Rumors for April, 2011
Brewers extend contract of Ryan Braun
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The Milwaukee Brewers have extended the contract of Ryan Braun, according to a team announcement. CAA Sports announces that the extension is for five-years for $105 million.
A source close to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy says that Braun will earn $19 million in 2016-18, $18 million in 2019 and $16 million in 2020, and the 2021 mutual option is worth up to $20 million with a $4 million buyout. It includes a no-trade provision, and Braun agreed to defer some salary “to help keep the team competitive.”
Jason Bay to make season debut on Thursday
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New York Mets outfielder Jason Bay will be activated from the disabled list for totday’s game against the Houston Astros, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. The game will be Bay’s 2011 season debut after missing the first 18 games with a strained intercostal muscle.
The Mets are desperate to get assistance from their outfielder. The team currently has the worst record in Major League Baseball at 5-13 and 6 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.
“I don’t want to put it all on Jason Bay,” manager Terry Collins said. “Obviously he’s a big piece of the puzzle here — that’s why he’s here. He’s a very, very good baseball player. He’s a fine offensive player. He’s a good defender. He runs the bases well. We need him in our lineup. But I don’t want to have to think Jason Bay, when he comes back, he’s the guy. This is a team of 25.”
Injury updates: Braden, Hill, Morrison,Bailey and Blum
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Here’s a running list of injury updates for several Major League players:
– According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, left handed pitcher Dallas Braden has shoulder inflammation. There’s no structural damage in his shoulder. He’ll rest his shoulder and do some rehab to treat the inflammation.
– Aaron Hill will undergo an MRI today for his injured leg reports Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. Hill is listed as day-to-day at the moment.
– Outfielder Logan Morrison could be sidelined for a couple of more days reports Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. Morrison will have an MRI after he experienced more discomfort in his left foot.
– According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Homer Bailey’s rehab start was scheduled for Friday but has been pushed back for a day or two due to arm fatigue.
– Diamondbacks’ infielder Geoff Blum needs knee surgery reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Blum is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, but the team won’t know for sure until the doctors sees the extent of the damage.
Did Cubs throw 1918 World Series vs Red Sox?
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Is it possible that the Chicago White Sox were not the only team in Chicago that could have thrown a World Series? According to a 1920 court deposition in the Chicago History Museum (as reported by the Associated Press), Eddie Cicotte (a player banned from baseball due to the Black Sox Scandal) said that a Cub or a number of Cubs were offered $10,000 to throw the 1918 World Series to the Boston Red Sox. The Cubs lost the series 4 games to 2.
Cicotte did not name any names nor did he provide any details.
“It is interesting to me as a Cubs fan and a historian of Chicago that both teams could be involved in back-to-back years,” said Peter Alter, an archivist at the museum.
Eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox World Series team were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing to the Cincinnati Reds. The incident has since been known as the Black Sox Scandal.
Frank McCourt responds to MLB and Selig’s take over
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Earlier today, Frank McCourt lost control of the Dodgers as MLB took over financial operations of the Dodgers’ and will oversee all day-to-day operations. People speculated as to what McCourt’s next step would be. He could either willing sell the team, walk away or he could fight MLB in court which could become rather expensive for a man that had to borrow money to pay the bills for the up coming month.
Frank McCourt finally released a statement tonight (compliments of Molly Knight of ESPN.com) “Major League Baseball sets strict financial guidelines which all 30 teams must follow “The Dodgers are in compliance with these guidelines. On this basis, it is hard to understand the Commissioner’s action today.”
Frank wasn’t the only owner (Half Jamie) that released a statement today. Jamie McCourt released this statement in support of the move (via TMZ.com) “As the 50% owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers , I welcome and support the Commissioner’s actions to provide the necessary transparency, guidance and direction for the franchise and for Dodgers fans everywhere.”
So what does this mean for the Dodgers with their new boss being MLB? Not much as their budget will probably stay in the same neighborhood as it is now as any money spent has to be approved prior by MLB.
The most recent teams that were under MLB control/ supervision were the 2010 Rangers and the 2002-2005 Expos. These teams were different from each other as the Expos were under very strict payroll regulations while the Rangers were able to add some guy named Cliff Lee and other minor pieces as they marched their way towards the World Series.
