives Expect St. Louis To Be Aggressive This Summer - SB Nation St. Louis

Indians: Robinson Tejeda Released, Dan Wheeler Outrighted

2012-05-16T18:39:07Z

Tribe Makes a Pair of Moves at AAA Columbus

The Cleveland Indians have released right-handed pitcher Robinson Tejeda and outrighted right-handed pitcher Dan Wheeler to the AAA Columbus Clippers, according to the team:

AAA Clippers transactions: Outrighted RHP DAN WHEELER to Columbus. Released RHP ROBINSON TEJEDA.
— Cleveland Indians(@tribeinsider) May 16, 2012

Tejeda, 30, last saw Major League action with the Kansas City Royals in 2011, going just 7 innings and pitching at a 6.14 ERA. At AAA Columbus this season, he's seen even less -- just one inning, where he gave up two runs. Tejeda has a career ERA of 4.42 in 442 innings over seven pro seasons. He signed a minor league contract with the Indians this off-season.

Wheeler, 34, will join the Clippers after seeing twelve innings and racking up a 8.76 ERA this season. He was with the Boston Red Sox last season and pitched nearly 50 innings of 4.38 ERA relief. Wheeler has 13 seasons of pro experience across five organizations, seven of which were with the Tampa Rays.

Phillies Trade Thompson to Rays for Hudson

2012-05-16T18:04:19Z

Philly, Tampa Swap Outfielders With Little Experience

The Philadelphia Phillies have traded outfielder Rich Thompson to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for outfielder Kyle Hudson, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com:

Sources: Phillies have dealt AAA OF Rich Thompson to TB for OF Kyle Hudson#PhilliesTalk
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) May 16, 2012

Thompson, 33, is hitting .307/.390/.398 for AAA Lehigh Valley this season, with 27 hits, 8 walks, and 18 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances. Hudson has exactly one plate appearance in the majors, taken with the Kansas City Royals back in 2004.

Hudson, 25, is hitting .291/.378/.318 in AAA Durham, with seven stolen bases versus four caught. He was in the Baltimore system since 2008, and has since shuffled between several clubs, including the Texas Rangers. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun notes that the Phillies will be his 4th organization in the past six months.

Hudson has just a few more plate appearances than Thompson, seeing 29 last season. He only had four hits, though, going .143/.143/.143. The Phillies will likely use him as a pinch runner, if anything.

Phillies: Worley to 15-Day DL, Savery Recalled, Kendrick Starts

2012-05-16T15:25:52Z

The Philadelphia Phillies have placed Vance Worley on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation, according to the team. The move is retroactive to May 12th and Worley is expected to miss three starts.

Todd Zolecki of mlb.com adds that Joe Savery from AAA Lehigh Valley has been recalled and that Kyle Kendrick will get the start tonight against the Chicago Cubs:

Vance Worley has been placed on the DL with right elbow inflammation. Joe Savery has been recalled. Kyle Kendrick starts tonight @ CHI.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) May 16, 2012

Worley, the 24 year-old right-hander in the midst of his 3rd season, was scratched from tonight's game last night and was to be examined. He told reporters that he's felt some discomfort over the past month, but it wasn't enough to stop him from pitching:

"It's something I can pitch on, but it's just bothering me enough where I want another opinion on it," Worley said.

This will be Kendrick's fourth start of the season. He has a 7.32 ERA in nineteen innings, striking out twelve and walking nine.

Brewers Sign Claudio Vargas to Minor League Deal

2012-05-16T14:54:28Z

The Milwaukee Brewers have signed right-handed pitcher Claudio Vargas to a minor league deal, according to Storm Kirschenbaum of Metis Sports Management, Vargas' agency:

MSM client, Claudio Vargas has agreed to terms with Milwaukee Brewers on a minor league deal. Reports to Nashville Sound pending physical.
— Storm Kirschenbaum (@MetisSports) May 14, 2012

He passed his physical and will join AAA Nashville, adds Kirschenbaum (via twitter).

Brew Crew Ball offers some initial thoughts on the addition:

Vargas is still only 33 years old but is an eight year major league veteran with a 4.83 career ERA over 217 appearances (114 starts). This is his third tour of duty in the Brewer organization: He pitched in 29 games (23 starts) for the 2007 Brewers, then came back in a trade with the Dodgers two seasons later and made 45 appearances in relief between 2009 and 2010.
Vargas hasn't pitched in the majors since the Brewers released him in June of 2010. He last pitched in affiliated ball with the Rockies in 2011, but retired in June after posting an 11.08 ERA in eight AAA appearances.

While it isn't immediately apparent why the Brewers would pursue Vargas, other than familiarity, the move adds depth in the short term and a potential roster improvement in the long term.