Rumors for February, 2011
Deadline: Pujols to report to Spring Training on February 16
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The deadline to extend Albert Pujols‘ contract has been set for February 16. A source, close to ESPN.com says that the first baseman will report to Spring Training on that date – making it the deadline to negotiate his contract extension. So the baseball world will know within eight days if Pujols will be baseball’s richest player.
It was originally expected that the deadline was February 19.
Pujols does not want negotiations to go into Spring Training, so once he reports he will be playing under the conditions of his current contract that expires after the season.
Keep in mind that Pujols has 10-and-5 rights (10 years of Major League service and 5 years on the same team), so he cannot be traded without his consent. Teams usually trade players away if they know they cannot negotiate a new contract. If Pujols leaves St. Louis after the 2011 season, the Cardinals will likely receive two compensatory draft picks since he’ll likely be classified as a Type-A free agent.
Red Sox sign Alfredo Aceves to a Major League deal
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According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox have signed Alfredo Aceves to a Major League deal. Cafardo first reported over the weekend that the Sox were looking into the right-handed pitcher.
Buster Olney of ESPN adds that Aceves has passed his physical and will make $650,000. He could make as much as $100,000 in incentives.
The 28-year-old has an impressive 14-1 record in the three years he spent with the New York Yankees. In 59 appearances (5 starts), Aceves compiled a 3.21 ERA over 126 Major League innings.
Oscar Salazar clears waivers, accepts Minor League assignment
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Venezuelan infielder Oscar Salazar, who was designated for assignment by the Padres earlier this month, has cleared waivers and has accepted his Minor League assignment according to the team’s official Twitter account. He will attend to the Major League Spring training.
Salazar hit .237 with 3 HR’s and 19 RBI’s in 85 games and 131 AB’s with the Padres in 2010.
Milwaukee Brewers sign Raul Mondesi Jr.
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According to the Dominican Prospect League Twitter account (via Tom Haudricourt of the Journal-Sentinel), he reports the Milwaukee Brewers have re-signed Raul Mondesi Jr.
Mondesi, 18, played in the Brewers’ organization in 2010. In 36 games the outfielder hit .233/.306/.350 (28 for 120) with 2 home runs and 18 RBIs.
Rays designate Leslie Anderson for assignment
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In a Tweet by Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, he reports the Tampa Bay Rays have designated Leslie Anderson for assignment.
Anderson 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.”
The 28-year-old Cuban native spent his only year in Minor League ball with the Rays in 2010. In three different levels (A+, AA, AAA), the first baseman/left fielder hit .302/.359/.442 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs in 99 games.
RHP Roque Mercedes clears waivers – outrighted to Triple-A
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Right-handed pitcher Roque Mercedes has cleared waivers and the Milwaukee Brewers have outrighted the pitcher to Triple-A, Tom Haudricourt of the Journal-Sentinel reports. Mercedes was designated for assignment last week to make room for the recently signed Mark Kotsay.
Mercedes, 24, has a 24-26 record with a 4.43 ERA in six Minor League seasons. He reached the Double-A (Mobile) level in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. His assignment to Triple-A will be his first at that level.
Rays designate Justin Ruggiano for assignment
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According to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Tampa Bay Rays have designated Justin Ruggiano for assignment to clear roster space for the recently signed Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez.
Topkin adds that the Rays still have another move to make to get their 40-man roster actually down to 40.
Ruggiano last played in the Majors in 2008, he hit .197 with 2 HR’s and 7 RBI’s in 76 AB’s with the Rays.
Young would consider expanding his list beyond 8 teams
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Earlier today, it was reported that Texas Rangers’ infielder Michael Young has given the green light to be traded to eight teams: St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels or San Diego Padres.
One big sticking point is the $48 million ($16 million average annual value) that he’s owed over the next three seasons. With that said, the Rangers will need to get creative in order to move him.
Jayson Stark of ESPN spoke with Young this evening and the disgruntled Ranger said that he would consider expanding the list beyond the eight teams on a “case-to-case basis.” Young also confirmed to Stark that there was a “breach of trust” that resulted when the Rangers told them they weren’t trying to trade him earlier when in fact they were.
Rumors that the Rangers wanted to trade Young started in December, and intensified over the past few days. “I want to be traded because I’ve been misled and manipulated, and I’m sick of it,” Young said. “I got pushed into a corner one too many times. I couldn’t take it any more.”
Dodgers had preliminary talks with Rangers about Young
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A source close to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers have held preliminary talks with the Texas Rangers about acquiring infielder Michael Young. However, the source notes that a trade is “a very long shot.”
Young has made it known to the baseball world that he wants out of the Rangers’ organization. “I want to be traded because I’ve been misled and manipulated, and I’m sick of it,” Young said. “I got pushed into a corner one too many times. I couldn’t take it any more.”
The Dodgers have been named as one of the teams that Young has given the green light, but the biggest stumbling block may be the $48 million that the infielder is owed over the next three season. Other players involved were not named in Gurnick’s report.
The other eight teams that Young has give okay to include the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels or San Diego Padres.
Michael Young wants to be traded
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Michael Young seems to be getting tired that his fate is being publically discussed on a daily basis so as a result, Young is making it known that he wants out of Texas, Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports reports.
“I’ve kept a low profile out of respect for the team, the coaching staff, my family and the fans because I didn’t want to put anybody on an unnecessary roller-coaster,” said Young (via Evan P. Grant of the Dallas Morning News). “Now, I think it’s important to address the inaccurate portrayal that is being painted. The suggestion that I’ve simply had a change of heart and asked for a trade is a manipulation of the truth.”
“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.” (via Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports)
Jon Daniels, Rangers GM, confirmed that Young has requested a trade (via Anthony Andro of the Star Telegram). “He’s had time to think about it,” Daniels said. “Time’s gone on and he’s changed his mind.”
Young’s name has been thrown around in trade speculations since December where he was linked to Colorado, and he has since become expendable when the Rangers signed Adrian Beltre to play then and then acquired Mike Napoli to fill the DH/ 1st base role.
Sources close to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com confirm that Young is willing to go to the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels or San Diego Padres. He is due $48 million over the next three seasons.
Rangers’ president, Nolan Ryan, said (via Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post) he would not speculate if the Rangers would pick up a chuck of Young’s salary because he does not know what trades are out there.
“We are talking about one of the premier hitters in the game. We expect proper compensation back.” Ryan said.
