Rumors for September, 2010
Jayson Stark on instant replay, wild card, Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth and Joe Torre
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Here’s the latest from Jayson Stark’s Rumblings & Grumblings:
- Commission Bud Selig is “more open to [additional replay] now than he’s ever been,” according to people around the commissioner.
- Stark is arguing for adding a second wild card team to the playoffs. The addition would be tricky because MLB does not want to play baseball in November, and the format of a second wild card team is up in the air. Many are not in favor of a one-game win-or-go-home game. They would prefer a best-of-three, but that would be difficult to fit in an already tight October schedule.
- If the New York Yankees go after a big name free agent this season, it’s likely going to be Tampa Bay Rays Carl Crawford, so Jayson Werth’s likely pursuers are the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants.
- One longtime baseball man close to Joe Torre and Stark, says that Torre has had his eye on the New York Mets since April.
- If Ozzie Guillen forces his way out of Chicago by pushing for a contract extension, he’d be at the top of the Florida Marlins’ managerial list. The Marlins are clearly looking for a big name manager.
VIDEO: Jose Bautista hits 50th home run of the season
Posted by: | CommentsBefore today, only 26 other players have done in the history of Major League Baseball have hit 50 home runs. Today Toronto Blue Jays Jose Bautista hit his 50th home run of the season off of Seattle Mariners’ Felix Hernandez in the bottom of the first inning today to become the 27th player in history to accomplish such a feat. Check out the video:
David Ortiz on the possibility of leaving the Boston Red Sox
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Fan favorite David Ortiz hit his 31st home run of the season on Wednesday night, and he is closing in on a 100 RBI season. However, despite his productivity at the plate, there’s many questions regarding his future in Boston.
“If I’m not here I’ll be somewhere, I guarantee you that,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz has a $12 million team option for 2012 with no buyout, and The Providence Journal’s Daniel Barbarisi says the Red Sox could either decline the option or try to work out a new deal. Ortiz wants a multiple-year contract, but has not heard from the team as to what their future plans for the DH are.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m part of the family, and I’m going to stick around longer, but I’m not the one who makes that decision. I’m not the one who makes that move. I’m trying to do my job and hopefully take care of that after the season,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz signed a four-year, $52 million extension at the start of the 2006 season, and he doesn’t want to take a pay cut moving forward, according to WEEI’s Mike Petreglia.
“I don’t feel like going anywhere else but if I have to, I have no choice,” Ortiz said. “We’ll see, we’ll see how things go. We’ll see. I took a pay cut already, five years ago. That’s some homework for you.”
Washington Nationals team president Stan Kasten resigns
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According to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, Stan Kasten has resigned from his position as Washington Nationals team president effective at the end of the season.
A source close to FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi said a “Lack of (financial) comment from ownership” was a factor in Kasten’s decision to resign.
Kasten became president of the team after the ownership group led by Ted Lerner was approved as the team’s principal owner in July of 2006. Since that time, the team has gone through three managers (Frank Robinson, Manny Acta and Jim Riggleman) and has finished in last place in their division each year except for 2007 when they finished in fourth place.
It is not known what Kasten’s future plans are. MLB.com’s Bill Ladson says there have been reports over the past few years that he would work for the Toronto Blue Jays or Major League Baseball, but he has denied those reports.
The 58-year-old Kasten was previously the president of the Atlanta Braves from 1986 until 2003.
Will Rockies trade Chris Iannetta if Miguel Olivo returns in 2011
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Colorado Rockies catcher Miguel Olivo is in a predicament that most ballplayers would want in regards to his contract. Olivo’s 2011 contract currently stands as a club option, but it can be a player option if he reaches 110 starts, according to The Denver Post’s Jim Armstrong (PRO Rumors’ records indicates that it’s a mutual option). The catcher is currently sitting at 103 start with 11 games to play, and with the Rockies on the verge of making the playoffs, it’s almost a lock that he’ll trigger the option.
The 32-year-old Olivo wants to return, and Armstrong says all signs point to the Rockies wanting Olivo back, but that situations won’t sit too well for Chris Iannetta.
“It’s a good bunch of people here,” Olivo said. “Whatever they want to do, I’m open to it. I have a good relationship with everybody and I’m getting too old to be jumping teams. And if we get to the playoffs, that would make it even better.”
Armstrong points out that Iannetta was supposed to split the catching duties with Olivo, but it’s obvious that the team has more faith in Olivo leading the team. So do the Rockies trade Iannetta this winter or do they wait it out and give Iannetta the job in 2012?
It’s possible that the Florida Marlins and the Boston Red Sox could be interested in Iannetta. Iannetta signed a three-year, $8.35 million contract in January to cover him through 2012 with a $5 million club option for 2013. The contract buys out all of Iannetta’s arbitration years, but the club option is only valid for the Rockies. If Iannetta is traded, he has the right to void the 2013 club option.
