Mike Hampton Retires
Veteran left-hander Mike Hampton has informed the Diamondbacks that he has decided to retire, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com. He originally told GM Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson that he was leaning that way on Thursday.
"It just wasn't there," said Hampton. "In fairness to [The Diamondbacks] and fairness to myself I'm just done. It's not a decision that's easy to make. It's not one you make overnight. It had been two weeks that different thoughts have been creeping in my head. Then all of the sudden I felt, I think this is going to be it."
Hampton, 38, made a brief comeback with Arizona late last season, throwing 4 1/3 innings across ten appearances. He was in camp with them this year after signing a minor league deal in December.
Although the latter half of his career was filled with injury and ineffectiveness, Hampton was one of the game's best starters in the late-1990's, pitching to a 3.35 ERA in 184 starts with the Astros and Mets from 1995 through 2000. He pitched poorly for two years with the Rockies after signing an eight-year, $123.8MM contract that was then the largest deal in baseball history. Hampton finished his career out with the Braves, Astros, and D'Backs, and owns a 4.09 ERA in 2268 1/3 career innings.
AL Central Notes: Indians, Gonzalez, Tigers
Some Saturday links from a few midwestern AL clubs…
- Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain-Dealer says the Indians' Opening Day payroll projects to be just north of $42.4MM, the third straight season it's shrunk. Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, and Fausto Carmona account for close to 63% of that total. The payroll sat at $81.6MM just two seasons ago.
- The Tigers sent Danny Worth, Adam Wilk, and Andy Dirks to minor league camp today, indicating that Enrique Gonzalez has made the team. MLB.com's Jason Beck tweets that the club doesn't have to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate Gonzalez until next week.
- Noah Trister of the AP (via The Detroit Free Press) explains how the Tigers rebuilt on the fly thanks to the three-way trade that sent Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson to the Yankees and Diamondbacks, respectively.
West Coast Links: Dodgers, A’s, Frandsen, Padres
The Dodgers are off to an unlucky start this spring, with Casey Blake, Jon Garland, and Vicente Padilla expected to open the season on the disabled list. The bad news continued today; Dioner Navarro will head to the DL with a torn oblique, according to Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles, while Tim Redding left today's game with back pain, writes MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. More from the NL and AL West:
- The Dodgers informed Ron Mahay that he won't make the club's Opening Day roster, reports Gurnick. Mahay has an out clause in his contract, so the team is waiting to hear whether the left-hander will accept a minor league assignment.
- Frank McCourt declined comment on the Dodgers' ownership situation today, saying he'll address it at a later date. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times has the details.
- Given his most talented roster yet, Athletics manager Bob Geren will face increased expectations this season, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Speaking of the A's, they sent Chris Carter down to the minors today, Jane Lee of MLB.com tweets. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has more on Carter, who figures to be the DH in Oakland whenever the Hideki Matsui era ends.
- Kevin Frandsen, who was released by the Padres today, is hoping to catch on with another team soon, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock. "We've got a decent amount of interest," Frandsen said. "I showed I was healthy and that I can play. I know I can play in the big leagues."
- With Mat Latos suffering from shoulder troubles, Tim Stauffer will start Opening Day for the Padres, tweets Brock.
Quick Hits: Sabathia, Lopez, Castillo, Rangers
Links for Friday night, as Brandon Beachy continues to impress….
- Speaking to Jack Curry of the YES Network, Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia stuck to his vow to avoid commenting on his opt-out clause until after the season. However, he added "I'm a Yankee" and said he can't see himself "playing anywhere else" (Twitter link).
- Rodrigo Lopez says he has no regrets about signing with the Braves, despite not earning a spot in the rotation, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman and Alden Gonzalez.
- We heard earlier in the week that the Braves were looking to deal Lopez, with MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith running through some potential suitors. Although Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Braves are more likely to trade Lopez than Kenshin Kawakami before Opening Day, he cautions that there's no rush for Atlanta – Lopez has an out in his contract, but not until June.
- Within Rosenthal's piece, a scout expresses doubt about Luis Castillo's chances of making the Phillies. MLB.com's Todd Zolecki says time is running out on Castillo's spring audition.
- Endy Chavez and Esteban German are among the players the Rangers sent to the minors today, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Meanwhile, with Tommy Hunter likely sidelined until May, Alexi Ogando could re-enter the Rangers' rotation mix, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
Central Notes: Royals, Indians, Cubs, Brewers
It's been a busy Friday for baseball's Central divisions, which have already featured prominently in a pair of trades and a pair of retirements. But the day's not over yet….
