Rumors for April, 2010
Adrian Gonzalez Trade Rumors: Braves may be in the market
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Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says the Atlanta Braves may be in the market for Padres’ slugger Adrian Gonzalez.
The team is batting .229, third worst in the National League, so the team may be shopping come trade deadline. Morosi says the Braves have the pitching staff to allow them to contend all season, but he doubts their offense will keep them at the top of the NL East.
“They won’t score many runs once teams realize that you shouldn’t pitch to (Jason) Heyward – except inside,” the scout said.
The Boston Red Sox are often mentioned in Gonzalez trade talks, but it’s widely believed that they do not have enough in their farm system for the Padres to agree to a trade.
Video of Johnny Damon ejected for drawing a line in the dirt?
Posted by: | CommentsThis one occurred on Wednesday night, but it’s funny nonetheless. Johnny Damon became the first Tiger of the season to be thrown out of the game. He start to argue balls and strikes, but as soon as he leans over to draw the strikezone for umpire Dale Scott, he gets thrown out. Check out the sequence of events here:
(video courtesy of MLB Advanced Media)
Nationals outright RHP Jason Bergmann to Triple-A Syracuse
Posted by: | Comments4/23 14:32 Ladson tweets that Bergmann has cleared wiavers and was optioned outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. (Thanks to Facebook Fan Jim for fact checking.)
4/15 10:42: Ladson adds, “the Nats were set to send LHP Jesse English to the Minor Leagues, but Jason Bergmenn’s performance Wednesday changed their minds.”
4/15 10:03: According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the Washington Nationals have designated right-handed pitcher Jason Bergmann for assignment. The team then recalled left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen.
Bergman was 0-1 in 4 games for the Nationals in 2010. He has give up 3 hit and 2 earned runs, including 2 home runs. You can see Bergman’s contract history and statistics here.
Carlos Silva's success comes from seeing shrink
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So what’s Chicago Cub’s Carlos Silva’s secret to go 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA over 3 starts? See a psychologist or as the team calls it – a “consultant”.
“They teach me a lot of stuff,” Silva said. “It’s not easy. Sometimes we have no patience to wait for good results. When you’re working so hard, and trying to do the right thing, if you don’t have the good results (immediately) sometimes you go crazy. That’s what happened to me.”
It’s really worked for the pitcher who once went 4-15 with a 6.46 ERA with Seattle in 2008. He’s said that he’s spoken with Marc Strickland, his psychologist, three or four times during Spring Training. Maybe his Cubs teammates should take note.. ahem.. Alfonso Soriano.. ahem.
Royals release RHP Juan Cruz and DFA Luis Mendoza
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According to Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star, the Royals have released right-handed pitcher Juan Cruz and designated right-handed pitcher Luis Mendoza for assignment. In a parallel move, the team has purchased the contracts of Brand Thompson and Bruce Chen to take Cruz and Mendoza’s roster spots.
Cruz, 31, was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 5 games with the Royals this season. Last year Cruz signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract for 2009-2010 with a team option of $4 million for 2011. You can see Cruz’s statistics here.
Manny Ramirez to the Disabled List
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Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus tweets that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez is going to disabled list for a strained calf. Carroll adds that an MRI confirmed the injury.
Ramierz sustained the injury as he ran down the first baseline during yesterday’s 8-5 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati.
Astros outright RHP Yorman Bazardo to Triple-A Round Rock
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According to Alyson Footer of MLB.com, she tweets that right-handed pitcher Yorman Bazardo has been outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock. Bazardo has three days to decide to accept the assignment or become a free agent.
Bazardo, 25, has a career 3-4 record with a 6.86 ERA. You can see Bazardo’s statistics here.
Fmr Minor League Baseball Player spends $2MM on Paris Hilton
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Former professional baseball player Doug Reinhardt spent $2 million on the hotel heiress and socialite Paris Hilton over a period of 18 months. “Doug never used Paris. He spent 2 million dollars on her over the course of a year and a half,” a source revealed to RadarOnline.com. “She never once paid for a single thing.”
Some of the expenses included trips to Fiji, Hawaii, Aspen and Anguilla on private jets. He also gave her gifts such as a baby teacup Pomeranian, a Chanel watch and custom made diamond jewelry.
According to the Wikipedia, Reinhardt had the opportunity to play college ball with the University of Southern California on a scholarship, but decided to go pro when he was drafted in the 10th round by the Los Angeles Angels (293rd overall).
In three professional season, he hit .201/.291/.263 with his best year being his first with the Angel’s rookie league when he was 18 years old. He mostly played in the infield (third base), but had a few stints in the outfield. He finished his playing career when he was cut by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007.
So you have to wonder how a kid that played a few seasons in the Minors can afford to spend $2 million. He wasn’t spending a Major League signing bonus on her. His step-father, Duane Roberts, was the inventor of the frozen burrito, so you have to assume that all those trips to the mini-mart for the late night munchies paid for some of Reinhardt and Hilton’s fun.
Joe Torre's sidegig gets him to the Kentucky Derby
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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre may be eyeing his life after baseball sooner than later. Torre took some time to travel to Churchill Downs while his team was in nearby Cincinnati to check in on his racehorse Homeboykris that’s expected to compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Torre. “He breezed for six furlongs. I don’t think anyone can pass him in earnings, so it looks good.”
According to Kevin Kaduk of Yahoo Sports, Torre bought a share in the horse over the Winter.
“I think he has a chance, but you never want to get too excited,” Torre said. “With a horse, anything can happen.”
Torre placed a future bet on Homeboykris in December, but it’ll be tough to cash that one in. The horse has a 50-to-1 chance to win the Derby.
Information from Jeff Wallner of MLB.com was used in this article.


