Earlier today we learned that 28-year-old Fausto Carmona is actually 31-year-old Roberto Hernandez Heredia, and that the right-hander might not be able to secure a visa to the United States anytime soon. MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says (on Twitter) that it's unclear if the Indians will be able to void Heredia's contract, plus he's not sure they would do that even if it is an option. Here's the latest from the AL Central…
- Twins GM Terry Ryan told MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger that he's not ruling out the possibility of adding some more pitching (Twitter link). "I don't think you should ever say you're set to go," said Ryan.
- A top Royals official told Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star that he'd "be really surprised" if the team signs or trades for another starting pitcher before Spring Training (Twitter link). Dutton says the team wants to get a look at its in-house options.
- Royals GM Dayton Moore confirmed Dutton's report, telling Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports: “We could have probably jumped in there on some pitchers who were traded, but we need another year to find out what we have here with guys like Chris Dwyer, Jake Odorizzi and [Mike] Montgomery … We may be more receptive to a deal like that next year"
- The Indians remain interested in Carlos Pena and Casey Kotchman, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). We've heard about their interest in both players throughout the offseason.
- The Indians signed Jeremy Accardo to a minor league contract earlier today, and Tom Withers of The AP has the details (on Twitter). Accardo will make $825K if he's on the 40-man roster, with another $300K in incentives.
- Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN provides the details of Joel Zumaya's contract with the Twins (on Twitter). The right-hander is guaranteed $400K of his $850K base salary, and he'll get all of it if he makes the team to start the season.
Iconoclast17
I’m a little surprised the A’s haven’t shown interest in Kotchman or Pena. Big hole at 1B.
Onetimeaccount
Maybe Kotchman, but not Pena.
jesse heiman
I’m surprised the Mets haven’t signed Pena given paul depodedta’s unwanting to trade him in “Moneyball” or Prince
MyNameIsJonas
Dayton Moore, “We want to wait another year to see how these pitchers develop, then if we don’t like what we see, we’ll try to trade them next year after their value drops.”
Daniel Wesley
Uh… that’s not even close to what he said. He said if the young players don’t develop by next year, they will attempt trade for other pitchers.
hoagiebuchanan
Thank you, Oh Voice of Reason.
hoagiebuchanan
Thank you, Oh Voice of Reason.
MyNameIsJonas
The players they would have to trade in order to acquire a top shelf starter are the players in question.
Dock_Elvis
They have already shown serious interest in the pitching trade market, but weren’t able to get anything done. They were in on Ubaldo Jimenez as early as last May.
Daniel Wesley
No, they don’t have to trade a Mike Montgomery or a Jake Odorizzi to acquire a top of the rotation starter. I take it you’re not familiar with the Royals system.
Andres Spivey
Ever heard of Wil Myers or Cheslor Cuthbert? Hint…They aren’t pitchers…Hint #2…they’d bring back a pretty good starter! So try again to decipher what Moore means.
Snoochies8
(delete)
Ted
The first line of the post says he’s now 31, not 28 as they thought previously.
Snoochies8
yeah i just read that, neeeevermind
Onetimeaccount
Do you think he may have faked his name too?!
jwick18
half way get ped’s under control but I think using false names and ages will turn into just as a big of deal
JacksTigers
It won’t even be close. It really doesn’t happen all that often. Carmona, Nunez, and Tejada are the only ones that I can think of off the top of my head that lied about their name and/or age.
MetsMagic
El Duque was born in 1965 and he claimed he was born in ’69. Really screwed the Mets over when it turned out that they had a pitcher in his forties under contract (admittedly, I wouldn’t give a 36 year old much money either).
JacksTigers
It was never proven, though. It’s possible, but there is reasonable doubt.
Ryan Aguirre
Having a cool name like Leo Nunez or Fausto Carmona and being a few years younger than you are don’t help you alter the “great numbers of baseball” as PED’s allegedly have- it’s a non-issue really, if the player performs teams don’t really care how old they are once they have established themselves…
jwick18
well im sure its illegal and when u have tons of teams handing out very long term deals it will become a problem. when kids are getting contracts at 16 a gm has got tothink thats a lil fishy. and it is cause he prolly is 20
JacksTigers
Once again, you are acting like this happens on a regular basis.
