Links for Sunday, as the celebration continues in Spain….
- Since acquiring Scott Rolen from Toronto roughly one year ago, the Reds are 70-42 when he starts and 12-26 when he doesn't, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday (via Twitter) talked to Yankees catcher Austin Romine, who admitted that a trade of Jesus Montero to the Mariners would have benefited him.
- Looking to improve their NL-worst OBP (.295) and SLG (.348), the Astros have replaced hitting coach Sean Berry with Jeff Bagwell, per a team release. Sean Berry was surprised by his dismissal from the Astros, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
- Last winter, Bob Klapisch of FOX Sports suggested that the Yankees offer Derek Jeter a four-year, $100MM extension. Today, the New York Post's Joel Sherman says that Jeter "hardly looks like a player deserving" of such a contract, except for the fact that he's Derek Jeter. Sherman expects Jeter to be a Yankee past this season, of course, but suggests that the second half of 2010 may be a "salary drive" for the 36-year-old.
- Brian Sabean has no regrets about not promoting Buster Posey or trading Bengie Molina earlier, writes Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer thinks the Indians would like to keep Jake Westbrook, so they have at least one veteran starter in their 2011 rotation.
- Noting that Albert Pujols could have his own "Decision" to make next year, Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hopes the slugger doesn't do to St. Louis what LeBron James did to Cleveland.
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio is reluctant to become a seller because he believes his team can contend next year, if not this year, says Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Within the same piece, Shaikin indicates the Dodgers could still be in "payroll limbo" this offseason if the McCourts' divorce goes to trial.
- Minor league free agents have come through this year for the Phillies, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Please sell the team McCheap. You are ruining a legacy.
Too late, Fox screwed it up long before McCourt came on the scene. Not that it seems to matter to anyone, but the Dodgers’ payroll is almost exactly the same as it was last year, and also, half the teams in MLB have lower payrolls this season compared to last season. But it must be the divorce, because, you know, we keep reading about it, which must meant that everything bad that happens to the Dodgers is because of Frank n’ Jamie.
They drafted a player that can’t be signed. The divorce problem isn’t imaginary.
I didn’t say it was imaginary. What I did say is that it doesn’t explain everything.
But it explains quite a lot.
Far less than we are supposed to believe. The Dodgers’ payroll is almost exactly the same as it was last year, which is difficult to explain with the Frank and Jamie divorce storyline. I think that is why this fact is never mentioned in any story about the Dodgers, because it doesn’t fit. Not many teams are in salary-adding mode at this point either. Another inconvenient fact.
“Shaikin indicates the Dodgers could still be in “payroll limbo” this offseason if the McCourts’ divorce goes to trial”—Good God, they’re going to trial in August! How long does a divorce trial take? I honestly believe once the divorce is past us things will return, somewhat to normal. (still not an ideal situation, but better off then we are now). Let’s just get past this crap! BTW- I don’t see the big deal with the draft pick. We get a free 1st rounder next year (when HOPEFULLY there won’t be so much money tied down) if we don’t sign him, so I’m pretty sure the pick was just some strategic planning on Colleti/White’s parts.
My dads took over a year and hes just a regular dude.
Really? Trading top prospects for salary relief, booting Type A draft picks because you might think Wolf will accept, the payroll has about 11 million in dead weight.. the salaries for players playing this year is 83 mil. Drafting a unsignable player in the draft.. How is this not their faults? If the Payroll is where it should be (120 mil) and our farm system wasnt destroyed by stupid trades/no scouting in the latin countries/ and not signing players you draft.. where would this team be? I don’t think we would be looking up in the standings.
I don’t understand this concept of a payroll “where it should be.” How much is San Diego paying for their team? Under $40m is how much. Every team has “dead weight” payroll, so that’s not a serious argument. As for Wolf, looking at his stats this year, it’s hard to make a serious argument that the Dodgers should have offered him arbitration. If they had, and he ended up earning $10-12m with the Dodgers this season, the same people who argue that he should have been offered arbitration would be complaining about him being “dead weight.” Say what you like, that sure looks like the right move, so possibly instead of being bitter you might give management some credit.
