Rumors for August, 2010
VIDEO: Manny Ramirez’s ejection in last Dodgers’ at-bat
Posted by: | CommentsOn Sunday, PRO Rumors’ writer Ryan, wrote about Manny Ramirez’s ejection in his last appearance as a Los Angeles Dodger. For those that would like to re-live the moment, here’s the video:
Manny Ramirez to go to White Sox as a waiver claim
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8/29 18:36: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says “manny is gone, as la is done with him. appears to be pure waiver claim, where chisox just pay his salary.”
8/29 17:58: According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, the Dodgers are trying to decide whether to take cash relief from White Sox and have them pay entire remaining salary or take 3B prospect Jon Gilmore and pay chunk of Manny’s salary.
8/29 17:40: According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Dodgers are still discussing possible players they would receive from the White Sox. If this is the case, then the Dodgers would probably pay some of Ramirez’s salary. If they can’t agree on the players, then the Dodgers will just give Manny to the White Sox and they will be responsible for the $4.3mm owed to him.
8/29 17:15: According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, Manny will be a member of the White Sox come Monday. The details of the deal are still being worked out.
8/29 17:05:If anyone thought the Dodgers were going to keep Manny Ramirez, today probably changed your mind. The Dodgers lost 10-5 to the Rockies and are 10 back in the division and 6 1/2 back in the Wild Card. But it gets worse. Manny did not start today which made it 4 games in a row that manger Joe Torre started Scott Podsednik over him. The reasons Torre provided for the consecutive benchings was that Podsednik provided the lineup more energy. This is the same lineup who’s starting pitching staff had a sub 2 ERA two weeks ago but still managed to lose 4 out of 7 games because they couldn’t score runs.
There is a chess game going on between the Dodgers and Ramirez and the fans are stuck in the middle. Maybe Torre and GM Ned Colletti are concerned that Manny will get hurt running to 1st or even worse hurt something as he walks to the plate. Whatever the case is the Dodgers have made their stance known and that is that they do not want one of the most feared hitters in their lineup any longer.
Today, Ramirez was sent up with the bases loaded and one out to bat for reliever Ronald Belisario. He took a fastball from Matt Reynolds that appeared to be outside but was called a strike. Ramirez immediately turned to complain and was quickly ejected by plate umpire Gary Cederstrom.
Ramirez actions today clearly stated that he wants a divorce from the Dodgers and would love to go to the Chicago White Sox. Manny wears his emotions on his sleve and has let it be known that he is done with LA. Maybe its a match made in heaven, because as Manny was being ejected, so was White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
The Dodgers start a 6 game home stand Monday. Two things will be missing come the end of the home stand. “Mannywood” and Manny himself.
Washington Nationals extend Livan Hernandez’s contract
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Ben Goessling of MASN tweets that the Washington Nationals have extended the contract of Livan Hernandez.
MLB.com’s Bill Ladson adds “.. Hernandez will make $1 million and could make more with incentive bonuses in 2011.”
Texas Rangers looking for right-handed hitter before August 31 deadline?
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We’re about two days away from the August 31st deadline to set post season rosters, and while many teams are already making winter vacation plans, the Texas Rangers are continuing to work the phones. According to Richard Durrett of the ESPN.com, the team is looking for a right-handed bat via the waiver wire.
Durrett suggests players such as the Colorado Rockies’ Ryan Spilborghs, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Reed Johnson, the New York Mets’ Jeff Francoeur, the Chicago Cubs Marlon Byrd, the Washington Nationals’ Mike Morse or the Baltimore Orioles’ Ty Wigginton as possible candidates the Rangers could pick up.
Milwaukee Brewers to upgrade starting pitching for 2011?
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Milwaukee Brewers’ owner Mark Attansio acknowledges that his team needs help in the starting pitching department, and Tom Haudricout of the Journal Sentinel says he’s determined to fix it by Opening Day 2011.
“We know we’ve got a problem, which is starting pitching,” Attanasio said. “We, as an organization, need to face that reality and address it, as opposed to shrink from it or excuse it.
“Our offense is so good, if we were just average in pitching, we’d be a contender. We’re near the bottom of the league in almost every pitching category.
The team tried to address it before the July 31st trading deadline this year, when Corey Hart was almost traded to the San Francisco Giants for Jonathan Sanchez and/or Madison Bumgarner. The deal never happened, but the two teams were believed to be negotiating for some time.
The team does not have any pitching prospects that will hit the big leagues any time soon, so a trade may be the ultimate answer.
“It’s pretty obvious we have some holes in our starting pitching and we don’t have anybody coming up,” Attanasio said. “I think free agency is not the perfect answer. That leaves the potential to trade one of our position players for pitching.
The biggest trading chip the Brewers have is first baseman Prince Fielder. However, the market for the power hitting first baseman may not be as strong as the Brewers are hoping. There will be a surplus of free agent first baseman come this winter, so the team may be better off waiting until next July to move him. Should the Brewers find someway to squeeze out the money, they could go for the likes of Ted Lilly, Kevin Millwood or Bronson Arroyo. Somebody like Cliff Lee could change the franchise around, but it’s unlikely the team will want to go to a bidding war for the biggest free agent of the winter.
