Rumors for October, 2010
Ted Lilly and Dodgers agree to three-year deal
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A source close to The Los Angeles Times’ Dylan Hernandez says that Ted Lilly and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms on a new deal. Hernandez adds that the deal is pending a physical examination which is tentatively scheduled on Tuesday afternoon. The financial terms of the deal were not available.
FOXSport’s Ken Rosenthal was the first to report that the Dodgers were close to a three-year deal with Lilly. An announcement for the deal could come as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.
Last month, Lilly’s agent, Larry O’Brien of Full Circle Sports Management, was optimistic that the Dodgers and Lilly could come to an agreement. “I think the Dodgers are interested in signing Ted back. Ted has interest in signing back.”
The 34-year-old left-hander just completed a four-year, $40-million deal ($13 million for 2010). He was eligible to become a free-agent after the World Series.
Mets and Francisco Rodriguez working toward compromise
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The New Yorks Mets’ hearding with Francisco Rodriguez scheduled for Monday has been canceled as both sides are nearing a monetary settlement, according to The New York Posts’ Dan Martin and Joel Sherman.
The Mets had sought to make Rodriguez’s contract non-guaranteed, but both sides may be near a compromise.
Rodriguez was accused of grabbing 53-year-old Carlos Pena,the father of his girlfriend, in August, hauling him into a tunnel near the family lounge beneath Citi Field and hitting him in the face. Rodriguez tore a ligament in his thumb during the altercation and had to have surgery.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that the Mets plan to keep Rodriguez as part of the team, but they may try to trade the closer.
Milwaukee Brewers receive permission to talk with Pat Listach
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The Milwaukee Brewers have received permission to speak with Washington Nationals third-base coach Pat Listach about their managerial vacancy, according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. Listach and the Brewers will speak on Tuesday in Milwaukee.
The 1992 American League Rookie of the Year managed in the Cubs’ Minor League system, going 253-221. In August, Listach said he was interested in the Cubs’ job. “I would definitely like the job,” Listach said at the time. “But I have a job to do here in Washington. If that job is available, it would be a dream come true. When you bring a championship to that city and that team, it’s a big deal.” Earlier this week, Ladson reported that Listach was no longer considered for the Chicago Cubs’ managerial vacancy.
Listach could also eventually interview with the Toronto Blue Jays. A source close to Ladson said that Listach is part of a long list of candidates to take over the Jay’s skipper position.
Cliff Lee may prefer Philadelphia over Texas or New York in free-agency
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ESPN’s Jason A. Churchill said that ESPN’s Rumor Central has learned that Cliff Lee may prefer Philadelphia over Texas or New York or any other city in free-agency. Churchill speculates that it may not necessarily take the most money to get him to sign a long-term deal in Philadelphia.
The Phillies may have a crowded starting rotation, but Churchill opines that GM Ruben Amaro Jr. could move Joe Blanton’s ($8.5 million each for 2011 and 2012) or Raul Ibanez’s ($11.5 million for 2011). Another option would be to move reliever Brad Lidge’s ($11.5 million for 2011) contract to free up money from the approximately $130 million committed to the 2011 payroll.
Lee is eligible for free-agency after the World Series, and the Texas Rangers will have a five-day exclusive window to negotiate with him before he hits the open markets. Lee is expected to command C,C. Sabathia-money (eight-years, $160 million) this winter. One dark horse that was recently mentioned were the Washington Nationals. The Nats are expected to keep on eye on the left-hander this winter and may overspend if necessary.
Bobby Valentine on status with Brewers, Blue Jays, Mets
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ESPN’s Bobby Valentine was on SIRIUS XM’s Mad Dog Radio with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo (courtesy of the Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt) where he was asked about the status of his managerial search. Valentine goes on to say that he could have a few managerial positions if it was just a job, but he’s looking for that “perfect situation and it hasn’t presented itself yet.” Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
Russo: “Do you expect a second conversation with the Blue Jays?’
Valentine: “No.”
Russo: “Have you had a conversation with Milwaukee?”
Valentine: “Uh, not an interview. I’ve had conversations.”
Russo: “Will you have an interview with them?”
Valentine: “I might. We’ll see what the next conversation leads to.”
Russo: “The Mets? Any thought about them at all or not?”
Valentine: “I have not, again, I don’t know what’s going on there. And it’s all about the people and they don’t have anyone in place right now so obviously we’ll have to wait on that.”
Royals are prepared to listen to offers for Zack Greinke
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The Royals have Zack Greinke on their hands who in 5 days will be 27 years old. Greinke already sports CY Young hardware over his fire place in his short career. The Royals as an organization have one of the deeper minor leagues in all of baseball, but their top prospects are at least two years away from helping. The issues that is created is Grienke will become a free agent after the 2012 season as he also has two years $27mm left on his contract.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Royals are prepared to listen to “any and all” offers for Greinke. If the Royals did infact trade Greinke this offseason, they would be able to score a kings ransom as the other team would get two full seasons of Greinke and then if they were not able to resign him, they could offer him arbitration and recover a prospect.
But the Royals could also hold onto Greinke until the trade deadline or even next offseason as they will wait for the deal that blows them away. There is a possibility that Greinke does not get traded at all and resigns with Kansas City as he likes the direction the team is moving.
VIDEO: Nolan Ryan throws 80 mph ceremonial first pitch
Posted by: | Comments***If you are looking for Nolan Ryan’s ceremonial first-pitch before the Game 3 of the 2010 World Series, check it out here***
Texas Rangers owner and president Nolan Ryan still has the heat. He threw a strike around 80 mph during the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
(The speed was reported by The Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck)
New York Mets GM hiring may take weeks
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New York Mets COO Jeff Wilpon sent out an email to fans who subscribed to an electronic newsletter on Friday evening. This is what it said, according to ESPN’s Adam Rubin:
Dear Mets Fans:
We have heard from many of you over recent weeks offering suggestions and ideas on how to assemble a winning team. Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Your interest and support of the Mets is greatly appreciated.
We have been hard at work since the end of the season exploring ways to improve our club. As you likely know, this week we interviewed five candidates for general manager — Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Sandy Alderson and Logan White. They are all intelligent, passionate and creative about winning. They conveyed their honest assessment of our franchise and discussed how we can move forward on our pledge to give our fans the winner that they deserve.
We are continuing our search and expect to hire our new GM in the next few weeks. We will be in contact with you with more information and details soon.
Thanks again.
Jeff Wilpon
COO
Sandy Alderson remains the leading candidate according to the New York Posts’ Dan Martin. Sources close to Martin say the interview went “very well”. Follow-up interviews are not expected for next week since more candidates could interview. When the next rounds of interviews occur, team owner Fred Wilpon and president Saul Katz will likely become involved.
Cardinals have interest in re-signing Jake Westbrook
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At the end of September, the Cardinals and Jake Westbrook had mutual interest in working on a deal to keep the right-handed pitcher in St. Louis for a long time. This week, the Cards repeated that their interest has not changed when it comes to re-signing Westbrook, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold.
The Cardinals have not been able to comment on Westbrooks recent surgery to correct a minor tear in the labrum of his left shoulder due to rules about pending free agents. Goold said that the surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama and the pitcher was told that his rehab should not impact his throwing program this winter.
Westbrook is eligible to become a free-agent after the World Series, but the Cardinals have an exclusive five day negotiating winter before he hits the market. Westbrook said that he would be open to discussing a new deal with the Cardinals before he hears from other teams.
The 33-year-old pitcher was 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts since coming over in a three-team trade from the Cleveland Indians. He made $11 million in the final-year of a three-year, $33 million contract.
