Rumors for March, 2011
Nationals trade Alberto Gonzalez to Padres
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The Washington Nationals have traded Alberto Gonzalez to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Erik Davis, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports.
Bill Ladson of MLB.com first reported on March 27 that in addition to the Padres, three other teams were interested in Gonzalez: the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves
Gonzalez hit .247/.277/.301 in 114 games for the Nationals last season. He’s out of options, so the Nationals would be motivated to move him if they have no intention to keep him on the 25-man roster. Washington currently have utility depth with Jerry Hairston and Alex Cora.
The 24-year-old Davis had a 14-3 record with a 3.52 ERA over 27 starts in the Minor Leagues last season. He was a 13th round draft pick by the Padres in the 2008 MLB June Draft.
Diamondbacks do not sign INF Kevin Frandsen
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The Arizona Diamondbacks will not be signing free agent infielder Kevin Frandsen, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
The San Diego Padres released infielder Kevin Frandsen on March 25, and BayBridgeBaseball.com’s Jeff Fletcher reported that the Diamondbacks quickly snatched him up.
Frandsen signed a Minor League deal with the Padres early in January. He was set to make $575,000 if he made the Major League roster.
The 28-year old Frandsen is a lifetime .240/.304/.341 hitter with 7 HR and 39 RBI’s throughout four Major League seasons with the Giants and Angels.
Yankees sell rights of Romulo Sanchez
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The New York Yankees have sold the rights to right-handed pitcher Romulo Sanchez, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
The move was first reported by Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News. Feinsand at the time did not know where he was headed.
Sanchez only appeared in two games last season with the Yankees. He pitched 4.1 innings allowing one hit while walking three batters and striking out five opponents.
New York Yankees release Ronnie Belliard
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In a Tweet by Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com, he reports that the Yankees have released infielder Ronnie Belliard. The Yankees will have Eric Chavez and Eduardo Nunez as the team’s backup infielders.
The 35-year-old Belliard agreed to a Minor League contract with the Yankees in early February. Had he made the team he would have made $825,000.
The 13-year veteran spent the 2010 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he hit .216/.295/.327 in 82 games.
Mets place Evans, Hernandez and Misch on waivers
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The New York Mets placed Nick Evans, Luis Hernandez and Pat Misch on waivers Monday, according to a baseball source close to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The results of the waiver process should be known by Wednesday.
Last week, it was mentioned by Corey Brock of MLB.com that the San Diego Padres had interest in acquiring the switch hitting Hernandez.
Rubin’s source says that Manny Acosta is the only Mets player that is out of options that was not placed on waivers. Acosta is still battling for one reliever spot.
Misch can opt-out of his contract if he clears waivers and Evans will have to report to Triple-A Buffalo if he is unclaimed through the waiver process.
Adam Kennedy added to Mariners 40-man roster
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According to Kirby Arnold of The Herald in Everett, Washington, the Seattle Mariners have added infielder Adam Kennedy to the team’s 40-man roster. The team had a spot on their roster so no players were designated for assignment.
The addition to the 40-man likely means that he’ll be added to the 25-man roster when final decisions are announced.
Jason A. Churchill of ESPN suggests that Kennedy will play second base with Jack Wilson and Brendan Ryan and serve as a backup option at third base and as a pinch hitter.
The Mariners and Kennedy agreed to a Minor League contract with Kennedy in mid-January. He was with the Mariners in 2010 and the team had a $2 million option for 2011, but declined it and bought him out for $500,000 instead.
Kennedy played 136 games in 2010 with the Nationals, he hit for .249 with 3 HR’s and 31 RBI’s in 342 AB’s.
Evan Longoria’s AK-47 rifle stolen in residential burglary
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Over the weekend, the shared home of Evan Longoria, David Price and Reid Brignac in Port Charlotte, Florida was burglarized while the players were playing a Spring Training game. Among the items stolen was a 60-inch flat screen TV, three iPads, two Xbox game systems, headphones, Price’s laptop and several of Price’s high-priced watches. One other item to note was an AK-47 rifle that belonged to Longoria. Here’s the full release from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s department that notes a weapon was taken during the incident, courtesy of Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times:
Charlotte County Sheriff’s detectives continue their investigation into the burglary of a Port Charlotte home rented by Tampa Bay Rays baseball players near the stadium on Fernwood Street. A total of nearly $56,000 worth of items was stolen.
CCSO received the call Saturday at 3:30 p.m. from Evan Longoria , 25, who said when he arrived back home he discovered numerous items missing. His roommates are Reid Brignac, 25, and 25 year old David Price. While the players were away at a game between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., someone entered through an unlocked window.
Items stolen from the players were jewelry, cash, computer equipment, electronics, and a weapon. If anyone has information about this case, please call the CCSO at 941-639-2101, or Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS (8477).
The sheriff’s office added that the AK-47 was “perfectly legal”.
An AK-47 is an gas-operated assault rifle that was first developed by the Soviet Union and was accepted into their armed forced in 1949. The weapon was considered the first true assault rifle and is one of the most widely used guns because of its durability, low production cost and ease of use.
RHP Carlos Rosa is heading to Japan
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Right handed pitcher Carlos Rosa is heading to Japan according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Rosa is out of Minor League options and he is not making the team adds Piecoro.
The right hander was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 20 innings throughout 22 games in 2010 with the Diamondbacks.
Could Alex Rodriguez star in a movie with Cameron Diaz?
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New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, has had a busy love life after divorcing his wife Cynthia in 2008. Over the past few years, the 600+ home run hitter has been linked to the likes of Madonna, Kate Hudson and most recently Cameron Diaz.
Rodriguez’s private life has been the subject of public scrutiny and now things could get even better or worse for him. Diaz is apparently working on a new project that will include her Yankee sweetheart, British site Express.co.uk reports.
“Cameron actually has an idea for a romantic comedy set around Major League Baseball,” said a source close to the actress. “She’s very excited about developing her own projects and the fact this one is about a baseball player means she has good reason to spend more time with A-Rod and the Yankees… She’s even thinking that Alex could star in the movie with her.”
Rodriguez could join teammates Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher as the only current Yankees to have acting careers. Jeter made a cameo appearances in the motions pictures “Anger Management” and “The Other Guys”, while Swisher appeared in the sitcoms “How I Met Your Mother” and more recently “Better With You”.
Being in a movie with Diaz could be a good PR move for Rodriguez especially with his PED-related history. During 2001-2003 he admitted to using steroids due to “an enormous amount of pressure” to perform. If the upcoming movie cost cast a positive tone on the Yankees’ third baseman, then maybe the public will forget his cheating ways.
Want to know if A-Rod’s offensive performance improves or declines with Diaz? Check out how his home runs per plate appearance changes depending on who he dates by clicking here.
Rockies acquire INF Josh Fields from Pirates
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The Colorado Rockies have announced that they have acquired infielder Josh Fields from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Thomas Harding of MLB.com adds that Fields will not be added to team’s 40-man roster.
The Rockies added Fields as infield depth especially in the aftermath of Ian Stewart’s sprained right knee. Stewart is currently doubtful for Opening Day.
The 28-year-old Fields played in 13 games with the Kansas City Royals in 2010. He hit .306/.320/.490 with three home runs and six RBIs.
He had been competing for a bench spot with the Pirates. His former teammate Andy Marte is in the same position, but was sent to the team’s Minor League camp, but he could be a trade candidate.
