July 03 2009

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The negotiations to acquire Eric Hinske won't go down as particularly prolific for Brian Cashman. They took just a few days, and with all due respect to Hinske, who appears to be a good fit, this ain't quite David Wells for Roger Clemens on the "Wow!" scale. But this trade should be filed away as a time capsule. As a sign of its times. "It's indicative of the reality of the economy," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington told yesterday. "Brian's position from the get-go was that, if he were to get Eric, he wouldn't pay the full freight." And so, as Huntington said, "It's maybe the first time ever when the Pirates have sent the Yankees money." For every dollar that Hinske receives in a Yankees uniform, 50 cents will come from the small-market, low-payroll, haven't-posted-a-winning-season-since 1992 Pirates.

Major League Baseball has loaned millions to Rangers owner Tom Hicks, Yahoo reported. The league would not go into details about any borrowing but said it was assisting Rangers owner Tom Hicks with the sale of the franchise.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella has maintained a good relationship with the Chicago media, though it has been strained by recent events. The recently published an off-hand remark Piniella made to a coach about Milton Bradley while venting in his office in San Diego in May, after one of its reporters overhead the remark in the adjoining clubhouse. General manager Jim Hendry was livid about what he considers an ethical violation. Hendry said whatever Piniella says in his office should be off-limits, unless the reporter has been invited in. "If you are not meeting directly with the press, you have to let a man go in [his office] and vent to his coaches. Those are ... private matters in the sanctity of the clubhouse."

Teams can start signing international free agents on Friday, but more so than in most baseball transactions, it's a business where the buyer must beware. Last year, the Indians spent $575,000 on a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic named Jose Ozoria. Less than a week ago, they were informed by Major League Baseball that Ozoria wasn't who he said he was. Mirabelli said the Indians are prepared to make offers on four to seven players. Three players the Indians have shown interest in are Dominican Republic shortstop Miguel Angel Santo and Cuban defectors left-hander Noel Arguellez and shortstop Jose Iglesias. Arguellez and Iglesias, both 19, defected last year in Canada during the World Junior Championships.

A little birdie says the Minnesota Twins are deep in the process of trying to sign Dominican Republic shortstop Miquel Sano, who is considered the top international prospect available this year. One problem: Major League Baseball hasn't yet approved Sano's eligibility or been able to confirm his alleged age of 16. "So it's buyer beware," a top scout said.

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