Kuzul

According to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, the Arizona Diamondbacks have traded fan-favorite infielder Ryan Roberts to the Tampa Bay Rays for Double-A infielder Tyler Bortnick.

#Rays have acquired INF Ryan Roberts from Arizona for Double-A INF Tyler Bortnick. Roberts will be here tommorrow.

— Joe Smith (@TBTimesRays2) July 25, 2012

Bortnick, who was batting .253 in 95 games with 4 HR and 18 RBI for the Montgomery Biscuits, will report to the D-backs Triple-A affiliate, the Reno Aces.

Roberts was batting just .250 in 83 games for Arizona, with 6 HR, 9 doubles and 34 RBI.

He was designated for assignment Tuesday to make room for SS John McDonald, who was activated off the disabled list.

Arizona recently recalled third baseman Ryan Wheeler from Reno, where he was scorching pitchers to the tune of a .351 average with 15 HR, 27 doubles and a minor-league leading 90 RBI. So far with the D-backs he is 2-for-9 (.222) in three games—two starts—and has scored twice.

Roberts said he will miss his fans in Arizona, according to SportsIllustrated.com:

“That’s going to be the number one thing that’s going to be tough for me,” Roberts said. “I’ll definitely miss my teammates. I’ll definitely miss the fans that supported me when things were good and when things were bad. That’s going to be the thing that hits home the most. Four years here, building friendships knowing everybody from (team president) Derrick Hall to the batboys.”

He likely will play some third base in Tampa Bay while superstar Evan Longoria rehabs his torn left hamstring. Longoria has been out since May 1.

After the Rays best player returns, Roberts could return to the utility role for which he became beloved over the past four years in Arizona.

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MLB has a new Competitive Balance Lottery, and teams may use those picks as trade bait this season. A few deals could be made this summer based on these lottery picks, and with them, baseball will usher in a new way to negotiate possible deadline trades.

As pointed out by B/R Featured Columnist Ryan Rudnansky, the CBL is flawed. But baseball is trying to stay competitive not only within itself, but within the realm of American professional sports.

Though we don’t know the order of next year’s lottery (that will be determined July 18), we do know these picks can be used as bait. If a team gets suckered into a deal because of one—or more—of these picks, the team on the receiving end of the player-for-draft-pick trade could become an instant World Series threat.

San Diego Padres Send 3B Chase Headley to Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore has been near the top of the AL Eastern division standings all season. They currently sit in second behind the red-hot New York Yankees and just a half-game ahead of the Boston Red Sox.

Yet they possess one of the lottery picks in the CBL. Again, the system—still in its infancy—is flawed. San Diego also has one of the lottery picks and could like the idea of having another (up to four picks in the first two rounds of the draft? Why not?).

The Orioles have Wilson Betemit and Mark Reynolds on their major-league roster this season, with Betemit getting the majority of the starts even though he’s more of a utility player. That’s how bad Reynolds is.

Reynolds has been splitting time between third, first and DH, but he has also spent time in the minors this season.

His strikeout rate is terrible. Since 2008, Reynolds—a career .236 hitter—has produced four of the top 10 highest strikeout totals in major league history. No one over that time has struck out more than Reynolds has, and it’s not even close.

Headley would make Reynolds expendable and bring a consistent bat to a lineup in need of protection behind All-Star center fielder Adam Jones. Headley is not the best-hitting third baseman (a career .268 hitter), but he makes sense for Baltimore because he provides an above-average glove at the hot corner.

That is something of which they are in desperate need.

Betemit and Reynolds combined at third have a .905 fielding percentage this season. Headley sports a .975 percentage. The lottery pick, along with whatever else they send to San Diego, would be well worth the return.

Colorado Rockies Send CF Dexter Fowler to Cincinnati Reds

Another scenario where both teams possess one of the lottery picks, the Reds are currently leading the NL Central and are in good shape down the road as well. The Rockies will need some help to compete for the foreseeable future.

That’s where the lottery pick comes in.

This trade is a bit of a longshot because of Cincinnati’s weird affection for Drew Stubbs. It needs to happen, though, if the Reds want to win the NL Central and make a deep run into the playoffs this season.

Stubbs’ production has decreased across the board since his rookie season, and in 71 games this year he has a .217/.287/.361/.648 disappointment of a slash line. His defense is great in center, but his bat has been very inconsistent.

Dexter Fowler’s 2012 season has been streaky as well, but not as polarizing as that of Stubbs.

The Rockies center fielder has a slash line of .300/.384/.532/.916 so far, and he’s been on fire of late, batting .438 with a double, a homer, three runs batted in and a 1.035 OPS in eight games since July 5.

You might say he benefits from playing at the thin-aired Coors Field in Denver, and you’d be right, but his career numbers at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati are equally as good—better, even.

