Rumors for June, 2010
Aubrey Huff contract rumors: Would love to be back with Giants in 2011
Posted by: | CommentsSan Francisco Giants Aubrey Huff is already campaigning for his next contract in 2011.
“I would love to be back here,” Huff said.
Huff signed a one-year, $3 million contract last off-season.
“I was talking with Pat Burrell, saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be a kick if we could finish our careers here?’ We’re really enjoying it. I know I am. I’d love to be back. But it’s up to the front office. I’ve just got to go out and play my game and see what happens.”
Huff, 33, has had a pretty solid 2010 season so far. In the 67 games he has played, he is hitting .311/.401/.549 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs.
Chicago White Sox could be buyers at Trade Deadline
Posted by: | CommentsThe Chicago White Sox have gone on a recent hot streak. They have won their last seven games and 12 out of their last 14. With this streak, the team may have shifted from being sellers to becoming buyers.
“We are always trying to add,” GM Ken Williams said. “Even in 2007, you guys didn’t believe it, but we were actively in the trade market to add. We knew we would have a tough time coming back that year, but sometimes you add for the year after that thinking you have a good core.
“Even if the perception is we are moving this player or that player, it’s still with the mindset to win the next year. We have not been in the mode for selling for the sake of selling for a long, long time. We are incapable as long as I’m sitting in this chair of thinking any other way.”
Last week, Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said the team could add salary as long as they kept on winning. Reinsdorf understands the process and knows now is not the time to make a deal.
”First, if you really want to move players, the buyers aren’t there yet,” Reinsdorf said. ”It’s not time yet. Right now, people are saying, ‘I like your guy, but I’m not taking on any salary.’ That means you’re not a buyer. When you get closer to July 31, that’s when the buyers come out, and hopefully we’ll be a buyer at that time. Hopefully we won’t be a seller.”
Information from Scott Merkin of MLB.com was used in this article.
New York Mets want Cliff Lee even without signing LHP to long-term deal
Posted by: | CommentsMark Hale of The New York Post says the Mets are willing to trade for left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee without requiring a negotiating window to sign him to an extension.
If this is true, the Mets are gambling their future and they’re moving forward with a “win-it-now” attitude. The Mariners are likely interested in young, affordable and solid talent. The Mets will have to give up many of their top prospects for a possibility that Lee would only be in a Mets’ uniform until the end of this season. If the Mets can secure an extension with Lee, giving up prized Minor Leaguers would be an easier pill to swallow.
The Mets have gone through this exercise before when they traded for starting pitcher Johan Santana. The team used a 72-hour window to agree to a contract extension and insure they weren’t trading for Santana for only one season.
Hale says the Mets are unlikely to trade some of their top Major League ready players such as Ike Davis, Jenrry Mejia or Jonathon Niese. Hale says possible prospects that could be included in a deal are Ruben Tejada, Fernando Martinez, shortstop Wilmer Flores, right-handed pitcher Jeurys Familiar or catcher Josh Thole.
In case you were wondering about a possible contract extension, Hale says Lee is expected to eventually receive a contract for perhaps six-years and $150 million.
Are the Mets concerned about Johan Santana?
Posted by: | CommentsBob Klapisch of FOXSports.com wonders out-loud if the Mets should be worried about their 2-time CY Young winner Johan Santana. Despite his experience and winning ways, not to mention the way he’s revered in the clubhouse, Santana is experiencing what some talent evaluators say is the onset of his decline phase. “He’s in his late prime,” is how one scout put it. As of late, Mike Pelfrey has moved into the role as the most feared Mets pitcher, something that would be unthinkable considering Santana is only a few years removed from being one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. According to Fangraphs.com, Santana’s average four-seamer is under 90-mph for the first time in his career, and there’ve been instances this season where he’s sat at 85-86 mph.
Could that mean a Cliff Lee trade or Roy Oswalt is on the horizon? It all depends on the trade chips as a Jon Niese for Cliff Lee trade would never happen according to a Mets senior official. In addition, the Mets have no interest in either Kevin Millwood or Jake Westbrook, having faced both in the last 10 days.
Update – Akinori Iwamura Rumors: Teams showing interest
Posted by: | Comments6/22 19:04: Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com says the Pirates are optioning Akinori Iwamura to Triple-A Indianapolis. They could not find a suitable trade for Iwamura. He will report to Indianapolis on Friday.
6/21 11:48: Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neal Huntington said, “a handful of clubs have expressed some level of interest” in trading for Akinor Iwamura. Many teams have turned down the Pirates offers.
