Hall-of-Famer and Cardinals legend Red Schoendienst celebrates his 88th birthday today. Let's celebrate by looking at some news from the league where Schoendienst spent his entire 33-year career as a player and manager.
- The Mets want to find a new minority owner by June, reports The Wall Street Journal's Matthew Futterman, Michael Rothfeld and Chad Bray. If the Wilpons can't sell a minority share of just the club, Futterman, Rothfeld and Brian Costa report that the Mets ownership group could look to add a share of the SNY cable network to the sale "if and when it became a necessity." Jeff Wilpon said last week that SNY wasn't for sale.
- Mark Cuban tells Newsday's Barbara Barker that after failed attempts to buy the Cubs and Rangers, he won't pursue another baseball ownership opportunity unless he's approached. Cuban thinks the Mets are "a great opportunity, but I'm not going to call their investment banker." Cuban also said it's "very unlikely" he would settle for a minority share in a franchise unless he was given the first chance at buying a majority share in the future.
- Shairon Martis has cleared waivers and been outrighted to the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, reports the team's official Twitter feed. Martis was designated for assignment by Washington on January 24.
- James Loney and the Dodgers "don't appear close to a settlement" of Loney's arbitration case, reports ESPNLosAngeles.com's Tony Jackson. Loney is L.A.'s last arb-eligible player, now that Hong-Chih Kuo has come to an agreement with the club. You can keep track of all the outstanding and settled arbitration cases at the MLBTR ArbTracker.
- Joe Pawlikowski of Fangraphs looks at what the Diamondbacks have done to remake their bullpen after last year's disastrous performance.
Could you imagine those stuffed shirt owners ever allowing Mark Cuban into their club?
I can’t but he would sure liven things up, no?
I wonder what nagatives the owners and Selig seem to see in Cuban that’s keeping him from getting a team? Is it a personality clash or something else?
Selig and the other owners want owners that “know their place” – that’s how we ended up with Teddy “Don’t Rock the Boat” Lerner here in DC. Selig wants teams to pay slot to their draft picks and not run up a huge free agent bill. Have I mentioned the status quo? The stuffed shirts comment is right-on.
Cuban would be hisself and shake things up at the owners meetins…
Best news all day, the nats didnt lose martis! he can still become a good major league pitcher and they shouldnt give up on him
I think he would be good for baseball. To bad the Wilpons & Katz won’t sell him more then 25% and a chance to be majority owner in the future.
Should have non-tendered Loney. Damn it.
Why, so they could have paid more for even less?
Cuban would be greatttttttttt for the Mets.
Thank you Mark (and mlbrumors) for reminding us when the popular players from a bygone ERA have important milesotones like this. While many that visit here do not remember these players and got to admit.. I barely recall the guy as a player.. Do remember his days quite well as a very popular skipper of the Reds, especially when his team beat Boston in the ’67 Series..