Brewers Trevor Hoffman is available
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Teams have only two days left to acquire that last player that they need before the deadline. Players acquired after the deadline can only help the team reach the playoffs as they will be ineligible for the playoffs. Recently, we have heard that the White Sox, Reds and Phillies were looking to upgrade their respective bullpens. At this time of the year though, every playoff team is looking for a new arm either for the rotation or for the bullpen.
The Blue Jays have many bullpen arms that intrigue other clubs. The problem is Jason Frasor, Scott Downs, Kevin Gregg and Shawn Camp did not clear waivers. So unless the claiming team is a contending team that needs bullpen help, they won’t be able to acquire any of these arms.
Here is an idea. Why not go after a future Hall of Famer who has cleared waivers and can be traded to any team. Why not go after one of the greatest closers in the history of the game. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Brewers Trevor Hoffman, has cleared waivers and is available. The problem is no one is calling Brewers GM Doug Melvin’s phone.
Hoffman this year has been up-and-down with more downs than ups. He sports a 6.21 ERA. One thing interested clubs should look at is in his last 10 outings, he has not given up a run in 8 of those appearances (9 innings, 4 runs).
Hoffman is making $7.5mm this season and has a limited no-trade clause to 25 teams. Hoffman does have a career ERA of 2.87.
Former Mets and Royals pitcher Ambriorix Burgos forces ex-wife to eat rat poison
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Former New York Mets and Kansas City Royals pitcher, Ambiorix Burgos, was charged with kidnapping and attempted murder after Dilenia Reynoso, his ex-wife, said she was forced to eat rat poison, according to the Associated Press.
A Dominican Republic judge, Freddy Frias ordered Burgos to remain in jail for three months while prosecutors prepare the case.
This isn’t the first time Burgos got in trouble. In 2008, he was accused in a fatal hit-and-run involving two women, but the charges were dropped. A New York jury found Burgos guilty of assualting his girlfriend in a hotel near Shea Stadium. He was sentenced to nine months in jail.
Burgos, 26, pitched for the Royals in 2005-2006 and with the Mets in 2007. In 144 career Major League games, he was 8-10 with a 4.60 ERA and 20 saves.
Here’s the latest from The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:
Cafardo says Manny Ramirez could make the Chicago White Sox a playoff team, but it will come down to the Los Angeles Dodgers deciding to trade him or keep him by the Tuesday deadline. If they trade him, he could be facing the Boston Red Sox next Friday.
Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker hopes he does not have to take part in the managerial free agency frenzy that is expected this winter. “I was out there a few years back working for ESPN and there were seven openings and I didn’t get one of them,’’ said Baker. “I love it right where I am and we’re in the middle of trying to work something out to stay. I love the organization, love working with Walt [Jocketty, the general manager], I love my team. I feel like we’ve built this team together, and it’s been a challenge at times, but it’s paying off for us.’’
Red Sox tried to get right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson back at the trade deadline. Masterson was traded by the Red Sox to the Indians in last year’s deal for Victor Martinez.
There will be a market for free-agent-to-be Victor Martinez this winter, and the Detroit Tigers could be an excellent fit. The Red Sox and Martinez have had preliminary conversation about a contract extension, but nothing of substance. Read More→
Dodgers asst. GM Logan White a likely candidate for Diamondbacks GM job
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Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM, Logan White, is likely a candidate for the vacant Arizona Diamondbacks general manager job, according to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, but the D-backs have not asked the Dodgers for permission to interview him.
“I’d like to have a GM in place before the season ends,” Hall said last week. “You allow teams to get through the draft, get through the trade deadline and then start the ball rolling (in the interview process).”
Arizona has been without a permanent GM since they fired Josh Byrnes on July 1st. Jerry Dipoto has been the team’s interim GM. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports said last weekend that Hall is very pleased with Dipoto and interim manager Kirk Gibson. Read More→
Jermaine Dye to return in 2011?
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Former Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye is not ready to hang it up yet. He understands that playing in 2010 is unlikely going to happen, but 2011 is not out of the question.
“The season is over for me,” Dye said while in Chicago for former teammate Frank Thomas’ jersey retirement ceremony.
Dye has been staying active all year, and has continued hitting at former teammates Eric Chavez’s house in Arizona, just a few doors down from his home.
According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, an ideal situation would be for Dye to find a team where he can split duties between playing the field and designated hitter.
The 36-year-old outfielder has turned down several offers to play this season because of financial reasons and his lack of desire to uproot his family. Teams that were interested included the Chicago Cubs and the Washing Nationals. The Nationals were believed to have offered a $4 million contract back in April.
Dye hit .250/.340/.453 with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs in 2009 with the Chicago White Sox. He he started 133 of the 141 games he played in right field.
