Rumors for February, 2011
Yankees officially announce the signing of 6 players
Posted by: | Comments
In an announcement by the team, the New York Yankees have officially announced the signing of Luis Ayala, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Warner Madrigal, Ron Belliard and Eric Chavez to Minor League contracts.
Dodgers and James Loney avoid arbitration
Posted by: | Comments
According to CAA Sports, James Loney and the Los Angeles Dodgers have avoided an arbitration hearing by agreeing to a $4.875 million deal.
This is Loney’s second year of arbitration eligibility. He will continue to be under team control through the 2012 season.
The 26-year-old gets a raise from his 2010 salary of $3.1 million. Loney had been asking for $5.25 million while the Dodgers offered $4.70 million. The midpoint was $4.97 million.
In 161 games with the Dodgers in 2010, the first baseman hit .267/.329/.395 with 10 home runs and 88 RBIs. This was a decrease from 2009 when he hit .281/.357/.399 with 13 home runs and 90 RBIs.
Phillies sign Cory Sullivan to Minor League contract
Posted by: | Comments
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki (via ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin), the Philadelphia Phillies have signed Cory Sullivan to a Minor League deal.
Sullivan, 31, las played with the Houston Astros in 2010. Prior to that he spent one-year with the New York Mets and four seasons with the Colorado Rockies. In 476 big league games, Sullivan has hit .271/.327/.381 with 10 career home runs and 97 RBIs.
Former MLB manager Chuck Tanner passes away
Posted by: | Comments
Former manager of the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves, Chuck Tanner, has passed away at the age of 82. The news was first reported by the New Castle News. In 19 seasons has a manager, Tanner compiled a 1352-1381 record.
In 2006, Tanner was asked by then Houston Astros’ manager, Phil Garner, to serve as a coach for the National League All Stars. Tanner was a coach of Garner’s during Garner’s playing years.
Ruggiano and Anderson clear waivers with Rays
Posted by: | Comments
Outfielder Justin Ruggiano and 1B/OF Leslie Anderson have both cleared waivers and will remain with the Tampa Bay Rays, Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports. Both players were outrighted to Triple-A and will attend Spring Training as non-roster invitees.
Anderson was designated for assignment by the Rays on Feburary 8. The 1B/OF was originally signed by the Rays in April 2010 to a four-year contract. At the time, scouts said that Anderson had “very average tools.” Another scout said, “Leslie showed a below average arm while throwing from centerfield and first base. He ran badly from home to first base. During batting practice he hit several line drives, but showed no power. Defensively, he’ll need to play either first base or left field and hit with a very high average and lots of home runs, and right now I don’t project that he could. I’d have to think he needs to have another showcase since he didn’t hit against live pitching, but instead just had batting practice.”
Ruggiano, 29, last played in the Majors with the Rays in 2008. In 52 big league games, he has hit .200/.250/.311.
Sabathia’s 30-pound weight loss exaggerated?
Posted by: | Comments
It’s like the telephone game. One kid whispers something into another kid’s ear and several kids later the message is completely distorted.
I’m assuming that’s what happened with C.C. Sabathia’s weight-loss story, and New York Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman would likely agree.
The media had been reporting that Sabathia had lost 30-pounds from his 300+ pound frame, but Cashman said that is not the case, according to Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com.
“I don’t believe it,” Cashman said. “I saw him (last week) at the B.A.T. dinner and he didn’t look like he lost 30 pounds to me. Maybe half that amount. We haven’t weighed him so I don’t now where that number comes from.”
Sabathia had off-season surgery to repair a small meniscus tear in his right knee, and it’s likely he lost some weight (Cashman says maybe half of the reported 30-pounds) during rehab.
“He obviously has worked very hard to rehab his knee and he’s lost some weight, but he’s still around 300 pounds,” Cashman said.”Clearly, he’s a tremendous athlete and he can handle it , but it has to be managed so it doesn’t become a problem. I just think 30 pounds would have been a lot more noticeable.”
The true answer will come Monday when Sabathia is weighed in as part of a routine physical.
Albert Pujols Rumors: No progress in negotiations
Posted by: | Comments
Here are the latest rumors on the Albert Pujols negotiations:
– Buster Olney of ESPN says that there have been no progress in the negotiations. He reminds us that there’s five days before Pujols reports to Spring Training.
– Bob Nightengale of USA Today is not optimistic that Pujols will get a contract extension from the Cardinals.
Orioles agree to a one-year deal with Jeremy Guthrie
Posted by: | Comments
The Baltimore Orioles have avoided arbitration with right handed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie by agreeing to a one-year deal according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
The deal is for $5.75 million guaranteed plus awards bonuses (via CAA Sports, Guthrie’s agency). The right hander made $3 million in 2010. He asked for $6.5 million, while the club countered with a $5 million offer when the two sides exchanged figures.
“I don’t look at it necessarily as a relief,” Guthrie said. “It’s a huge blessing of course to agree on a contract that guarantees me a lot of money to play a game I really enjoy playing. When you get to this point in your career, there’s an understanding of the arbitration process and you understand that it may end up in a hearing or it may not. You do your best to be prepared for either one of them. It’s not necessarily a relief. It’s just part of the process and the next step for me personally, and it’s a good step for us as an organization. Now, all the attention can be on spring training and us molding together as a new team.”
Guthrie was 11-14 with a 3.83 ERA and 119 SO in 209.1 innings and 34 starts with the Orioles in 2010.
Michael Young Rumors: Rockies unwilling to part with everyday players
Posted by: | Comments
Rangers third baseman, Michael Young, has been the subject of a lot of rumors lately. Yesterday, we learned that the Yankees won’t pursue him, and that the Phillies had conversations with the Rangers regarding Young. With that said, here’s the running list Wednesday rumors involving Young:
– A source close to Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports the Rockies remain interested in Young, but are unwilling to deal everyday players to top-level prospects.
– According to a source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Dodgers wanted the Rangers to eat $36 million of the $48 million owed to Young.
– Rangers GM, Jon Daniels says that “Nobody looks good right now” regarding the Young situation (via Evan P. Grant of the Dallas Morning News).
– A source close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says that there’s “nothing close” on a trade involving Young.
– The Rangers don’t expect to be able to move Young according to a source close to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
– Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Angels are “Not engaged” with another AL West team in trade talks.
– A source close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says that the Mariners could be an unlikely destination for Young.
– Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports that the Rangers asked the Rockies for a “very good player” in exchange for Young, and although both sides are apart on money, they are not out of the bidding.
Baltimore Orioles and Luke Scott avoid arbitration
Posted by: | Comments
The Baltimore Orioles have avoided arbitration with left-handed hitter Luke Scott according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
Connolly adds that both parties agreed to a $6.4 million deal (plus an additional $350,000 in possible incentives). Scott was asking for $6.85 million and the Orioles countered with $5.7 million. Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reminds us that Scott made $4.05 million last year when he avoided arbitration.
Scott hit .284/.368/.535 with 72 RBI’s and 27 HR’s in 447 AB’s with the Orioles in 2010.
