Friday night linkage..
- B.J. Upton and the Rays had their arbitration hearing today and the decision from that hearing is expected tomorrow, writes Bill Chastain of MLB.com. Tampa Bay is offering $3MM while Upton wants $3.3MM.
- Steve Gilbert of MLB.com tweets that there is still no movement in talks between the D-Backs and Edwin Jackson. Jackson is seeking $6.25MM while Arizona is offering $4.6MM.
- If the Tigers ink Johnny Damon, the club may look make a trade to free up their glut in the outfield, writes James Schmehl of MLive.com. Ryan Raburn and Clete Thomas could be shipped elsewhere in order to make room for Damon in the lineup. Schmehl also writes that GM Dave Dombrowski may try to move Nate Robertson and Carlos Guillen, though their hefty contracts will be an impediment.
- Phil Wood of MASNSports.com fails to understand the Nats' interest in pitcher Kris Benson. The 35-year-old has not pitched a full season since 2006, when he posted a 4.82 ERA with 4.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 for the Orioles.
- Australian catcher Guy Edmonds has signed with the Texas Rangers, according to Christian Nicolussi of The Daily Telegraph. Nicolussi writes that the 16-year-old has the potential to outperform the country's greatest baseball export, Dave Nilsson.
- ESPN's Rob Neyer defends Tim Lincecum's signing of a two-year deal with the Giants. Tiny Tim was seeking $13MM in arbitration with the club.
- Rangers pitchers Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando – banned for the past five years due to their involvement in a visa fraud scandal – have received their visas and are expected in Spring Training, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. In total, the Rangers are expecting 56 players in camp.
- On his website, MetsBlog.com founder Matthew Cerrone was asked by a reader if reporters in the mainstream media "make up" hot stove rumors. While he says that this is not the case, the seriousness of talks between clubs are, at times, not communicated effectively. Because of the strange nature of the baseball rumor mill, Cerrone says that he and Tim Dierkes provide an important service to fans by adding context to hot stove rumblings.
“Cerrone says that he and Tim Dierkes provide an important service to fans by adding context to hot stove rumblings.”
Yeah, MLBTR is simply amazing. Don’t know what I’d do without it.
Amen to that!
The sad thing with Nilsson is he was having a very productive career when he left the MLB at 29.
One of the most appreciative things about this site is that Tim and all of the other aggregators inform you when to take a rumor with a grain of salt. They don’t create the rumors, just pass them along… that in itself is cool, but what ROCKS is that they do a great job of sifting and tagging the BS when necessary. Thanks Guise!
Yeah…Tim for president in 2016?
Exactly. That’s why I feel this site is a daily must read for any baseball fan.
It’s a site you should refresh every minute.
I don’t get why people are questioning teams who have interest in Kris Benson?
You have to understand when you sign Kris Benson, you get Anna in the package.
they are two completely different people.
Kris Benson has not pitched well since ’04. The guy says he’s 100% healthy. If the Nats sign him to a Minor League Contract, there is nothing to worry about but I certainly hope they do sign him to a Minors deal.
Intersted to see this Guy Edmonds guy play. Always fun to see a player come from overseas, especially from somewhere where baseball really isn’t that popular.
Hey mate im from Australia and actually play against this kid. He’s nothing flash defensively, but has a great bat and was recently named the number 1 junior catcher in the world. Still, cant see him performing over there yet.. maybe as he gets older
Hey mate im from Australia and I actually play in the same comp as this kid. He’s nothing flash defensively, but has a great bat. He was recently named the worlds number 1 junior catcher, however i dont see him doing too much in the states just yet.. maybe as he gets older he’ll get better
Felipe Lopez fired Boras .Thats so damn funny .
yeah Felipe has done the impossible! He’s free! I could see Felipe playing for the Padres or Indians.
Perhaps the best statement I’ve read all off season. I’m sure Boras doesn’t care but I really hope this guy gets the stick from everyone.
Ok Mozeliak, now’s the time to sign Lopez!
Yay for Felipe Lopez.
While it is true that Lincecum left money on the table today, he greatly increased his public profile by being more than reasonable in settling. His arbitration filing was exorbitant for a first-time arb eligible. He is a great pitcher, perhaps another Halladay or HOF’er, but your salary in baseball is properly the subject of a progression. The real big bucks come only after 4 years of solid performance. If Tim remains consistent, he may be the first ever awarded $20MM per season in arbitration. With $23MM pretty much in the bank, he is set for life. He should never need to work a day at a straight job after his baseball days are done. Now, he needs to turn back to his game and show us all why he deserves $20MM per season.
haha!!! Way to go Felipe!! Boras was so busy over block-head damon he forgot about his other clients.
I’m probably in the vast minority, but I actually think the Mets will surprise this year. And I’m not even a fan (Tigers), even though I live in NYC. I think a lot of NY fans are conditioned to require a big offseason splash, but in my mind, their splash is Reyes returning to form. Obviously if he’s not healthy, then it’s over. Strangely, their season might depend on what Kelvim Escobar gives them.
Highly doubt we’d be able to move a contract like Robertson’s at this rate. I think we need to hang on to Raburn, but they would have to find someone to move and that’d probably be Clete. I’m still holding onto the hope that it won’t have to happen, because our management will wake up and realize 14 mil to Damon is a huge mistake.
If the Tigers do trade Guillen or Robertson, I think they would have to take a bad salary in return. Possibly a Thomas trade. Maybe for a Leo Rosales type reliever.
Tigers dont need another BP arm. There BP is already over crowded and that is not including the BP arms they have in the minors
If I’m the Tigers I sign F Lopez, not Damon. Lopez is cheaper, can back up two critical spots where we actually lack quality depth and we don’t have to move or hold back 2 solid, young OFers in the process. I’m fine if they pay Damon ~5-6 million for one year, but no way I would give him $14 over 2…
Haha Scott Boras. nuff said.
Um, guessing Boras yawned when he was given the news. This isn’t Mark Teixeira firing him here.
Would Tigers fans be ok with trading Raburn?
If there was a decent return. He actually did nice leading off against leftys, and he can fit lower in the lineup too. However, his defense is subject, I’d only stick him in left. His D has cost the Tigers at least 2 games in my opinion.
I hope the Cardinals come back with a higher offer to Lopez now…we’ll take him back!
Wow! Is Edwin Jackson really worth that much?
Not at all.
im an Aussie and enjoy my baseball, saw him the other day, hes16 and already 6ft tall if not more, looks 2 be the goods,
been getting alot of training from another Aussie catcher in Gary White, awsome stuff good to see the Aussies getting a run
good to see the Aussie talent getting picked up, theres a few guys whos signed now,
saw Guy the other day big boy for only 16 6ft plus hope he kicks some assss
right on the money Metsvilleslugger.
Now I don’t say this often so perk those ears up, but I agree with that Mets Fan.
So the solution is to trade a 2B that got on base nearly 39% of the time last year for a pitcher with a devilish 6.66 career ERA?