Stubbs’ numbers are less than impressive at his home park.

Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd says he expects to keep Fowler, but did not say he won’t be traded, as Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported was the case with Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer:

You’ve got a center fielder on pace to have 20 home runs and 80 RBI…I can’t say for certain (we’re not trading him) but we put a lot higher value on him than someone looking to acquire him.

Miami Marlins Send RF Giancarlo Stanton to Pittsburgh Pirates

Who wants a 22-year-old behemoth right fielder with ungodly power to all fields and a Howitzer for a throwing arm?

Yes, baseball Insider Buster Olney is reporting that if the Marlins become sellers, everyone on the roster is fair game. That includes the player formerly known as “Mike.”

If trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks for struggling former No. 1 overall pick RF Justin Upton die, look for GM Neal Huntington to call about Stanton. Outfield prospect Starling Marte would be a perfect fit in Miami, as he hails from the Dominican Republic.

The team already has an incredible Latin flair to it with the new ballpark, their new manager—Ozzie Guillén—and the thousands of Latin fans who attend games. Adding a Latin future star to the equation may save what has become a disaster of a season.

Stanton would be a better deal for the Pirates, frankly. He’s a better hitter than Upton is, and their defense is about equal in right field. Andrew McCutchen and Giancarlo Stanton would put the Pirates back on the map for real, and they would be one of the most-feared 3-4 combinations in all of baseball.

Keeping with the theme, both these teams possess a lottery pick next year. Pittsburgh could sweeten the offer with their pick, Marte and potentially a pitcher from their starting rotation. With everyone on the block, it’s only a matter of time before Josh Johnson is dealt away from Miami for prospects.

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The 2012 baseball season has entered its third month, and that means there are plenty of rumors floating around the league—it’s the MLB way of life.

Some trade rumors turn out to be true, while others are so asinine and crazy that only the naïve and/or inebriated would believe them.

Deciphering which are valid and which to discard can be tricky, but as the trade deadline draws nearer, we will begin to see more and more proposals—mostly speculation—out there.

Royals expect early production from first-round pick

Kansas City’s starting rotation is bad. As a unit, they own a 5.20 ERA through June 4, ranking them 28^th in baseball.

The Royals selected Kyle Zimmer, a right-handed pitcher out of the University of San Francisco, with the No. 5 overall pick on Monday. Now, he is expected to contribute early, says KC scouting director Lonnie Goldberg.

“I think he’s got the talent to pitch up here right now, but I think there’s a lot of seasoning he’s got to get through,” Goldberg said. “My guess is his talent and his makeup will allow him to get here when he needs to, but I’d say within two years.”

Zimmer went 5-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 13 starts as a junior at USF.

Pablo Sandoval out of shape

The Giants‘ slugging third baseman has been on the DL with a fractured left hamate bone (a broken hand) since early May. During that time he reportedly has gained some weight—a fact that has Manager Bruce Bochy none too pleased.

“He’s been told we have enough first basemen,” Bochy said. “With that said, hopefully we’re not forced to make a change. It’s in Pablo’s hands. Before he comes up, it’s not just hitting, it’s going to be how he plays third base.”

Make a change? Not to read too much into it, but does that mean the Kung Fu Panda could be on the market? I know of at least five teams who would be just fine with his weight at third base, so long as his bat is still quick.

The inevitable Kevin Youkilis trade talk

As well as the Dodgers, D’backs and Phillies reportedly being interested in Youkilis if and when he becomes officially available, we can now toss the Texas Rangers into that hat.

Danny Knobler, a baseball Insider with CBSSports.com, reported that the Rangers have “checked on him,” according to sources. Knobler did not site a specific source.

There doesn’t seem to be much room for Youkilis in Arlington, and it is not known how serious the Rangers are about acquiring the 33-year-old. It would work out better if Boston wanted an everyday player in return; however, they will likely ask for a starting pitcher.

That may be a Texas-sized deal-breaker.

D’backs close to recalling two players

On July 20, 2011, D’backs shortstop Stephen Drew broke his ankle during a play at home plate. He has been out ever since. But according to Bob McManaman of AZCentral.com, he will begin a rehab assignment with the Reno Aces—Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate—on Thursday.

Manager Kirk Gibson said Drew could be in Reno up to three weeks, longer if need be.

“We’ll see how he does,” Gibson said. “With extended [spring-training games], he’s afforded more latitude…but now he’s going to be playing in a real game. He’s not going to be leading off every inning. He can’t be jogging down on a base hit. He’s going to be playing a competitive game.”

Also getting close is No. 3 overall pick from 2011, RHP Trevor Bauer.

The long-awaited arrival of the D’backs best prospect seems to be right around the corner. Who would be forced out of the starting rotation? Would Bauer become part of the bullpen at first?

Those questions may soon have answers.

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