Rumors for June, 2010
Juan Rincon designated for assignment by Colorado Rockies
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies have designated right-handed pitcher Juan Rincon for assignment. Renck adds that the Rockies will know tomorrow if Rincon will remain with the organization.
Rincon, 31, was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 2 appearances for the Rockies this season.
Jerry Seinfield not too pleased with Lady Gaga’s recent baseball antics
Posted by: | CommentsComedian Jerry Seinfeld was not too pleased with Lady Gaga’s recent antics at Citi Field earlier this month. Seinfeld told radio station WFAN (via The Big Lead),
“You take one a off that, you’ve got gag … this woman is a jerk. I hate her. I can’t believe they put her in my box, which I paid for … you give people the finger and you get upgraded? Is that the world we’re living in now? It’s pathetic … why is she giving the finger? How old is the finger? How’d it even get to be the finger? … Get an act. Rhinestone bikinis and giving people the finger. She is talented, I don’t know why she’s doing this stuff … wake me when its over.”
This is a change of heart from Seinfeld, who recently said through a rep, “The Seinfelds take an optimistic view of Lady Gaga’s gesture as a sign that she wants the Mets to be in first place as badly as they do.”
Gaga was flipping off photographers and fans at a game between the Mets and Padres at Citi Field earlier this month. She also caused a ruckuss over the weekend at Yankee Stadium when she entered the clubhouse boozed up and started to fondle her boobs.
Washington Nationals Rumors: Could be buyers or sellers at trade deadline
Posted by: | CommentsWashington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said the Nationals could be either buyers or sellers between now and the July 31 trade deadline. Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post says Rizzo has the freedom to improve the team as he sees fit regardless of salaries involved.
“If there’s a good deal to be made to acquire talent, we’ll acquire it,” Rizzo said this afternoon. “There’s no marching orders to dump payroll or to add payroll. It’s, ‘What is a good deal for the Nationals in 2010 and beyond?’ It’s been a constant search. We’re always looking to make a deal. Last year, we made a deal well before the trade deadline because there was a deal there to do.”
“We’re going to make a prudent deal for the Nationals long term. If that means buying, we would buy. If that means selling, we would sell. That hasn’t changed since opening day.”
Rizzo says the biggest need is starting pitching. He acknowledges that everybody is in the same boat and many teams will be competing to acquire starting pitching.
Kosuke Fukudome Trade Rumors: Cubs aggressively trying to move OF
Posted by: | CommentsFred Mitchell and David Kaplan of The Chicago Tribune say the Cubs are aggressively trying to move outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. GM Jim Hendry supposedly is willing to eat most of this year’s salary and half of the $14 million that Fukudome is owned in 2011.
Last week it was suggested the Red Sox could be candidates for Fukudome since their outfield has been depleted with injuries.
The Cubs have a crowded outfield with rookie Tyler Colvin taking much of Fukudome’s playing time in right field. The other spots are occupied by Alfonso Soriano in left fiend and Marlon Byrd in center field.
Milwauker Brewers release RHP Brian Bruney
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Milwaukee Brewers have released right-handed pitcher Brian Bruney from Triple-A Nashville after two outings.
Bruney signed a Minor League contract with the Brewers at the beginning of June.
In 2010 with the Nationals, Bruney allowed 20 walks, 21 hits in 17 2/3 innings with a 7.64 ERA. The Nationals signed him to a $1.5 million one-year contract during the Winter.
Baltimore Orioles designate RHP Cla Meredith for assignment
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to The Sports Network via The Kansas City Star, the Baltimore Orioles have designated right-handed pitcher Cla Meredith for assignment. The team also has optioned Chris Tillman back to Triple-A Norfolk.
The move was done to accommodate Jake Fox onto the 25 and 40-man roster. Fox was acquired by the Orioles from the Oakland A’s earlier today.
Meredith was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA for the Orioles.
Detroit Tigers to call up LHP prospect Andy Oliver
Posted by: | CommentsJon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says the Detroit Tigers will call up left-handed pitching prospect Andy Oliver to start Friday against the Braves.
Oliver, 22, is 6-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 14 starts at Double-A Erie. He was the team’s second-round pick in last year’s amateur draft.
Oliver is taking the place of Rick Porcello on the Tigers’ roster. Porcello was the 2009 Rookie of the Year candidate who struggled this season.
Florida Marlins release LHP Hunter Jones
Posted by: | CommentsJoc Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post says the Florida Marlins have released left-handed pitcher Hunter Jones.
Jones, 26, was 0-0 with a 9.24 0.00 ERA in 11 appearances for the Marlins this year.
Texas Rangers Rumors: Ready to take on additional payroll
Posted by: | CommentsThe Texas Rangers are 3.5 games up in the AL West, but are in the middle of bankruptcy and an ownership transition that could create problems when trying to add to their roster come the July Trade Deadline.
Ed Price of Fanhouse says the a Rangers’ source hopes the transition goes through by mid-July and the new owners already have an increased budget in place to allow the Rangers to bump it spending on its players.
General manager Jon Daniels told FanHouse he doesn’t have exact dollar figures but said, “Conceptually, that’s the idea. The new ownership group would be prepared to come in and support us and try to add to the club.”
Price says the Rangers could make noise in the playoffs if the can get an ace. The two obvious candidates are Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners and Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros.
The Rangers confirmed that they have interest in Oswalt.
Yesterday, Astros owner Drayton McLane said that the team will be “willing to look at anything” and would not rule out absorbing a portion of a contract if it allows the Astros to get a better prospect in a trade. (source: Zachary Levin of the Houston Chronicle)
“We’re going to look into the starters’ market,” Daniels said.
