Rumors for September, 2010
Many roster changes for Los Angeles Dodgers this winter
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Los Angeles Dodgers GM Ned Colletti hinted that there are likely to be many changes to the team’s roster this upcoming winter, according to Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Jackson says:
Colletti cited the fact the Dodgers replaced only three of their frontline players from last year’s team — starting pitcher Randy Wolf, reliever Guillermo Mota and second baseman Orlando Hudson — and said he anticipates more widespread adjustments to next year’s team.
“I think there are going to be more changes than there were a year ago,” Colletti said. “… There are obviously some areas where we need to improve. There have been some cases where we have seen continued advancement. There have been some cases where we have seen a leveling off. And there are other cases where we have seen regression.”
Colletti declined to address any specific regarding players or reasons why the Dodgers underachieved.
“We play on grass, not on paper,” Colletti said. “It is obvious by our record that no matter what people may have thought they knew about this team when the season began, our record indicates otherwise.”
Yesterday, we heard that there’s speculation that the Dodgers will be active in the trade market, but will be limited in the free agent market over the winter.
Jon Heyman on possible managerial and general manager changes
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Here’s the latest from Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman regarding changes for field and general managers:
New York Mets GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel are all but gone from their jobs after this season. Candidates to replace Minaya include Mets’ assistant GM John Ricco, ex-Padres GM Kevin Towers, ex-Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn and Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels.
Former Mets player Wally Backman and ex-Mets manager Bobby Valentine will at least be considered for the Mets managerial position.
Fredi Gonzalez is seen by sources close to the Atlanta Braves situation as the successor to Bobby Box. Hitting coach Terry Pendleton will at least get an interview.
Some see Tony La Russa staying one more year with St. Louis.
Joe Girardi isn’t believed to leave his job with the Yankees.
Dusty Baker is likely to remain with the Cincinnati Reds.
Some would be surprised of Joe Torre stayed in Los Angeles. His replacement is likely going to be Triple-A manager Tim Wallach.
Don Baylor could be a possibility at replacing Cito Gaston of the Toronto Blue Jays. Blue Jays third base coach Brian Butterfield and Yankees third base coach Rob Thomson are also expected to receive consideration there.
Tony Pena is a possibility for the Florida Marlins.
Kirk Gibson has a good chance at retaining his interim manager position with the Diamondbacks. Jerry Di Poto, Towers, Logan White, De Jon Watson and Eddie Bane are candidates for the team’s GM position.
Ted Simmons and Joey Cora are thought to be high on the Seattle Mariners’ list of candidates.
In addition to Girardi, Ryne Sandberg, Mike Quade, Bob Melvin, Pat Listach and Bob Brenly are candidates for the Chicago Cubs position.
Melvin could have a shot in replacing Ken Macha with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Pittsburgh Pirates manager John Russell is another manager on the hot seat.
Torii Hunter loses $5000 to Hideki Matsui in Triples bet
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Los Angeles Angels Hideki Matsui hits an RBI triple in Wednesday’s game, and teammate Torii Hunter was not pleased at all.
“I was like, ‘What the …? Ah, hell no,’” Hunter joked afterwards, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. “I’m not talking to Matsui anymore.”
Apparently there was a friendly wager between the two. This is how Plunkett put it:
Hunter (who has no triples of his own this season) had a friendly wager with Matsui that the Japanese slugger with the arthritic knees would get at least one triple this season. The wager was definitely not for any amount of money like, oh, $5,000.
This was Matsui’s first triple since April 28, 2009 with the New York Yankees.
“I saw him running the bases. He was making all kinds of faces, trying to get me,” Hunter said, pantomiming Matsui’s effort. “I didn’t realize it was a triple until I got to the dugout then everybody let me know.”
Buster Olney on Diamondbacks GM and Marlins Manager
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Here’s the latest from ESPN’s Buster Olney:
The Arizona Diamondbacks are believed to have wrapped up interviews for its open general manager position. Olney says the front-runners are interim GM Jerry Dipoto and former San Diego Padres GM Kevin Towers. (source: Twitter)
One name that could emerge for the vacant Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins manager positions is San Diego Padres first base coach – Rick Renteria. (source: Twitter)
Houston Astros acquire RHP Enerio Del Rosario from Reds
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According to Zachary Levin of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros have acquired right-handed pitcher Enerio Del Rosario from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash. The team also designated infielder Oswaldo Navarro for assignment to make room for Del Rosario.
Del Rosario was designated for assignment earlier this week by the Reds to make room for newly acquired Willie Bloomquist.
Del Rosario, 24, is 1-1 with 8 2/3 innings pitched this season for the Reds. He’s allowed 13 hits, four walks and has three strike outs.
