Rumors for May, 2011
Cleveland Indians rumors: trades, Lonnie Chisenhall, Carrasco and Thome
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Here’s a running list of some Cleveland Indians related rumors taken from a Q&A with Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer:
– Given the season is less than two months old, no team will start a fire sell, no matter what their record is. But the Indians will definitely make moves to improve the team if they’re still contenders come July and August.
– Indians prospect Lonnie Chisenhall will probably remain at Triple-A even though Jack Hannahan is struggling offensively. Hoynes says that he doesn’t see the front office messing with the Major League team as long as it’s winning.
– Carlos Carrasco has shown signs of improvement after coming off the Disabled List, but Hoynes points out that if Alex White would’ve stayed healthy, he’d most likely be in Carrasco’s spot.
– The Minnesota Twins will probably become sellers at the trade deadline as the team continues to struggle and according to Hoynes they’ll probably consider trading Jim Thome. The problem though, is that Thome is about to get to the 600 HR’s plateau, and the Twins probably won’t trade him before he reaches that mark just to keep people going to Target Field. Hoynes speculates that by the time Thome hits his 600th homer, Travis Hafner should already be activated from the Disabled List, so it’s unlikely the Indians will have two left handed hitters, injury prone and exclusive DH players on the Major League roster.
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Jerry Hairston Jr. fined, suspended by MLB
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Nationals’ infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. has been suspened and fined an undisclosed amount by MLB according to Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington.
Hairston was fined with an undisclosed amount for “aggressive actions” with umpire Ed Hickox during Friday night’s game against the Padres. The infielder has appealed the decision and remained in the Nationals lineup today.
“I had no clue … in my wildest dreams I would get suspended,” he said. “That’s why I’m appealing. If I did something wrong, guys, I would admit it. If I did something wrong, I’d step up. But I didn’t push or shove him, and the video shows it.”
Hairston was ejected by Hickox in the seventh inning of Friday’s game after he complained about San Diego’s Clayton Richard quick-pitched before he could get set in the batter’s box says Zuckerman.
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LA Dodgers Designate Travis Schlichting For Assignment
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated Travis Schlichting for assignment, according to the team’s official Twitter page. In parallel moves, the team also called up Josh Lindblom and they placed Kenley Jansen on the disabled list. Lindblom is the 13th different reliever used so far this season, while Jansen is also the 16th Dodger to visit the DL.
The 26-year-old right-handed Schlichting was 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA in 14 relief appearances for the Dodgers in 2010. He has yet to pitch in the Majors this season.
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San Diego Padres acquire Steven Tollesonma
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The San Diego Padres have acquired infielder Steven Tolleson from the Oakland Athletics for a player to be named later, as reported by Corey Brock of MLB.com.
The 27-year-old Tolleson made his Major League debut with the A’s in 2010 and in 25 games he has a 286/.340/408 average in 49 at-bats.
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Nick Cafardo on Indians, Reddick, Bedard and Iwamura
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Here is the latest from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
– Justin Masterson could be a target for the Boston Red Sox.
– The current 20-game stretch for the Cleveland Indians could indicate whether the Indians will make a trade deal at the deadline. “It’s not a matter of money. It’s a matter of not giving away any of our prospects. We’re not going to do that,” president Mark Shapiro said.
– Red Sox outfielder Josh Reddick is on the radar of a few teams.
– Left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard could become trade bait for Mariners’ GM Jack Zduriencik.
– The Twins could trade outfielder Delmon Young if an offer is made on him.
– The Baltimore Orioles insist that the right-hander is going nowhere and he’s part of the team’s plans. One NL scout said, “If you put together a package they can’t say no to, will they still say no?’’
– Akinori Iwamura was recently released by the Rakuten Eagles in Japan.
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Rockies designate INF Alfredo Amezaga for assignment
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The Colorado Rockies have designated infielder Alfredo Amezaga for assignment according to the team’s official Twitter account.
The team signed Amezaga back in January to add some infield depth. Amezaga hit .232 in 38 plate appearances.
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Injury updates: Lidge, Quintero, Gorzelanny, Beckham and Nathan
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Phillies closer Brad Lidge threw 24 pitches in an extended spring training game Saturday according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Lidge said he hopes to be back in the Phillies’ bullpen before the end of June adds Zolecki.
– Humberto Quintero was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle according to D.J. Short of NBCSports.com. Quintero was injured in a collision while blocking the plate in yesterday’s game.
– Left handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny has been placed on the 15-day Disabled List with inflammation in his throwing elbow reports Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington.
– Third baseman Gordon Beckham, who was hit in the face by a throw from Alex Rios, said he hopes to play on Monday according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
– The Minnesota Twins have placed Joe Nathan on the Disabled List due to soreness in his surgically repaired elbow reports Dave Campbell of the Associated Press. Nathan said he’s prepared to miss between 10 days and a month.
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Mets say there is uninformed speculation about potential deal
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Several reports this week have indicated that the New York Mets have sold a minority stake of the team for about $200 million to investment firm executive David Einhorn. However, the team has said in a statement today (via Ken Rosenthal of FOXsports) that “There is uninformed speculation regarding terms of a potential deal.”
There was speculation today that there is a path for Einhorn to reach a majority ownership.
“While we have entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with Mr. Einhorn, there is uninformed speculation regarding terms of a potential deal. The details of the actual negotiations are strictly confidential.” (via Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com)
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated said earlier this week that Einhorn will receive about 39% of the team for his $200 million, but the final percentage is yet to be determined The new minority owner won’t have control of the team, but he will have a say in things.
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Rosenthal on: Red Sox, Capps and Padres
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Here’s the latest from FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal via his Full Count video:
– The Boston Red Sox could add a right handed hitter, with plus bat speed that also can play several positions on the field during the deadline. Rosenthal suggests that Cubs’ Jeff Baker might be a fit for the Red Sox, but they could have an internal candidate at Triple-A with Yamaico Navarro.
– The Twins’ excesive use of Matt Capps, could affect his value not only on the trade market this season, but also during free agency.
– The San Diego Padres are desperate to find some offense, and they would listen to offers not only for Heath Bell, but also for Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson in order to get the right bat in return.
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If traded, Francisco Rodriguez open to setting up
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Although New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez says he doesn’t want to be traded to a team that would use him as a setup man, he would consider filling that role for now if the acquiring team signs him to a contract extension and makes him a closer for next season, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.
“That would be great,” Rodriguez said. “That would be no problem.”
The 29-year-old has a limited no-trade clause in his contract that allows him to block trades to 10 undisclosed teams.
“I honestly don’t really want to go anywhere else and set up,” Rodriguez said, “at the same time, I’m not closing the door”.
Rosenthal suggests that the Rangers are an example of a club that could be interested in Rodriguez under such a condition. They would use him in a setup role now and then move current closer Neftali Feliz to the rotation next year and give the closer job to Rodriguez.
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