Rumors for January, 2010
Philadelphia Phillies claim INF Brian Bocock off waivers
Posted by: | CommentsScott Lauber of the Delaware New Journal reports that the Philadelphia Phillies have claimed INF Brian Bocock off of waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bocock, 25 by Opening Day, played in 32 games with the San Francisco Giants in 2008. He was their starting shortstop on Opening Day of that year. He has a career .143 batting average (11 for 77). Bocock was claimed off of waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays in December. You can see Bocock’s contract history and statistics here.
New York Yankees acquire Greg Golson from Rangers for Mitch Hollegoss
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the New York Yankees have acquired outfielder Greg Golson from the Texas Rangers in exchange for INF Mitch Hillegoss.
| Team | Acquires |
| Yankees | OF Greg Golson |
| Texas | INF Mitch Hilligoss |
Golson, 24, has played in 7 major league games between the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers. In his short time in the Major Leagues, he has played in center field and right field. You can see Golson’s contract history and statistics here. Golson was designated for assignment last week to make room for infielder Khalil Greene.
Hilligoss, 24, had a career .275 batting average over 4 profession season in the Yankees organization.
Oakland Athletics Rumors: Going after Sheets and Damon
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/26 09:57am: According to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, the Oakland Athletics have signed Ben Sheets to a one-year contract for more than $8 million. He passed a physical today and the deal is expected to be announced shortly.
Update 1/26 09:48am: According to Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area, the Oakland Athletics have announced a press conference at 1pm today. Could it be the Ben Sheets signing announcement?
Update 1/26 09:37am: The Athletics will be deep in starting pitching if they sign Sheets. Prior to Sheets, their expected rotation is Justin Duchscherer, Dallas Braden, Brett Anderson and Travor Cahill. The fifth spot will between Vin Mazzaro and Gio Gonzalez. Many of these guys have Minor League options, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Beane makes a trade.
Update 1/26 09:19am: Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area says that the Oakland Athletics’ offer is well within the range of Sheets asking price of $8-9 million. According to Urban’s source, Oakland is “absolutely” in that range.
Oakland is optimistic in signing Sheets because Oakland is a pitcher friendly park that will allow Sheets to post good numbers that will allow him to be one of the top free-agent pitchers next winter. If the Athletics are not in playoff contention come July, Oakland’s GM Billy Beane could trade him for top young talent to a contending team.
Update 1/26 08:15am: Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area Tweets: Confirmed by ML source: #athletics have made “competitive” offer to Ben Sheets and hope to have answer today or Wednesday
Update 12:37pm: According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, he Tweets: #mets dont appear to be frontunner for sheets at moment. could come down to AL West battle: #a’s, #rangers, #m’s
Update 11:26am: According to ESPN Insider, the A’s have made an offer to pitcher Ben Sheets.
Update 10:21am: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated Tweets: #a’s, #rangers, #mets among teams trying for ben sheets, who wowed teams at showcase last week.
1/25 09:30am: Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area gave us a little hint last week that the A’s were going to do something good, and according to ESPNs Buster Olney, Urban was right. Olney reports today that the Oakland A’s are trying to trying to sign free agent pitcher Ben Sheets.
Olney Tweets: Heard this: Oakland is trying to sign Ben Sheets. If the Athletics are unable to do so, then they would turn to a veteran OFer as (cont.) a possible Plan B: Johnny Damon. Oakland has available cash, a need in the middle of its lineup. But Sheets bidding has to play out first.
Jim Edmonds Rumors: Two team involved in current negotiations
Posted by: | CommentsThe St. Louis Globe-Democrat reports that potential destinations for free agent Jim Edmonds have been narrowed to two teams and the St. Louis Cardinals are not one of them.
The identity of the two teams was not immediately known, but according to Rob Rails, the teams are willing to pay Edmonds more than the minimum salary and possibly offer him a Major League roster spot. It was expected that the Cardinals would offer Edmonds the minimum salary and invite him to Spring Training as a non-roster player where he would have to compete for a spot on the team.
It was rumored last week that three or four teams have contacted Edmonds including the New York Yankees.
Edmonds has not played since September 2008 for the Chicago Cubs. Edmonds, 39, has a .284 career batting average with 382 home runs in 16 Major League seasons. You can see Edmond’s contract history and statistics here.
