Rumors
Quick Hits: Playoffs, Dodgers Owners, Padres, Floyd
It was on this day in 1982 that the Cubs acquired Ryne Sandberg and Larry Bowa from the Phillies in a trade for Ivan De Jesus. The Bowa-for-DeJesus component ended up being pretty even, but needless to say, Chicago won that trade --- Sandberg went on to a Hall Of Fame career as one of the greatest Cubs of all time. Sandberg eventually returned to the Phillies organization in 2011, managing the team's Triple-A affiliate to an 80-64 record. Here are some news items as we enter the last weekend of January... Bud Selig told reporters (including Ronald Blum of...AL East Notes: Kuroda, Blue Jays, Camp, Selig
Some news from the AL East... Hiroki Kuroda's one-year, $10MM deal with the Yankees includes a full no-trade clause, reports FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link). Kuroda said he received offers from five or six Major League clubs and he eventually narrowed his choices down to the Yankees and the Hiroshima Carp, his former Japanese team, reports Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times. Kuroda's desire to play for a contender led to his Yankee contract, as he turned down some more expensive offers to sign with New York. MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm doesn't think Manny Ramirez is a fit with the...Cards Close To Deal With Oswalt; BoSox, Astros In Mix
The Cardinals are close to a deal with veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt, reports Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio (Twitter link). The Red Sox and, surprisingly, the Astros are still contenders for Oswalt's services. Mike Silverman of the Boston Herald (via Twitter) confirms these three teams are in the mix and says it could be "another day or two" before a decision is made.
We heard two days ago that both the Cards and Red Sox had made Oswalt offers, with the St. Louis offer worth roughly $5MM. Oswalt has long expressed a desire to pitch for the Cards, so this could be why he is considering the club's modest offer. The Astros' involvement is totally out of left field since it was presumed they wouldn't be making any significant money this winter, but they could be looking to sign Oswalt and then flip him at the trade deadline. It's hard to imagine Oswalt turning down several contenders to return to Houston but it's possible Oswalt has a sentimental attachment to his original team.
Oswalt would provide quality depth to a St. Louis rotation that includes Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook. Wainwright is returning from Tommy John surgery, Garcia's durability could be a concern after a major increase in innings pitched (220 1/3 regular season and postseason innings in 2011, up from 163 1/3 IP in 2010) and Westbrook didn't have much value aside from eating innings.
NL East Links: Nats, Mets, Morrison, Cespedes
As the Phillie Phantic hangs out with Tina Fey and the gang on 30 Rock, here's the latest from the NL East... Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told media (including Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post) that the Nats are still "not done with our bullpen," even after signing Brad Lidge. Rizzo said he is still looking to improve the rotation if possible but said the Nationals will stick with internal options for the center field job. ESPN New York's Adam Rubin looks at the difficulties facing the Wilpon family as they try to keep ownership of the Mets. The Mets...Bay Area Notes: Nady, Lincecum, Manny, Jackson
Moneyball received six Academy Award nominations on Tuesday, joining Pride Of The Yankees and Field Of Dreams as the only baseball-centric movies to ever be nominated for the prestigious Best Picture Oscar. While I'm not sure if I'd call Moneyball one of the very best films of the year, it's definitely a well-made, entertaining movie, as outlined in my review from last September. Here are some non-cinematic notes from both the Athletics and the Giants in this roundup of Bay Area news... Xavier Nady and the Giants share a mutual interest on a minor league contract, tweets Henry Schulman of...
Blogs
South Side Sox :: Reports from SoxFest, Day 1
Kenny Williams heard some boos at the opening ceremonies of SoxFest at the Palmer House Hilton on Friday, but the acrimony ended shortly thereafter. For the rest of the evening, the White Sox were...Amazin' Avenue :: Mets Sign Former Mariners Top Prospect Matt Tuiasosopo
According to Baseball America's Matthew Eddy, theLookout Landing :: Brian Sweeney To Observe Pile From Safe Distance
It's Friday night. You and your partner have plans. You've been looking forward to them because you've both had really bad weeks and this'll be a chance to unwind. She's done getting ready and you're just about to shut down the computer when you see that Lookout Landing just put up a new post. "One minute, one minute" you say and you click through, only t...A Red Sox Fan In Pinstripe Territory :: The Day
Good luck in the VWR this morning. I don't see any major changes with the ticket-buying system. I'll let you know how I did. Feel free to let me know how you did. I won't have time to wait around so if I don't get in early I'll have to deal with it. But I know I can get tix to whatever game I want just by waiting till that day almost arrives when they release more tix, so whatever.Bluebird Banter :: 2012 Blue Jays Giveaways*
Throw these dates in your schedule and make sure you are there bright and early on gameday so you don't miss out! Which one of these do you look forward to getting the most? Which other giveaways would you want to have seen? Have you been to another stadium somewhere where they had a great, unique giveaway?Kenny Rogers and Mariano Duncan for Greg Vaughn: 50 HRs the Yankees Lost
In early July 1997, rumors swirled that the New York Yankees were going to swing a deal with the San Diego Padres.The Yankees would send much-maligned left-hander Kenny Rogers, along with second baseman Mariano Duncan to the Padres in exchange for outfielder Greg Vaughn and a minor league pitcher.
