Rumors for September, 2010
Kansas City Royals trade Willie Bloomquist to the Reds
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The Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton says (via Twitter) that the Royals have traded utility man Willie Bloomquist to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later.
| Team | Acquires |
| Cincinnati Reds | Willie Bloomquist |
| Kansas City Royals | Player to be named later |
Bloomquist, 32, was hitting .266/.298/.391 with 3 home runs and 17 RBIs in 71 games for the Royals this season. Unfortunately for Bloomquist, should the Reds make the postseason, he will be ineligible to be on the roster because he was acquired after the August 31st deadline.
Pittsburgh Pirates claim RHP Chris Leroux and designate Brian Bass for assignment
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According to the official Pittsburgh Pirates Twitter account, the team has claimed right-handed pitcher Christopher Leroux off waivers from the Florida Marlins and designated right-handed pitcher Brian Bass for assignment.
SF Giants looking for external help to replace CF Andres Torres?
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The San Francisco Giants’ center fielder, Andres Torres, will be out at least 10 days because of an appendectomy – a huge gap for a team trying to fight for a playoff spot. The Giants have a few internal options, but nothing like the Gold Golve-type defense that Torres brings to the table.
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News asked manager Bruce Bochy if he or GM Brian Sabean discussed external possibilities for a temporary replacement. Bochy said no at the time.
Baggarly suggests a stopgap would be an acquisition of Dodgers outfielder Scott Podsednik. Podsednik was placed on waivers in late August, but it is unclear if he cleared. Should the Giants make a deal with their arch rivals for Podsednik, the outfielder would not be eligible for the playoffs because he was not on the roster by the August 31st trade deadline.
Regardless of that rule, Podsednik would be a better option than using the lackluster Aaron Rowand. And should the Giants make the postseason and win the World Series, he could earn a playoff share (the team would have to vote on it) and he would receive a Ring.
A’s sign Akinori Iwamura
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According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s have signed Akinori Iwamura . The move was recently confirmed by A’s assistant GM David Forst.
Iwamura had been designated twice this season for assignment. He was originally designated for assignment on June 16th. Iwamura was then designated again designated this past Monday (the 6th of Sept.) and was then unconditionally released this past Friday.
Iwamura, 30, was hitting .182/.292/.267 in 54 games for the Pirates this season.
Chicago White Sox GM wants Paul Konerko back next season
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Chicago White Sox general manager Ken Williams made it clear to MLB.com (via Scott Merkin) that free-agent-to-be Paul Konerko is part of the team’s future.
“I would love to have him retire as a White Sox,” said Williams.
Merkin says that the decision to keep Konerko will ultimately come down to how the Sox finish and the money available for 2011 and beyond.
“We are driven by the revenue stream that comes in. People might not like it but it is what it is. We have to at least be able to be a break-even operation, and try to win at the same time.”
Konerko, 34, has been with the White Sox since 1999 and not only brings his talent on the field, but he brings his clubhouse leaderships skills as team captain. In 2010, Konerko is hitting .316/.394/.576 with 33 home runs and 98 RBIs. He’ll definitely be one of the more sought after free agents this winter.
VIDEO: 25th anniversary of Pete Rose becoming the MLB Hit King
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out this video of Pete Rose’s on-field ceremony of his 25th anniversary becoming the MLB Hit King before the Cincinnati Reds’ game on Saturday.
This was only Rose’s second on-field appearance since being banned from baseball in 1989. His last appearance was before Game 2 of the 1999 World Series when he was named to the MLB All-Century Team.
Royals players put on notice for final three weeks
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Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost put his players on notice, according to Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star. He basically said that the Royals’ future is bright and if the players on the roster want to be apart of that future, then they better prove to the club that they want to be around.
“The focus, definitely, needs to be revamped in terms of what they’re trying to accomplish on a daily basis,” Yost said. “For a lot of these guys, this is the most important three weeks of their lives.”
