Rumors for June, 2010
Nyjer Morgan Trade Rumors: Would the Red Sox or Giants be interested in OF?
Posted by: | CommentsJohn Paul Morosi of FOXSports says the Baltimore Orioles may put center fielder Nyjer Morgan on the trade market. The team’s starting lineup did not have Morgan in the outfield, and Morosi wonders if this happens with greater frequency, it could be a sign that Morgan is available for a mid-season deal.
Morgan is currently hitting a career-low .248, but his speed could make him attractive as a platoon or fourth outfielder who need left-handed hitting.
The Boston Red Sox could be a good candidate since they have sustained injuries across their outfielder. The San Francisco Giants could also be in the market for an outfielder, but they would not view Morgan as an upgrade to Andres Torres.
New York Yankees sign first round pick Cito Culver
Posted by: | CommentsBryan Hoch of MLB.com says the New York Yankees have agreed to terms with switch-hitting shortstop Christopher “Cito” Culver, the team’s first-round selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.
Culver, 17, was the 32nd overall pick in this year’s draft. The Irondequoit High School graduate was committed to the University of Maryland, but now has changed to plans.
“We are very excited to get Cito signed so quickly and get him out on the field to begin his development as a Major League prospect,” said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ vice president of amateur scouting.
Toronto Blue Jays sign Nick Green
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Mark Zwolinski of The Star, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed veteran right-handed hitter Nick Green to a Major League contract.
Green was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of May.
In early April, there were rumors that Green would return to the Boston Red Sox, a team he played for in 2009. He had an opt-out date in his contract, but the Dodgers called him up before he could exercise the opt-out.
Green, 31, was hitting .125 (1-for-8) in five games for the Dodgers this season.
Boston Red Sox designate Boof Bonser for assignment
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to DJ Bean of WEEI.com, the Boston Red Sox have designated pitcher Boof Bonser for assignment. Bonser, 28, made two appearances for the Red Sox, allowing four earned runs in two innings of work.
Bonser was the odd man out because the the team wanted a second left-hander behind Hideki Okajima, so the team kept Dustin Richardson on the roster.
Manager Terry Francona said that Bonser is “pretty healthy” and “Boof is going to pitch in the Big Leagues.”
Cleveland Indians Rumors: Austin Kearns, Russell Branyan, Jhonny Peralta, Jake Westbrook
Posted by: | CommentsBob Hunter of The Columbus Dispatch says Major League scouts are preparing for the Cleveland Indians annual summer fire sale. Here are a few candidates that could be moved before July 31.
Austin Kearns: only 30 and could be viewed as blocking Matt LaPorta. Ken Rosenthal said Kearns would be a good candidate to be traded for Heath Bell of the San Diego Padres. Kearns will be a free agent after this season.
Russell Branyan: Could be a low cost option for teams looking for first base help.
Jhonny Peralta: The infielder is in the last year of his contract. Peralta has experience at shortstop and third base so he could give teams infield flexibility.
Jake Westbrook: Westbrook is in the last year of his contract, and there are indications that the Indians are going to try to re-sign him. The right-hander’s name has come up with the New York Mets and the team had a first-hand look at him on Thursday night.
VIDEO: B.J. Upton has World Cup fever
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s a cool video of Tampa Bay Rays B.J. Upton showing his love for soccer. It kind of reminds of the old Tiger Woods Nike commercials.
Pedro Martinez Rumors: Wants to play for contending team
Posted by: | CommentsThe agent for Pedro Martinez says the pitcher “wants to play”, but he only wants to play for a team that has a chance to win.
“He’s going to be the one to let me know, but it has to be the right situation. I know Pedro wants to play, but it definitely has to be a contending team, one that has a chance to make the playoffs and go deep,” Fernando Cuza told the Daily News. “Pedro’s in the D.R., maintaining himself in shape.”
Baltimore Orioles Rumors: Ty Wigginton and Kevin Millwood likely to be traded?
Posted by: | CommentsBrittany Ghiroli of MLB.com says the Baltimore Orioles are open for busienss, however, the team isn’t expected to have a fire sale.
“We wouldn’t [make trades] just for the sake of moving payroll,” president Andy MacPhail said Monday, adding that the fire-sale approach isn’t something he anticipates at this year’s July 31 Trade Deadline.
“Right now, people that have interest in our club [for] the guys that are producing and, although we would have to consider that given the circumstances we find ourselves in, you would need to think that you got something back that would be helpful in the future.”
Players that that could be trade candidates include Ty Wigginton, Miguel Tejada, Kevin Millwood, Jeremy Guthrie, Will Ohman and Luke Scott.
Wigginton and Millwood have been subjects of trade rumors this month as possible candidates for the New York Mets. Nothing formal has taken place other than the rumors.
6/17 11:44: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates added a y ear to Huntington’s three-year contract and the team exercised teh 2011 option on Russell’s contract.
6/17 12:23: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, Pirates president Frank Coonelly confirmed that during the offseason, the Pirates extended both and Hunting and Russell through 2011.
6/17 12:14: According to one Major League source of Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Pittsburgh Pirates have already extended GM Neal Huntington’s contract through 2011 and the team may have exercised manager John Russell’s club option for 2010.
Club president Frank Coonelly, citing club policy about “non-player personnel,” would not comment on the contracts of Russell and Huntington.
“Even though that policy has been unsuccessful in eliminating or even reducing the speculation regarding potential dismissals of valued employees, we are going to continue to decline to discuss the status of these employees,” Coonelly said in an e-mail. “They are very well aware of our expectations as an organization and how we feel about them as members of the organization.”
Over the last coupel of days, rumors have circulated about Russell being fired. FOXSports said that there is sentiment within the organization to dismiss Russell to send a message to fans that the club is making an effort for a positive change.
Russell is in his third season with the Pirates and has a 152-234 (.394) record. Bench coach Gary Varsho and Triple-A manager Frank Kremblas and Double-A manager Matt Walbeck would be the leading candidates to replace Russell on an interim basis.
Outside candidates include former Indians manager Eric Wedge and Cardinals bench coach Jose Oquendo.
Chicago White Sox designate Jayson Nix for assignment
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to the Chicago Sun-Times, Jayson Nix was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox. In Nix’s palce, Dayan Viciedo has been called up from Triple-A Charlotte.
Viciedo, 21, was hitting .288 with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs and 61 RBIs for Charlotte.
”This is the one thing I hate about this job,” manager Ozzie Guillen said about sending Nix away. ”When you have a great guy — very good with the club, coachable, very professional — and you have to do this. You ask me about regrets about this job, it’s that.”
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Nix said that he hopes another team grabs him for the Big Leagues, but if he clears waivers, the White Sox are his first choice.
Nix, 28, was hitting .163/.263/.245 in 24 games for the White Sox this season.