- In addition to acquiring John Whittleman, the Royals finalized two more minor league trades today. The team sent Gaby Hernandez to the White Sox and Alex Caldera to the Nationals, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (Twitter links). The Royals figure to receive cash in return for both right-handers, according to Dutton.
- The Indians made a few roster decisions, naming Jack Hannahan the Opening Day third baseman and reassigning Doug Mathis and Anthony Reyes to the minors, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the battle for the last spot in the Cubs' bullpen is down to Carlos Silva, Casey Coleman, and Marcos Mateo. Rosenthal figures that, considering his salary, Silva will get the first crack, but notes the Cubs have said they want to open with the best possible team. MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has more on Coleman's quest for the final bullpen opening.
- Zack Greinke is confident that early-season injuries, including his own, won't set the Brewers back significantly, as he tells Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
Heyman On Emaus, Red Sox, Yankees, Rangers
In a column for SI.com, Jon Heyman discusses the new-look Rays, examining the team's chances in a competitive AL East. While one Rays person candidly acknowledges "we've got a lot of holes," the general consensus around baseball is that it would be a mistake to discount the defending division champs. Here are a few other highlights from Heyman:
- Rule 5 pick Brad Emaus has the Mets' second base job locked up "no matter whether they pretend there's still a competition ongoing."
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia seems ready to become a starting catcher in the bigs, says one scout. Even so, the Red Sox would like to add a third backstop, if one were available via trade, to start the year in the minors behind Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek.
- Heyman thinks Austin Romine may be the best bet for the Yankees' backup catcher opening. However, as we heard yesterday, Gustavo Molina continues to look like the favorite for the roster spot, according to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports agrees, and suggests the role will be important, given potential concerns about Russell Martin.
- The Rangers made attempts to acquire a closer, but never came close to landing one, which resulted in Neftali Feliz keeping the job.
- Heyman adds Jorge Cantu's name to the list of possible fits at third base for the Marlins.
Red Sox Notes: Gonzalez, Atchison, Kalish, Wakefield
Daisuke Matsuzaka joins a growing list of Japanese players who have made donations to fund disaster relief in their homeland. Dice-K donated $1MM to the Japanese Red Cross Society though the Red Sox Foundation, according to Tim Britton of the Providence Journal. Here are a few other Sox-related notes:
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider-only link) expects the Red Sox and Adrian Gonzalez to get an extension done for the slugger in the second week of the season, sometime during the club's first homestand. Olney points out that it might be in Gonzalez's best interest to nudge the Sox toward finalizing a deal sooner rather than later, since his market value could be hurt by an injury.
- Boston optioned a handful of players to the minors today, including Scott Atchison and Ryan Kalish, as Rob Bradford of WEEI.com writes.
- While the Sox still have a few pitchers whose Opening Day fates are in limbo, it doesn't sound like Tim Wakefield is among them. WEEI's Alex Speier has quotes from Terry Francona discussing how the skipper hopes to maximize Wakefield's effectiveness this year.
Royals Acquire John Whittleman
The Royals have acquired John Whittleman from the Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter).
Whittleman, 24, was selected by Texas in the second round of the 2005 amateur draft, but had yet to play above Double-A in the Rangers' system. In over 2,800 minor league plate appearances, the corner infielder has hit .242/.353/.389.
Nationals Notes: Morgan, Broderick, Maya
Let's check out the latest news and rumors on the Nationals, who will open the season with $126MM man Jayson Werth hitting second….
- Nyjer Morgan, who is reportedly being eyed by a few teams, doesn't expect to open the season with the Nationals. "I just think this place isn't for me," the outfielder told MLB.com's Bill Ladson. "I'm not saying there are bad people here. It's just that, maybe, I'm not a fit here anymore. It's time to move on."
- In the same MLB.com piece, Ladson adds that Brian Broderick, a Rule 5 selection from the Cardinals, is expected to earn a spot on the Nats' Opening Day roster. Broderick figures to be used in short and long relief, though he can also start if needed.
- Yunesky Maya was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse today, the team announced. Washington signed the Cuban pitcher to a four-year deal last summer.
Braden Looper Retires
Braden Looper retired after the Cubs informed him that he didn't make the Opening Day roster, according to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald (on Twitter). The Cubs lured Looper out of retirement with a minor league deal that could have been worth $1MM back in January.
Though scouts seemed interested in Looper this spring, he chose retirement over the free agent market since he preferred to play in Chicago, near his family's home.
Looper, the third overall selection in the 1996 draft, last pitched in the majors for the 2009 Brewers. The 36-year-old retires with a 72-65 record, a 4.15 ERA and 669 strikeouts in 1176 innings as a Marlin, Cardinal, Met and Brewer. Baseball-Reference estimates that Looper earned over $24MM in his 12-year-career.