Rumors for November, 2011
Ordonez and Guillen unlikely to return with the Tigers
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According to the Tigers GM, Dave Dombrowski, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez“will most likely not be back” with the Tigers (via Jason Beck of MLB.com).
Back in September, we learned that Ordonez wanted to come back to the Tigers, but that he was prepared to leave if the team didn’t want him back.
“I’m ready,” he said. “I would hate to play against the Tigers, because they are one of the best teams and my buddies Miguel (Cabrera), Victor (Martinez) and everybody else are there. I have a good relationship with the management, the organization and the city. We’ll talk about that, but I’m ready for everything.”
The 37-year old veteran was thinking about retirement during the season due to his lack of productivity and injuries. “About half way through the season I was thinking about retirement,” he said. “The manager (Jim Leyland) and I talked about it. You have to be realistic, I can’t demand to play everyday when I’m hitting .220. I would be ashamed of myself, for not produce like I’m used to.”
Guillen, was limited to 28 games this season due to several injuries, and his health has become an issue the past few seasons. The last time he played at least 100 games in the Majors was in 2008 with the Tigers when he played in 113 games.
Ordonez hit .255/.303/.331 with 5 HR’s and 32 RBI’s in 329 AB’s for the Tigers in 2011. His fellow countryman Guillen hit .232/.265/.368 with 3 HR’s and 13 RBI’s in only 95 AB’s.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Should the Yankees take a look at Buehrle and Oswalt?
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After resigning their GM, Brian Cashman, and their ace, C.C. Sabathia to a contract extension, the New York Yankees can focus on bringing in more pitching depth to the team.
Yesterday, we learned that the Yankees are interested in bringing veteran starter Freddy Garcia back, and according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, suggests that the Yankees could take a look at Mark Buehrle and Roy Oswalt.
Both hurlers are free agents, and given the fact that the Yankees won’t probably commit to a five-year deal with C.J. Wilson, they be able to sign at least one of them for less years and money.
“We’ll explore all our opportunities and we’ll explore what the market is on various free agents,” Cashman said. “Obviously our limits are at a higher level than certain other clubs, but we have limits nonetheless.”
Buehrle was 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 205.1 innings and 31 starts with the White Sox this season. Oswalt was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA in 139 innings throughout 23 starts with the Phillies in 2011.
McCourt agrees to sell Dodgers
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The end of the Frank McCourt era has arrived. Bill Shaikin of the LA Times is reporting that McCourt has reached an agreement with MLB to sell the Dodgers. The Dodgers will be sold in bankruptcy court in the upcoming weeks.
Earlier today, Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA Champion, Dallas Mavericks, said that he offered to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers several months ago, but declined when the price range of the team was set in the $1 billion to the $1.2 billion price range.
“At that price, I wasn’t interested,” Cuban said Tuesday.
However, the billionaire tech guru has not closed the door on the purchasing the team.
“At the right price, I’m interested,” Cuban added. “Not if the price is over $1 billion.”
Cuban was interested in purchasing the Texas Rangers last year at $593 million.
“I don’t think the Dodgers franchise is worth twice what the Rangers are worth,” Cuban said.
Information from Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times was used in this article.
Juan Rivera closing in on a one-year deal with the Dodgers
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Ourfielder Juan Rivera is close to agreeing on a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers according to baseball sources close to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Rivera would make approximately $4mm in 2012.
The deal would include a team option for 2013 adds Hernandez. Rivera was traded to the Dodgers from the Blue Jays during the All Star Break. The Dodgers only paid $200,000 for Rivera while the Blue Jays covered the reminder of his $5.25 million.
“Maybe it’s the climate of Southern California,” Rivera said. “I feel comfortable here.”
Rivera hit .274/.333/.406 with 5 HR’s and 46 EBI’s in 219 AB’s with the Dodgers in 2011. Prior to that he hit .243/.305/.360 with 6 HR’s and 28 RBI’s in 247 AB’s with the Blue Jays.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Willingham unlikely to return with the A’s
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Outfielder Josh Willingham’s agent, Matt Sosnick, told Joe Stiglich of the San Jose Mercury News that his client won’t probably re-sign with the A’s.
“My best guess is he will probably sign a three-year deal, and probably not with Oakland,” said Sosnick. “I just don’t think that’s the position the A’s are in right now.”
Major League teams have until Thursday to exclusively negotiate with their own free agents before they hit the open market. But A’s GM, Billy Beane, said the team will “hold off” on any decision to re-sign their own free agents until they hear from Major League Baseball if they can build a stadium in San Jose or not.
Willingham was traded to Oakland back in December from the Nationals. In 488 AB’s this season with the A’s he hit .246/.332/.477 with 29 HR’s and 98 RBI’s.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Carlos Beltran switches agent
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Veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran has switched agents according to a baseball source close to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. Beltran, who was previously represented by Scott Boras, will now be represented by Dan Lozano.
The source adds that Beltran interviewed several other agencies this summer before going with Lozano, who also represents Albert Pujols and Jimmy Rollins.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Yankees interested in bringing Freddy Garcia back
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After locking up C.C. Sabathia through at least 2016, the Yankees can move onto other holes in their rotation. According to Freddy Garcia’s agent, Peter Greenberg, the Yankees have shown interest in bringing his client back for 2012 (via George A. King III of the New York Post).
“There’s definitely interest on their part and there’s interest on Freddy’s part in coming back,” Greenberg said.
King says that the Yankees would probably offer Garcia arbitration to secure a draft pick compensation, due to his Type-B free agent status, if they don’t sign him before that point.
