On this date in 2008, the Rockies signed Scott Podsednik. The Blue Jays did just that yesterday, agreeing to a minor league deal with the speedy outfielder. Here are some links for Thursday…
- David Ortiz told reporters, including Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com, that he would still like to stay in Boston long-term. Big Papi's contract expires after the season.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports suggests the Tigers should help Miguel Cabrera find a full-time mentor to keep him focused on baseball. Cabrera was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Florida last night.
- Adrian Gonzalez told Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he hasn't set a deadline for extension talks with the Red Sox. Gonzalez says Albert Pujols' demands won't affect his discussions with Boston (Twitter link).
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan points out that the Cardinals offered Pujols less money per season than Ryan Howard, Mark Teixeira or, assuming he finalizes his extension, Adrian Gonzalez.
- Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe shows that the Red Sox have enough money to bid on Pujols and suggests Boston will have at least passing interest in him when he hits free agency.
- Astros GM Ed Wade tells Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle that he didn't realize just how thin Houston's minor league system was when he took over after the 2007 season.
- The Yankees have definite lingering interest in Kevin Millwood, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Pretty sure Albert said this morning that all the numbers the media and writers threw out were way off and made him and his agent laugh, also saying that he thinks the FO is laughing as well. So im pretty sure i believe Albert more then the writers and especially Yahoo Sports. still doesn’t mean cards get a deal done but im just saying that according to Albert all the numbers that they have been throwing around are wrong.
Yea. I’ve been laughing at the sports writers for a while now. They know nothing and are feeding off each others unnamed sources and assumptions. I’m a financial analyst. If I did that, I wouldn’t have a job (and my company would suffer for it). These guys do it, and they get acclaim (and bring in a larger audience for their networks/papers) for being the first one to get the numbers out… and if hindsight proves them wrong, who cares? because there’s tomorrow’s story that’ll be captivating headlines and they don’t have to be accurate about that one either.
I swear, integrity in journalism is a joke. Not just in baseball either… but that’s a whole nother can of worms I don’t desire to get into.
Also, I understand this is a ‘rumors’ site, and most rumors are false, but there has to be a filter at some point, no?
Well, I guess posting something like that by Abraham generates rumors (unless you actually read the article). For example, just look at the comments.
Abraham’s article wasn’t bad at all. im talking more about Ken Rosenthal and Heyman. they are the ones that continue to start rumors about Money and Yrs yet they know nothing about the negotiations.. all they have is “Unnamed Sources” and it starts to get a little frustrating. Im sure most ppl feel the same way when its about there teams and favorite players.
I agree at some point the writers need to be accurate i mean they are making money off of these players talents.
“Also, I understand this is a ‘rumors’ site, and most rumors are false, but there has to be a filter at some point, no? ”
There has to be some sort of filter. Tim has yet to post anything about that E-Mail I sent him about the Sox trading Daniel Nava for Albert Pujols and cash considerations.
In regards to rumors posted by sports writers? Well, yeah, I guess some of these rumors might seem silly, until the mystery team signs the offseason’s biggest name. Tim and company cannot afford to pick and choose which rumors they do and do not consider viable when posted by known commodities. If they did that, their relevance would quickly fade.
Granted. And I think this site is pretty amazing, which is why I frequent it.
But this just appears to be Rosenthal reporting something that, from what I gather from both sides of the negotiations, is pretty far from the truth.
I mean, these are the same guys who reported a week ago that the first offer from the Cards had been proposed two weeks ago, when in reality the Cards proposed their first offer around the first of the year (6 weeks ago, Mo confirmed this in the press conference yesterday)… I mean, they’re a month behind the times just on knowing whether or not an offer had been made. On the Rasmus trade request last summer, no one found out about it until 2 months after the request had been made. Mo and the Cardinals run a pretty tight ship. Must be frustrating for these sports writers to actually get a good tip…
But this just appears to be Rosenthal reporting something that, from what I gather from both sides of the negotiations, is pretty far from the truth.
So you’re saying we should believe you over Rosenthal, because, we just should. Yes?
No, You can watch the interviews with Bill Dewitt, John Mozeliak, Dan Lozano, and Albert Pujols. They all have said that the reports about the negotiations are not accurate. But since there is still alot of negotiating to be done, they still are not going to talk about specifics with the media. I do think we can believe them(ya know, the people that were there) over Rosenthal, Olney etc.
Of course, because agents and GMs never lie, especially during negotiations, right? =P
But I do see your point.
