Rumors for August, 2010
Arizona Diamondbacks sign Mike Hampton to a minor league deal
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According to a team press release, the Diamondbacks have signed Mike Hampton to a minor-league contract. Hampton will be assigned to Arizona’s Triple-A franchise in Reno. Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com added that GM Jerry DiPoto played with Hampton in Colorado, loves the makeup, believes it will be positive influence on young Dbacks’ pitchers. Hampton will be used only as a relief pitcher. Hampton will make his first appearance on Monday and will pitch one inning.
Hampton is better known for signing a six year $121mm contract with Colorado prior to the 2001 season and not living up to to the high expectations. Prior to 2001, Hampton had gone 7 seasons with an ERA of 3.83 or lower.
In 2009, Hampton pitched for the Houston Astros going 7-10 with a 5.30 ERA. Check out his complete stats here.
Los Angeles Dodgers designate Juan Castro for assignment
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According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers have designated infielder Juan Castro for assignment.
Castro, 38, played one game for the Dodgers this season. He was 0-for-3 with 1 walk. He played 54 games for the Philadelphia earlier this year. He hit .198 with 13 RBIs in 54 games with the Phillies. The Dodgers signed the infielder to a Minor League contract on July 17.
Billy Wagner to retire after this season despite $6.5 million guarantee
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Despite triggering his vesting option last night with his 30th save and 50th game finished, Atlanta Braves’ closer Billy Wagner will retire after this season.
“I’m retiring,” the 38-year-old lefty said today, according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t know how to say it in a politically correct way, that anybody’s going to believe me.
His $6.5 million option automatically vests by finishing his 50th game, so he’s walking away from a lot of guaranteed money.
Despite putting up very impressive numbers – 1.68 ERA, 30 saves, a .170 opponents’ average, 77 strikeouts and 15 walks in 52 2/3 innings, he’s ready to hang it up to spend more time with his wife and four kids.
“Me and my family have made plans for retirement,” he said. “I don’t need it anymore. I’m tired of the expectations, tired of the criticism, tired of people who never played trying to tell me how to play.
“And I enjoy my family, unlike [some others]. So I want to be there for them. I want to get to see them play ball, and be a dad.”
However, there may be a stipulation for Wagner to change his mind. “[manager Bobby Cox] asked me a couple of times, ‘Are you sure?’ Wagner said, smiling. “I said, well if you don’t retire, I won’t retire.”
Cox will also retire after this season.
Ken Rosenthal on Dan Uggla, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and Manny Ramirez
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Here are a few pieces of news to ponder on your Saturday afternoon courtesy of Ken Rosenthal’s Full Count:
The negotiations between Dan Uggla and the Florida Marlins are not off to a great start. The Marlins are offering Uggla three years, but Uggla wants five years (his final year of arbitration plus four more). Uggla is 30-year-olds and is currently making $7.8 million, and in a five-year deal, he’ll want something in the $55-60 million range. That dollar amount is obviously pretty high for the tight budgeted Marlins, but Rosenthal points out that Uggla has 149 career home runs – the most by any second baseman in history in their first five years.
The Chicago Cubs’ number one need is a left-handed slugger at one of two positions: first base or right field. Internally, the Cubs can go to Tyler Colvin. If they go elsewhere, Adam Dunn, Carlos Pena and Lance Berkman are free agents after the season and Prince Fielder could be available by trade. The team’s options to add to right field are slim. Rosenthal adds that Chicago will also want to add a starting pitcher regardless of what they do with Carlos Zambrano. They could reunite with Ted Lilly, who will be a free agent after the season.
Arizona Diamondbacks’ president Derrick Hall is very pleased with interim GM Jerry DiPoto and interim manager Kirk Gibson. However, Hall will start the interview process for general managers at the beginning of September rather than wait for the off-season. DiPoto will be at the top of the list, but Hall figures to interview former Padres’ GM Kevin Towers, Dodgers assistant GM Logan White and Yankees’ vice president Damon Oppenheimer (if New York grants permission). The next GM will then have the say as to who the next manager will be.
Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers is expected to come off the disabled list this weekend or early next week, but the team will not place him on waivers immediately. Other teams will want to see him play and make sure he is healthy and productive. The Chicago White Sox still loom as a team that will likely put in a claim. Chicago doesn’t like Brad Hawpe too much, and they don’t think the Tigers will trade them Johnny Damon.
Update – Greg Dobbs clears waivers – accepts Minor League assignment
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8/21 11:47: Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Enquirer says Dobbs has cleared waivers and will accept a Minor League assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
8/17 11:55: Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Enquirer tweets that the Phillies have designated third baseman Greg Dobbs for assignment. The move was done to make room for Chase Utley who was activated from the disabled list today.