Russell Martin wants to be a Dodger in 2011
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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin sat out his 45th consecutive game on Wednesday, and his return to the playing field is not getting any closer. According to Los Angeles Times Dylan Hernandez, Martin is a long way from returning from a season-ending hip injury that he sustained on August 3rd. However, when he returns, he would like to do so in a Dodgers’ uniform.
When asked, he made it clear that he wants to be return to Los Angeles next season.
“Of course,” he said.
The arbitration-eligible Martin will almost certainly get a raise from his $5.05 million salary if the Dodgers tender him a contract this winter. Otherwise, the Dodgers could non-tender him and let him become a free-agent or trade him.
When Martin was asked if he would consider signing a contract before the tender deadline, he deferred that question to be answered by his agent.
The 27-year-old has recently been lifting weights and he is scheduled to get his right hip scanned again in November.
“It’s probably going to be my best off-season,” he said. “I have no choice but to get back to where I want to be. I have no choice but to kick it up.”
Diamondbacks still waiting to hear back from Jerry Dipoto
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In the aftermath of the Arizona Diamondbacks naming Kevin Towers as the team’s new general manager, interim GM, Jerry Dipoto will not return to the team, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Multiple sources close to FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal indicate that Dipoto is resigning, but nothing is official.
Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall made it clear that the club would like to have Dipoto back, according to The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro, but they’re waiting to hear from Dipoto on what he will do. “I would love for him to be here if it makes sense for both parties,” Hall said. “He’s got a lot of friends out there who I’m sure have already reached out to him. He’s going to have no problem, if it’s not here, he’ll be somewhere and deservedly so because he’s outstanding.”
Dipoto took over as the team’s interim general manager in July of this season. He had been in the running for the permanent position until Towers was named to be the GM on a full-time basis. Dipoto had been praised for the way he handled the position after the team fired Josh Byrnes on July 1st. Among Dipoto’s accomplishments this season are: Dan Haren trade with the Los Angeles Angels, Edwin Jackson trade with the Chicago White Sox, Chad Qualls trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chris Snyder trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Diamondbacks to begin managerial negotiations with Kirk Gibson
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A source close to FOXSports’ Jim Bowden says that the Arizona Diamondbacks will begin negotiations with interim manager Kirk Gibson. If the negotiations go smoothly, the team will remove the interim tag and make Gibson the permanent manager of the D-backs.
It’s been widely speculated that the team will name a full-time manager as soon as they hire a general manager which they did today when the team officially named Kevin Towers as the the permanent general manager today.
Towers met with Gibson on Wednesday for almost two hours, according to MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert.
“Intense guy,” Towers said. “Like the look in his eye. You could tell he’s a winner, he’s a grinder. He’s a guy that has high expectations. I’ve watched the last three weeks to a month and watched some of the postgame interviews that he’s done. He’s learned from some great people: Jim Leyland, Sparky Anderson. He’s played under some great managers that had high expectations of their players and held their players accountable.”
Entering today, Gibson has guided the Diamondbacks to a 29-43 record since he took over on an interim basis in July. The team currently has the third worse record in the Major Leagues – just ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners.
Ozzie Guillen wants contract extension with Chicago White Sox
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Even though Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has a contract guaranteed through 2011, he would like to get an extension to keep him in the Windy City for some time.
“My mind is ready,” Guillen said. “I want to be here as long as I can. I want to be with the White Sox for the rest of my career, but this is a business. I like to know what they have in mind. It’s nice to have an extension. You have security but meanwhile, I have another year on the contract. But in the meanwhile, it’s kind of uncomfortable to come here and get it day-by-day. But talk about contract, everyone does.”
If the White Sox are not a long-term solution for Guillen, there has been mention that the Florida Marlins may be interested in Guillen to be the team’s manager. Guillen currently owns a home in the Miami area and owner Jeffrey Loria like “name guys.”
“I hope everything works out for both sides,” Guillen said. “I will respect what they have on their mind. But one choice about it — I’d like to stay here. But in the meanwhile, this is the business way and we’re going to see what’s going to happen.”
Ryne Sandberg interviewed for Chicago Cubs managerial job
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A source close to ESPNChicago.com’s Bruce Levine says that Cubs general manager Jim Hendry met with Ryne Sandberg on Tuesday in Arizona to formally interview the Triple-A manager for the Cubs managerial opening. The source adds that the two will continue their conversation on Wednesday.
The source says Hendry is still planning to speak with Washington Nationals coach Pat Listach, former Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin and Chicago Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly. The team has already met with former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge.
Earlier today, Sandberg was mentioned as a candidate for the Toronto Blue Jays managerial job. Current Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston will retire after the season.
Sandberg, 50, was named manager of the Iowa Cubs in December 2009. He previously managed the Class-A Peoria Chiefs and Double-A Tennessee Smokies.
