Rumors for December, 2010
Reds interested in Scott Podsednik
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The Cincinnati Reds are looking to improve their leadoff spot in the batting order and they have their eye on free-agent outfielder Scott Podsednik, according to sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.
Rosenthal suggests that Podsednik would be a good fit with the Reds since he’s a left-handed bat and he could platoon with the right-handed hitting Jonny Gomes in left field.
Earlier this week, Rosenthal mentioned the Los Angeles Angels are in need of a leadoff man, and that the team has shown interest in the speedy left fielder.
Podsednik, 34, hit .297/.342/.382 with 6 HR and 51 RBI’s in 2010, he also stole 35 bases in 50 attempts.
Milwaukee Brewers sign RHP Sean Green
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According to a Tweet by the Milwaukee Brewers, the team has signed free agent right-handed pitcher Sean Green to a one-year contract. Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports that the non-guaranteed deal will pay Green $875,000.
Green, 31, made 11 appearances for the New York Mets in 2010. He has a career record of 10-11 with a 4.36 ERA in 250 relief appearances.
Brewers officially sign Craig Counsell to one-year deal
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According to a source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Craig Counsell have agreed to a one-year deal. Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel says the deal is for $1.4 million in base salary for 2011. The deal was officially announced by the team on December 22.
Counsell, 40, hit .250/.322/.319 in 102 games for the Brewers in 2010.
Nationals designate LHP Matt Chico for assignment
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In a Tweet by the Washington Nationals, the team has designated left-handed pitcher Matt Chico for assignment.
Chico cleared waivers and was outrighted to minors. He will be a non-roster invitee to the Major League Spring Training.
The Nationals eventually assigned the left-handed pitcher outright to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League.
The 27-year-old has a career 7-15 record with a 4.95 ERA in 43 appearances (40 starts) for the Washington Nationals.
Andy Pettitte not officially in play for the New York Yankees
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Will Andy Pettitte return to the New York Yankees or will he hang up his glove and call it a career?
According to Jack Curry of the YES Network, Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman said that Pettitte is leaning towards retirement.
“In a month, maybe that changes,” Cashman said.
Cashman added (via Brian Hoch of MLB.com), “There’s no official announcement that he’s retired, but I can tell you he’s not officially in play,”
“We’re obviously focused on the available markets to us and those players on the free-agent market and trade market that will be available. Andy currently is not one of those guys. If he chooses to be, obviously he knows we’d love to talk to him.”
While there’s an obvious competitive desire for Pettitte to continue his career, there are two factors that will ultimately affect Pettitte’s decision: his desire to be closer to his family in their Houston, Texas home and the amount of money the New York Yankees want to offer. It’s been previously reported that Pettitte will return to New York if they offer him a contract that “isn’t insulting.” It’s believed that Pettitte may be unhappy with his previous pay structure – he’s the team’s number 2 pitcher, but he’s being paid like a number 4 starter. So far, no other teams have been known to be aggressively pursuing Pettitte.
Astros sign Gustavo Chacin to a Minor League deal
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According to Alyson Footer, the Astros Sr. Director of Social Media, the Houston Astros have signed left handed pitcher Gustavo Chacin to a Minor League deal. The contract includes invitation to the Major League Spring Training.
The Venezuela native was outrighted to Minors by the Astros in November 29, 2010, along with Tim byrdak and Matt Nevarez.
Andrew Gallo sentenced to 51 years to life in Adenhart death
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24-year-old Andrew Gallo was sentenced to 51 years to life in prison for killing Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and his two friends in 2009, according to the Associated Press.
Gallo was sentenced Wednesday at a hearing at which he apologized to the victims’ family and friends. He was convicted in September on three counts of second-degree murder and single counts of drunken driving, hit-and-run driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol and causing great bodily injury.
Second-degree murder charges were pursued instead of manslaughter because Gallo had a previous DUI conviction. Gallo’s blood-alcohol was nearly three-times the legal limit.
Adenhart, 22, died hours after his 2009 season debut. His friends Courtney Stewart, 20 and Henry Pearson, 25, also died on the evening of April 9, 2009 in Fullerton, California. Another passenger, Jon Wilhite, was severely injured when the impact separated his spine from his skull.
Brandon Webb Rumors: Brewers are not the mystery team
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The rumors regarding right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb are heating up. Here’s a running list of today’s rumors (newest on top):
– Yesterday, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN mentioned that an unidentified National League Central team has expressed interest in Webb. GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel that the Milwaukee Brewers are not the “mystery” team involved in the bidding.
New York Mets Wish List: rotation, bullpen then bench help
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In an article by Andy Martino of the New York Daily News he reports the New York Mets will likely wait until the new year before they add players to their roster. And when that happens, which types of players will GM Sandy Alderson and the team go after?
Martino says the Mets have prioritized pitching over bench players and they expect to sign rotation and bullpen help before adding a fourth outfielder or other position players. Candidates for the fourth outfielder job include Reed Johnson or Fred Lewis.
“We have definitely made pitching our top priority,” a team source said. The market for low-risk, potentially high-reward pitchers is slow-developing, though, and the Mets are willing to be patient.
Pitching candidates that the Mets could go after include Chris Young and Freddy Garcia.
Octavio Dotel Rumors: Blue Jays, Pirates and Rays interested
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A Major League source tells Jon Paul Morosi and FOXSports.com that the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays are interested in free agent right-handed pitcher Octavio Dotel.
Last Week, Morosi reported that the Blue Jays were interested in Dotel since the team does not have an experienced closer on the team.
Dotel, 37, declined arbitration from the Colorado Rockies at the end of November. Because he’s a Type-B free agent the Rockies will receive a supplemental draft pick in the 2011 draft should he go anywhere other than Colorado.
Dotel was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Los Angeles Dodgers at trade-deadline for James McDonald and Andrew Lambo. The Dodgers then traded Dotel to the Rockies in mid-September for a player to be name later. Dodger’s GM Ned Colletti acquired Dotel in hopes of strengthening the Dodgers weak bullpen as they made a push for the playoffs.
The Rockies declined a $4.5 million team option on Dotel in November. The right-hander made $3.25 million in 2010.
