The attorneys for first basemen Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals and Ryan Howard of the Phillies have sent letters to Al Jazeera demanding that the news agency publicly retract its report suggesting that the two players have used banned PEDs, Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post reports. The spark for the demand appears to have been a correction to the article accompanying the documentary at the Al Jazeera web site, in which editors noted: “An earlier version of this article reported on an allegation about possible links between Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Howard and human growth hormone. The substance alleged was Delta 2, not HGH.”
MLBTR has obtained a copy of the demand for retraction, which states: “Tuesday, Al Jazeera tried sneaking out a correction which acknowledges major errors in their story about our clients Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Howard. The original defamatory ’report’ connected our clients to the use of HGH, but Al Jazeera has now admitted this defamatory accusation was wholly false and unsubstantiated. Al Jazeera’s acknowledgment confirms their unforgivable sloppiness and the recklessness of its publication of this false story. Al Jazeera must retract the remaining false allegations against our clients immediately.” As Svrluga notes, such a demand letter can be a prerequisite to bringing suit for defamation in some jurisdictions.
Here are some notes from around the NL East:
- The Marlins tried to acquire ace closer Aroldis Chapman from the Reds before he was shipped off to the Yankees, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. But Miami was obviously unwilling to beat the offer put forth by New York. Still, it’s interesting to learn of the effort. Despite dabbling in some rather significant potential transactions, the Fish have yet to pull off any major moves this winter.
- Daniel Murphy turned down a four-year offer because he preferred the Nationals’ chances at contention, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports. It’s not clear, of course, precisely what difference in the overall dollar amounts would have been involved.
- Signing Murphy and Stephen Drew — to go with the flurry of bullpen additions earlier this winter — doesn’t necessarily wrap up the Nationals’ offseason business, of course. Wagner explains that the team is still considering changes in the pitching department. The team “has interest” in free agent lefty Scott Kazmir, per the report. Washington could consider looking for a good market opportunity, says Wagner, but the team would likely deal another starter (he suggests Gio Gonzalez) to address another need if a rotation piece is added. And, of course, the club is still listening and considering its options at the back of the bullpen.
- The Nationals have also long been said to be pursuing an addition in the outfield, particularly one capable of spending time in center. I ran through some of the many options back in November, and Wagner takes an updated look in the above-linked piece. As he explains, though, none of the obviously available options makes for a perfect fit. It’s no surprise to hear that the team is “working” to add such a piece after the Murphy signing, as Jon Morosi of FOX Sports recently tweeted.
- Having already added a center field-capable player of their own in Alejandro De Aza, the Mets won’t be present when Denard Span works out for teams, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports on Twitter. That is not terribly surprising to learn at this point, of course. It’s worth noting, also, that Wagner’s report includes a note that, while the Nationals haven’t ruled out a return, there is some internal concern over Span’s health.
Re Nats’ news:
Al Jazerra is sooo skewed.
Daniel Murphy gave the Nats an NL East coast discount.
Wagner is not the most informed pundit.
Gio Gonzalez is not going anywhere until Mike Maddux says so.
All of that could be true but in my opinion, all Jazeera was just doing its job of reporting news, not their fault that it seems their primary source was talking out of his butt as a pseudo-sales pitch. Entirely their fault for not looking into his background/position/reasoning for making such claims though.
Murphy didn’t give a discount as much as he seemed to be the least prepared free agent in major sports in recent memory (reports saying he had no plan to be with any team but Mets until they traded for Walker which is ridiculous given that his postseason performance enhanced his value more than anything else he’s done in his whole career).
I don’t know anything about Wagner so I won’t comment.
Gio is the best rotation piece to move from the Nats perspective. Would you rather give up Strasburg’s last season in a Nats uni for two of Gio or multiple years of control over Roark or Ross?
James Wagner, whom you don’t know, is suggesting a trade for Kazmir. Can’t see Kazmir as an improvement over Gio even allowing for the AL inflated ERA. It’s offseason click bait, IMO.
Murphy agreeing to a deal on Dec. 24, could indicate a lack of greed – not a worry about a less attractive offer. There was more time for him to try for a better deal than the Nats’ offer. The anonymous 4-year deal is also a Wagner talking point.
As a Pirates fan I’ve thought the Nats would be a great fit for a Melancon trade. The Pirates don’t seem to want to move him but he seems like a perfect fit for the Nationals. Essentially the anti-Papelbon, Melancon isn’t a “sexy”, headlining addition but undeniably prepared and productive and an even better person by all accounts.
Toronto would be a good fit for Melancon. They’ve seen Craig Kimbrel & Carson Smith go to Boston and Aroldis Chapman go to the Yankees. The Jays have arguably the worst bullpen in the AL East. They need to strengthen it. Melancon would accomplish that.
I don’t know if Toronto would consider it (seeing as how it would just be for one year, as opposed to Melancon), but what about Drew Storen? Say for Ben Revere?
Holy hyperbole, batman, the worst? Schultz, Sanchez, Cecil, Osuna, Biagini looks promising, Two open spots.; but their rotation does need another lhp, perhaps Gio from the Nats for……?
It’s pretty clear Baltimore, Boston and NY have better bullpens. So do you consider it extreme hyperbole because you feel strongly the Jays have a better bullpen than the Rays?
That’s even a stretch IMO.
Not with the Back end Tampa has.
The Yankees offer for Chapman wasn’t that great. How hard would it have been for the Marlins to beat it? Or did the Reds prefer to move Chapman out of the National League and as a result, ask the Marlins for a bigger package?
With the service time left on his contract I’m sure they wouldn’t have cared unless it was to the Central.
A bigger package from the Marlins? Miami has no package to give. Not even wrapping paper. You think the Nationals want Ramos or Dunn?
The Nats should jump into the Upton race. They need to add some protection for Harper or the guy’s getting walked closer to 150 times next year. I do like the idea of Blackmon in a Nats uni, but I think it’ll take a lot to move him with his controllability. I’m upset they haven’t addressed their backend bullpen issue and have since let top market relievers get situated. I don’t know Drew that well but not sure it’s much of any upgrade to Espinosa. So far, I’m predicting a regression if anything from last year’s infield offense. They got rid of Escobar who was arguably the second best offensive player on the team last year and replaced with about even (if not less) offensive and worse defensive signing in Murphy for millions more, not even including the loss of Desmond.
But. But. But, vm:)….I was hoping for insight … it appears though you have taken the other person’s hyperbole to the extreme, even to the absurd, since teams, as surely you know, are now in the off season, and games are not being played:);
so, how does one measure speculation and opinion, esp from armchair Johny Walker specialists such as many of the observers who appear here?
But according to this year’s standings, well, the Jays’ team and bp, even though arguably mismanaged, did rather well in the ame,
esp from armchair Johny Walker specialists such as one or two of those who come on here…… deepest apologies for that slight to your readers and contributors.