Alex Rodriguez fires agent Scott Boras
by Eli Greenspan on Sep 2, 2010 4:49 PM EDT
1 comment
SI.com's Jon Heyman has confirmed that Yankees third baseman fired agent Scott Boras. Rodriguez has been represented by Boras since the Mariners drafted him 1993, but now that A-Rod is in his final contract through 2017, he really does not have a need for a baseball representative.
Rodriguez has been collaborating with a Hollywood agent and a Pittsburgh attorney, so one can assume that Rodriguez is starting to plan for his post-baseball life.
Yankees claimed Ted Lilly, Dodgers pull him back
by Eli Greenspan on Sep 1, 2010 11:15 AM EDT
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The Dodgers put newly acquired pitcher Ted Lilly on waivers earlier this week, but quickly pulled him back after the Yankees claimed him. The Yankees were looking for an extra starting pitcher to add down the stretch and Lilly, a former Yankee, would have been a perfect fit.
Lilly is 5-1 with a 3.29 ERA in six appearances with the Dodgers, bringing his season totals to 8-9 on the year with a 3.59 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. The Dodgers are out of contention and do not have much use for Lilly this season, but he has proved that he can pitch in LA and anchor that young rotation.
Lilly, who is making 10 million dollars this season, has put up the best numbers of his career since jumping to the National League. Despite the down economy, Lilly deserves nothing less than 10 million dollars. Yes, he will be 35 at the start of next season, but a two or three year deal would be very reasonable for the finesse pitcher.
Mets on verge of trading Jeff Francoeur to Rangers
by Eli Greenspan on Aug 31, 2010 7:48 PM EDT
4 comments
According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, the Mets are discussing a trade that would send outfielder Jeff Francoeur to the Rangers for infielder Joaquin Arias. Francoeur is having an off year with the Mets, hitting a disappointing .236 through 123 games and a .293 on-base percentage. The Rangers are in need of an extra bat down the stretch and hope a change of scenery will help him and the team.
The Mets probably wouldn't have much use for Arias, but he is hitting .276 in 98 at-bats this season and could see some time at first, second, and third base.
Stay tuned.
Red Sox deal reliever Manny Delcarmen to Rockies
by Eli Greenspan on Aug 31, 2010 7:28 PM EDT
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The Red Sox have traded relief pitcher Manny Delcarmen to the Rockies for Single-A pitcher Chris Balcom-Miller. Delcarmen was 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 48 relief appearances this season.
The Rockies are in dire need of some pitching and will benefit more from Delcarmen than the Red Sox will down the stretch. The Rockies also picked up veteran Luis Ayala on a minor league deal last week.
"Manny wasn't necessarily pitching in the highest leverage situations with us anymore," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "We had a couple of guys that passed him on the depth chart."
The Red Sox receive a decent prospect from the Rockies in Balcom-Miller, 21. He will be assigned to Single-A for the remainder of the year. So far this season, Balcom-Miller owns a 3.31 ERA, 117 strike outs, and 19 walks in 19 starts.
Since being drafted in 2009, he is 10-7 with a 2.72 ERA. It'd be nice to see him start the year in Double-A and maybe see him in Triple-A if he can perform well.
Teams On The Rise And Downfall
by Brandon C. on Aug 31, 2010 4:19 PM EDT
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As this season heads towards the finish line, we will likely see some top prospects make their MLB debuts. (Example: Aroldis Chapman) Some teams have been surprises this year (Example: Reds, Padres) and some have been dissapointments. (Example: Mariners) Which teams are on the rise and which are slowly aging and becoming worse? Let's take a look.
Teams that won't improve or get worse next year:
Basically, these are the teams that will stay the way they are this year, including future talent and aging talent.
Detroit Tigers: We'll see how the young talent develops and what moves they make, but they seem poised for another 2nd or 3rd place finish.
Kansas City Royals: Royals fans will probably disagree, but they need a couple more years for improvement.
Los Angeles Dodgers: I was very tempted to put them on the improving list, but considering I figured this year would be their improvement year, I won't make the same assumption.
New York Yankees: The Yankees are a consistently very good ballclub. That isn't about to change next year. Still, Derek Jeter will gain another year, Mariano Rivera (if re-signed....a very minor if) will continue to age (likely without any troubles) and Alex Rodriguez will continue to deal with his injury issues as well. The Yankees do have up and coming catcher Jesus Montero and starters Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova.
Philadelphia Phillies: Basically the same deal as the Yankees, especially with Domonic Brown due to get a full year in the majors.
Pittsburgh Pirates: It's the Pirates. C'mon!
St. Louis Cardinals: Once again, basically the same thing as the Yankees and Phillies. All around solid ballclub.
Washington Nationals: No Strasburg, likely no improvement.
White Sox's Manny Ramirez to debut against familiar foe
by Eli Greenspan on Aug 31, 2010 3:56 PM EDT
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UPDATE: Manny Ramirez was scrated from tonight's lineup and will make his debut tomorrow. He still may get a pinch hit at-bat, but otherwise we will see him tomorrow.
New White Sox designated hitter Manny Ramirez will make his debut tonight versus his original franchise, the Cleveland Indians. Ramirez has not played in Cleveland since the 2008 season, but he received his fair share of boos then, and he will definitely receive plenty tonight.
The Indians are 22.0 games out of first place so it is not like this matchup holds any major significance for them in terms of the standings. However, the White Sox are four games out of first so they could really make it difficult for them to get back in it entering September if they can have a big series.
Ramirez is a career .312 hitter in Progressive Field (1,768 ABs), so he is obviously very comfortable in his first ballpark.
Mike Napoli to Tigers, Nationals in 2011?
by Eli Greenspan on Aug 31, 2010 1:04 PM EDT
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Angels catcher Mike Napoli appears to be on his way out in Anaheim.
Despite being the teams home run leader, Napoli has been relegated to a bench role splitting time behind the plate and at first base. However, Napoli is the teams worst defensive catcher with pitchers posting a robust 5.06 ERA in 505 innings of work. With Jeff Mathis behind the plate, pitchers own a 3.95 ERA; with Bobby Wilson - 3.76 ERA.
"Yeah," said Napoli, who shares catching duties with Jeff Mathis and the first base job with Juan Rivera. "I'm having one of the best years of my career, and I'm not playing much. I guess I don't get it done on the defensive side. I have to clean things up."
If Napoli can greatly improve over at first base, he would give National league teams in need of a big bat an option. A team like the Nationals, who will likely lose Adam Dunn this off season, would benefit from Napoli who will be under team control through 2012.
The Tigers are in need of a catcher and may be intrigued by Napoli's team friendly contract.
One way or another, it looks like Napoli will be sporting a new uniform in 2011.
Reds calling up pitcher Aroldis Chapman
by Eli Greenspan on Aug 30, 2010 11:47 PM EDT
1 comment
The Reds are calling up top pitching prospect Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman, 22, will bring his 104-mph heater to the back of the Reds bullpen for the final month of the season. He has been phenomenal in a relief role with Triple-A, going 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA in 26 appearances. The Reds will certainly be cautious with him, especially after what has happened with Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg.
"I think Dusty [Baker] will ease him into a role until he gets his feet on the ground, he gets accustomed to pitching up here," general manager Walt Jocketty said in an interview. "Then depending on how he does, we'll see how the role develops."
Chapman could become a major fixture in the Reds bullpen. He will be eligible to play in the playoffs, and I could see him having a David Price-like performance down the stretch.
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