Rumors for March, 2011
Brewers looked at OF Nyjer Morgan but decide to go in another direction
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The Milwaukee Brewers looked into acquiring Washington Nationals’ outfielder Nyjer Morgan, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports. The need for Morgan as a backup outfielder became more pressing when the Brewers traded outfielder Chris Dickerson to the New York Yankees as part of the Sergio Mitre trade.
Rosenthal later adds that the Brewers moved on from Morgan and have decided to go with Brandon Boggs and Jeremy Reed as their extra outfielders.
Though Milwaukee will not acquire Morgan, he could still benefit from a change in scenery. Especially after his recent suspensions in 2010 that included a fight and hurling a ball at a fan.
Morgan, 30, in recent years has been frustrated at his slow progress in the Major Leagues. He is a lifetime .283/.344/.360 hitter in five Major League seasons. However, 2010 was his first seasons where he spent most of his time with the big league club (136 games).
Angels could release LHP Scott Kazmir if he continues to struggle
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Left handed pitcher Scott Kazmir has been struggling during Spring Training with a 7.79 ERA in 17.1 innings. In his last outing he was shelled for eight earned runs and eight hits over five innings against the Brewers.
Although his Spring results haven’t been any different than last season (5.94 ERA), he insists that he’s feeling better. “I feel like I was throwing the ball well,” Kazmir said. “The [three] walks, I didn’t particularly like, but I thought I was attacking the strike zone. A couple of things didn’t go my way, and it kind of snowballed on me.”
“My slider felt great, and my fastball had a downward tilt to it,” he added. “But they put some good swings on it. That’s baseball. No matter how you feel, you’ve got to have some luck on your side.”
Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times says that if Kazmir continues to struggle, the Angels may have no choice but to release the lefty. They would have to eat the $14.5 million left on his contract ($12 million for 2011 and a $2.5 million buyout for 2012’s team option).
In order to do that, the Angels would have to move Hisanori Takahashi to the rotation, but they can’t do it before left handed reliever Scott Downs is reactivated from the Disabled List. Angels manager, Mike Scioscia said Takahashi is too valuable as a reliever right now.
Kazmir was 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA and 93 SO in 150 innings throughout 28 starts in 2010 with the Angels.
Left handed pitcher Scott Kazmir has been struggling during Spring Training with a 7.79 ERA in 17.1 innings. In his last outing he received eight earned runs and eight hits over five innings.
Although the outcome is showing any difference, Kazmir insists that he's feeling better than last year. "I feel like I was throwing the ball well," Kazmir said. "The [three] walks, I didn't particularly like, but I thought I was attacking the strike zone. A couple of things didn't go my way, and it kind of snowballed on me."
"My slider felt great, and my fastball had a downward tilt to it," he added. "But they put some good swings on it. That's baseball. No matter how you feel, you've got to have some luck on your side."
Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times says that if this continues, the Angels may have no choice but to release the lefty, eating the $14.5 million left on his contract ($12 million for 2011 and a $2.5 million buyout for 2012's team option).
In order to do that, the Angels would have to move Hisanori Takahashi to the rotation, but they can't do it before left handed reliever Scott Downs is reactivated from the Disabled List. Angels manager, Mike Scioscia said Takahashi is too valuable as a reliever right now.
Red Sox and Gonzalez contract: matter of weeks
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The representatives of Adrian Gonzalez sat down with the Boston Red Sox earlier this week and according to agent John Boggs (via Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald) the negotiations went “really well”. All signs are pointing to wrapping up a deal in a matter of weeks.
“Everything went really well,’’ said Boggs. “What we’re on schedule to do is hopefully get something resolved at some point in April and move from there. Our meeting really consisted in catching up with them on particulars we left off in December and try to advance those. I’m sure we made pretty good strides there.”
Gonzalez’s representatives sat down with general manager Theo Epstein and assistant GM Ben Cherington. An announcement can be expected during one of the Red Sox’s two home stands in April.
Gonzalez is signed through 2011 on a very affordable $5.5 million contract. It was reported in mid-February by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports that Gonzalez and the Sox had already agreed to a seven-year, $154 million extension (average annual value of $22 million). Many believed it was a gentleman’s agreement that was required in order for the trade to take place in December. At the time, the sides were believed to have the deal in place, but will make it official once the season starts in order to prevent luxury tax penalties for the Red Sox.
“Our main goal obviously is to ensure that Adrian’s healthy and playing everyday as a major league ballplayer. Once that actually happens, the beginning of the season takes place, hopefully we’ll get something done sometime in April.’’
Mets select contract of LHP Tim Byrdak
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The New York Mets have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Tim Byrdak. He is officially on the team’s 40-man roster and according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News he will be in the team’s bullpen to start the season.
The left-hander had an opt-out date in his Minor League contract set for today, March 25. He originally signed a deal with the Mets in January.
Byrdak, 37, was released by the Houston Astros back in November. He had a 2-2 record with a 3.49 ERA in 38 2/3 innings in 64 appearances in 2010.