You can check out the process here for further details on how the Rangers franchise went from MLB owned to the Greenberg-Ryan group as the team owners.
Major League Baseball will take over the Dodgers financial operations
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According to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, baseball commisioner, Bud Selig, is announced that Major League Baseball will take over the Dodgers financial operations.
Comissioner Bud Selig released the following statement (Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times). “I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the Club, its great fans and all of Major League Baseball.”
Last week, we learned that team owner Frank McCourt took a loan from FOX of $30mm to cover the Dodgers’ payroll obligations as well as expenses (extra police, hot dogs you know those kind of things) into next month.
Selig recently stopped McCourt from borrowing $200 million from FOX which Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com says would put more pressure on Frank McCourt to sell the team. McCourt wanted to use the Dodgers’ cable television rights as collateral, extending the team’s current contract with FOX by as many as four years if he did not repay the loan.
Steve Sugerman, the spokesman for McCourt, declined to confirm the deal or discuss its terms. “The team is meeting its financial obligations as it always has,” Sugerman said, “and will continue to do so.”
To make matters worse, Frank was sued by the Boston law firm that drafted the since-invalidated property agreement that McCourt had relied upon to establish his sole ownership of the Dodgers. No further details are known at this time of the lawsuit.
Garret Olsen clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A
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Left handed pitcher Garrett Olsen has cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis reports Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Olsen was designated for assignment by the Pirates last week. The Pirates claimed the left hander off waivers from the Seattle Mariners in mid-March.
In four games with the Pirates this season, the 27-year-old Olson was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA over four games and 4 1/3 innings pitched.
Leonys Martins waiting for work permit to sign with the Rangers
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Earlier this month, we learned that the Texas Rangers were close to signing Cuban lead-off hitter Leonys Martin to a Minor League deal. He is expected to receive a signing bonus in the range of $15 million and a spot on the 40-man roster as soon as he signs.
Today, Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald reports that Martin is waiting for his working permit in order to finalize the deal. He already passed his physical but is waiting for the permit to join the team.
“Everything will be ready in about one, two weeks, but the deal is still on and without any problem,” said a source who did not want to provide a name because the deal is not official yet. “Everything has been like that with Martin since the beginning. His case has been taking longer than normal because of some issues with his paperwork, but he should not be desperate, with his youth he has the world ahead of him.”
Martin, whose age is listed as 22, left Cuba after playing for the country’s national team in Taiwan during the FISU World University Championships. He batted leadoff frequently for Cuba in that tournament, which is limited to players age 27 and under. He was on the 18U junior-national team in 2006 as well, so his age appears to be quite believable. As a 21-year-old, Martin was a reserve on the 2009 World Baseball Classic team. He’s a lefthanded hitter whose best tools are his speed and defense. He’s a plus runner at least, being timed at 4.1 seconds to first base from the left side in Taiwan, and showed strong small-ball skills, with the ability to drag bunt for hits and handle the bat on the hit-and-run. He also played center field and showed at least average range. Martin also hit .326 with 10 home runs in the last Serie Nacional, Cuba’s top-level league, while playing for Villa Clara, and has drawn plenty of walks in Cuba, posting a .311/.492/.491 line in 2008-2009, when he drew 78 bases on balls and ranked second in the league with 17 steals (in a 90-game season).
Giants option Brandon Belt to Triple-A
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Rookie first baseman Brandon Belt has been optioned to Triple-A Fresno according to Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com. He was optioned to the Minors to make room for outfielder Cody Ross who started the season on the Disabled List (via Giants official Twitter account).
Belt was slated to be a strong candidate for the Rookie Of The Year Award, but a slow start forced the Giants to demote him. In 52 AB’s the left handed hitter was hitting .192/.300/.269 with 1 HR and 4 RBI’s.
Pat Misch clears waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A
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According to the Mets official Twitter account, right handed pitcher Pat Misch has cleared waivers and has accepted his assignment to Triple-A.
Misch was designated for assignment by the Mets last Sunday. The left-hander was placed on waivers by the Mets towards the end of Spring Training. He had the option to opt-out of his contract after he cleared waivers.
The 29-year-old was 0-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 12 games (6 starts) with the Mets in 2010.
