Rumors for April, 2011
Royals sign Jeff Suppan to a Minor League deal
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The Kansas City Royals have signed right handed pitcher Jeff Suppan to a Minor League deal according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.
Suppan was released by the Giants last week. He was 3-8 with a 5.06 ERA and 51 SO in 101.1 innings with the Brewers and Cardinals in 2010.
In 18 Spring innings, Suppan allowed 11 earned runs on 18 hits for a 5.50 era.
Will the real Jonathan Broxton please stand up
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The Dodgers are fresh off a 3-1 series win over the World Champs. But everything isn’t perfect in Dodger land. Dodgers’ closer Jonathan Broxton appears to be continuing his post all-star form as he has allowed 2 home runs in three games (3 innings) to start the season. Yes, I understand that he did in fact get the save in all three victories and didn’t blow any of the games, but it is the way he closed the first and fourth games that raises questions.
Dodger fans have become spoiled over the years (and especially as of late) as they are used to seeing dominant closers take the ball. From Eric Gagne and his 84 consecutive saves to Takashi Saito and his 1.95 ERA, the ninth inning became almost automatic.
Yes, Dodger fans have come to expect a dominant closer performance night in and night out. Broxton though has been just as dominant as Gagne and Saito. In 2009, Broxton threw 76 innings while saving 36 games with a 2.61 ERA. Not too shabby for someone who is entering his seventh season. But then the tale of two Broxtons hit in 2010. In his first 33 appearances the first Broxton struck out 48 and walked just five in 32 2/3 innings, leading to a 0.48 ERA.
But then June 27th and the Yankees came to town. Broxton blew the save that night and threw a career high 48 pitches and the other Broxton settled in and he pitched to a 7.58 ERA the rest of the season. Yes his velocity dipped a bit but he was still hitting mid 90’s on the radar gun.
So what is going on with Jonathan Broxton? He has yet to crack 100 MPH this season but he has still tipped the radar guns in the high 90’s so I don’t think his velocity is the issue. Is it a mental issue or is he trying to blow the ball past everyone? Whatever the issue is, Broxton allowed just 2 home runs in 2008, 4 home runs in 2009 and 2010. He’s already given up 2 this season to the “I’m way over my prime” Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell duo. His career K/9 is 11.7 but he has only 1 strikeout this season (3 innings).
Though I don’t think it’s time for the Dodgers to push the panic button as it is way to early, I do think there is some cause for concern. In 2010, Broxton in his first 3 appearances allowed zero runs while striking out 4 and allowing only one hit. This season, in his first 3 appearances he allowed 1 single, two solo-home runs with only 1 strike out. Broxton also is throwing around 5 pitches per batter which could create issues down the line with the Dodgers using him on back-to-back nights.
Luckily for the Dodgers and Broxton, the season is just under way with plenty of time to fix the problem at hand. Don’t panic too hard, just take notice and hope Rick Honeycutt can help get the big guy back on track to being the once dominant pitcher we all remember him as.
Dodgers unsure who their fifth starter will be
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Dodgers’ pitcher Jon Garland, who is pinpointed to be the team’s fifth starter, is dealing with an oblique injury and it is unclear if he will be able to pitch next Sunday.
Manager Don Mattingly said Garland is lobbying to make that start. “He’s trying to talk us into it,” Mattingly said of Garland. “We’ll see how that goes.”
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the Dodgers are planning to pick between John Ely and Tim Redding to be the starter next Sunday. Garland still remains an outside possibility.
Both Ely and Redding will pitch Tuesday in an extended spring training game in Arizona, which puts them on schedule to pitch Sunday. “We’re happy with both guys,” said Mattingly.
If the Dodgers decide to promote Redding, they’ll have to guarantee his $750,000 contract and remove a player from the 40-man roster.
The veteran right-hander has played eight Major League seasons with the Astros, Padres, Yankees, Nationals and Mets. He has a career record of 37-57 with a 4.95 ERA in 822 innings throughout 179 games, 144 starts.
Rays’ David Price open to a contract extension
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Left handed pitcher David Price is still under team control for four more years, but he’ll be arbitration eligible in each of those years. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times believes that when Price hits free agency in 2016 and 30-year old he will be in line for “mega-millions”.
The 25-year old said on Saturday he’d be open to a long-term deal with the Rays under the right terms.
“If it’s realistic, absolutely, that is something I would definitely do,” Price said. “I love it here, absolutely. Everyone here knows that I’m a huge fan of this organization and all the people that are in the clubhouse. I feel like it’s the right place for me.”
Topkin adds that the word “realistic” depends on a lot of things. How many free agent years the deal would buy out is just one of the issues. Price could be asking for a deal in the range of Tim Lincecum’s two-year, $23 million deal or Cole Hamels‘ three-year, $21 million deal says Topkin.
