Rumors for October, 2011
St. Louis Cardinals win World Series
Posted by: | Comments
Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals and their fans as they celebrate their 11th World Series Title. This one may be the sweetest as they came back from 10 1/2 games back on August 25th to secure the NL Wild Card and a postseason birth.
They went on to beat the two best teams in the NL, the Phillies (102 wins) and the Brewers (96 wins) and earning the right to represent the NL in the World Series.
The Rangers who were up 3 games to 2 games on the Cardinals were one pitch away on two different occasions from winning the World Series. The Cardinals then became the only team in history to come back twice while being down two runs to win the game. The other team to be down to their last pitch and lose the game…. yea him, Bill Buckner and the ‘86 Red Sox.
The 2011 WS MVP was awarded to David Freese who set a new postseason record with 21 RBI. He also became only the 6th player ever to win the LCS and WS MVP.
Now with the World Series behind us…..Let the offseason begin!!!!
Image taken by GPMatteazi and used under the Creative Common License agreement.
Yankees and Cashman agree to 3 year extension
Posted by: | Comments
According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the New York Yankees and GM Brian Cashman have agreed to a contract extension. The sides are waiting for the World Series to finish in order for the official announcement to be made.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds that the deal is for three-years.
Under Cashman’s reign, the Yankees have made the playoffs 13 of 14 years and have won four Championships.
Image taken by eoringel and used under the Creative Commons License agreement.
Angels name Jerry DiPoto as their new General Manager
Posted by: | Comments
According to sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Los Angeles Angels have decided to go with Jerry DiPoto as their new GM. He was a senior VP of scouting and player development for the Diamondbacks. DiPoto will receive a three year deal with two additional team options.
The Angels former GM, Tony Reagins, resigned back in September. Reagins made many moves that will benefit 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).
Image by bfick under the Creative Commons License.
Tigers pick up Valverde’s option
Posted by: | Comments
According to Beck Jackson of MLB.com, the Detroit Tigers have elected to pick up the $9 million option they held on closer Jose Valverde. The move was expected as Beck points out.
Valverde was 2-4 with a 2.24 ERA and had 49 saves in 49 save opportunities in 72.1 innings throughout 75 relief appearances for the Tigers in 2011.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Nationals expected to bid big for C.J. Wilson
Posted by: | Comments
Left handed pitcher C.J. Wilson is slated to become a free agent this winter, and according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Washington Nationals are expected to make a big push for him. He adds that the best guess is about $75-80 million.
Even though he has had a rough postseason, he’s expected to be the best available starter on the market this season, unless C.C. Sabathia opts out of his contract with the Yankees. Back in September, we learned that the Nationals sent a scout to check on Wilson when he pitched against the A’s.
Earlier this week, we wrote an article about possible destinations for pending free agents, and although we didn’t mention the Nationals as a possible destination for Wilson we shouldn’t rule them out of contention. The lefty had a solid season going 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA and 205 SO for the Rangers.
Scott Boras wants to renegotiate Robinson Cano’s deal
Posted by: | Comments
Scott Boras, Robinson Cano’s agent, called Yankees GM, Brian Cashman, according to George A. King III of the New York Post, to renegotiate his client’s contract. “I called Cash to ask about dropping the options and he hasn’t returned the call,” Boras said.
The Yankees hold a $14 million option for 2012 and a $15 million option for 2013. The options have a $2 million buyout. King believes that Cashman will eventually reach out to Boras, but probably to talk about another client, Carlos Beltran, who King believes the Yankees will be interested in.
King also adds that at $29 million for the next two seasons, Cano is the “best bargain in baseball.” Cano, considered by many in the industry to be the best second baseman in baseball hit .302/.349/.533 with 28 HR’s and 118 RBI’s in 623 AB’s for the Yankees in 2011.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Hong-Chih Kuo does not plan to retire
Posted by: | Comments
Despite his plans to undergo a fifth surgery on his elbow this week, Los Angeles Dodgers’ left-handed pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo does not plan to hang it up. In an article by Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, Kuo’s agent said that his client intends to pitch next season.
