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Archives for April 2009

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sheffield, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees

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On this date 43 years ago, Tom Seaver signed with the Mets for a $50K signing bonus. Seaver originally agreed to a deal with the Braves, but the contract was voided due to Seaver's status as an amateur at USC. After being ruled ineligible at USC, and the Braves were forbidden from signing Seaver, any team willing to match the original $50K signing bonus were included in a lottery for the rights to the future hall-of-famer. The Phillies, Indians and Mets literally had their names placed in a cap and the Mets were selected. The regular season is only days away and inevitably a former Mets pitcher will throw a no-hitter. Let's see what is being written in the Blogosphere…

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Gary Sheffield Rumors: Friday

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It seems that the Mets may join the Phillies and Reds in the Gary Sheffield sweepstakes.  According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, "Sheffield's availability intrigues team officials."  Rubin cautions that an internal meeting about the subject has yet to take place.  Rubin believes Sheffield would have to start with a bench role, and the Mets might have to release Marlon Anderson to clear that spot.  MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone would like Anderson to be replaced with Frank Catalanotto instead.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post also thinks Sheffield is on the Mets' radar, and does believe they "have held some in-depth discussions on if they should sign the guy."

How about the Dodgers?  Ramona Shelburne of the L.A. Daily News talked to Joe Torre, who said it wouldn't make sense.

Click here to catch up on yesterday's Sheffield happenings.

Rosenthal On Sheffield, Repko, McPherson

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A look at Ken Rosenthal's column from yesterday afternoon…

  • The Marlins chose Ross Gload over Frank Catalanotto, but are still considering signing Cat for the minimum now that he's been released. 
  • The Braves are not interested in bringing back Gary Sheffield.  Meanwhile, Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets (as well as the Phillies and Reds) have an eye on Sheffield.
  • Sheffield is apparently the only right-handed hitter on the Phillies' radar.  Rosenthal learned that the Rockies' asking price for Jeff Baker is high.
  • The Braves almost made a deal for Dodgers outfielder Jason Repko, but backed off recently.
  • The Yankees will pass on Dallas McPherson, but the Giants may consider him.
  • The Yanks don't seem desperate to move Melky Cabrera.  They've received multiple calls on him but Rosenthal says "the team will only move him for the right price."

Brewers Ink Tyner, Will Dump Gwynn Jr.

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11:00pm: Gwynn has been placed on waivers.

2:24pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Haudricourt that there will be an announcement concerning Gwynn Jr. on Friday.  It appears he will be placed on waivers.

1:33pm: According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers have signed outfielder Jason Tyner to their Triple-A Nashville roster.

Tyner, 31, has spent time in the majors with the Mets, Rays, Twins and Indians.  He spent all of last year in Triple-A, where he hit .248 with 12 doubles, a homer and 18 RBI in just over 300 at-bats.  Haudricourt surmises that this signing could result in the Brewers waiving Tony Gwynn Jr, who is out of options and unlikely to make the final roster.

Gary Sheffield Rumors: Thursday

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9:13pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer has an update.  Jocketty spoke to Sheffield's agent and Baker spoke to Sheffield, both over the phone.  The Reds can only offer platoon at-bats in left field.  Sheffield will play for the minimum and is talking to two or three other clubs.  

12:26pm: FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal spoke with Sheffield's agent Thursday, who said he and his client plan to "rush slowly" once Sheff clears waivers at 1pm EST.  In other words, they want to strike a deal quickly, but will take their time and explore all avenues.

"We're not challenged by the absolute need to be on an Opening Day roster," said the agent, Rufus Williams.  "We're challenged by whether it's the right fit for Gary."

11:05am: Baker and Jocketty are expected to meet face-to-face with Sheffield once he clears waivers.  "For now, it's just a conversation," writes MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo.

9:23am: After speaking with Reds manager Dusty Baker, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer no longer thinks the club will land Sheffield.

“I’m sure he has some offers," Baker said Thursday.  "I called Walt (Jocketty) for permission to make the call. I made the call. Walt talked to Mr. Castellini. I talked to Jim Leyland because (Sheffield) hasn’t played outfield in a long time. His teammates liked him. He’s straightforward and says what he wants. That’s what he gets publicity for. But he told me he’s quiet and off to himself on the clubhouse… I don’t know if we’re in the running or not. He wants playing time.”

9:02am: MLB.com's Todd Zolecki believes the Phillies "very much want to sign" Gary Sheffield when he clears waivers at 1pm today.  They'll be bidding primarily against the Reds, it appears.

For a refresher on the Sheffield talks, check out the MLBTR archive.

Minor Moves

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A few players were released this evening…

Red Sox Standing Pat

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The Red Sox don't plan on pursuing any recently released players, according to Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal.  Names like Frank Catalanotto and Jeff Keppinger have been floated in connection with Boston, but club officials believe the roster is set (Keppinger's already an Astro).

"It looks like we have our team," manager Terry Francona said Thursday.  The Sox appear satisfied with Chris Carter and Nick Green as viable fill-ins for injured players Mark Kotsay and Julio Lugo.

D’Backs Retain Skelton, Deal Brooks Brown

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According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks have managed to keep Rule 5 pick James Skelton.  The club dealt minor league right-hander Brooks Brown to the Tigers in order to retain the catcher's rights.

Brown, 23, finished with a 4.18 ERA in 26 starts for Double-A Mobile last season.  Skelton, also 23, hit just .150/.244/.175 in 40 at-bats this spring.

Rockies Interested In Hammel, Gaudin?

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1:53pm: The Denver Post's Troy Renck reports that the Rockies' pursuit of Gaudin has "cooled."  The club is now focusing on the Rays' Jason Hammel.

10:25am: According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Rockies are interested in acquiring Chad Gaudin of the Cubs.  Sullivan explains:

"If that happens, the Cubs could keep both Angel Guzman and Rule 5 pick David Patton, and send Jeff Samardzija to Triple-A Iowa.  The Cubs probably aren't expecting much back for Gaudin, who hasn't pitched well since his mysterious fall last August put him on the disabled list with back problems."

Gaudin, 26, posted a 4.40 ERA in 90 innings last year.  He's set to make $2MM in '09.

The Curious Case Of Nate Robertson

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Upon learning that he'll begin the 2009 season in the bullpen, left-hander Nate Robertson wondered aloud Thursday whether his time has run out in Detroit. "The cycle of a player's time in an organization comes and goes, and maybe my time is nearing its end," he said. (Quote is courtesy of MLive.com's Steve Kornacki).

Robertson, 31, has gone 49-65 with a 4.90 ERA since showing up on the scene in 2003.  His '08 season was a disaster, however, and probably nullified any trade value that he once had.  (He finished with a 7-11 record and a 6.35 ERA).

Tigers manger Jim Leyland spoke briefly about Nate's fall from grace on Thursday morning: "If someone had told me in 2006 that Robertson would be in the bullpen, I'd have told him, 'You are crazy.'"

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