In America, we can work for whomever we want. Pujols will go where the deal is best for him. LeBron James left Ohio partly for tax reasons. He can make more take home in FL due to their state tax structure.
Lack of state income tax doesn’t make up for the extra money Cleveland could have paid. James left a lot of money on the table.
What??? Cleveland dealt James as a part of a sign and trade. They got 2 future 1st rounders in the deal. Lebron left about 15 mil over 6 years on the table… not a huge sacrifice really, especially when looking at the tax implications
Lebron likely comes out ahead when factoring in the state tax savings on his estimated $100M/year endorsements. Without knowing the OH tax rates, I would think that, at worst, its a wash and he left nothing on the table.
Sacrifice only happens in baseball.
I guess that works for the NBA, since the NBA is basically just about individual players and all their corporate sponsorships now anyway. I really hope the MLB doesn’t get to the point where fans only follow their favorite mega-millionaire superstar players as opposed to full teams… it’s just another form of celebrity worship.
But in the NBA, one player is actually that important. With few exceptions, you need an all-time great player to win a championship. Someone as great as LeBron would almost certainly win a ring at some point. No basketball player as inner circle great as Barry Bonds or Ted Williams has failed to win a ring.
Well Stockton and Malone were pretty good. 😀
Don’t forget about Ewing.
thats stupid. that would be like saying a guy who buys a lamborghini cares about MPG
LeBron chose Miami over Cleveland, great teammates over bad teammates, and may have left behind a teammate who was *involved* with his mother. Pujols has some star power around him, there’s a small number of teams that have money and room for him, and he functions really well not being in a huge market. And he doesn’t play with Delonte West.
I can’t imagine how hated Pujols would become if he shunned the Cardinals for the Yankees.
Yankees wouldn’t sign him. Nor would Boston, both already have 1B covered.
thats never stopped them before
In most cases, no, but the Yankees need DH opened for their aging players, and Tex is at 1B for quite a while longer.
Boston seems crazy and has the money right now, and is going to be desperate for a huge offensive boost. I can see them doing it, and trying to force Martinez to learn how to catch.
Victor Martinez at catcher? Are you crazy /sarcasm
I don’t see the Yankees signing him either but if there is any chance of him moving I can see Boston in on it. There has been talk this year about Youkilis not being likely to move to third at this point in his career, but if you can sign an Albert Pujols you move Youk to third every time.
Youk wouldn’t have to move they coudl trade off at DH or Pujols could just focus on hitting at DH.
Yeah, but he would make a MIGHTY FINE DH 😉
Don’t be foolish,Boston will be all over him.
If Pujols wants to go to NY, the Yankees would sign him. Hell even if he doesnt wanna go their, the Yanks are gonna have some interest. Who are you kidding?
Albert is already one of the greatest players in baseball history.
He owes St Louis nothing. He performed, they paid him, contract complete. If they want to keep ONE OF THE GREATEST in baseball history, they better get out their pocketbooks.
And hopefully he ignores the incessant whining from writers such as Bernie Miklasz from the St Louis “whatever”.
I love you DJ, but please don’t ask for more than 15 mil a year. Come now, you could play for free and still make more money than just about any other player in any other sports league.
“Noting that Albert Pujols could have his own “Decision” to make next year, Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hopes the slugger doesn’t do to St. Louis what LeBron James did to Cleveland.”
I get the jist, since the LeBron thing just happened. You can discuss the impact of Albert and LeBron as top talents leaving the only organization they ever played for and the ripple effect it causes. However, I feel you can not compare LeBron leaving to Albert’s situation. LeBron grew up just outside the Cleveland area. He was one of their own. That is the difference. Albert did not grow up in the St. Louis area. I know it would be a hard thing if Albert left those Red Bird fans. It would be HUGE, though very doubtful it happens. The LeBron situation was MUCH WORSE on those Cleveland fans. Even if Albert left St. Louis, it’s still not the same. I think A-Rod leaving Seattle for Texas would be a better comparison for Albert.
