Rumors for September, 2011
Marlins sign Ozzie Guillen to a four-year, $10 million deal
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According to sources close to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, Ozzie Guillen’s new deal with the Florida Marlins is for $10 million through four years.
The source says that Guillen was making $1.8 million with the White Sox. The new manager will be introduced today in a Press Conference at 1 p.m ET at Sun Life Stadium. Guillen was traded from the White Sox earlier this week after he couldn’t agree to a contract extension with the team.
Update: 9/29 11:45am PST
Per a White Sox press release:
The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-handed pitcher Jhan Mariñez and infielder Ozzie Martinez from the Florida Marlins. The White Sox also assigned the contract of right-hander Ricardo Andres to Florida. The transaction was agreed upon by both clubs, and was contingent upon the Marlins reaching an agreement with Ozzie Guillen for their managerial position.
Five baseball movies that remind us about yesterday’s games
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Yesterday, was a great day for baseball fans, although not so much for Red Sox and Braves fans. Both teams began September about a hundred games ahead of the closest contender for the Wild Card lead, and both teams saw that their respective leads shrink day-after-day until they collapsed and lost on the final day of the season.
Yesterday, the Braves were two outs away when Chase Utley hit a sac fly to left field and took the Braves’ agony to a 13-inning game that I’m sure left thousands of broken hearts in Atlanta. The Cardinals, who were tied with them for the NL Wild Card beat the Astros 8-0 and clinched a postseason appearance.
In the AL, things were a little bit more exciting, at least in my opinion. The Red Sox were winning 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th when the rain showed up and stalled the game for like a decade if you ask me. The Rays, who were tied with the Red Sox for the AL Wild Card were losing 7-0 in the bottom of the 8th when they started to show some signs of fight.
After scoring six runs in the 8th, the Rays were down to one strike in the bottom of the ninth when Dan Johnson, who was hitting .108 with 1 HR (April 27) and three RBI’s decided to hit the home run of his life. When the game resumed in Baltimore, the Red Sox took their 3-2 lead to the bottom of the 9th and suddenly Jonathan Papelbon “CHOKED.” And the Orioles, with a single to left field by Robert Andino provided a walk off win and putting the Red Sox on the ropes. They could only hope for the Rays to lose so they could play a one game playoff.
That didn’t happen of course. Rays third baseman Evan Longoria had other plans. In the bottom of the 11th he hit his second homer of the night and punched the Rays ticket to the postseason. By the way, I call dibs on the upcoming Disney motion picture about the 2011 Rays making it to the postseason.
Which leads me to the title of this article. Sorry I wandered for that long, but I’m still amazed about what happened yesterday. Now, I’m going to give you a list of movies that will always remind us about yesterday’s game.
– Major Leagues: Yes, the 1989 motion picture about the Cleveland Indians. It reminds us that an underdog team can clinch the postseason by winning it all in the last second.
– Fever Pitch: Well, actually this time its backwards. This movie is set in the 2004 Boston Red Sox’s season. Yes, the year they beat the Yankees in the ALCS after being down 0-3. It reminds me how the Red Sox always have to suffer to clinch a postseason, or not, and how they make their collapses EPIC.
– Benchwamers: That’s how the Braves and Red Sox played in the month of September, no questions asked.
– The Sandlot: This might sound weird, but as I saw the Rays celebrate yesterday, it took me to my young days when I use to play with my friends. We used to play for fun, and that movie resembles pretty much every single kid’s baseball experience with his friends. The Rays looked like little kids playing for fun yesterday, and the outcome was that. They won the AL Wild Card in an incredible way.
– Bad Luck Bears: I think this tittle speaks for itself.
Red Sox and Royals working on a deal involving Bruce Chen
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The Boston Red Sox are looking for a starting pitcher to pitch a possible one-game playoff tomorrow against the Rays. According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, the Red Sox and Royals are working on a deal that could ship left handed pitcher Bruce Chen to the Red Sox.
Chen already cleared waivers, and the Red Sox have until the end of today to work out a deal with the Royals. The lefty though, would only be available to pitch on Thursday, and he can’t be added to the post season roster, if they make the playoffs.
This is a very delicate situation for the Red Sox since they could give up valuable players to acquire a starter pitcher who might not even throw a pitch for them. Chen is expected to become a Type-B free agent, so the best the Red Sox could get from him is a supplemental pick.
The 34-year old veteran is 12-8 with a 3.98 ERA in 24 starts for the Royals in 2011.
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Davey Johnson wants to manage Nationals in 2012
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In a Tweet by Bill Ladson of MLB.com, he says that Davey Johnson would like to manage the Washington Nationals in 2012. Johnson adds that he is the “‘best candidate’ for the Nats’ managerial job.” Johnson was named the Nationals’ manager on June 26, 2011 after Jim Riggleman unexpectedly resigned from the team a few days earlier.
Johnson, 68, has so far led the Nats to a 39-43 record, third place in the National League East. Ben Goessling of MASN reported on September 26 that Johnson has hinted that he’s leaning toward coming back.
