Rumors for September, 2010
Mark Buehrle pondering retirement after the 2011 season
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There’s a strong possibility that Chicago White Sox’ Mark Buehrle could retire when his contract expires after the 2011 season, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales.
“But when next year gets here and knowing you’re going to walking away from the game, knowing if I have something left or not, I have to hope that first of all, I’m healthy,” Buehrle said Wednesday. “And second, someone wants to sign me. Obviously, it’s a plus if that is. And obviously it’s going to be harder to make a decision.
“As I sit here now, I’d love to just go home and be with the family and kids and go from there. But when next year gets here, at this time, it could be a tough decision, knowing this is all you’ve known for 15 years of your life and constantly having to be somewhere, to go somewhere. And all of a sudden you have nothing to do. It’s going to be a tough decision.”
The 31-year-old pitcher will enter the last year of his four-year, $56 million contract next season. He could be a trade candidate next summer just before his 10-and-5 rights kick-in in mid-July. If he retires after the 2011 season he’ll have banked about $84 million in his career.
Adrian Gonzalez clarifies comments about wanting to sign with Cubs
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On Tuesday, San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez spoke about a possibility of joining the Chicago Cubs when he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season, and it may have irked many of the team’s fans.
”There’s definitely a lot of positives about Chicago that if they made an offer, I would be interested in it,” said Gonzalez, according to the Chicago Sun-Times Gordon Wittenmyer.
On Wednesdays, MLB.com’s Corey Brock and Gina Mizell talk about Gonzalez’s attempts to clear up the mess that he stirred up.
“[The reporter] was being hypothetical about 2012, and so was I,” Gonzalez said. “He just wanted to ask me questions about the future, and I said if I become a free agent, I’m going to listen to any offer.
“He didn’t misquote me at all, but I think the story was turned into something that I didn’t expect, especially the way the interview started and the direction it was going. We were talking about their players and wondering if they have a future in the next year or so. I thought that’s what we were talking about.”
Gonzalez was expected to be traded last winter or this summer, but with the Padres’ unexpected success he was kept. He is making an affordable $4.75 million this season and is under contract for 2011 for $5.5 million. He’s likely going to command more than $20 million per season once he hits free agency after his contract expires.
Adam Dunn tried to hit home run in what may be his last Nationals home game
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Adam Dunn acknowledged that he tried to hit a home run on Wednesday to please the fans in what may have been his last game in a Nationals uniform, according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. Unfortunately, for Dunn, he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
“Yesterday, when I was asked that question — how it could be the final game here — I thought it would be like any other game,” Dunn said. “And then you guys got me thinking, when I started to hear that stuff, I tried to hit every ball as far as I possibly could. I was trying not to do that, but I ended up trying to do that. I wish it would have ended better today but the Phillies whipped us.
Teammate Ryan Zimmerman said he wouldn’t be happy if the Nats were unable to re-sign Dunn.
“It would be frustrating,” Zimmerman said. “Obviously, if you lose him, you lose a big piece of a lot. It’s hard to find a [cleanup] hitter like that. Obviously, he does a lot in here that you guys and the fans don’t get to see. He is a good teammate. To let him go, it’s going to be hard to replace him. When you go out and find a guy like that, it’s not only hard, but expensive.”
Yesterday, we heard Dunn is looking for a four-year deal, but would be open to signing a three-year deal with the Nationals. One source says he expects Dunn to get a four-year deal on the open market for something in the $60 million range.
Team sources says the Nationals are high on Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth – both free agent after the season.
Jimmy Rollins bought copyright portion of Justin Beiber’s song
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Philadelphia Phillies shortstop, Jimmy Rollins and the Jimmy Rollins Entertainment Group closed a deal to be the new co-publisher of a portion of Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston’s gold single Eenie Meenie, according to phillymag.com.
“It’s like buying an annuity,” says Rollins’s attorney Christopher Cabott.
The 31-year-old Rollins will unlikely retire anytime soon, but he’s definitely getting ready for his next career once it’s time to hang up the cleats.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Kaduk says that Rollins also owns part of a song by Snoop Dogg.
Rollins’ mutual option for 2011 was picked up last December. He is making $7.5 million this season and will make $8.5 million next so, so he’s not hurting for Bieber’s album to go multi-platinum.