Ah, Alex Rodriguez…good comparison, we still hate him up here.
Seattle fans still throw money on the field when ARod bats
i like Jeter but i think the Yanks should be smart in terms of limiting aging players contract years…and they should remember that they only have to pay him a little more than the next team and understand that he wants to be a Yankee above all…with that being said…i think they should offer him a 1 year deal with a club option for a second year at 12 or 13 mill a year and give him a million dollar buy out…with his decrease in speed homer run power and batting average…it might be safe to assume noone would offer him more than a two year deal…and probably no more than 7.5 a year…let him get his 2000 hits as a Yankee and then reevaulate him at the end of the 2011 season…if possible the Yanks might want to try a trade Swisher and Granderson with maybe a prospect pitcher for Hanely Ramirez…if they were to acquire him or Jose Reyes they could move Jeter to dh and that could be used as leverage in the negotiations….
Ummmmmmm pretty optimistic there aren’t you?
From one Yankee fan to another, I say this with sincerity.
Stop talking.
“if possible the Yanks might want to try a trade Swisher and Granderson with maybe a prospect pitcher for Hanely Ramirez”
I don’t know, Swisher for Hanley? Don’t you think the Marlins should throw in Mike Stanton?
Haha…Why stop there im sure we could throw in Mitre or Gaudin for Josh Johnson?
Jeter is the face of that franchise for decades to follow. Some Yankee fanatic. Im pretty sure that would be pennywise but very dollar foolish for them. Its 3000 hits by the way. Maybe you would want to take a look at Jeters stats. They speak for themself.
Of course Sabean has no regrets…he will NEVER admit he screwed up.
Sabean has no regrets…
Perfectly understandable factoring in his inability to face reality.
Dodgy link in Jeter story. The Joel Sherman one also goes to the FoxSports story, at the moment.
“Looking to improve their NL-worst OBP (.295) and SLG (.348), the Astros have replaced hitting coach Sean Berry with Jeff Bagwell, per a team release … Sean Berry was surprised by his dismissal from the Astros, writes MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart.”
I guess Sean Berry is unfamiliar with the history of mangers and coaches.
I now believe that if the indians trade one of there pitchers it very well could be Carmona then they would work out a new contract with Westbrook.
For one thing Carmona has a greater trade value than Westbrook at this point but IMO Shapiro and Company seem to feel that it would be a much better thing to extend Westbrook a couple years with maybe a option year so Westbrook could mentor guys close to the major like Carrasco who looks like will start one of the day night doubleheaders Friday and Alex White who is ontrack to get 4 or 5 starts in September.
There is a very good chance that the Indians starting rotation out of Spring Training 2011 will be Westbrook / Masterson / Carrasco / White / with a cast of others in and out of the #5 slot Rondon / Laffey / Huff / Tomlin and Gomez.
But according to all I have heard expect Pomeranz to plow through the minor and end up in the major with the indians around the time roster expand.
Now for Carmona what the Indians will look for is a right handed power bat a guy who can play Left Field or a guy who is a 1st baseman then they would move LaPorta to Left.
Kearns and Wood will most likely bring guys with hi-upside at the Hi A level but below a teams top 10 prospects. The Indians will focus on Center Field ( they will look to upgrade with a guy who shows better speed and pop which Brantley is lacking ) , Shortstop and 3rd Base when these deal are made.
I’m sorry, but there is no way anything you said comes to pass. If you are a Cleveland fan then you are one that is poorly informed or making up your own scenarios.
LOL Rolen sure helped the reds beat the phills this series….oh wait ;]
Yawn
I’m surprised the Mets didn’t offer any others or so it’s reported. I wouldn’t think the Mets would want to give up Davis. In my opinion, for what it’s worth, I don’t think Lilly or Westbrook is the answer. Ultimately, I think that Lee wears pinstripes next season anyway.
All this discussion of players and free to go where they want and leaving money on the table is moot. The 2011 season will be the last season in baseball without a salary cap, then a level playing field for all. Teams will succeed or fail based on the intelligence of their front offices as it should be. Enjoy it while it lasts large market fans.