The Rangers are just one of the clubs talking to the Tigers about right-hander Rick Porcello. The Padres also are interested in Porcello, but not at the price of one of their top relievers, major league sources say.
Porcello, 24, remains promising but isn’t an easy sell — he’s earning $5.1 million this season, and his ERA-plus the past three seasons is 88. The average ERA-plus — ERA adjusted to league and ballpark — is 100.
Rival executives also see Porcello as a fit for the Angels, and for that matter, free agent Kyle Lohse could be, too. But the Angels, at least for now, appear committed to their five starters, the least expensive of whom — right-hander Tommy Hanson — is earning $3.725 million.
The Angels are more focused on adding a backup catcher and perhaps another reliever, sources say.
AND ELSEWHERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Dodgers still are likely to trade either right-hander Aaron Harang or lefty Chris Capuano, both of whom have been tracked by four teams all spring, sources say.
The Orioles and Brewers are among the teams that have scouted Harang, according to MLB.com. For what it’s worth, neither Harang nor Capuano has had good results this spring.
The Dodgers entered camp with eight starting pitchers, and at least one must go. While righty Chad Billingsley dealt with a groin issue last week and lefty Ted Lilly has thrown only 4 2/3 innings, the rotation is mostly in decent shape.
Righty Zack Greinke, recovering from right elbow soreness, threw 38 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday, and the Dodgers expect him back the first week of the season.
Meanwhile, rookie lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu made his third straight impressive appearance Sunday, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings against the Brewers and retiring the last 11 hitters he faced.
ANOTHER OUTFIELDER IN KANSAS CITY?
The Royals would like to add a left-handed-hitting outfielder who could
spell Jeff Francoeur against tough righties, according to major league
sources. If that outfielder could play center and serve as protection
for the oft-injured Lorenzo Cain, all the better.
Francoeur has a career .820 OPS against left-handers but only a .702 OPS
against righties. Jarrod Dyson is a left-handed hitter but is not
strong enough offensively to fill the role the Royals envision.
The Royals, who considered Brennan Boesch before he signed with the
Yankees, are not optimistic about finding the player they want before
Opening Day.
A CONCERN FOR THE GIANTS?
One scout in Arizona said he is worried about the Giants’ outfield, and not just the projected tandem of Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres in left.
The scout cited center fielder Angel Pagan’s history of injuries — perhaps unfairly considering that Pagan has played in 150 or more games in two of the past three seasons.
Then there is right fielder Hunter Pence.
“He’s flighty, streaky, he has poor mechanics,” the scout said. “He starts chasing breaking balls and can’t slow himself down. He gets faster. He tries to hurry his way out of slumps instead of backing off a little bit. He loses balance at the plate.”
It’s a big year for Pence, who is eligible for free agency. His OPS-pluses the past four seasons: 116, 112, 139, 103.
HERE COMES DOOLITTLE
High praise: Athletics left-hander Sean Doolittle might be emerging as a better version of the White Sox’s Matt Thornton, one scout said.
Doolittle, a former first baseman who converted to pitching full time only last season, didn’t throw quite as hard as Thornton in 2012 — his average fastball was 93.6 mph, compared to 95 for Thornton, according to Fangraphs.com. The scout, however, said Doolittle has a better breaking ball than Thornton and better command.
“Being a former position player allowed him to make a smooth transition to pitching as far as being able to repeat his delivery,” the scout said.
THE ATHLETICS: AN EVOLVING MIX
The Athletics, one scout said, are an “odd” team — deep in outfielders, most of whom can play all three positions, yet unsettled in their middle infield.
Jed Lowrie is virtually certain to play every day — shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima has been unimpressive, according to scouts, as have the two candidates at second base, Scott Sizemore and Jemile Weeks.
Sizemore, who missed all of last season after tearing his left ACL, might just be getting acclimated to playing again. He entered Sunday batting .148 with a .537 OPS in 35 plate appearances on the spring.
AROUND THE HORN
One rival executive makes this point about Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman: If he opens the season as a starter, he can always return to the bullpen. If he opens as a reliever, it will be more difficult for him to move to the rotation.