Also he talks about his sources saying they are close to the negotiations. I remember Mo saying it was always Pujols agent and him in a room no one else and on rare occasions Dewitt was in the room. So who is Mo telling? maybe his wife is the one giving away Info in these negotiations. lol
And it could be just something that the FO is telling the writers and media to get them off there backs, im sure the writers trying to get a scoop are like Vultures and every little bit of info is like the Holy Grail so you just never know whats going on i guess but for the time being i don’t believe anything these writers are saying about negotiations between Big Al and The Cards
gosh, you mean that trade won’t happen. bummer
(leaves room)
OF course the Yanks and Red Sox have interest in Pujols! Who doesn’t? And they only have 2 of the best. But that’s not good enough huh?
Sox need a catcher, Pujols looks like a big guy 😉
Hey, Al. Can you catch?
– T. Epstein
Wow, putting – T. Epstein at the end? Dude, come on, you know the Sox don’t have anything close to the Yankees pitching problems, the Yankees rotation is only average, while the Sox is way above average.
– B. Cashman
Please Peter Abraham. Shut up. You’ve just encouraged thousands of idiotic Red Sox fans to believe in the insanely stupid. Yes, Boston has a passing interest. There are 30 teams that will have “passing interest” in the best player in the major leagues. But we don’t need an article about it, thanks.
Just selling papers buddy. Newsies may have changed their look, but they’re still peddling the streets, getting coin from those who don’t know better than to read the trash they write.
*sigh* Yeah, I know. Gotta put something on those pages….It’s going to be especially painful reading basically any Boston comment board for, oh, a couple years now though. 😛
And in his defense, he wrote this disclaimer at the top of the page…
“(Disclaimer: By no means do I believe this will actually happen and not one person in the Red Sox organization has suggested this is what they will do.)”
Read Peter’s blog post. He wrote a disclaimer at the top. If Sox fans don’t read his post and just hear gossip and excerpts from it, then yes, they will “believe in the insanely stupid” and others will react in the opposite direction with ad hominem attacks on Peter.
What is the over-under that Adrian Gonzalez’s agent just added a “no trade” to the contract extension with the Red Sox?
I’ll put the over/under at 0.5 no-trade clauses included in his contract.
Well done.
I think a no-trade clause (or at least a limited one) was pretty much a certainty from the beginning of the contract.
The only way the Sox/Yanks sign Pujols is if, (since there are few big market teams involved) the price drops to $20mil or lower a year for about 6-7 years.
1) The price is never going to be under 20 mil until he’s maybe 50 years old;2) If the price came anywhere near 20 mil all 30 team would be in on him not just the Yankees or BoSox
That is my point.
I think that’s a pretty big exaggeration. You don’t think the Red Sox or Yankees would leap at the opportunity to sign Pujols for $22/year over 8 years ($176M total)?
Those are arbitrary numbers I’m throwing out, it’s just to say that the Yanks or Sox would be falling over each other to sign Pujols for <$200M (which obviously wouldn't happen because the Cardinals would easily match that).
Edit: Andrew pretty much beat me to it and decided not to be as long-winded as me.
I don’t. At all. What happens once Lester’s, Pedroia’s, Bucchholz’, Jacoby’s, Salty’s contracts expire? In just a couple years, the Sox will need to reinvest money into the team. In about 4-5 years, they will need much more money to resign players like Lester and Buchholz.
Contracts come off the books, too. They don’t just add on. Lester, Pedroia, Buchholz and Ellsbury are all under team control for 3+ years.
Papelbon, Jenks, Drew, Ortiz, Scutaro, Cameron, Daisuke, Wheeler, Wakefield and Vartiek all expire during that time. It also probably wouldn’t be a big deal to have their payroll increased for a year or two before contracts like Beckett and Lackey expire (who likely won’t be extended beyond those years). There’s also trades, etc.
If they could have Pujols for less than $200M, you can bet they’d find a way to make that work.
You are also assuming that we won’t sign FA pitchers to replace Daisuke, Beckett, Lackey, or the bullpen.
I’m not assuming that, I’m just saying if they wanted to get Pujols they could decide to go cheaper at those positions, trade for players or replace them internally.
They won’t have to sign any big name pitchers. They have Lester and Bucholtz that are going to be aces so they will need 3 average pitchers for the rest of the rotation. I also think they keep Paps for a few more years and they also have Bard so there is 2 very good bullpen pitchers so a few more lower grade pitchers and you are set there.
“They won’t have to sign any big name pitchers.” I stopped reading after that. You are way to sure of yourself.
They could have Pujols with payroll under 170 million easily!
There’s no way the Sox chase Pujols. Paying him huge $$$ to DH is absolutely foolish.