Colorado Rockies Rumors: Looking at Turnbow until Buchholz returns?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/25 22:14: According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, Turnbow is expected to make a decision within 48 hours. Turnbow recently had a workout that 20 teams attended. In addition to Turnbow, the Rockies have expressed interest in Eric Gagne.
1/17 10:09: Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Colorado Rockies attended former Milwaukee Brewers’ closer Derrick Turnbow’s open-audition for teams on Friday. 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.
Turnbow could be a cheaper alternative to those clubs that may be interested in Octavio Dotel or Kevin Gregg.
You can see Turnbow’s complete statistics here.
Milwaukee Brewers sign Dave Bush to one-year $4.215 million contract
Posted by: | CommentsAdam McCalvy of MLB.com reports that pitcher Dave Bush has agreed to a one-year, $4.215 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers to avoid arbitration.
The Brewers have six established starters on the roster and five spots available. Yovani Gallardo, Randy Wolf and Doug Davis will take the first three spots. The final two spots will be left for Bush, right-handed pitcher Jeff Suppan and left-hander Manny Parra. Parra is out of Minor League options, and the Brewers are unlikely to risk losing him via waivers. This leaves Suppan and Parra to battle for the last spot.
Suppan, has a guaranteed $12.5 million contract for this season. Bush’s deal does not become guaranteed until Opening Day. If the Brewers cut Bush 16 or more days before the season opener, the owe him one-sixth of his salary. If they cut him between that deadline and Opening Day, he gets one-fourth his salary.
Bush had filed for $4.45 million in arbitration and the Brewers offered $4.125 million. The two sides agreed just below the midpoint. Bush, 30, was 5-9 with a 6.38 ERA over 114 1/3 innings for the Brewers in 2009. He had a salary of $4 million last season. You can see Bush’s contract history and statistics here.
MLB Secrets: Betancourt, Branyan, Werth, Jackson, Crawford, Pena, F-Rod
Posted by: | CommentsHere are some links:
According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies two-year contract with pitcher Rafael Betancourt breaks down to base salaries of $3.775 million for each year. He can make an additional $450,000 in incentives for games finished: $50,000 for 40 games, $50,000 for 45 games, $100,000 for 50 games, $100,000 for 55 games and $150,000 for 60 games.
Joseph Vazquez of Bleacher Report suggests the Mets sign free agent Russell Branyan.
Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports on Jayson Werth’s future. Werth will be a free agent after 2010, and if he has a good year he could price himself too high for a return to Philadelphia. The Phillies have $127 million committed to players for 2011.
Jason Beck of MLB.com says that the Detroit Tigers will probably have rookie Austin Jackson bat lead off in the lineup.
Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe thinks Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays could be trade bait at some point in the season.
Francisco Rodriguez of the New York Mets has been given no restrictions while pitching in the Venezuelan league finals.
Johnny Damon Rumors: Given weekend to decide if he wants to return to Yankees
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/25 21:41: According to Andrew Marchand of ESPN 1050 in New York, there is “no time-table” for Damon to make a decision on free agency. Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, told Marchand the process is becoming more “defined” right now. Boras declined to say if the Yankees are still involved. The Yankees have indicated that they will not go much beyond the $2 million that they have left in their budget.
Update 15:55: Buster Olney of ESPN Tweets: Brian Cashman on recent conversations with Damon: “We have no deadline to anyone. All agents know what money I am playing with. “We will spend it when ready, if at all.” Damon will have to lower his initial asking price dramatically to return to NYY
1/23 15:18: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says that the New York Yankees have given Johnny Damon the weekend to decide on whether he wants to come back to the Bronx at a reduced salary. The Yankees have previously stated that they have about $2 million to spend on an outfielder, but they may spend a little more to bring back Damon. Heyman says that Damon’s chances of accepting the low-base contract from the Yankees appear slim.
If New York and Damon cannot agree, then the team will continue to search for an outfielder and hopes to sign one by mid-week. Among those that are free agents include Reed Johnson, Randy Winn, Xavier Nady, Jim Edmonds and Jermaine Dye.
Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, has insisted on a multi-year deal for his client, and his insistence may be backfired on him. Boras had been requesting at least a two-year, $20 million deal.
You can see Damon’s contract history and statistics here.
