Rumors for March, 2010
PRO Rumors: iPhone app, Elijah Dukes, Dan Johnson, Adrian Gonzalez, Mike Lowell
Posted by: | CommentsHere are a few Thursday Happy Hour Rumors:
- PRO Rumors has submitted their 3rd iPhone version with huge changes. Unfortunately, we don’t know when it will be released. We’re hoping in time for Opening Day. It is iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad compatible. You can currently get PRO Rumors version 2.1 today in the App Store and you’ll get version 3.0 as a free upgrade. Click here for more details.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports reports that former Washington National, Elijah Dukes, could find a new job soon. Multiple teams are interested in the free agent outfielder.
- Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that Dan Johnson has cleared waivers and has been offered an assignment to Triple-A Durham. Johnson could refuse the assignment and become a free agent. Johnson is best remembered for coming in a pinch hitter for the Tampa Bay rays and hitting a home run off of Jonathan Papelbon, tying the game. The Rays eventually won that game.
- Jeff Moorad, CEO of the San Diego Padres said, “it wouldn’t surprise me to see him here two more seasons,” referring to Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez has been in trade rumors all Winter and is expected to be traded at any time. (Nick Canepa, Union-Tribune)
- Joe Frisaro of MLB.com said that the Marlins’ interest in bringing back third baseman Mike Lowell is “barely above zero.”
San Francisco Giants release Byung-Hyun Kim
Posted by: | CommentsRight-handed pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim asked for release according to Baseball America. Kim retired one batter and give up two hits (one a home run) during his Spring stint with the Giants. Kim agreed to a Minor League deal in early February with the team.
Kim may be best remember for his two outings in the 2001 World Series when he allowed late home runs to Tino Martinez, Derek Jeter and Scott Brosius in back-to-back losses to the New York Yankees.
Kim, 31, last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2007 when he went a combined 10-8 witha 6.08 ERA for the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins. He was primarily a starter then when he started 22 of the 28 games he pitched in that year. You can see Kim’s statistics here.
Chad Gaudin Rumors: Yankees Release Gaudin
Posted by: | Comments3/25 13:43: According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, he tweets, “dbacks don’t have interest in rhp chad gaudin, who was released today by the yankees.”
3/25 13:39: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Dodgers are interested in Gaudin.
3/25 10:30: According to David Lennon of Newsday, the New York Mets are discussing Gaudin.
3/25 06:39: Ken Rosenthal is reporting that New York Yankees pitcher Chad Gaudin has been released by the club. Gaudin did clear waivers and is owed $737,500 of his $2.95 million contract by the Yankees.
Gaudin appeared in 31 games last year for the Yankees and Padres compiling a 4.64 ERA. Gaudin had struggled in spring training appearing in 4 games for the Yankees and allowing 10 runs.
John Smoltz Retirement Rumors: Retirement is all but official
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, John Smoltz visited the Atlanta Braves camp on Wednesday on a “research mission.” When asked if he was retired, Smoltz said, “Not officially, but close.”
“I’m not really ready to say I’m 100 percent committed, done,” said Smoltz. “As long as there’s a small crack, it’s a small crack. We’ll see what happens.”
According to the article, Smoltz stopped throwing off the mound a month ago.
If Smoltz, 42, does retire, he will finish his career with a 213-155 record, a 3.33 ERA, 154 saves and 3084 strikeouts in 21 seasons with the Braves, Cardinals and Red Sox. Smoltz currently has a deal with Peachtree TV, TBS and the MLB Network. You can see Smoltz’s contract details and statistics here.
Scott Elarton Rumors: Elarton Signs Minor League Deal with White Sox
Posted by: | CommentsBob Dutton of the Kansas City Star is reporting via twitter that Scott Elarton has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox. Earlier in the week Dutton had reported Elarton was interested in getting back into professional baseball and was spotted watching Kansas City Royals starter Zack Greinke pitching for AAA affiliate Omaha on Sunday.
“I don’t know if there’s anybody that dumb,” Elarton said. “My problem is I can’t get (this shoulder) to blow out completely.”
Elarton, 34, has a career era of 5.29 in 12 seasons in the majors and last pitched in 2008 for the Cleveland Indians where he appeared in 8 games.
Gooden charged with DUI of drugs and leaving scene of an accident
Posted by: | Comments3/25 02:02: Despite Gooden’s troubles, the Mets still plan to induct Gooden into the mets’ Hall of Fame on August 1st with Darryl Strawberry, Davey Johnson and Frank Cashen.
