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Dodgers designate Mike MacDougal
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated Mike MacDougal, according to the club’s official Twitter account. In a corresponding move, the club reinstated Ronald Belisario from the restricted list.
The Dodgers had signed MacDougal to a one-year $1mm deal with a team option for 2013 at $2.35mm. Last season he posted a 2.05 ERA in 57 innings out of the bullpen. This season, MacDougal has struggled as he has allowed 5 runs in 5.2 innings while also walking 6.
Belisario was serving a 25 game suspension as he tested positive for cocaine and had to be activated before the game tomorrow. Belisario didn’t pitch in all of 2011 as he was not able to secure a visa.
Belisario has plenty of talent which is evident by his 2.04 ERA in 2009 and his 8.2 k/9 in 70 2/3 innings that season but comes with tons of baggage. Belisario reported to Spring Training late in 2009 and 2010, was arrested for DUI and didn’t pitch in all of 2011.
Belisario was released by the Pirates prior to joining the Dodgers because of all the headaches he brought to their organization.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Jered Weaver throws no-hitter against Twins
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Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels has thrown a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins, driving the Angels to a 9-0 victory. His final line was 9 innings, 121 pitches, 9 strikeouts and one walk to Josh Willingham in the 7th (Chris Parmalee also reached on an error).
Weaver’s no-hitter was the tenth in the clubs history. He joins Nolan Ryan (4), Bo Belinsky, Clyde Wright, Mike Witt, Mark Langston/ Mike Witt and Ervin Santana.
What makes the no-hitter even sweeter for Weaver is that he was able to do it at home and infront of his family. Last season, Weaver signed a five-year $85mm extension that many around the league felt was a huge hometown discount as he would have received well over $100mm on the open market. When Weaver was asked after throwing his no-hitter, he stated “This is why I stayed here, for you guys.”
It was Weaver’s first career no-hitter, though he teamed with reliever Jose Arredondo on an eight-inning no-hitter the Angels lost at the other LA team in 2008 but lost the game.
Last season on July 27th,also on a Wednesday, teammate Ervin Santana also pitched a no-hitter against the Indians.
Earlier this season, Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox pitched a perfect game.
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Red Sox do not call up Aaron Cook…yet
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The Red Sox did not call up Aaron Cook by midnight (which was the deadline in his contract), WEEI.com’s Alex Speier reports. Cook though can still end up with the Red Sox as he has 24 hours to exercise the opt-out in his contract. The team would then have 48 hours to respond by calling him up or trading him.
Speier does note that Boston will work out an agreement to keep Cook and will eventually call him up, though no agreement is in place. In five Triple-A starts, Cook has posted 1.89 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 11 walks.
Back in January, Cook signed a minor league deal after spending the 2011 season with the Rockies.
In 2008, Cook posted his career year while with the Rockies where he went 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA as he was healthy that season and had his sinkerball working for him.
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Adiós Frank McCourt
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The end of the Frank McCourt era has come and the new reign of Magic Johnson, Steve Kasten and the rest of the Guggenheim Baseball Management group begins. The sale of the Dodgers became official today instead of yesterday with $2 billion changing hands. The delay was a result of excessive paperwork that still needed to be reviewed.
Frank McCourt purchased the Dodgers in January of 2004 for $421 million. After all his debts and bills were paid, McCourt walked away with over $1 billion in pocket and will go down as the smartest investor and business man ever to walk the earth.
“The Dodgers emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization process having achieved its objective of maximizing the value of the Dodgers through a successful Plan of Reorganization, under which all claims will be paid,” the Dodgers released in a statement. “The Dodgers move forward with confidence – in a strong financial position; as a premier Major League Baseball franchise; and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community.”
Commissioner Bud Selig had this to say about the sale of the Dodgers. “After a long and difficult road, the sale of the Dodgers is now complete, and I am pleased that the club can have the fresh start it deserves under new ownership. In addition, I want to personally thank all Dodger fans for their patience and loyalty during this trying period. I have said many times that we owed it to them to ensure that the club was being operated properly and would be guided appropriately in the future. It is my great hope and firm expectation that today’s change in ownership marks the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud.”
The Dodgers have won six World Series titles but none since 1988, when they were still owned by the O’Malley family that moved the team from Brooklyn to California after the 1957 season. Fox bought the team in 1998, then sold it to McCourt. Under McCourt’s ownership, the Dodgers reached the postseason four times in eight seasons.
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Vladimir Guerrero set to work out for Diamondbacks
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GM Kevin Towers was interviewed during the team’s broadcast today and mentioned that free agent Vladimir Guerrero will work out for the team sometime this week in the Dominican Republic (via Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic).
Towers is headed to take a look at some amateur players with D-backs vice president of Latin operations, Junior Noboa. Noboa is good friends with Guerrero who suggested to Towers that he take a look at Guerrero.
