Around Baseball

Notes from around baseball:

• In exchange of minor leaguers the Pirates traded Mike Koplove to the Mariners for shortstop Deybis Benitez
• According to Geoff Baker the Mariners designated Chris Woodward for assignment today to make room for Adrian Beltre, who's coming off the DL.
  
• Cubans Yadel Marti, Yasser Gomez, and Juan Yasser tell ESPN that they have been declared free agents.
• Indians DFA yet another reliever Jose Veras, to make room for Jess Todd.
  

Stay tuned.....

August Trades, Waivers and More

Thanks to Ben Nicolson-Smith of MLB Trade Rumors for breaking down post-July 31 trades:

• Teams have to pass players through waivers to trade them after the deadline.
• Players acquired after August 31st can't play in the postseason.
• Teams will often put most of their players on waivers to determine interest because you don't have to give up every player you waive.
• Unclaimed players can be traded to any clubs in August.
• Claimed player can be kept, traded, or handed over to the claiming team, who would then have to pay the player's salary.
• If only one team claims a player, he can only be dealt to that team.
• If more than one team claims a player, he can only be traded to the team with the worst record in his league.
• If the player's only claimed by teams in the other league, he can only be dealt to the team with the worst record.

Last August Adam Dunn was dealt. Will we see another big named dealt this year?

Jon Heyman has put this list together of players who are likely to clear waivers:

• Bronson Arroyo
• Adam Dunn
• Jose Guillen
• Aaron Harang
• Adrian Beltre
• Jason Giambi
• Melvin Mora
• Miguel Batista
• Juan Gruz
• Ty Wigginton
• Ron Mahay
• Willie Bloomquist
• Lyle Overbay
• Willy Taveras

Could clear:

• Jon Garland
• Doug Davis
• Gil Meche
• Alex Rios
• Carl Pavano
• Mark Hendrickson
• Jhonny Peralta
• Jamey Carroll
• Ron Villone

Unlikely to clear (Heyman's list):

• Roy Halladay
• Felix Hernandez
• Heath Bell
• Andrian Gonzalez
• Marco Scutaro
• Chad Qualls
• Michael Wuertz
• Brian Bannister
• Josh Willingham
• Gary Sheffield
• David Eckstein
• Jason Frasor
• Mark Teahen

If you missed it, click to view my post yesterday on the PCL. Tonight or tomorrow we'll take a look at the IL of AAA baseball.

Jays to Release Encarnacion

After acquiring Edwin Encarnacion one talent evaluator believes the Jays will release him at seasons end. Even if the third baseman's 4.75 million dollar salary is too much for the Jays, they'd firstly try to trade him before releasing him.

B & G's # 8/3/09

Baseballs:

**Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays- Carl had a great afternoon, he went 3-5 and drove in 3 runs, giving him 50 RBIs with a double and a stolen base. Carl is now hitting .317.

**Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals- He came into the game, with his Nationals trailing, he weathered the storm. His Nationals awarded him by taking the lead and keeping it. He worked 3 scoreless innings, he didn't walk anyone and struck out 2. Tyler now has a 2.52 ERA after getting his 2Nd win of the season.

**Randy Wells, Chicago Cubs- Randy threw 7 1/3 innings, giving up 1 run (1 earned), he walked 2 and struck out 5. Randy won his 8Th game and he now has a 2.73 ERA.

**Clete Thomas, Detroit Tigers- Clete hit a walk off Home Run, his 7Th Home Run of the season, he drove in his 29Th run of the season. Thomas is now hitting .269.

**Mark Reynolds, Arizona Diamondbacks- Mark hit 2 Home Runs, giving him 32 on the season, he drove in 3 runs, giving him 73 RBIs. Mark is now hitting .279 after a 2-5 evening.

**Carlos Lee, Houston Astros- Carlos went 3-4 and drove in his 65Th RBI of the season. Carlos is now hitting .311.

**Mat Latos, San Francisco Giants- Mat threw 7 strong innings, giving up 2 runs (2 earned), he walked 2 and struck out 3. Latos now has 3 straight wins and a 2.66 ERA.

**Rajah Davis, Oakland Athletics- Rajah picked up the walk off triple to drive in the final 2 runs, giving him 22 RBIs. Rajah is now hitting .285.

**Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers- Ryan went 4-5 and hit his 22Nd Home Run of the season, driving in 3 runs, giving him 73 RBIs. Ryan is now hitting .316.

Goofballs:

**Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals- Zack was a bit off, he worked 5 innings, giving up 6 runs (6 earned), he walked 3 and struck out 9. Zack now has a 2.36 ERA and lost his 6Th game.

**Jeff Karstens, Pittsburgh Pirates- Jeff gave up 4 runs (4 earned) in 2/3 of an inning. Jeff walked 1 and struck out 2, he now has a 4.77 ERA.

**Reds Offense- The Reds offense scored 2 runs, on 8 hits, they walked 3 and struck out 6. They left 8 men on base, preventing Aaron Harang from getting the victory. He lost his 13Th game.

**Danys Baez, Baltimore Orioles- Baez lost the game, he threw 1 2/3 innings, giving up 1 run (1 earned), he didn't walk anyone and struck out 4. Danys now has a 4.35 ERA and lost his 5Th game.

**Nelson Figueroa, New York Mets- Nelson started the gate on the wrong foot and the D-Backs took him out early. He just threw 1 2/3 innings, giving up 6 runs (6 earned), he walked 1 and didn't strike anyone out. Nelson lost his 2Nd game and he now has a 10.57 ERA.

**Giants Offense- 3 runs, on 11 hits, 2 walks and 8 strikeouts, leaving 10 men on base. They had their chances, but they couldn't get that hit to put them over.

**Braves Offense- 2 runs on just 6 hits, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts as a team, preventing them to win.

**C.J. Wilson, Texas Rangers- C.J. blew his 3rd save and lasted 1/3 of an inning, giving up 3 runs (3 earned), he struck out 1 and now has a 3.21 ERA.

**Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers- Clayton lasted just 4 innings, giving up 3 runs (3 earned), what hurt him though was 6 walks and 6 strikeouts. Clayton lost his 6Th game and now has a 2.89 ERA.