• The Chicago Cubs traded with the Florida Marlins to acquire closer Kevin Gregg. The Marlins got Jose Ceda in return — a 21-year-old right-hander who spent his 2008 between A Daytona and AA Tennessee.
• As a result of the Gregg trade, the Cubs will no longer try to keep Kerry Wood.
• The Chicago White Sox traded Nick Swisher to the New York Yankees for utilityman Wilson Betemit and Minor League pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez. Marquez went from rookie ball to AA Trenton to AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre in 2008 in the Yankees’ system. Nunez went from A Potomac to AA Harrisburg and Trenton.
• Randy Johnson filed for free agency. Today was the last day players could file for free agency.
• Cleveland Indians left-hander Cliff Lee won the 2008 American League Cy Young award. He received 24 first-place votes; the only other pitcher to get first-place votes was Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays.
• The Silver Sluggers were handed out as well. Your winners:

American League

1B: Justin Morneau, Minnesota

2B: Dustin Pedroia, Boston

3B: Alex Rodriguez, New York

SS: Derek Jeter, New York

OF: Josh Hamilton, Texas; Carlos Quentin, Chicago; Grady Sizemore, Cleveland

C: Joe Mauer, Minnesota

DH: Aubrey Huff, Baltimore

National League

1B: Albert Pujols, St. Louis

2B: Chase Utley, Philadelphia

3B: David Wright, New York

SS: Hanley Ramirez, Florida

OF: Matt Holliday, Colorado; Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis; Ryan Braun, Milwaukee

C: Brian McCann, Atlanta

P: Carlos Zambrano, Chicago

• The Philadelphia Phillies hired former Baltimore Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo. As of yet, he has no official position, but he is at least going to be added to the payroll. It is believed he will take over as the third base coach after Steve Smith was fired by manager Charlie Manuel.
• Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was rewarded with a contract extension that will run through the 2011 season.

It’s hard to believe another year of baseball has come and gone. And while we wait for the League Championship Series to begin at the major league level, let’s take a look at the star studded list of young prospects about to kick off their seasons in this year’s Arizona Fall League.

Twenty-seven former first-round draft picks will play in the 2008 Arizona Fall League. Seven — IF Gordon Beckham (8th in 2008, CWS), RHP Ross Detwiler (6th in 2007, WAS), LHP Brian Matusz (4th in 2008, BAL), IF Chris Nelson (9th in 2004, COL), OF Drew Stubbs (8th in 2006, CIN), RHP Casey Weathers (8th in 2007, COL), and C Matt Wieters (5th in 2007, BAL) — were top 10 selections.

Name Pos. Pick Year Affiliation Fall League Team
J.P. Arencibia C 21st 2007 Toronto Blue Jays Phoenix Desert Dogs
Gordon Beckham IF 8th 2008 Chicago White Sox Peoria Saguaros
Brian Bogusevic OF 24th 2005 Houston Astros Scottsdale Scorpions
Julio Borbon OF 35th 2007 Texas Rangers Surprise Rafters
Brooks Brown RHP 34th 2006 Arizona Diamondbacks Phoenix Desert Dogs
Emmanuel Burris IF 33rd 2006 San Francisco Giants Scottsdale Scorpions
Cesar Carrillo RHP 18th 2005 San Diego Padres Peoria Saguaros
Tyler Colvin OF 13th 2006 Chicago Cubs Mesa Solar Sox
Ross Detwiler RHP 6th 2007 Washington Nationals Peoria Saguaros
Josh Donaldson IF 48th 2007 Oakland Athletics Phoenix Desert Dogs
Sean Doolittle OF 41st 2007 Oakland Athletics Phoenix Desert Dogs
Tyler Greene IF 30th 2005 St. Louis Cardinals Peoria Saguaros
Jeremy Jeffress LHP 16th 2006 Milwaukee Brewers Peoria Javelinas
Brian Matusz LHP 4th 2008 Baltimore Orioles Surprise Rafters
Beau Mills IF 13th 2007 Cleveland Indians Surprise Rafters
Chris Nelson IF 9th 2004 Colorado Rockies Phoenix Desert Dogs
Justin Orenduff RHP 33rd 2004 Los Angeles Dodgers Surprise Rafters
Adam Ottavino RHP 30th 2006 St. Louis Cardinals Peoria Saguaros
Aaron Poreda LHP 25th 2007 Chicago White Sox Peoria Saguaros
Chaz Roe RHP 32nd 2005 Colorado Rockies Phoenix Desert Dogs
Drew Stubbs OF 8th 2006 Cincinnati Reds Peoria Javelinas
Justin Smoak IF 11th 2008 Texas Rangers Surprise Rafters
Brandon Snyder IF 13th 2005 Baltimore Orioles Surprise Rafters
Aaron Thompson LHP 22nd 2005 Florida Marlins Mesa Solar Sox
Brett Wallace IF 13th 2008 St. Louis Cardinals Peoria Saguaros
Casey Weathers IF 8th 2007 Colorado Rockies Phoenix Desert Dogs
Matt Wieters C 5th 2007 Baltimore Orioles Surprise Rafters

But there are plenty other stars littering the rosters of this year’s team including Arizona pitcher Maz Scherzer, New York Yankees starter Phil Hughes, and Boston’s Clay Buchholz. There’s also the Yankees Austin Jackson, Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson, Oakland’s Andrew Carignan, and the Cubs Donald Veal.