Andre Ethier down plays Red Sox rumor
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On Wednesday, there were rumors about Los Angeles Dodgers’ Andre Ethier having interest in coming to the Boston Red Sox this winter. MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick caught up with Ethier and this is what he had to say about it:
“It’s obviously hearsay,” said the Dodgers outfielder. “Especially at this point, it doesn’t even make sense to comment on something like this.”
A report by CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam claimed that the Dodgers would trade Ethier to Boston for possibly Daisuke Matsuzaka and a prospect.
There’s speculation that the Dodgers will be active in the trade market, but will be limited in the free agent market over the winter. The team needs a middle-of-the-order hitter and Gurnick says that it was not clear how trading Ethier would solve that need.
Long-term deal for Shin-Soo Choo coming this winter?
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28-year-old outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is coming up on his first year of arbitration eligibility this off-season and he could see his contract balloon from $461,100 to anywhere between $2.5 million and $3 million, according to Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer. With that, it’s possible that Choo and agent Scott Boras could go after a long-term deal this winter.
When Boras was asked last week about going to arbitration or signing a multi-year deal, he said, “Things have a way of working out with the good players.”
Choo is under team control until after the 2013 season, and his $461,100 – well below the market value for a guy that has hit .300/.392/.491 in five seasons with the Indians.
It was speculated that Boras and Indians were going back and forth over several multi-year contracts before the season started, but the deal never completed. With arbitration possible this winter, at least Boras and Choo will have a little more leverage to command a long-term deal and keep the outfielder in Cleveland.
The Indians have made it public that they want to keep Choo.
“We’re going to look at those options at the end of the year,” said Chris Antonetti, the Indians’ incoming general manager. “We see Choo being here for a very long time.”
One hurdle that Choo and the Indians may have to face is Choo’s military obligation to South Korea. He has to serve two years of service before he’s 30. He’s going to play for South Korea in the Asian games, and if the team wins gold, he could be released from his military obligation.
Carlos Zambrano to retire after 2012 or 2013 season
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Will right-handed pitcher Carlos Zambrano retire in three years? According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the 29-year-old pitcher for the Cubs announced that he will hang it up after his current contract ends in 2012 or 2013.
“Like I said, I don’t think I will be playing any more after these three years, and I will enjoy any moment, any situation, anything that I can enjoy in the big leagues,” Zambrano said. “A friend of mine told me anytime I’m batting I look excited, I look happy, more than when I’m pitching.
“So I want to mix it up. I want to have 50-50. When I’m pitching, I want to have the same enjoyment, the same motivation I have when I’m hitting, what I’m doing right now.”
Sullivan reminds us that Zambrano made the same announcement regarding retirement in June 2009.
Zambrano will earn $17.87 million in 2011 and $18 million in 2012. He has a $19.25 mutual million option in 2013 that will vest depending on his health and his placement in the Cy Young voting. The pitcher is also likely to run out his contract in the city of Chicago since has a full no-trade clause.
“Because I told you the other day, or last year, or this year, whatever, that this will be my last contract,” he said. “So I don’t think I will be playing any more… Life is short. Believe me. And sometimes you miss things with your family and very important people like my daughters. Sometimes you miss things in life because of baseball that you shouldn’t miss, and I don’t want to (miss) any moment for my daughter, any moment for anything that happens, especially in my family.
“Believe me, baseball takes a lot of time from us. So I think, depending on what happens in my career, I think this will be the last contract.”
Will Andre Ethier be traded to Boston this winter?
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Andre Ethier has reportedly told “friends” he would like to come to the Red Sox, according to CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam. One reason is that former Arizona St. teammate Dustin Pedroia resides at second base for Boston.
Ethier, who will turn 29 next April, is a left-handed-hitting outfielder who hit 31 home runs in 2009. Hampered by a fractured bone at the end of his right little finger this year, his power output has dropped to 21 homers in 123 games, but he’s maintained his average (.286, compared to a lifetime average of .290) and has an on-base percentage of .353 and a slugging percentage of .489.
Ethier is under contract for 2011 at $9.25 million, and isn’t eligible for free agency until 2013.
McAdam’s is claiming that the Dodgers would trade Ethier for possibly Daisuke Matsuzaka and a prospect. The question that isn’t addressed is that the Dodgers lineup as it is constructed would struggle in a slow pitch softball league. Ethier is by far their biggest offensive threat and has a favorable contract too; so trading him no matter what the financial situation is with the McCourt’s just doesn’t make sense. In addition, now that Mannywood is long gone, Ethier is by far the fan favorite in LA. Trading him could potentially send the Dodger faithful into a full on panic.
Ken Grunick of MLB.com asked Ethier about the speculation tonight and had this to say. “It’s obviously hearsay. Especially at this point, it doesn’t even make sense to comment on something like this.”
Trade speculation allows us fans to dream, but I don’t see this trade happening this winter.
