Rumors for June, 2010
Aaron Harang Trade Rumors: RHP to get traded for young talent?
Posted by: | CommentsAre the Cincinnati Reds giving up? Are the Reds’ beat writers giving up? The team is in second-place in the NL Central, one-half game behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals and John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer suggests an Aaron Harang trade scenario in exchange for young talent could help in the future?
Fay says the Reds’ bullpen has been shaky at times, but has been good enough as of late. The rotation has been solid most of the season.
Harang has been the least effective of the top four starters with a 5-7 record and 5.15 ERA in 17 starts. Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake are a combined 19-6.
Fay suggests that if Edinson Volquez returns strong, the Reds will have to consider moving Harang. Voquez is currently out for a 50 game suspension for drug use and is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
If the Reds decide to trade Harang and the prorated portion of his $12.5 million salary for 2010, a shortstop could be high on the team’s priority list.
New York Yankees World Series ring stolen from Double-A clubhouse manager
Posted by: | CommentsA 2009 World Series ring, valued around $10,000, was stolen from a locked desk drawer of Tom “Tonto” Kackley, the clubhouse manager for the Trenton Thunder. The Thunder are a Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
“I worked for 22 years to get it, and I had it for a week,” he said.
“I’ve had things come up missing out of there before, so I put it in my desk,” he said. “I felt it was safest in my desk.
This isn’t the first time this year that a Yankee’s World Series ring was stolen. Earlier this month, Patrick Daneker, the pitching coach for the Staten Island Yankees lost his ring when he “messed around” with two prostitutes.
Information from Bill Sanderson of the New York Post was used in this article.
6/25 03:13: Steven Consalvi was sentenced to six months probation, 80 hours of community services to be served in two separate soup kitchens in Philadelphia and attend mandatory summer school for English.
If Consalvi passes a drug test and completes his sentence, his record will be expunged.
Source: Lonnie White, Fanhouse
5/4 13:11: Before 17-year-old Steve Consalvi ran onto the field, he called his father for permission to do so.
“He said, ‘Dad, can I run on the field? I said, ‘I don’t think you should, son,’” Wayne Consalvi told the Philadelphia Inquirer (via ESPN) of the conversation he had with his son.
“This would be a once in a lifetime experience!” Steve Consalvi replied to his father, according to the newspaper.
The father said he was not drinking or on drugs, nor did he run onto the field as a dare or bet.
“I don’t recommend running on the field, but I don’t think they should have Tased him at all,” he told the newspaper.
5/4 12:18: We’ve all wanted to do it. Be a hero to 50,000 fans, get on tv when a baseball milestone is passed or just get out there to shake your favorite player’s hand. The only problem is that you’ll get arrested, go to jail and be banned from the stadium forever. Sometimes you forget you’ll get tasered, just like this Phillies’ fan.
According to the USA Today, the Philadelphia Police stand behind the officer who tasered the teenager.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsay said on KYW Radio Tuesday that “it was inappropriate for him to be out there on the field. Unless I read something to the contrary, that officer acted appropriately. I support him 100 percent.”
“This is the first time that a Taser gun has been used by Philadelphia police to apprehend a field jumper,” Phillies spokeswoman Bonnie Clark said in a statement. “The Police Department is investigating this matter and the Phillies are discussing with them whether in future situations this is an appropriate use of force under these circumstances. That decision will be made public.”
Cliff Lee Rumors: Renting a stud pitcher is the way to go for Mets
Posted by: | CommentsKevin Kernan of The New York Post says that chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and GM Omar Minaya are well aware that renting a stud pitcher is the way to go even if it means trading away top talent.
Kernan adds that pitcher Jenrry Mejia is starting in the minors not for the sake of getting into the Mets’ rotation, but so the Seattle Mariners can get a better look at him. Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times suggests the Mets add outfielder Angel Pagan in a deal.
A lot of things have gone the Mets way this season and there’s no reason the team can’t win the NL East. The Mets are 1/2 game out of first place and Kernan says trading for Cliff Lee “would seal the deal”. He believes such a deal would work itself out by the first or second week of July, and he reminds us that C.C. Sabathia, another rental, was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 7, 2008.
Son of Astros Manager Brad Mills arrested on felonious assult
Posted by: | Comments
Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle says Cleveland Indians prospect Beau Mills, son of Houston Astros manager Brad Mills, was charged with felonious assault in Akron, Ohio.
“I did not know anything about it, to be honest with you,” Brad Mills said. “I’d be remiss if I were to make any other comment because I don’t know anything. I really don’t.”
Mills planned to reach his son by phone immediately after his comments.
According to the Beacon Journal, Beau Mills, 23, was one of three Indians Minor Leaguers charged in connection with a nightclub altercation earlier this month that left a man with a punctured lung and a fractured rib.
After an investigation, criminals charges were filed Tuesday against Mills. Mills and teammate Jerad Head pleaded not guilty to the charge on Thursday morning. Pitcher Josh Tomlin of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers was the other individual involved, but did not make a court appearance.
Fallas notes that felonious assault is a second-degree felony in Ohio that can range from probation to eight years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines if an individual is convicted.
