MLB - Sports Rumors

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

New York Yankees general manager said there are a lot of benefits to having Eric Hinske(notes), who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday for a pair of minor league players.

Cashman told the New York Times: "He knows his role. He can help us at third, first, left, right, D.H. He can pinch-hit, and that's a difficult thing, to be used to doing something like that and handling it. And he's a pro. He's been through the trenches in the American League East."

In a broader sense, Hinske is taking the place of outfielder Xavier Nady(notes), who was on track to return this week before reinjuring his elbow last Thursday and ending his season. The Yankees had already been counting on having a more experienced bat on the bench, and in Hinske, they get the bonus of a player who can still play third base, the Times reported.

Source: New York Times

The Milwaukee Brewers will take a good look at right-hander Brandon Backe(notes), the former Astro who was designated for assignment last week and refused a trip to Houston's Triple-A club on Monday, according to MLB.com.

Backe, 31, missed two months with an oblique injury and then didn't pitch well in four relief appearances and one start for Houston, allowing 21 hits, 15 earned runs and five home runs in 13 innings. He's due $1.55 million this season, but his new club would only be responsible for a prorated portion of the $400,000 Major League minimum.

"You have to at least take a look," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

Source: MLB.com

Ervin Santana(notes) rejoined the Los Angeles Angels Monday and said he felt fine after a 45-pitch rehabilitation start.

In that start, Santana gave up three hits, struck out seven and walked none in 3¹⁄³ innings of an Arizona Summer League game in Phoenix.

Santana, on the disabled list because of an inflamed triceps, will throw in the bullpen Wednesday, and if he comes out of that workout OK, Manager Mike Scioscia said Santana will be folded back into the rotation this weekend against Baltimore.

Source: Los Angeles Times

No squawking from Goose Gossage about New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera(notes) being the best of all time.

According to the New York Daily News, Gossage believes Rivera is the greatest closer in Yankees' history — and baseball history, for that matter — but that's not to say the Hall of Famer doesn't consider himself to be in the same class as the newest member of the 500 club.

Gossage points out how different it is to be a closer today, saying pitchers such as Rivera and Trevor Hoffman(notes) have it easy compared to the load that he was asked to carry during the prime years of his career.

"He might be the greatest closer of all-time, but we weren't closers," Gossage said Monday. "That word hadn't been coined yet. We were relief pitchers; we did a job it now takes three guys to do. I don't know who the greatest relief pitcher is because we did different jobs."

Source: New York Daily News