“We’ll put some closure to it, one way or another, hopefully early this week,” Huntington said.
The Pirates recently designated Iwamura for assignment and have asked him to accept a demotion to Triple-A.
Akinori, 31, was hitting .182/.292/.267 in 54 games with the Pirates this season. He was acquired by the Pirates from the Tampa Bay Rays last November for right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez.
Information from Rob Biertempfel of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review was used in this article.
Update – Adam Dunn Contract Rumors: Nationals looking into contract extension
Posted by: | Comments6/22 18:23: When asked about the possibility of being traded, Dunn said, “I hear this every single year. This is part of baseball and signing two-year deals that I hate. There is always a possibility of getting traded, but that is out of my control. I think we have a very good nucleus of guys here. I don’t think we need to break up that corps.”
Information from Bill Ladson of MLB.com was used in this article.
6/22 15:28: Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post says the Nationals remain interested in extending the contract of first baseman Adam Dunn.
“We’re looking into it,” GM Mike Rizzo said. “We’ve been talking about it since spring training. We’re looking at all things, every way to improve the club. We like where Adam is at offensively and defensively. He’s a big part of the clubhouse. He’s a big part of the middle of the lineup.”
Dunn is a free agent after this season, and he could be a possible trade chip if the team decides to move him by the July 31st trade deadline. Dunn would like to stay in Washington. He is wrapping up a two-year, $20 million contract, and has been optimistic that an extension will occur. Both parties have discussed a contract extension, but nothing formal has been submitted.
Earlier this month, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggested Dunn could be a perfect replacement for incumbent Red Sox DH David Ortiz after this season.
Seattle Mariners sign David Winfree to a Minor League Deal
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to the Scaranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Twitter account, the Seattle Mariners have signed outfielder David Winfree to a Minor League deal. Winfree has been assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.
Last week, Bleacher Reports said this about Winfree:
Yankees minor league outfielder David Winfree has a clause in his contract that allows him to look for a team that is willing to put him on the 40-man roster. The clause only allows him 24 hours to find this team and that time started either yesterday or today so if we don’t get any updates by tomorrow we can assume he’s staying with the Yankees
Update – Blue Jays OF Fred Lewis hates Giants fans? Calls them F*GS?
Posted by: | Comments6/22: 17:22: Here’s an screen capture from one of our readers Adam L. showing the homophobic remarks made by Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Fred Lewis:
The resolution isn’t the best, but you can still make out the words. Here’s what he said:
Role call for all the F*GS on my page. If you don’t delete yourself I will do it for you ok. If you have a Twitter name by these names you so GaaY—SFNando, 55Franchise Kelly McQuiggan and goldengatebias home girls get your you what off my page. Oh yeah another W today run tell that…..LOL more jealous fans(giants)”
Lewis has since hid all of his postings on his Facebook account.
6/20: 21:55: Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Fred Lewis, now with the Blue Jays, was not too happy with his former fan base over the weekend. On his Facebook page he said this on Friday night:
Attention all naysayers!!!! Get the **** off my page and go back to Twitter. If I find you lord knows what will happen. Keep it up you lame fans. Keep talking about me on Twitter and following me on Facebook. All your players hugged me and said they were happy for me even your coaches but we still got the W. How you love that???
Apparently he also dropped the F*G word on his Twitter account (which is now deactivated) Facebook account. This is what was supposedly said (source Friscofastball.com and MLB.com forums), but we cannot verify it since Lewis’ Twitter account is up nor is it up on his Facebook acccount anymore:
Role call for all the F*GS on my page. If you don’t delete yourself I will do it for you ok. If you have a Twitter name by these names you so GaaY—SFNando, 55Franchise Kelly McQuiggan and goldengatebias home girls get your you what off my page. Oh yeah another W today run tell that…..LOL more jealous fans(giants)”
Former teammate and current Los Angeles Angels infielder, Kevin Frandsen, replied to his posting on Facebook and said:
There supposedly was a media guideline sent out to players and workers letting them know that “Big Brother” is watching what they post on Twitter. Did Lewis find a loophole in this rule by keeping his words on Facebook?
Lewis and the Jays took 2 of 3 from his former team.
Very special thanks to S. Williams from our Facebook page for the tip.
Oakland Athletics designate Eric Patterson for assignment
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Jane Lee of MLB.com, the Oakland athletics have designated Eric Patterson for assignment. The move was made to accommodate outfielder Coco Crisp, who returned from the disabled list.
Patterson, 27, was hitting .204/.255/.408 with 4 home runs and 9 RBIs in 45 games with the A’s this season.
