Rumors for October, 2011
Paul Maholm could be on his way out of Pittsburgh
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According to Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com, there is less than a 50% chance Paul Maholm returns to the Pirates next season although she’s not ruling it out just yet.
Langosch says that even though Maholm has expressed interest in negotiating a new multi-year deal with the team, they haven’t approached the idea to him. With a slim pitching market this season, an experienced left handed pitcher like Maholm would probably find some good offers.
The lack of interest from the Pirates could be a sign that they’re ready to “move on” says Langosch. She says that if the team was interested in him they would have contacted him before the rest of the league was allowed to do it.
Maholm was 6-14 with a 3.66 ERA in 162.1 innings with the Pirates in 2011.
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The Boston Red Sox are looking for a manager to replace Terry Francona, who decided to part ways with the team after this season. The team, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com, is performing “due diligence on potential managerial candidates” at this time.
The Red Sox though, won’t interview any of the potential candidates until Theo Epstein’s situation is resolved says a source close to Speier. The Cubs asked the Red Sox for permission to speak with Epstein regarding their vacant GM position in Chicago, and it is unclear if he would take the offer if they make one.
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Reds denying trade talks regarding Joey Votto
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Cincinnati Reds’ GM Walt Jocketty has denied that he is listening to offers for first baseman Joey Votto, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. Over the weekend, the Reds had been rumored to be shopping their All-Star and 2010 National Leageu MVP.
“We haven’t talked about it. I wish that people would stop writing it,” Jocketty said Monday. “Why would we trade one of the best players in the game? We’re trying to win.”
Votto is not eligible to be a free agent as he just signed a three-year deal with the Reds prior to the 2011 season. He is scheduled to earn $9.5 million in 2012 and $17 million in 2013.
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Yankees could finalize contract extension for Cashman soon
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The New York Yankees have been negotiating a contract extension for General Manager, Brian Cashman, and according to sources close to Buster Olney of ESPN, they’re “going smoothly.”
Cashman has been with the Yankees since 1998, but as Olney points out, he could walk away at the end of the month when his contract expires. Both the Yankees and Cashman would like to continue their relationship, and contract talks with club executives, including Hal Steinbrenner, have started says Olney.
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Rays catcher Robinson Chirinos out until December with a fractured wrist
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According to ElUniversal.com, Rays catcher Robinson Chirinos will be out of the Venezuelan Winter League until December with a fractured wrist.
A “Navegantes del Magallanes” (Chirinos’ organization in Venezuela) official said Chirinos will begin a rehabilitation process in about three weeks. The catcher fractured his wrist in a pre-season game against “Tiburones de la Guaira” this Saturday.
Chirinos hit .218/.283/.309 with 1 HR and 7 RBI’s in 55 AB’s for the Rays in 2011.
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Cardinals designate Andrew Brown for assignment
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The St. Louis Cardinals have designated Andrew Brown for assignment, according to an article by Matthew Leach by MLB.com.
The move was done when the team added Lance Lynn to the 40-man roster. Lynn had been sidelined since August with a strained left oblique muscle.
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Reds to listen to offers for Joey Votto
Posted by: | CommentsRivals executives are getting mixed signals whether the Reds would shop Joey Votto or not according to Buster Olney of ESPN. Olney adds though, that the Reds are “fully prepared to listen to offers.”
The Reds signed Votto to a three-year deal back in January, and he won’t be available for free agency until after the 2014 season.
Votto hit .309/.416/.531 with 29 HR’s and 103 RBI’s in 599 AB’s for the Reds in 2011.
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Eric Chavez leaning toward retirement
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While it’s not official, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the heard that Eric Chavez is “leaning heavily toward retirement.”
Chavez extended his career with the Yankees when he signed a $1.5 million, one-year deal with the Yankees in early February. Chavez had been hampered by injuries his entire career while with the Oakland A’s. Prior to this season, he wrapped up a six-year, $66 million contract that saw him record 51 hits in 230 at bats between 2008-2010. Most of the at-bats came as a designated hitter.
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Eric Chavez leaning towards retirement
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Third baseman Eric Chavez is “leaning heavily towards retirement” according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
The Yankees signed Chavez to a Minor League deal back in February. The veteran infielder hit .263/.320/.356 with 2 HR’s 26 RBI’s in 160 AB’s for the Yankees in 2011.
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Guthrie may not do a multi-year deal with Orioles
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The arbitration-eligible Jeremy Guthrie may not workout a long-term deal with the Baltimore Orioles, but rather will likely go forward with his arbitration year next season and test the free agent market before the 2013 season, according to Steve Melewski of MASN Sports. Mewlewski adds that the team has not approached their pitcher about a multi-year deal.
“No they haven’t. We asked them if they were interested in exploring the option of a multi-year contract (last winter) and they politely said no. So I would assume if their opinion changed they would approach us but otherwise we’ll just continue down the road the CBA outlines for players. I think, if there is any interest, they would express it, otherwise we would just assume they stand where they stood before,” Guthrie said.
“There is no reason to think that they would (approach me about a new contract). Nothing necessarily changed this year that would, in my mind or on our side, make us think now they’d be more motivated to offer a multi-year contract than they were seven months ago.”
Guthrie went 9-17 with a 4.33 ERA with the O’s in 2011. He was paid $5.75 million on a year contract last season.
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