Bryce Harper Rumors

Odds & Ends: Parker, Okajima, Kikuchi, La Russa

Links for Thursday... Bad news for D'Backs fans: top prospect Jarrod Parker is headed for Tommy John surgery. Reynolds Sports Management broke the news via their Twitter feed, check it out. Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima has dismissed agent Peter Greenberg in favor of Boston-based Joe Rosen, according to a Japanese report passed along by NPB Tracker's Ryo Shinkawa. Shinkawa takes this as a sign Okajima wants to stay with the Red Sox. He is already under team control through 2012 as an arbitration-eligible player. Yusei Kikuchi's NPB-vs.-MLB decision seems to be coming within a few days, says Patrick Newman...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Nationals, Towers, Marlins

A few links on the second to last day of the regular season... Even though they'll finish with the worst record in baseball, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo indicated that it's not a lock the team will draft Bryce Harper first overall next year, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Says Rizzo: "I haven't seen him yet. He certainly hasn't separated himself like [pitcher] Stephen Strasburg did last year." CBSSports.com reports that Kevin Towers said he wasn't given a specific reason for his termination, but KT did say that he's "been around long enough to know why." Juan C. Rodriguez of The...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Indians, Delgado, Harper, Matsui

Here's some links to kick off your Saturday... Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Indians have requested that MLB run DNA tests on a few international players the team is negotiating with to confirm their identities. The Tribe got burned when 17-year-old shortstop Jose Ozoria turned out to be 20-year-old Wally Branyan last year. Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com says that Carlos Delgado hasn't really talked to the Mets' front office about returning next year, but he'd love to come back. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo breaks down the challenges facing Bryce Harper heading into the 2010 Draft. The...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Chipper, Ordonez, Schultz

Links for Wednesday... Chipper Jones explained his stance toward retirement to Tim Gunter of 790 The Zone. Braves manager Bobby Cox was noncommittal on 2010, talking to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Amelia Rayno of the Detroit News notes that Magglio Ordonez's $15MM option for 2011 will vest with 1080 plate appearances between 2009 and 2010. Meanwhile Cot's Baseball Contracts reveals that 135 starts or 540 PAs in '10 will do the trick. ESPN's Buster Olney informed us yesterday about a potentially interesting free agent reliever named Mike Schultz. The former D'Backs minor leaguer has been tearing it...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Santana, Sano, Zambrano

More links, with less than a week remaining for contenders to add pieces... Pete Abraham of the Journal News says the Brian Cashman and the Yankees were smart not to trade for Johan Santana, even though it seems likely that the Mets will get their ace back. Matthew Carruth of FanGraphs argues that Santana won't likely be worth the $90MM-plus remaining on his extension. Ryan Zimmerman's extension has worked out well for the Nationals, and Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors believes the team deserves some credit. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that talks between the Pirates and...   Continue Reading

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Stark On Wagner, Padres, Crawford

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark shows that a number of contenders have vulnerable-looking closers. The Cubs and Phillies two of many teams with shaky arms at the back of the 'pen. Here are the details and the rest of Stark's rumors: At least one scout believes John Smoltz would have been the perfect arm for the Marlins to add to their 'pen. However, clubs pursuing Smoltz heard that he wanted to start, at least for now. A scout who watched Billy Wagner throw has "no doubt" that Wagner could help a team win. The Rays and Marlins are thought to have interest...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Strasburg, Harper, Piniella

Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Nationals made the "acquisition of the year" when they signed Stephen Strasburg 77 seconds before Monday night's deadline to sign draft picks. Nats president Stan Kasten says he's proud to have signed Strasburg even if he's not proud to have agreed to a record-setting deal. Like many others, Scott Boras believes the agreement was good for both sides. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors: Bryce Harper shouldn't come close to Strasburg's $15MM-plus if he signs next year. The Rays offered first rounder LeVon Washington $1.1MM. It wasn't enough and Scott Boras was very...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Escobar, Peavy, Mets, Cardinals

A gaggle of links for your Thursday evening reading pleasure... In response to someone mentioning the Yunel Escobar-Matt Holliday rumors, MLB.com's Mark Bowman says "There is zero truth to those Escobar rumors. The Braves have NO and I repeat no intention to move him. Believe me, if they move him, it will simply be a deal that they simply can't refuse and that wouldn't include anything involving Holliday." Tom Krasovic notes that Jake Peavy is out of his walking boot, and is ready to begin "ramping it up." David Lennon of Newsday says that earlier today Mets GM Omar Minaya...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Rockies, Spilborghs, Harper

More links for Wednesday evening... In this SI.com article, Joel Sherman reports that Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd isn't sure what to think about his team just yet. "The next five weeks will determine who we really are," he said. ESPN.com's Rob Neyer believe the Rockies are for real. ESPN.com's Peter Gammons says the Rangers, Red Sox, Mets, Rays and Tigers are among the teams that could be interested in Ryan Spilborghs. David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says Brian McCann and Joe Mauer are two of the best hitting catchers of his lifetime. Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Crisp, Benitez, Webb

On this day in MLBTR history, the Padres hadn't decided whether to be buyers or sellers. A lot's changed since last year, but many teams face a similar dilemma now. Here are some links for the morning... Coco Crisp will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger reports that former MLB closer Armando Benitez is pitching for the Newark Bears, hoping for another shot in the big leagues. Prospect Bryce Harper knows he's "not LeBron yet," according to the AP. Mark Teixeira says...   Continue Reading

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