Didn't see a thread on this, new news right? Interesting strategy here, understandable with Franklin-G already manning the CF position and Ackley's experience at 2nd. Little to no harm done by simply starting him there...

Mariners first-round draft pick Dustin Ackley will begin working out at second base in a move that could become permanent if all goes well.

The decision was announced Friday by Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik in a conference call with writers who cover the team. Zduriencik termed the move "an experiment" for now and says it's always been his philosophy to work minor-leaguers out at multiple positions to give the club flexibility going forward.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2010320833_mari21.html

Assuming these rumors are true:

The Mariners according to Geoff Baker, would have gotten to choose the five Red Sox prospects among a list of eight. Those eight included RHPs Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson, Michael Bowden and Daniel Bard, LHPs Felix Doubrant and Nick Hagadone, SS Yamaico Navarro and OF Josh Reddick.

A three-way trade with the Padres and Sox would have netted the Mariners: Clay Buchholz and Adrian Gonzalez plus two (unknown) Red Sox prospects

The 3 way deal intrigues me more from a M's perspective. Of course the 2 Red Sox prospects are the key, who are they? Also I believe the M's would have had to trade prospects in this deal, Truinfel is a name I think I read was rumored in this deal going to SD.

I agree with the M's holding onto Felix, but I wouldn't have hung up the phone feeling insulted with either offer. With that 3 way, depending on the details, I may have been interested in working on that. The thought of trading Felix Hernandez makes me nervous, even just pretending to be the M's GM.

Edit: I think the rumors were Truinfel and Morrow going to SD. I wouldn't entertain tht offer if that's true, even though I feel both prospects are overrated in their own way.

It appears that the Brian Matusz era in Baltimore will start far earlier than anyone expected.

The Orioles are giving heavy consideration to promoting the 22-year-old Double-A pitcher and having him start on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers in Brad Bergesen's spot in the rotation.

"That is definitely a possibility," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said today. "We've canvassed everybody and it's definitely a possibility."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-brian-matusz-801,0,4821135.story

The probability of Brian Matusz being called up next week has gone from possible to likely. Orioles beat reporter Jeff Zrebiec has just posted a story including a comment from Andy MacPhail conceding the definite possibility that Matusz will be the guy who will come up to take Brad Bergesen's place in the starting rotation.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck/2009/08/orioles_matusz_time.html

I don't get this for the Giants. I know their 1st base need and I know their system is great but I thought Barnes had more value than that and was set to rise up prospect rankings in the offseason.

According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, the Giants have acquired first baseman Ryan Garko from the Indians for LHP Scott Barnes and a PTBNL.
The Giants have been eyeing a first baseman to replace Travis Ishikawa, and Garko is a nice fit. The 28-year old is batting .285/.362/.464 this season with 11 home runs and 39 RBI. He's a force against left-handed pitchers and is under team control through 2012. Barnes, 21, has gone 12-3 with a 2.85 ERA and a 99/29 K/BB ratio in 18 starts (99 innings) for Single-A San Jose. Jul. 27 - 9:25 pm et

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-osnotes725,0,5713223.story

BOSTON - Orioles top pitching prospect Chris Tillman is expected to make his major league debut on Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley said before tonight's game against the Boston Red Sox that the club will call up somebody from the minors to make Wednesday's start. He wouldn't say specifically that it was Tillman, but he did acknowledge that the announcement will come as no surprise.

The Orioles have optioned reliever Bob McCrory to Triple-A Norfolk and will call up outfielder Nolan Reimold tomorrow.

Manager Dave Trembley won't know how he'll use Reimold, who's batting .394 with 11 doubles, nine homers, 27 RBIs and a 1.128 OPS, until he checks on the status of Luke Scott and Adam Jones.

http://masnsports.com/2009/05/roster-move-4.html

FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER FILLER

Morales meltdown.

Fixing what's wrong with prized left-hander Franklin Morales is turning into a long-term project. In a Triple-A loss to Fresno on Saturday night, Morales pitched four-plus innings, coughing up 10 earned runs on eight hits and seven walks. In his previous start for the Sky Sox, Morales pitched five innings of no-hit ball, but he walked six.

"It's more of the same," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He lacked fastball command and he really didn't have a whole lot to bring to the table with his secondary pitches. . . . For whatever reason, the to-do list has gotten extremely long."

The Rockies' goal is to help Morales regain his natural pitching motion and velocity.

"All we're trying to do is revisit with him what he was born to do and the God-given abilities he was presented with," Hurdle said. "Get back to that and then we'll work off that."

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_9305711

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/842384,CST-SPT-brian14.article

Sources confirmed Thursday that the Cubs have a four-player offer for Roberts on the table that includes the addition of hard-throwing pitching prospect Jose Ceda. Infielder Ronny Cedeno and pitchers Sean Gallagher and Donnie Veal also are in the package.

Sounds very good for the O's IMO.