User 4245925809
Lot of goats eating the family bible in the Caribbean it seems huh…
FYI… That is where Satchell Paige always swore his Birth certificate was kept.. Until the family goat ate the bible as a youngster.. So he could never prove his real age and pitched even once at the age of like 65 for Charlie O’Finley…
JacksTigers
Since when is Paige from the Caribbean? You obviously have no idea of how things work down there. Some people get a birth certificate and some don’t. It’s not a very organized region.
User 4245925809
It was a joke bro…
yes.. Have been to the Caribbean numerous times and know how things are.. MANY of the countries in fact when was in the USN late 70’s/early 80’s.
One of the benefits u get..Seeing the world.
Imagine things are ‘turned around” some, but some of those places were a bit backward and think most took my Paige post as a joke it was meant to be on lost birth certificates to fool owners/teams..
JacksTigers
Then you should know what I’m talking about.
User 4245925809
filter wouldn’t let me reply is why there was 3 replies.. Apologies.. They finally went…
ARod's Ring
Is someone interested in watching the Game Licey Vs Aguilas from the D.R winter league?
JacksTigers
I am, but we don’t get it and despite my best efforts, I cannot find any Dominican games online.
ARod's Ring
I just watched the whole game online from GA. it just finished though… So Stay tuned tomorrow, I’ll post the Link. One of the teams got eliminated, tomorrow will be Aguilas (eagles) against Leones (Lions) too determine who’s going to represent D.R for the Caribbean Series.
nats2012
Im surprsied the Royals didnt go after Pineda, they could have given up a nice young bat.
MetsMagic
The M’s are going to give Montero every opportunity to catch and unless they would be daring to move Myers back there again (no), they don’t have anyone player that fits the bill. It would probably take Montgomery + Myers + a lower level guy, and a low income team like the Royals needs as many players with as much team control as they can get.
kcgregory
You’ve lost your everloving mind if you think Montgomery+Myers+more = Montero. More likely Moustakas = Montero.
MrSativa
It’s a fact that over 50% of Caribbean players are playing under fake names and fake B.C’s.
In fact, I bet Pujols is actually 40.
stl_cards16
Source on it being a fact?
JacksTigers
It’s a fact that 112% of stats are made up. This would count for both mine and yours.
safari_punch
The biggest liars are from the Dominican. Baseball America had a big report on it years ago after the 9/11 incident forced changes to visas issued to these countries. Such honorable people.
JacksTigers
And do you know their side? I doubt it.
rashomon
Please lower your price, Rich Harden and then call Terry back!
101andcounting
I wonder if this Carmona business makes the Indians a buyer for Garza?
JacksTigers
I don’t see why it would.
101andcounting
If Carmona can’t come back to the US, for example? He could be facing charges, etc. All speculation, I know, but still, it would mean the Indians are in search of an arm.
Harthan
They’ll fill it internally if they have to. It’s like pulling teeth getting them to spend anything on a first baseman. They’ll never pay for a starting pitcher now. Huff, Gomez, or McAllister will get the job, at least for the first half of the season. May be they’ll try to trade up at the deadline.
$3513744
No, you should never say you’re set to go for pitching, especially if you continue to put nothing out there year after year.
MNTwins12
The Twins should sign Roy Oswalt, and attempt to trade Nick Blackburn for at least something in return to relieve some payroll. I would rather see the Twins put Anthony Swarzak in the rotation instead of Nick Blackburn if they choose to keep him.
rashomon
Blackie’s contract isn’t crazy bad, but who do you think would want him? (Besides Colorado, of course.)
MNTwins12
There’s always a team looking to take a chance on a starting pitcher. I could find the Royals, Orioles, Pirates, Padres, and yes the Rockies as potential trade partners. His contract is crazy bad if you consider how injury prone he is.
rashomon
Well, he did have two years of an average of 200 innings and then it looks like he got TF’d, along with Joe and Justin. Maybe this is the year all these Stellas get their groove back!
MNTwins12
It would be awesome to see all of these players (including Blackburn) to return back to their original form. But that said I’d still rather trade Blackburn and sign Oswalt. At this point I think our starting rotation needs more work than our bullpen, which Terry Ryan seems to be prioritizing.
themightygin
Have to think maybe the Tribe is quietly in on Fielder? Why else don’t they jump on one of these guys while they’re cheap?
Harthan
I wish, but I cannot envision any kind of deal the Indians and Boras might make.