Rumors for August, 2010
Update – Atlanta Braves holding onto Troy Glaus – will recall INF on Wednesday
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8/31 23:16: FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal says the Braves are not trading Glaus. Rather the team is recalling him Wednesday.
8/29 10:05: Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says a trade of Atlanta Braves’ infielder Troy Glaus is possible. One Major League source close to Morosi says multiple teams have shown interest in Glaus and he could fit in for teams with needs at first base and/or designated hitter. Candidates for such as need include the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers.
There are approximately two days left before the August 31st deadline to set post season rosters and many of the contenders are trying to round out their rosters in preparation for a World Series run.
Glaus was placed on the disabled list earlier this month, and is currently on a Minor League rehabilitation assignment where he’s hitting .391 with two home runs and 8 RBIs in six games. He’s hitting .239 with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs with the big league club in 115 games this season. He carries a balance of about $300,000 should a team pick him up for September.
Texas Rangers designate Brandon Boggs for assignment
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Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram says the Texas Rangers have designated outfielder Brandon Boggs for assignment to clear a roster spot for newly acquired Jeff Francoeur.
Boggs, 27, was 0-for-7 in 4 games for the Rangers’ big league club this year. His best year was 2008 when he hit .226/.333/.399 with 8 home runs and 41 RBIs in 101 games for the Rangers.
VIDEO: Aroldis Chapman debut with 103 MPH fastball
Posted by: | CommentsWe’ve heard a lot about the left-handed phenom from Cuba – Aroldis Chapman, and now we get to see what he has. Check out the video from his debut:
His line for the night: 1 inning pitched, 0 runs, 3 batters faced and 1 strikeout.
He reached 103 MPH this evening (at least from what I saw on the video at the 2:20 mark). He was clocked recently hitting 105 MPH in the Minors, so it’ll be crazy to see what will happen once he gets comfortable out there.
The left-handed pitcher signed a six-year, $30 million contract with the Reds last January with the intention of him being a future ace of the franchise.
Update – San Diego Padres looking for starting pitcher
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8/31 20:15: A source from the Padres says via FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal, “all quiet . . . don’t expect anything.” Rosenthal adds that it’s not for a lack of effort, the team just couldn’t pull off a deal for a starting pitcher.
8/31 14:34: FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal tweets that the San Diego Padres are looking for starting pitching. Rosenthal says nothing is close at this time.
Some starting pitchers that could be moved include Baltimore Orioles’ Kevin Millwood or Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ted Lilly. Pure speculation, but a long-shot for the Padres could be right-handed pitcher Mark Prior who has had two previous and unsuccessful Minor League stints with the Padres. Prior signed with Orange County of the independent Golden Baseball League earlier this month.
Yesterday, Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune said the Padres attempts to acquire Dodgers’ starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda ended over the weekend when the Dodgers revoked Kuroda from waivers. The two teams were negotiating a waiver trade when the Dodgeres decided to pull him from waivers.
Boston Red Sox release Jeremy Hermida
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ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes says the Boston Red Sox have released outfielder Jeremy Hermida.
In 52 games for the Red Sox this season, Hermida .203/.257/.358 with 5 home runs and 27 RBIs. Hermida was designated for assignment at the end of July, but cleared waivers and was assigned to the team’s Triple-A affiliate.
Update – Texas Rangers acquire Jeff Francoeur for Joaquin Arias
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8/31 19:42: According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, the Texas Rangers have acquired Jeff Francoeur. He adds per team press release that the Mets have acquired infielder Joaquin Arias.
“When looking at the composition of our 25-man roster, specifically our outfield, we are relatively left-handed,” assistant GM Thad Levine said via Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram. “It gives us an opportunity to pick our spots and platoon with guys like Murphy and Borbon rather than expose them to every left-handed pitcher.”
| Team | Acquires |
| Texas Rangers | OF Jeff Francoeur |
| New York Mets | INF Joaquin Arias |
8/31 16:43: Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman says there are discussions involving Rangers’ infielder Joaquin Arias in exchange for the Mets’ Jeff Francoeur.
8/31 14:11: Sources close to ESPN’s Adam Rubin says the Texas Rangers are considering New York Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur.
“His name has definitely been talked about,” one source said.
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman adds, “rangers and mets are indeed talking about francoeur. would give rangers OF flexibility, extra righty bat”
Yesterday, Richard Durrett of the ESPN.com said the team is looking for a right-handed bat via the waiver wire, and at the time suggested Francoeur as possible candidate at the time.
Francoeur, 26, is hitting .236/.293/.369 with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs in 123 games for the Mets this season.
Joe Torre on managing next year – Working out a new deal won’t be an issue
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Joe Torre’s status on returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers as their manager for 2011 is still up in the air, but should he decide to come back working out a new deal won’t be an issue.
According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, Torre said, “I thought we had an understanding” when extension talks broke off during Spring Training.
Torre has not indicated whether or not he will retire. Earlier this month, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com said Torre will announce his plans for next season the Dodgers’ clinch a post season berth or are eliminated from playoff contention. His name has come up for open managerial positions such as the Chicago Cubs and possibly the New York Mets.
Should Torre retire, candidates to take his job include Don Mattingly and Tim Wallach.
Ted Lilly staying put with the Dodgers – not being traded
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Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says the Los Angeles Dodgers have pulled Ted Lilly off of waivers, so the left-handed pitcher is staying with the team for the rest of the season. Heyman adds that the New York Yankees were at least one of the teams that claimed Lilly off of waivers.
Lilly was acquired by the Dodgers before the July 31st trade deadline. With an outside chance of making the playoffs, it was believed that Los Angeles may try to save on payroll and dump players such as Lilly.
Teams such as the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres are known to be pursuing starting pitching in preparation for the final month of the season and the playoffs.
Lilly is making $12 million this season in the final year of his contract, and there’s a possibility the Dodgers may offer Lilly arbitration this winter.
Bobby Valentine to return to New York Mets as manager?
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MLB Network’s Peter Gammons told WFAN that he thinks Bobby Valentine will be the next manager of the New York Mets. Here’s the transcript via Matthew Cerrone’s MetsBlog:
“I think there are two things: 1) He has a history and a good working relationship with Omar Minaya and 2) he is one guy that, though Jeff Wilpon will not always like what he hears from Bobby, I think they can have a relationship where Bobby could say to Jeff, ‘No, we’re not doing this, that’s the wrong thing,’ and in the end they’ll win out together, because they have a mutual respect. I just think now is the right time to bring Bobby back.”
Earlier this month, friends of Valentine said that he would be interested in the vacant Seattle Mariners’ job, and Ichiro lobbied the team’s ownership about hiring Valentine. Valentine has not publically said anything about his interest in the Mariners.
Texas Rangers NOT likely to acquire Boston Red Sox Mike Lowell
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8/31 15:22: A club official close to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan said “Nothing is happening with Lowell.”
8/31 14:26: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan says the Texas Rangers are in talks with the Boston Red Sox for Mike Lowell. Sullivan says the conversations “have heated up.”
The talks between the Rangers and Red Sox for Lowell started last winter. At the time, the two teams agreed to a deal that would have sent Lowell to the Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez. However, because Lowell needed surgery to his thumb, the deal was called off. The two teams revisited the deal this summer, but they are becoming more serious as the deadline approaches.
Earlier today we heard the Rangers are talking with the Mets for Jeff Francouer, but Sullivan says the Rangers main target appears to be Lowell.
In his limited play this season, Lowell is hitting .234/.309/.373 with 4 home runs and 20 RBIs.
