Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for March 2011

Castillo Hopes To Sign With Another Team

By | at

Luis Castillo told Newsday's Jim Baumbach that he intends to play Major League Baseball in 2011 (all Twitter links). The Mets released him this morning, but he plans to sign elswhere.

"I'm going to wait, go home and hope to catch on with another team," Castillo said.

Castillo told Baumbach that he's frustrated the Mets didn't use him more. However, Castillo says he'll be "fine," since he has accomplished a lot as a major leaguer. The Phillies and Tigers have dealt with injuries at second base this spring, but there's no indication that either team is interested in Castillo.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Greenberg, Sandoval, Pineda

By | at

On this date last year, the Diamondbacks inked Mark Reynolds to a three-year contract worth $14.5MM, buying out his first three years of arbitration-eligibility plus a club option for his fourth (Reynolds qualified as a Super Two). The 27-year-old hit .260/.349/.543 with 44 homers in 2009 but slumped down to .198/.320/.433 with 28 homers last season. He also struck out 200+ times for the third straight year. New GM Kevin Towers traded Reynolds to the Orioles for a pair of relievers in December, just nine months into his new deal.

These links are the best the blogosphere had to offer over the last seven days, so enjoy…

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

Phillies Notes: Utley, Polanco, Knapp

By | at

The latest on the Phillies, before they take on their intra-state rivals far from Pennsylvania…

  • The Phillies' goal with Chase Utley is to avoid surgery at all costs, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
  • As Olney points out in a column at ESPN.com, this is the point in the spring where injuries have a good chance of impacting Opening Day rosters.
  • The Phillies say they aren't worried about Placido Polanco, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The infielder, who is dealing with a hyperextended elbow, practiced yesterday and won't play in a game for at least two days.
  • Former Phillies prospect Jason Knapp tells Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he was healthy when Philadelphia sent him to Cleveland as part of the summer 2009 Cliff Lee trade. Knapp, still just 20, has recovered from shoulder problems to re-establish himself as one of Cleveland's top prospects.

Rangers, Wilson To Table Extension Talks For Now

By | at

The Rangers and C.J. Wilson’s agent have discussed a multiyear deal that would keep the left-hander in Texas after the 2011 season, but the sides don’t appear likely to continue discussions once the season starts, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan. Agent Bob Garber and Rangers executives Jon Daniels and Thad Levine discussed ways of extending Wilson’s tenure with the Rangers without making significant progress.

Wilson, who is set to hit free agency after the season, says “it doesn't look like a deal is going to get done” before Opening Day. And once the season starts, Wilson says he prefers to focus on pitching, not contract negotiations. 

The Rangers negotiated with Wilson throughout the winter, even after they avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $7MM salary for 2011. Daniels says he values Wilson and is “not going to close the door on anything."

Rosenthal On Rockies, Mariners, Garrett Olson

By | at

Spring Training notes from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • The Rockies appear to have the rotation depth to trade starter Aaron Cook, once he's healthy.  Of course, they weren't able to move Cook last year.  The 32-year-old sinkerballer is dealing with shoulder and finger injuries, and could be back around May 15th.  He's owed $9.25MM this year, plus another million bucks if traded and a potential $500K buyout after the season.  I think it'll have to be a bad contract swap if another team is to take him in June or July.
  • Rosenthal explains that at least five non-roster players "stand reasonable chances" of making the Mariners, meaning they may have to do some major 40-man roster housecleaning.  27-year-old southpaw Garrett Olson is already on waivers.  The former first-round pick tossed 37 2/3 relief innings for Seattle last year, and he continued to be plagued by the longball.  Olson was better in Triple-A, but it was his fourth stint at the level.

Introducing The MLBTR Agency Database

By | at

MLBTR is proud to introduce our new Agency Database!  Over the last few months we have contacted agencies and dug through their websites in an attempt to identify the representation for most 40-man roster players.  The agency database will have a permanent home in the Tools dropdown on our navigation bar.  Check out the MLBTR Agency Database today!

If you have corrections or omissions for the Agency Database, please email mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.

Quick Hits: Marcum, Crede, Contraction

By | at

A few items of note for Thursday evening. On this day in 2005, the Committee on Government Reform held its now-infamous 11-hour hearing, during which former and current players such as Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa testified about steroid use in baseball.

