Rumors for February, 2010
PRO Rumors Baseball writers of the week ending February 12
Posted by: | CommentsEveryday we have exciting baseball news, rumors and analysis from hard working individuals. They work the phones, scout the fields and do whatever it takes to get the information that is most important to you. I’d like to recognize a few individuals every week for their dedication in bringing us the latest and greatest. In no order, here are my baseball writers for this week ending February 12:
- Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports for breaking the Tim Lincecum two-year deal.
- Bill Ladson of MLB.com for staying on top of the Chien-Ming Wang rumors.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com for informing us on Tigers’ owner Mike Ilitch’s involvement with the Johnny Damon deal.
Please follow these individuals on Twitter and tell them you appreciate their hard work.
Baltimore Orioles and Jeremy Guthrie agree to 1 year contract
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to a team press release, the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to terms with RHP Jeremy Guthrie on a one-year contract, thus avoiding arbitration.
Guthrie, 31 in April, was 10-17 with 5.04 ERA in 33 starts with the Orioles in 2009. Terms of this deal were not available, but Guthrie made $650,000 last season. You can see Guthrie’s contract history and statistics here.
Nationals have interest in RHP Kris Benson
Posted by: | CommentsBill Ladson of MLB.com reports that the Washington Nationals have interest in right-handed pitcher Kris Benson. Ladson says that GM Mike Rizzo and Benson’s agent, Gregg Clifton, are hoping to meet early next. The two were hoping to meet this week, but a snow storm prevented it from happening.
Almost two weeks ago, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported that five teams were interested in Benson: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. At the time, the Dodgers were the leading candidate. It is not known if Los Angeles still has interest.
Benson, 35, has only appeared in eight Major League games since 2006 because of arm and elbow injuries. In his 8 games with the Texas Rangers last season, he was 1-1 with a 8.46 ERA in 22 1/3 innings. You can see Benson’s statistics here.
Carlos Delgado Rumors: Wait until midseason to join a team?
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of FOXSports.com says that free-agent first baseman Carlos Delgado may wait until after the season begins to sign with a team. According to his agent, David Sloane, Delgado does not intend to accept any of his current offers. Delgado will wait for the right situation, even if it means waiting until midseason to join a team.
It has been rumored over the last few weeks that the Mariners, Blue Jays, Rays and Mets have been interested in Delgado. According to one scout that observed Delgado in the Winter Leagues, has been moving poorly at first base. If Delgado signs on with a team, he may be limited to DH or pinch hitting duties.
Delgado played in 26 games for the Mets in 2009 before going down to a hip injury that required surgery. You can see Delgado’s statistics here.
Tampa Bay Rays sign Angel Chavez and J.J. Furmaniak to Minor League contracts
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Mark Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Tampa Bay Rays have signed infielders Angel Chavez and J.J. Furmaniak to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training.
Topkin also says the Rays are bringing SS Tim Beckham, RHP Heath Rollins, and catchers Craig Albernaz and Nevin Ashley to the Big League camp.
Chavez, 28, last played in the Majors in 2005 with the San Francisco Giants. He is a career .263 hitter with 0 home runs and 1 RBI. You can see Chavez’s stats here.
Furmaniak, 30, is a career .186 hitter with 0 home runs and 2 RBIs in 29 total games with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics. You can see Furmaniak’s statistics here.
New York Mets rumors: Takahashi, Delgado, Barajas
Posted by: | CommentsKevin Kernan of The New York Post has a few rumors on the Mets:
- Recently signed Hisanori Takahashi will compete for the fifth starter or a long reliever spot in Spring Training. If he does not win either spot, he will wind up in the Minors.
- The team has an interest in Carlos Delgado, but only on a Minor League deal. Delgado wants to play one more year to reach 500 home runs. He currently is sitting on 473.
- The Mets will not sign Rod Barajas. The team will let Omir Santos, Henry Blanco, Chris Coste, Shawn Riggans and Josh Thole battle it out in Spring Training for the starting catcher role.
Johnny Damon Rumors: Tigers owner spearheading acquisition
Posted by: | CommentsJohn Lowe of the Detroit Free Press says that Tigers’ owner Mike Ilitch is personally involved in the courting of free agent outfielder Johnny Damon.
Ilitch rarely gets involved in player deals, but he has been known to instigate moves and dig into his own personal fortune if the team’s budget requires it.
If the Tigers sign Damon, it is expected that Damon and Carlos Guillen would split the DH and let field duties.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated said that the Tigers current offer is a little north of two-years, $14 million. The White Sox may be in play, but their current offer is believed to be one-year, $4 million.
Damon, 36, hit .282 with a 24 home runs and 82 RBIs for the World Champion New York Yankees in 2009. You can see Damon’s contract history and statistics here.
