Rumors for May, 2011
Injury updates: Romero, Zimmerman, Webb, Hughes and Hudson
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com tweets that Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero was scratched from tomorrow’s game with a left oblique strain.
– Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman began his rehab program today after undergoing surgery to repair a torn rectus abdominis muscle reports Ben Goessling of MASN. He walked a mile after surgery, and said he was still sore, but felt like everything was on track.
– According to Evan P. Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Rangers officials announced that Brandon Webb will no longer pitch in extended Spring Training games. His velocity has been well below the Major league level, and the team would like to see if they can improve his velocity by improving his mechanics.
– Yankees starter Phil Hughes will be shut down for at least 6-8 weeks longer reports Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com. He was given a cortisone shot on April 28 and apparently he’s feeling significantly better says Brian Cashman. He’s scheduled to start a throwing program in two weeks.
– Orlando Hudson is headed to the Disabled List with a strained right hamstring according to Corey Brock of MLB.com.
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MLB could discipline players for alcohol-related arrests
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Multiple sources close to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports say that Major League Baseball and the players’ union planned on negotiating a policy that will discipline players involved for alcohol-related arrests. The sources say that the union and MLB do not plan to place a temporary policy before the December 11 expiration of the current collective-bargaining agreement.
This year alone Miguel Cabrera, Austin Kearns, Coco Crisp, Adam Kennedy, Derek Lowe and Shin-Soo Choo have been arrested for driving under the influence.
One source says the MLBPA is discussing a progressive punishment policy, but it would not commit to suspensions for first-time offenses until negotiations require it.
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The Mets could trade Carlos Beltran as soon as next month
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With still more than four months of regular season baseball, ESPN’s Jayson Stark believes the Mets could trade outfielder Carlos Beltran as soon as next month.
This is not the first time we’ve heard rumors regarding Beltran’s future with the Mets. Back in November we learned that Beltran would consider waiving his no-trade clause if GM Sandy Alderson approached him about it.
Beltran is owed more than $9 million, but the Mets are willing to eat a big chunk of the money if they can get something good in return for Beltran.
Beltran missed most of the 2010 season due to off-season knee surgery that did not sit too well with the Mets’ management. This season, he’s hitting .283/.366/.505 with 4 HR’s and 15 RBI’s in 99 AB’s with the Mets.
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Minor League Deals: Adkins, Skelton, Bachanov
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Here are a few Minor League deals courtesy of Matt Eddy of Baseball America:
– The White Sox signed right-handed relief pitchers Jon Bachanov and second baseman Alden Carrithers to Minor League deals. (Twitter source)
– The Reds signed left-handed relief-pitcher James Adkins and catcher James Skelton to Minor League deals. (Twitter source)
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Who are the true record holders?
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Today, as I was reading a few articles, I stumbled across an article that at first made me curious. After I started reading it, it made me kinda angry, but in the end I understood what the author wanted to say, not that I completely agree with him.
I’m talking about the article from MLB.com’s columnist Terence Moore entitled “A-Rod has numbers, but doesn’t have ‘it’.”
At first glance, you ask yourself what does Alex Rodriguez not have? The only answer that came to my mind was that he doesn’t have as much popularity as Derek Jeter or as many legal issues as Barry Bonds.
Moore though was referring to a mystical “it”, that players like Rodriguez could never have. We know that eventually A-Rod will surpass Lou Gehrig as the all-time Grand Slam leader, but Moore says that Gehrig will always be the standard bearer for that record.
Wait what? So A-Rod’s record means nothing? According to Moore it kinda does, but if you ask me of course it means a lot.
You would think that Moore is referring to the fact that Rodriguez is part of the steroids era, but no, he’s actually referring to the fact that Gehrig’s record has some “magic” in it.
You can’t describe “it,” but you can feel “it,” says Moore.
That also happened with Bonds breaking Hank Aaron’s record, Mark McGwire breaking Roger Maris‘ record and Cal Ripken Jr. breaking another of Gehrig’s record according to Moore.
Maybe we remember the older records because they have indeed some “magic” in them. I still get goosebumps when I hear or see something about Maris, Aaron or Gehrig, but that doesn’t give me the right to say that the new record holders are not that important.
For example, I was a little kid when Ripken broke Gehrig’s record for most consecutive games played and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was one of the most exciting moments in my life. I’m sure Gehrig’s name will never be forgotten, but Ripken IS, at least in my opinion the standard bearer for that record.
Records are made to be broken, whether you like who breaks it or not. I understand what Moore wanted to say about the old record holders being as important as the new ones, but you cannot underestimate the effort and dedication the new record holders put into their careers.
Honor to whom honor deserves. And that goes to:
– Single season Home Run King: Barry Bonds with 73 in 2001.
– All-time Home Run leader: Barry Bonds with 762.
– All-time Hits leader: Pete Rose with 4,256.
– Most consecutive games played: Cal Ripken Jr. with 2,632.
And all the others record holders, new or old. You will always be remembered and you will always be immortal in the baseball world, even if some of them never make it to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
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Joel Zumaya to have exploratory surgery on right elbow
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According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, pitcher Joel Zumaya will have exploratory surgery on his right throwing elbow on May 10.
Zumaya had to undergo surgery last year because of a broken right elbow. During Spring Training, the righty was filled with hope, but after just one appearance, the elbow soreness started and he had to rest his elbow.
The 26-year-old signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the team back in January. He had a 2-1 record with a 2.58 ERA in 38.1 innings with the Tigers in 2010. He has not pitched since mid-2010.
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Rangers designate RHP Ramon Aguero for assignment
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The Texas Rangers have designated right-handed pitcher Ramon Aguero for assignment in order to clear a roster spot for newly signed Cuban outfielder Leonys Martin.
The Rangers claimed Aguero off waivers from the Pirates in early April after being designated by Pittsburgh during Spring Training. He was 2-5 with a 6.14 ERA in 29.1 innings throughout 25 games with the Pirates Double-A and high-A teams.
The Rangers signed Martin to a five-year, $15.5 million contract this week.
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Leonys Martin officially signs contract with Rangers
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A source close to Jorge Ebro and the El Nuevo Herald have confirmed that Leonys Martin has officially signed a five-year, $15.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers. Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram adds that Martin will get a $5 million signing bonus.
Here’s a report from Baseball America on Martin:
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).
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Orioles trade Jeff Fiorentino to the Braves
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The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Jeff Fiorentino from the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Fiorentino, 28, agreed to a Minor League deal with the Orioles back in January.
The outfielder spent the 2010 season with the Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese Central League where he hit .246 with 2 home runs and 15 RBIs in 44 games. In 58 Major League games, the left-handed hitter has hit .270/.341/.324.
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Los Angeles Dodgers may not meet payroll for May
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According to two people familiar with the matter that are close with Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers do not have enough cash to meet payroll through the month of May.
The Dodgers received a $30-million loan from FOX last month to provide funding for the Dodgers’ two April payrolls and the first May paroll. The second payroll in May is the one that the team may not be able to meet.
If the team cannot make the payroll, the league would cover the expenses and will have the option to seize the Dodgers from owner Frank McCourt.
McCourt said on Tuesday that the Dodgers’ financial problems would be relieved if Commissioner Bud Selig would approve a $3 billion television deal with FOX that would include an immediate payment of $285 million. Selig does not plan to accept or reject the deal until an investigation of the team is complete.
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