Nationals officially sign Oliver Perez
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According to the team, the Washington Nationals have officially signed left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez to a Minor League deal. The pitcher will report to the Nationals’ Minor League camp.
Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports and Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated contributed this week in breaking the Perez’s interest and signing with the Nationals.
The New York Mets owe Perez $12 million for the 2011 season. Assuming that the Nationals sign the left-hander to a Major League deal at the minimum salary of approximately $400,000, then New York would be responsible for roughly $11.6 million.
Yankees sign Kevin Millwood to a Minor League deal
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According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the New York Yankees have signed Kevin Millwood to a Minor League deal. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated was the first to report that the sides were close to an incentive-laden deal on Thursday evening.
Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork adds that Millwood’s deal is for $1.5 million deal with incentives. For Millwood to receive the money, he will have to make the team by May 1, if he doesn’t the deal will be voided.
At the time Heyman suggested that it would take a few weeks for Millwood to be ready and that Freddy Garcia or Bartolo Colon would be named the team’s fifth starter.
Millwood had 31 starts and ate up 190 2/3 innings with Baltimore last season, but was a dismal 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA.
Yankees trade Sergio Mitre to the Brewers
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The New York Yankees have traded right handed pitcher Sergio Mitre to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Chris Dickerson, as first reported by a source close to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. New York has officially announced the deal in a press release.
Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com, speculates that Freddy Garcia will be team’s fifth starter and Bartolo Colon will be the long man. Recently acquired Kevin Millwood and all the young prospects will be kept in reserve, although Marchand says there’s no official word about it yet.
Last week, we learned that the Yankees would probably release Mitre before Opening Day, so the trade gives the Yankees at least something rather than letting Mitre walk away. The right-hander was 0-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 54 innings throughout 27 games, 3 starts with the Yankees in 2010.
New York Mets lost nearly $50 million in 2010
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According to two people with knowledge of the New York Mets’ finances and close to Michael S. Schmidt and Richard Sandomir of the New York Times, say that the team has lost nearly $50 million in 2010. The team’s loses are projected exceed $50 million this season.
Advanced ticket sales and season tickets have fallen this year. A mix of small and large season ticket packages are projected to top out at 10,000 this year, which is less than half the total of what was sold two year ago.
In Forbes annual list, they ranked the Mets the fifth most valuable franchise at $747 million, but that was a 13% decline from 2010.
In addition to the loses, the team is also being sued in the neighborhood of $1 billion for their association with the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. The team has made it public knowledge that they would like to sell up to 25% of the team to raise cash to keep the team running.
In one of the more infamous goofs that has characterized the team’s financial woes, the Mets agreed to pay Bobby Bonilla annual payments of $1,193,248.20 from 2011 to 2035.
Braden Looper likely to retire if Cubs cut him
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Right-handed pitcher Braden Looper said that he will likely retire if the Chicago Cubs decide to part ways with him, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.
Manager Mike Quade did not mention retirement when asked about Looper’s future.
“He’s got two options — he’s got the back end of the bullpen and fifth starter,” Quade said. “You believe he can do either one, if that’s the way we go. That versatility and the fact he’s a veteran all plays into it.”
“You don’t know what they’re thinking or what they’re pondering,” Looper said of the team. “I’ve come and done the best I can. Obviously, I had the terrible outing the other day but that doesn’t speak for all I did this spring.”
“It’s one of those things — whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I’ll feel good about myself and move on, either way.
Looper prefers to start, but the team already has the first four set with Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Matt Garza and Randy Wells. Looper, Carlos Silva and Andrew Cashner are fighting for the fifth spot.
The Cubs signed Looper to a Minor League deal in late January. If he makes the club, he’ll earn about $1 million, and if he becomes a full-time starter, he can earn around $3 million.
Looper played for the last time in 2009 with the Brewers. He was 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA in 196.2 innings throughout 34 starts.
Daniels does not foresee trading Young before Opening Day
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Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and infielder Michael Young have recently met twice to discuss their differences, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.
“They were productive conversations,” Daniels said.
Daniels does not foresee trading Young before Opening Day.
“Michael is aware of the way things stand,” Daniels said. “From our perspective, the 25 guys we break camp with are ones that will come out of this camp. Could something change? I wouldn’t rule it out. But I don’t expect a trade.”
Daniels has acknowledged that the situation involving Young could have been handled a different way.
“I regret it wasn’t good for anybody,” Daniels said. “It created a situation where our fans and the media were taking sides. That should never have been. We all want the same thing.
“Michael took a lot of shots from the media and fans, questions that were the result of the decisions we made. We feel good about the decisions we made and the way the club has come together. We told Michael that. There was a lack of communication on both sides, and I take my share of responsibility.”
The Rangers tried to trade Young, but the $48 million left on his contract likely prevented him from being moved. It was reported that the Rangers would assume half of the balance due to the infielder, but nothing more than rumors surfaced.
