Rumors for April, 2010
Gary Sheffield Rumors: "something on the table"
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Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe tweets, “Gary Sheffield says he has “something on the table” with a team and will discuss the opportunity when he returns from his vacation”
Last month, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports said Sheffield was talking to a National League club, but Rosenthal was not able to identify the team at the time.
Rosenthal suggested that Sheffield is not on the Nationals’ radar despite their release of right fielder Elijah Dukes. Rosenthal suggested that the Giants could use a speedy right-handed bat.
Sheffield, 41, has been associated with the Nationals and Diamondbacks this winter, and was also rumored to consider retirement. He hit .276 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs in 2009 with the Mets. You can see Sheffield’s contract history and statistics here.
Luther Campbell (formerly of the rap group 2 Live Crew) suggests today in the Miami New Times that Major League Baseball has a new plan – “eliminate black American and replace them with Dominicans.”
Campbell goes on to expose Major League Baseball’s labor practices, saying that the organization adopted a sweatshop mentality by targeting the Dominican Republic. Players in less fortunate countries do not have a chance to be drafted or getting a scholarship right out of high school so these youngsters are sent to Minor League farm systems and sleep in dormatories and play games all day and all night. Some games in Mexico, according to Campbell, do not start until midnight.
He questions how the Florida Marlins are fielding a competitive team and keeping a low payroll. Campbell’s conclusion – they use “top-of-the-line Domincan players at a bargain price.”
Campbell’s suggestion is to reintroduce baseball to the African-American children by having the club owners put resources into the inner cities. However, he doubts that this is the case because the “plan is to eliminate black Americans and replace them with Dominicans.”
Does Ozzie Guillen think he's invincible?
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“There are a lot of horse(bleep) managers out there that were given two and three shots to manage in the big leagues,” Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t see why not me.”
Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune says that Guillen believes he would get another shot at managing if the White Sox were to fire him or if he is not renewed after his contract expires next season.
“Why can’t I get another chance with another team?” Guillen said. “Am I going to keep on doing it? Well, I have to see what is going on.”
“If I get fired, I will tell (Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf) to fire Steve Stone, Farmio (Ed Farmer) or D.J. (Darrin Jackson),” Guillen said. “I want that job.”
Guillen said he could perform any duty in baseball except GM. On top of that you have to add his abilijty to be a broadcaster as seen at the 2009 World Series.
Alex Rodriguez dating Cameron Diaz – "They were all over each other"
Posted by: | Comments4/15 14:10: Justin McGuire of Manhattan Style says that there are different versions on whether the A-Rod and Diaz relationship is casual or serious. He believes that due to the alck of sufficient proof, the relationship is probably casual at the moment. Both are keeping the relationship under wraps.
It’s also possible that Diaz and former boyfriend Justin Timberlake could be back together which would eventually end the relationship with the baseball player.
Is A-Rod dating Diaz?
4/14 19:02: Life and Style magazine says that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and actress Cameron Diaz have been secretly dating following a meeting at a Super Bowl party in February. The magazine says, “they’ve been keeping it quiet, but they’re totally together.”
When photographers weren’t around, “they were all over each other at the (Super Bowl) party.” The magazine goes on to say that “Cameron had her hands all over Alex’s back, and they were dancing together.”
The New York Post adds that Rodriguez has been linked to other Miami beauties such as Elaine Spottswood and model Melissa B. Rodriguez was dating actress Kate Hudson until the two split last year.
Red Sox Rumors: Outfield Ailing
Posted by: | CommentsAfter their series in Minnesota, some bad news brewing for Boston’s starting outfield: Gordon Edes of ESPN and Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe are reporting that left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury cannot take a deep breathe without sharp pain. Moreover, Edes and Benjamin have added that starting center fielder Mike Cameron will remain in Minnesota because of abdominal pain, and will be checked for appendicitis.