“I love where we’re at in the development stage of some of these young players,” Johnson said. “The other thing is, my wife seems to enjoy getting back on the road again. She likes to travel, more than I do.”
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Tim Wakefield wants to comeback with the Red Sox in 2012
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Right handed pitcher Tim Wakefield says he is not ready to retire according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports. Wakefield is also expecting to return with the Red Sox in 2012.
“I’ve definitely made up my mind that I definitely want to come back next year,” Wakefield said. “I have another goal in front of me that I’d like to accomplish, and that’s the all-time record for the Red Sox in wins. I’m only seven away. I think the fans deserve an opportunity to watch me chase that record. We’ll see what happens.”
The knuckleballer is 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA in 154.2 innings throughout 33 games, 23 starts with the Red Sox in 2011. “I think I’ve pitched better than the numbers have (indicated),” he said. “But my job, as fourth or fifth starter, is to give the club innings and get us in position to win a game. I’ve never claimed to be an ace of the staff. I’ve always wanted to be that anchor. With the knuckleball, over my 18-year career, it’s been innings pitched. I feel like I’ve done that.”
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Jimmy Rollins seeking a five-year deal
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Phillies short stop, Jimmy Rollins, will be a free agent at the end of the season and according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated he’s looking for a five-year deal.
“Five would be great. Five would be the number,” Rollins said. “I don’t think I want six or seven. You start thinking about 39 (years old). Do I want to play at 39?”
A league source close to Heyman believes the Phillies will try to sign him to a three-year deal. Heyman says that the Phillies like Rollins “very much” and they probably won’t mind overpaying him a little. Two other baseball executives see Rollings getting either a $56 million four-year deal or a three-year deal for “at least” $12 million per season.
“Right now there is no better place to play baseball, especially in the National League,” Rollins said about the Phillies. “With that being said, I’ve been here since I was 17. I never thought of going anywhere else. But am I afraid to leave? Not at all. Nothing’s permanent. I don’t get caught up to the point where it’s either this or nothing.”
Rollins’ childhood friend C.C. Sabathiasays that Rollins may end up in San Francisco. Both of them grew up in the Bay Area and it is not a secret that the Giants are in need of a short stop. Rollins doesn’t have a clue about what’s on the Phillies mind, but the key issue for him is the number of years. “That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “Teams don’t want to give you years. They want to keep the uncertainty to a minimum.”
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Red Sox still looking for a starting pitcher
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The Boston Red Sox are about to be entered into the record books, and not for the reason you would like to be. They were slated to be the AL East champions, but for those who don’t understand the game, not only did they lose the division to the Yankees, but they’re now fighting for the last post season spot.
The team is currently tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL Wild Card, and if both of them win or lose today, they will have to play a one-game playoff tomorrow at Tampa.
According to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, the Red Sox are preparing themselves for a possible extra game. One of the plans for them is to look for a starting pitcher who can pitch that game. For that to happen, they will have to complete the trade before Wednesday’s end.
Any team who is not in contention and wishes to get rid of a starter or gift a starter could take advantage of the situation given the fact that they could play with the Red Sox’s feelings. Whoever wants to speak with the Red Sox will have leverage in the negotiations because the Red Sox need it done by today.
Bradford also adds that given the fact the Red Sox won’t know if they need the pitcher until the end of tonight’s game, the window of negotiation is even smaller for them to make a trade. So in conclusion, buckle up because today appears to be a fun day for those who enjoy baseball. And in case it goes until tomorrow it will be even better.
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Reds close to a deal with Francisco Cordero?
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According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds GM Walt Jocketty, made it sound like the team could be close to a one-year deal with their closer Francisco Cordero.
“We’re just waiting more for them to get back to us. I’m more optimistic something will get done there in the near future just because we’ve made more progress.”
The Reds, who hold a $12 million option on Cordero, are talking with the closer about a two-year deal. Cordero is 5-3 with a 2.49 ERA and 36 saves in 68.2 innings throughout 67 relieving appearances.
New York Mets exercise Terry Collins option for 2013
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The New York Mets have exercised Terry Collins’ team option for the 2013 season, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports.
The 62-year-old manager led the Mets to a 76-84 record through 160 games in his first season as the team’s skipper. The Mets will finish in fourth place regardless of the outcome of the final two games of the 2011 season.
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Javier Vazquez may be pitching his final game
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In a Tweet by Terry Spencer of the Associated Press he says, “Javy Vazquez throws ball from first pitch into dugout as souvenir – a sign he really is quitting.” So is this a signal of the impending retirement of the 35-year-old right-handed pitcher of the Florida Marlins?
It’s been speculated for some time, and as recently as last month, that Vazquez was pondering retirement after the 2011 season.
“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 in August. “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.”
In 31 games for the Marlins this season, Vazquez is 12-11 with a 153 strikeouts in 183 2/3 innings pitched.
