Rumors for December, 2009
MLB and World Umpires Association nearing deal
Posted by: | CommentsMLB.com reports that Major League Baseball and the World Umpires Association appear close to an agreement on a new contract. The current deal expires on December 31 of this year.
MLB wants to have more flexibility in scheduling umpires for the postseason, and more flexibility in expanding instant replay. Right now, umpires cannot work two consecutive postseason series. The crews that work in the League Championship Series can’t work in the World Series.
The addition of instant replays to cover boundary calls was negotiated outside of the regular collective bargaining; with instant replay put in place in August 2008. Commission Bud Selig is considering expanding replay due to missed calls during the postseason.
Jarred Washburn Rumors: Interest in Brewers or play for the Twins?
Posted by: | CommentsJohn Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports report that free agent pitcher Jarrod Washburn may be interested in playing for a team close to his native Wisconsin.
“The thought of playing close to home has always appealed to me,” Washburn said in an e-mail earlier this offseason, in reference to the Twins and Brewers.
The Brewers already have a rotation of Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Yovani Gallardo and Manny Parra, so Washburn could fill that fifth spot.
The Twins, even after signing Carl Pavano, are interested in Washburn, according to a source.
You can see Jarrod Washburn’s statistics here.
John Smoltz Rumors: Nationals interested but will not break the bank
Posted by: | CommentsBill Ladson, MLB.com writer for the Washington Nationals, Tweets: The Nationals continue to have interest in right-hander John Smoltz, but they are not willing to break the bank to get him.
Smoltz was 3-8 with a 6.35 ERA in 15 games with the Red Sox and Cardinals while making $5.5 million in 2009.
You can see Smoltz’s statistics here.
Minor League Rumors: Dickey, Rivera
Posted by: | CommentsMLB.com reports that New York Mets are close to signing knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to a Minor League contract. Dickey appeared in 35 games with the Twins in 2009 going 1-1 with a 4.62 ERA. You can see Dickey’s statistics here.
Jon Paul Morosi reports that the New York Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract with catcher Mike Rivera. Rivera, 33, will be invited to the team’s major league spring training. He batted .228 with 2 home runs adn 14 RBI’s in 41 games for the Brewers in 2009. You can see Rivera’s statistics here.
Atlanta Braves Rumors: Jason Bay or Johnny Damon next?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 13:43 PST: Joe Frisaro, Florida Marlins site reporter for MLB.com, Tweets: #Marlins Dealing Uggla to Braves would be intriguing. But just caught wind from a source, Uggla not expected to land in Atlanta.
10:11 am PST: Jayson Stark of ESPN.com talks about the possibility of Johnny Damon or Xavier Nady playing for the Braves:
- “Johnny Damon is one possibility, particularly because his home in Orlando is within minutes of the Braves’ spring-training complex. Another option is free agent Xavier Nady, who could play first or the outfield and would come at a relatively low base because he is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery.
- “Or the Braves could look to deal an outfielder — either Cabrera or possibly Jordan Schafer — for a bat. They’ve been linked in trade rumors to Florida’s Dan Uggla, who could potentially slide to first base.”
- You can see Xavier Nady’s contract details and statistics here.
- You can see Dan Uggla’s contract details and statistics here.
09:21 am PST: According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, the next move on the Braves radar may be an outfield bat.
- The Braves free up about $9 million in the trade with the New York Yankees (Vazquez’s $11.5 million plus the $500K the Yankees will send in the trade minus the $3 million Cabrera may earn in arbitration).
- With the $9 million the Braves could go after Jason Bay or Johnny Damon. However, both have wanted larger sums of money. Bay is currently sitting on a four-year, $65 million offer from the Mets and Damon is asking 2-year, $20 million, but his agent, Scott Boras, has previously asked for a 3-4 year deal.
- You can see Jason Bay’s statistics here.
- You can see Johnny Damon’s statistics here.
New York Yankees Rumors: Going after outfielder?
Posted by: | Comments13:29 PST: Bryan Hoch, Yankees beat reporter for MLB.com, Tweets: Brian Cashman on LF: “I will continue to look at a piece but it won’t be a big piece.”
10:01 am PST: Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports suggests that free agent Marlon Byrd would make sense for the Yankees. Byrd gives the Yankees the flexibility by playing all three outfield positions You can see Marlon Byrd’s statistics here.
08:54 am PST: Now that the Yankees have a tentative agreement to acquire RHP Javier Vazquez from the Braves, the Yankee’s next target may be an outfielder.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com, reports that the Yankees previously portrayed themselves as uninterested in Jason Bay, Johnny Damon or Matt Holliday due to their price. However, the Yankees may pursue free agent Mark DeRosa and his $6 million asking price.
- Other teams interested in outfield help include the Mets (see posting), Giants (see posting) and Cardinals.
- It was rumored that DeRosa has dropped his asking price from three years, $27 million to three years, $18 million.
- You can see Mark DeRosa’s complete statistics here.
Orlando Hudson Rumors: Drawing interest from Nationals?
Posted by: | CommentsBill Ladson, MLB.com writer for the Washington Nationals, Tweets: The Nationals still have interest in 2B Orlando Hudson. If they sign Hudson, Cristian Guzman most likely will go back to shortstop.
Teams that have rumored to be interested in Hudson include: Cubs, Mariners, Giants and Mets.
You can see Orlando Hudson’s contract history and statistics here. You can find rumors about Hudson here.
You can see Cristian Guzman’s contract history and statistics here.
Red Sox Rumors: Still dealing for Bay or Holliday?
Posted by: | CommentsMichael Silverman of the Boston Herald writes that despite the signing of John Lackey, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron, the Red Sox are still busy.
Although unlikely, as long as Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are available, they may “wind up falling into the Red Sox’ laps”. Neither the Red Sox, or the Yankees, who need outfield help, would declare they are done dealing while Holliday and Bay remain on the market.
The Mets are the only team to officially make an offer on Bay, reportedly four-years, $65 million. There may be another team involved, and the Mets are reluctant to adjust their offer unless they are told who they are bidding against.
The Red Sox offered Bay four-years, $60 million, but they were turned down. Bay wants a five-year deal, but the Red Sox are reluctant due to shoulder and knee concerns.
You can see Matt Holliday’s statistics here.
You can see Jason Bay’s statistics here.
What are your thoughts on the Red Sox? Are they done shopping or will they pursue Bay and Holliday?
