On this day in 1988, the Padres traded Rich Gossage and Ray Hayward to the Cubs for Mike Brumley and Keith Moreland. Here's a look at today's links..
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that the Yankees and Red Sox are no longer alone as financial superpowers. Sherman also looks at five offseason market trends that will impact the 2012 season and beyond.
- In analyzing the Orioles' collection of non-roster invitees and the 40-man roster decisions they'll face this Spring, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com writes that Baltimore would eat a portion of Kevin Gregg's $5.8MM salary to trade him. Kubatko also speculates that an out of options player like Pedro Strop could be moved during Spring Training.
- Free agent Scott Kazmir is set to throw for scouts in Houston on Wednesday, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com.
- Jorge De La Rosa will undoubtedly exercise his $11MM player option for 2013 as he rehabs from elbow surgery, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post. If he does that, the Rockies receive a $11MM club option for 2014.
- Red Sox officials seem to think they’ll know what they’ll be getting from the Cubs “before the official start of spring training,’’ but it's not clear if that refers to when pitchers and catchers report or when the full squad arrives, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
- If Magglio Ordoñez doesn't find a big-league job this season, he will have his own professional baseball club waiting for him in his native Venezuela, writes Robert Downs of the Detroit Free Press. The slugger is set purchase shares in the Caribes de Anzoátegui when he retires.
- The Indians and Casey Kotchman never talked about anything but a one-year deal, writes Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer. The first baseman signed with the Tribe for $3MM earlier this month.
Most of the time a player will exercise their option. Beltre was a rare exception.
Jorge for 11 million! OUCH!
Says the guy who’s team is paying 43 million in 2013 to a 37yo Lilly(12m) 33yo Uribe(8M) 35yo Harang(7m) 34yo Capuano(6m) 36yo Ellis(5.75) 36yo Hairston(3.25) paying a 32yo Jorge who has getting better every year in Denver isn’t a bad deal at all.
That’s just wrong. I mean really. Those guys are all getting paid that money NEXT year. Don’t you know anything about the Dodgers? They can’t afford to pay guys so they give them IOU’s.. (SARCASM)
I’d like to see Magglio get a big league job this year. I think to a small extent he’s still got it but he wouldnt be a giant producer like in 07 and 08
Kazmir should be the honorary winner of the “how fast you can fall” award.
Amazing how a guy can be so good can lose it all at once.. His FB and everything. It’s a real shame, cause when he was with Tampa early on, this guy was really good.
Kazmir in Winterball:
Scott Kazmir, released by the Angels in the middle of the 2011 season,
attempted a comeback in the Dominican. He started one game, but retired
only one batter while allowing four runs. He has an ERA of 108.00 and
hasn’t pitched for Escogido again.
Its over Scott….
I think bad teams: my O’s, Astros, etc. Should look at Kazmir on a minor league deal. Couldnt hurt and you never know maybe he could find his talent again.
Only the Astros
Kazmir should spend a year doing TJ rehab strengthening work he has lost 6mph since he was dominant in 2007 if he can get his velo back up(Chris Carpenter added 3mph to his fastball post TJ) he can get back to above average
if wakefield retires kaj gotta go to him and learn to pitch knuckleballs.