Rumors for April, 2011
Marlins considering a run at Mark DeRosa
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According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, a source tells him that the Marlins are considering a run at Giants’ infielder Mark DeRosa.
The 36-year-old infielder/outfielder for the Giants will fill the Marlins need at third base. The original plan out of Spring Training was for the Fish to give Donnie Murphy the hot corner opportunity, but he’s been slowed by injuries and timing at the plate.
DeRosa is in the final year of his two-year, $12 million contract that will pay him $6 million in 2011. His departure from the Giants would allow the team to bring back Brandon Belt from Triple-A as well as keep outfielder Nate Schierholtz who has been circulated in trade rumors this month.
Yankees release LHP Jose Ortegano
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The New York Yankees have released left-handed pitcher Jose Ortegano, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.
The Yankees designated Ortegano on April 23. The team claimed the left-hander from the Atlanta Braves in late March and was immedatly optioned to Triple-A.
The 23-year-old Venezuelan native pitched five seasons in the Braves Minor League system. In 2010, he was 5-15 in 28 appearances (27 starts) with a 5.998 ERA over 131 innings pitched.
Could Mariners part with Jack Cust soon?
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It’s possible that Jack Cust of the Seattle Mariners could lose his job as the team’s designated hitter soon, Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times speculates.
The team is expecting Franklin Gutierrezback soon, and since Cust is hitting .171 with a .511 OBPS and 0 home runs, the Mariner’s patience is growing thin.
Baker predicts that Cust will get until mid-May before he loses his spot with Seattle. He adds that the team will likely uses him sporadically and then cut him when Gutierrez is ready.
The 32-year-old Cust signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Mariners in early December.
Injury updates: Martinez, Contreras, Mauer, Pujols and Hamilton
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Here’s a running list of injury updates for several Major League players:
– Tigers catcher Victor Martinez hit the field today for his first real workouts since he was placed on the Disabled List reports Jason Beck of MLB.com. The results were positive for him as he returns from a groin strain. Martinez is eligible to come off the DL next week.
“I’m feeling great, man,” Martinez said. “This is the day that I can say it, because this is the first day I went outside and did something.”
– According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, closer Jose Contreras will be out of action for three or four weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain in his right elbow.
– Joe Mauer will be eligible to come off the Disabled List on Thursday, but General Manager Bill Smith said today that the catcher won’t be ready to come back just yet (via Joe Christensen of The Star-Tribune). Smith doesn’t have a timetable for Mauer’s return but said the catcher lost about one week of recovery time with a viral infection.
– According to Matthew Pouliot of NBCSports.com, Albert Pujols was out of the Cardinals lineup for the second day in a row with a hamstring problem.
The first baseman left Sunday’s game against the Reds in the seventh inning because of what was originally called tightness and later termed a strain of his left hamstring.
– Josh Hamilton was working out today in the outfield reports T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. He adds that the outfielder is still more than a month away from returning.
Los Angeles Dodgers Notes: Andre Ethier, Frank McCourt and Tom Schieffer
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–Yesterday, Andre Ethier tied his ex-manager Joe Torre at 22 games for the longest hitting streak in April. Torre accomplished this feat in 1972 while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. Today in his first at bat, Ethier roped a double to pass Torre and set the new record for the longest hitting streak in April at 23 and counting.
–Dodgers semi-sorta-kinda-maybe-partial owner Frank McCourt and a bunch of his expensive lawyers will travel tomorrow to meet with MLB executives (minus Bud Selig) in New York reports Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. McCourt plans to explain the agreed upon TV deal with FOX which was rumored to be in the ballpark of twenty-years at close to $3 billion but was later confirmed to be closer to thirteen-years and $1.6 billion. If Selig would agree to the deal, McCourt could pay his ex-wife to go away and would supposedly use some of the money to improve the team. McCourt also is looking for clarification from MLB as to what exactly Tom Schieffer has been asked to do, and how Selig envisions the Dodgers will be run during Schieffer’s tenure.
