Ron Belliard Rumors

Nats Notes: Guzman, Desmond, Carroll, Dunn

The Nationals are considering a number of options up the middle. Here's the latest: MLB.com's Bill Ladson expects the Nationals to try trading Cristian Guzman this offseason. It won't be easy, given his $8MM salary. Manager Jim Riggleman likes Ian Desmond, but others within the organization believe the infielder needs more minor league seasoning. Could Ronnie Belliard return to play second base? Ladson doubts it. Jamey Carroll doesn't seem likely to return to Washington, either. At least nine teams have interest in the 35-year-old. The Nats are considering a couple defensive shortstops, too. Since 2007, no fielder has cost his...   Continue Reading

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Heyman's Latest: Holliday, Lackey, Bay, Trades

Jon Heyman has a new column up at SI.com, so let's dive on in... Scott Boras said on Sunday that the Cardinals have not made any proposals in an effort to retain Matt Holliday, and Heyman says "the chances for Holliday to remain a Cardinal look slim at this point." A source familiar with the situation said the Angels offered John Lackey an extension earlier this year worth less than $40MM over three years on top of 2009's $10MM salary, so if they wish to re-sign him now, they'll have to completely rethink their original stance. The Red Sox are...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Dodgers, Villalona, Johnson

A few Monday evening links.... Dave Cameron of FanGraphs argues Joe Torre is making the Dodgers worse by giving Ronnie Belliard playing time at the expense of Orlando Hudson. Belliard is outperforming Hudson lately, and keeping Hudson on the bench is saving the Dodgers some money, but Cameron thinks that playing Belliard at second base in October would hurt the team's World Series chances. Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports that Giants prospect Angel Villalona has pleaded innocent to the charge of murder. Still, Baggarly says it's anyone's guess whether Villalona will ever play baseball again. After...   Continue Reading

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Benching Costs Orlando Hudson

Talking to Jim Peltz of the L.A. Times, Dodgers manager Joe Torre would not commit to Ronnie Belliard over Orlando Hudson as the team's starting second baseman. Belliard has started at second base in eight of the team's 18 games this month, as well as a few times at third. Hudson stands to lose money as a bench player, though he was gracious in comments made to Peltz. The way his contract is set up, Hudson is currently earning $10,000 per plate appearance up until his 632nd. He's already earned $7.63MM on the season, despite a base salary of $3.38MM....   Continue Reading

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Discussion: Ronnie Belliard

Ronnie Belliard, a 35-year-old second baseman, landed in Chavez Ravine this August, via trade, after posting a .247/.297/.376 batting line in 203 plate with the Nationals. He's been on a tear ever since, hitting .308/.345/.615 in 52 at-bats for the Dodgers and even stealing playing time from switch-hitting Gold Glover Orlando Hudson. Belliard hits the free agent market this winter, and we're having trouble getting a grasp on his value. He's climbing quickly in age, and has limited range at second base, but always seems to rattle off impressive offensive streaks. Can he still be a regular in the major...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Hudson, Rangers, Cubbies

The first round of links for today... The Ronnie Belliard pickup is costing Orlando Hudson some major bucks, as Dylan Hernandez of The LA Times points out. Hudson entered the week with 577 plate appearances, and he'll earn $10K for every PA between 576 and 632 according to his contract. However, Hudson has sat in favor of Belliard four times in the last 11 games. Jim Reeves of The Star Telegram writes that the Rangers' financial plight will probably hamstring the team, with no immediate relief in sight. Club president Nolan Ryan said he can't see the team being sold...   Continue Reading

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Gammons' Latest: Iglesias, Magglio, Valentine

In his latest blog post at ESPN, Peter Gammons writes that the NL West has quietly become very competitive thanks to three California pitcher's parks that make it such a pitching dominated division. Through the help of scouts and team executives, he points out all the great young talent in the division, highlighted by the likes of Ubaldo Jimenez, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Pablo Sandoval, Troy Tulowitzki, and Mark Reynolds. Here's a roundup of Gammons' rumors... Gammons jokes that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti "could be arrested for shoplifting," because in the last two seasons...   Continue Reading

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Nationals Acquire Victor Garate To Complete Belliard Trade

The Nationals acquired Double A lefty reliever Victor Garate to complete the August 30th Ronnie Belliard trade, according to Pete McElroy of MASN. The Nats already received A-ball pitcher Luis Garcia in the deal. Garate, 25 later this month, came to the Dodgers in '07 from the Astros via the Rule 5 draft. Baseball America wrote in this year's Handbook that he "projects as a poor man's Brian Fuentes." Garate must be thrilled with the trade, as he'll move quickly up the ladder in the Nationals' bullpen.   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Acquire Ronnie Belliard

Chico Harlan of The Washington Post reports that the Nationals traded infielder Ronnie Belliard to the Dodgers following today's game. Washington will receive A-ball pitcher Luis Garcia and a player to be named in the deal. Belliard, 34, was hitting .247-.297-.376 in 203 plate appearances for the Nats this year, spending time at first, second and third base. He is in the final year of the two year, $3.5M extension he signed during the 2007 season. Garcia, 22, has a 2.92 ERA in 34 appearances (15 starts) in the Low-A Midwest League this season, and was not considered one the...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Belliard, Atkins, Ayala

Some links to peruse as we await the baseball equivalent of the Shaq trade... MLB.com's Bill Ladson reports that Ronnie Belliard isn't sure if he'll play another season. Mark DeRosa tops the list of infielders most likely to be traded, if you ask Matthew Pouliot of NBC Sports. Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post says the Rockies shouldn't deal anyone but Garrett Atkins. Huston Street believes getting traded led to a "good opportunity," according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. ESPN.com's Rob Neyer says Luis Ayala is far from irreplaceable. I'll be talking rumors on the TEAM 1380...   Continue Reading

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