The Chicago White Sox acquired catcher Ramon Castro and cash from the New York Mets for right-handed pitcher Lance Broadway. Castro, 33, is hitting .253/.322/.430 in 87 plate appearances this season. Broadway, 25, has a 5.06 ERA in 16.0 innings this season.
Castro should fit as a right-handed complemant to current White Sox backstop A.J. Pierzynski. Castro has displayed some power in the past, so a move to U.S. Cellular Field could be just what he needs to help him breakout.
With the Seattle Mariners battling for last place in the AL West for another season, the team will become sellers at the trade deadline once more. Their top pitcher this season, left-hander Erik Bedard, is a free agent after the season and could draw a hefty bounty if traded. Bedard, 32, has a spectacular 2.48 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched this season.
So who would be interested in the left-hander?
Other Possibilities: Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Wonder who the Mariners would ask for in return? Check out each teams’ top prospects:
The Mariners would almost certainly be better off dealing Bedard, rather than re-signing the left-hander. Bedard has a prevalent injury history and at the age of 30, those odds won’t improve.
Looking for a mock draft of June’s Amateur Draft?
DC Sports report is keeping a running tab on the mock drafts from various websites. SPOILER: Stephen Strasburg goes number one.
Keith Law over at ESPN Insider also makes some predictions.
John Sickels over at Minor League Ball does a great job running down this year’s draft’s prospects. Most recently, Sickels took a look at the top right-handed pitchers in the draft.
After outfielder Manny Ramirez was hit with a 50-game suspension, the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ were left with no choice but to play Juan Pierre in left field. Not only has Pierre exceeded expectations, but he’s also helped Dodgers‘ fans cope with the loss of their best hitter. Through 77 plate appearances this season, the 31-year-old has hit .406/.461/.522 with 7 stolen bases. The outfielder has put on his best performance yet with the Dodgers, and that is exactly why they should trade him.
Pierre’s value has plummeted in recent years, from scoring a 5-year, $44 million deal, to becoming a backup with a bloated contract. Pierre turned into a player the Dodgers would be willing to pay to get rid off. Now he’s playing at a level that could earn him an all-star appearance. Ned Colletti is sure to find someone foolish enough to make the same mistake he made in acquiring Pierre three seasons ago. The Chicago White Sox seem like a perfect fit. The team currently has Scott Podsednik and Brent Lillibridge battling for time in center field, and general manager Kenny Williams is not one to shy away from unorthodox moves.
If the Dodgers can, they are almost certainly better off dealing Pierre now, even if it means the team will have to watch the youngster Xavier Paul struggle in the outfield for a third of the season. Pierre’s average will drop, and it’s not like he has the walks or extra base hits to compensate for it. Pierre’s hot start is a fluke, and if the team doesn’t want to get stuck paying a pinch-runner specialist $9 million per year, they need to act quickly.
The Oakland Athletics acquired second baseman Adam Kennedy from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later or cash. Kennedy, 33, hit .280/.321/.372 in 365 plate appearances last season. The Rays signed Kennedy to a minor league contract after being released by the Cardinals this winter.
Kennedy gives the team a veteran to fill in for the injured Mark Ellis. The second baseman will likely be outrighted when Ellis returns.
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