  • Brewers right-hander Shaun Marcum, acquired from the Blue Jays in an offseason trade, exited his Cactus League start due to shoulder tightness, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com. Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke acknowledged feeling concerned about the righty, and Olney described the potential situation as "not good." The Brewers have already lost ace Zack Greinke for a few starts after he suffered broken ribs in a pickup basketball game, and a potential injury to Marcum, though only speculation now, would be a major blow for a team expected to be in the thick of the NL Central race. Marcum, 29, missed all of 2009 with Toronto following Tommy John surgery in late 2008.
  • It's too soon to speculate about the severity of Marcum's injury or how much time he might miss, if any, but as our Free Agent Tracker shows, there wouldn't be much for Milwaukee to choose from in the event it should need a fill-in. Kevin Millwood and former Brewer Doug Davis are among the usual suspects, while Jeremy Bonderman is expected to sit out the season, and Jarrod Washburn hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2009. The Phillies' Joe Blanton is thought to be on the trade block.
  • White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said yesterday that Joe Crede and agent Scott Boras made a poor decision in turning down a multiyear extension offer when the third baseman was with the South Siders. Today, Boras responded, saying that Crede's camp is the side that proposed the extension, not the other way around, writes Brett Ballantini of CSNChicago.com. Crede's career has been derailed by injuries, and he hasn't played in the Majors since spending 2009 with the Twins. He signed a minor league deal with the Rockies this offseason but decided not to report to camp, becoming a free agent.
  • A person "involved in baseball labor" confirmed to Joel Sherman of the New York Post that Major League Baseball has considered a streamlining proposal, wherein the A's and Rays would be contracted, and owners Lew Wolff of Oakland and Stu Sternberg of Tampa Bay would buy the Dodgers and Mets, respectively. However, it is unlikely to transpire, according to Sherman, because baseball has enjoyed relative labor peace at a time when other sports leagues haven't, and the idea of contracting two teams would not sit well with the MLB Players Association — even if the owners conceded to preserving the jobs by expanding MLB rosters to 27.

Rangers Notes: Teagarden, Davis

By | at

A couple items of note with respect to two Rangers players who could be on the trade block…

  • The Rangers, well-stocked at catcher, may have been showcasing backstop Taylor Teagarden for a potential trade partner in the Padres in their Cactus League game on Thursday, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. Texas has Yorvit Torrealba, Matt Treanor and Mike Napoli (who will also DH and play first base) on the catching depth chart, so Teagarden will not likely make the big league team out of camp, writes Sullivan. Earlier this spring, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports pegged the Royals as a potential landing spot for Teagarden.
  • David Golebiewski of Fangraphs had a look at the five potential destinations for Chris Davis recently put forth by Ben Nicholson-Smith, and the takeaway looks to be that Davis' best shot may be to take over third base or DH duties for a team that is especially weak offensively at either of those positions and can stomach Davis' low OBP and bad glovework. The best fits could be for Davis to take over third from the old platoon of Melvin Mora and Geoff Blum in Arizona, or as a third-base stop gap for Matt Dominguez or Lonnie Chisenhall of the Marlins and Indians, respectively. With Davis' skills limiting him to such a narrow profile, Golebiewski thinks he could probably fetch a modest return, like a decent reliever, in a trade.

NL Central Notes: Arnsberg, Lyles, Reds

By | at

Links from the NL Central as Brewers fans learn that Manny Parra could miss the start of the regular season with a back issue…

  • ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick examines an unheralded Astros rotation and one of the keys to its success: pitching coach Brad Arnsberg.
  • Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com places Jordan Lyles atop his list of Astros prospects and says the right-hander will arrive in Houston at some point this year, even if he starts off in the minor leagues.
  • Cincinnati VP Bob Miller told readers at MLB.com that the Reds have one of the deepest rotations he has ever seen. “While some will argue that we don't have a true No. 1 starter, I feel we have the potential for three or four guys to become true No. 1s,” Miller said.

Omar Minaya Still Considering Job With Mets

By | at

Mets GM Sandy Alderson met with Omar Minaya earlier in the week to determine Minaya's role in the Mets' revamped front office, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. Alderson, who succeeded Minaya this October, said he outlined possible responsibilities for Minaya, who is still determining whether he wants to remain in the organization.

The Mets are paying Minaya for 2011 and 2012 regardless of whether he works for them. He'll earn about $1MM per year on his contract, which he signed after the 2008 campaign. For a closer look at the moves the Mets made under Minaya from 2004-10, check out MLBTR's Transaction Tracker.

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top