Rumors for Los Angeles Angels
Curt Flood and the history of free agency
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With huge free agency contracts being awarded to players, such as the landmark off season agreement between Albert Pujols and the Angels, do you ever wonder how free agency came about in baseball?
Curt Flood was a successful MLB player who earned seven Gold Glove Awards, played in three All-Star Games, and won two World Series. In 1970, after being traded to the Phillies against his wishes, Flood challenged baseball’s reserve clause, fighting it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Although Flood lost the court case, his step of suing MLB ultimately paved the way for reforms like the 1975 Seitz Decision, which granted baseball with free agency, a great benefit to everyone affiliated with the game.
Flood is considered by many to be the pioneer of free agency, but he paid a significant price for his contributions by sacrificing a flourishing MLB career for what he believed was right not only for him, but for all who played.
One of our readers, Blayke Tatman, a 7th grader from Orange County, California, conducted a research project on Curt Flood for his National History Day Project. To learn more about Flood and the history of free agency in baseball, stop by his website. You can also stop by his website and see what current players such as Gerald Laird and past players think about Flood, and what his decision to stand up against Baseball did for the game.
David Eckstein Retires
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Veteran Infielder David Eckstein has decided to call it a career according to Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe. The 2 time All Star and 2006 World Series MVP decided to retire even though multiple clubs were willing to give him a shot in spring training. During June of last year it was reported that he was choosing not to play and when asked if he would return to baseball, Eckstein told Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times “It totally has to be the right situation, but when you say that, it’s like you’re disrespecting the clubs that have talked to you.” Apparently the right situation never arose for the 37 year old middle infielder.
Eckstein has played ten Major League seasons with the Angels, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks and Padres. He is a lifetime .280/.345/.355 hitter with 35 HR’s and 392 RBI’s. He also has two World Series rings, one with the Angels in 2002 and one with the Cardinals in 2006.
Image Taken By SD Dirk and used under the Creative Commons License Agreement.
Orlando Cabrera announces his retirement
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According to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes, Orlando Cabrera has announced his retirement, via a Colombian radio station. Cabrera spent 15 seasons in the Majors spending time with the Expos, Red Sox, Angels, White Sox, Athletics, Twins, Indians and Giants.
Last season Cabrera started off the year with the Indians before making his to the Bay and joining the Giants via the trade route.
In his career, Cabrera posted a .272 avg and had 123 home runs while posting a career .317 OBP.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Phillies sign Joel Pineiro
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The Philadelphia Phillies have signed Joel Pineiro to a minor-league deal, Jayson Stark of ESPN reports. The deal includes an invite to Spring Training.
Pineiro spent the past two seasons with the Angels completing a two-year $16mm deal he signed prior to the 2010 season.
He went 7-7 with a 5.13 ERA last season and spent time on the disabled list because of shoulder tightness.
In 2009 with the Cardinals, Pineiro went 15-12 with a 3.49 era, his last time he was in the AL.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Angel agree to 4-year deal with Howie Kendrick
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The Los Angeles Angels have announced that they have agreed to a four-year $33.5mm deal with All Star second baseman Howie Kendrick. Kendrick will make $4.5mm in 2012, $8.75mm in ‘13, $9.35mm in ‘14 and $9.5m in ‘15. Kendrick will also receive a $1.4mm signing bonus that will be paid out over four years and a partial no-trade clause.
Had the Angels not sealed the deal, Kendrick would be eligible for free agency for the first time in his career after the 2012 season. The 28-year-old hit 2.85 with 18 home runs and 63 RBIs in 140 games in 2011 while earning a roster spot for the American League All Stars.
Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.
PRO Rumors Android app version 1.0 is available
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Hello PRO Rumors fans,
We are proud to announce that our PRO Rumors Android app version 1.0 is available on the Android Market. We spent a lot of time on the app’s design and functionality, and we are sure that you’ll love it. To download the app for an introductory price of $2.99 you can click here.
Here are a few features:
– Push Notifications to get the latest news and rumors for your favorite MLB team
– Pulse-like view of articles – it’s beautiful
– Real-time scoreboard
– Real-time box scores of in-game action
We’re working hard to add more features, so if you have any questions or feature requests, please send an email to support@prorumors.com. We promise to write you back.
Allan
Angels sign Howie Kendrick to four-year deal
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The Los Angeles Angels have locked up second basemen Howie Kendrick to a four-year deal, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports reports. The deal will cover Kendrick’s last year of arbitration and his first three years of free agency. Bob Nightengale of USA Today adds that the deal is worth $33.5mm and is pending a physical which should take place the first of next week.
Kendrick is coming off another solid season where he posted a .285 avg and had 153 hits in 537 at-bats. He also posted career highs in triples (6) and home runs (18).
Kendrick made $3.3mm last season, or about $21,568 for every hit (153) he accumulated.
Kendrick has not suffered any serious injuries but has been on the DL three times over the last three years for a left hamstring strain.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Angels sign Jorge Cantu
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The Los Angeles Angels have signed Jorge Cantu to a minor league deal, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. The deal includes an invite to Spring Training.
Last season, Cantu hit .194 with the Padres in 155 at-bats. Cantu was designated in June by the Padres, and finished the season at Triple-A for Rockies.
Cantu is only a few years removed (2008) where he hit 29 home runs and 95 RBI’s while posting a .277 avg for the Marlins.
Cantu can play both corner infield positions and could provide depth at both of these positions.
Image taken by ELCaptainBCS and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.
Fernando Rodney signs one-year deal with Rays
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The Tampa Bay Rays have signed Fernando Rodney to a one-year deal worth $1.75mm Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes reports. The deal also includes a $2.5mm option for 2013 with a $250k buyout.
Rodney who had a year to forget, posted a 4.50 ERA with 28 BB and 26 strikeouts. Yes you saw that right, he gave up more walks than strikeouts. Rodney who made $5.5mm last season hasn’t seen a sub 4 ERA since 2006 when he posted a 3.52 ERA.
Angel fans will be happy that Rodney is not returning as the Angels gave Rodney $11mm over two-years and in return he posted a mediocre 4.37 ERA.
In comparison, the Angels gave Scott Downs less money, $5mm, last season and he went on to post a 1.34 ERA.
Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Commons License Agreement.
Happy Holidays from the PRO Rumors team
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From all of us at PRO Rumors, we’d like to wish you all a Happy Holidays! We hope that all of your holiday wishes (and your baseball wishes) have come true!