“We’ve got guys coming,” Yost said. “If you want to look at a team that’s successful, you look at Minnesota. They have two All-Star players and seven or eight good pitchers. You can win, and you can go deep into the postseason, with two All-Star-caliber players”
Baseball America recently named five Royals’ prospects on their 15-player Minor League First-Team All Stars. The Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays (2 prospects) were the only two teams to have more than one prospect listed. Included on the list are 19-year-old catcher Wil Myers, 20-year-old first baseman Eric Hosmer, 21-year-old third baseman Mike Moustakas, left-handed pitcher John Lamb, and 21-year-old left-handed reliever Tim Collins.
Yost goes on to say that the Royals have at least two All-Star players in their system, and the team has a the pitching staff developing on the farm to get them to the next level.
Here’s the latest from Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe:
Carfardo says Derek Jeter should be okay in the free-agent market this winter despite hitting a career-low .260. The Yankees are likely to “take care of him” with another massive contract.
Albert Pujols will also get a massive contract from the St. Louis Cardinals or another team when he becomes a free agent after next season.
Cafardo wonders if Adrian Beltre and Paul Konerko will stay in Boston and Chicago respectively. Will they prioritize their enjoyment of playing in their cities or will they go after the big dollars in free agency?
Cafardo questions if the San Diego Padres choke, do they deal Adrian Gonzalez in the off-season? Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports heard that they won’t do that.
Cafardo speculates that the Red Sox will sign Toronto Blue Jays’ pitcher Scott Downs in the off-season.
According to a Major League source, the Red Sox contribute $90 million to revenue sharing so the Pirates, Marlins, and Royals can get rich.
An NL scout confirmed Cafardo’s thoughts that Wakefield would be good for another year or two in the National League, but he may not be able to hit and run the bases at the age of 44.
Konerko would be a nice fit for the Red Sox, but he loves living in Arizona and enjoys playing in Chicago. It wouldn’t be shocking to see White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf keep Konerko around for another two or three years.
The Marlins are on the growing list of teams that would love to have Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez.
A Major League source close to Cafardo says former Padres GM Kevin Towers only had one conversation with Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall as of Friday.
There’s been talk about Dodgers’ right-handed pitcher Hiroki Kuroda returning to Japan, but that’s been denied on all fronts.
Chicago Cubs Aramis Ramirez undecided about returning in 2011
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Aramis Ramirez is still undecided on whether to return to the Chicago Cubs in 2011 for $14.6 million or exercise his escape clause and become a free agent, according to Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune.
“That’s going to be after the season,” he said. “I don’t know exactly when. I haven’t talked to my agent about it. That’s going to be in the offseason. They’ve got a lot of other things they have to address. I’m still under contract, so we’ll see.”
Ramirez says the Cubs have several other high priority issues to resolve before they address his contract, and that includes hiring a new manager.
“They don’t know what they’re going to do at first, or second,” he said. “I’m sure they’d like to add a couple relievers in there, probably another starter. They have more things to worry about than me right now.”
Ramirez contract runs through 2011, and he has a $16 million club option for 2011. It’s possible that the 32-year-old could retire once his contract wraps up next year.
“I don’t exactly how long i want to play, but it won’t be very long.”
Boston Red Sox Mike Lowell to retire after the season
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Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell officially confirmed today that he will retire after the season, according to John Tomase of the Boston Herald.
“I’m retiring,” he said. “I just don’t want to make it a song and dance because I don’t think that’s necessary, but if someone needs something official, yeah, I’m going to retire. This is going to be my last year.”
The 2007 World Series MVP says he can probably play somewhere next season.
“I do think I can platoon somewhere, but I don’t really enjoy it,” he said. “I can do it, but not after playing every day for 11 years and three years in the minor leagues and my whole life. I’m not willing to make that transition, not when the tradeoff is all that time with my family. It’s not worth it.”
In 12 season, the 36-year-old infielder will retire with over 1600 hits, 200+ home runs and for now a .279/.341/.464.
