Rumors for February, 2011
Ryan Doumit still on trading block for Pirates
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Catcher Ryan Doumit remains on the trading block, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. However, there has not been much trade talk.
“Things kind of died, in terms of most conversations, once you get into February,” GM Neal Huntington said. “They (usually) pick back up again the first couple weeks of games. Right now is a very quiet period for most clubs.”
The Milwaukee Brewers recently lost catcher Jonathan Lucroy due to a broken pinky, but he’s only expected to be out a month. As injuries mount up during Spring Training, it wouldn’t be surprising if Huntington gets a call soon.
Jody Gerut retires
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Jody Gerut has decided to call it a career reports MLB.com’s Greg Johns. “I didn’t want to be a player that plays for only his paycheck.” MyNorthwest.com’s Shannon Drayer adds that Gerut was physically capable of playing this season but was not mentally and felt he could not give his all.
The Stanford grad was drafted by the Rockies in the 2nd round of the 1998 draft. Gerut broke into the majors in 2003 with the Indians where he was in the top five for Rookie of the Year voting. He did however win the Sporting News Rookie of the Year award that year.
Throughout his career, Gerut battled injuries and inconsistencies on the field. In 2008 with the Padres, Gerut put up a .296 batting average, .351 OBP, and .494 slugging percentage with 14 HR and 48 RBI which turned out to be one of his better seasons.
Though Gerut did not win an MVP award or any other major award like that, he does have his name in the records book. On April 13, 2009 Gerut led off the first game at Citi field (NY Mets) and had the first base hit/ home run. By doing so, he became the first player ever to open a new ballpark with a lead off home run.
On May 8, 2010, Gerut hit for the cycle, going 4 for 6 while playing for the Brewers.
Gerut finishes his six season career with a .262 avg with a .433 slugging percentage, 472 hits and 59 home runs.
Cardinals will not consider changing Holliday’s contract to help them sign Pujols
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Thanks but not thanks Matt Holliday. This is what Cardinals GM John Mozeliak told SI.com’s Jon Heyman in regards to Holliday offering to deferring money off of his contract to help the team free up some money and sign Albert Pujols.
Last week, in an interview with Doug Gottlieb (via MLB.com’s Matthew Leach) on ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning”, Holliday said that he would be willing to defer some money from his current contract to help the club sign the their long-time All Star first baseman.
“I deferred $2 million a year for the whole contract” (already deferring $2mm per year on current contract), Holliday told Gottlieb on the show, “and I would be willing, if they came to me and said, ‘Hey, this is what it’s going to take to get Albert done, would you do it again or do more?’ Scott [Boras, Holliday's agent,] probably wouldn’t like me to stay that, but if that’s what it took, I would be willing to do that.”
When Heyman spoke to Mozeliak about Holliday’s willingness to defer more money, Mozeliak stated that it was “not game altering.” Obviously we can look into very comment someone makes, but one has to think that the Cardinals are obviously not close on even an annual salary if a few million dollars wouldn’t even be a game changer.
Nick Cafardo on the Cardinals, rev share, Adrian Gonzalez and Bengie Molina
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Here’s the latest from Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe:
– Cafardo wonders what’s in store for the St. Louis Cardinals. Could they sign free agents Kevin Millwood or Jeremy Bonderman, or make a trade for Barry Zito, Scott Kazmir or Joe Blanton? How will their final standings affect Albert Pujols‘ decision to stay or leave.
– The Red Sox contributed $86 million to the revenue sharing pool while the Yankees contributed $130 million.
– Adrian Gonzalez’s agent, John Boggs, and the Red Sox have not spoken about a contract extension since December. Something could happen soon, and some think that it could already be a done deal.
– The Milwaukee Brewers likely won’t bring in catcher Bengie Molina to replace injured catcher, Jonathan Lucroy. Lucroy recently broke his pinky and will miss about a month.