Hideki Matsui would consider signing with Oakland Athletics
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Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Hideki Matsui will be a free agent after the season, and it’s unlikely that he’ll return to Anaheim. He told The San Francisco Chronicle, via Susan Slusser, that he’d considering signing with the Oakland Athletics if they called, but added, “the same as I would for every time.”
The A’s owner Lew Wolff told The Chronicle that Matsui is not expected to be among the most high-priced free agents this winter, and it will likely take $5 million or so to sign him.
Matsui likes the Bay Area and the “decent-sized Asian community” appeals to him.
Dan Uggla and Florida Marlins far apart on a multi-year deal
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The Florida Marlins and second baseman Dan Uggla remain far apart on a multi-year deal, according to The Miami Herald’s Clark Spencer.
Uggla’s representatives are asking for a five-year deal for $58 million (averaging $11.6 million per year) and the Marlins are offering a package in the range of three-years and $24 million (averaging $8 million per year). The $8 million per year average is not much of an increase to Uggla’s current $7.8 million.
The two sides are expected to resume talks after the season.
Nationals looking for top pitcher and batter this winter
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Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said the club’s top priorities for the off-season include a top of the rotation guy that they could acquire via trade or free agency and a top of the order hitter, according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson.
“We need a front of the rotation guy to put everybody in their proper place in the rotation. That’s the No. 1 priority going into the offseason. We definitely have depth — prospect wise — to pull off a deal for a pitcher.”
The number one free agent pitcher that will be available is Cliff Lee. He’ll command a yearly salary well into the eight-figures. The Yankees are expected to go hard after Lee, additionally, the Texas Rangers may take a stab at re-signing the left-hander.
Another option for the Nationals could be free agent Ted Lilly. There has been speculation that the Dodgers could re-sign Lilly, or he could go back to the Chicago Cubs.
The Nats will be without star Stephen Strasburg for probably the whole 2011 season. Strasburg recently underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a UCL tear in his elbow.
Shin-Soo Choo would like to play for Detroit Tigers
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When Cleveland Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo saw ex-teammate Jhonny Peralta before a game this week he mentioned that he would like to play for the Detroit Tigers, according to mlive.com’s Steve Kornacki.
“We were running in the outfield to loosen up before the game,” Peralta said. “Choo came up to me and hugged me. He said he missed me and added, ‘When I’m a free agent, I want to go to Detroit.’ He’s a really good guy.”
Choo, 28, is under team control through the 2013 season. He’s making $461,100 this season, but his contract could balloon to around $3 million next season in arbitration. There have been talks about signing Choo to a long-term contract this winter, but it’s always a difficult situation for a Scott Boras client.
As for Peralta, he was acquired by the Tigers on July 28 for a playoff run this season. The team has picked up his $7.25 million option for next year, so he’ll be hanging around Detroit at least through 2011.
Todd Helton has no plans to retire after the season
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Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton is making it clear that he’s not ready to hang it up yet.
“I am not retiring,” Helton said, according to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post. “The plan is to come back and play better next year.”
The 37-year-old has had back and leg problems that have plagued his throughout the season. He hit .260 with 8 home runs and 36 RBIs so far in 2010.
It’s possible that Helton will platoon next season. Renck suggests that if the Rockies do not acquire big name bat, they could go after players such as the Oakland A’s Conor Jackson or free-agent Garrett Atkins.
In March, Helton signed a two year contract extension that deferred much of his salary to later years.
RHP Kevin Millwood is not ready to retire
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While Wednesday’s start against the Tampa Bay Rays may be Kevin Millwood’s final one in a Baltimore Orioles’ uniform, he isn’t ready to call it a career, according to The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.
“The only thing I’m certain of right now is that I want to play again next year,” said the 14-year veteran. “I’m just going to go in the offseason thinking about preparing for next season.”
The veteran right-hander is leading the Major Leagues in losses with a record of 3-16 and he has a 5.29 ERA.
Millwood has no preference as to where or which league he would like to play in 2011, except he wants to go to a winner.
“I’m not really concerned about it,” he said. “It’s not a situation going into the offseason where I feel like I need to get a big contract or make a ton of money. It’s just a situation where I definitely want to play. My biggest [thing] is just wanting to go to a contending team.”
The Orioles are not expected to re-sign Millwood, but he wouldn’t count them out. He acknowledges that the team has a lot of good talent and great leadership in Buck Showalter.
