Rumors for November, 2010
Nationals could make offer to Javier Vazquez next week
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According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Washington Nationals have expressed interest in right-handed pitcher Javier Vazquez and could make an offer to the pitcher as early as next week.
Earlier today, The Palm Beach Posts’ Joe Capozzi said that Florida Marlins’ manager Edwin Rodriguez was in touch with Vazquez. Rodriguez expressed his desire to have him in the Marlins’ rotation.
Depending on the length of this contract offer, this could be Vazquez’s last deal before he retires. Last winter, he mentioned that he doesn’t want to play into his late-30’s, and now that he’s 34-year-old, that magic number is soon approaching.
Ken Davidoff on Rays, White Sox, BJ Upton, Damon, Matsui
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Here are a few pieces of news, rumors and predictions from Newsdays’ Ken Davidoff
– The Rays have four Type-A and four Type-B free agents this winter, so they could get a large number of compensatory draft picks for 2011.
– The Rays need to rebuild their bullpen. “Over the last three or four years, we’ve made five really good bullpen moves,” Tampa Bay executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, “but that’s over four years. Basically, we’re trying to replicate that in one offseason. It’s going to be difficult.”
– Grant Balfour and Randy Choate could return if Tampa Bay offers arbitration and they accept it.
– Don’t look for the Rays to trade B.J. Upton
– Adam Dunn remains the White Sox’s top choice. If they strikeout with him then Johnny Damon and/or Hideki Matsui could be a possibility.
– Damon is eying the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays. All three teams train near his Florida home during the spring.
– Matsui would like to join the White Sox or Oakland Athletics.
– If the Yankees sign Cliff Lee, then the Rangers will likely explore a trade for Kansas City Royal’s Zack Greinke.
Chicago Cubs sign 1B Bryan LaHair to Minor League deal
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According to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat, the Chicago Cubs have signed first baseman Bryan LaHair to a Minor League deal. He hit .308 with 25 home runs at Triple-A Iowa.
Mets fire scouting director Rudy Terrasas
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The New York Mets have fired scouting director Rudy Terrasas, according to sources close to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman.
Heyman later adds that Terrasas may be reassigned within the organization.
Terrasas, who has one-year left on his contract, joined the Mets before the 2005 season. He was promoted from assistant scouting director to scouting director in October of that year.
While details of the firing have not been made public, it’s likely that the change from former GM Omar Minaya to new GM Sandy Alderson played a part of it. Alderson probably wanted to install his personnel.
Marlins manager in touch with free agent Javier Vazquez
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According to The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Capozzi, Florida Marlins’ manager Edwin Rodriguez was in touch this morning with free agent pitcher Javier Vazquez. Rodriguez said, “Hopefully we can put him in that rotation. Definitely.”
The Sun Sentinel’s Juan C. Rodriguez says that Rodriguez and Vazquez are from the same hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The two have known each other since Vazquez was 14 or 15.
Earlier this week, Vazquez mentioned that he would love to return to the Nationals League and pitch for the Marlins. At the time, Vazquez had already been receiving offers.
The Marlins do have the $10-11 million that the team budgeted for Dan Uggla, which will reportedly be used for a possible starting pitcher such as Vazquez.
Should Vazquez, who made $11.5 million in the final year of a $34.5 million deal, not sign with Florida, the Rockies are believed to be interested in his services. The only thing that doesn’t bode well for the Rockies signing Vazquez is that he prefers the east coast.
Jim Leyritz acquitted of DUI manslaughter
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Despite Jim Leyritz’s car colliding with a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Fredia Ann Veitch and having a 0.14 blood-alcohol level, the former Major League Baseball player was acquitted of DUI manslaughter for the December 28, 2007 accident, according to the Associated Press.
The jury could not decide whether Leyritz ran a red light that evening. He was convicted of a misdemeanor driving under the influence which carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. Prosecutors said Leyritz had between 11 and 12 shots of liquor in the three hours before the crash.
In May, the side settled a wrongful death lawsuit where Leyritz agreed to pay the family $350,000 in insurance and person funds. The 11-year veteran made $10.7 million over an 11-year career.
Leyritz may be best remembered for hitting a home run for the New York Yankees that tied Game 4 of the 1996 World Series against the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees went on to win the 1996 championship – it’s first in 18 years.
Mediator gives each McCourt a settlement proposal
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Frank and Jamie McCourt are in a bitter divorce where their assets, including the ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers, could be settled by a Los Angeles mediator. On Friday, the mediator, Superior Court Judge Peter Lichtman met separately in closed sessions with each McCourt and their attorneys to give them his proposal. The parties were instructed to not discuss the terms of the proposal publicly.
It’s believed that Lichtman has given each side until the end of the of the month to accept or reject proposal. If rejected, as expected, then Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon would rule on whether to upload a marital agreement that would give Frank McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers’ franchise. Jamie McCourt has asked the court to throw out the agreement – making the team community property.
Information from the Los Angeles Times was used in this article.
A’s, Royals, Tigers and Indians on Justin Upton’s no-trade list
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The Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians are on Justin Upton’s no-trade list, according to FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal. Upton’s contract allows him to block deals up to four clubs. He is signed through 2015 on a six-year, $51.25 million contract.
As many as 15 teams have expressed interest in Upton and sources close to the Diamondbacks are confident a deal is possible. The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays were believed to be strong contenders for Upton’s services.
Pirates designate Zach Duke, Andy LaRoche and Delwyn Young for assignment
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According to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates add Michael Crotta, Jeff Locke, Kyle McPherson, Daniel Moskos and Tony Watson to the team’s 40-man roster and in doing so, they have designated Zach Duke, Andy LaRoche and Delwyn Young for assignment.
GM Neal Huntington said that the Pirates tried to negotiate a contract with Duke, but were unsuccessful. The team felt that he was not worth what he would have made in arbitration (probably around $5 million). The club explored trade opportunities, but were unsuccesful.
LaRoche and Young also were eligible for arbitration.
Texas Rangers sign Barret Loux
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The Texas Rangers have signed right-handed pitcher Barret Loux, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan. Loux, as you may recall, was the Arizona Diamondbacks number 1 pick from the 2010 MLB Amateur draft but was granted free agency by Major League baseball on September 1st.
Anthony Andro of the Star-Telegram says that the Rangers gave Loux $312,000.
A tear in his labrum, a shoulder injury that has ended careers, was discovered which worried the Diamondbacks.
Loux, the sixth overall pick and a right-handed pitcher out of Texas A&M, has a four-pitch mix of a fastball, curve, slider and change-up. MLB.com says:
“The big right-hander has four pitches he uses, though it’s his fastball and plus changeup that really stand out. His breaking stuff needs some tightening, but with his command, mound presence and easy delivery, there’s reason to believe he can improve that part of his game as well.”
