Rumors for May, 2011
Braves release Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg
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According to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball prospectus, the Atlanta Braves have released first baseman Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg.
This season Spanjer-Furstenburg was hitting .188/.212/.266 with 1 RBI in 64 AB’s for the Braves’ Class-A team.
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Dodgers increase reward to $200,000 for info on Bryan Stow’s beating
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have increased their initial $100,000 reward for information on the Bryan Stow’s offenders to $200,000 according to the Associated Press (via NBCSports.com).
Authorities are hoping that a bigger reward ($200,000) will lead them to the suspects in the brutal beating of Stow at Dodger Stadium in the Opening Day.
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said they are looking at about 500 leads in the beating of Stow. There is currently 17 full-time detectives looking into the 500 various clues. On a normal homicide, police will usually use two possibly four detectives. So a staff of 17 detectives shows how dedicated LAPD is to finding the two suspects. Detectives are also focusing on the potential get-away driver believed to be a female wearing a white Ethier jersey.
Seven weeks ago on opening day, Stow was left in a coma after a brutal beating by two unidentified Dodger fans. The shameless beating occurred in the parking lot of Dodger stadium after the game. Stow was targeted by the Dodger thugs as he was wearing a Giants jersey.
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Ramirez and Scheppers have greatest chance of promotion with Rangers
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In a chat between Rangers GM Jon Daniels and The Dallas Morning News, Daniels mentioned that Neil Ramirez and Tanner Scheppers are two of the organization’s pitching prospects that have the greatest chance of being promoted to the big league club.
“[Ramirez has] a real chance [of being promoted] if he continues to do what he’s doing. Neil’s conditioning and work ethic rivals anyone in the organization. He’s really grown up and takes a lot of pride in his craft. He’s still working on the finer points of pitching, but he’s on the ML radar.” [...] “Tanner’s working on his core strength and flexibility in AZ. He has a herniated disc in his back that causes a pinched nerve in his leg and leads to weakness there. Correctable, but takes time. Fortunately it was addressed in time and shouldn’t impact the health of his arm. We expect he’ll be back out relatively soon.”
The 21-year-old Ramirez was the Rangers’ first-round (44th overall) pick in the 2007 June Draft. In four Minor League seasons, he has a 17-17 record witha 4.02 ERA in 67 appearances (61 starts) with a 1.320 WHIP. He’s currently with Triple-A Round Rock.
The 24-year-old Scheppers, a Triple-A teammate withe Ramirez, is currently 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA in his only appearance of 2011 (2 IP with 3 hits and 3 ERs).
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Diamondbacks designate Armando Galarraga for assignment
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In a Tweet by Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com, he reports that right-handed pitcher Armando Galarraga has been designated for assignment. The 29-year-old was 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA in 8 starts for the Diamondbacks this season.
“We felt it was time to make a change,” GM Kevin Towers said.
In Galarraga’s place, Arizona plans to active utility-man Willie Bloomquist.
Galarraga shot to fame in 2010 after he almost completed a perfect game while with the Detroit Tigers. A bad call by umpire Jim Joyce led to the flaw in an otherwise flawless game. Galarraga was admired by the world for his composure and sportsmanship in a situation that many likely would not have been able to calmly handle.
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Injury updates: Hamilton, Matsuzaka, Lee, Izturis and Soriano
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Josh Hamilton could play in his first rehab game on Wednesday according to the Associated Press (via NBCSports.com). Hamilton returned today to Texas to be re-evaluated by team physician Dr. Keith Meister. He will decide if Hamilton is ready to play Wednesday at Double-A Frisco.
– Right handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has been placed on the Disabled List by the Red Sox reports Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.
– Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Cesar Izturis and Derrek Lee will be placed on the Disabled List although no official announcement has been issued reports Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun.
– According to Aaron Gleeman of NBCSports.com, the New York Yankees have placed right handed pitcher Rafael Soriano on the Disabled List with an elbow injury.
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Toronto Blue Jays release RHP Chad Cordero
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The Toronto Blue Jays have released right handed pitcher Chad Cordero according to Todd Dewey of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Cordero signed a Minor League deal with the Blue Jays back in January. The 28-year old reached an agreement with the New York Mets in July 2010, but was never called up to the big league club. Previous to that, he pitched nine games for the Seattle Mariners, where he went 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in 9 appearances.
The right-hander had his best season with the Washington Nationals in 2005 when he had 47 saves and made the All Star team.
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Randy Flores signs Minor League deal with the Yankees
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The New York Yankees have agreed to a Minor League deal with left handed pitcher Randy Flores according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds that Flores can opt out of his contract with the Yankees if they don’t promote him before the All-Star break. Flores opted out of his contract last week after he wasn’t promoted to the Padres’ Major League team.
The left hander agreed to terms with the Padres back in February. He was 2-0 with a 3.19 ERA and 20 SO in 31 innings throughout 58 games with the Rockies and Twins combined in 2010.
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Brewers designate Sean Green for assignment
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According to Tom Haudricourt of the Journal-Sentinel, the Milwaukee Brewers have designated for assignment right handed pitcher Sean Green. This movement will create room on the 40-man roster for catcher Mike Rivera.
The Brewers also placed left handed pitcher Mitch Stetter on 15-day DL with left hip injury adds Haudricourt.
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Nationals assign Oliver Perez to Double-A
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The Washington Nationals have assigned left handed pitcher Oliver Perez to Double-A Harrisburg according to Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com. Perez started the year in extended Spring Training for the Nationals.
Perez was released by the Mets Late in March, and signed by the Nationals a couple of days later. The New York Mets still owe Perez $12 million for the 2011 season.
If the Nationals promote him to the Majors they will have to pay him the minimum salary of approximately $400,000, and the Mets would be responsible for roughly $11.6 million.
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Harmon Killebrew passes away at age 74
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Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, who entered hospice care last week, has passed away at age 74 reports Amy K. Nelson of ESPN.com. Killebrew was battling esophageal cancer, but the illness progressed beyond the doctors’ expectation of a cure.
The former Twins’, issued a statement last week, to announce that his battle against cancer was coming to an end (via Twins press release).
“It is with profound sadness that I share with you that my continued battle with esophageal cancer is coming to an end. With the continued love and support of my wife, Nita, I have exhausted all options with respect to controlling this awful disease. My illness has progressed beyond my doctors’ expectation of cure.
I have spent the past decade of my life promoting hospice care and educating people on its benefits. I am very comfortable taking this next step and experiencing the compassionate care that hospice provides.
I am comforted by the fact that I am surrounded by my family and friends. I thank you for the outpouring of concern, prayers and encouragement that you have shown me. I look forward to spending my final days in comfort and peace with Nita by my side.”
In 22 Major League seasons with the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals, Killebrew hit .256/.376/.509 with 573 HR’s and 1584 RBI’s.
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