The 35-year old Garcia was 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 146.2 innings throughout 26 games, 25 starts, for the Yankees in 2011.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
Yankees, Cashman officially agree to a three-year extension
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According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the New York Yankees have officially announced the three-year extension for General Manager Brian Cashman.
Last week, we learned that the team and Cashman agreed to a deal, but today the deal was officially announced. Under Cashman’s reign, the Yankees have made the playoffs 13 of 14 years and have won four Championships.
Image by Ed Yourdon under the Creative Commons License.
Venezuelan Winter League updates: Cardona, Satin, Pirela, Flores, Williams and Schmidt
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Here’s a running list of updates from around the Venezuelan Winter League:
– “Tiburones de la Guaira” announced Friday that they have signed 17-year old prospect Adonis Cardona. The right handed pitcher received a $2.4 million bonus from the Toronto Blue Jays, and received the highest bonus in the Venezuelan Winter League with “Tiburones,” although the exact number is still unknown.
– The “Leones del Caracas” decided to dismiss Mets’ Josh Satin yesterday after only three weeks of winter ball. Satin hit .146, but he had 2 HR’s, 12 runs scored (leading the team) and an OBP of .407. He also was playing left field for the first time in his career.
– Jose Pirela, who played with the Yankees’ Double-A team in 2011, is leading the Venezuelan Winter League with a .406 BA in 60 AB’s for the “Aguilas del Zulia” after three weeks of season.
– Nationals catcher, Jesus Flores, is still hitting the cover off the ball in Venezuela with “Navegantes de Magallanes”. He is second in the league in batting average with a .393 avg in 56 AB’s.
– Angels hurler Jerome Williams hasn’t allowed a single earned run in 17 innings after three starts with Magallanes this season in Venezuela. The right hander is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 12 K’s in 17 innings. He is leading the league in ERA.
– Even though his team, “Aguilas del Zulia” is last in the Venezuelan Winter League, Josh Schmidt (Yankees) is fourth in the league in ERA with a 1.08 ERA over 16.2 innings in three starts.
Image by David Berkowitz under the Creative Commons License.
Free Agency News: Cardinals decline options on Dotel, Furcal and Patterson
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As free agency kicks off, many clubs and players have decisions they need to make on potential option year clauses in their contracts for next year. Here are just a few notes from around the league.
-According to the Associated Press (via Sports Illustrated), the St. Louis Cardinals have decided to decline their options on right handed pitcher Octavio Dotel ($3.5 million), short stop Rafael Furcal ($12 million) and outfielder Corey Patterson ($1.1 million).
-Tha Arizona Diamondbacks exercised their option on Henry Blanco and Willie Bloomquist according to the team official Twitter account. They also announced they have declined their options on Zach Duke and Aaron Hill.
-According to the Tampa Bay Tribune, the Tampa Bay Rays have picked up Kyle Farnsworth’s option for 2012. The team also announced they declined Kelly Shoppach’s option.
-The Texas Rangers exercised their option on right handed pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama according to John Blake, the VP of Communications for the Rangers.
-The San Diego Padres declined their options on right handers Aaron Harang and Chad Qualls and outfielder Brad Hawpe.
-The Toronto Blue Jays exercised Edwin Encarnacion’s option for 2012 while declining Jon Rauch’s option.
-According to his agent, Page Odle, the Tampa Bay Rays have picked up James Shields‘ $7.5 million option for 2012 (via Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times).
-The Kansas City Royals have exercised their option on Joakim Soria according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
-The Cincinnati Reds have exercised Brandon Phillips‘ option for 2012 and declined Francisco Cordero’s option according to the team’s official Twitter account.
-Right handed pitcher David Aardsma has elected free agency after clearing waivers according to Buster Olney of ESPN.
-The Texas Rangers have picked up Colby Lewis‘ option for 2012 according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
-According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago White Sox have picked up Jason Frasor’s option for next season.
-The Boston Red Sox have decided to decline their options on Dan Wheeler ($3 million) and Scott Atchison (Major League minimum plus $200,000) according to Maureen Mullen.
-Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com says that the Atlanta Braves have picked up Eric Hinske’s option for 2012. He adds that the team decided to decline Nate McLouth’s option.
-The Pittsburgh Pirates also declined their options on shortstop Ronny Cedeno and catchers Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
-The Cleveland Indians are picking up Fausto Carmona’s option according to the team’s official Twitter account. The team also announced they have declined Grady Sizemore’s option for 2012.
-The Pittsburgh Pirates officially announced they’re not picking up Paul Maholm’s option for 2012 according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
-According to Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies have declined their option on right handed pitcher Aaron Cook.
-Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Aramis Ramirez has exercised a clause in his contract and is voiding the his 2012 option ($16mm club option) as well as the $2mm buyout, thus making him a free agent.
-According to a source close to Dan Hayes of the North County Times, Aaron Harang declined his side of his $5mm mutual option. Though a return to the Padres has not been ruled out.
-According to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, the World Champion Cardinals have exercised Yadier Molina’s $7 mm club option.
-The Brewers have declined Francisco Rodriguez’s $17.5 mm club option as well as Yuniesky Betancourt’s $6mm option Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
-The Red Sox who will start their manager search later this week, have picked up the $6mm option on shortstop Marco Scutaro, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports.
-The Giants fresh off their resigning of Javier Lopez to a two-year deal, have exercised Jeremy Affeldt’s $5mm option, reports Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Commons License Agreements.
