Rumors for July, 2010
Dwight Gooden abandons family – officially a deadbeat dad
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Former New York Mets and Yankees pitcher and 1985 Cy Young Award winner Dwight “Doc” Gooden has abandoned his family, according to his wife Monique Gooden (via Tim Bontemps and Doug Auer of the New York Post). He has left two kids and his wife to survive on public assistance and food stamps.
Monique and his two children, 5-year-old Dylan and 4-month-old daughter Milan, are living with her parents in Columbia Maryland.
“He’s left us with no money,” his spouse said. “When I got here to Maryland, I had to go apply for social services, food stamps and health insurance for the kids. He has offered no financial assistance to us.”
Monique says she is unaware of her husband’s whereabouts, but he had been in a hotel somewhere in New Jersey back in May.
“You know what, right now I’m so stressed, I’ve been so stressed that every day has been a struggle for me,” she said. “I just want support for the kids at this time . . . I just want to take care of them.”
The New York Mets are scheduled to honor the 45-year-old former All-Star and 1984 Rookie of the Year into the team’s Hall of Fame next week.
Gooden was charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident, child endangerment and motor vehicle violations in New Jersey after an accident that he was involved in back in March of this year.
Monique has not seen her husband since a court appearance on June 22, and the couple is due back in court in mid-August.
Colorado Rockies shifting focus on acquiring RH first baseman
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Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says the Colorado Rockies do not know when first baseman Todd Helton will be back, so the team has shifted its focus on acquiring a right-handed hitting first baseman. Helton was placed on the disabled list earlier this month for a back injury.
Florida Marlins’ Jorge Cantu was a candidate to be acquired, but his price was too high to begin with. Now it looks like the Marlins have gotten back into contention, and may not want to trade Cantu.
Baltimore Orioles’ Ty Wigginton may be out of reach too. The Orioles have been asking for a young shortstop in return.
The Rockies have made an inquiry on Philadelphia Phillies’ Jayson Werth, but the Phillies are asking for a Major League starting pitcher in exchange for Werth, or they won’t trade him.
San Diego Padres to focus on adding a hitter rather than starting pitcher for now
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Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says that the San Diego Padres need starting pitching, but they may focus on a hitter for now. The team believes pitching could be available at a later time since many pitchers could clear waivers rather easily in August, such as Cleveland Indians right-hander Jake Westbrook.
Rosenthal says that you shouldn’t expect the Padres to “wow” you. What the team likely ends up doing is making two or three small acquisitions for guys that won’t cost a lot, but will help the team continue to contend.
Chicago White Sox GM confident to land either Prince Fielder or Adam Dunn
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Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says that Chicago White Sox GM, Kenny Williams is confident that he’ll land either Prince Fielder or Adam Dunn.
Williams continues to talk with the Brewers about Fielder, but there isn’t an obvious match. The Brewers want pitching in return for Fielder.
The Washington Nationals need to be “overwhelmed” for Dunn.
If the White Sox do not get either Fielder or Dunn, they are unlikely to reach down to get Seattle Mariners’ Russell Branyan or Colorado Rockies’ Brad Hawpe. What the Sox will end up doing is going small and try to improve their bullpen and bench.
Gary Matthews Jr. becomes free agent
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7/24 12:25: According to John Fay of Cincinnati Enquirer, Gary Matthews Jr exercised his opt out clause of his contract with the Reds. He now becomes a free agent.
7/23 18:19:Gary Matthews Jr. will opt out of his Minor League contract with the Cincinnati Reds, according to his agent Scott Leventhal (via Mark Sheldon of MLB.com).
“Everything was amicable,” Leventhal said Friday night. “It just didn’t work out. It’s wasn’t for lack of performance. They didn’t have the roster spot.”
The Reds had a Saturday deadline to call up the 35-year-old Matthews to the big league club. Matthews will now opt out of his deal and will look elsewhere for a big league job.
Matthews was signed by the Reds to a Minor League deal on June 24th. The outfielder started the year with the New York Mets but was designated for assignment in June and eventually released by the team.
Ben Sheets headed to disabled list – could miss rest of the season
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Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says that right-handed pitcher Ben Sheets is headed to the disabled list.
