Rumors for August, 2010
VIDEO: Foul Ball Friday – Girls getting in a fight in the Yankee Stadium bleachers
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s Friday! And we’ll start off your day with a good cat fight from the Yankee Stadium bleachers. Check out the video:
The description from You Tube says “Girl tells hotter girl she slept with her boyfriend, then got a beer to the face.”
Chicago White Sox going after another player?
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There’s indication from Chicago White Sox GM Ken Williams that the team may be going after another player other than the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez, according to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin.
“It’s possible,” Williams said with a big smile. “It’s possible. It’s always possible.
“Sometimes the most obvious things are the most unrealistic things to accomplish, so you always have to be looking for what you actually can accomplish. And sometimes small marginal growth is just as effective as the more obvious bigger thing that you’re not going to get.”
Several factors come into play when trying to acquire Ramirez: another team may put in a claim, the Dodgers may want to keep their slugger since they are back in the Wild Card race or the White Sox may be concerned over the finances involved. Read More→
Chicago Cubs interview Eric Wedge for vacant managerial position
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Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry confirmed that he had dinner with former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge and spent all day with him today for an interview, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Wedge is the first known candidate the Cubs after interviewed.
Wedge will not be the last the team interviews. Several possible successors to the Cubs’ throne include interim manager Mike Quade, Hall of Fame great Ryne Sandberg, former Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, former Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly, current New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Washington Nationals coach Pat Listach. Outside possibilities include Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre and ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine.
Texas Rangers looking at adding Manny Ramirez?
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MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan says the Texas Rangers are “mulling the possibility” of adding the Los Angles Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez. However, one club official close to Sullivan said that it’s unlikely the Rangers will land the Dodgers’ outfielder.
“We’re always looking,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “We’re going to look to try and improve.”
Sullivan adds that the Rangers are not interested in Brad Hawpe despite the team being linked to the free agent outfielder formerly of the Colorado Rockies. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports earlier this afternoon said the Rangers are “in on Hawpe.” The Rangers like Hawpe, but the team is not in need of additional left-handed hitters.
I know it’s only August, and nobody has officially clinched a playoff spot, but part-owner of the New York Yankees, Hank Steinbrenner, has already declared the Yankees to be playing in October, according to Matt Ehalt of the New York Daily News.
“I think were doing great considering Andy’s (Pettitte) out and a couple of other problems,” Steinbrenner said. “Obviously, were in the toughest division by far in baseball. So its going to be a struggle down to the wire. We’d like to win the division, but I think we can be rest assured were going to get the playoffs, then its a matter of what we do from there.”
The Yankees are currently tied for first place in the AL East with the Tampa Bay Rays and according to the Baseball Prospectus’ postseason odds, the team has a 89% chance of making the playoffs. Should they not clinch the AL East, the team is 5 1/2 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the race for the AL Wild Card.
Update – 6-7 teams interested in Brad Hawpe
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8/26 13:43: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says the Red Sox, Rangers and Rays are in on Hawpe.
8/26 11:27: ESPN.com’s Richard Durrett says the Texas Rangers have interest in Hawpe, but the team has to decide if they want to try to sign him.
8/26 10:31: MLB.com’s Corey Brock says the Padres will pass on Hawpe.
8/26 10:13: A source close to Dan Hayes of the North County Times confirmed that the Padres have talked to the Rockies about Hawpe . Six or seven teams reported are interested in Hawpe.
8/25 12:10: Although his status as a free agent is not clear, Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post says outfielder Brad Hawpe (formerly/currently) of the Colorado Rockies is attracting “genuine interest” from the San Diego Padres.
The Padres attempted to acquire Hawpe last month before they acquired Ryan Ludwick. The Padres may not be alone in seeking Hawpe’s service. Renck adds that the Rangers are also looking at him.
A team official close to Renck said Hawpe will clear waivers on Thursday, but another official said Hawpe had already cleared.
Hawpe, 31, is owed approximately $2.2 million for the remainder of the year. If he’s a free-agent, then that responsibility falls on the Rockies less the prorated portion of the Major League minimum if he signs on with a new team. He hit .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.
Free agent watch: Manny Ramirez, Bronson Arroyo and Kevin Millwood
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With the winter free agency period just around the corner, ESPN.coms’ Jayson Stark gets feedback from people in the know regarding the future employment status of Manny Ramirez, Bronson Arroyo and Kevin Millwood.
Manny Ramirez
Stark said last week that Ramirez may only find $1-2 million in base salary this winter. However, one exec predicts that Ramirez could find work as a DH in Vladimir Guerrero-type money ($6.5 million).
