Rumors for October, 2010
Girardi and Yankees agree to a three year deal
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The New York Yankees have agreed with Joe Girardi to a three year $9 million contract according to Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden from the New York Daily News. They’re putting the final touches on the deal and there might be an official announcement today. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman added that Girardi’s contract will include $450.000-$500.000 in ALCS/ World Series bonuses.
On tuesday Jon Heyman said the Yankees and Girardi were expected to agree to a three-year deal and the negotiations should not take long. Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman think very highly of Girardi, and they wanted him to come back with the team. As for the coaches on Girardi’s staff, none are signed beyond the end of this month.
The 46-year-old Girardi just finished a three-year, $7.5 million deal he signed in October 2007.
Barry Bonds wants to become hitting coach – hopefully with Giants
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Depending on who you ask Barry Bonds is the single-season and career home run king. With that said, he wants to take his “gift” of hitting and share it with other as a coach. According to the FanHouse Newswire, Bonds wants to become a hitting coach and he hopeful that the opportunity will come with the San Francisco Giants.
“I love being home. I love being here,” Bonds said.
“I have a gift and sooner or later I have to give it away,” Bonds added. “I have to share it. Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity here.”
Although not officially retired, Bonds last played in the Majors in 2007 and finished his career with 762 home runs. If he eventually joins a big league club as a hitting coach, he’ll join Mark McGwire as a notable steroid-era hitter turned coach. McGwire recently signed on to coach the St. Louis Cardinals for another year.
The 46-year-old Bonds has been accused of taking steroids and will go on trial in March 2011 on charges of lying to a federal grand jury in 2003 when he denied knowingly that he took steroids.
New York Mets Rumors: Alderson, Beltran, Castillo, Perez, Rodriguez, Backman
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Here’s the latest rumors for the New York Mets from Newsday’s Ken Davidoff:
Sandy Alderson will be formally introduced as the Met’s general manager on Friday, and he’ll likely get busy as soon as possible since the contracts of most of the team’s scouts and coaches will expire on Sunday.
Assistant GM John Ricco will stay with the Mets and will likely be the Met’s next GM after Alderson’s turn is up. The fate of special assistant Wayne Krivsky and scouting director Rudy Terrasas is to be determined.
Paul DePodesta could be brought over to New York since he has a close relationship with Alderson.
The Mets indicated a willingness to eat money on Carlos Beltran, Luis Castillo, Oliver Perez and Francisco Rodriguez.
Wally Backman is unlikely to be the team’s next manager.
Here are a few Yankees rumors from Davidoff:
It’s possible that former Mets manager Willie Randolph could return to the Yankees in a community relations role.
Davidoff believes that Carl Willis, pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners, would be an interesting candidate to replace Dave Eiland as the Yankees pitching coach.
Buehrle and Sox to talk extension or retirement?
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The Chicago White Sox starter Mark Buehrle will begin his last season of his current four-year $56 million contract in 2011. According to ESPN.com’s Jason Churchill Buehrle would like to stay in Chicago, but he wont negotiate an extension during the season.
“It’ll probably be, which hopefully it’ll be just like everybody else, either we’ll talk in the off season or into spring training, and once the season starts we’re not going to deal with it or make distractions for the team,” said Buehrle on The Waddle & Silvy Show on ESPN 1000. “If something happens, hopefully it’ll be before the season or next off season, but I don’t think there’s going to be any talks.”
Buehrle has also hinted at the possibility of retiring after the 2011, and according to Churchill, the White Sox could move him before the start of next season or near the trade deadline.
If Buehrle leaves the White Sox, St. Louis would be his preferred destination. Should the two teams work out a trade, Churchill suggests the Cardinals’ rookie catcher Bryan Anderson could be a trade candidate. With the possible departure of A.J. Pierzynski, and not having any obvious solutions on their farms system, Anderson looks like a pretty good choice.
Hisanori Takahashi switches agents
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Left-handed pitcher Hisanori Takahashi has switched agents from Peter Greenberg to Arn Tellum, according to David Lennon of Newsday.
Lennon adds, the New York Mets have until October 31 to sign Takahashi or they cannot re-sign him until May 15. Its a unique clause but was inserted into his contract as Takahashi and his people felt he was undervalued when he signed his minor league contract last year.
