Rumors for March, 2010
Paul Lo Duca Rumors: Willing to go to Minor Leagues
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, four-time All Star Paul Lo Duca is willing to go to Triple-A Colorado Springs if he does not make the Big League club.
“I’m OK with that,” Lo Duca said. “When you haven’t played in a year and a half, basically, you need to get back in the swing of things. To go there and get some at-bats regularly would be great. I know there are a lot of guys there that need to get at-bats, too.
This is a change of heart from an early February report that said Lo Duca probably would not accept a Minor League assignment.
Lo Duca did not play in 2009 and played 67 games 2008 due to injury. The 37-year-old catcher is a lifetime .286/.337/.409 hitter. You can see Lo Duca’s contract details and statistics here.
Kevin Frandsen Trade Rumors: Giants shopping infielder
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Henry Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Giants are trying to trade infielder Kevin Frandsen.
Schulman said that multiple sources have informed The Chronicle that the Giants had told teams last week of Frandsen’s availability. He started at shortstop last week, but did not have the best defensive game. Two talent evaluators believe that Frandsen has value at second base, but less so at shortstop – which will reduce his overall ability to be traded.
It was rumored during the Winter Meetings that the Giants attempted to trade Frandsen to the San Diego Padres for Kevin Kouzmanoff, but the deal did not happen.
Frandsen, 27, has a career .240/.304/.341. You can see Frandsen’s contract details and statistics here.
Here are a few Tuesday afternoon PRO Rumors:
- Jose Reyes has been cleared to resume baseball activities with the Mets. It’s not known if he’ll be able to play in the April 5 season opener against the Florida Marlins. (Associated Press)
- Injured Mariner’s pitcher Erik Bedard had his bullpen session canceled today. However, it’s not considered a setback. He’s ahead of schedule in his rehab. (Larry Stone, The Seattle Times)
- The Associated Press reports that St. Louis Cardinals’ slugger Albert Pujols received an anti-inflammatory shot on Monday due to tightness in his back. He’ll be out of action for the next couple of days.
- Dontrelle Willis is getting his pop back according to Tom Gage of The Detroit News. Yesterday, in one inning of relief, he did not throw anything slower than 90 mph. His relief outing was a “bridge appearance”. He’ll start his next game on Thursday.
Feds want to speak to A-Rod and possibly Reyes, Street and Beltran about HGH
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to the Associated Press, federal investigators will speak with New York Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez this Friday in Buffalo, New York. They want to view Rodriguez as a witness to Dr. Anthony Galea, a Canadian physician, who has been accused of distributing human growth hormones.
Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran have previously been contacted by federal investigators, but have not been asked for new meetings with federal investigators. Rockies injured closer Huston Street said the feds may want to speak with him about Galea.
Could RHP Mike MacDougal be Minnesota bound?
Posted by: | CommentsThe Florida Marlins released right-handed pitcher Mike MacDougal this morning, and could he be a candidate for the Minnesota Twins’ vacant closing role. MacDougal has previous experience as a closer with 70 career saves.
Currently the Twins’ internal candidates to close include Jon Rauch, Matt Guerrier, Jose Mijares and Jesse Crain. Francisco Liriano was a candidate to close, but Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire said, “We told him, ‘We’re getting you ready to start the season as one of our starters.’ If there is any decisions otherwise, we would go talk to him or anybody else we decided to do that with.” (Star Tribune)
MacDougal, 33, was 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA and had 20 saves for the Washington Nationals in 2009. You can see MacDougal’s contract details and statistics here.
LHP Scott Schoeneweis released by Brewers
Posted by: | CommentsAccording ot Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel, the Milwaukee Brewers have released left-handed pitcher Scott Schoeneweis. In seven outings this Spring, Schoeneweis allowed seven hits, six runs in seven innings of work.
“It’s not performance-based,” Schoeneweis said. “It can’t be. I did everything I said I would do.”
