Minnesota Twins icon Joe Mauer was placed on waivers Tuesday, a major-league source told FoxSports.
Mauer, 29, has about $142.5 million left on his contract, including $138 million from 2013 to 2018. Despite the Twins having compiled the worst record in the American League, Mauer has returned to his previous All-Star form. He has played in 120 of the team’s 129 games, and has posted .403 on-base percentage and an .828 OPS.
Mauer’s contract includes a full no-trade clause, meaning he can block a deal to any team. He has lived and played baseball for his Minnesota for entire life, and was the first overall pick by the Twins in 2001.
In addition to Mauer, a separate report earlier in the week said that first baseman Justin Morneau had been claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but pulled back when the teams couldn’t agree on deal. The Dodgers then completed a blockbuster with the Boston Red Sox that brought Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto to Los Angeles.
—Tests performed on Los Angeles center fielder Matt Kemp’s left knee and jaw showed no structural damage, though the Dodgers star sat out Wednesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Kemp was listed as day-to-day with a bone bruise around the left knee and intense body soreness overall. He ran into the wall at full speed while trying to catch a drive by Josh Rutledge, and the ball bounced away for a triple. Kemp stayed down for several minutes, but after consultation with team trainer Sue Falsone, he remained in the game. Two batters later, he was removed.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told reporters that Kemp “feels like a truck hit him.”
The Dodgers have already been without Kemp for 51 games before the All-Star break with a pair of left hamstring strains.
—An ownership group comprised of the Seidler/O’Malley families and Ron Fowler completed their $800 million purchase of the San Diego Padres from John Moores on Wednesday.
Fowler will act as the control person under the new regime, along with Peter O’Malley’s sons, Kevin and Brian O’Malley, and his nephews, Peter and Tom Seidler. Tom Garfinkel has been named president and chief executive officer, while Josh Byrnes will stay on as executive vice president and general manager.
“We are thankful to have completed the sale process and to now be able to turn our attention to the future,” Fowler said in a statement. “We plan to create an organization and a team that San Diego fans can be proud to support, developing upon the foundation Tom Garfinkel, Josh Byrnes and others have built.
“On behalf of my family, I want to thank Padres fans for the warm welcome we have already received in San Diego,” Peter Seidler said in a statement. “The Padres are a community treasure and we will work hard to earn the trust and respect of loyal Padres fans.”
—The New York Yankees received good news on injured veterans Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez, who could both be closer to returning.
Pettitte, who broke his ankle when he was hit with a batted ball against Cleveland on June 24, said he felt “good” Wednesday after throwing off flat ground the previous day. He threw three sessions of 20 pitches and tested himself during the last one. The Yankees hope to have him resume throwing off a bullpen mound this weekend with the hope the veteran lefty can return to the rotation in late September.
“Whenever he does get on a mound, the process is probably going to have to be accelerated a little bit just because of the time frame,” manager Joe Girardi said.
Alex Rodriguez (broken hand) resumed taking batting practice Tuesday. The Yankees want him to play in a few minor-league games, possibly as early as this weekend, though no schedule has been announced.
—Count New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman as one baseball executive who wasn’t surprised to hear that former Yankees Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon failed drug tests.
“Unfortunately, not surprised,” Cashman said on ESPN New York 98.7 FM’s “Michael Kay Show.” “You see some spike in performance. You hope it’s not the case, but you scratch your head and wonder at the same time. But then you sit there and get a comfort level: Tests are taking place, so if people are passing their tests …”
Colon, 39, pitched for the Yankees last season. After only pitching in 257 innings the previous five years, Colon regained his 90-plus mph fastball velocity. He went 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA for the Yankees, and signed with the Oakland Athletics over the winter.
Cabrera was dealt to the Atlanta Braves after the Yankees won the 2009 World Series, and he also played for the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants. He had evolved from a solid player to an MVP candidate.
“When we traded him to Atlanta we had him as a low-end, everyday regular or an excellent fourth outfielder,” Cashman said. “And that’s how we show where we thought his ceiling was. As you know, he was starting for us in the World Series, but we had him as a low-end, everyday guy, not a National League MVP candidate. So I wasn’t surprised.”
—Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels was scratched from his start Wednesday with a stomach virus, allowing for Tyler Cloyd to make his major-league debut.
The righty will be summoned from Triple-A Lehigh Valley for the start against the Mets. The 25-year-old has gone 15-1 with a 2.26 ERA this season, with 113 strikeouts in 167 total innings between Double-A and Triple-A.
Hamels has put together a fine campaign, going 14-6 with a 2.99 ERA in 25 starts.
If Cloyd pitches well, he could slide into the rotation spot previously occupied by Vance Worley, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow injury. Worley has officially been shut down for the season, and will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from the elbow within the next week.
—The Minnesota Twins recalled Chris Parmelee from Triple-A Rochester, the first baseman’s third stint with the big-league club this season.
Pitcher Jeff Gray was sent to Rochester to make room.
Parmelee has batted .204 with two homers and a .607 OPS in 40 games with the Twins this year, spanning 108 at-bats. The former first-round draft pick has bashed Triple-A pitching, hitting .338 with 17 home runs in 228 at-bats.
—Right-handed pitcher Jeanmar Gomez was recalled Wednesday by the Cleveland Indians.
He was removed from the rotation in June after posting a 5.18 ERA in 73 innings. He was being used as a starter at Triple-A Columbus.
To make room on the roster, outfielder/first baseman Shelley Duncan was designated for assignment. The 32-year-old was batting .203 with 11 homers and a .676 OPS in 264 plate appearances with the Indians.
—The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled righty Shawn Tolleson from High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday, to replace the injured Scott Elbert.
Tolleson posted a 3.42 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings with Los Angeles.
Elbert was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 27, with left elbow soreness. He hadn’t allowed a run in four appearances since coming off the DL 10 days ago.