Rumors for August, 2010
New York Yankees unlikely to exercise Nick Johnson’s team option for 2011?
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Nick Johnson’s chances of returning to the Yankees in 2011 is now officially lost according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. He will undergo another surgery on his wrist – the second of the year.
Johnson was signed last winter for $5.5 million to replace Johnny Damon as the team’s No. 2 hitter. He ended up hitting .167 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs in 24 games this season.
Feinsand says it’s unlikely that the Yankees will exercise Johnson’s $5.5 million team option for next season. Rather, they are likely going to pay the $250,000 buyout. It’s unknown if his wrist surgery will affect Johnson’ ability to play in 2011.
Johnson, 32 next month, hit .291/.426/.405 with 8 home runs and 62 RBIs in 133 games for the Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins in 2009.
Joe Girardi to address Chicago Cubs managerial vacancy on Friday
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Since Lou Piniella stepped down from his job as the Chicaco Cubs’ manager over the weekend, several names have come up as possible successors including current New York Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi. With Chicago native and former Cubs’ catcher Girardi in town for a series with between his Yankees and the White Sox, Girardi will finally get to address many of the rumors face-to-face on Friday with the media.
The New York Daily News’ Mark Feinsand says Girardi will discuss the vacant Cubs job for the final until on Friday until the season is over.
“I don’t know what they’re going to ask, but I’m going to do it on Friday and that will be it,” Girardi said. “It’s just another thing you have to deal with. I understand people want to know what you’re thinking, but my responsibility is here.”
Girardi is in the final year of his contract as manager of the Yankees, and with is 2009 World Series title and his success this season, he’s due for nice raise. He’ll likely use the Chicago opening as bargaining leverage to get a larger contract offer from the Yankees this winter.
VIDEO: Washington Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan suspended 7 games
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to a press release issued by the Washington Nationals, outfielder Nyjer Morgan has received a seven-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for throwing a ball into the stands during the middle of the ninth inning during last Saturday’s game versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Here’s an animated gif from SB Nation of Morgan making a catch and taunting the fans by pretending to throw the ball up into the stands. The camera cuts away right before he actually throws the ball into the stands. We’ll work on getting a better quality video as soon as we can.
Morgan has elected to appeal the suspension, so he will continue to play until the appeal is complete.
Ozzie Guillen’s son takes shot at White Sox GM on Twitter
Posted by: | CommentsIt looks like Chicago White Sox GM Ken Williams was busy getting a laugh rather than watching his team play a doubleheader versus the Kansas City Royals last Saturday. Ozzie Guillen’s son, Oney, tweets:
Wow. Just saw the sox gm coming out of a comedy club in Shaumburg with a female friend. I guess he didn’t c the sox first loss
According to Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com, Williams called the tweets disrespectful, but was eventually laughing and joking behind closed doors with Ozzie Guillen on Tuesday.
“I’m sick of my name being in certain Twitters,” Williams said. “It’s disappointing. But I’ve since learned, especially dealing with Ozzie, that whatever I hear or read or any of that stuff that comes from the periphery, go to him and talk first. … Do you feel like this? Are these your thoughts?”
This isn’t the first time Oney Guillen got in trouble for voicing his opinion. He left his job in the White Sox scouting and video department during Spring Training due to controversy over Twitter messages at the time.
VIDEO: Adrian Beltre ejected over misunderstanding with Felix Hernandez
Posted by: | CommentsBlame this ejection on the young and uninformed umpire. Dan Bellino, a Triple-A umpire who was behind the plate for the Boston Red Sox – Seattle Mariners game, ejected third baseman Adrian Beltre and then eventually manager Terry Francona over what started out as a playful gesture between two former teammates. Check out the video:
According to Daniel Barbarisi and Kevin Mcnamara of The Providence Journal, Beltre “jawed playfully” with former teammate Felix Hernandez after he struck out in the second inning. Beltre then gestured that he would hit a big home run the next time up. However, Bellino believed the gestures were meant for him and immediately threw out Beltre.
“He was going back and forth with Felix — they’re really good friends — and a young umpire … probably got in the midst of something that he didn’t know about. And it shouldn’t have happened. It’s a shame. Beltre was just having fun with Felix.
“He wasn’t even talking to him. So it was unfortunate,” Francona said.