–While McCourt will be meeting with MLB executives in New York, Tom Schieffer will hold a news conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Schieffer, the former president of the Texas Rangers, was appointed Monday by Selig to oversee “the day-to-day operations, business and finances of the Dodgers and all of the franchise’s related entities.” He will have to approve any expenditures over $5,000. Yea, that means just about everything including toilet paper will need his approval.
Brewers sign Hainley Statia and Angel Gonzalez to Minor League deals
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According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, the Milwaukee Brewers have signed infielders Hainley Statia and Angel Gonzalez to Minor League deals. Both players have been assigned to extended Spring Training.
Gonzalez hit .184/.247/.239 with 1 HR and 16 RBI’s in 201 AB’s with the Pirates’ High-A and Double-A teams in 2009.
Statia hit .278/.371/.343 with 16 RBI’s in 108 AB’s with the Angels’ Double-A and Triple-A teams in 2010.
Erick Almonte becomes the 1st MLB player to be placed on the 7-day DL
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On March 29, Major League Baseball announced the implementation of a new seven-day disabled list for players affected by concussions. Today, the Milwaukee Brewers placed Erick Almonte on the seven-day disabled with a concussion he suffered during batting practice today.
Almonte became the first Major Leaguer to be placed on the seven-day Disabled List according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
MLB previously had two types of disabled lists and a bereavement list. Players are either placed on the 15-day or 60-day disabled and are ineligible to play for that amount of time. Players on the 15-day disabled list are still on the 40-man roster while those on the 60-day disabled list may be removed from the 40-man roster.
Players on the bereavement list must miss a minimum of three games and a maximum of seven games. This is used when a player has to leave the team for death or serious illness in the family.
Los Angeles Angels rumors: Pineiro, Kazmir, Morales
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Here’s a running list of some Los Angeles Angels rumors:
– Right handed pitcher Joel Pineiro pitched 5.2 innings Monday night with the Single-A team as part of his rehab assignment reports Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Pineiro threw 71 pitches allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and two strike outs.
– Left handed pitcher Scott Kazmir is scheduled to throw in another extended Spring Training game on Thursday. Kazmir was placed on the Disabled List earlier this month with a lower-back stiffness.
The left hander has thrown twice in extended Spring Training already, most recently going four innings and approximately 60 pitches on Saturday. (via Plunkett).
– Manager Mike Scioscia commented on Monday that Kendrys Morales‘ progress has been slow. “The progress has been slow,” he said. “There are plateaus you have to push through (during a rehab). He’s due to push through a plateau. He’s just having problems getting that explosiveness he needs when he runs.”
Morales is still not running at full speed and alternates straight-line running with running the curve of the infield. Plunkett adds that even after 11 months after suffering the injury, Morales does not appear to be close to starting a Minor League rehab assignment and getting into games.
Joe Mauer could be the Twins’ next right fielder
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Twins catcher Joe Mauer, has reecently become prone to injuries the past couple of seasons. Earlier this month Mauer was once again placed on the Disabled List, this time with bilateral leg weakness.
Manager Ron Gardenhire hinted that Mauer’s injury could last more than 15-days. “I don’t know how long it’s going to be,” he said.
Given Mauer’s offensive skills and his tremendous arm, there’s a possibility that the left handed hitter could end up as a right fielder says Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press. The Twins though, would have to find a replacement for Mauer behind the plate.
In eight MLB seasons, all of them with the Twins, Mauer has a .326/.406/.479 hitting line with 81 HR’s, 202 doubles and 476 RBI’s.
Pittsburgh Pirates claim Xavier Paul
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According to a source close to FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi, the Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed outfielder Xavier Paul from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Paul was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on April 18 to make room for Jerry Sands.
In three Major League seasons with the Dodgers, the 26-year-old Paul has a career .233/.280/.329.
