Feb
14
MLB Rumors: Chien-Ming Wang, Brad Lidge, Cole Hamels, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Dodgers
ByHere’s a running list of links to follow on Sunday:
- Dodger Blue Blog breaks down Tim Lincecum’s contract: $200,000 for pitching 225 innings, $500,000 for Cy Young Award, $250,000 for second place Cy Young finish and $100,000 for a third place finish, $75, 000 for fourth place Cy Young finish and $50,000 for fifth place, $100,000 for All-Star selection, $100,000 for NL MVP, $75,000 for World Series MVP and $50,000 for NLCS MVP.
- Jane Lee of MLB.com writes about the Oakland Athletics preparation for the coming season and how their big-name acquisitions of Ben Sheets and Kevin Kouzmanoff have left A’s fans more hopeful for the upcoming season.
- Aaron Gleeman says that there was speculation that the Twins could have re-signed Orlando Cabrera. Cabrera ended up signing with the Cincinnati Reds.
- According to Aaron Gleeman, the Twins had to make room on the 40-man roster for Orlando Hudson and dropped Jason Pridie rather than catcher Drew Butera because catcher Jose Morales is less likely to be ready for Opening Day due to his recent surgery.
- The Marlins and Cody Ross will have their arbitration hearing on Monday at 10am EST (via Joe Frisaro of MLB.com). Ross is asking for $4.45 million and the Marlins are offering $4.2 million.
- Joe Strauss of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says that the Cardinals have put aside any pursuit of free-agent pitcher Chien-Ming Wang.
- Scott Lauber of The News Journal says Philadelphia Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge is upbeat about his prospects for the coming season. “The way I look at it, it was a terrible year, when I think about it,” Lidge said by phone from his home in Colorado. “But I also know there’s no way it’ll happen again this year because I know I won’t have to deal with those same things.”
- Andy Martino of Philly.com, says that Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies may add a cut fastball or slider to his pitching arsenal that already consists of a fastball, change-up and curveball.
- Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle says that the Tim Lincecum deal is a win-win for both the Giants and the pitcher. It kept both sides out of aribitration which kept the Giant’s payroll manageable for years to come and it gave Lincecum a better jumping-off point for future hearings in two years. Teammate Matt Cain said that he’s very happy for Lincecum and he looks forward to be able to play along side him in the future. Cain’s due for a new contract after his 2011 option year (which will most likely be picked up).
- The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming in Spring Training with the first four starters set for their rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda and Vincente Padilla. However, the fifth spot is undermined. According to Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A., the fifth spot could come down to James McDonald, Scott Elbert, Eric Stults, Charlie Haeger, Carlos Monasterios, Josh Lindblom.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post lists the winners and losers of the off season. His winner Roy Halladay. His loser the Los Angeles Dodgers.