The Red Sox had been treating Ellsbury as day-to-day since Sunday’s collision with Adrian Beltre, but in light of the fact that he has now sat for the last three games, this news does not bode well for his immediate recovery. Sending both players to the DL would probably place off-season acquisition Jeremy Hermida in the lineup. The Sox might also rely on Bill Hall or a call-up from Pawtucket, perhaps in prospect Josh Reddick.
PRO Rumors: Joe Nathan, Roy Oswalt, Adam Dunn, Wilson Ramos, Kevin Millar
Posted by: | CommentsHere are a few rumors from Jayson Stark of ESPN:
- The Minnesota Twins have an insurance policy on Joe Nathan’s contract that allow them to be reimbursed for a significant chunk of the $11.25 million that they are paying him. With the insurance money, the team could afford a reliever that they could use well into 2011.
- Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt could waive his no-trade clause if it meant moving to the right team in the right circumstances. Destinations that Oswalt would prefer include Atlanta, St. Louis or Texas.
- The Washington Nationals would be more likely to trade Adam Dunn before the deadline rather than negotiate an extension. Dunn has publicly said that he would prefer to stay in Washington and work on negotiating a contract extension.
- Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos could be a prime trading chip since he’s being blocked by AL MVP Joe Mauer. However, the Twins have told other teams that he’s not available unless it was a “major deal”.
- Stark suggests that free agent Kevin Millar should go full-circle and sign up with the St. Paul Saints if he cannot find a job. He started in St. Paul in 1993.
O.J. Simpson playing baseball?
Posted by: | CommentsO.J. Simpson, convicted of armed robbery and serving 33 years at Lovelock Correctional in Nevada, is “bored out of his mind” according to the New York Post. To keep himself occupied he’s staying active playing baseball. “He’s playing baseball,” says the New York Post source. “As a kid, O.J. loved baseball even more than football. Now he’s got plenty of time to perfect his game.”
Simpson has 33 years before he can make his Big League debut
Reds Jay Bruce flips the bird at teammates
Posted by: | CommentsAfter breaking out of an 0-for-17 slump on Monday, the Cincinnati Reds outfielder, Jay Bruce, gave two notable gestures to teammates that happened to be caught on camera.
Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds shows two birds to his teammates
“It one of the more stupid things I’ve ever done,” he said. “It was an honest mistake. I wasn’t mad at anyone. It was a kidding-around thing. Nonetheless, it was a mistake that shouldn’t have happened. I have to be more professional than that. I want to apologize to the fans, my teams, ownership, everyone who supports me. I forgot where I was for a second. It was all in fun. But it’s not a funny thing to do. I do apologize. I’m not that kind of person when it comes to profanity.”
The 23-year-old is hitting .161 with a .235 on-base-percentage over 9 games with the Reds in 2010. You can see Bruce’s stats here.
Information from John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer was used in this article.
Cardinals call up catching prospect Bryan Anderson
Posted by: | CommentsThe St. Louis Cardinals called up catching prospect Bryan Anderson on Wednesday to serve as Yadier Molina’s backup. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Anderson will replace Jason LaRue who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Anderson, 23, was 6-for-18 in 4 games at Triple-A.
“It was a tough call because all spring long we got (Matt Pagnozzi) ready to do this,” manager Tony La Russa said. “But when you earn it, you earn it. … (Anderson) was the most ready. Anderson is just playing really well.
Kevin Slowey Rumors: Would like similar contract to Nick Blackburn
Posted by: | CommentsThe Pioneer Press mentions that right-handed pitcher Kevin Slowey would like a deal similar to teammate Nick Blackburn’s four-year, $18 million deal.
Slowey, 25, has almost the same amount of Major League service time as Blackburn, but because of wrist surgery that was performed on the pitcher in 2009 the team may be hesitant to invest so much up front money. The pitcher is currently under team control is being paid $470,000 this season.
Slowey is 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 2 game starts this season. You can see Slowey’s contract history and statistics here.