“And $20 million is a lot different than $6-8 million,” the same exec said. “You’re eliminating 80 percent of the market at $20 million. At $6-8 million, you’re only eliminating a handful of teams. Big difference.
“So does he play well in September? Is he healthy enough to play? Is he motivated to play? If the answer to all those questions is yes, I think he gets a deal similar to what Vlad got.”
However one NL exec said Ramirez is “just not a full-time player anymore.”
Bronson Arroyo
“I’d sign him. He’s been in a big market [Boston] and he’s done well in a smaller market [Cincinnati]. He knows how to pitch, and he’s fearless. Of course, he’s got to be fearless with that slop he throws up there.”
Arroyo, 33, is 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 26 starts for the Cincinnati Reds this season.
Kevin Millwood
“He’d have to get to a place like San Diego. The guy still competes, and he still gives you some veteran experience at the back end of your rotation. So in the right setting, in a pitchers’ park, it might work out OK, but strictly in a complementary sense. He can’t pitch in a smaller park anymore. He leaves so many four-seam fastballs up in the hitting zones. I don’t know if he doesn’t realize he can’t pitch up there anymore. But if he doesn’t, I don’t know why he doesn’t — after all the long balls he’s given up.”
Los Angeles Dodgers to re-sign Ted Lilly?
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ESPN’s Jayson Stark says that other teams think the Los Angeles Dodgers are not interested in trading left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly despite the team being 12 games out of first place in the National League West and fifth place in the National League Wild Card race.
Stark adds the Dodgers may re-sign the pitcher. With that said, the team may offer Lilly arbitration this winter.
Lilly, 34, is 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 5 starts since joining the Dodgers last month. Lilly is making $12 million this season in the final year of his contract.
8/26 11:30: Former Rays’ teammate and now Los Angeles Angels pitcher Scott Kazmir may help in the recruiting efforts. According to Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com Kazmir said he would be happy to reach out to Crawford this winter.
“If they’re really serious about him, yeah,” Kazmir said. “I’d love to have him on the team. I don’t think there’s anyone in the league who has the skills he has, who brings so much to the table. He creates stuff, he’s an excellent outfielder and he has power. He pretty much has it all. I think everyone would love to have him.”
8/25 11:45: Free-agent-to-be Carl Crawford could be headed to Southern California if the rumors of Torii Hunter’s recruiting efforts are true. Despite the rumors, Hunter is denying any attempts at luring his friend to the Los Angeles Angels.
“Everybody and their mama’s going to want Carl Crawford,” Hunter said according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. “So you never know what can happen.”
“People forget he’s my friend, he’s one of my best buddies in the game,” Hunter said. “People are making it out like I’m trying to recruit him and everything. I’m just his friend, like always. But since he’s a free agent they think I’m trying to recruit him. I’m not.
“I was a free agent once, so if he asks me about free agency I’m going to help him out, whether he joins the Angels or not. He’s my friend first.”
Crawford will draw heavy interest from those that could afford him. It’s expected that he could command a contract over $70 million that breaks down to the $12-14 million per season range. The Rays are unlikely to have him back since the team’s payroll will be under $60 million next year. The Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees have previously expressed interest in Crawford. At the time when Crawford was told that the Yankees were interested in him, Crawford said, “I don’t think about other teams. I’m only concerned with what goes on with the Rays.”
“I’m pretty sure he would love to stay with the Rays,” Hunter said. “But I’m pretty sure he has to think about that turf and that dome, and you have to think about your future first. Baseball is No. 1, and if you can’t play it because you’re sore every day, you learn that.”
LHP Oliver Perez wants to be with the New York Mets in 2011
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Left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez wants to be with the New York Mets in 2011 despite several sour incidents that he had with the team this year.
“I want to be back here,” Perez told ESPNNewYork.com. “I want to have a championship because I know the fans want it and I want it, too.”
Perez, 29, has one more year left on his three-year, $36 million contract, so the Mets will have a hard time finding a team to take on such a large salary for someone who has poorly performed this season.
Perez refused an assignment to Triple-A earlier this season since he has a right to do so from his contract. His refusal cause friction within the Mets’ clubhouse prompt one player to say, “You tell him you go to Triple-A or that’s it, you are finished.”
It’s unknown what the Mets want to do with Perez for next season. “We have him,” said Mets’ GM Omar Minaya.
“I know the people, they are not happy,” Perez said. “I just tell the fans I’ve been working hard to get back. I didn’t sign here to sit here and just wait. I signed here because I think we have the opportunity to try and win a championship. That is why I signed here.”
The left-hander has pitched 4 1/3 innings since the middle of May. He’s 0-4 with a 6.70 ERA in 14 games (7 starts) this season for New York.
