Rumors for September, 2010
New York Mets badly want to trade Carlos Beltran?
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One American League official close to Ken Davidoff of Newsday says the New York Mets are sending strong signals that they badly want to trade outfielder Carlos Beltran. Davidoff adds that there will be clubs interested in Beltran if the Mets are willing to absorb enough of the $18.5 million the team owes him.
Teams such as the Boston Red Sox or the St. Louis Cardinals could be potential landing spots for the outfielder.
Earlier today, FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal said the Mets may be better off trading Beltran to give more playing time to rookie outfielder Lucas Duda.
Scott Boras shopping Jayson Werth as center fielder
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Jayson Werth is headed for a free agency and his new agent is determined to maximize his value. When agent Scott Boras was asked about Werth, Boras said, “He can play center field.”
FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal says, “Because few center fielders hit like Werth, his marketability will only increase if prospective suitors consider him a viable defender at the position.”
“He has the closing speed to play center,” Boras says. “It makes your team so different. Normally you get that production out of a corner outfielder.”
Boras may seek a salary package similar to his other client, Matt Holliday. Last winter, Holliday signed a seven-year, $120 million free-agent deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Werth, 31, made 18 starts this season in center and has 77 starts in his career.
Los Angeles Angels GM quiet on Carl Crawford chase
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Los Angeles Times Kevin Baxter says that free-agent-to-be Carl Crawford is already at the top of the Angels’ free-agent shopping list. The team has received little production from the top of their order this season, and Crawford’s .296 lifetime batting average and 54 steals per year average would give Los Angeles a big upgrade.
If the Angels are truly going after Crawford this winter, GM Tony Reagins is being quiet about it.
“I’m not going to really speak on Crawford,” Reagins said. “But there’s going to be media speculation, fan speculation, speculation around the league about what we’re going to try to accomplish in the off-season.”
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.”
Ken Rosenthal on Joe Torre, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves
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Here’s the latest from FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal:
Rosenthal thinks that Joe Torre will not manage again, but Braves manager Bobby Cox thinks he will.
The Mets are expected to offer Jose Reyes a contract extension this off-season. The sides may re-negotiate a deal, or the team may just pick up Reyes’ $11 million option. Rosenthal suggests that the team trades Reyes and David Wright since they are not going to win a World Series with either anytime soon.
The Mets may be better off trading Carlos Beltran and giving more playing time to rookie outfielder Lucas Duda.
Eric Wedge, Fredi Gonzalez, Mike Quade and Pat Listach would be good fits for the Chicago Cubs since they have good relationships with GM Jim Hendry. Hendry hasn’t been able to talk freely with his previous two managers – Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella.
The Atlanta Braves have a few items on their shopping list: A middle-of-the-order hitter in left field, veterans in the bullpen to replace closer Billy Wagner and setup man Takashi Saito and a right-handed hitter to complement Freddie Freeman at first base.
Mets may not get takers for soon-to-be-available GM job?
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ent GM of the New York Mets, Omar Minaya, is almost out the door. The New York Posts’ Joel Sherman says that Minaya is going to be fired or moved into another job as soon as the season is over. Sources close to Sherman say that COO Jeff Wilpon is in the “fact-gathering” stage in finding a new GM.
Sherman adds that the best people may not be interested in the job because they do not want to work for Wilpon.
A baseball executive close to Sherman says, “Jeff is the problem with the organization, and he is never going to realize that. He cannot help himself. He has to be involved. He will never hire anyone who will not let him have major input. He will not hire anyone who does not run every personnel decision through him.”
An NL personnel man: “They have a problem they don’t understand: This is not a desirable location. New York is desirable, but this is the wrong borough. I don’t think it has sunk in with Jeff yet that he is running a team that the best people might not want to work for.”
An AL executive: “This is not an attractive job unless you want the money. The only person with a worse reputation then Jeff Wilpon in the game is [Marlins president] David Samson.”
Sources says that the Mets are prepared to spend on a new GM despite owing Minaya about $2.5 million over the next two years. Possible targets the team could go after include former Padres GM Kevin Towers, former Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, Marlins assistant GM Dan Jennings, former Indians GM John Hart and event current A’s GM Billy Beane.
David DeJesus waiting on whether Kansas City Royals will pick up team option
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Injured Kansas City Royals outfielder, David DeJesus, is waiting to hear if the Kansas City Royals will pick up his $6 million team option for 2011, according to The Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton.
