Rumors for January, 2010
Derrick Turnbow signs Minor League deal with Marlins
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, free agent relief pitcher Derrick Turnbow and the Florida Marlins have agreed to a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training.
The Rockies and Dodgers were making a strong push for Turnbow. The Rockies are in need of a reliever until Taylor Buchholz returns in June from Tommy John surgery.
Turnbow, 32 by Opening Day, last played in 8 games for Milwaukee in 2008. His best year was in 2005 when he went 7-1, saved 39 games and had a 1.74 ERA. You can see Turnbow’s complete statistics here.
Washington Nationals sign RHP Miguel Batista to a Minor League deal
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the Washington Nationals have signed RHP Miguel Batista to a Minor League contract and an invite to Spring Training.
Batista piched the last 3 seasons with the Seattle Mariners. In 2009, he was 7-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 56 appearances. You can see Batista’s contract history and statistics here.
Colorado Rockies sign RHP Tim Redding to a Minor League contract
Posted by: | Comments1/29 01:40: According to Troy Renck of The Denver Post, there is an “out” clause on Reddings contract. Redding can request his release on April 3 if he’s not on the Rockies’ 25-man roster.
1/27 12:00: According to Troy Renck of The Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies have signed right-handed pitcher Tim Redding to a Minor League contract.
Terms of the non-guaranteed contract are unknown but it is typically between $800,000 and $1 million if he makes the big league roster.
Redding, 32 by Opening Day, was 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA with the New York Mets while making $2.25 million in 2009. You can see Redding’s contract history and statistics here.
Colorado Rockies Rumors: Offers to Melvin Mora and Derrick Turnbow
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/29 01:38: According to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post, Turnbow remains on the Rockies radar but the Dodgers are making a strong push for him.
Update 1/27 09:05am: According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN Insider, the Arizona Diamondbacks have expressed interest in Turnbow.
Crasnick says that Turnbow is likely to sign a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training. It isn’t clear if the Rockies offered Turnbow a Major League or Minor League contract.
1/27 00:12: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies are prepared to make an offer to Melvin Mora. He’s a right-handed hitter that can play third, second and the outfield.
In addition to Colorado, Mora has drawn interest from the Angels and Cardinals this winter.
Mora, 38 on Opening Day, hit 8 home runs, drove in 48 RBI’s and hit .260 while with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009. He made $9 million on the last year of a three-year contract. You can see Mora’s contract history and statistics here.
The Rockies also have made an offer to free-agent reliever Derrick Turnbow. The Rockies are in need of a reliever until Taylor Buchholz returns in June from Tommy John surgery.
Turnbow, 32 by Opening Day, last played in 8 games for Milwaukee in 2008. His best year was in 2005 when he went 7-1, saved 39 games and had a 1.74 ERA. You can see Turnbow’s complete statistics here.
Carlos Delgado Rumors: Could Delgado end up with the Mariners, Rays or Blue Jays?
Posted by: | CommentsWith the Mets signing Fernando Tatis to a one-year contract that means Carlos Delgado is all but gone from New York. So what’s next for him?
A few teams that were looking at Tatis may take a look at Delgado. The Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners were interested in Tatis earlier this off-season. Both teams needed Tatis in a utility role and a bat off the bench. With Delgado’s ailing hip, he’s a liability in the field, so he’s probably not a fit in Colorado. However, the Mariners could use Delgado as a DH since their current DH Ken Griffey Jr. can play the outfield.
The Tampa Bay Rays have been speaking with Johnny Damon about being their primary DH despite the team having Pat Burrell. If the Rays are confident in Delgado’s hitting ability, they could sign him on the cheap and platoon the left-handed Delgado and the right-handed Burrell.
The Blue Jays were speaking with Damon on Thursday. They need a lead off hitter and someone who can play the outfield. While Delgado can do neither, they could use him on days when current DH Adam Lind or first baseman Lyle Overday take a day off, or they can squeeze him into late inning pinch hit at bats.
If the reports are true that Delgado still has it at the plate, then he’ll find a job somewhere. He may have to wait until somebody gets hurt or when rosters expand in September, but I’m sure he’ll find a spot on a team somewhere.
Red Sox sign Gustavo Molina to Minor League contract
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, the Boston Red Sox have signed catcher Gustavo Molina to a Minor League contract.
Mollina, 28 this year, has a career .118 batting average (4 for 34) in 19 games with the White Sox, Orioles and Mets. You can see Molina’s statistics here.
John Smoltz Rumors: Will he wait until mid-season to sign?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/29 00:26: Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that there is “increased momentum” towards a deal.
Update 1/28 14:18: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated Tweets: #mets definitely like smoltz, especially as a tutor. actually, they might need a tutor as much as they need a pitcher.
1/28 10:35: There have been discussions this month that free agent pitcher John Smoltz could join the New York Mets as a starting pitcher. Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News suggests that Smoltz could follow the Pedro Martinez script of 2009 and wait until mid-season to join a team. Martinez waited until July to sign with the Phillies who eventually made it to the World Series.
This approach accomplishes two things: it will preserve Smoltz from the wear and tear of a full season and it will also give him a better indicator to which teams are playoff contenders.
Chien-Ming Wang Rumors: Six teams evaluating Wang's medical records
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/29: Jayson Stark of ESPN.com says that Wang may not return from shoulder surgery until a couple of months into the season.
Alan Nero, the agent for Wang, said that “four or five teams” are now pursuing Wang more aggressively than expected.
Stark says the Mets, Dodgers and Cardinals are candidates to sign Wang.
1/25: Alan Nero, agent of free agent pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, says that his client is expected to throw off of a mound in the next week or two and, “Everything is going extraordinarily well.”
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, six teams are evaluating Wang’s medical records, and the pitcher is in Phoenix training.
“We’re anticipating a major-league offer with a substantial guarantee and substantial upside,” Nero said.
“We’re so confident with what is going to happen, if we don’t do it until May, we’re OK. Whoever shows the initiative to take a little bit of risk is going to win.”
Possible destinations for Wang include the Yankees and Cardinals.
Due to his historical injuries, Wang may be worth the risk as a number five starter if he comes cheap. He has a 55-26 record with a 4.16 ERA over 5 seasons with the Yankees. You can see Wang’s statistics here.
MLB Secrets: Bush, Brocail, Estrada, Damon
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s a few links for today:
- The Tampa Bay Rays have signed former San Diego Padres #1 pick Matt Bush to a Minor League deal.
- Right-handed pitcher Doug Brocail retires after 15 Major League seasons.
- Bill Ladson of MLB.com says that the Washington Nationals have designated RHP Marco Estrada for assignment.
- According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, the Toronto Blue have spoken with Scott Boras, Johnny Damon’s agent. Alex Anthopoulos, GM of the Toronto Blue Jays, responds, “I dont want to get your hopes up.” The Blue Jays need a lead off hitter and Damon would fill the spot.
