Do not expect Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to go quietly into the night, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The McCourt-Bud Selig saga could turn out to be one of the great sports legal battles of the 21st century. While he's been silent publicly, major league sources close to McCourt indicate he is flabbergasted by Selig’s actions, and that he has not been able to discuss the issues with the commissioner face-to-face. Here's more from Cafardo's Sunday column..
- A couple of major league evaluators say the Rays could explore moving B.J. Upton if they fall out of contention, or even if they’re in contention. They’d like to make a deal similar to the Matt Garza trade, in which they received good talent, including Sam Fuld.
- The Pirates received calls on catcher Ryan Doumit this winter but the talks eventually petered out. The Red Sox could be in the market for a backstop, but one talent evaluator says that Doumit isn't a great receiver and the club is better off sticking with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Pittsburgh’s Chris Snyder, who is off to a hot start, could also be available.
- The Nationals are thought to be in the market for a center fielder and/or someone who can add give a boost to the Nats offense.
- The White Sox lead the majors with six blown saves, but one club exec stands by the team's decision to let Bobby Jenks go. Even though Jenks may do very well with Boston, it was the right decision, even if it doesn't look like it right now.
- Cafardo was surprised to see BoSox chariman Tom Werner issue a statement that he wasn’t interested in pursuing ownership of the Dodgers. Werner has Los Angeles roots and was once the owner of the Padres. The chairman himself pointed out that his business and personal relationships with John Henry are too good to walk away from.
With the way Jenks has pitched thus far, Boston can friggin keep him.
Hey Brian thanks, we will keep him.
Sam Fuld once hit 3 Homeruns off 2 pitches.
Wrong. That was Chuck Norris.
You mean Tim Tebow…
NO! Chuck. Friggen. Norris.
That’s Mr. Friggin Norris to you Jack.
I appologize.
Superman wears Sam Fuld underwear
sam fuld wears jed lowrie pajamas
Chuck Norris hasn’t been the same since he lent out his beard to Jose Bautista.
I could certainly see either Doumit or Snyder being moved to Boston, each are a little expensive but Boston really needs to address the position. Salty is awful, and Varitek hasn’t looked so far, and he’s just a veteran backup at this point of his career. I’m not too concerned about what the Pirates would get back as it would be salary relief, and one of them can stay around for the rest of the season, and hopefully Tony Sanchez can make the team next season.
doumit and snyder would have been decent acquisitions in 2008, but not now
Snyder would be a doubles machine in Boston
Surely you jest. Snyder hit .200 in 2010 and .207 in 2009….in short, he is not a hitter and, besides he has chronic back problems. That is why he is in Pittsburgh and not in Phoenix this year.
Doumit, can’t catch, and is not worth $5,500,000 in salary, prorated..
Salty caught Lackey’s shutout yesterday…and looked pretty good behind the plate ..not so with the bat where he still is swinging at bad pitches and trying to guess which zone his next pitch will arrive in… give the guy 200 AB’s before callling for his head… as, right now, there is no one better out there to replace him.. so supporting him is the better option, despite what the Globe writers say..
I don’t see the Rays getting anything close to what they got for Garza. I still can’t believe that the Cubs gave away as much as they did.
I agree; the Rays would be lucky to get half of what they got for Garza if they were to trade Upton. I say that because I think the Cubs got fleeced, even though all prospects are unproven commodities. I’m a Cubs fan, and wasn’t a fan of the Garza trade. I couldn’t believe the Cubs dealt away so much talent from a good farm system to add a #2, #3 pitcher to an average team with no reason to consider itself a legitimate title contender.
The Cubs did get fleeced but come on, be happy Sam Fuld is getting regular playing time, he wouldn’t be playing in that crowded outfield in Wrigley.
I wasn’t talking about Fuld when I was talking about prospects being unproven commodities, but I am happy that he’s playing well. Too bad he never performed that well when he was a Cub.
“Team may explore trading player, looks for value in return.” Oh really?
Would Denard Span be a good trade candidate for the Nats? Span is signed to a team-friendly contract through 2014, he is young, and could bring in a decent value for the Twins.
Frank McCourt and reality are not on speaking terms. So what else is new?
So are the Cubs going to trade several of their top prospects for Upton, too?
I could see the Nats, I’d love to have Ramos. Slide Jaso or even Ramos to 1st, get Dan Johnson the hell outta there.
That quote about Jenks is absurd. IF the WS bullpen continues to implode and IF Jenks turns in a solid year then it will have been the wrong decision. That’s a lot of ifs but to state anything contrary to that is just being stupid.
Yeah. Lot of choices Williams could have gone with over resigning just jenks. Soriano, Downs, yet Cafardo harped on the guy Boston signed and has had a on-off season so far. Go figure.
Just a heads up, take everything Cafardo says with a whole shaker of salt. Dude’s a hack.
I agree.. His take on McCourt sounded like he promised to put everything in print that Frank McCourt told him. It is probably the only pro Frank McCourt article out there, after what was found out how Frank and Jamie McCourt looted the Dodgers, and put everything not bolted down and bolted down to the pawn shop for loans.
I’d like to see the Rays trade Upton whether were up 10 games or down 50 games…
I’m a Rays fan and I honestly wouldn’t mind and OF consisting of Fuld, Jennings and Joyce. Upton hits .250, has speed but doesn’t seem to contribute. He’s one of those guys, to me anyways, that if he grounds out, it’s a plus because I almost guarantee a K everyone 3 AB’s.
At least if he K’s its just him being the out as opposed to him grounding into a double play.
Last 2 years I turn the channel when Varitek is at bat. There are some interesting commercials.