Rumors for September, 2011
Nationals release Carr and DFA Mock
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According to the Washington Nationals’ transaction page (via Bill Ladson of MLB.com), the team has released right-handed pitcher Adam Carr and designated right-handed pitcher Garrett Mock for assignment.
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Indians claim Jason Rice off waivers
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The Cleveland Indians have claimed Jason Rice off waivers from the Oakland Athletics, according to a Tweet by Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle.
The 25-year-old Rice was originally an 11th-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft. He has a career 26-31 record with a 3.91 ERA in 256 appearances (48 starts).
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Twins designate LHP Chuck James for assignment
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The Minnesota Twins have designated left-handed pitcher Chuck James for assignment, according to a Tweet by the team. The move was done to make room for starting pitcher Liam Hendriks to be added to the team’s 40-man roster.
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Cardinals would like to bring Furcal back
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The Cardinals may still be mathematically in the playoff race, but GM John Mozeliak is wasting no time as he begins to make plans for the 2012 season. According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals would like to explore a new contract with Rafael Furcal within the next month. “When you look at our club since he came to our team, he’s just really changed the look of it. To try to find a way to get him back makes sense. But we have a lot of balls in the air. To try to balance it out financially and make it work is a challenge. But based on how he’s played, and the type person he is and the energy’s he brought to the club, there are a lot of positives.”
Though Furcal has done a lot of positives for the Cardinals, he is only hitting .228 in 134 plate appearances for St. Louis. Furcal was acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline in exchange for Double-A outfielder Alex Castellanos who has been exceptional for the Dodgers Double-A team.
Furcal does have a $12mm team option for next season with a $1.3mm buyout (option would have vested if he had reached 600 plate appearances, currently at 286). Ryan Theriot the Cardinals opening day shortstop earned $3.3mm this season and has one more year of arbitration left.
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Marlins designate Alfredo Amezaga for assignment
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The Marlins have designated Alfredo Amezaga for assignment, reports Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.
In 44 at bats with the Marlins, the 33 year-old was hitting just .136.
The Marlins acquired Amezaga in early August from the Rockies in exchange for minor league infielder Jesus Merchan.
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Hideki Okajima is pondering retirement
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In an interview with Hideki Okajima by Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal, the left-handed pitcher isn’t quite sure what his future holds.
“I don’t know what I’m going to be doing next season,” Okajima said. “I might retire. I might go back to Japan. I might be over here again. I’m not really sure. I just have to see where the offseason takes me once I get there.”
Okajima was once the team’s premiere set-up man, but after being designated for assignment earlier this season (and eventually outrighted back to Triple-A), he isn’t too optimistic about his big league career.
“I didn’t expect to be in this situation, but this is reality,” he said. “I am here. It’s obviously very disappointing to be in this situation in this point in the year, but this is reality and this is where I belong right now. I’ve accepted that fact and just have to rethink how I approach the game so I can be where I want to be next season.”
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Red Sox designate Drew Sutton for assignment
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In a Tweet by Rob Bradford of WEEI, he reports that the Boston Red Sox have designated Drew Sutton for assignment. The move was done as the team called up Nate Spears.
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Ken Rosenthal on Bedard, Ortiz and Mike Gonzalez
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Here’s the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
– The Boston Red Sox wanted to acquire Mariner’s starter Erik Bedard so badly that they tried to acquire him while he was on the disabled list with a sprained knee. The Sox eventually acquired the left-hander on July 31.
– When David Ortiz becomes a free agent after the season, the negotiations between the Sox and Ortiz will not necessarily go smoothly. The Red Sox will want to offer a short-term contract, but Ortiz (36 in November) will want a multi-year deal at a rate higher than his current $12.5 million salary.
– The Texas Rangers recent acquisition of Mike Gonzalez could potentially be huge especially if the Rangers face the Red Sox or Yankees in the post season.
Torii Hunter considering retirement after 2012 season
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Los Angeles Angels outfielder, Torii Hunter, is considering retirement after the 2012 season according to Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Hunter told Souhan that injuries and an early season slump led him to contemplate his future.
He added that if he didn’t retire with the Angels, he would consider finishing his career with the Twins.
”I am going to retire an Angel,” he said. ”Next year is my last year, and I’m going to retire an Angel. I’m going to evaluate it this offseason. That’s when I’ll know. It’s 60-40, to the positive, that I’ll keep playing.”
”I feel good now, but I was hurt the first two months, and I was just evaluating everything, like, man, I can’t move,” Hunter said. ”And then it just went away, and now I feel good, so now I’m on the positive side again. You don’t want to see your skills diminish. You don’t want to linger.”
Hunter is hitting .261/.332/.423 with 19 HR’s and 72 RBI’s in 499 AB’s for the Angels in 2011.
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Injury updates: Ramirez, Contreras and Lee
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– The Marlins’ medical staff recommended to Hanley Ramirez that he undergo surgery to his injured shoulder according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
– Right handed pitcher Jose Contreras underwent season-ending surgery Saturday afternoon to clean his elbow up and repair the flexor tendon reports Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Enquirer. GM Ruben Amaro says he’s not sure if Contreras will be ready for the start of the 2012 season.
– The Pittsburgh Pirates have activated first baseman Derrek Lee from the Disabled List according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Lee was placed on the DL August 10th with a fractured left wrist.
