Rumors for June, 2010
Pittsburgh Pirates fire Pierogi mascot over criticism of team
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Dan Majors of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 24-year old Andrew Kurtz posted a message on his Facebook page aimed at team president Frank Coonelly, general manager Neal Huntington and manager John Russell. It read: “Coonelly extended the contracts of Russell and Huntington through the 2011 season. That means a 19-straight losing streak. Way to go Pirates.”
Not a big deal for the everyday Pirate fan, but Kurtz was employed by the Pirates – as a pierogi. A what? Kurtz is one of the 18 men who take turns entertaining fans by running around in a baked dumpling costume. Four costumed pierogies race around the outfield warning track in the fifth inning of every game at PNC Park and then exit into the ballpark seating area to greet fans.
Within four hours of his Facebook post, he received a call from Dan Millar, the Pirates’ mascot coordinator.
“He called as the game was going on,” Kurtz said. “He wanted to know what was up with my Facebook message. I told him I didn’t mean anything by it, and he was like, ‘Well, why’d you put it up?’ I said, it was just an opinion. But he took it negative and talked to his boss. And then they wanted me to turn my uniform in.”
“I apologized and asked for a second chance, but he did not take my apology,” Mr. Kurtz said. “He was like, ‘Nah, it’s too late.’ ”
“I think it was very unfairly done,” Kurtz mother said. “If they thought that what he said was wrong, they could have just said, ‘Look, take it off Facebook.’ And then let it go.”
Kurtz gets paid $25 per race and the job includes tickets to games and $50 for public appearances. According to the Associated Press, an independent minor league team, the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things, immediately offered Kurtz a job as one of its racing hot dogs.
Washington Nationals Rumors: To be buyers and sellers at the trade deadline?
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of FOXSports says the Washington Nationals could be both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told Rosenthal that he’s under no orders to trim payroll, and he could take on salary if it meant taking on a long-term asset.
Right now the Nationals have five starters on the disabled list, including Jordan Zimmermann who is coming back from Tommy John surgery. Could the Nats make a trade for a starter come July?
Earlier this month, Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt was open to waiving his no-trade clause to pitch for the Nationals.
“They’ve been playing well,” Oswalt said. “They’ve got a good offensive club. I saw where they have (Stephen) Strasburg coming up. He should make an immediate impact, especially, because no one’s seen him in the league, early. There’s always a little adjustment period there.”
Oswalt has a balance of $31 million remaining on his contract that is good through 2011 with a team option for 2012. Could Oswalt be the long-term asset that Rizzo was talking about?
Seattle Mariners Rumors: Want young Major League hitters for Cliff Lee
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of FOXSports says that the Seattle Mariners are telling prospective buyers of Cliff Lee that they want young Major League hitters in exchange for Lee. Rosenthal says this could pose a problem for many buyers.
Rosenthal says that teams like the New York Mets would not want to trade away Ike Davis on a short-term rental, nor would the Los Angeles Dodgers give up players such as Matt Kemp or James Loney.
It’s possible that a team could trade a prospect to the Mariners, but they would need to sign Lee to a long-term deal in order to make this happen.
Rosenthal says the same could be said for the Astros and Roy Oswalt. The team wants to have a financial relief of his $31 million contract balance and young prospects in return.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are wanting to deal pitcher Dan Haren, but it’s unlikely the D-backs will trade him to a team in the National League West.
Minnesota Twins Rumors: Twins to be most aggressive at the Trade Deadline?
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of FOXSports asked a GM which team he expects to be the most aggressive at the trade deadline, and the GM said the Minnesota Twins.
Rosenthal says that many in the industry expect the Twins to be players for left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee, but ultimately their greater need is at third base and they team may need bullpen help as well.
The Twins are in a strong financial position to take on salary. The team has a strong box office take in Target Field’s inaugural year and they also have insurance on closer Joe Nathan’s contract. Rosenthal speculates that the Twins could get back 50% of Nathan’s salary $11.25 million (or $5.6 million). These extra dollars could be used to take on a high priced player that could get the team well into October.
LHP Jack Taschner opts for free agency
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, left-handed pitcher Jack Taschner has refused an assignment to Triple-A and has opted for free agency.
Taschner, 32, was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 8. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 6.05 ERA in 17 appearances for the Pirates this year.
6/19 22:44: Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun says the Orioles continue to have conversation with the Oakland A’s about Fox.
The A’s have 10 days to either trade him, push him through waivers and assign him to the Minor Leagues or give him his outright release. Because he is unlikely to clear waivers, Oakland will be better to make a deal for Fox.
6/16 16:11: Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun says the Orioles have discussed acquiring catcher-first baseman Jake Fox from the Oakland Athlatics. Fox was designated for assignment by the A’s on Sunday.
Zrebiec says that if the Orioles add Fox, it probably means the end for Garrett Atkins in Baltimore.
Fox was hitting .264/.237/.591 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 38 games for the Athletics in 2010.
The Boston Red Sox are having a shortage of outfielders and many have wondered if they are looking for outside help. The team is said to be currently weighing the benefit of obtaining an external outfielder or waiting until Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury become healthier in the second half of the season.
Buster Olney of ESPN.com says that the Kansas City Royals have a couple of outfielders that could be good candidates for the Red Sox – Rick Ankiel and David DeJesus.
Ankiel was signed in the offseason by the Royals with an eye toward flipping him before the deadline. He’s been hurt since late April but could build some trade value if he returns soon and gets hot. He would cost about $1.1 million as a two-month rental, including the $500,000 buyout for next year to avoid a $6 million option.
DeJesus is making $4.7 million this season and $6 million next year unless the Royals exercise a $500,000 buyout. Earlier this week, DeJesus expressed his desire to stay in Kansas City.
Update – Philadelphia Phillies designate Scott Mathieson for assignment
Posted by: | Comments6/19 13:23: Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer says Mathieson was DFA’d to clear a spot for Dane Sardinha.
Mathieson was placed on optional waivers, a rare waiver rule. Here’s Gelb’s explanation:
There are four types of waivers, the rarest being optional waivers. They are required when a team wishes to option a player who has options remaining but is more than three calendar years removed from his major-league debut. Mathieson falls under that category; he made his debut on June 17, 2006. And he has options left.
6/19 10:39: According to Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies have designated Scott Mathieson for assignment. Gelb explains that Mathieson had options left, but assistant GM Scott Proefrock did not explain the situation, rather he said it was a procedural move.
Mathieson, 26, made one appearance for the Phillies this year. He went 2/3 of an inning and gave up three hits and two earned runs.
