Ryan Church Rumors

Odds & Ends: Church, Macha, Farrell

Some more reading for the last Friday night of the 2009 regular season.... Mark Bowman of MLB.com wonders if Ryan Church has played his last game for the Braves. Bowman thinks, because of Church's back injuries, the Braves may not want to pay for a salary bump through arbitration. Brewers GM Doug Melvin has not yet met with Ken Macha to discuss his future in Milwaukee, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. It looks as if Macha will be back in the Brewers' dugout in 2010, but Melvin probably won't make it official until after Sunday's finale. Red...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Church, Yuniesky, Pirates

A few links for the afternoon as the All-Star Break approaches: Ryan Church has no animosity or hard feelings towards the Mets organization. He says that he's appreciative of Omar Minaya and everything that he has done for Church over his career. He's also excited to be playing with Chipper Jones. Says Church: "I grew up in the '90s as a big Braves fan. I'll never tell him, but he was my favorite player," he said. "It's cool now to be playing with him." Joe Posnanski continues to lament the recent acquisition of Yuniesky Betancourt by the Royals, stating that...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Church, Francoeur, Betancourt

Had enough of yesterday's trades yet? Good, because here are some reactions from around the blogosphere... Matt Cerrone at MetsBlog says he's not sure the Ryan Church-Jeff Francoeur swap makes total sense, and he's not sure if the move will have an impact for either team. Sam Page at Amazin' Avenue says that he's convinced the trade makes no sense, and all of the "talk about potential, shake-ups and athleticism is just noise." Talking Chops' "gondeee" likes the Church pickup, even if it cost the once-face of the franchise. Admittedly, it's been a while since Francoeur was viewed in that...   Continue Reading

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Mets, Braves Swap Church For Francoeur

6:07pm: Hubbuch clears up some confusion: the Braves are sending the Mets cash in the deal. That makes more sense given the difference in salaries. 5:48pm: Adam Rubin of The NY Daily News reports that Braves also received cash in the deal. Church is making $2.8MM this year, his second arbitration eligible season. Francoeur is making $3.375MM in his first arbitration eligible year. 5:04pm: Hubbuch says the deal was straight up, one for one. 5:01pm: David Lennon tweets that Church was traded to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur. Francoeur has put up a .250-.282-.352 batting line in 324 plate appearances in...   Continue Reading

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Eight More Avoid Arbitration

SI.com's Jon Heyman has seven more players who avoided arbitration today: Jeremy Accardo ($900K), Heath Bell ($1.225MM), Ryan Church ($2.8MM), Gerald Laird ($2.8MM), Javier Lopez ($1.35MM), Bobby Seay ($1.3MM), and Joel Zumaya ($735K). I think next year we'll put all of these in one constantly-updated post. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says Angel Pagan signed for $575K.   Continue Reading

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Mets Prioritize Pitching

9:15pm: Michael Schmidt has a look at the amusing binder the Boras Corporation compiled to sell Oliver Perez. 6:31pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya commented on Manny Ramirez, indicating that he plans to invest in pitching instead. 2:34pm: The Mets expressed preliminary interest in Jon Garland and Ryan Dempster, according to Ken Davidoff. Dempster's agent made it clear that he won't be re-signing with the Cubs soon. 1:23pm: ESPN's Buster Olney wrote in his blog this morning that the Mets are probably not willing to go past three years for Francisco Rodriguez or any reliever. 10:03am: More Mets chatter from Joel...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: LaCava, Colletti, Andruw

Links for Wednesday... I did a Q&A with the Roselle Press. The article includes a sweet picture of me hacking the Internet. Greg Cote of the Miami Herald speculates on the new-look 2009 Marlins. If defense is a goal, they could look to acquire Adrian Beltre and try Jorge Cantu at first base. Randy Winn could improve the defense in right. John Fay runs through the Reds' nine free agents. He believes Jerry Hairston Jr. wants to return. Brian Cashman wants to acquire a real first baseman, rather than have Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui spend time there. The Mariners...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: McLouth, Doumit, Eyre, Bradley

Here's today's link roundup. Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus rates the best remaining fits for Barry Bonds. The Angels come out on top. The Mets seem pessimistic about Ryan Church returning this season. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo has the latest buzz on the unsigned draft picks. The Astros dug up a pitcher in the independent leagues who is said to touch 100 mph. He's a 21 year-old righty named Jack Tilghman. The Pirates plan to offer long-term contracts to Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit. Sean McAdam says the Red Sox still have some interest in Scott Eyre. Dave Cameron can't figure...   Continue Reading

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Sherman On The Mets

Joel Sherman of the New York Post talked to Mets GM Omar Minaya yesterday, gaining insight on the team's plans for the second half. If Ryan Church is able to return (the Mets are cautiously optimistic), the Mets will focus on a righty-hitting left fielder. Raul Ibanez is a lefty, while the prospect price on Matt Holliday and Xavier Nady seems prohibitive. I assume the same applies to Jason Bay. Sherman has mentioned Austin Kearns in the past; he could make sense. The price on Brian Fuentes and similar relievers is also apparently too high. Minaya might prefer not to...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Bonds, Church, Myers, Teixeira

Some odds and some ends: Ozzie Guillen says "Barry [Bonds] can't play for my team," according to Joe Cowley from the Chicago Sun Times. The New York Daily News' Adam Rubin is reporting Ryan Church's diagnosis was positive and his ability to return may "lessen the pressure" on the Mets to find a replacement. They will also get Angel Pagan back next week and management's "not averse" to promoting 19-year old prospect Fernando Martinez in the second half. Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer says Brett Myers feels he's ready to return. The Atlanta Journal Constitution's David O'Brien notes the...   Continue Reading

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