Guerrero who is towards the end of his career, didn’t put a glove on all of last year as he spent time only at DH for the Orioles (and only 20 appearances in the field since 2009). Guerrero could help Arizona during Interleague play and fill the DH role for them. But the only problem is, the D-backs already have four outfielders who need playing time with the fourth outfielder Gerardo Parra having won a Gold Glove last season but lost his starting spot to Jason Kubel.
Guerrero could also provide a legitimate power threat off the bench as a pinch hitter but probably would not be used as a defensive replacement.
Last season, Guerrero hit .290/.317/.416 with 13 HR’s and 63 RBI’s in 562 AB’s for the Orioles in 2011.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Athletics sign Brandon Inge
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The Oakland Athletics have signed Brandon Inge, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports reports. Inge was released earlier this week. The Orioles and Phillies were also looking at Inge prior to his deal with the A’s.
The 34-years old third baseman is a career .234/.304/.387 hitter with 140 HR’s, 589 RBI’s and a 83 OPS+ in 4,626 Major League at bats. He played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. He had only two hits in twenty at-bats this season for the Tigers (double and home run).
Last season in July, the Tigers designated Inge for assignment where he cleared waivers and went to Triple-A.
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Orioles release Josh Barfield
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The Baltimore Orioles have released Josh Barfield from Triple-A Norfolk to make room for right-hander Jason Berken, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports.
The Orioles had signed Barfield to a minor league deal back at the end of March.
Barfield last played in the Majors in 2009 with the Indians when he hit .400/.400/.450 in 20 AB’s.
He is a career .264/.295/.375 with 16 HR’s in 1012 AB’s throughout four Major League seasons.
Last season, the infielder played for the Phillies’ Triple-A team and hit .257/.284/.365 with 6 HR’s in 452 AB’s.
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Angels release Bobby Abreu, promote Mike Trout
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The struggling Los Angeles Angels have released Bobby Abreu, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports.
Abreu was set to make $9mm in the final year of a three-year $27mm deal (last year was a vesting option that vested with 550 plate appearances in 2011). Abreu had recorded on five hits in 27 plate appearances this season.
In an effort to provide a spark to the entire team, the Angels promoted top prospect, outfielder Mike Trout. Trout was hitting .403/.467/.623 with five triples and six stolen bases in 77 plate appearances at Triple-A. Trout could slot anywhere in the lineup, but has the versatility and speed to step in at the top of the order. Wherever he bats, Manager Mike Scioscia notes that Trout “will play” and will play on a regular basis (via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times).
With the Angels bullpen also struggling, one has to wonder if the Trout promotion means Peter Bourjos may be on his way out via a trade for bullpen help. At this point in time, the Angels now have an outfield consisting of Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter, Mark Trumbo, Bourjos and now Trout.
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Carl Crawford set to miss 3 months
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The Boston Red Sox received bad news today when they learned outfielder Carl Crawford will miss about three months with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reports.The injury Crawford has, often results in Tommy John surgery.
Carl Crawford was examined by the Red Sox medical staff,” the statement released by the team read. “He was diagnosed as having a left elbow ulnar collateral ligament sprain. A conservative treatment protocol was recommended. Carl was also examined by Dr. James Andrews who was in agreement with the assessment and plan. Carl received a Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injection and will be shut down from baseball activity during the initial phase of his treatment.”
Crawford, who signed a seven-year $142 million contract with the Red Sox after the 2010 season, struggled in his first season in Boston and will miss a significant portion of his second season. Crawford made $14 million last season and is set to make $19.5 million this season. So far, Boston has paid Crawford about $22mm ($6mm signing bonus included) and have received 11 home runs, 56 RBIs and 129 hits. Not including his signing bonus, Crawford made about $1.4mm per home run, $285k per RBI and $124k per hit.
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Michael Pineda out for season
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During the offseason, the New York Yankees were involved in one of the biggest trades of the year when they traded away highly touted catcher/DH Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Michael Pineda. Reviews were mixed as to which team won the deal at the time.
The season opened with Pineda on the DL with soreness in his right shoulder as he experienced diminished velocity in Spring Training.
Montero who is healthy, has started the season hitting .281 with 2 home runs and 11 rbi’s.
Pineda had an MRI on Tuesday which revealed a labrum tear in his right shoulder. He will have surgery next Tuesday which will put him on the shelf for the rest of the year. The Surgery will take place in Manhattan by New York Mets team physician Dr. David Altchek at the request of Pineda and his agent, Fern Cuza.
“For this year, it’s a loss,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He was a guy that we were counting on this year. We traded for him, but unfortunately, he’s hurt. We’re going to have to get him back at some point next year. I’m optimistic he’s gonna be back,” Girardi continued. “He’s young and he’s strong. But I can’t tell you exactly when. I know that Dr. Ahmad said, what, 12 months? That’s if things go right. Sometimes in rehabs you have little setbacks.”
Pineda was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA but struggled the second half of the season.
As of today, I think it is safe to say the Mariners won the trade.
Information from Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com was used in this article.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