The pitcher suspects that his wife’s death due to a drug overdose last year could be a reason that he was released. “I’m a big-league player,” he said. “My wife died last year. That has nothing to do with me as a baseball player. To have to start over and be penalized doesn’t make sense to me.”
Schoeneweis said he’ll contact his agent, Scott Boras, to see if there may be a job elsewhere. The 36-year-old pitcher was 1-2 with a 7.13 ERA in 45 appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009. You can see Schoeneweis’ contract details and statistics here.
Yankees place RHP Chad Gaudin on waivers
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Ed Price of FanHouse, the New York Yankees have placed right-handed pitcher Chad Gaudin on waiver. He adds that once the pitcher clears waivers, he can sent to Triple-A and get paid the entire $2.95 million or get released and be paid about $750,000.
It was believed that Gaudin was a trade candidate to teams that were in need of back of the rotation or bullpen help. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs were possible destinations for Guadin.
Guadin, 27 tomorrow, has a lifetime 34-35 record with a 4.50 ERA in 7 seasons. You can see Gaudin’s contract details and statistics here.
PRO Rumors: Bedard, Pujols and Chapman injury updates
Posted by: | CommentsHere are a few injury updates:
- According to Jim Street of MLB.com, Erik Bedard has hit a road bump in his recovery from having the labrum in his left shoulder repaired. Tomorrow (Tuesday) was the scheduled day for Bedard to graduate to a bullpen session. Manager Don Wakamatsu said the decision to scratch the bullpen session was related to one of the recent long-toss sessions. “He had a little bit of stiffness, more like a tired arm the other day,” Wakamatsu said. “He’s been throwing quite a bit in his long-toss program. He felt it two days ago, so we’re going to be cautious about it. But I think we’re in good shape.” Bedard went under the knife on August 14th with the estimated recovery being 10-12 months. Bedard is 7 months removed from surgery and is ahead of schedule which will lead to the conservative approach the Mariners will take.
-Matthew Leach of MLB.com reported that Albert Pujols underwent an MRI exam and received an anti-inflammatory shot on Monday after the slugger was scratched from the Cardinals’ home game against the Red Sox due to a recurrence of tightness in his lower back. Pujols missed a week earlier in the spring with the same condition. General manager John Mozeliak explained that Pujols received the MRI in order to determine where exactly to give Pujols the shot. The 2009 National League MVP is considered “day-to-day,” though anti-inflammatory shots often sideline a player for approximately three days. The Cardinals are off on Tuesday.
- According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Aroldis Chapman, the club’s prized Cuban signing, could not finish his outing vs. the Rockies because of a stiff lower back. Slated to work four innings of relief for Bronson Arroyo, Chapman lasted just 1 2/3 innings. The club later diagnosed Chapman as having muscle spasms, and said he is getting treatment and will be evaluated again later in week. “I’m not really hurt, but I have a little problem with my back that I’ve had all week,” Chapman said with Class A Dayton pitching coach Tony Fossas, translating.
Joe Beimel agrees to minor league deal with Rockies
Posted by: | Comments0322 20:07: Troy Reneck of the Denver Post reports that the two sides have agreed to a minor league deal, pending a physical which should take place on Tuesday.
03/22 19:42:Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Joe Beimel is closing on a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies and confirmation could come as early as tomorrow morning.
Beimel, 33 in April, pitched in 26 games for the Rockies in 2009 after he was traded from the Washington Nationals last July. It’s been reported in recent days that the Mets and A’s in addition to the Rockies have had interest in his services.
Joe Beimel Rumors: Still a possibility for Rockies
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post, free agent reliever Joe Beimel resumed talks with the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies earlier downplayed the talks with their former relief pitcher – possibly to prevent a bidding war with another team.
Rockie GM Dan O’Dowd confirmed the talks occurred today, but no deal had been reached.
Beimel, 33 in April, pitched in 26 games for the Rockies in 2009 after he was traded from the Washington Nationals last July. It’s been reported in a recent days that the Mets and A’s in addition to the Rockies have had an interest in his services.
