Agent Paul Kinzer confirmed to reporters today that Aramis Ramirez won’t re-sign with the Cubs. Here are the details plus more notes from the exchange (all links go to Twitter):
- Kinzer says Ramirez won’t be re-signing in Chicago. “That ship has sailed,” he said, according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.
- Ramirez is looking for a four-year deal or a three-year deal with an option, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Twins GM Terry Ryan expressed interest in re-signing Matt Capps, according to Rosenthal.
- Kinzer has been getting lots of calls on Capps, but the Nationals haven’t called on the reliever, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Kinzer expects the Blue Jays will have interest, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, and the agent could see the Mets expressing interest, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
- The White Sox and many other teams are interested in Shane Lindsay, the Australian right-hander who elected free agency last month, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
Capps for Ramos… what a steal by Rizzo
And blundery as the trade was predicated by the fact that oodles of Money had been committed to an amazing Hitter not as of yet HURT Mauer. But only in hindsight. It did make sense as a trade, initially.
Although it could have gone the other way as a result of Mr. Ramos’ recent incareration against his will!!!! thank fake god he’s ok.
As I recall everyone was curious as to why Ramos wasn’t traded for something better.
I wish the Sox would go after Capps. He’s young and good and he lost his job to a stud in the making in Washington. I think he’s a definite upside guy even if you have to pay a bit more than he might get were it not for Mr. Paps.
Take it from a Twins fans, you don’t want Capps. Until he proves he can throw effectively without throwing a fastball over the heart of the plate, he’s a sell
Capps was a terrible last year in Minnesota, careful what you wish for.
Oh lord, here we go AA again, rausch 2.1, Capps ia awful. Every time I watched him last year he was throwing fat pitches! But AA likes cheap contracts. *shrug*
Capps is a Type A free agent, absolutely no way they look in on him if he’s offered arb.
I’d be surprised if the Twins offered him arbitration. Unless they are close to agreeing to an incentive laden deal by the non-tender date.
GO SOMEWHERE — ANYWHERE!!! — ELSE CAPPS!!!
Gotta love how it’s gone from “Jays have interest in ________” to agents saying “I expect the Jays will have interest in my client.”
with AA’s tight lip policy, jays are easy targets for agents to get names involved especially since AA doesnt deny or confirm anything
Exactly. Though it’s getting silly when agents start saying they EXPECT attention.
If Marcel Lachemann liked him at one time, then I like him too!
Shane Lindsay sounds like a very interesting player, the Orioles should take notice. I luv them Aussies. Orioles should go down under rather than the Dominican, they have some decent pitchers. East Coast Bias what say you, should the Orioles be interested here?
Will Aramis Ramirez be introducing the Orioles new logo tomorrow? Strange Double-D hasn’t leaked a bit of O’s info (probably for the best) but It would be smashing to see a Free Agent major league player introduced w/ the new look O’s.
Oh Good Gravy Man…. No to Aramis Ramirez! The Orioles have enough bad contracts: Kevin Gregg, Brian Roberts….Ramirez wants 4 years… surely he jests!
Honestly, an Adam Jones for Hanley Ramirez trade intrigues me!
And where would Aramis fit in the blue Jays diamond? Lawrie sticks a 3rd, EE and Lind will platoon 1st and DH (probably with Thames). I can’t see AA throwing 50M at Ramirez on a 4 years deal… not worth it at all.
I think you are all wrong about Capps. He’s going to be a steal this year, whoever gets him. As long as he’s THE CLOSER 100% he will dominate once again. He was even BETTER when he came over to Minnesota in the trade that sent Ramos and he was very good in Washington, He was almost perfect in MN. Then Nathan comes back in 2011 and the closer role is up in the air, especially in the mind of the guy that has been closing for over a year now back to his pre-2009 years numbers. He was really good in Pittsburgh, save 2009. There must be a reason beyond he sucks that he had a bad 2009. He was good before and much better after and then not as good again. He just needs to “GET” the role back 100% and he will close games at an almost elite level. As I mentioned earlier he is ONLY NOT in Washington closing for them still because Washington knew what they had in Storen ($$, years) and could trade him for Ramos. Lets not forget he was TRADED for Ramos. He’s 28 ALL next season and should bounce nicely in 2012.
Really. Jon Rauch was a better closer in 2011 for Toronto than Capps was in Minnesota. 68% to 62% save percentage. If you want to know who was the worst closer used by 30 teams in major league baseball, you only have to look at the bottom of the list, with no one worse than Capps was. Even Kevin Gregg and Jeremy Accardo were better than him and Accardo was so bad that they DFA’d him. lol. If Capps can become even a decent reliever again at 1M a season, he might be a flyer to a team that doesn’t lose their first round pick for him. He needs to go back to the NL, where he at least enjoyed some success. The American league ate him alive and even the buzzards didn’t have anything left to pick at. lol.
Kinzer to AA: “Capps will be an upgrade over Rauch…Capps -0.4 WAR vs Rauch -0.6 WAR…..an instant gain of 0.2 WAR for less money…..how can you go wrong AA?”
Good riddance Aramis! This guy is lazy and greedy. Oh, unless it’s a contract year. You’ll get leg issues, back issues, family issues, personal issues, and any other excuse under the sun. Usually good for about 120 games a season. Lazy until contract time. And forget the option, he’ll use it as leverage in negotiations so he can continue to be overpaid. What a chump. Unless u r a Cub fan u might not see it. but look at the stats. You can bet on something with this dude, and he has peeked. In his prime, he was injury riddled, what’s that say about his future?
Can’t hit when it matters, is a liability in the clubhouse and the field, and wants big money? You have fun on the open market A-Ram.
Capps has 3 pitches. Straight fastball, straight fastball, and a straight fastball. I’d rather see the Twins give him money to leave Minnesota than sign him for another year. If you pitch at Target Field and give up a homerun every relief appearance, you know you’re Matt Capps.
Nicely said.
i like how kinzer tried calling out bob brenly for critiquing ramirez on the air. i believe kinzer said something along the lines of how brenly should’ve said it to his face. yeah, because it’s brenly’s job as a broadcaster to criticize a lazy player behind closed doors.
As a Cubs fan, I say good riddance to Ramirez.
Maybe I’m just not smart but for years ARam carried the cubs teams with his bat, and granted his fielding was never the best, but it improved every year. Does everyone forget his slash line last year?? .306/.361/.510 Thats pretty flippin good
Now do I think he deserves 4 yrs? No, but geez guys he wasn’t exactly awful.
he wasn’t awful but he certainly wasn’t anything special. he did carry them at times, but.. to what exactly? aramis is a good complimentary piece, but he’s hardly someone you want around for a rebuilding effort.