Several Los Angeles Dodgers placed on waivers
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Major League sources close to Jordan Schelling of MLB.com say the Los Angeles Dodgers have placed Casey Blake, Scott Podsednik and Jay Gibbons on waivers. Additionally, we heard yesterday that Hiroki Kuroda was placed on waivers.
Teams will have until Friday to place a claim on any of the players. Should a team place a claim, the Dodgers can work out a deal with the team, revoke the player from waivers or give the player away without compensation.
Many of the players were nonchalant about being placed on waivers.
“It’s fine,” Gibbons said. “I’m just happy to be here. I’d like to stay, but I was playing [in] Albuquerque two weeks ago, so if something happens, it happens.”
“I really don’t have a comment on it,” Podsednik said. “I haven’t really thought about it to be honest with you. But am I surprised? Not really, no.”
“I don’t really think about it much,” Blake said. “If somebody claims me, I just think that I’m not in control here, so I’m not going to worry about it much.”
The big name that was placed on waivers was Manny Ramirez. It is widely believed that the Chicago White Sox and the Dodgers are preparing to making a trade for the outfielder unless another team with a higher waiver priority blocks the Sox from doing so.
8/25 21:42: Baseball officials close to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times say they expect Ramirez to be claimed by a National League team. A claim by an NL team could prevent any type of deal between the White Sox and Dodgers. Teams have until Friday to submit a claim.
When Ramirez was asked about his thoughts on being placed on waivers and whether he would consider wiaving his no-trade clause, Ramirez said, “No, I have no comment on that.”
Other sources close to Hernandez say the Dodgers also placed Casey Blake, Scott Podsednik and Jay Gibbons on waivers.
8/25 18:29: USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets, “Manny Ramirez has let it be known through friends that, if presented, he would accept a trade to the White Sox.”
8/25 15:48: The Chicago Sun-Times’ Toni Ginnetti says the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers are closing in on a deal that would send Manny Ramirez to Chicago in exchange for Minor League prospects.
Because of his no-trade clause, Ramirez will need to approve any deal. However, Ginnetti said that Ramirez may have approved a deal since he wants to return to the American League as a way to showcase his hitting skills as a DH before he becomes a free agent.
Sources close to Ginnetti said the Dodgers were reviewing scouting reports on some of the Sox Minor League players in anticipation of a deal.
Ramirez is owned approximately $4.25 million for the rest of the season, with most of it deferred. Should the trade go through, the White Sox will likely take on the remaining portion of his contract.
Hiroki Kuroda is not on New York Yankees radar
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New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman does not expect to go outside the organization to find help for his depleted pitching staff.
“What we got is what we’re going with,” Cashman said. “I anticipate we are going to use the alternatives we have here.”
ESPNNewYork.com’s Wallace Matthews said that Cashman has denied any plans to acquire Los Angeles’ Dodgers right-handed pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reported last night that Kuroda was placed on waivers by the Dodgers.
“I haven’t thought about him. I don’t even know if he’s on waivers yet,” Cashman said. “Besides, I’d be hard-pressed to find a pitcher on the waiver wire who can pitch better for us than Dustin Moseley has.”
“I’m not even thinking along those terms because right now I’m not interested in adding anyone,” Cashman said. “I like the team we have and I think we have what it takes to get the job done.”
Kuroda, 25, had a 8-11 record with a 3.48 ERA with the Dodgers this season.
Manny Ramirez placed on waivers by Los Angeles Dodgers
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According to sources close to ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers have placed outfielder Manny Ramirez on waivers. Teams will have until Friday afternoon to put a claim on Ramirez.
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports said Ramirez will not clear waivers because the Chicago White Sox will claim him with the intention of acquiring him.
Per Major League waiver rules, National League teams will get the first shot at claiming Ramirez. However, Rosenthal says none are expected to do so. The Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers are interested in Ramirez, but the White Sox would have priority over them.
Ramirez is owned approximately $4.25 million for the rest of the season, with most of it deferred. He would need to waive his no-trade clause to go to the White Sox, but it would be in his best interest to do so, since he would have the opportunity to showcase his hitting skills as a designated hitter in the American League without having to deal with the liability of playing the outfield.
Minnesota Twins claim LHP Randy Flores
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According to Joe Schmit of KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Twins have claimed left-handed pitcher Randy Flores from the Colorado Rockies.
Flores was surprisingly designated for assignment last week by the Rockies.
In 47 games this season, Flores was 2-0 with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.280 WHIP.
