Luis Vizcaino Rumors
Yankees Void Deal With Vizcaino
The Yankees have voided their contract with reliever Luis Vizcaino, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The right-hander tore his Achilles tendon late in the Winter Ball season and is not likely to pitch this season.
Vizcaino, 36, signed a minor league deal with the Yanks in December that would have paid him $750K for making the big league roster. The Yanks saw the veteran as a candidate to work his way to the majors in '11 after he impressed in the Dominican Winter League, throwing consistently in the mid-90s. Vizcaino's winter performance was crucial as he missed all of 2010 and most of 2009 with arm trouble.
For his career, Vizcaino has a 4.33 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9.
Yankees Sign Luis Vizcaino
The Yankees have signed right-hander Luis Vizcaino to a minor league contract according to Marc Carig of The Star Ledger (via Twitter). If he makes the team, he'll earn $750K.
Vizcaino, now 36, has not pitched in the majors or minors since being designated for assignment by the Indians back in June of 2009. The former workhorse reliever appeared in fewer than 70 games just once from 2002 through 2007, and he owns a 4.33 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in his career. If we remove intentional walks, that drops all the way down to 3.3 BB/9.
MLB.com's Tom Singer recently listed Vizcaino as one of several players looking to revive his career, noting his effective stint in the Dominican Winter League.
Luis Vizcaino On The Comeback Trail
Righty reliever Luis Vizcaino, last seen with the Indians in '09, is on the comeback trail. MLBTR has learned that Vizcaino, 36, aims to sign a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite before year's end. Interest has been strong in Vizcaino, who has allowed one run in 10 2/3 Dominican Summer League innings. He has an offer from a National League team in hand.
Indians Release Luis Vizcaino
According to Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com, the Indians released reliever Luis Vizcaino today. The 34-year-old Vizcaino had been designated for assignment on June 23.
Vizcaino put up a 4.11 ERA and 12/12 K/BB ratio in 15.1 innings between the Cubs and Indians this year. The Rangers were said to be in the mix for Vizcaino before the Indians, and with their decimated bullpen it looks to still be a possibility.
Indians DFA Luis Vizcaino
The Indians designated Luis Vizcaino for assignment, according to the team's Twitter. Vizcaino was acquired by the Indians earlier in the year to help their struggling bullpen, but walked more than a batter per inning in his 11 games with the club.
Daniels On Sheets, El Duque, Trade Deadline
Rangers GM Jon Daniels answered questions in an online chat hosted by Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News. One thing becomes clear throughout the chat: Daniels will try to win this year:
- Ben Sheets isn't far enough along to be talking contract, but the Rangers are in touch with his agent.
- The Rangers could deal prospects away to improve their playoff chances this year, but Daniels doesn't suggest that's likely.
- Tom Glavine is "probably not" a fit.
- Orlando Hernandez could be ready for the majors by late July.
- Daniels says signing Matt Purke and Tanner Scheppers before July 31st wouldn't make him more likely to part with other prospects in a deal.
- The Rangers talked with Luis Vizcaino before he signed with Cleveland.
- Could the Rangers pick up a big-time starter? Daniels says "we'll see."
Shapiro: Indians Looking To Improve 'Pen
- Shapiro describes his "sense of urgency" regarding the team's shaky bullpen. He suggests he could look to their minor league teams, to the free agent pool or to other teams' minor leaguers to resotre order in the 'pen. So far they've signed Luis Vizcaino.
- He says he's not looking for a bat or a starter.
- Shapiro wants to contend this year and believes he can, given that the AL Central's relatively weak.
- The Indians can't wait until July to make moves and stabilize the 'pen.
- Shapiro says last offseason he had the chance to deal Rafael Perez for a number of players who now hold starting jobs in the major leagues.
Indians Sign Luis Vizcaino
THURSDAY: 10:45am: Waiting For Next Year writes that the Indians will have to make another move before next Saturday, when Sowers was scheduled to start. Pitchers David Huff and Zach Jackson are the leading candidates for a call-up. "When this decision is made," writes WFNY, "expect the Masa Kobayashi experience to come to an end."
9:38am: According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indians announced the signing of Vizcaino to a Major League deal today. Instead of releasing Masahide Kobayashi, the club demoted Jeremy Sowers.
WEDNESDAY: Waiting with bated breath to see what happens with free agent reliever Luis Vizcaino? You'll have to wait a little longer. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says Vizcaino threw for the Indians a third time yesterday, but the team says they have not signed him. Vizcaino, however, insists he'll be on the club when they leave for Tampa Bay today (MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince agrees).
Indians Still Undecided On Luis Vizcaino
According to Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indians watched reliever Luis Vizcaino audition yesterday. Their dilemma:
The Indians apparently want to sign him but are debating whether he should be added to the major-league club or go to Class AAA Columbus on a minor-league deal.
Vizcaino is a free agent after having been released by the Cubs. He figures to sign for the Major League minimum. MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince indicated yesterday that Vizcaino will join the team's big league bullpen this today.
Odds & Ends: Isringhausen, Sturtze, Molina
Some Sunday morning Odds & Ends:
- So, whatever happened to Tanyon Sturtze? Sturtze never caught on with the Dodgers and was granted his release on May Day last week. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says he is now considering retirement to spend time with his kids.
- In the same piece, Cafardo reports Giants catching prospect Buster Posey has busted five homeruns and notched 22 RBI already in Single A San Jose, putting him on "a fast track to the big leagues." With Bengie Molina entering free agency, the Giants will not feel forced to re-sign him. According to Cafardo, the team would love to retain Molina to act as a mentor for Posey but for the fact that "Molina isn't ready for the mentoring role." Molina told reporters he'll seek a starting job. Finding one should be no trouble whatsoever.
- Also in that same piece, former player Troy O'Leary is developing a baseball reality TV show...
- According to Marc Lancaster, Jason Isringhausen is healthy. His rehab assignment is up May 19 but the Rays seem hesitant to call him up until then. With 10 days to determine what to do with him, it's expected Izzy will slot into the bullpen for Triple-A Durham until the Rays have to make a decision.
- Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com says Luis Vizcaino will join the Indians bullpen this week rather than go through a minor league stint in Triple-A Columbus. Vizcaino hasn't pitched in a game since April 21, right before the Cubs designated him for assignment and released him. Who gets sent down instead? Jensen Lewis or Tony Sipp both have options. Masa Kobayashi is a candidate to be released altogether, says Castrovince.
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