Aramis Ramirez, whose solo homer helped the Cubs beat the Reds tonight, will be looking for a multiyear deal this offseason. Here’s the latest from his division, with updates on his current club and the team that first signed him…
- There's no guarantee that Lance Berkman will be back in St. Louis next year, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes (on Twitter). Berkman has leverage, so a new deal is not a "slam dunk."
- For more on the Cardinals’ offseason plans, click here.
- The Cubs have held internal discussions about Jeff Samardzija as a candidate for the starting rotation, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. The Cubs have less rotation depth than they did earlier this year, as Wittenmyer explains. The right-hander has started five MLB games, but all 69 of his 2011 appearances have been in relief.
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he doesn't want to discuss his contract, which expires after the 2011 season. "It's not for public consumption,” he said. “It's not worth commenting on it."
- MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes discussed the free agent prospects of Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez earlier today.
- The Pirates have notified their Venezuelan academy that they're going to end their lease and stop participating in the Venezuelan Summer League, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. Pittsburgh will field two teams in the Dominican Summer League next year, however.
Samardzija Does seem like the logical choice to be the best internal shot at the starting rotation he has earned that shot very well also.
CUBS SIGH POO HOLES
SIGN
Jackson, do you have an illness? If it hasn’t been diagnosed yet, may I offer the name cubs tourettes. I’ll be interested to see if it makes it into a medical dictionary.
cubs need to leave Shark in the pen, throwing him back and forth from the pen to the rotation is when he struggled the most. he’s succeeding in a role, don’t FUDGE with him again.
I’M LIVING AT THE JOLLY ROGER, WHAT HAS HASHEM DONE FOR ME???
Even though that was off topic, it was hilarious. A Serious Man is an awesome film!
On a more topical note- I presume Berkman is looking for 2-3 years in the $15MM per season range, right? I figured him for a 2 year/$30MM extension but maybe lower at 3 years/$30MM.