Rumors for January, 2011
Angels owner and Scott Boras are not BFF’s
Posted by: | Comments
The name “Scott Boras” comes up and owners and GM’s cringe. They know whenever the super agent is involved, they are in for a long battle with piles of cash at stake.
The 28-year-old pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels and Boras’ client, Jered Weaver, has two-years left of team control, and all signs from the Angels indicate that they want to keep him long-term. So with that said, owner, Arte Moreno, and Boras will have to go head-to-head in order to make that happen. Many reports indicate that the negotiations may not go all that smoothly.
In fact, they may get ugly if you asked Moreno.
“My mother told me when you have nothing nice to say about a person, you shouldn’t say anything at all,” Moreno said, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.
When the team tried to sign another Boras client earlier this winter, Adrian Beltre, things did not go in the Angels’ favor and they eventually lost the third baseman to the Texas Rangers. Take this back a few years ago, and there was tension between the agent and owner regarding Mark Teixeira, who eventually went to the New York Yankees.
“I don’t have to deal with anybody I don’t have to deal with. That’s the way I live my life,” Moreno said. “Does that mean I’ve told Tony[Reagins] or my people they can’t deal with him? I have not instructed them they can’t.”
Boras traditionally does not let teams buyout the remaining years of his clients’ arbitration-eligibility. He wants to maximize their value by waiting for free agency. This obviously comes at a risk financially, but Boras has a very good record at succeeding. So if the Angels are serious about wanting to sign Weaver to a long-term deal, then they better get a truck full of cash in front of Boras with Moreno as the driver.
White Sox considering Freddy Garcia
Posted by: | Comments
According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Chicago White Sox are considering right handed pitcher Freddy Garcia. Heyman says that the White Sox like Garcia, but the problem is the return of Jake Peavy who is expected back in June. The addition of Garcia now could result in a crowded rotation come mid-summer.
Garcia has been drawing interest from a lot of teams, including the Yankees, Mets and Orioles, so it’s not a lock that he’ll return to the South Side.
The Yankees signed veteran Bartolo Colon yesterday, and with Andy Pettitte likely returning to the Bronx, Garcia is unlikely headed to the Bronx. The Mets signed veteran Chris Young and they haven’t shown any more interest in signing another starter. The Orioles could be a real possibility for the right-handed pitcher since they are looking for pitching depth.
The Venezuelan native played for the White Sox in 2010, his first complete season since 2007, due to shoulder surgery. He posted a 12-6 record with 4.64 ERA in 157 innings for Chicago this season.
Garcia brings a lot to the table for the White Sox given his experience with AL Central hitters. He has faced Justin Morneau 36 times (6-for-29), Joe Mauer 35 times (13-for-31), Travis Hafner 36 times (15-for-33) and Jim Thome 34 times (5-for-23). Due to Garcia’s experience in the division, the Tigers, Twins and White Sox should seriously take a look at the right-hander as a back-end starter.
Indians looking to upgraded rotation and infield?
Posted by: | Comments
It looks like the Cleveland Indians are shopping at the bargain bin. According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, the team is looking to sign players on the cheap and Morosi suggests that they are looking to upgrade their rotation and infield.
Over the last couple of days, there were rumors that the team was trying to move Fausto Carmona and Grady Sizemore to the Washington Nationals. The rumors involving the teams have since been debunked by several writers including Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer, Bill Ladson of MLB.com and Buster Olney of ESPN.
Who are a few players the Indians can target?
First Baseman
Nick Johnson
Troy Glaus
Russell Branyan
Mark Kotsay
Second baseman
Felipe Lopez
Third baseman
Pedro Feliz
Willy Aybar
Shortstop
Orlando Cabrerra
Starting pitcher
Jeremy Bonderman
Kevin Millwood
Freddy Garcia
Nationals designate OF Justin Maxwell for assignment
Posted by: | Comments
According to the Washington Nationals’ official Twitter account, the team has announced that they have designated outfielder Justin Maxwell for assignment.
Maxwell, 27, has played three seasons and 122 career games with the Nationals. He’s a lifetime .201/.319/.379 hitter.
Top 9 Major League Baseball scheduling anomalies: #5-1
Posted by: | Comments
Here are the rest of PRO Rumors’ Top 9 Major League Baseball scheduling anomalies.
Missed #9-6? Click here.
5. Hurricane Ivan forces Marlins and Expos to Chicago: In September 2004 Hurricane Ivan made it impossible for the Marlins to play their home series against the Montreal Expos, so both teams moved their series to U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. It was a five game series and the first two games were moved to Chicago with the other three to played in Miami later that week. (Source: Associated Press)
4. Snow forces Cleveland Indians to have Opening Day in Milwaukee: An April 2007 snowstorm that already cancelled the Cleveland Indians opening series versus the Seattle Mariners threatened the next series against the Los Angeles Angels. The team took advantage of the domed stadium in Milwaukee’s Miller Park and the Indians and Angels played three games there. All seats were sold for $10 a piece. (Source: Wikipedia)
3. Home-and-home doubleheader on the same day: The New York Mets and Yankees played three different home-and-home doubleheaders on the same day. They would play one game at one team’s home and then travel across town to play the other game at the other team’s stadium. This occurred on July 8, 2000; June 28, 2003 and June 27, 2008. (Source: Wikipedia)
2. Doubleheader versus two teams: On September 25, 2000, the Cleveland Indians played a doubleheader against two teams. They played a makeup game versus the Chicago White Sox in the day and then played the regularly scheduled game versus the Minnesota Twins that night. (Source: Wikipedia)
1. Hurricane Ike displaces Astros-Cubs series: In September 2008, the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros series, originally scheduled to be played at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, was played in Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Astros were designated the home team despite Miller Park being located less than 100 miles away from Chicago. The three-game series was shortened to two, the third was to be played if necessary after the last scheduled regular season game. The neutral site series was highlighted by Carlos Zambrano’s no-hitter. (Source: Tom Haudricourt, Journal-Sentinel)
Missed #9-6? Click here.