In fact, Hughes kicked off the season for Peoria today by tossing 5 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out 7. His control was a bit off as he gave up 5 walks, but all in all, I’m sure the Yankees and their fans have to be pleased with the outing from Phil.

If you’re like me and can’t get enough of young baseball talent, the AFL should be right up your alley. With expanded coverage on MiLB.com, you can follow your favorite prospects for almost two more months!

O’s Wieters Baseball America Minor League POY
Baseball America named Orioles catching prospect Matt Wieters its 2008 Minor League Player of the Year. Wieters began the year with a home run in his first professional at-bat with High-A Frederick. He finished the year leading the Double-A Eastern League with a .369 EqA. Wieters’ game-calling and defense also drew raves from his coaches and teammates.

Rays’ Price to start tonight’s International League finals opener
Rays left-hander prospect David Price will start the opening game of the International League finals tonight. The top pick in the 2007 First-Year player draft will be opposed by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees left-hander Chase Wright in the first of a five-game series. You can watch or listen to the 7:05 p.m. EST start for free at milb.com.

Buc’s McCutchen won’t play winter ball
Pirates center field prospect Andrew McCutchen will not play winter league ball due to his heavy workload this year. Pittsburgh’s top prospect according to Baseball America had more than 600 at bats with Triple-A Indianapolis this year.

Tribe’s Pronk causes a stir in the Eastern League playoffs
Orioles Double-A manager Brad Komminsk voiced concern that the participation of rehabbing Indians slugger Travis Hafner in the Eastern League playoffs gave Akron an unfair advantage. Hafner rehabbed with Triple-A Buffalo until September 1 and then joined Akron for the September 5 and 6 playoff games against Komminsk’s Bowie team. Hafner’s  grand slam in the first game and two-run home run in the second tilted both games and the series in Akron’s favor. Akron and Yankees affiliate Trenton open the EL playoff finals in Akron  at 7:05 p.m. EST tonight.

Yanks’ Ajax back from bad back
Yankees center field prospect Austin Jackson was activated from Double-A Trenton’s disabled list. New York’s second-ranked prospect by Baseball America was out with a stiff back since Tuesday of last week.

Tribe’s LaPorta will play in Venezuelan League
Indians right field prospect Matt LaPorta will play in the Venezuelan Winter League following Double-A Akron’s run in the Eastern League playoffs. The Brewer’s top prospect according to Baseball America returned on August 28 from the Beijing Olympics where he was part of the the bronze-winning United States baseball team.

O’s Arrieta Carolina League pitcher of the year
Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta was named Carolina League pitcher of the year. Baltimore’s seventh-ranked prospect by Baseball America has a 3.04 Peripheral ERA in 113 innings pitched. He just returned from the Beijing Olympics where he had only one start for the bronze-winning United States baseball team.

O’s Spoone out for regular and AFL seasons
Orioles right-hander prospect Chorye Spoone will not play for the remainder of the minor league season or in the Arizona Fall League due to a nagging shoulder injury. Hopes were high for Baltimore’s eighth-ranked prospect by Baseball America following his starring role in High-A Frederick’s 2007 Carolina League championship.

Marlin’s Sanchez is Southern League MVP
Marlin’s first base prospect Gaby Sanchez was named the Southern League most valuable player. Florida’s 12th-ranked prospect by Baseball America and the best defensive first baseman in the SL according to the same publication has a franchise-record 41 doubles.

Tribe’s Santana joins Akron of Eastern League playoffs
Indians catching prospect Carlos Santana was promoted to Double-A Akron from High-A Kinston for the Eastern League playoffs. The Dodgers’ 25th-ranked prospect by Baseball America was named MVP of the California League for his performance with Inland Empire. On July 26, Cleveland acquired Santana as part of the Casey Blake deal.

Braves’ Redmond Southern League’s top pitcher
Braves right-hander prospect Todd Redmond was named the Southern League’s most outstanding pitcher. Redmond had been the Pirates 27th-ranked prospect by Baseball America before he was acquired by Atlanta during the past off-season.

Major League rosters expand at midnight
Milb.com has a great rundown of some of the likely call-ups when Major League rosters expand at midnight tonight.

