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Yanks will look for relief on trade market
Each of those pursuits, however, would be complicated.
The Rockies, lacking an internal replacement for Street, do not plan to trade him until just before the July 31 non-waiver deadline, if they trade him at all. Don't look now, but the Rockies' eight-game winning streak has left the team only 4 1/2 games back in the wild-card race.
Qualls, meanwhile, recently missed time with forearm tightness. And Valverde has been on the disabled list since April 26 with a right calf strain. The last thing the Yankees would want is a health risk, so other relievers such as the Orioles' Danys Baez also could appear on their wish list.
Tigers' Willis: Headed the wrong way
Tigers manager Jim Leyland chose left-hander Dontrelle Willis to remain in his rotation over righty Jeremy Bonderman, but one scout who has seen Willis is alarmed by the pitcher's recent performances.
While the scout likes Willis, he says the pitcher is excessively animated — yes, even more animated than he was in his early years with the Marlins. What's more, the scout says, Willis' stuff is not good enough for him to win.
"I wouldn't let him take the mound for me," the scout says. "They're in position where they have to know when they walk on the field that they have a chance to win. I don't think the guys behind him think they have a chance to win.
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| Dontrelle is headed in the wrong direction. (Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images) |
"I see his back side going in three or four different directions. I see his plant foot being inconsistent. All it has to be is off two or three inches and you're in trouble. They've tried to tone down his delivery. Sometimes he does it, sometimes he doesn't.
"I feel bad for the guy. He's such a character. When he was good, he was great for the game."
What will the Angels do?
Ask Angels general manager Tony Reagins to state the team's biggest need, and he responds, "The immediate need is for us to start playing to our capabilities and the level of expectations we have for ourselves. If we do that, we'll be fine. If we don't, we'll obviously have to explore other options."
Reagins sounded relatively optimistic on the phone Thursday, but that was before the Angels announced that right-hander Kelvim Escobar was headed back to the bullpen and possibly the disabled list due to shoulder trouble, before an 11-1 loss to the Rays that prompted manager Mike Scioscia to threaten changes.
The Angels have the worst bullpen ERA in the majors. Their offense is ninth in the American League in runs per game. The ERAs of right- handers John Lackey and Ervin Santana since their respective returns from the disabled list are 6.61 and 7.47. Each has made six starts.
The team's true needs?
Help in the rotation, bullpen and lineup.
The Angels, if they wish to make a trade, boast a surplus of middle infielders (Howie Kendrick, Maicer Izturis, Erick Aybar, Brandon Wood, Sean Rodriguez) and catchers (Mike Napoli, Jeff Mathis, Bobby Wilson, Ryan Budde).
"We get calls from other clubs pretty regularly, but there is nothing on the horizon," Reagins says.
Around the Horn
The Rays could become sellers if they fail to produce an impressive 10- to 15-game stretch by the All-Star break.
The team, deep in starting pitching, could move one of its back-end starters, right-hander Andy Sonnanstine or right-hander Jeff Niemann.
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| What can ChiSox get for Dye? (Jeff Gross / Getty Images) |
Dye, 35, is earning $11.5 million, and his contract includes a $12 million mutual option or $1 million buyout. Few clubs, if any, would be willing to take on that much salary and part with solid prospects.
He would file the grievance out of principle, not his desire to recoup lost salary, one source said. If Glavine recovered any money, he could donate it to charity.
Blanco has virtually no power, but one scout says he throws better and is more athletic than Francoeur. Besides, he couldn't do much worse than Francoeur's .621 OPS.
After Davis threw 101 pitches in four innings against the punchless Giants, the scout proclaimed, "He is officially eliminated from our search."
One Class AAA first baseman, Matt Brown, is batting .201. Another Class AAA possibility, Freddy Sandoval, is injured.
Reagins says the team simply wants to get Wood acclimated at first, and is not showcasing him for "anyone but ourselves."
Reynolds, who has struck out 87 times in his team's first 61 games, is on pace for 231 strikeouts. The Rangers' Chris Davis, with 88 strikeouts in his team's first 59 games, is on pace for 239.
The Rays' Carlos Pena is on pace to strike out 204 times.
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