The team and Takahashi have been discussing a new contract and recently Greenberg said, “We have been talking,” Hisa loved his time in New York, and hopefully, something can be worked out. If not, then he will have to look elsewhere.”
Further complicating the issue is that the Mets do not have a general manager. The assistant general manager, John Ricco, has been handling the negotiations.
Takahashi’s preference would be to be a starter but would not rule out a return to the bullpen due to the success he had this year.
PRO Rumors 2010 World Series predictions
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Here are the PRO Rumors World Series predictions for 2010. Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think – leave a comment!
Ted: San Francisco Giants in 6
“The Giants have just enough offense to get Brian Wilson to the mound to get those crucial late-inning outs.”
Allan: Texas Rangers in 6
“Two words – Cliff Lee. Lee will win Game 1 and Game 5. The Rangers have enough offense to get past Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner.”
Juan: San Francisco Giants in 7
“Game 1 is pretty even but I like the chances of Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez over C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis. Offensively the Rangers are in better shape, but guys like Cody Ross and Buster Posey can get the job done.”
Ryan: Texas Rangers in 6
“There’s nobody better than Bengie Molina in providing the Rangers’ hitters with an experienced scouting report.”
By the way, PRO Rumors will be on with the ESPN 1420 Honolulu at 8:35pm tonight to talk World Series and everything baseball. Listen live at www.espn1420am.com tonight.
Blue Jays pick up Jose Molina’s 2011 option
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According to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, the Toronto Blue Jays have picked the 2011 club option for catcher Jose Molina for $1.2 million.
Molina will be backup to J.P. Arencibia, who is expected to make his full-season debut in 2011. Arencibia is expected to compete for the starting job in Spring Training. Bastian suggests that Molina and Arencibia may split time at the beginning of the season and then ease Arencibia into the full-time job.
The Blue Jays’ everyday catcher, John Buck, is a free agent and will likely sign with a club where he will be the starter. However, Bastian added that there’s interest by the Jays to bring him back.
Brewers do NOT have agreement with Bobby Valentine to be manager
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According to Wisconsin Radio Network’s Bill Scott (via the Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt), the Milwaukee Brewers have an agreement with Bobby Valentine to be the team’s next manager, but it was denied by the Brewers. Haudricourt heard from GM Doug Melvin, through their PR person Mike Vassallo, that there is not agreement in principle with Valentine.
Haudricourt later contacted Valentine to confirm the report. Here is Valentine’s response:
“There has been no conversation about a contract with your team. Not one word has been mentioned to me and I have not mentioned to anyone there about a contract.”
When Valentine was asked if he is in talks with the Brewers about the job, he said, “We had a meeting.”
Yesterday, FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal said, “Keep hearing Bobby Valentine is finalist for the Brewers.” “But would Brewers pay V? And would he go?.”
Valentine has managed in the Majors for 15 years, eight with the Rangers and seven with the Mets. He won the NL pennant in 2000 with the Mets, but failed to win the World Series against the Yankees.
New York Yankees pick up Brackman’s option – decline Wood, Berkman and Johnson
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According to The Star-Ledger’s Marc Carig via his Twitter feed, the New York Yankees have picked up Andrew Brackman’s option, but the team has declined the 2011 options for Kerry Wood, Lance Berkman and Nick Johnson.
Wood has a team option for $11 million, Berkman has a team option for $15 million and Johnson has a $5.5 million mutual option. Johnson played 24 games this season. Not that it would have made much of a difference, but his mutual option would have escalated based on 500, 550 and 600 plate appearances.
New York Yankees and Girardi close to three-year deal
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According to the New York Posts’ Joel Sherman the New York Yankees and manager Joe Girardi are closing in on a three-year contract that is some where between $9-10 million. Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman says the three-year deal will be close to $9.5 million.
Yesterday, Heyman said the Yankees and Girardi were expected to agree to a three-year deal and the negotiations should not take long.
Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman think very highly of Girardi, and they will want him to come back with the team. As for the coaches on Girardi’s staff, none are signed beyond the end of this month.
The 46-year-old Girardi is currently wrapping up a three-year, $7.5 million deal he signed in October 2007. King speculated last week that Girardi could get a three-year contract worth $3.5-4 million per season.
