Ten years ago today, the Giants signed Francisco Liriano as an amateur free agent. In 2003, the Giants famously (and regrettably) traded Joe Nathan, Boof Bonser and Liriano to the Twins for A.J. Pierzynski. Now 27, Liriano is in the midst of a fine season atop the Twins' rotation. Here are today's links…
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio has interest in buying the Dodgers, according to Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse. However, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel hears that Attanasio does not have interest in the Dodgers (Twitter link).
- Krasovic also reports that the Padres have talked to former D’Backs manager A.J. Hinch about hiring him as their director of pro scouting.
- Adam Dunn is not likely to re-sign with the Nationals if you ask Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post. Boswell suggests the Nationals should sign Dunn, since power like his is hard to find.
- Zach Duke was a non-tender candidate before his start yesterday and, as Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explains, the lefty didn't do himself any favors by pitching just one-plus inning and allowing four runs. Kovacevic says "indications are powerful" that management will not tender Duke a contract offer through arbitration (though that wouldn't necessarily prevent a return to Pittsburgh).
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan argues that Cardinals fans are more concerned about Albert Pujols than either Colby Rasmus or Tony La Russa.
- D'Backs Interim manager Kirk Gibson has not had any discussions with ownership about managing after this year, but would like to return, according to Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic.
Poor Duke. He is such a hittable pitcher and he’s always prone to having games like last night. That’s why I hate having guys like he and Maholm. They don’t really have the pure stuff to be in control of a game, and it’s pot luck every night they pitch, depending on if they are getting weak contact or good defense. They need too much to have success.
If the Cardinals somehow do not sign Pujols…. I would hate to be the GM. I believe they will, but in baseball anything can happen.
You know what is sad? Although I am a Cardinals fan, I am getting to the point where I would almost just as assume listen to trade offers on Pujols as I would resign him to the ridiculous contract that he will recieve. $25-30m a year could go a long way towards helping this team.
Maybe you should be a Royals fan…It’s actually lots of fun and there is a ton to be excited about for the Royals.
Haha. Thanks but no thanks. I love watching my Cardinals but this season has been rough when one considers the quality of the players. Maybe it’s time for a managerial change and a roster shake up.
Trade Colby to fill the higher levels of the organization. I don’t know man. I’m not sure if getting rid of TLR is the right move. A lot of people to blame but I don’t think he is the main reason.
Clubhouse tension is starting to become more and more common over the past few years it seems. In order of recent memory, Ozzie Smith, Ray Lankford, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, and now Colby Rasmus. LaRussa is about done anyway.
i see your Ozzie Smith, ray Lankford, Scott Rolen, Jim edmonds, Colby rasmus and raise you a Anthony Reyes, JD Drew, Ryan Ludwick, and David Eckstein.
I could see Duke being the Matt Capps of next season. The Pirates let him go and then he suceeds elsewhere bigtime. Maybe that elsewher is D.C.
you want everyone to go to the nats lol
I want every player to go to the Royals or Jays. Then the players who are still around, I want them to go to the Nats.
Zach Duke was never good. Capps was good at one point before he was cut by the Pirates. Zach Duke doesn’t deserve to be on a team next year.
Yes he does and he had a really good season last year.
4.06 ERA and a 4.48 K/9 last year which may be really good for Zach Duke but not that good…
Plus he sports a nice 4.31 career FIP.
He is a 4-5 starter which holds value but he will never be really good.
He had a horrible September but a very good rest of season and I’m guessing you’ve watched him so you would know that.
He did have 2 good months where he had 3.00 and 3.47 FIP. But outside of that month he had a 3.99 FIP and the rest were over 4 (with 2 in the 5’s). I’ll admit I don’t watch him but the numbers tell me that he isn’t anything to go wild about on free agency.
Well ill settle with you then, he’s better than half of the pitchers who will be on the open market this off-season.
Duke was on the All-Star Team last year. He must have at least some ability
He was only on it because Matt Cain got hurt, and he was half decent before the All Star break, it’s just that after that he sort of blew up.
zach dukes has a spot in the mets 2011 if he wants it !
I have always liked that idea, but more so before Duke had a horrible injury filled year this season. I really do like him as a Met though…Less likely to give up home runs and could use a change of scenery. Also something to think about, trading Jehurys Familia and Brandon Moore or some type of package for Jeremy Guthrie. This is just wishful thinking for the Mets, but the Mets could use some pitching if Dickey leaves. Imagine a rotation of Santana, Pelfrey, Guthrie, Duke, and Niese.
What I like that the Mets have done, they keep bringing up these pitchers and build there value…For example, Dickey and Gee. It’s going to be an interesting off-season for the Mets but if we have any indication of what will happen, it won’t be an interesting Mets off-season and Omar Minaya will just do what he usually does…
the rotation next year will be
santana
pelfrey
niese
dickey
gee/mejia
Thanks for the reminder, Ben.
It’s time for the Bucs, Zach Duke, and Paul Maholm to start over fresh next season–apart! I think Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, AND the Pirates would benefit from not being together in 2011. It’s obvious that Duke & Maholm need a change of scenery. The Pirates should definitely not tender Duke a contract and let him walk. He has no value and is most likely to earn about $5 million next year in arbitration. The Bucs should deal Maholm in the offseason and shed his $5.75 million dollar contract. The Pirates would be better off spending the money they save on Duke & Maholm on Brandon Webb, Shawn Marcum, and/or Jorge De La Rosa.
Shawn Marcum is not a free agent after this season.
I’ve got no problem w/ the Pirates trading for Marcum as long as they don’t mortgage the future.
Well they might have to.
Marcum does belong in the NL though, he could prob play second base in between starts. I’ve seen him take batting practice and he looks like a position player and has some serious pop
This trade was looking even worse after 2006 if one can imagine. If the Giants hadn’t made this trade they could have avoided signing Zito for so much.
Seems odd to me that one person can own more than one team in MLB, one would think there would be a conflict of interest if both teams are in contention.
The Brewers owner would have to sell his interest in the Brewers before he could buy the Dodgers.
Ahh, ok, that wasn’t really clear in the post above, thanks for clarifying that.
He would sell the Brewers first, everything would have to fall in place.
Thanks for clarifying.
Tom Haudricourt from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel already shot down the report regarding Attanasio and the Dodgers. Go figure.
Pure speculation of course, but Attanasio lives in LA and I’m guessing he’d prefer owning the Dodgers to the Brewers. Guessing he does have interest, but that there’s nothing on the horizon.
Dodger fans can still dream…
He’s an LA investment banker, and while I don’t know what his net worth is, he sounds absolutely loaded.
McCourt will never let go of the dodgers until he sucks every last cent out of them. In a few years he will have broadcast rights to the dodgers and he will never sell, unless the courts force him to. If the fans of Los Angeles do not like it fight back by not going to games and supporting the ownership. Both McCourts business model over the next several years is to reduce payroll in in an 8 year period double the cost of everythig. If the fans do nothing then you deserve your putrid $15.00 hotdog.
Thats fine, and fans should go if they want. As long as close to 4 million fans a year go and the owner keeps raising prices. Do not complain because your team loses 90 to 100 games a year.