Pujols would play first A-Gon would DH and the Red Sox have $50 million coming off the books after the year. I think he ends up in Boston next year.
that makes zero sense. Make the younger, more athletic, stronger fielder in A-Gon DH while the older, competent-while-not-dazzling Pujols gets to play 1B? I can’t see the logic in that.
EDIT: By competent I mean Pujol’s glove, not his bat obviously.
Edit: posted in the wrong place, durr.
And for the record, there was no such E-Mail, though I’m reasonably sure that he would not have posted anything if there were.
Swisher’s salary is probably going to be allocated for a new right fielder should the team actually decline his option (Which I find highly unlikely), considering I’m pretty sure they’re very thin in terms of outfield depth in their system.
“There is ZERO chance Drew resigns with the Red Sox. He has said it, and they have said it. He’s going to retire, and the Sox are moving on to Kalish.”
Citation needed.
Who the hell cares if he retires, he just isn’t going to be a Red Sox in 2012. i would laugh my ass off if he signs with the phillies, because they need a lefty OF bat. lmao with a side of holy irony. That said I don’t think that will happen. Oh and to think Lester and Buchholz can be easily replaced, they have more value on the Red Sox than Pujols has on the Cards. Nuff said.
The Sox’ biggest strength in the minors has been pitching for years now. Much as I hate to say it, if it comes down to it, Buchholz and Lester could probably be replaced internally by the time it’s necessary.
Obsessions, your reply button is trolling you.
haha
hahahahahahaha
Touche. Forget those bums Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard and (despite recent events, he was developed well, just chose to change his arm slot) Jonathan Papelbon.
If you’re Cabrera, are you telling me you can’t afford a personal driver? I’m sure scores of high school kids would do it for free, just for the chance to meet the guy for a few weeks.
At this point a driver isn’t even a minor concern. He took a bottle of scotch and drank it infornt of the cops. Thats not normal behavior even for an alcoholic. A DUI is serious, but his issues he is having are far deeper than legal trouble. He needs help and quickly and I hope he gets it. It would be a shame to see alcohol destroy such an amazing talent. It would be unfair to the game to have a substance ruin him.
Totally agree. I’ve drank plenty in my day, but I never know ANYBODY who drank pulls of *scotch* straight from the bottle.
And his “Do you know who I am? Do you know the problems I have?” eludes to some serious inner turmoil. I don’t think alcohol is his problem – that’s just a symptom of some deeper problems he has.
Yeah it really sounds like there is some really deep seeded problems he’s got. It’s sad that this had to happen but hopefully this will be a blessing in disguise.
It’s just awful to hear something like this happening to him when he gives so much back to the community and to kids. He needs to help himself as much as he helps others right now.
“Totally agree. I’ve drank plenty in my day, but I never know ANYBODY who drank pulls of *scotch* straight from the bottle.”
Women. You hang out exclusively with women (I jest).
“Do you know who I am? Do you know the problems I have?”
Am I a bad person if the first thing I thought was “picking throws?”
//And his “Do you know who I am? Do you know the problems I have?” eludes to some serious inner turmoil. I don’t think alcohol is his problem – that’s just a symptom of some deeper problems he has.//
I hate to say this, since you’re obviously a Twins fan, but I agree.
It reminds me of a comment he made last winter. I wish I could find the article, but the impression I got from it was that there was a deeper problem there (my guess was depression or anxiety) and alcohol abuse was the symptom.
Of course, I’m only armchair psychoanalyzing so take this all with a grain of salt.
Hey man, just cause we like different teams doesn’t mean we both can’t be smart, insightful guys 😉
The comment from last year I’m guessing you’re thinking of is when he said “you guys say alcoholism. That’s not what it is. I don’t know how to say it, but its not alcoholism.” (or something close to that)
I hope the guy recovers 100% and continues to be an amazing talent. Baseball is a better game with him. Of course, I hope his 130 RBI are still only good enough for a second place finish 😉
How old is Miguel Cabrera? He doesn’t need a mentor as much as he needs a Moped so he desn’t kill someone.
Pujols is going to the Royals he went to high school in or around Kansas City. It’s like the Cliff Lee going to the Yankees thing, just because Lee’s wife and Sabathia’s wife are friends he has to go to the Yankees right. And look Lee is now with the Yan……oh wait maybe not.
I died a little inside when I read about Cabrera this morning. If he gets suspended (which I would hate to see, but probably should happen), he better come back ready to mash and make up for lost time. This puts a huge damper on the beginning of the season and he needs to get some help.
I doubt he will be suspended but a lengthy rehab is more likely.
He’s not getting suspended.
Prediction- Miguel Cabrera will be the American League MVP in 2011.
