Rumors for October, 2011
Reds likely to pick up Phillips’ option if they can’t work out a long-term deal
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The Cincinnati Reds are expected to pick up Brandon Phillips‘ $12 million option, if they can’t work out a long-term deal with the second baseman Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports.
Back in September, we learned that the team planned to bring back Phillips in 2012 and that both parties had preliminary talks about a contract extension in February. As late as June, talks between the two had not started up again.
Phillips hit .300/.353/.457 with 18 HR’s and 82 RBI’s in 610 AB’s with the Reds in 2011.
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Chien-Ming Wang still talking to the Nationals about a contract extension
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Right handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang wants a contract extension from the Nationals. Earlier this month, we learned that both sides were talking about it.
Today, William Ladson of MLB.com, says that a new deal with Wang is still not close although both sides are still talking. Wang is eligible to become a free agent after the World Series, but he feels loyal to the Nationals since they stuck with him during his years of shoulder issues.
Wang was 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 starts this season for the Washington Nationals.
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Joe Nathan wants a closer job in 2012
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Earlier today, we learned that the Minnesota Twins declined their $12 million option on Joe Nathan, and according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the right hander is excited about free agency.
Nathan’s agent Dave Pepe said that his client is looking for a closer job, not setup, for 2012. The veteran closer was 2-1 with a 4.84 ERA and 14 saves in 44.2 innings throughout 48 relieving appearances for the Twins in 2011.
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Red Sox will probably pick up Scutaro’s option
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According to sources close to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, the Boston Red Sox are “leaning towards picking up Marco Scutaro’s $6 million option for 2012.”
Silverman adds that Scutaro will probably “keep the seat warm” for Jose Iglesias, who is still at least a year away from being ready to play in the Majors.
Scutaro hit .299/.358/.423 with a 7 HR’s and 54 RBI’s in 395 AB’s for the Red Sox in 2011.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Yankees want to get a new deal with Sabathia done before he can opt-out
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Left handed pitcher C.C. Sabathia can opt-out of his contract with the Yankees three days after the conclusion of the World Series, and according to George A. King III of the New York Post, the team is developing a plan to prevent Sabathia from doing just that.
GM, Brian Cashman, will meet with team president Randy Levine, assistant GM Jean Afterman, Billy Eppler and Hal Steinbrenner. King adds that Cashman’s contract could be finalized there too.
“Their hope is to present Sabathia with an offer he is agreeable with before he opts out,” said a source close to King.
Sabathia has $92 million left on his contract and according to King, the Yankees would be “OK” with a five or six-year deal which would include a raise over his current $23 million a year. They’re reluctant though to go seven or eight years given his age, workload and weight issues during the second half of the season.
Several sources close to King say that Sabathia’s agent included the opt-out clause in case his client didn’t like pitching in New York, as King points out, it doesn’t hurt to have the option of becoming a free agent again.
Sabathia was 19-8 with a 3.00 ERA in 237.1 innings through 33 starts for the Yankees in 2011.
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Twins decline option on Joe Nathan
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The Minnesota Twins have decided to decline their $12 million option on right handed pitcher Joe Nathan the team announced. Instead they’ll give him the $2 million buyout.
Nathan was 2-1 with a 4.84 ERA and 14 saves in 44.2 innings throughout 48 relieving appearances for the Twins in 2011.
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John Lackey to undergo Tommy John surgery
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Right handed pitcher John Lackey will undergo Tommy John surgery according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com. Lackey visited Dr. Lewis Yocum in California to have his right elbow checked.
Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, points out that Lackey had a vesting option at the Major League minimum ($414,000) for a sixth season if he required season-ending surgery on a pre-existing elbow condition. And this surgery will automatically make the option vest.
This season, Lackey was 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA in 160 innings throughout 28 starts for the Red Sox.
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Yankees open to dealing Francisco Cervelli this offseason
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The New York Yankees have a lot of catching depth with Russell Martin, who won’t be a free agent until after the 2012 season, Austin Romine, Jesus Montero and Francisco Cervelli. And the Pittsburgh Pirates are, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, are actively looking for a catcher.
Sherman says that the Yankees will probably keep Martin and have Montero be the primary backup. He adds that the Yankees would like to put Romine at Triple-A, instead of dangling him, as an option in case Montero can’t handle Major League catching.
That would leave Cervelli as the odd man out, and Sherman believes the Yankees “would definitely trade him.” The question here is will the Pirates, or any other team, look at Cervelli as a viable starting catcher due to his latest injuries. The Venezuela born catcher has suffered several concussions in the past couple of years, plus a broken ankle in Spring Training.
Cervelli hit .266/.324/.395 with 4 HR’s and 22 RBI’s in 124 AB’s for the Yankees in 2011.
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According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Athletics have claimed right handed pitcher Evan Scribner and outfielder Cedric Hunter off waivers from the San Diego Padres. She adds that right handed pitcher Michael Wuertz was released to make room on the 40-man roster.
Wuertz pitched only 33.2 innings this year for the Athletics and had a 6.68 ERA.
Scribner had a 7.07 ERA in 14 innings and Hunter hit .250/.400/.250 in 4 AB’s for for the Padres in 2011.
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McCourt took nearly $190 million from Dodgers
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According to an article by ESPN.com’s news service, Major League Baseball claims in a court filing that Dodgers’ owner Frank McCourt took nearly $190 million from the team.
MLB says that McCourt took $189.16 million from the club broken down as follows:
– $73 million in parking lot revenue
– $61.16 million to pay personal debts
– $55 million for personal distributions
“The Dodgers are in bankruptcy because McCourt has taken almost $190 million out of the club and has completely alienated the Dodgers’ fan base,” the MLB filing said.
The Dodgers issued a statement regarding MLB’s claims Tuesday.
“Once again, MLB has mischaracterized the facts with inflammatory allegations that are not supported by the evidence,” it reads. “As the Commissioner knows and as our legal documents have clearly shown, he approved and praised the structure of the team about which he belatedly complains. We look forward to the opportunity to show the truth next week in court.”
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