As the Red Sox celebrate 100 years at Fenway Park today, here are some links and rumors from around the league…
- The Athletics had interest in Angels third baseman Alberto Callaspo this spring, so Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if Oakland might revisit the possibility of a trade in light of Josh Donaldson’s slow start (Twitter link).
- The Cubs are struggling, but ESPN.com’s Buster Olney suggests the team’s slow start could enable Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer to make midseason moves that will pay off in the long term.
- Former Cy Young winner Orel Hershiser says he’s “not interested” in buying an MLB team at this time, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Hershiser, now an analyst for ESPN, had expressed interest in buying the Dodgers when they were for sale.
- The independent league Worcester Tornadoes announced that they signed 47-year-old Jose Canseco to a one-year contract, ESPNBoston.com reports.
interest in Dempster could be fairly high right now, assuming his injury isn’t too bad. maybe somebody will give Soriano a look and be willing to eat some of his salary. Of course Garza is still a prime trade candidate. Maybe Barney. Other than that, not a lot of assets to trade away.
I guess if Canseco still wants to play why not?
Canseco was just banned from the Mexican Baseball league for steroid use.
Him and Ozzie managed(and played with) the Yuma Scorpions here last year. He was busted by the cops for slashing his ex-girlfriend’s tire. I miss him.
I thought he was banned for refusing to take a drug test.
I think the cubs should make some moves. What’ve they got to lose?
they could sign canseco
ozzie?
I think the Cubs are holding out for Rickey Henderson.
I heard they were waiting until after the Red Sox ceremony to get in talks with Luis Tiant.
Sad to say this but the Cubs AAA team is better offencively than the Cubs are. The Problem is Byrd, Soriano, Soto, the fact that they play Baker instead of LaHair. If they could get LaHair, Anthony Rizzo, Brett Jackson, Welington Castillo and Luis Valbuena up they could have a chance at 3rd.
I agree with that. Rizzo has 7 HR already. That’s more than the cubs whole team!
please trade for alberto callaspo billy
This is one of the worst Cubs teams that I have seen in my 46 years on this planet. I cannot believe how awful.
1. The hitting coach has not improved any of the players batting averages.
2. The bullpen is awful
3. The line-up is not set-up to win
4. Sveum has batted LaHair lower in the line-up with the exception of yesterday.
5. LaHair is probably the second best hitter on this team, but he has batted as low as seventh in the line up.
This guy should be batting either third or fourth
6. David Dejesus is not a lead off hitter. He was Theo’s first free agent signing and so far he has not been worth his contract or for being used to keep Tony Campana down in the minors
7. The Cubs should have Tony Campana playing in center field and batting lead-off. This guy is fast and can still bases. He has a chance of turning a walk into a double or a single into a double. He can accomplish these feats by simply stealing second base
8. Marlon Bryd: I don’t know what’s going on with him or why Dale Sveum has him batting so low in the batting order. By placing him in spots 6th through 8th, you are essentially saying he cannot hit or get on base consistently. If that is the case, then release him and bring up Bret Jackson or Matt Szcur. Or move Brian LaHair to left field or right field and but Anthony Rizzo on first base.
9. Alfonso Soriano: I’ve supported him from day one, but as of today I can no longer support him being a starter for the Cubs or even being on the roster. He has no extra base hits so far. He has more strike outs than hits this year. He has been flat out awful. Brian LaHair or Brett Jackson should be starting in right field.
10. Paul Maholm- I thought that his signing was a good move. He has been awful It is time that the Cubs see if Jay Jackson can pitch in the majors. Make Paul Maholm a long reliever.
11. Chris Volstad: He has been just as awful as Paul Maholm. Make him a long reliever or send him to Iowa.
All in all? It actually could be worse for the Cubs.. Epstein could rehire Dick Pole as pitching coach, who was worse in that position than he was as a pitcher and THAT was pretty brutal as Dick Pole was one of the Sox pitcher’s from the mid 70’s who was truly abysmal and how he managed to hang on as Cubbies pitching coach for so long always was a head scratcher..
Side note? getting anything for Zambrano (Volstad) was a win-win.. I watched his last start (Z’s) and he was throwing his “heater” 87-88 and rarely hitting 89mph, plus walked 6 over 6 IP, only throwing against another poor team did he luck out and get the win… I would have preferred the Fish kept Volstad anyday and had the Fish not gotten a manager with as big of a psyche problem as Zambrano, the Cubs would still be stuck with him..
Volstad will be ok, he’s not great and is a average back end SP, decent curve, 90-92FB, just give him time.
Bartolo Colon for Callaspo.
Did Canseco get hired for some mascot work?
they need to trade soriano and johnson and get some younger more useful players