As for the mentor thing, whatever the Tigers did with him last year worked pretty well. Obviously, there is a problem there, and it needs to be addressed. A stand up guy gets hammered and turns into a total jerk to police, to his wife, to a kid that he met in the hotel last year. He needs to give up the booze, period.
They had andres gallaraga working with him in spring training. He has similar issues once and miggy really seemed to value his tutelage. I hopethey bring him back to help him.
I hope youre right with the MVP prediction but it may be impossible if he spends the next 4-6 months in rehab. I hope it doesn’t come to that but if it’s what he needs to get healthy then it’s something the organization has to do. The tigers have always been class in their actions-I hope they don’t do a 180 an put him out on the field while he’s still battling his issues
Galarraga also kept in touch with him via phone calls. I do think he needs someone with him though, in addition to his wife, if she stays with him in-season.
There will always be sympathy for an athlete with a problem in the civilian world but woe-be-the day that that athlete puts up horrible numbers. That’s when the teeth and knives come out.
Kind of–I pretty sure the average Joe shmoe gets more sympathy at work after his DUI. People here in Detroit are calling for his head and I dont know any regular Joe getting this kind of disdain from others for their mistakes.
I would, as a die hard Red Sox fan, be more than estatic to have him play RF in 2012 for the Sox. He could play RF for 4 years then DH full time there after. Sort of backwards as far as position wise and the way players normally play out their careers, but it would certainly make for one damn potent offense. I don’t expect it to happen, but Theo works in funny ways. How many (not even myself I’d hoped but not expected) Carl Crawford to sign with the Sox. That said unless they offer $25 MM per it’s prob not even a realistic thing to think would happen. But the chance to rake at Fenway my God he would hit 50 doubles and 50 Homers a year and bat .350. For that kind of production and saying he wants to be the “best player of all time”, I’d sign with Boston but that’s just me.
Tigers risk losing their whole team investment by keeping Cabrera…..bad clubhouse karma now if not before (an abuser of alcohol and allegedly of women and cops isn’t fun to have around)….plus at any time he could face jail or suspension…..mgmt should try to void his contract or trade him for what you can get for him….some other team would probably offer something of a significant return which is better than keeping him around or eventually getting nothing for him.
Wrong on all accounts minus the alcohol/cop abuse.
What the hell?! Are you serious?! This is quite the non-thought out comment. Get your facts straight before you post something, many believe he’s not getting suspended or any jail time period, and the fact that he’s the team’s best offensive player by a long shot makes him untradeable to begin with. His contract is so large that most teams can’t afford him let alone trade for him, and the Tigers would ask for so much back in return everyone would lose interest. He’s not getting traded. His contract isnt getting voided. He’s staying put. period. end of story. Detroit needs Cabrera. His contract isn’t getting voided. I’m sick of hearing these kinds of things. The dude drank and drove, so do hundreds of Americans nightly, and yet we point out the guy who plays baseball for a living.
Totally agree. Plus, Cabrera needs the tigers.
He’s incredibly lucky he is in that organization because they will do all they can to help him.
The Tigers stuck by him before. Can’t see why they wouldn’t after this latest incident.
As others have said, get your facts straight. Cabrera’s wife hit him in the head with a cell phone. Granted, he earned her wrath, but still.
I’ve made a pretty solid habit out of watching the Astros’ minor league system, and though we all knew it was weak, it wasn’t until Wade and Heck started turning things around that we really realized quite HOW weak it was. We’ve still got a ways to go, but the direction we’re on is so much more encouraging than even three short years ago.
Its laughable to think that the Red Sox are going to sign Gonazalez and then turn around and sign Albert Pujols as a DH. Neither of these guy are going to go for that. Both are exceptional defensive players and take pride in that aspect of the game. Pujols is not going to join a team just to swing a bat every 3 innings. If the Red Sox are smart, they’ll sign Gonzalez while they have him. There’s an old saying that if you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both, they are more likely to sign Gonzalez as opposed to holding out and losing out on Pujols, and in turn losing Gonzalez. But then I’m sure Price Fielder would be more than happy to play in Boston.
Ok, Andres, whatever you did last year worked perfect, come back and help out Miggy again.
Although I strongly believe V-Mart could play a huge part in that clubhouse mentor role. I’ve heard time and time again about “you’re never going to meet a better guy”…maybe he can set Cabby straight?
Makes you wish they would have atleast signed Damon as a coach on the 25an roster
I think the team would be best served by hiring a mentor like Johnny Narron.
I’d only call it way above average if the 3-4-5 pitchers can get their act together. It’s the same rotation as last year, and last year it was about average.
That can be said about almost any teams fan then can’t it?
Wow now it’s not letting me reply either, stupid Disqus
OH yea we do