Sheets said his elbow has been too swollen in his past two or three starts, and it’s possible that he might miss the rest of the year.
Sheets’ name has come up on the rumor mill and has become a target for the Phillies and the Twins. GM Billy Beane has said the team is under no pressure to dump payroll, and Sheets has been a welcomed presence in the clubhouse, but knowing Beane he will always entertain offers if there’s a possibility to acquire key prospects.
The 32-year-old is pitching as well as almost every pitcher on the market with a 3.64 ERA in his past 14 starts.
PRO Rumors: Angels, Dodgers, Adam LaRoche and Dan Haren
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Here are a few PRO Rumors from around the league to read as you sip your Saturday morning coffee.
-Jon Morosi of FOXSports noted that the Angels currently trail the Rangers by 7 games. He says if the Angels are swept by them, it will be difficult to for them to justify any further trades to improve their team.
-According to Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News, the Giants appear “Intrigued” by Adam LaRoche and could attempt to acquire the left handed hitter who would fill a void (left handed hitter) that Brian Sabean is attempting to fill.
-According to Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has said the Dodgers are serious buyers and are willing to trade prospects for help. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports also is reporting that the Dodgers were labeled “prominent” suitors for Dan Haren prior to ex- GM Josh Byrnes being fired. He also added that they are not considered prominent suitors now.
Here are a few MLB Trade Deadline Rumors from the folks at AOL FanHouse:
The Astros are leaning towards keeping Brett Myers, and a source puts the chances of Roy Oswalt being dealt at 50-50. (Steve Phillips)
The Cubs are fielding offers on starter Ted Lilly, but the market is slow to develop. (Steve Phillips)
Indications are that the asking price is high for Florida Marlins’ Cody Ross. (Ed Price)
The Blue Jays are fielding “tons of calls” on reliever Scott Downs. Steve Phillips adds, “His case is a tricky one for Toronto, because even though his Type A status would grant the Blue Jays two draft picks if another team signs him as a free agent, that same status might make suitors reluctant to part with the draft pick it would take to sign him on the open market.”
Pittsburgh Pirates relievers Evan Meek, Octavio Dotel and Joel Hanrahan are generating interest. (Ed Price)
The Dodgers have kicked the tires on Roy Oswalt, Danny Haren, Jake Westbrook and Ted Lilly. (Steve Phillips)
Florida Marlins taking a wait-and-see approach to Trade Deadline
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Last week, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com said the 10-game homestand of the Florida Marlins could determine whether the Marlins will be buyers or sellers by July 31. That 10-game homestand is coming to an end this Sunday, and Frisaro now says the team does not view Sunday as the day to determine whether the team is a buyer or seller.
The team is now at .500 for the first time since June 4, and the Marlins are thinking they may be able to make a run.
Frisaro says the team may make a couple of trades:
Jorge Cantu has drawn interest from the Giants, Rockies and Rangers. Cody Ross has a handful of teams — like the Red Sox, Reds, Dodgers and Braves — who are interested. Don’t expect the Marlins to deal with Atlanta.
Several teams have inquired about Leo Nunez, including the Giants, Red Sox and Tigers. Recently, the Marlins told clubs that Nunez isn’t available, at least at this point. If they, however, fall out of the race, by July 31, that may change.
Dan Uggla is not being shopped, and Ricky Nolasco also won’t likely be dealt. The Marlins are also entertaining signing Nolasco to a multi-year contract.
Ted Lilly Rumors: Lilly makes the most sense for NY Mets
Posted by: | CommentsKevin Kernan of the New York Post says the name that continues to surface for the Mets is Chicago Cubs’ left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly. Kernan says that Lilly makes the most sense for New York in a lot of ways.
“He’s a competitor,” said one NL talent scout. “He’d be a good fit for the Mets.”
The Mets have scouted Lilly’s latest outing, a 4-3 loss on Wednesday, but he only gave up one run. His velocity is down a bit, but he has pitched well recently.
As was mentioned yesterday by the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs would like to move Lilly before his next start on Tuesday.
If the Cubs drop their price for Lilly, you can expect the Mets to make a serious offer for the lefty.