David Ortiz expects to be in baseball for a few more years
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The Boston Red Sox’s designated hitter, David Ortiz, knows that his current $12.5 million contract is a luxury, and he likely won’t see anywhere close to that number come next season. Despite a likely reduced salary, Ortiz said that he would like to stay in baseball a few more years, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports.
The highest contract signed by a designated hitter this winter was the $8+ million deal the Baltimore Orioles paid out to Vladimir Guerrero. Given that Ortiz’s stats were better than Guerrero, it’s likely he could command a salary somewhere in that range.
Ortiz said that he would like to remain with the Red Sox, but he has no idea what the team’s plans are beyond this season. He previously asked for a multiyear contract, but settled for the team picking up his option year.
When asked if he’ll be back with the Red Sox next season, he said, “I don’t know. Probably, probably not. Not worried about it. It’s up to them. I’m always open.’’
Adrian Beltre could be out a month with calf injury
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According to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, third baseman Adrian Beltre could be out for a month due to a strained calf. It previously was reported that the infielder would be not miss any time then it went to 10-14 days, but he now could be cutting it close to missing the team’s Opening Day on April 1.
Luckily for the Rangers, they have depth. Trade candidate Michael Young likely will not be moved until they can determine the true extent of Beltre’s injuries. Young has been taking infield practice at third base. He had been penciled in as the team’s super-utility player and designated hitter.
Beltre signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Rangers in January. He has a sixth-year vesting option for 2016 valued at $16 million.
Brewers sign John Axford to a one-year contract
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The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a one-year deal with right handed pitcher John Axford according to Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel.
Axford was 8-2 with a 2.48 ERA in 58 innings throughout 50 games with the Brewers in 2010.
Yankees looking at Francisco Liriano
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According to Bob Nightengale USA Today, the New York Yankees are keeping a close eye on left handed pitcher Francisco Liriano. Nightengale adds that the Twins are keeping tabs on the Yankees’ prospects just incase the Yankees press the panic button on their rotation and call about Liriano.
The 27-year-old can become a free agent after the 2012 season and with a solid 2010 season Liriano has revamped his trade value from when he made only 14 starts due to injuries in 2008 and pitched to a 5.80 era in 2009.
The Twins have also made it known that they are open to trading Liriano if they can get a decent return for him..
There were rumors in December that several teams called the Twins about the Liriano’s availability. One team that was interested included the New York Yankees.
Michael Young not talking about trade demands anymore
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In an article by Buster Olney of ESPN, he mentions that Texas Rangers’ infielder/DH Michael Young is not talking about his trade demands anymore. However, he hasn’t taken it off the table. According to Olney, this is what transpired:
After he agreed to shift to the DH/super utility role, the Rangers made a sincere and earnest effort to sign Jim Thome, and then traded for Mike Napoli, and in their negotiations with Thome they promised the slugger a high number of at-bats. At least some of that playing time would have come at the expense of Young, who thought the issue of where he was going to play, and how much, had been settled. It probably appears from his vantage point that there was a bait-and-switch.
Incumbent third baseman, Adrian Beltre, could miss up to two weeks for the Rangers due to a mild strain in his right calf, so Young is currently getting time in the field.
It was in early February that Young said he wanted to be traded. “I want to be traded because I’ve been misled and manipulated, and I’m sick of it,” He added. “I got pushed into a corner one too many times. I couldn’t take it any more.”
Royals agree to one-year contracts with 7 players
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The Kansas City Royals have agreed to one-year deals with seven players according to the Associated Press (via ESPNDeportes.com).
The players are Chris Getz, Gregor Blanco, Jeremy Jeffress, Greg Holland, Sean O’Sullivan and Mitch Maier.
Getz hit .237/.302/.277 with 18 RBI’s in 224 AB’s with the Royals in 2010. Blanco was acquired from the Braves on the trade deadline. He hit .283 with 1 HR and 14 RBI’s in 237 AB’s with the Braves and Royals combined in 2010. Jeffres was part of the deal that sent Zack Greinke to the Brewers, he was 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings with the Brewers in 2010.
