Rumors for February, 2010
Ty Wigginton Rumors: Orioles may trade the utility infielder?
Posted by: | CommentsRoch Kubatko of MASNSports.com says that it is possible for the Baltimore Orioles to trade utility infielder Ty Wigginton before Opening Day. Wigginton would appeal to any team that is in search of a veteran right-handed bat off the bench.
The Orioles already have Robert Andino who can play multiple infield positions. In a worst case scenario Miguel Tejada can fill in at shortstop even though he is expected to be the full-time third baseman.
Wigginton, 32, hit .273 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in 122 games with the Orioles in 2009. You can see Wigginton’s contract history and statistics here.
New York Rumors: Joe Girardi, Beltran and the Mets, Johnny Damon
Posted by: | CommentsJoel Sherman of the New York Post wrote about the state of the New York Yankees and Mets:
- Sherman says that New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi has the backing of both Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman, so his job is safe for now.
- Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets will probably prioritize recovering from his surgery and getting 100% healthy before he takes the field. His contract is good through 2011, so expect his to turn up his intensity for his contract year.
- Sherman analyzes the divorce of the Yankees and Johnny Damon. He understands that the Yankees’ priorities this winter of wanting to get younger, more athletic wherever possible, keep the payroll stable and improving the starting rotation. However, he wonders how many other players could thrive under the pressure and hit in the clutch like Damon has.
Cleveland Indians Rumors: Have an eye on Dye, Gomes and Branyan
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer, the Cleveland Indians are keeping an eye on free agents Jermaine Dye, Jonny Gomes and Russell Branyan.
The Indians would like to add a veteran right-handed bat. Dye who traditionally plays the outfield may be too much of a liability for the Indians there, so they may play him at first.
Pluto says that it may come down to seeing who will accept a Minor League deal or a very reasonable one-year Major League contract.
MLB Rumors: Buster Posey, Joe Mauer, Paul LoDuca
Posted by: | CommentsHere are a few links for you to follow while you watch the Super Bowl:
- According to Henry Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Giants will give Buster Posey time in the infield this Spring. The Giants want to give him every opportunity to make the Opening Day roster.
- Phil Rogers of The Chicago Tribune says that Joe Mauer should not expect more than an eight year guaranteed contract. It was rumored last week that Mauer had agreed to a ten-year deal with the Minnesota Twins.
- According to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post, Paul LoDuca will probably not accept a Minor League assignment if he does not make the big league club.
Noah Lowry Rumors: Close to picking next team
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 2/7 16:31: According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox do not appear to be interested in signing Lowry.
Update 2/4 01:48: According to Yahoo Sports, at least five teams are interested in Lowry: the Phillies, Mets, Astros, Rangers and Red Sox.
Update 2/1 14:30: According to the Associated Press, Lowry pushed back a throwing session that was scheduled for Tuesday.
His agent, Damon Lapa, said the pitcher has not sustained a setback but decided it would be best to first throw a few more bullpen sessions before being evaluated in the private workout. He has no physical limitations and is pain-free.
Update 1/27 11:26am: T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com says that the Texas Rangers will be watching Noah Lowry throw on Tuesday.
Update 1/26 16:08: Jerry Crasnick of ESPN Tweets that Red Sox, Reds, Dodgers, Cardinals, Astros, Nationals, Mariners, Cubs, Braves & Mets among the clubs expected to check out Lowry.
Update 1/26 14:43pm: According to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, Lowry will work out in Arizona next Tuesday for teams interested. The Dodgers are expected to attend, but are not expected to be serious bidders.
Update 1/22 10:51pm: Corey Brock of MLB.com said on Twitter: Nearly certain the #Padres aren’t on Lowry.Can’t afford to miss with remaining $$, likely $5 million range. Need durability, dependability.
1/22 According to Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, he Tweets: I’m hearing LHP Noah Lowry might be close to picking a team. It’s not the Giants, not surprisingly.
Lowry drew interest from the San Diego Padres earlier this month at which time the team requested medical records.
Lowry, 29, has not pitched since the 2007 season. In 2008, he had surgery on his left forearem. In 2009, Lowry had neck and shoulder pain, and was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and had to have a rib removed.
Lowry’s agent, Damon Lapa, said that Lowry will throw for teams in a private session this month in Arizona. Lapa said at the time that he would not take any offers for his client until after the audition.
In Lowry’s last season with the San Francisco Giants, he was 14-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 156 innings pitched. He just wraped up a four year contract where he made $4.5 million.
You can see Noah Lowry’s contract history and statistics here.
Jermaine Dye Rumors: To the Blue Jays, Royals, Indians or Tigers?
Posted by: | CommentsJon Paul Morosi of FOXSports suggest that those teams who may lose out on signing free agent Johnny Damon may have Jermaine Dye as their Plan B. Moroni says that the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers are teams that are looking for a corner bat or DH, but it is not clear if they are actively pursuing Dye.
Dye, 35, had a great 2009 campaign for the White Sox. He hit 27 home runs drove in 81 RBIs. The White Sox declined the $12 million team option on Dye in November and paid him a $950,000 buyout. He has drawn interest from the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals this Winter.
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury gives us the latest updates on the San Francisco Giants:
- GM Brian Sabean said that John Bowker wouldn’t be a candidate to play every day in right field so that should clear the way for Nate Schierholtz to inherit the right field job from former Giant Randy Winn.
- The Giants are waiting to hear back from Todd Wellemeyer and Hasanori Takahashi on Minor League contracts that were offered to them.
- Guillermo Mota could make the big league team and take over the setup up role that Bob Howry had before he left for the Diamondbacks this off season.
Johnny Damon Rumors: Tigers and Braves interested
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 19:04: Johnny Damon said Friday that the Rays are still a possible destination, according to Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times.
2/6 10:26: Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports write that the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves are definitely interested in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon.
Tigers will be happy to sign Damon if he “falls into their lap”, but the team is unlikely to offer Damon a lucrative deal.
The Braves are one of many clubs if his price drops far enough. Rosenthal and Morosi suggest a few teams that also could be interested in Damon if the price drops are the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays or Los Angeles Angels.
Rosenthal and Morosi speculate that if the Tigers went forward with Damon they could offer him a one-year deal worth around $6 million and still keep their payroll below their 2009 level. This is after all arbitration cases have been settled.
You can see Damon’s contract history and statistics here.