Price, who got a $5.6 million bonus in his original six-year, $8.5 million deal, will make $1.25 million this season, then soar next year as a Super 2 arbitration-eligible. The lefty was 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA in 208.2 innings with the Rays in 2010.
Tampa Bay Rays designate RHP Mike Ekstrom
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The Tampa Bay Rays have designated right-handed pitcher Mike Ekstrom for assignment in order to make room for Felipe Lopez, Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports.
The Rays originally signed Lopez to a Minor League contract in early February in order to provide infield depth for the team.
In three previously professional seasons, the 27-year-old Ekstrom was 0-3 with a 5.48 ERA in 35 relief appearances. He spent the early part of his career with the San Diego Padres.
Cleveland Indians release son of Don Mattingly
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The Cleveland Indians have released Minor League outfielder Preston Mattingly, according to the Associated Press.
The 23-year-old was originally acquired by the Indians from the Dodgers for outfielder Roman Pena.
Mattingly, 23, the son of Don Mattingly, was the Dodgers’ first-round (31st overall) selection in the 2006 draft. Since 2006, Mattingly an outfielder over the last two seasons in the Minor Leagues, has a career .232/.275/.334 since 2006.
Atlanta Braves re-sign Scott Proctor
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The Atlanta Braves have re-signed right-handed relief pitcher Scott Proctor to a Minor League contract, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The team placed the 34-year-old on their Triple-A Gwinnett roster.
Atlanta released the reliever on March 27 just as camp broke. He had previously signed a one-year deal with the Braves in early November.
Proctor was 0-0 with a 6.35 ERA in six appearances with the Braves in 2010. He has a lifetime 16-10 record with a 4.46 ERA in 268 appearances in his six year Major League career.
Ken Rosenthal on the Twins, Cardinals and Sizemore
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There are two things you can count on from Ken Rosenthal from FOXSports on a weekly basis, his unique bow ties and his weekly full count video.
–The Twins have started off the season scoring a total of 4 runs in two games. The bad part is they have given up 19 runs in those games to the Blue Jays. The Twins will be fine but the Central division will be ultra competitive with the White Sox and Tigers competing for the Division title and the Royals are no longer a complete pushover. Rosenthal points out that Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel are both eligible for free agency after the season. The teams top prospects, Ben Revere and Joe Benson are waiting in the wings to get their shot in the outfield. Rosenthal says it’s “even possible” that the Twins may trade Denard Span who is signed through 2014 at a very affordable rate.
The Twins who are not considered a big market team, could also be facing the ceiling of their payroll (pure speculation on my part). The team’s payroll jumped from about $65mm in 2009 to $97mm in 2010 and could be north of $100mm this season. Yes the new stadium (2010 first year) will help with increased revenue, but every team faces a limit on payroll. Kubel is on the books for $5.25mm this season while Cuddyer had a $10.5mm club option that was picked up.
–The Cardinals have lost Matt Holliday for at least ten days (probably longer) as he recovers from his appendectomy procedure. The Cardinals though feel very comfortable as this will allow Allen Craig and Jon Jay to receive more at bats. The Cardinals feel this is important as Lance Berkman is only signed to a one-year deal and one of them could be his replacement next season.
–This is not a shocker, but the Indians will not competitive this year and probably not next year either. Grady Sizemore who is the Indians biggest trade chip, will probably not be traded at the trade deadline this season. This is because his 2012 club option becomes a player option if he’s traded. The Indians will more than likely explore a deal next winter, after picking up the option.
Nick Cafardo on Halladay, Young, Morales and Prior
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Here’s the latest from The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:
– Cafardo thinks that the Boston Red Sox need another left-handed pitcher for their bullpen.
– Roy Halladay gave catcher Carlos Ruiz a copy of his 2010 Cy Young Award as a thank you gift.
– The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets are possible landing spots for Michael Young of the Texas Rangers. One scout suggested that the Mets trade Francisco Rodriguez for Young.
– Kendry Morales will be cleared to start running this week and could be on a rehab assignment for the Los Angeles Angles next weekend.
– Right-handed pitcher Mark Prior is starting the season at Single-A and the team will move him up as he proves himself.
Marlins Prospect Matt Dominguez to miss 6-8 weeks with fractured elbow
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Marlins top Prospect Matt Dominguez, who almost made the Majors this year, will miss around 6-8 weeks with a fractured elbow reports Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel.
Dominguez sustained the injury when he was hit by a pitch on Friday while playing an exhibition game against the Triple-A Mets affiliate. “He wasn’t in a very talkative mood,” said Fernando Dominguez’s father, Matt’s father. “It’s part of baseball. It’s a little depressing right now, but it’s part of the sport. He’ll bounce back from this.” He also added that his son will undergo an MRI in the coming days.
The 21-year old was in big-league camp this spring with a chance to win the Opening Day third base job. The Marlins decided to go with Donnie Murphy because they thought Dominguez’s bat needed further development.
