Rumors for July, 2011
Brian Wilson wants Beltran with the Giants
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Although Mets’ outfielder Carlos Beltran is saying that he would like to stay in New York, Giants’ closer Brian Wilson is making is publicly known that he wants Beltran in San Francisco as long as he isn’t the one shipped to Queens for him, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports.
“He’s a pretty awesome hitter,” Wilson said. “I have no qualms about it. Come on over. I don’t want to be the guy that’s traded, though. OK? Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Wilson added that Beltran is a player that the Giants need to acquire.
On July 11, Beltran said that he wouldn’t mind being shipped to the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox may be out of the running for the All Star outfielder since he’s owed about $6 million for the rest of the season. The Giants may be in the same predicament given their limited budget.
Sources close to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports say that the Giants are among Beltran’s most serious suitors.
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Milwaukee Brewers acquire Francisco Rodriguez
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The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that they have acquired closer Francisco Rodriguez from the New York Mets in exchange for a reported $5 million (via Joel Sherman of the New York Post) and two players to be named later. The players to be named later, according to a source close to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, are said to currently be in the Minor Leagues, and will be chosen from a list that the teams have agreed upon.
“Francisco has been one of the best relievers in the game for many years,” said GM Doug Melvin. “He is a high-quality arm who will be a tremendous asset to our bullpen as we prepare for the final months of the regular season and playoffs.”
K-Rod is on track to wrap up a three-year, $37 million contract, but he has a vesting option for $17.5 million for 2012 if he finishes 55 games.
The 29-year-old right-handed pitcher has long been rumored to be on the trading block. In 42 appearances for the Mets, he is 2-2 with 23 saves and a 3.16 ERA.
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Injury updates: Lidge, Garland, Wright, Scott and Gonzalez
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Phillies closer, Brad Lidge, who is on a rehab assingment, has made four Minor League starts up to this point. According to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer Lidge could still require about six more appearances.
– Jon Garland underwent season-ending surgery yesterday according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. The procedure included clean up and reinforcement of the labrum and bursa.
– Third baseman David Wright is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Class-A next Friday a team official said (via Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com). Mets manager, Terry Collins, estimated Wright will need 30 to 40 Minor League AB’s before being activated.
– Luke Scott was examined by Orioles’ orthopedist John Wilckens yesterday and it appears that the tear in his right labrum has not gotten worse and seems to be progressing, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. That means surgery does not seem necessary at this point and that he can return on or around when he is eligible to come off the DL on July 19.
– Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez underwent an MRI yesterday and it revealed that there’s no fracture in his hand reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
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Ortiz wants a two-year deal, plus an option for a third year from the Red Sox
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Red Sox’s DH, David Ortiz, wants at least a two-year deal with an option for a third year from the Red Sox, reports Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.
“You know what? I’ve been in this organization for nine years. My numbers ain’t that bad, you know what I’m saying?” said Ortiz. “I don’t think I need to open any more eyes than I have already. If you haven’t seen me, you ain’t.”
Silverman though, points out that Ortiz at 36 years old, is “a couple of years beyond the age when the Red Sox normally get gun-shy about committing to players for the long term.”
Given the fact Ortiz is just a designated hitter he is not worried about the “wear and tear.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve got more in the tank, I’ve got more than that. I’m just going to turn 36,” he said. “What’s the worst thing that’s going to happen to me from now through the next two, three years?”
Ortiz is hitting .304/.391/.571 with 19 HR’s and 53 RBI’s in 299 AB’s for the Red Sox this season.
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Cardinals hoping to add one or two pitchers
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The St. Louis Cardinals are hoping to acquire one or two more pitchers for the back end of their rotation or for their bullpen, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
“I don’t think we’re running all on all cylinders today, especially compared to how the club played in May when things were clicking,” GM John Mozeliak said. “We’ve gotten healthier and cleared some of our hurdles. But others remain.”
Mozeliak acknowledged that it may take another two weeks before the market defines itself and the Cardinals will know how to react.
Last week Derrick Goold of the Dispatch said that San Diego and Minnesota could be two teams that the Cardinals could raid for pitching.
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Cincinnati Reds interested in Ubaldo Jimenez
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According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, he reports the Colorado Rockies will not trade Ubaldo Jimenez unless it’s a perfect fit. If they do decide to make a trade, a source close to Rosenthal says the Cincinnati Reds have Jimenez on their rader.
Rosenthal iterates the Reds are not buyers, but rather they could turn into sellers if they fall further behind in the next two weeks. The team is currently four games out in the National League Central and in fourth place.
The Reds and the Rockies have yet to to engage in conversations about the right-handed Jimenez.
Dodgers acquire Juan Rivera from Blue Jays
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired Juan Rivera from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to the Dodgers’ official Twitter page.
To make room for Rivera, the team designated outfielder Marcus Thames for assignment.
Rivera was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on July 3. The 32-year-old was hitting.246/.310/.365 for the season.
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Gary Carter To Return To Coaching
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According to Cash Kruth of MLB.com, Gary Carter plans on returning to coaching despite being under radiation treatment. On May 21 Carter announced that he had four small brain tumors. With the progress of the treatment as successful as it is, Carter is planning on being there to coach the Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish even though he will still be undergoing treatment for several more months.
Carter, 57, was a career .262/.335/.439 hitter with 324 home runs over 19 seasons. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2003.
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All Star Starting Lineups Released
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According to Craig Calcaterra of MSNBC, Ron Washington and Bruce Bochy have announced their Starting Lineups. Starting Pitcher for the NL Is Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Starting Pitcher for the AL is Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels. The starting lineups then go as follows:
American League
1. Curtis Granderson CF New York Yankees
2. Asdrubal Cabrera SS Cleveland Indians
3. Adrian Gonzalez 1B Boston Red Sox
4. Jose Bautista RF Toronto Blue Jays
5. Josh Hamilton LF Texas Rangers
6. Adrian Beltre 3B Texas Rangers
7. David Ortiz DH Boston Red Sox
8. Robinson Cano 2B New York Yankees
9. Alex Avila C Detroit Tigers
National League
1. Rickie Weeks 2B Milwaukee Brewers
2. Carlos Beltran DH New York Mets
3. Matt Kemp CF Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Prince Fielder 1B Milwaukee Brewers
5. Brian McCann C Atlanta Braves
6. Lance Berkman RF St. Louis Cardinals
7. Matt Holliday LF St. Louis Cardinals
8. Troy Tulowitzki SS Colorado Rockies
9. Scott Rolen 3B Cincinnati Reds
The All Star game will be on Fox starting at 8 pm est tomorrow.
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Athletics release LHP Bobby Cramer
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The Oakland Athletics have released left handed pitcher Bobby Cramer according to Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group. Cramer was designated for assignment earlier on July 1.
Cramer was 0-1 with a 1.08 ERA in 8.1 innings throughout five games with the Athletics this season.
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