“I would like to know,” DeJesus said, “but I haven’t heard anything yet. I want to be around a little longer, … Hey, let’s do it.”
General manager Dayton Moore said the club, “is not prepared to say what we’re doing at this point.” The team has until October 15 to exercise the option.
The 30-year-old outfielder suffered a torn ligament when he crashed into the center field wall at Yankee Stadium on July 22. DeJesus’ name came up in many trade rumors given his affordable option for next year, but any plan to move him came crumbling down when he got injured. He’s expected to make a full recovery, and there’s an outside chance that he could return to the lineup before the season ends on October 3.
“David has been a very productive player for us,” Moore said. “He’s been one of our most consistent players, offensively and defensively. He’s a big part of our team.”
Progress made between Adam Dunn and Washington Nationals on new contract
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According to The Washington Post’s Adam Kilgore, there has been progress between Adam Dunn’s representatives and the Washington Nationals regarding a new contract. Dunn was clear on Sunday that he thinks he will be a National next season.
“I do,” Dunn said. “More than I did a month ago. Talks have picked back up. We’ll see what happens. We’re obviously talking. We’re going to work something out, I think.”
Dunn and the Nationals have been talking about a possible new contract since Spring Training, but nothing official has been signed.
The Nats will have 15 days after the World Series to exclusively negotiate with Dunn. Dunn did not rule out reaching an agreement before that time. Dunn says a deal “could happen today.” But the most likely scenario is for him to enter free agency and then re-sign with the Nationals.
“Going to free agency doesn’t mean I’m leaving here. I’m sure whenever the season is over, I’ll have, whatever it is, a month. If things haven’t worked out here, yeah, it’s going to go to free agency. But that doesn’t mean I’m not coming here.”
Jayson Werth signs with agent Scott Boras
Posted by: | CommentsIn what can only be described as “I told you so”, Jayson Werth has switched agents and signed with Scott Boras, this according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.
On September 3, we heard that Werth left his prior representation, the Beverly Hill Sports Council and began shopping for new representation. Werth who will be one of the more attractive free agent outfielders this offseason is looking for his first real big payday. Though Werth said he was looking at all agents, there were rumors that he had wanted to go to Boras to help secure that one big payday.
This move means that teams interested in Werth’s services will have to be prepared to open their wallets to land him.
J.D. Drew contemplating retirement after 2011?
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Earlier this year, Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew contemplated calling it a career after his contract expires following the 2011 season. As of now, Drew is not close to making any decision official, according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford.
“Not really,” said Drew when asked if he had determined what his fate might be following the ‘11 season. “My whole thing is being as family-oriented as I am I have to let this whole thing wind down. When I signed this contract I did so with the intentions … when I put a signature on the line I want to make sure I’m committed to doing whatever it says.”
“When I signed in LA I thought that I’ll have 11 years in the big leagues and I’ll weigh my options then. When I opted out (and signed with the Red Sox) I thought I easily had five years in me. Now I’m in a position, after next year, I’ll have to make a decision if it’s conducive to me going home and being with my family full-time, or if the family lifestyle is able to survive the rigors of a baseball season.
“I don’t think people realize the intensity of being gone. It’s really, really difficult. Then there’s where I stand in my faith and my commitment. Those things pull heavily when you start to get to this point in my career. There are so many things I want to do in the mission field and different things like that. It’s definitely going to be a thing where I’ll get ready for the season and as it goes along see what happens.”
The 35-year-old Drew has said his health is not a factor in determining whether to extend his career or not. The outfielder is playing in his 13th Major League season, and has made more than $94 million in his career.
Joe Torre calls Mets managerial rumors irresponsible
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Manager Joe Torre knew that rumors would start to circulate as soon as he announced that he was stepping down from his position with the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of the louder rumors included his possible interest with the New York Mets. According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, Torre called the rumors “irresponsible.”
“Wherever I go — if I go anywhere — there’s absolutely no legs to this story. I’ve had no conversations and nobody I know has had any conversations. It’s just so irresponsible. I don’t want to get on a soapbox. I guess somebody thinks it’s a good idea. Instead of being the guy fired four times, I’m the man for the job.”
A source close to Mike Puma of The New York Post said the Mets may be the only team that could lure Torre back to the dugout for 2011.
“The Mets are certainly an inviting situation because they have a lot better personnel than their record shows,” the person close to Torre said. “The injuries have hurt them.”
Torre said he will remain in Los Angeles after the season ends and will eventually head to Arizona to spend a week with his successor Don Mattingly in the Arizona Fall League.