Rogers's claim to fame was that he had pitched a perfect game in 1994 for the Texas Rangers and that he was knocked out of the box by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth game of the 1996 World Series. That was the game that Jim Leyritz tied with a dramatic home run, which turned the Series around.
In 1997, the Yankees sent the ineffective Rogers (4-4, 5.90 ERA) to the bullpen in an effort to minimize the damage he might cause.
Duncan had batted .340 in 1996, but he walked a mere nine times in 417 plate appearances. Shades of Alfonso Soriano.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was displeased with Duncan's play in 1997 and ordered him benched. Duncan reacted by saying that he wanted to be traded.
Vaughn had lost his outfield position to Rickey Henderson. He was batting .221 with 10 home runs, 24 RBIs and 56 strikeouts.
The Padres had acquired Vaughn from the Milwaukee Brewers at the trading deadline in 1996, but he batted only .206 with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs for San Diego.
George Steinbrenner attempted to make Rogers, who had just worked four shut out innings against the Atlanta Braves in relief of an injured Andy Pettitte, more attractive as trade bait.
"I saw a different Kenny Rogers than I've seen before," Steinbrenner said. "If he can do that, he's going to be very valuable to this team—and not just as the flag-waver in the parade."
Rogers waved the flag down the Canyon of Heroes after the Yankees won the 1996 World Series.
The trade never happened, although Mr. Steinbrenner did send Rogers and Duncan away.
Just before the trading deadline, on July 29, the Yankees sent Duncan to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor leaguer Angel Ramirez.
After spending all of 1997 with the Yankees (6-7, 5.65 ERA), Rogers was traded to the Oakland A's for a player to be named later. Much to their regret and the Yankees delight, Oakland sent Scott Brosius to the Yankees. The rest is history.
Vaughn remained with the Padres and in 1998, hit 50 home runs and drove in 119 to help the Padres win the pennant.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
MLB Free Agency 2012: Top Free Agents Left on Market
The MLB offseason is slowly coming to a close with spring training just around the corner—but that doesn't mean there aren't some good free agents left on the market.
Right now is the time for teams to make that one last signing in order to push them over the edge; he may not be a big name, but he may come up with a key hit or strikeout at some point in the season. That's why it's so important to keep hunting for the best players up until the first pitch of the 2012 season.
Let's take a look at some of the best players still available.
Philadelphia Phillies In Love With Idea of Juan Pierre, Not Real Juan Pierre
Prince Fielder and the Most Ridiculous Scott Boras Contracts in Baseball History
An agent's primary job is to get his client, in this case an MLB player, the most money he can. And one MLB agent in particular stands head and shoulders above the rest—Scott Boras.
On Thursday afternoon, in a packed press conference at Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers officially introduced their newest acquisition, prized free agent first baseman Prince Fielder.
Fielder, who with the help of Boras inked a nine-year, $214 million deal in the city his father previously called home, will make $23 million annually for the first two years of the deal and $24 million for the final seven.
Before everyone starts decrying how free agents and ridiculous contracts are ruining baseball, let's not forget the simple law of economics—supply vs. demand.
With a short supply of top-tier players and a high demand from teams coveting those players, the price remains high. It really is that simple.
However, that doesn't change the fact that fans, pundits, experts, analysts and others will view deals like the one signed by Fielder as ridiculous in nature.
Here is a list of contracts signed by Scott Boras clients that may be viewed as particularly egregious.
MLB Free Agents: Fielder, Pujols and Baseball's $100 Million Contract Club
As the two marquee players available in this year's MLB free-agent market, Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder figured to cash in mightily once they received a favorable contract offer and signed upon the dotted line.
