On this day in 1969, the Braves traded infielder Joe Torre to the Cardinals for Orlando Cepeda. Here's a look at what's happening today..
- Reds closer Ryan Madson still believes that the Phillies offered him a $44MM contract in November, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro denies that any sort of proposal was offered while agent Scott Boras has a different story.
- Brewers closer John Axford expects extension talks to begin soon as his agent, Dan Horwits, is in town to meet with the club, writes Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel. Axford also says that he won't set a deadline for the talks as he doesn't believe that they would be a distraction to him during the season.
- Multiple scouts told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter) that the Mets haven't been looking for a backup lefty hitting outfielder as of late. Right now it looks like the club will turn to Adam Loewen or Mike Baxter rather than add someone from the outside.
- The Indians are looking for a leftfielder but have no interest in Johnny Damon because of his lackluster defense, a Cleveland front office executive told Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Twitter link). In an interview with Bowden on MLB Network Radio this week, the veteran said that he plans to take his time in choosing a team as he looks for an everyday job.
- The Red Sox's signing of Simon Mercedes marks a change in the club's approach to the international amateur market under new director of international scouting Eddie Romero, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Speier writes that former VP of International Scouting Craig Shipley would never have signed Mercedes because the right-hander lied about his documentation.
the Red Sox international scouting director is a 26 year old who pitched three years in the minors (thats what the link goes to) or Eddie Romero the guy who played 12 years in the majors mostly with the Brewers and Red Sox?
Johnny Damon “plans to take his time”. How much time does he actually have?
He thinks he is Methuselah and age is of no importance perhaps?
Madson may not be bitter, but there’s a reasonable chance that he’s a least half right, and Boras may have cost him. Let’s assume there were discussions at the 4/44 level, but Boras being Boras, he was shopping the offer to others while asking the Phillies to throw in some incentives (what can you buy for $11MM per year) or a vesting option for a fifth year. Papelbon was suddenly available, albeit at a slightly higher price (or, perhaps not, with whatever else Boras was demanding) and the Phillies wanted one or the other. You can either dance forever with Boras, or you can make the deal for an arguably better pitcher. Just speculation, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s close to the truth. It wasn’t until after that the market for closers so radically corrected.
Madson got $8.5. Probably would have gotten 3/36 easy from Philly. The agent overplayed his hand and is covering his butt. Boras does not have a good history with Philly. This isn’t hard to figure out. Hopefully it will work out for Ryan. If someone offers you $44 mil and you don’t sign the contract it’s your fault.