Dobbs, 31, was hitting .191/.250/.319 with 4 home runs in 76 games for the Phillies this season.
Brad Hawpe Rumors: Texas Rangers need an outfielder
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Former Colorado Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe is looking for employment, and he could end up with the Texas Rangers. Here’s why:
- He’s from the area. Hawpe played at Fort Worth Boswell High School.
- He has a relationship with Rangers’ hitting coach Clint Hurdle, his former manager with the Rockies.
- The Rangers need an outfield replace for Nelson Cruz who can’t come off the disabled list until August 30.
General manager Jon Daniels declined comment on Hawpe, but he said the Rangers would consider adding the right piece, according to The Dallas Morning News.
“We’ve looked around while Nellie’s been out,” Daniels said. “For the most part, what we’ve got is what we’ve got. But we’re always open to adding a guy who might be able to help us fill a role.”
Hawpe, 31, is owed approximately $2.2 million for the remainder of the year. He’s batting .255 with with seven home runs and 37 RBIs this season with the Rockies. The San Francisco Giants are “open-minded” about adding the outfielder, so the Rangers could have competition. He was officially designated for assignment by the Rockies on Thursday, August 19.
VIDEO: Foul Ball Friday – Oakland A’s ballboy woos girl with his balls
Posted by: | Comments8/21 08:19: Looks like there’s more to this story. 21-year-old ball boy, Kevin Fennell, ended up giving the girl, Jacki Lynch, five balls that evening. The last ball read, “How about a phone number for our Ball Man, Kevin?”
According to Jane Lee of MLB.com, the two are going out for drinks next week.
Not a bad night for Lynch who was attending her first A’s game with her college friends.
8/20 01:46: Okay.. bad headline, but it’s FRIDAY!!!
Maybe Bo Wyble from last week’s Houston Astros‘ game could learn a few things here (hint: catch the ball then give it to the girl). Check out Kevin the ball boy at the Oakland A’s game on Thursday night trying to make friends with a girl in the stands – twice.
Maybe it was because the Tampa Bay Rays and Evan Longoria was in town. Longoria has creative ways to find girls too.
Indians acquire RHP Zach McAllister as PTBNL from Austin Kearns deal
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Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says via Twitter that right-handed pitcher Zach McAllister is the player to be named later from the July 30th Austin Kearns deal with the New York Yankees.
| Team | Acquires |
| New York Yankees | OF Austin Kearns |
| Cleveland Indians | RHP Zach McAllister |
McAllister, 22, is 8-10 with a 5.09 ERA in 24 starts this year for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He has a 1.530 WHIP with a 6.0 SO/9 ratio.
San Francisco Giants are interested in OF Brad Hawpe
Posted by: | CommentsCSNBayArea.com’s Mychael Urban has learned the San Francisco Giants are exploring the possibility of acquiring former Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe.
Bobby Evans, San Francisco’s vice president of baseball operations, said the team is “open-minded” about Hawpe, who cleared waivers Wednesday. Hawpe was designated for assignment Thursday, giving Colorado 10 days to release, trade or send him to the minors.
A source close to CSNBayArea.com said the Rockies may release Hawpe rather than seek compensation if Hawpe’s agent finds a match.
Hawpe, 31, is owed approximately $2.2 million for the remainder of the year. He’s batting .255 with with seven home runs and 37 RBIs this season with the Rockies. He was officially designated for assignment by the Rockies on Thursday, August 19.
Phillies Prospect Tyson Gillies Charged with Cocaine Possession
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Tyson Gillies, a top prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, was arrested early Friday morning on a felony charge of possession of cocaine, according to Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times.
Here’s the team’s statement:
The Phillies have confirmed that Tyson Gillies was charged today on a drug possession charge arising out of an incident that was alleged to have occurred in June. Because this is an open case, we will not comment further at this time.”
Gillies, 21, came to the Phillies from the Seattle Mariners organization in the Cliff Lee trade last winter. He was arrested by Pinellas Country Sheriff’s offers at 1:10 am and was released at 10:52 am on $2,000 bond.
The arrest stemmed from a June 11th incident where he was given a courtesy ride by a police officer. He didn’t have enough cash for a cab ride home so the officer gave him a ride to a hotel. When he left the police cruiser, there was a small bag full of a “white powdery substance” on the back seat of where he sat. He was advised that he could be arrested at a later time.
Gillies had been out with an injured left hamstring for the last two months. He batted .238 in Reading with two home runs and six RBIs in 26 games.
