Rumors for February, 2010
Cardinals and Padres pursuing Felipe Lopez
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres are among four teams currently pursuing free agent infielder Felipe Lopez. Morosi or Rosenthal did not indicate who the other two teams are.
Lopez recently fired his agent Scott Boras last week. It was believed that he switched agents because Boras could not find Lopez a starting job.
The Cardinal’s need for Lopez may be linked to Brendan Ryan’s recent wrist surgery. The Padres do not have much middle infield depth and could use Lopez to give rest to Everth Cabrera and David Eckstein.
Lopez, 29, hit .310 with 9 home runs and 57 RBIs with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. You can see Lopez’s contract history and statistics here.
Nationals sign LHP Ron Villone to a Minor League deal
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to NatsTownNews, the Washington Nationals have signed left-handed pitcher Ron Villone to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.
Villone, 40, was 5-6 with a 4.25 ERA in 63 appearances with the Washington Nationals in 2009. His salary data is not available for 2009, but he made $600,000 in 2008 with the St. Louis Cardinals. You can see Villone’s contract history and statistics here.
Chan Ho Park Rumors: Could pitcher land with Cubs, Rays or Yankees?
Posted by: | CommentsThis morning Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated said that the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays and maybe the New York Yankees could be possibilities for Chan Ho Park.
The Cubs and Rays have shown interested in the free agent pitcher throughout the Winter, but have not offered him a contract.
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.
Boston Red Sox Rumors: Victor Martinez, open roster spots, Mike Lowell and Daisuke
Posted by: | Comments2/17 02:55: According to Alex Speier of WEEI.com, he adds:
- Newly acquired Boof Bonser is set to wear number 30 for the Red Sox.
- Jonathan Papelbon says that he would love to stay with the Red Sox after his current contract expires after the 2010 season.
- Daisuke Matsuzaka is experiencing a strain in his back but is not considered serious.
2/17 02:37: According to Theo Epstein via Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, he addressed a few pending issues:
- The team has an open-door policy and is sensitive to the needs and wants of catcher Victor Martinez. Martinez has expressed his desire to re-sign with the Red Sox, but he would like to have the extension completed before the season starts otherwise he will become a free agent after the end of the 2010 season.
- Epstein says they may have one or two open roster spots on the bench and one or two in the bullpen.
- Epstein said that once Mike Lowell is healthy and if he’s really impressive something (a trade?) could be worked out. Lowell is recovering from thumb surgery that he had this winter.
- Daisuke Matsuzaka has to be healthy this year since he came into the 2009 camp injured which disappointed the club. Epstein says that both the team and Matsuzaka are not “battling one another”. The GM later said that Matsuzaka has worked hard this winter and has lost some weight.
Brian Bruney and Washington Nationals head to arbitration
Posted by: | CommentsThe Associated Press reports that the National’s reliever Brian Bruney and the Washington Nationals went to a salary arbitration hearing today where both sides made their arguments. Bruney was asking for $1.85 million and the Nationals were offering $1.5 million. A decision is expected by Wednesday.
Bruney, who turns 28 on Wednesday, had a 5-0 record and 3.92 ERA in 44 appearances with the New York Yankees in 2009. He was acquired acquired by the Nationals from the Yankees in December for outfielder Jamie Hoffman. You can see Bruney’s contract history and statistics here.
