News

Going Once, Going Twice

by Deborah on January 29, 2012

The Los Angeles Dodgers franchise moved closer to new ownership in the last couple of days as the number of bidders was whittled down.  More than 20 groups were reported to have placed bids before the deadline.

It is being reported that perhaps as many as 10 groups remain in the running but no definitive list has been released.  Bits of news though has started to trickle out about who’s still in and who’s out of the running to own one of the most storied and in recent times one of the most troubled franchises in baseball history.

Reportedly out of the running is Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.  He is though at this point in time just about the only one who has been reported as being out though it has not been confirmed.  It was reported that Cuban was out by the Los Angeles Times.  Read more... (326 words, 1 image, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

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Arbitration Limbo

by Deborah on January 29, 2012

There are still several players and teams who are in arbitration limbo.  Figures have been exchanged but as yet no deals have been reached.  Here’s a breakdown of some big name players that remain unsettled.

Alfredo Aceves Red Sox Player Number: 1.6 M Team Number: 950,000 Midpoint: 1.275 M

Elvis Andrus Texas Rangers Player Number: 3.6 M Team Number: 2.65 M Midpoint: 3.125 M

Emilio Bonafacio Miami Marlins Player Number: 2.2 M Team Number: 1.95 M Midpoint: 2.075 M

Asdrubal Cabrera Cleveland Indians Player Number: 5.2 M Team Number: 3.75 M Midpoint: 4.475 M

Nelson Cruz Texas Rangers Player Number: 7.5 M Team Number: 5.0 M Midpoint: 6.5 M

Clayton Kershaw LA Dodgers Player Number: 10.0 M Team Number: 6.5 M Midpoint: 8.25 M  Read more... (192 words, 1 image, estimated 46 secs reading time)

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Arbitration/Free Agency – Rockies

by Deborah on January 29, 2012

A breakdown of the Colorado Rockies recent arbitration/free agency period.

Minor League Deals with the Rockies: Mike Ekstrom, Wil Nieves, Casey Blake, Jamie Moyer and Brandon Wood.

Multi-year Contracts: Michael Cuddyer (3), Ramon Hernandez (2).

One Year Contract: J.C. Romero.

Traded To Rockies: Tyler Chatwood, Tyler Colvin, DJ LeMahieu, Guillermo Moscoso,  Josh Outman, Zach Putnam, Marco Scutaro.

Traded To Other Teams: Chris Iannetta, Clayton Mortenson, Kevin Slowey, Seth Smith, Ian Stewart, Huston Street, Casey Weathers, Ty Wigginton.

Exercised Option: Jason Giambi.

Minor League Contract with Other Teams: Jorge Cantu, Aaron Cook, Matt Daley, Cole Garner, Edgar Gonzalez, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Joe Mather, Jim Miller, Kevin Milwood, Jose Morales, Ryan Spillborghs, Eric Stutts.

Arbitration Avoided/Deals Reached: Dexter Fowler.

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Arbitration/Free Agency – Braves

by Deborah on January 29, 2012

Here are the results of the Braves recent arbitration activities:

Signed to a Minor League Contract with the Braves players include: J.C. Boscan, Luis Durango, Dusty Hughes, Adam Russell, Josh Wilson, Drew Sutton.

Signed to a Minor League Contract with Other Teams: Brooks Conrad, Diory Hernandez, Wil Nieves, Wilkin Ramirez, Antoan Richardson, and Matt Young.

Signed to a One Year Contract with Braves: Martin Prado and Jack Wilson.

Signed to a One Year Contract with Other Teams: Alex Gonzalez, Nate McLouth, George Sherrill.

Club Exercised Option: Eric Hinske.

Non-Tendered: Peter Moylan.

Released: Wes Helms and Julio Lugo.

No Movement Yet: Scott Linebrink.

