Rumors for September, 2011
Athletics receive outfielder Eliezer Mesa from Rockies
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In an announcement by the team (via Jane Lee of MLB.com), the Athletics have received outfielder Eliezer Mesa from the Colorado Rockies as a player to be named later in the Mark Ellis trade.
The A’s traded Ellis and cash considerations to the Rockies on June 30th for right-handed pitcher Bruce Billings and a player to be named later.
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Tony Reagins resigns as Angels GM
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Tony Reagins has resigned as Angels GM reports Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. Reagins will remain on staff as an assistant to team president Dennis Kuhl Mike Digiovanni of the LA Times adds.
Angels owner Artie Moreno released a statement saying, “We remained short of our objective in winning a championship. In moving forward, we felt a change was needed.”
Reagins made many moves that will benifit the team such as resigning Jered Weaver to a five year deal and signing Scott Downs last offseason to a three-year deal.
But the main thing Reagins will be remembered for will be last years offseason. Reagins failed to sign any of the bigger name free agents, and then made a trade that will saddle the Angels for year to come. Reagins will forever be connected to Vernon Wells as he traded slugging catcher Mike Napoli to the Blue Jays for Wells and his $80mm contract (four-years at the time of the deal).
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Red Sox and Francona officially part ways
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According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports,the Boston Red Sox and manager Terry Francona have officially parted ways. Francona released a statement saying, “I ultimately felt that, out of respect to this team, it was time for me to move on.”
The Red Sox held a club option for Francona for 2012 and 2013, which they ultimately decided not to exercise.
Two possibles destination for Francona could be the Chicago White Sox or the Chicago Cubs. Francona won two World Series rings with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007, so it shouldn’t be difficult for him to find a new team.
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Sergio Santos and the White Sox agree to multiyear deal
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Sergio Santos and the White Sox have agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $8.25mm reports Scott Merkin of MLB.com. The deal also includes three option years for 2015-2017.
Santos will earn $1MM in 2012, $2.75MM in 2013 and $3.75MM in 2014. The White Sox will hold a $6MM option for 2015, an $8MM option for 2016 and an $8.75MM option for 2017. If all the options are picked up by the Sox, the deal would cover Santos’ first two years of free agency.
Santos who took over as the closer this year, saved 30 games while posting a 3.55 era and striking out 92 batters in 63.33 innings.
In two big league seasons, Santos has a career 3.29 era with a 6-7 record while taking over the closer role for Chicago.
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Cubs interested in Theo Epstein?
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The Chicago Cubs are looking for a new GM and they could be interested in Theo Epstein’s services if the Red Sox make him available reports Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Apparently Epstein told his friends that he would “embrace the challenge” of being the Cubs’ General Manager adds Wittenmeyer.
Given the Red Sox collapse this season, the team could make Epstein available for an interview, and if that happens, the Cubs are ready to make a run for him.
Wittenmeyer notes that according to multiple reports, “Epstein won’t leave his hometown team, especially in the wake of consecutive failures to make the playoffs.”
“We’re going to all get together with ownership and discuss everything,” said Epstein. “The process we’re going to undertake will continue to identify all the issues that need addressing and take a hard look at ourselves, seeing whether we’re the people to address them.”
Epstein has an option that must be exercised before October 8. The Cubs are looking to become contenders immediately, and according to chairman Tom Ricketts, they could be in position to compete, if not contend in 2012.
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Dustin Pedroia to undergo ‘minor foot surgery’ today- will miss postseason… Oh, sorry
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I’m sorry to all the Red Sox fans for the cheap shot in the headline, but I just saw a great opportunity there. And yes, second baseman Dustin Pedroia will undergo “minor foot surgery” today Brian McPherson of the Providence Journal reports.
The surgery will remove a screw from his foot. The screw was inserted 13 month ago to repair a broken ankle. McPherson adds that Kevin Youkilis will also undergo surgery during the off season to repair a sports hernia.
Pedroia hit .307/.387/.474 with 21 HR’s and 91 RBI’s in 635 AB’s for the Red Sox in 2011. Youkilis hit .258/.373/.459 with 17 HR’s and 80 RBI’s in 431 AB’s for the Red Sox in 2011.
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Francona and Red Sox expected to part ways
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According to Major League sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Terry Francona is expected to leave his position as the manager of the Boston Red Sox as soon as Friday. The Red Sox hold a club option for Francona for 2012 and 2013, so the team basically would not exercise their options for those season.
Rosenthal speculates that the Chicago White Sox and the Cubs could be possible destinations for Francona. The latter option would require the Cubs to fire incumbent manager Mike Quade.
Red Sox GM, Theo Epstein, said that “nobody blames what happened in September on Tito.”
“That would be totally irresponsible and shortsighted,” Epstein said. “As an organization we have to look at our successes and failures, and what happened in 2011 — we take full responsibility for it. All of us collectively look at it as a failure. I’m the general manager, so I take more responsibility than anybody.
“But I know we don’t believe in scapegoats, particularly blaming Tito for what happened in September. We all failed collectively. We’re all together in this; we’ve got to live with that. We’re not pointing fingers at any one person in particular.”
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Chicago Cubs designate Berg and Schlitter for assignment
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The Chicago Cubs have designated right-hander pitchers Justin Berg and Brian Schlitter, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. In one of the roster places, the team added Carlos Zambrano to the team’s 40-man roster.
Indians exercise Manny Acta’s option for next season
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The Cleveland Indians have decided to exercise manager Manny Acta’s option for next season according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Acta was in his final year of a three-year deal he had with the team.
The Indians had a terrific start in 2011, but they collapsed in the second half and lost the division to the Detroit Tigers. After losing yesterday, the Indians left their record in 80-82, and 15 games behind the Tigers.
Magglio wants to return to the Tigers next season but is prepared to leave
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Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez wants to comeback with the Tigers in 2012, but is prepared to play elsewhere if the Tigers don’t want to bring him back Ignacio Cerrano of El Nacional reports.
“I’m ready,” he said. “I would hate to play against the Tigers, because they are one of the best teams and my buddies Miguel (Cabrera), Victor (Martinez) and everybody else are there. I have a good relationship with the management, the organization and the city. We’ll talk about that, but I’m ready for everything.”
The 37-year old veteran was thinking about retirement during the season due to his lack of productivity and injuries. “About half way of the season I was thinking about retirement,” he said. “The manager (Jim Leyland) and I talked about it. You have to be realistic, I can’t demand to play everyday when I’m hitting .220. I would be ashamed of myself, for not produce like I’m used to.”
Serrano suggests that Ordonez could be a fit for teams like the the Rays, Indians or Athletics if the Tigers decide not to re-sign him. Ordonez hit .255/.303/.331 with 5 HR’s and 32 RBI’s in 329 AB’s for the Tigers in 2011.
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