MLB - Sports Rumors

Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan said he doesn't expect the team to be sold until after the season, at the earliest, according to the Dallas Morning News.

"Just because of the process it takes, I don't expect to see anything happen during the course of the season," Ryan said.

Rangers owner Tom Hicks is trying to sell the club, and Yahoo reported this week that Major League Baseball has loaned him several million dollars.

According to the Morning News, the signing of two international free agents Thursday was a sign that the team is forging ahead despite financial concerns. A baseball source said Thursday that the Rangers spent at least $2.5 million to sign the prospects. General manager Jon Daniels said Friday he could not confirm the signings until the players pass physicals.

"It has not affected us, with the exception that we let two baseball office employees go, which is always not a pleasant deal," Daniels said of the team's finances. "Outside of that, it has not changed how we do business, it did not affect how we approached the draft and it did not affect how we approach international free agency. I think it'll be the same thing for the trade deadline. ... If something comes up to improve the club and requires additional money, we'll present it to Tom and make a case for it."

Source: Dallas Morning News

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez(notes) was eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday, remained sidelined by a groin strain, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to the Inquirer, the Phillies leftfielder was scheduled to appear in a rehabilitation game with double-A Reading on Wednesday, and then on Thursday, but he was held out of action. The Phils have said they want him to play a few minor-league games before activating him.

Ibanez took batting practice and fielded fly balls last night at Citizens Bank Park before the Phillies won their series opener against the New York Mets. There was a simple reason he didn't begin the rehab assignment, according to the Inquirer.

"He still feels something in there," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said before the game. "What that something is, I can't be too specific because I can't tell you what it is. But as long as he is feeling something in there and he doesn't feel comfortable and our medical people don't feel comfortable having him go out to play, there is no reason to risk it."

Source: Philly.com

While fans of the struggling New York Mets continue to plead for the team to make a big deal that will add a hitter, the team's general manager doubts one will be made, according to the New York Post.

Minaya said he has been given permission by management to add to the club's NL-high $143 million budget. That would make the Mets an attractive trading partner to the numerous teams experiencing economic stress this summer.

But Minaya said the Mets' expectation that Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran(notes) and Carlos Delgado(notes) will return by early August is limiting their interest in a big trade.

"It's fair to say that, if we're looking for reinforcements right now, some of our DL guys are probably going to be the reinforcements," Minaya said. "If we can get all our guys back healthy, our healthy guys, its going to be hard to make trades that are going to be better than Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado."

Source: New York Post

The Boston Globe reports the Arizona Diamondbacks spent a lot of time scouting the Red Sox during the Atlanta and Baltimore series. While it could merely be normal coverage assignments with nothing cooking, the D-Backs might have a player who could be appealing to the Red Sox.

Corner infielder Chad Tracy(notes) who has just come off the DL with an oblique strain is a chip the Diamondbacks would like to move. While Tracy spent most of his career as a third baseman (330 games) he's become more of a first baseman. His offensive production has declined since a productive early career, according to the Globe.

The 6-2, 200-pound left-handed hitter does hit the ball the opposite way which could be a factor at Fenway. The Sox have Mike Lowell(notes) on the disabled list with his balky hip, but Lowell is already feeling better and should be able to go after the All-Star break, according to the Globe.

The Red Sox really don't have a lot of obvious roster space to add another hitter with Rocco Baldelli(notes) and Mark Kotsay(notes) already occupying key bench spots. Julio Lugo(notes) has been hitting and he may be increasing his trade value.

Source: Boston.com

The New York Yankees will have discussions about whether they should pursue the left-handed Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban pitcher who defected while in the Netherlands, the New York Times reported.

According to the Times, he fires a fastball that exceeds 100 miles per hour and is widely considered the premier pitching prospect in Cuba. His age was reported Thursday as 21, but reports in March at the World Baseball Classic said he was 26.

Bart Hernandez, an agent who is hoping to represent Chapman, said Chapman threw 100 and 101 m.p.h. "If he polishes up his changeup and tightens up his slider, he can be a young Randy Johnson(notes)," Hernandez said.

Chapman had a 5.68 earned run average over six and a third innings while pitching for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic in March. He was in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the Cubans for a tournament but left the team's hoteland defected. Chapman's defection was first reported by cubaencuentro.com, according to the Times.

Source: New York Times

The Philadelphia Phillies are looking for starting pitching and according to the Philadelphia Daily News have discussed is veteran Paul Byrd(notes), who posted a 4.60 ERA in 30 starts with the Indians and Red Sox last season. But again, it isn't clear that he would represent an upgrade, particularly after having spent the first few months of the season out of competition.

"The question is whether Paul Byrd is going to be any better than any of the guys that we have — Rodrigo Lopez(notes), or Carrasco, or Carpenter or Kendrick," Amaro said. "Why would he be any better than those guys? We've brought up the name, we've talked about it. We've talked about almost every guy that might be available, whether it is free agency or what."

Although the Phillies will call up 33-year-old veteran Rodrigo Lopez to start Friday night against the Mets, there is still a chance that you will see top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco(notes) or fellow prospect Andrew Carpenter(notes) before the end of the season, the Daily News reported.

Source: Philly.com

The Chicago Cubs have acquired Jeff Baker(notes) from the Colorado Rockies, according to a source close to the club.

It is unclear who the Rockies will receive in return for Baker or the Cubs' plans for him.

Baker, an infielder, went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27 and was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 24. He began a minor league rehab assignment June 19.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

It's appears the Arizona Diamondbacks don't have right-hander Danny Haren on the trading block — just as the Los Angeles Angels, who apparently inquired about his availability.

According to Foxsports.com, the D-backs do not intend to trade Haren, who leads the National League in ERA.

"I almost can't conceive of a package that would motivate us to move him," one Diamondbacks official said.

According to Foxsports.com, The D-backs, viewing Haren as a critical part of their future, declined to engage in serious discussions with the Angels, who could have used their surplus of catchers and middle infielders to put together a blockbuster offer. The report indicated the talks could accelerate if the Angels overwhelmed the Diamondbacks with the right combination of players, one source said. But such a deal, for now, appears to be a longshot.

The Angels' motivation in pursuing Haren is obvious — to add him to a rotation that already includes Lackey, right-hander Jered Weaver(notes) and left-hander Joe Saunders(notes) and is awaiting the return of righty Ervin Santana(notes).

Source: Foxsports.com

New York Mets assistant general manager John Ricco, who is accompanying the team on its current road trip, revealed Tuesday the team inquired several times about Mark DeRosa(notes) when he was with the Cleveland Indians.

According to the New York Post, Ricco said the Mets thought the asking price for DeRosa — right-hander Bobby Parnell(notes) — was too high.

Ricco said he and general manager Omar Minaya have been working the phones looking for a deal.

"We have plenty of holes to fill, and Omar is making a lot of calls," Ricco said. "I'm making calls. From that standpoint, we couldn't be any more aggressive."

Source: New York Post