Abritration Avoided/Deals Reached: Michael Bourn, Jair Jurrjens, and Eric O’Flaherty.  Read more... (126 words, 1 image, estimated 30 secs reading time)

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Say Hey

by Deborah on January 29, 2012

When Jason Heyward burst on to the Atlanta Braves baseball radar fans were treated to a 3 run homer and dreams of a new power hitter.  Little by little though that dream faded and Heyward struggled mightily.

Heyward was just 20 years old at the time.  He came from Henry County High School just a few miles south of Turner Stadium.  He was part of the East Cobb Baseball Program.  He was the hometown boy made good.  He was compared to Hank Aaron on a multitude of levels.  The fans were all over him from the moment he put on a Braves uniform.  The expectations were massive and growing.  It was a lot to take in.  Read more... (530 words, 1 image, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

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Mauer Mended

by Deborah on January 29, 2012

For the Twins having Joe Mauer back would be akin to winning the lottery.  They need him and he said that he is ready to play, finally.

Last season, Mauer dealt with one injury and illness after another.  His season was filled with missed time and the Twins suffered a lot of losses.  Adding Mauer to the Morneau injuries was like adding salt to an open wound.  Mauer had everything from knee injury to bilateral leg weakness to pneumonia.  It was definitely not the best season for the Twins catcher and fan favorite.  Read more... (373 words, 1 image, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

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Making the Mets Sexier…

by John Zakour on January 28, 2012

Okay, I admit it. The Mets are going to be very bad this year. The good news is my expectations are low. I don’t expect anything better than the fifth place finish. So there appears to be no way the Mets can let me down. The Mets have gone from a fourth place team with a huge budget to a fifth place team without that huge budget. They have cut their payroll over 50 million dollars from last season. If that’s not the biggest payroll cut in baseball history it’s near the biggest. There is no question in my mind that the Wilpons must sell the team. The Wilpons still have a lawsuit pending over their involvement in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. They just needed to borrow $40 million from Bank of America and another $25 million from major league baseball. Geesh, enough is enough. It’s time for baseball and the Wilpons to each cut their losses and separate themselves from each other. The Mets need a new owner.  Read more... (337 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

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Nice Work If You Can Get It

by John Zakour on January 25, 2012

Prince Fielder just agreed to a nine year, $214 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. Wow, nice work if you can get it. You can bet Scott Boras (who may not be Dr. Evil but is JD Evil is smiling today.) The contract works out to over 23 million dollars a year. The good news is Prince will be 36ish when the contract ends, still young enough to be productive. (See Julio Franco…) The bad news is, Fielder weighs 275 pounds on a light day and 275 pound first basemen don’t age all that well. (See Cecil Fielder, Prince’s dad.)  Read more... (353 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

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Touching All the Bases

by John Zakour on January 20, 2012

Hey, things have been crazy lately and the Mets have been super duper quiet but I wanted to touch on a few bases.

First off, on a Mets note (and of course it’s a sad one) their Hall of Fame catcher (even if he is wearing an Expos hat) Gary Carter has taken a turn for the worse in his battle against cancer. Carter was a great team leader and a strong man, if anybody can win a battle against brain tumors it is him. I send my best wishes to him and his family. With my mother’s recent passing from myeloma I know how nasty cancer can be. Hang in there Mr. Carter!  Read more... (327 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

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Moves and News

by Deborah on January 16, 2012

Arbitration continues in full swing and there is plenty in the way of news and moves from over the weekend to report.

The Rockies signed outfielder Seth Smith to a 1 year contract thereby removing him from any further trade talk.

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the Red Sox on Sunday agreed on a one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

Phillies and right-hander Joel Pineiro are close to signing a deal.

Center fielder Colby Rasmus has agreed to a $2.7 million contract with the Blue Jays for 2012, thereby avoiding arbitration.

Joel Zumaya has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Twins.

The Athletics have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with right-handed starting pitcher Bartolo Colon.  Read more... (234 words, 1 image, estimated 56 secs reading time)

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