Rumors for March, 2010
Jarrod Washburn Rumors: Signing with the Twins could depend on Joe Nathan
Posted by: | Comments3/16 19:28: According to John Hickey of AOL Fanhouse, he tweets, “Don’t go to the bank with those Jarrod Washburn-to-Seattle rumors. He just said in a text that he’s not close to signing with anybody.”
3/15 17:36: According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, the Seattle Mariners still show interest in bringing Washburn back to Seattle. However, Washburn said in an email last week that the odds of returning to Seattle “are probably not great.”
3/15 11:23: According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Seattle Mariners have interest in free agent Jarrod Washburn, but the team is believed to be at their budget. Heymans also says the Minnesota Twins may make the most sense as a destination for Washburn, but the decision to sign him could be tied on the status of injured pitcher Joe Nathan.
Nathan has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar colateral ligament in his elbow. He’ll know soon if he can pitch this season or have Tommy John Surgery which will shut him down for the rest of the year. With that said, there are have been several rumors as to his replacement. External resources could be John Smoltz or Kerry Wood, or an internal pitcher such as Francisco Liriano. Heyman suggests that Jon Rauch is looking like the favorite to replace Nathan. Hayman believes that Liriano is pitching well as a starter and the Twins will probably keep him in that role, but if the team moves Liriano to closer, that would create an opening to sign Washburn.
Washburn, 35, has a career 107-109 record with a 4.10 ERA and 1.301 WHIP. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers last season where he made $10.35 million in the last year of a four year contract. You can see Washburn’s contract history and statistics here.
Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre Trade Rumors: Could the Cubs or Twins make a deal?
Posted by: | CommentsPete Caldera, staff writer for The Record, suggests that Chad Gaudin or Sergio Mitre of the New York Yankees could be traded depending on how the Yankees want to move forward with the fifth spot in their rotation.
Currently Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain are the favorites to get the spot. Other challengers include Gaudin, Mitre and Alfredo Aceves. Aceves has a 0.90 ERA this Spring, but he has Minor League options available, so the Yankees could send him down. If Hughes or Chamberlain get the fifth spot, the other would be sent to the bullpen, and therefore leaving Gaudin and Mitre expendable.
Manager Joe Girardi does not have any preferences, but he’s told all the candidates to pick up the pace.
PRO Rumors sees a need for a right-handed pitcher with Minnesota and Chicago. The Twins and Cubs have recently been looking at right-hander Jason Frasor, so given the availability of right-handers Gaudin or Mitre, the either team could make a deal.
On Sunday, Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine reported that there were internal discussions regarding the swap of slugger Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies for St. Louis’ Albert Pujols. According to the Associated Press and ESPN.com, both of the players reacted to the rumors yesterday.
“I really don’t have anything to say about it,” Howard said at the Phillies’ camp in Clearwater on Monday.
“Truthfully, I can go back to all the stuff that happened when I was in Double-A — all the talk about trade rumors,” Howard said. “I don’t know anything about anything. I’m not really focused on it. If that were the case — I don’t know if it is or not — it is what it is. You just keep going out there and doing your thing. If you get a call saying you’re trade, then you’re traded. Until that happens, I’m still a Phillie. I’m still here. Let’s ride it out.”
“There’s people, stupid, that like to write something when it’s not the truth, and that’s all I have to say about that,” Pujols said.
“If I’m getting traded, they need to come to me. That’s not my job to go to them,” Pujols said. “I’ve been saying all along I want to be here, but whatever, it’s not up to me. I just think somebody tried to be funny, but it’s so stupid when somebody takes something like that serious.”
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said that the rumors were “lies”, “ridiculous” and “irresponsible.”
Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa said that the rumors could be a distraction for both the Phillies and the Cardinals. He adds that Pujols is somebody that wants to start and finish his career in St. Louis.
Buster Olney says what he wrote was “dead-on”. He adds, “I did not write that there were ongoing discussions between the two teams. I did not write that the Cardinals had an inclination to deal Pujols. I did not write that the Phillies are looking to dump Ryan Howard.” Olney goes on to say, “And as a reporter, when you have confirmed information that the Phillies have discussed internally an avenue through which they might pursue the best player in baseball — and you know exactly who said what to whom, and how sturdy the intent was — that is news.”
Dodgers send Eric Gagne to the Minors
Posted by: | CommentsYahoo Sports reports that the the Los Angeles Dodgers have sent former Cy Young award winner Eric Gagne to their Minor League camp.
Gagne, 34, had a 20.25 ERA in three appearances during Spring Training. He allowed 6 runs and 8 hits in 2 2/3 innings.
“I think for the most part he needs to pitch and he needs to build up his arm strength and a feel for his offspeed stuff,” general manager Ned Colletti said Monday. “We’re not going to have the innings on the big league side to do that.”
Gagne has an out clause that allows him to become a free agent, but according to Dodgers’ manager Joe Torre, Gagne accepted the move.
Gagne has a career 33-26 record with 187 saves and a 3.47 ERA. You can see Gagne’s contract details and pitching statistics here.
Here are your Tuesday afternoon PRO Rumors:
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- Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel says the Milwaukee Brewers traded Minor League reliever Omar Aguilar to Clevaland for left-handed pitcher Chuck Lofgren. Lofgren was a Rule 5 pick selected from the Indians in December. According to Haudricourt, “Rule 5 picks — unprotected players taken from other teams at the winter meetings — must be kept on the new team’s big-league roster all season or placed on waivers, then offered back to the original club. Lofgren passed through waivers but rather than lose him completely, the Brewers worked out a deal with the Indians for Aguilar.”