Both career-long members of their respective clubs, the two sluggers have built impressive resumes for which they were paid handsomely by their new clubs.
Pujols, a modern legend during his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, has produced Hall of Fame caliber numbers through his first 11 seasons as a major leaguer. Even a cursory glance at his career statistics is enough to recognize the staggering nature of his greatness.
Fielder, though not quite on the same tier as Pujols, has proved to be incredibly durable and has become one of the game's most-feared power threats. His combination of sheer power, plate discipline and durability is rather formidable.
It was once unthinkable that Pujols would ever leave St. Louis, but when he took a stand in spring training and issued an ultimatum and end-date regarding discussion of a contract extension, many took it to mean that the Cardinals had missed their opportunity to secure the future of their star first baseman. Pujols though, on several occasions, professed his love of St. Louis and his desire to remain with the only organization he's ever known. During spring, he spoke about the option of staying in St. Louis and said, "It's a great piece to have on your resume. There's not too many players that stay with one organization. Hopefully that happens."
That wasn't to be, as the lure of $240 million proved too much for the star to resist. Rather than play out the second half of his Hall of Fame career with the Cardinals, he risked scorn from his adoring fans in St. Louis by moving out west to Southern California. A new era in Angels' baseball was born.
The situation with Prince was different however, as he was quoted during the pennant race as saying, "I'm signed for this year, but being real about it, it is probably the last year." In that conversation with Brian Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play announcer, he confirmed the likelihood that he will take his services to the free-agent market.While the Fielder situation took far longer to play out than that of Pujols, it ended in a similar fashion. Though some had questioned whether he and his agent had waited too long, it turned out to be a perfect strategy, as the Detroit Tigers were forced into a semi-desperate state following the loss of Victor Martinez to a knee injury.
Surprising many that had expected Prince to sign elsewhere, the talented, young slugger signed a massive, nine-year $214 million deal to assume the Tigers' first base position, moving incumbent Miguel Cabrera across the diamond to third. The deal suddenly has Detroit dreaming of a return to the World Series over five years after their bitter disappointment of 2006.
Despite the indisputable talent of each player, there is always concern when a club commits the type of money and contract length that the Angels and Tigers did in securing their new stars.
Since 1999, Major League Baseball has seen 32 contracts signed with total values in excess of $100 million.
Let's take a look at the richest contracts in MLB history to see how well those have worked out over time.
News
Red Sox tix go digital to foil scalping
The Boston Red Sox are going to a new digital ticketing system for the cheapest seats at Fenway Park to keep them out of the hands of scalpers.Peavy ready to test his recovery
Almost 19 months removed from surgery to re-attach his lat muscle, Jake Peavy seems more than ready to test what he has left in his right arm.Williams coy on topic of Cuban phenoms
The phrase "under the radar" frequently describes Ken Williams' mode of operation in trying to acquire personnel upgrades for the White Sox. Where free-agent Cuban hurler Geraldo Concepcion and fellow free-agent Cuban outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler are concerned, the White Sox general manager has changed his game to poker.White Sox, Reinsdorf honored by Commissioner
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf received the 2011 Commissioner's Award for Philanthropic Excellence from Commissioner Bud Selig during the opening ceremonies of Soxfest at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago on Friday.On the mend, Morneau starts baseball activities
Justin Morneau, who played in just 69 games last season because of various injuries, said Friday that he's optimistic he'll be healthy and ready to go once Spring Training starts next month.Williams fine if buck stopping with him
The biggest ovations during Friday's SoxFest Opening Ceremonies introductions were reserved for Robin Ventura, Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Crede and Harold Baines, in no particular order. General manager Ken Williams was the only one who heard a few jeers.MLB GM feels son's pain after choke
White Sox general manager Ken Williams is still feeling his son's pain. Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers muffed one punt and fumbled another in last Sunday's NFC Championship Game as the New York Giants earned a berth in the Super Bowl.MLB may still add wild cards in '12
Baseball still could add two wild cards for the 2012 season, according to major-league sources.Theriot inks contract with Giants
The Giants increased their infield options Friday, signing free agent Ryan Theriot to a one-year, $1.25 million contract, according to a major-league source.Juan Pierre signs with Phils
The Phillies added depth to their outfield Friday, signing free agent Juan Pierre to a minor-league contract.