Rumors for January, 2010
Chan Ho Park Rumors: Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays going after pitcher
Posted by: | CommentsJon Heyman of Sports Illustrated Tweets: #cubs, #rays among teams eyeing chan ho park, who was terrific in world series last year and will be missed in philly.
The San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates were rumored to be going after park this winter.
Park was 3-3 with a 4.43 ERA with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. Of the 45 games he appeared in, he started 7 games. He made $2.5 million in 2009, so he would be an affordable player for an cost conscious team.
You can see Chan Ho Park’s statistics here.
Veteran infielder Mark Loretta expected to retire
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/25 17:06: Corey Brock of MLB.com Tweets: ark Loretta has retired and has taken a job in the #Padres front office as a special assistant to the baseball operations staff. #MLB
Brock later says: Mark Loretta: “When you say the word retirement, it sounds like your retiring from life. I’m looking at this as the next step. #Padres
1/23 15:29: ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports that veteran infielder Mark Loretta is expected to retire this week and move into the front office with an unspecified big league club.
Loretta has been active in the Player’s Union for years and has long been considered a future manager or baseball executive, according to Crasnick.
Loretta, 38, last played with the Dodgers in 2009. In his career, he hit .295 with 76 home runs and 629 RBIs in 1726 games. In his 15 years, he’s played with the Brewers, Astros, Padres, Red Sox and Dodgers. You can see Loretta’ contract history and statistics here.
Texas Rangers designate Joe Inglett for assignment
Posted by: | CommentsThe Texas Rangers officially added pitcher Colby Lewis to the 40 man roster and designated infielder Joe Inglett for assignment.
Inglett was picked up by the Rangers in December, but he became expendable when the Rangers picked up utility man Khalil Greene.
Lewis, 30, has not played in the Major Leagues since 2007 when he was 0-2 in 26 games (1 game start) with a 6.45 ERA for the Oakland A’s. You can see Lewis’ statistics here.
Inglett, 31, hit .281 (25 for 89) with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009. You can see Inglett’s statistics and contract history here.
Minnesota Twins Rumors: Jim Thome and Joe Mauer
Posted by: | CommentsJoe Christensen of the Star Tribune writes about what’s going on with the Twins:
Christensen believes that free agent Jim Thome will return to the Chicago White Sox despite rumors last week regarding the interest from the Twins.
Joe Mauer’s family will not be pressuring him to stay in Minnesota despite Mauer being born and raised there. During the BBWAA awards in New York over the weekend, comedian Bill Scheft told Mauer that all the New York airports were closed and he’ll have to stay until 2015.
Ben Sheets Rumors: Could the Rangers new ownership make a splash with Sheets?
Posted by: | CommentsNow that the Texas Rangers have a new ownership group in place, could they make a splash by signing free agent pitcher Ben Sheets? Buster Olney of ESPN says, “you wonder if one of the first moves the Rangers would make is to bring on board the best available free-agent pitcher. Ownership groups typically like to make a splash like that.”
Nolan Ryan, the Ranger’s team president, is known to be personally fond of Sheets.
The Athletics, Mets and Cubs have been known to be actively pursuing Sheets. ESPN Insider says that Oakland has already submitted an offer to the pitcher.
Yankees exploring trade market for left fielder – Nelson Cruz?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Frankie Piliere of AOL Fan House, the Yankees are exploring the trade market for a left fielder. He Tweets: Heard whispers that Nelson Cruz is a name the Yanks inquired on. Not confirmed and no word if talks even got off the ground or not.
Cruz, 29, hit .260 with 33 home runs and 76 RBIs for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He’s played mostly in right field in his five year career, but he has 21 games of experience in left field. You can see Cruz’s statistics here.