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says that the Giants have returned right-handed pitcher Steven Johnson and Rule 5 pick to the Baltimore Orioles.
- Houston Astros prospect Jose Vallejo cleared waivers and was sent to Triple-A Round Rock. Vallejo was acquired from the Rangers in August 2009 as one of the players to be named later in the Ivan Rodriguez trade. (Alden Gonzalez, MLB.com)
- The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Rule 5 pick Armando Zerpa back to the Boston Red Sox. (Yahoo Sports)
- According to Mike Asmore of the Hunterdon County Democrat, he tweets that former Major League pitcher Sidney Ponson has signed with the Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks.
Derrick Turnbow Retirement Rumors: Right handers comback is over
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post, right-handed pitcher Derrick Turnbow’s comeback is over. Turnbow may have shoulder surgery according to Capozzi’s tweet.
“It took a turn for the worse today,” Turnbow told Capozzi.
Turnbow signed a Minor League deal with the Florida Marlins in late January.
Turnbow, 32, last played in 8 games for Milwaukee in 2008. His best year was in 2005 when he went 7-1, saved 39 games and had a 1.74 ERA. You can see Turnbow’s complete statistics here.
Brewers release LHP John Halama
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, the Milwaukee Brewers have released left-handed pitcher John Halama.
Halama, 38, allowed 4 runs on 20 hits in 6 innings pitched in the Cactus League this spring. Halama has not pitched in the Major Leagues since 2006 when he went 3-1 with a 6.14 ERA with the Orioles. you can see Halama’s statistics here.
Jason Frasor Rumors: Drawing interest from Cubs?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, Blue Jay’s relief pitcher Jason Frasor has drawn interest from the scouts for the Chicago Cubs. Rosenthal tweets, “#Cubs scout saw Jays’ Jason Frasor get hammered Sunday, but Frasor was under weather.”
It was reported last week by the Star Tribune last week that the Minnesota Twins may have interest in Frasor.
Frasor, 32, was 7-3 and 11 saves with a 2.50 ERA in 61 games with the Blue Jays in 2009. You can see Frasor’s contract details and statistics here.
Rosenthal also adds that left-handed pitcher David Purcey of the Blue Jays is also drawing attention from clubs. Purcey, 27, was 1-3 with a 6.19 ERA in 9 game started with the Blue Jays in 2009. You can see Purcey’s contract details and statistics here.
PRO Rumors: Joe Beimel, Adeinis Hechavarria, Best rotation in baseball
Posted by: | CommentsHere are your nightly PRO Rumors stories:
- Two new teams have expressed interest in Joe Beimel according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Beimel’s agent, Joe Sroba, doesn’t reveal which two clubs spoke to him about Beimel, but Kilgore does say that the Nationals are not one of them. Beimel is believed to still have a contract offer from the Mets for about $1MM. It appears Beimel’s strategy of waiting out the market may benefit him as new teams have started to show interest. As the Spring goes on, teams are starting to see holes in their respective bullpens develop and Beimel will be waiting for the call. Beimel is a proven left-handed thrower who can be had for a reasonable price. Last year Beimel did not sign with the Nationals until March 18th. So don’t worry Beimel fans you should know shortly what jersey and team you will be rooting for.
- Dustin Parkes of Drunk Jays fans says “the team has put its money where its mouth is” by signing Adeinis Hechavarria (common spelling). Echeverria’s deal will pay him $10 million over four years. The young shortstop did not play on the senior Cuban national team, but he held a series of workouts for several clubs before the bidding period began. Rumour has it that Echeverria refused a Yankees offer specifically because he saw Derek Jeter blocking him.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com ranks the best of the best of the major leagues for 2010 . Heyman weighs in and gives his opinion of the best starting rotation, bullpen, infield, outfield, lineup and many other categories. The Angels who lost their ace (John Lackey) but are ranked as having the best rotation top to bottom. The Dodgers are ranked as having the best bullpen and best outfield. The Phillies are viewed as having the deepest lineup top to bottom. Check out the complete list to see if your favorite team made the Heyman’s illustrious list.
Mike Lowell Trade Rumors: Marlins interested in Red Sox third baseman
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to The Miami Herald, the Florida Marlins may be interested in Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. The report says that the Marlins were among those with scouts on hand for Lowell’s Spring Training debut.
The Miami Herald says that it’s unclear what the Marlins’ interest level is with Lowell. The biggest hurdle for the Marlins and any other team would be getting Lowell’s thumb to be okay’d by a medical staff and to have the Boston Red Sox pay a portion of the $12 million that is due to Lowell.
The Marlins currently have Jorge Cantu as the third baseman and Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison battling for the starting first baseman position. Lowell could provide the Marlins an option at third base which would allow Cantu to play first.
It was reported earlier this month that the Minnesota Twins could have interest in Lowell.
Lowell was originally going to be traded to the Texas Rangers this winter, but it was called off after doctors discovered the ligament tear in his thumb. Part of the deal with the Rangers was that the Red Sox were going to pick up $9 million of the $12 million salary. You can see Lowell’s contract history and statistics here.
