Daisuke Matsuzaka Rumors

Tigers Join Aroldis Chapman Chase

9:42pm: MLB.com's Jason Beck reports that the Tigers have confirmed interest in Chapman. Tom Moore, Detroit's Director of International Scouting, said to Beck: "We're basically just at the interest level. Because of the nature, I think it's a situation where they're going to take the time to allow clubs to spend some time with the player and see who he is." 8:18pm: Add the Detroit Tigers to the list of teams in pursuit of Aroldis Chapman, according to a report by Melissa Segura in SI.com. Segura writes that "several industry sources expect Chapman will command more than the $32 million...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Full Count Video: Penny, Harden, Lidge

Rumor machine Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count Video up at FoxSports.com. Let's dive on in... The outcome of this weekend's games could determine which team the recently released Brad Penny signs with. The Giants and Marlins are the two teams pursuing him the most, but the Giants are in a better position in the NL Wildcard standings. The Yankees, Twins, and A's are also expressing interest in the righthander, but "what pitcher in his right mind would want to stay in the American League?" The A's and Padres have even "floated the idea" of signing Penny beyond the...   Continue Reading

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Red Sox To Listen On Matsuzaka?

According to Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe, you can expect the Red Sox to listen to offers for Daisuke Matsuzaka this offseason. There's a hope Matsuzaka will right the ship and return to success after injuries this season to help his trade value. Matsuzaka's recent comments criticizing the team's rehab process might have been too much for him to have a place on the organization. Cafardo wonders if the team underestimated "the cultural and philosophical differences that would lead to a constant butting of heads." Matsuzaka would have to sign off on any deal, but indications are that he...   Continue Reading

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Discussion: Evaluating Theo Epstein

Jim Donaldson of the Providence Journal wrote today that evaluating Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is "as tricky as [Julio] Lugo trying to field a hot grounder." The reason, says Donaldson, is that the Sox can afford to make expensive mistakes like Lugo's contract. Donaldson seems to argue that Epstein is overrated, citing continual problems at shortstop and big contracts to Daisuke Matsuzaka and J.D. Drew as his biggest flaws so far. Well, if our readers can't resolve this, nobody can. What do you think? Does large payroll capacity allow Epstein to get away with mistakes? Where do you rank...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Harper, A-Rod, Dice-K, A's

On this date 45 years ago, in the final year before Major League Baseball instituted the amateur draft, Rick Reichardt was signed by the Los Angeles Angels for $200K. At the time, it was the largest signing bonus ever given to an amateur baseball player. Reichardt would only play 57 minor league games before making his big league debut later that year. He would go on to play 11 seasons with four franchises. With this year's draft class starting to sign their first contracts, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... Jorge Says No! says...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Ransom, Dice-K, O's

MLBTR's own Eddie Schmid started posting this special little feature a couple weeks ago and it drew a nice response. I'm just a thief. This day in MLBTR history: On June 23, 2008, the bidding war was heating up for 16-year-old pitching phenom Michael Inoa. He, of course, eventually signed with the Oakland A's. A couple more links for Tuesday evening... Marc Craig of the Newark Star-Ledger notes that Cody Ransom's 60-day stay on the disabled list will end Wednesday. At that point, the Yankees either have to add him to the 25-man roster or designate him for assignment and...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Red Sox, Mateo, Sano

More links for the afternoon... The Pirates signed Victor Black, their supplemental round pick, according to Mike Vukovcan of KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox are set to sign their second round pick, righty Alex Wilson, for about $475k. He turned down $600k from the Cubs last year. ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure says the Nats will work Wagner Mateo out, but aren't likely to sign him. Arangure says the Mariners, Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants, Yankees and Cubs could sign Mateo. Arangure still expects Miguel Angel Sano to sign with the Pirates. Peter Abraham of the Journal...   Continue Reading

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Dice-K Skipped; Penny Off The Block?

According to Alex Speier of Boston's WEEI, Daisuke Matsuzaka "will be skipped in his next turn through the rotation." There is some injury concern -- he'll be examined by a team doctor -- but this is mostly a performance-based decision. Dice-K allowed six runs in four innings during his last outing and is now 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA and 2.20 WHIP on the season. If the Red Sox decide to throw him into the bullpen for the remainder of the '09 campaign, or find some sort of physical issue, Speier suggests they might pull Brad Penny off the trading...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Crow, Matsuzaka, Harrington

Links for Monday... I hosted a fantasy baseball roundtable question: what is your single biggest regret so far? Talking real baseball, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has his list of possible offseason-related regrets. Jim Callis of Baseball America says Aaron Crow and Tanner Scheppers will make their independent league debuts today. MLB.com's Bill Ladson says the Jim Bowden-less Nationals haven't ruled out taking Crow at #10, and they'll scout him today. Kirk Kenney wrote about the possibility of Stephen Strasburg skipping the minors. David Waldstein of the New York Times discovers how the Seibu Lions spent the $51.1MM posting...   Continue Reading

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Red Sox Reach Deals With Bard, Penny

9:59pm: Ian Browne of MLB.com weighs in on Bard. He discusses the catching situation, and in particular, how the Red Sox will use Bard if free-agent Jason Varitek returns to the franchise. SI.com points out Penny's Interleague numbers: 7-11 with a 5.08 ERA in 24 appearances against American League opponents. Penny has spent his entire career in the National League. 8:41pm: Rob Bradford of WEEI.com spoke with Brad Penny, who confirmed his deal with the Boston Red Sox. From Bradford: “There were a lot of teams involved,” said Penny in a phone conversation. “But I wanted to go somewhere where...   Continue Reading

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