VIDEO: Lights go out at Dodgers and Angels game in Anaheim
Posted by: | CommentsChekc out this video of the lights going out at Angels Stadium during the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels game on Thursday night.
It wasn’t as bad as the lights going out at Wrigley Field at the end of May during the Cubs game.
Update (NSFW) – New York Mets Johan Santana accused of Sexual Battery
Posted by: | Comments6/25 00:21: According to The Smoking Gun, Santana admitted to police that he had consensual sex with the woman “in the open field” near a golf course.
He first met the woman 10 days before the October 27, 2009 incident in Fort Myers, Florida. They exchanged a kiss on October 26. The next day, Santana exchanged several kisses and embraces along the way, and the couple began to have sexual intercourse while standing in the open field. The woman “was very excited and was ‘masturbating’” during sexual intercourse.
The Smoking Gun continues saying,
The woman, Santana claimed, wanted to “continue the encounter” at her home, but “I told her I was about to climax and ejaculated on her right leg.” The woman, he said, “cleaned herself” with her panties, and they eventually walked back to some community tennis courts, where Santana began playing with his father Jesus and a friend, Fernando D’Vincente. Santana told cops that the woman “never once told me to stop or ‘No’ during our sexual encounter.” He has not spoken or seen her since that evening. Santana, accompanied by his lawyer, was interviewed under oath on November 3 by a sheriff’s investigator. That session, conducted in Spanish, was videotaped.
The woman’s story was almost the opposite indicating that Santana was the aggressor and she pleaded several times for him to stop.
The 31-year-old Met’s ace is married with three kids.
6/24 17:19: Santana responded to the accusations in a prepared statement:
“I am aware of the situation, but I can tell you the police have investigated these claims last year and I was never charged with anything, and the case is closed.”
Source: Brian Lewis and Sarah Jordan New York Post
6/23 15:17: TMZ Sports says New York Mets ace left-hander Johan Santana was accused in a police report of sexual battery that occurred on a Florida golf course.
The police report was filed on October 28, 2009 with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office – one day after the attack. The victim, Jane Doe, said Santana and her were walking on the golf course when he “began to kiss her and pull up her top, unclasping her bra.”
The report continues: “Johan began to pull at [the accuser's] skirt/skort and attempt [sic] to place his hands into her underwear.” According to the document the alleged victim “told Johan no multiple times but Johan persisted.” Santana then pentrated her, grabbed and bruised her calf and “ejaculated on her upper thigh.”
The victim cleaned her her thigh with her underwear and then went to the tennis court to watch Santana play tennis with someone else. The clothing was collected by the detective as evidence.
Accorind to the Sheriff’s documents, the prosecutor said, “There was not enough evidence to prove lack of consent, the alleged victim’s statement is not consistent with other witnesses.” The case was closed out on December 8, 2009.
Atlanta Braves Rumors: No need for pitching, maybe a need for LH bat
Posted by: | CommentsThe first place Atlanta Braves do not have any glaring needs, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. He says that they won’t search for pitching come July Trade Deadline, but they may look for a left-handed bat off the bench if Eric Hinske continues to “be at least a semi-regular player.”
Some left-handed bats that could be traded come deadline include the Royals David DeJesus, the White Sox Scott Podsednik and A.J. Pierzynski, the Cubs Kosuke Fukudome, the Astros Lance Berkman, and the Diamondbacks Adam LaRoche.
David DeJesus Rumors: Could Red Sox trade prospect Jose Iglesias for Royals OF?
Posted by: | CommentsKansas City Royals outfielder David DeJesus may be one of the bigger trading pieces for this July’s trading deadline, and according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, he would be a good fit for the Red Sox.
Cafardo’s sources says the price tag for DeJesus has been quite high and with DeJesus being the Royals primary trade chip, the team needs to get quality prospects in return. The Royals are said to love Red Sox shortstop Jose Iglesias. Cafardo says that Iglesias is untouchable from the Red Sox perspective.
The San Francisco Giants are also said to be in the running for DeJesus. There may have been “serious talks” earlier this week between the Giants and Royals.
DeJesus is having a solid 2010 season with a .325 batting average and 5 home runs. He also comes relatively cheap. He is being paid $4.7 million this season and there’s a $6 million club option for 2011.
Florida Marlins to offer Bobby Valentine four-year deal to manage team
Posted by: | CommentsTim Kurkjian of ESPN The Magazine says a source close to the negotiations has said the Florida Marlins are expected to offer Bobby Valentine a four-year contract.
Valentine has confirmed that he will fly to Florida on Friday night to meet with Marlins executives including owner Jeffrey Loria and discuss the club’s vacant managerial position.
Valentine confirmed yesterday that he had withdrawn his name from the Baltimore Orioles managerial job soon after the the Marlins position opened up. The Marlins fired manager Fredi Gonzalez yesterday.
The Marlins are in Baltimore Thursday night, the beginning of a 16-day road trip. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says that Valentine could be the next manager as soon as the end of the weekend.
Rosenthal adds that the Marlins will interview two other candidates on Friday – Edwin Rodriguez, the interim manager, and Bo Porter, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ third base coach. The interviews of Rodriguez may be more of a formality to satisfy Bud Selig’s guidelines for minority hiring.