Phillies should consider bringing Aaron Rowand back
Posted by: | Comments
The Philadelphia Phillies have a hole in right field after Jayson Werth’s departure to the Nationals, and it still unknown who is going to fill that hole.
According to Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News there are a lot of possibilities right now, but he thinks that the best choice can be found outside the organization.
Ben Francisco, Ross Gload, John Mayberry Jr. and Domonic Brown are possibilities from inside the organization, but Hagen believes that former Phillies Aaron Rowand, currently with the Giants, is an intriguing alternative.
Rowand signed a five-year, $60 million with the Giants, but this past year he became a really expensive bench player for the team, and according to Hagen that’s not going to change for this season.
The right handed outfielder still has two-years and $24 million left on his contract, and the Phillies will probably want the Giants to pick up most of his contract. That could be a huge roadblock says Hagen, and the fact that the Giants might not be impressed by what the Phillies could offer in return for Rowand. Hagen says that if the Phillies find a way to acquire Rowand, it might be a perfect low-risk, high-reward move.
Rowand hit .309 with 27 HR’s and 89 RBI’s the last time he was wearing a Phillies uniform, and his addition to Philadelphia could lessen the blow of losing Werth since he was very popular player among Phillies fans.
Sandy Alderson content with first winter with Mets
Posted by: | Comments
Despite not getting a big name free agent this winter, New York Mets GM, Sandy Alderson, is satisfied with the job the team has done this winter.
“Actually, I feel pretty good about it,” Alderson said at a press conference, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. “We’ve been able to address all of our needs and, hopefully, we’ve addressed those needs well. We’re gonna find out in spring training and early in the season.”
The team did not have much money to spend this off season, so names like Jayson Werth and Cliff Lee were out of the question. Instead, Alderson added Chris Young, Ronny Paulino, D.J. Carrasco and Chin-lung Hu to the roster.
“Given what latitude we had, I’m actually happy with what we have,” Alderson said. “I think we maximized our resources.”
The seasoned GM made smaller moves with an eye on next winter when he’ll have more flexibility.
Alderson added that there was still a chance that the team would avoid arbitration with Angel Pagan and R.A. Dickey with a possibility of giving Dickey an extension.
Free agent RHP John Maine auditioning for clubs
Posted by: | Comments
Free agent right-handed pitcher, John Maine, is throwing bullpen sessions and auditioning for clubs, according to FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal.
While Rosenthal did not specify which teams were looking Maine, earlier in January, reports from ESPNNewYork.com said that the Philadelphia Phillies had discussions about adding Maine to their rotation.
“We have spoken to a lot of teams and there is a lot of interest,” Maine’s agent, Rex Gary said at the time.
Maine, 29, went 1-3 with a 6.13 ERA in 9 starts for the New York Mets in 2010. The right-hander is coming off of shoulder surgery, so it’s likely that he’ll sign an incentive based contract with a low base salary.
Nationals inquired about Fausto Carmona and Grady Sizemore
Posted by: | Comments
According to a source close to Phil Wood of MASNSports.com the Washignton Nationals have had “conversations” about Fausto Carmona and Grady Sizemore, but Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer and Bill Ladson of MLB.com has heard that there isn’t much to the rumor.
The Indians are apparently trying to free some space on their payroll, and Sizemore, who is coming off of knee surgery in 2010, is eligible for free agency in 2012.
Back in December, we learned that teams were asking the Indians about Carmona. He was considered another option to those that did not want to pay the high price for Zack Greinke.
Carmona has a favorable contract in terms of cost and flexibility: $6.1 million in 2011, followed by team options worth $7 million, $9 million and $12 million.
The 27-year-old pitcher was 13-14 witha 3.77 ERA in 33 starts for the Indians in 2010.
Rockies in negotiations with RHP Rodrigo Lopez
Posted by: | Comments
According to Major League sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Colorado Rockies still have some minor needs to attend to. Club officials are looking for a left handed reliever, infield help and rotation depth Rosenthal’s source adds.
The Rockies have Franklin Morales and Matt Reynolds as their southpaw relievers right now, and according to Rosenthal, the team would like to sign a veteran like Mark Hendrickson or Joe Beimel to a Minor League deal.
On the infield help, Alfredo Amezaga, Cristian Guzman and Aaron Miles are among the possibilities, but for a backup role.
As for a starting pitcher, Rosenthal says that the Rockies are looking for a veteran who can give them 12 to 15 quality starts. Dave Bush and Rodrigo Lopez are possible targets.
Thomas Harding of MLB.com, adds that the Rockies are in negotiations with Lopez. Lopez, 35, was with the Rockies in 2007, but spent 2010 with the Diamondbacks where he went 7-16 with a 5.00 ERA in 33 starts.
