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Strop to act as Cubs' closer down the stretch

Pedro Strop will serve as the Cubs' closer for the remainder of the 2013 regular season.

Kevin Gregg will operate in a setup role. "It’s going to be an opportunity [for Strop]," manager Dale Sveum said Thursday. "We want to see what he does in that role. Kevin [Gregg] has been one of the better closers in all of baseball. God knows where we’d be without him."

Source: MLBlogs.com

Thu, Sep 19, 2013 01:13:00 PM

Yankees officially acquire 3B Chase Headley

Yankees acquired 3B Chase Headley and cash considerations from the Padres for INF Yangervis Solarte and RHP Rafael De Paula.

The deal is now official. Headley's stock has plummeted since his breakout season in 2012, but he's a worthwhile gamble for the Yankees given their current options at third base. The 30-year-old has swung the bat better of late and has good road numbers for his career, so it would be no surprise if he finishes his walk year on a high note.

Jul 22 - 1:40 PM

Report: Blue Jays showing interest in OF Rios

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Blue Jays are showing interest in re-acquiring Rangers outfielder Alex Rios.

It's interesting, since the Blue Jays let Rios go for nothing to the White Sox in 2009, but they are considering a reunion now that they are starving for offense and his contract doesn't look nearly as bad as it once did. He's making $12.5 million this season and his contract includes a $13.5 million team option for 2015. The Rangers will almost certainly pick it up if they keep him, so they'd likely want a sizable return. The Royals and Mariners are among the other teams who have interest in Rios.

Source: CBSSports.com

Jul 22 - 12:41 PM

Report: Burnett would prefer trade to Pirates

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that Phillies right-hander A.J. Burnett would prefer to be dealt to the Pirates and that Pittsburgh players are lobbying for his return.

Burnett made a bit of an awkward exit from Pittsburgh when he signed with the Phillies during the offseason, but it's water under the bridge at this point. However, one possible hangup in a deal is his player option for 2015. He's currently at 21 starts this season, but his 2015 salary would rise to $8.5 million at 24 starts, $10 million at 27, $11.75 million at 30 and a maximum of $12.75 million if he makes it to 32 starts.

Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter

Jul 22 - 12:38 PM

Report: Yanks have checked in on John Danks

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees have checked in with the White Sox about the availability of left-hander John Danks.

There's nothing to indicate that the two sides are close to a deal, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman hasn't made any secret about his desire to add starting pitching. Danks owns a 4.35 ERA and 87/46 K/BB ratio over 124 innings this season, so he's not quite the pitcher he once was. There's still around $34 million remaining on his contract, which runs through 2016. He has a six-team no-trade list, but it's unclear if the Yankees are on it.

Source: CBSSports.com

Jul 22 - 11:53 AM

Angels won't limit Garrett Richards' workload

Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said Monday that the club has no plans to temporarily shut down Garrett Richards in order to limit his workload.

Richards is already at 131 1/3 innings, just a tad shy of the 145 innings he threw last season. He has never thrown more than 157 innings in a season before in pro ball, but Dipoto said there haven't been any discussions about giving him a break. "Not at all," said Dipoto. "Garrett has thrown from end to end in a season. His innings have not escalated to the point where they're 200-plus, but Garrett throws the ball as easily as anybody you'll ever see. It's not a violent delivery, it's not a violent package. He maintains velocity pretty easily." Richards is currently on pace for 216 2/3 innings and could pitch more if the Angels play deep into October.

Source: Angels.mlb.com

Jul 22 - 9:41 AM

Blue Jays calling up prospect Aaron Sanchez

Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports that the Blue Jays plan to call up prospect right-hander Aaron Sanchez on Tuesday.

Sanchez was just shifted to the bullpen last week in Triple-A, which is where he'll pitch in his first taste of the majors. The 22-year-old has posted a 3.95 ERA and 84/57 K/BB ratio over 100 1/3 innings this season between Double- and Triple-A. He still has a promising future as a starter, but the Jays are hoping he can make an impact down the stretch in a relief role.

Source: Sportsnet.ca

Jul 22 - 9:10 AM

Kipnis says oblique injury still a factor

Jason Kipnis acknowledged Monday that his right oblique muscle is still an issue and will likely linger for the rest of the season.

Kipnis missed about a month after straining his right oblique muscle in late April and he's still trying to make adjustments to his swing in order to get comfortable. "I wouldn't use the word progress, I'd use the word adjustment," said Kipnis. "As far as the oblique goes, it's going to be there all year. It's not going to go away until the offseason. What I can do is find a swing that works for me. I thought we may have found something coming out of Detroit. It was a step in the right direction and we're going to keep making adjustments day to day and pitch to pitch and see how it goes." Kipnis was named the American League Player of the week on Monday after he went 5-for-15 (.333) with two homers and six RBI during a four-game series against the Tigers, but those looking for a big second half might end up disappointed.

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Jul 22 - 9:08 AM

Cuddyer (shoulder) aims for mid-August return

Michael Cuddyer has received the green light to begin a strengthening program after an MRI showed that his left shoulder was healing properly.

There was a possibility that Cuddyer would be shut down for the season if the MRI didn't show healing, but he's now aiming for a return in mid-August. "It's what I thought we were going to hear, that it's healing," Cuddyer said. "We don't have an exact timeline just because it's all symptomatic right now, but hopefully three weeks from now or so, I can go out on a rehab [assignment]." The 35-year-old is due to become a free agent this offseason, but the Rockies have expressed interest in re-signing him.

Source: Rockies.mlb.com

Jul 22 - 8:40 AM

Jones goes deep twice to sink the Angels

Adam Jones went 2-for-4 with a pair of two-run homers in Monday's 4-2 win against the Angels.

Jones' first inning shot off Matt Shoemaker plated Nick Markakis and put the Orioles on top 2-0. Five frames later, deja vu, only this time Jones was even more emphatic, pulverizing the ball 443 feet over the left center wall to give Baltimore a 4-2 lead it wouldn't relinquish. Jones has two homers and nine RBI over his last three games. His slash line is up to a healthy .300/.325/.500, and the outfielder is on pace for 31 homers and 104 RBI.

Jul 22 - 1:27 AM

Roenis Elias exits with apparent arm injury

Roenis Elias left Monday's game against the Mets with an apparent arm injury.

Elias was visited by the trainer and seen stretching out his fingers/hand, so he could be dealing with some tightness in his forearm. The Mariners should provide more on his status shortly. Elias allowed one run while striking out eight over 5 1/3 innings before exiting.

Source: Ryan Divish on Twitter

Jul 21 - 11:58 PM

Phillies telling teams Hamels not available

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Phillies have told teams to this point that Cole Hamels is unavailable.

It doesn't jibe with previous reports that have indicated the Phillies are at least entertaining the possibility of dealing Hamels. Perhaps they just haven't liked what other teams have been willing to offer and are pulling Hamels off the block for that reason. Whatever the reason, the Phils could still conceivably change their minds before the end of the month. At the moment, though, it appears Hamels isn't going anywhere.

Source: Buster Olney on Twitter

Jul 21 - 11:52 PM