Rumors for June, 2011
Yankees sign RHP Brian Gordon
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The New York Yankees have signed right handed pitcher Brian Gordon according to Ken Davidoff of Newsday. Gordon will apparently take the mound for the Yankees on Thursday adds Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger.
The 32-year old right hander was 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA in 55.1 innings throughout 12 games, nine starts with the Phillies’ Triple-A team.
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Ronnie Belliard to retire
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According to Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Ronnie Belliard will retire after tonight’s game. Belliard is currently with Lehigh Valley, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate.
The 35-year-old Belliard agreed to a Minor League contract with the Yankees in early February, but was released by the team in late March. Had he made the team he would have made $825,000.
The 13-year veteran spent the 2010 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he hit .216/.295/.327 in 82 games. He will finish his career by hitting .273/.338/.415 with 114 home runs and 601 RBIs in 1484 games played.
INF Felipe Lopez clears waivers – outrighted to Triple-A
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Infielder Felipe Lopez has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to the Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports.
Lopez was designated for assignment for the second time this season with the Rays on June 11.
In 32 games this season for the Rays, Lopez had been hitting .216/.248/.320.
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Maholm open to talking with Pirates about new contract
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Left-handed pitcher Paul Maholm could be a free agent as soon as the end of the 2011 season is complete, and he’s open to spending more time with Pittsburgh, Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
“I’d definitely talk to them,” Maholm said. “I said that in the spring. They control everything. They have the option. They have the ability to trade me. They have the ability to wait and see what happens …”
The option that Maholm is referring to is the $9.75 million team option that the Pirates hold for 2012. It’s a big chunk of change for the small market team. If they decide against keeping him on for a year, they would owe him a $750,000 buyout.
“I’m not going to beg for [a new deal], but I’d be open to what they have to say. I enjoy the guys here. I enjoy the staff. The fans are great. I like the city. Why wouldn’t I talk to them? I haven’t heard anything from them yet and I don’t know that I will. I just hope they come to me soon if they are going to do it. I don’t want them to come to me the week of the trade deadline and hit me with everything right then.”
GM Neal Huntington doesn’t publicly discuss contracts in the media, so whether or not he’s willing to extend Maholm will have to wait until the winter. In the meantime, Cook reminds us that Maholm has made more starts (167) than any other left-hander in the National League since 2006 and has the second most innings pitched for a lefty during the same time. These stats alone will open eyes come the July trade deadline.
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Olney on Twins, Betemit and Ellis
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Here’s the latest from Buster Olney of ESPN:
– The Twins have been playing better lately so it’s way too early for them to become sellers. In any case, teams are waiting to see if some of their veterans become available, such as Michael Cuddyer or Francisco Liriano. Olney adds that if Liriano becomes available, he would immediately become the best starting pitcher on the market.
– Wilson Betemit is drawing a lot of interest from rival evaluators writes Olney. He’s making just $1 million and could play numerous positions and he’s been productive for the Royals this season. Betemit is hitting .289/.348/.411 with 2 HR’s and 23 RBI’s in 180 AB’s this season.
– The Giants recently signed free agent Bill Hall, but that doesn’t mean they are done. A possibility for them could be Mark Ellis. The A’s have Jemile Weeks and Scott Sizemore settling in at second base and third base, respectively, and Ellis won’t have much playing time once he comes off the DL.
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Tigers could trade Magglio Ordonez
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Right fielder Magglio Ordonez just got off of the Disable List yesterday and the Tigers will have to determine his role with the team.
Ordonez is a defensive liability in the outfield and the Tigers have five other outfielders at the moment. The DH role isn’t a possibility for him either because that role belongs to Victor Martinez.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says that Ordonez needs to prove that he can still produce runs, and he must do so while demonstrating that he can play serviceable defense in right field.
Ordonez, a 10-and-5 player, won’t be easy to trade either. He has full no-trade rights and is earning $10 million this season. According to Morosi, the Tigers would probably need to swap one burdensome contract for another.
A number of teams like the Angels, Mariners and the Yankees could use Ordonez as a DH because they are getting below-average production from their designated hitters.
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Frank McCourt may not be able to make June 30th payroll
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As an owner of a sports team, one would expect the owner to have millions of dollars sitting in an account and having no issues with making payroll, unless your name is Frank McCourt and you own the Dodgers. Over the last few months, with pay the man/ pay days at the 15th and 30th (or 31st) it has been a guessing game as to if Frank McCourt would be able to make payroll.
McCourt was able to secure funds to help make May 31st payroll by taking cash advances on payments that he was not scheduled to receive until later this season.
According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, McCourt expects to make payroll tomorrow which totals about $10mm, but has “no chance” of making the 30th payroll as the amount triples to $30mm. The amount triples thanks to our favorite steroid user Manny Ramirez and his $8mm deferred payment. If McCourt misses payroll, MLB would seize control of the team and would eventually sell the team.
Frank and his ex-wife/ half owner of the Dodgers, Jamie McCourt, held settlement talks for over nine hours on Monday. It appears the sides may be working towards a deal but the details are unknown. When Shaikin caught up with Jamie’s attorney Dennis Wasser, he said “Negotiations continuing. Stay tuned.”
If the two sides do not reach a deal, then on June 22nd both sides will be in court where Frank filed paperwork asking the judge to rule that Jamie has no say in a TV deal agreement, while Jamie wants the court to force Frank to sell the team.
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Diamondbacks acquire RHP Gaby Hernandez from WhiteSox
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The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired right handed pitcher Gaby Hernandez from the White Sox according to the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A team official Twitter account.
Hernandez was 4-6 with a 7.69 ERA in 55.0 innings throughout 11 starts for the White Sox’s Triple-A team this season.
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Phillies release Minor Leaguer Joel Naughton
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The Philadelphia Phillies have released Minor League catcher Joel Naughton according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. The Phillies also activated Triple-A pitcher Jason Grilli adds Zolecki.
Naughton was hitting .231/.231/.231 with 1 RBI in 13 AB’s for the Phillies’ Triple-A team.
Grilli is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings for the Phillies’ Triple-A team this season.
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Astros sign 15th round pick Zach Johnson
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The Houston Astros have signed 15th round pick Zach Johnson of Oklahoma State according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The team also signed non-drafted free agent Neiko Johnson of Kentucky adds McTaggart.
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