3/24 13:35: According to ESPN.com news services, former Major League pitcher Dwight Gooden has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, leaving the scene of an accident, child endangerment and motor vehicle violations in New Jersey. The 45-year-old pitcher had a child in his vehicle at the time. The drugs involved were not disclosed by police.
Gooden has had a long history of alcohol and drug abuse, including cocaine.
The 45-year-old pitcher was recently invited to the Mets’ Spring Training camp to mentor the young players on the pressures of playing in New York. In his 16 year career, the former Cy Young Award winner compiled a 194-112 record with a 3.51 ERA with the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Astros and Rays.
Seattle Mariners Rumors: Team has many roster decisions
Posted by: | CommentsMike Salk of 710 ESPN Seattle talks about many roster decisions that the Mariners have to make before Opening Day:
- Salk says that he’s hearing that Kanekoa Texeira will be on the Opening Day roster.
- With Cliff Lee likely on the disabled list when the season begins, there is room for at least one (and maybe two) extra pitchers. Salk believes that Jason Vargas and either Luke French or Doug Fister could fill the fourth and fifth spot of the rotation.
- Shawn Kelley could be competing for a back-end rotation spot.
- The team may be leaning towards keeping Mike Sweeney on the Opening Day roster. If he does, Ryan Garko could be sent down to Triple-A Tacoma since he has options.
Giants sign Jeremy Affeldt to 2yr extension
Posted by: | Comments3/25 00:36: Nightengale breaks down the contract of Affeldt:
| Year | Amount | Option |
| 2010 | $4.5 million | |
| 2011 | $4.5 million | |
| 2012 | $5 million | option |
It is not clear if the option is a team, player or mutual option. He was originally going to get paid $4 million on the last year of a two-year, $7 million contract.
3/24 19:50: Bob Nightengale of USA Today is reporting that the Giants have signed lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt, to a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension. Affeldt, 30, was one of the best set-up men in baseball last season, posting a 1.73 ERA over 74 appearances.
You can see Jeremy Affeldt’s contract details and statistics here.
Dodgers Martin to be ready by opening day
Posted by: | CommentsContrary to the conservative estimates made by the Dodgers brass, Russell Martin says he will be ready by Opening Day. Tomorrow, Martin will test out the groin as he plans to catch 4 innings in a minor league game. Martin has insisted all along that the injury was not that severe, although he also credits a platelet-rich plasma injection for accelerating the healing process. “That, and all the rest and exercises,” Martin said. This will be Martins first action since March 6th as he gets behind the plate with an added 20 pounds of muscle. It has only been 2 1/2 weeks since Martin went out with the groin injury.
When asked what he thought about Martin being ready for Opening Day Joe Torre said, “I never thought about Opening Day. We’ll see in the next couple days if it becomes realistic.”
See Russell Martin’s career statistics here.
Information from Ken Gurnick of MLB.com was used in this article.
PRO Rumors: Dontrelle Willis finally back to being the old Dontrelle
Posted by: | CommentsThere are positive signs for the first time in two years. Dontrelle Willis, is said by everyone around the team that he is finally comfortable in the clubhouse and his own skin. He must be feeling a bit better on the mound, too, as he has a 0.82 ERA this spring. Another plus was Willis hitting 93 mph on the gun on Monday, the latest small sign he may be regaining some semblance of what was once a tremendous career. “Every time I see him pitch, he looks like the pitcher he was in Florida with us,” says Miguel Cabrera, his teammate there and here.
Willis, a former National League Rookie of the Year who won a league-best 22 games for Florida in 2005, seemed to lose his ability almost as soon as he arrived, and when he was bad, he was almost off-the-charts bad. As he candidly put it during an interview recently, “I was terrible.”
In what has to be considered two of the most disappointing seasons in baseball history, Willis went 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA his first year as a Tiger, and 1-4 with a 7.49 ERA last year. His WHIP with Detroit is over 2. His confidence had fallen to zero.
If Willis continues his strong spring, look for him to be in the Tigers rotation come opening day. Though its no guarantee as he is in a three way battle which includes Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson. Manager Jim Leyland also on Tuesday seemed to show a lack of confidence in the three as he also put Armando Galarraga and Eddie Bonine into the mix. The mystery question is if Willis does land in the starting rotation is will his spring success carry over to the regular season.
Information from Jon Heyman of SI.com was used in this article.
