Rumors for December, 2009
White Sox acquire outfielder Juan Pierre from the Dodgers
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 12/17 12:19pm PST: ESPN.com reports that John Ely appears to be one of the two players to be named later in the trade that sent Juan Pierre and $10.5 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Chicago White Sox. The Dodgers will choose two of three prospects the White Sox offered in the trade sometime before the first of the year, according to a Major League Baseball official with knowledge of the deal.
Update 09:29am PST: Jon Morosi, FoxSports.com writer, Tweets that the Minor League players headed to the Dodgers are John Ely and Jon Link. Developing.
Update 08:32am: Here are the costs associated with Pierre’s last two years of his contract (2010 & 2011) according to Buster Olney’s Tweet:
| Year | What Dodgers will pay | What White Sox will pay | Total | More contract info |
| 2010 | $7M | $3M | $10M | Link |
| 2011 | $3.5M | $5M | $8.5M | Link |
Update 08:07am: You can see Juan Pierre’s stats here.
| Team | Acquires | Source |
| White Sox | OF Juan Pierre | Source: Twitter |
| Dodgers | 2 unnamed minor league pitchers | Source: Twitter |
Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports Tweets that the White Sox have acquired outfielder Juan Pierre from the Dodgers for two minor league pitchers. Dodgers are to pick up about half of the remaining salary. Developing.
Ricky Nolasco signs with Marlins for 1-year $3.8 million
Posted by: | CommentsESPN.com reports that Florida pitcher Ricky Nolasco, who went 13-9 with a 5.06 ERA last season, has agreed to a new deal that will pay him $3.8 million in 2010. You can see Ricky Nolasco’s complete contract and statistic history here.
The Marlins can now focus on moving Dan Uggla or trading/extending Josh Johnson.
Former Angel's pitcher Arredondo stabbed at a car wash
Posted by: | CommentsFormer Los Angeles Angel’s pitcher Jose Arredondo was stabbed in his left arm and leg at a car wash, according to Beisbol.org. The injuries that Arrendondo sustained are not life threatening. Arredondo became a free agent after the Angels did not offer a contract to the injured reliever in 2010.
Arredondo was 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA in 43 games while making $410,000 with the Angels in 2009. You can see Arredondo’s compete contract history and stats here.
No extension for Joe Girardi… yet
Posted by: | CommentsEd Price of MLBFanhouse.com reports that Yankees Manager, Joe Girardi, will enter into his final year of his three-year contract without any signs of an extension. “I don’t do extensions,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner on Thursday told FanHouse. “It’s a policy I have, one I’ve always had.”
Girardi goes on to say, “I don’t worry about my contract. I worry about this year. I wouldn’t expect them (Yankee management) to talk to me about it till it’s over.”
What are your thoughts on winning a World Series ring and seeing no contract extension in in sight?
Three teams interested in infielder Garrett Atkins
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 12/17 08:59am PST: The Denver Post reports that Atkins signed a one-year, $4-million deal with the Baltimore Orioles that includes an $8.5 club option with a $500,000 buyout. Atkins can make an additional $500,000 in plate appearance bonuses.
Update 19:59: According to The Baltimore Sun, the Baltimore Oriole have agreed to a 1-year contract with third baseman Garrett Atkins. Terms are unavailable at this time.
ESPN.com Insider reports that former Colorado Rockies infielder, Garrett Atkins, has drawn interest from three team. The Rockies declined to offer him a contract at the tender deadline. It is expected that his decision will come quickly.
Atkins’ agent, Jeff Blank, declined to identify interested teams, but Baltimore, Minnesota, Seattle and San Francisco are in the market for a first and/or third baseman with a bat. The Rangers may be interest if the Mike Lowell trade falls through.
Atkin made $7.05 million last season while hitting 9 home runs, 48 RBI’s and had a batting average of .226. You can see his complete statistics and contract history here.
Jason Bay Secrets: Mets to add fifth year?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to the New York Post, a team source confirmed a report the Mets are considering adding a fifth year to their original four-year, roughly $65 million offer that the Met’s offered free agent outfielder Jason Bay last week.
Met’s GM, Omar Minaya, has been speaking with Bay’s agent, Joe Urbon, over the last 2 days. Minaya indicates that will not exceed $75 million to add a fifth year on this heavily back loaded contract.
Do you think the 5 years at $75 million will do it? Or is Bay looking for $100+ million? Is there anything else that Bay is requesting that the Mets aren’t giving like an opt-out clause or no-trade clause?
The likelihood of pitcher Derek Lowe being traded is very high given the large number of rumors that have circulated since last week’s Winter Meetings. Lowe has accepted that he probably will not be with the Braves when the 2010 season begins, and he is not happy. He was quoted by MLB.com saying, “I take it kind of personal,” Lowe said. “Nobody made them give me a four-year, $60 million contract. There wasn’t a ransom or anybody holding a gun to their heads. It was a negotiation and that’s what they viewed as fair. I would have never even considered going there if I knew that ultimately this was going to happen.” To make matter’s worse, he hasn’t had any conversations with any members of the Braves organization.
Now that John Lackey, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are off the board, those teams needing starting pitching for next season may turn to Lowe as an alternative such as the Los Angeles Angels. Lowe, 36, was 15-10 with a 4.67 ERA with the Braves last season. What are your thoughts on Lowe? He was a 15-game winner last season and has 3 years left on his contract. Should the Braves give up this early? Or are the Braves doing the correct thing and moving on?
Mike Gonzalez signs 2 year agreement with Orioles
Posted by: | CommentsSI.com reports that the Baltimore Orioles have reached a two-year, $12 million agreement with left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez. His total salary can reach $4 million based on Rolaids Relief Man points.
Gonzalez became expendable with the Braves signed relief pitcher Billy Wagner. Wagner will take over the Brave’s closer duties in 201. In 2009, the ninth-inning was shared between the tandem of Rafael Soriano and Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, 31, has 54 career saves in 6 seasons with the Pirates and Braves. He’s expected to be the Oriole’s full-time closer next season. You can see Mike Gonzalez’ stats here.
Jamey Carroll is looking at the A's or LA team
Posted by: | Comments17:20: ESPN Insider says: Carroll’s role with either could be anywhere from fill-in infielder to utility outfielder. He spent the past two seasons in Cleveland where he played the infield almost exclusively, but he has played a little outfield in parts of seven seasons.
16:37: Ken Rosenthal Tweets: “Carroll terms: 3.85M for two years, incentives could take it over 4M.”
16:30: Buster Olney Tweets: “Carroll’s two-year deal is worth just under $4 million, with incentives.”
16:14: Buster Olney Tweets: “Jamey Carroll is accepting a two-year deal with the Dodgers, pending a physical.”
09:59am: Olney Tweets: “Just to be clear: He’s choosing between A’s and Dodgers…”
Buster Olney Tweets that free agent Jamey Carroll has two 2-year offers from Oakland and Los Angeles (it’s not clear whether it’s the Angels or Dodgers). Carroll will decide today between the two offers. Cleveland who had been in the running is out.
It was rumored last week that Carroll may re-sign with the Indians or sign with the Reds.
