Rumors for September, 2011
Kerry Wood may retire after season
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Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Kerry Wood may retire if the Chicago Cubs are not interested in bringing him back for the 2012 season, Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com reports.
Wood is out for the season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee that he suffered while squatting in the bullpen on Saturday. He’ll have surgery next week and there will be a six-week recovery period.
The reliever signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract before the 2011 season and finished with a 3-5 record with a 3.35 ERA.
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Aramis Ramirez is on the Marlins’ radar
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The Florida Marlins have been inquiring about players like Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes, all of who will be free agents after this season. Joe Frisaro of MLB.com says that one more realistic target for the Marlins could be Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who will be a free agent too.
Ramirez is in the final year of a five-year, $75 million deal he signed with the Cubs. The contract has a $12 million club option for 2012, but Ramirez could void that option and become a free agent at the end of this season.
A hitter like Ramirez could mix well with young players like Gaby Sanchez and Mike Stanton. Frisaro adds that having Ramirez in the lineup could give prospect Matt Dominguez more time to develop.
Ramirez is hitting .308/.363/.511 with 25 HR’s and 92 RBI’s in 552 AB’s with the Cubs in 2011.
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Injury updates: Guillen, Figgins, Willis and Hughes
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Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Carlos Guillen left today’s game after suffering a right calf strain according to Matthew Pouliot of NBCSports.com. He was making his third start today since coming off the Disabled List on September 1. Pouliot adds that Guillen doesn’t appear likely to help the Tigers this post season.
– According to Greg Johns of MLB.com, Mariners third baseman, Chone Figgins, will miss the remainder of the season because his hip is not feeling 100%.
– The Cincinnati Reds scratched Dontrelle Willis today from his start due to back spasms reports Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
– Right hander Phil Hughes will miss tomorrow’s start due to back spasms reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. He’s expected to start on Tuesday.
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Justin Morneau Done for the Season
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According to the Associated Press, Justin Morneau is will be shut down for the remainder of the season. Morneau will sit out the final 12 games due to concussion symptoms and a cyst that is going to be removed from his left knee this week.
Morneau, 30, is hitting a mere .227/.285/.333 with 4 home runs in 69 games this season.
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Tim Byrdak and the Mets agree to a contract extension for 2012
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According to David Lennon of Newsday, the New York Mets and left handed relief pitcher Tim Byrdak have finalized a contract extension for the 2012 season. (Hat tip to Mike Silva of the New York Baseball Digest who first reported the the two sides were close)
The terms are not known at this time, but Silva speculates that they will be similar to the one the Mets gave him this season. The lefty will earn about $1.2 million including the incentives.
Byrdak is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 36.2 innings throughout 68 relieving appearances for the Mets in 2011.
Mariano Rivera ties Trevor Hoffman for most saves with 601
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Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera, saved game number 601 against the Toronto Blue Jays today. “Mo,” held a 7-6 lead in the ninth to get his 601 save, tying Trevor Hoffman for most games saved in MLB history.
Rivera struck out Colby Rasmus looking for the first out of the ninth, then forced Brett Lawrie to ground out to first baseman Mark Teixeira and for the third out, Eric Thames flied out to center field.
This season, Rivera is 1-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 41 saves in 57 innings for the Yankees.
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Dmitri Young plans to make a comeback in 2012- Will play Winter Ball in Venezuela
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Former first baseman Dmitri Young told Bill Ladson of MLB.com today that he is looking to make a comeback as a player next year.
He also said that he is planning to play in the Venezuelan Winter League this year. Sources close to PRO Rumors said that the 2011 Venezuelan Champions “Caribes de Anzoategui” agreed to a deal with Young.
Young hit .292/.351/.475 with 171 HR’s and 683 RBI’s in 13 seasons with the Cardinals, Reds, Tigers and Nationals.
Ryan Dempster undecided about his 2012 player option
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Cubs starter, Ryan Dempster, who could become a free agent after 2011, has not thought about his player option for 2012 yet according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
“I never even thought about that,” Dempster said. “I’m just trying to go out there and win a game tomorrow and let all those things handle themselves.”
Dempster will start tomorrow against the Astros at Wrigley Field and this could be his last start as a Cub in Chicago unless he exercises his option.
“As a player, you just want to see where everything’s going and what direction they want to go and things like that more than anything,” he said. “You know how much I love playing here. Hopefully, it’s not just about staying here for next year but staying past next year. I’ll worry about what’s on the field first.”
Dempster is 10-12 with a 4.66 ERA in 183.2 innings throughout 31 starts with the Cubs this season.
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D’Backs expect Kevin Towers to be with them for a long time
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Diamondbacks CEO, Derrick Hall, will look into exercising the first two-year team options (2013 and 2014) in the off-season for their GM, Kevin Towers Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
Hall says that he expects Towers to be with the team for a long time. Towers signed a two-year deal with the Diamondbacks in September 2010.
The team only gave Towers a two-year deal because they didn’t want to put the organization in a position where they had another long-term deal in case it didn’t work out the way they hoped. Their former GM, Josh Byrnes, was fired with more than five years left on his deal.
This season, the Diamondbacks are leading the NL West by six games ahead of the San Francisco Giants with a record of 87-64.
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Ozzie Guillen controls his own fate
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White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillen, controls his own fate according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Nightengale says that Guillen could return to the White Sox if he doesn’t ask for an extension. If he demands an extension and doesn’t receive one and leaves, then his most likely destination will be with the Marlins.
Late in August we learned that Guillen wanted an extension from the White Sox. He said that he is prepared to walk away from the final year of his contract in 2012 if the team doesn’t have a extension in place for him before Opening Day in April.
“One thing I make clear, I don’t think I’m going to be back here for a one-year contract (in 2012) and I don’t know what to do with the next year,” Guillen said. “I think that eight years with this organization, I’m guessing we did a pretty good job. I think the players did it for me. I think we deserve more than that.”
The Marlins on the other hand have shown interest in the Venezuelan skipper in the past. Their new ballpark could be the decisive push that makes them sign Guillen to a long-term deal.