Braves’ Heyward up to Myrtle Beach
The Braves promoted right field prospect Jason Heyward to High-A Myrtle Beach. Atlanta’s second-ranked prospect by Baseball America put up a .318 EqA and was named to the South Atlantic League all-star team and the league’s Most Outstanding Major Leauge Prospect while with Rome. (more…)

Rangers’ Smoak debuts with Low-A Clinton
Texas Rangers’ 2008 first-year player draft first-round pick Justin Smoak is expected to make his minor league debut tonight with the Low-A Clinton Lumberjacks. The switch-hitting first baseman got a $3.5 million bonus as the draft’s eleventh overall pick. (more…)

The Houston Astros announced tonight that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher LaTroy Hawkins and cash considerations from the New York Yankees in exchange for minor league infielder Matt Cusick.

Hawkins, 35, is 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA (26ER/41IP) in 33 games for the Yankees in 2008.  In 14 career Major League seasons with Minnesota (1995-2003), the Chicago Cubs (2004-05), Baltimore (2006), Colorado (2007), and the Yankees (2008), he is 57-77 with 75 saves and a 4.72 ERA (584ER/1113IP).

Cusick, 22, has hit .285 (100-351) with nine home runs and 38 RBI in 94 games for Class A Lexington of the South Atlantic League.  Drafted in the 10th round of the June 2007 Draft, the left-handed hitter attended the University of Southern California and hit .306 (68-222) with three home runs and 35 RBI for Short-Season A Tri-City in 2007.

You have to believe the Yankees are definitely in the market now to replace Farnsworth and/or Hawkins. There doesn’t appear to be any immediate help in the farm system.
 

Bucs pick up troubled OF and three righties for Nady and Marte 

The Pirates picked up troubled right field prospect Jose Tabata, and right-hander prospects Ross Ohlendorf, Dan McCutchen and Jeff Karstens from the Yankees for outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte.

Tabata, New York’s third-ranked prospect by Baseball America, has lost some buzz after repeated discipline issues and a .617 OPS in 297 at bats with Double-A Trenton.

Ohlendorf, New York’s ninth-ranked prospect by BA, has a 10.3 K/9 in 22.3 innings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but as also given up 28 hits. McCutchen, New York’s 14th-ranked prospect by BA, has a 3.67 fielding-independent ERA in 124 innings with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. (more…)

Thursday night’s Peoria Chiefs-Dayton Dragons game turned ugly when a brawl broke out in the first inning after tensions rose after three hit batsmen, a dirty take-out slide at second, a brush-back pitch and an argument between Dayton manager Donnie Scott and Peoria interim manager Carmelo Martinez who was covering for manager Ryne Sandberg, absent due to weekend commitments to the Hall of Fame.  Video of the incident can be found on ESPN here.

The argument turned physical when Martinez shoved Scott and a brawl lasting 10 minutes ensued.  During the brawl, Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo threw a ball toward the Dayton dugout which soared into the crowd and hit a fan who had to be taken to the hospital.  15 players and both managers were ejected but both teams protested by phone and after an hour delay, league President George Spelius reversed the ejections because the parent teams — the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs — raised concerns of being forced to use pitchers as outfielders.

Later, Castillo was arrested and charged with assault for the baseball throwing incident.  According to witnesses the ball was thrown so hard by Castillo that it ricocheted off the fan and landed five rows behind him.

On an editorial note, the fact that the League President caved in to team pressure and allowed the ejected players to return to the game is disappointing — especially after personally viewing the incident.  Hopefully, there will be swift and harsh punishment handed down on all of the parties involved.  A lengthy suspension for both managers should be expected since their behavior sparked the vicious brawl.  What is more disturbing is home video footage floating around on YouTube which you can hear audio reaction of the fans who cheer emphatically over the out-of-control brawl.  

To view the FOX-45 Dayton news story recapping the incident, check it out here.

Braves right field prospect Jason Heyward (#2 Braves prospect, Baseball America) got inconclusive results from an MRI on Friday and he will undergo further tests of his right shoulder and right knee. Heyward hasn't played since June 5.

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Right-hander Clayton Mortensen became the first 2007 draftee to reach Triple-A when he was promoted to the Cardinals affiliate in Memphis. (N.B., 2007 draftee Ross Detwiler pitched out of the bullpen for Nationals late last year.) In May, the Cardinals eight-ranked prospect (BA) had a 1.64 WHIP and 1.42 HR/9 in 31.7 innings with Double-A Springfield of the Texas League.

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Tigers left field prospect Wilkin Ramirez (#14 Detroit prospect, BA) was promoted to the Triple-A Toledo Mudhens following an organizational shuffle that began with an injury to Ramon Santiago. Ramirez had an impressive .291 EqA with Double-A Erie of the Eastern League, but he also lead the league with 70 strikeouts (31.5% K/PA).

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New Britain Rock Cats utility infielder/outfielder Luke Hughes will be out until at least June 20 with a groin strain. Hughes wasn’t on the Twins’ prospect radar coming into the season, but the 23-year-old has attracted attention with a .333 EqA (second in the Eastern League) and a Bondsish 6% HR/PA (215 PA).