“There’s no thought of retirement,” Alan Chang said. “He’s fully committed and highly motivated to do what it takes.”
There were reports in September that Kuo was uncertain about his future. He went as far as saying that he wanted to run a restaurant in his native Taiwan instead of pitching.
The Dodgers have until December 12 to decide on whether or not they would tender him a contract, but Hernandez says that the team isn’t expected to do so. Whether or not a decision has to be made in December, Kuo would like to remain a Dodger.
“Kuo is very appreciative of how supportive the Dodgers organization has been,” Chang said.
Image by Ben+Sam under the Creative Commons License
Injury updates: Kuo and Nicasio
Posted by: | Comments
Here’s a running list of injury updates around the Major Leagues:
– Left handed pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo will undergo surgery in his left elbow to remove loose body according to Jon Weisman of Dodgers Thoughts. He’ll be able to throw after 6-8 weeks of recovery.
– Right handed pitcher Juan Nicasio is making remarkable progress from his broken neck and according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post there’s an increasing possibility he could return to the Majors next season. Nicasio has already begun throwing off a mound for the first time since his injury adds Renck.
Image by SD Dirk under the Creative Commons License.
Royals unlikely to sign Melky Cabrera to a long-term deal
Posted by: | Comments
Even though Royals GM, Dayton Moore is happy with how Melky Cabrera bounced back and had a productive season, Dick Kaegel of MLB.com says that Moore doesn’t see a long-term for the switch hitting outfielder at the moment.
“We’ll probably go a year at a time at this point, but he was a terrific player for us and we’re very proud of what he accomplished and we’d be very open to Melky being here long term,” Moore said. “But I don’t see anything right now. I think he’s at a point in his career where he wants to look at things. He’s just a year away from free agency.”
The Royals signed him as a free agent after he was released by the Braves in October 2010 after a disappointing 2010 with the team. Cabrera is still under team control through 2012, and as Moore suggests he will probably want to test free agency, and that would give him motivation for another big season.
Kaegel adds that given the fact that he could leave after the 2012 season makes him a trading chip for the Royals who could trade him during the season to get something for him instead of losing him to free agency.
Cabrera hit .305/.339/.470 with 18 HR’s and 87 RBI’s in 658 AB’s for the Royals in 2011.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Is the end of the McCourt era near?
Posted by: | Comments
This past season, the drama off the field at Chavez Ravine engulfed what happened on the diamond. Baseball fans were more concerned about divorce proceedings than the team’s record. Frank McCourt over the season, has been able to do something that no losing Dodger team has been able to do in the history of the franchise and that’s keep fans away from Dodger stadium.
McCourt took the Dodgers into Bankruptcy protection and has been fighting the Commissioner Bud Selig and his ex-wife, Jamie McCourt for control of the team. McCourt entered Bankruptcy with the hopes of being able to sell the TV rights and receive an upfront lump of cash to pay off debtors and keep the team afloat.
Last week, he finally reached an agreement with his ex-wife Jamie McCourt that would pay her $130mm in exchange for her share of the Dodgers.
But that was just the battle leading up to the war when he was set to square off against MLB next week in court. McCourt has broken all of the “Boys code” among baseball owners as he has been airing the dirty laundry of MLB. The court hearing was going to focus on whether McCourt could sell the TV rights over the objection of FOX and MLB with the commissioner asking the court to force McCourt to sell the Dodgers. MLB also accused McCourt of taking $190 million from the Dodgers for personal use.
Today, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross issued an order saying that those hearings will now take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. Speculation immediately started to fly about a possible settlement as reports surfaced of McCourt being in New York yesterday, which also happens to be where MLB headquarters is located. Bill Shaikin of the LA Times later confirmed the rumors that McCourt and MLB did meet on Tuesday and discussed a possible settlement.
Settlement talks, though only at the infant stage could mean that McCourt realizes that he won’t win the court hearing in November or it could mean that he thinks Selig will overpay him to leave baseball.
Many people in baseball believe the Dodgers could be sold for $1 billion to $1.5 billion.
No matter what happens in the upcoming weeks, the McCourt era in Los Angeles may be coming to a close.
