Giants reliever Guillermo Mota is appealing his 100-game suspension due to a positive drug test, reports Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com. In a statement issued through Adam Katz, Mota's agent, the right-hander claims that children's cough medicine was responsible for the banned substance (clenbuterol) that was found in his system. Since this is his second drug-related suspension, Mota will not be allowed to continue playing while waiting for an appeal.
Here's the latest from around the majors….
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Trenni Kusnierek of WTMJ 620 radio in Milwaukee that the team "had a discussion" with free agent first baseman Derrek Lee but a signing is "not going to happen." The team will look internally to fill its hole at first base with Mat Gamel out for the season.
- Melvin also said that the Brewers have the financial resources and farm system depth to make trades if necessary, though the club will wait until about a week before the July trade deadline before deciding if any moves need to be made. Melvin predicts less deadline activity in general around baseball this year due to both the Cardinals' late-season hot streak last year and the extra wild card that will have more teams unwilling to give up on their season.
- Jamie Moyer thought he had a deal worked out with the Orioles last fall but Dan Duquette's hiring scuttled the move, reports Caleb Hannan of the Denver News. "They said one thing one day and by the next it was completely different," Moyer said. "They pulled a complete 180." One of the reasons may have been due to an incident between Moyer and Duquette in 1996 when both men were with the Red Sox.
- Jeremy Bonderman tells Chris Iott of MLive.com that he was "burnt out" and didn't expect to return to baseball when he sat out the 2011 season but he's now eager to pitch again. Bonderman underwent Tommy John surgery last month and is hoping to catch on with a team in 2013.
- Teams that write off several seasons in the name of a long rebuilding process run the risk of permanently alienating their fans, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.
I don’t entirely understand the logic behind “there will be less activity at the deadline”.
The obvious noncontenders will be out and the wildcard won’t change that.
The added wildcard will increase the chance that a fringey contender will make it into the playoffs, or at least stay in the race longer. Your fringey contenders, with *some* exceptions, generally don’t sell significant parts at the deadline anyway because they’re not completely out this year/have good reason to think they’ll be back in next year and thus don’t want to trade major pieces.
I would think you see more buyers, since more teams have an impetus to buy at the deadline since the win threshold to make the playoffs (or at least have a chance at the wildcard) is lower, which could mean an increase in price tags of bigger ticket items, and a sheer greater number of players being traded.
The kids that just won’t get off his lawn.
What is a grown man doing taking children’s medicine?
Best Part of of Hannan’s article:
Tsuyoshi Wada, a promising left-hander from Japan who signed for $8 million.
Wada you talking about Hannan? This only works if Wada was a clown!
To be honest the Orioles are tied for first place despite Duquette and Showalter’s efforts. Showalter is too predictable and Duquette is constantly dumpster diving!
As for signing Moyer, meh, either way I am unsure if he would have made a difference. If the Orioles are to do something they might have to pony up and trade for Peavy and maybe try to sign Oswalt. If you trade for Peavy you’re gambling that he will stay healthy the rest of the season. As for Oswalt he is like a box of chocolates your never sure what you’re going to get!
The Brewers should be talking to the Red Sox about a deal for Kevin Youkilis, once he is healthy. Say, Youk and Buchholz for Grienke and a minor leaguer? Kevin could easily move over to 1st base and the Brewers could expect to keep Buck around for a while. Not so with Greinke.
The Orioles should traded Reynolds now!!! the guy is doing nothing with the Bat
Yes, because teams are just lining up to take him off their hands…