Rumors for August, 2011
Royals Call Up Johnny Giavotella
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The Kansas City Royals have called up Johnny Giavotella, according to Adam Holt of MLB.com. Giavotella was the Royals second round draft pick of the 2008 First Year Player draft and is ranked as the number 7 prospect in the Royals organization.
Giavotella, 24, is hitting .339/.391/.481 with 9 home runs at AAA Omaha this season.
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Giants designate Alex Hinshaw for assignment
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The San Francisco Giants have designated Alex Hinshaw for assignment, sources close to Andrew Baggelery of the San Jose Mercury News say.
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Javier Vazquez could retire after the 2011 season
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Right handed pitcher Javier Vazquez is pondering retirement after the 2011 season Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald reports.
“I know what I want to do already. I’ve talked to my family about that and basically this could be my last year,” Vazquez said. “This could be it for me. The hunger is still there. But I think God puts my priorities in order. Baseball is probably third right now.”
Vazquez is 7-9 with a 4.88 ERA in 121.2 innings throughout 22 starts for the Marlins in 2011. Since June 16th, he’s one 4-3 with a 2.26 ERA.
The 35-year old is 159-158 with a 4.28 ERA in 2769 innings throughout his career with the Expos/Nationals, Yankees, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Braves and Marlins.
Seattle Mariners release Jack Cust
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The Seattle Mariners have announced via a press release that they have released designated hitter Jack Cust. Cust previously was designated by the team last week.
The 32-year-old Cust was hitting .213 with three home runs and 23 RBIs in 67 games for the Mariners this season.
Image by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Commons License.
Minnesota Twins want to keep Cuddyer in 2012
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Despite rumors of trading Michael Cuddyer, Buster Olney of ESPN says via Twitter that the Minnesota Twins want to retain him beyond the 2011 season. Olney cites that Cuddyer’s production (.325 since the end of April), his leadership and because of Justin Morneau’s injuries, Cuddyer has a high-level of attraction.
Cuddyer is in the final year of a three-year, $24 million deal. He said last month that he was willing to waive his no-trade clause to help the organization.
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Scott Radinsky: From throwing fastballs to singing Punk songs
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When I was younger, about nine or ten years and 50-60 pounds ago, I used to play the drums in a Punk-Rock band. I remember one time, while we were “popular”, we were contacted by a talent agent with a band that was coming from California to play two shows down in Venezuela. The agent asked us if we would play with this band.
Of course we said yes, who wouldn’t. The name of the band was “Pulley”, I didn’t know them at the time, but to play with a foreign band is one of the greatest accomplishment we could have hoped for, although actually the show was canceled before.
After doing some research I found out the lead singer of the band was former MLB pitcher Scott Radinsky. He formed the band while he was a reliever for the Los Angeles Dodgers after his departure from another band called “Ten Foot Pole.” Their first album came out in 1996 and was called “Esteem Driven Engine.” In December, 2010 they announced plans to enter the studio in January 2011 to record a new album, which will be their fifth total.
Radinsky played in the Majors for 11 seasons with the White Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals and Indians, ending his career in 2001. The left handed pitcher was 42-25 with a 3.44 ERA in 481.2 innings throughout 557 games.
Here’s the link to Pulley’s website in case you want to hear a former MLB pitcher singing Punk-rock songs.
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Matt Stairs retires
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Veteran first baseman Matt Stairs is retiring from baseball according to CBC News. Stairs hasn’t made the official announcement yet, but he told CBC News that his playing days are over.
“I’m not sad. I had a great career, a long career,” Stairs said. “And it’s one of those things where I can walk away today and not be sad about it.”
Stairs was designated for assignment and later released by the Nationals this season. In 19 Major League seasons, Stairs hit .262/.356/.477 with 265 HR’s and 899 RBI’s in 5204 AB’s for the Expos/Nationals, Red Sox, Athletics, Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, Royals, Rangers, Tigers, Blue Jays, Phillies and Padres.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Orioles sign Willie Eyre to a Minor League deal
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The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a Minor League deal with right handed pitcher Willie Eyre according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Connolly adds that Eyre will be assigned to Triple-A Norfolk once he passes a physical.
Eyre last pitched in the Majors in 2009 with the Rangers. This season he was 4-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 62 innings throughout 39 games, two starts with the Athletics’ Triple-A team.
Injury update: Santana, Ramirez and De la Rosa
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Mets’ lefty Johan Santana has hit another bump on his road to recovery. According to Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger, Santana is set for a doctor’s appointment on Thursday in New York after feeling discomfort in his left shoulder. Santana’s next rehab start was pushed back due to his doctor’s appointment.
– Hanley Ramirez is day-to-day due to a left shoulder sprain he suffered last night while playing against the Mets reports Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.
– Right handed pitcher Rubby de la Rosa was diagnosed yesterday with a sprained UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in his elbow, and the team announcedthat de la Rosa will require Tommy John Surgery.
Image by Keith Allisonunder the Creative Commones License.
Orioles release Justin Duchschere- claim Jo-Jo Reyes
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The Baltimore Orioles have released right handed pitcher Justin Duchscherer according to Craig Calcaterra of NBCSports.com. Duchschere hasn’t pitched in the Majors since early in 2010 due to injuries.
Calcaterra adds that the Orioles also put a claim on Jo-Jo Reyes who was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays late in July. Reyes is 5-8 with a 5.40 ERA in 110 innings throughout 20 starts with the Blue Jays in 2011.
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