Former first overall draft pick Tim Beckham has been suspended for 50 games, MLB announced. The shortstop, who had reached Triple-A in the Rays' system, is in violation of MLB's drug policy for the second time. "I take full responsibility for my actions and I will use this experience to refocus my commitment to baseball," he said in a statement released by the team. Here are more links from around the league…
- Bobby Abreu could make sense for the Orioles, opines Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Nick Johnson remains hitless on the season and Nolan Reimold recently left the team to have numbness and tingling in his fingers examined.
- An arbitration claim for breach of contract has been filed against Yoenis Cespedes of the Athletics reports Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes. Edgar Mercedes, who helped represent Cespedes during his free agency, is owed 17% of the outfielder's earnings but has not yet been paid.
- It's encouraging that MLB suspended Tigers outfielder Delmon Young following last week's incident in New York City, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. Young's actions will cost him millions, Morosi explains. Before the incident I suggested a multiyear deal was within reach for Young if he had a strong season. It's definitely harder to imagine any team making a multiyear commitment today.
- The Phillies announced that they selected the contract of right-hander Brian Sanches from Lehigh Valley. Sanches takes the place of David Herndon on the team’s active roster.
- One agent suggested to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the Yankees might have interest in Aaron Cook if the Red Sox don’t make room for the right-hander on their roster by today (Twitter link). Cook can opt out of his deal with Boston if he’s not added to the roster today.
- There haven’t been recent talks between Mike Napoli and the Rangers or Miguel Montero and the Diamondbacks, Heyman tweets. Montero is looking for a four-year deal in the $52MM range and Napoli seeks more than that. Heyman suggests Napoli is more likely than Montero to sign an extension.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
I guess Tampa can’t get everything right, but I guess they’ll take getting 90% of their picks right. Just imagine if they got Posey instead of Beckham, it would be hard to find a weakness on that roster.
It can’t be from non spending on the draft that year. As I recall.. beckam cost them a fortune.. Like around 5m bonus?? Maybe more without looking. He was one of the largest bonus babies the Rays ever signed if remember right and think he was the consensus #1 pick amongst the “brains” to go 1st overall.
The talent is there, but the talent only takes you so far.
the player has to hold up his side of the deal to
No doubt. Wasn’t picking on the Rays there, only pointing out that they did everything “right” in the eyes of the experts and just goes to show you how it always doesn’t work out.
Young toolsy shortstops are hard to predict though. Anything can happen with guys out of high school. I think he had more “potential” ability that teams hoped he’d grow into than visual ability, if that made any sense.
I don’t think he was a no-brainer pick but he wasn’t really a bad one either. It’s like how some people say Pittsburgh made a bad choice with Alvarez, just about every other team would have taken him if they were in that situation, he was probably more highly regarded than Beckham.
I think you meant “doesn’t always” and not “always doesn’t”
Yeah, but I don’t think you can be certain that Posey would have the same success in Tampa, that he is having in San Francisco. Granted Beckham is looking like a disappointment. I strongly believe in that just because one player became a star with one organization doesn’t mean he would be a star with another…
Spending “big” money on Montero is exactly what the Diamondbacks should be doing considering most of their pitchers will be making very little for a very long time.
I thought that players got 100 games for their second violation, with 50 going for the first.
that’s for PED violations, not “drug of abuse” violations
Snoochie Boochies!
I swear, if the Red Sox let Aaron Cook go and he ends up pitching successfully for the Yankees I’m going to scream.
They have 48 hours am pretty sure if he decides to opt out to make a roster decision with regards to him. Was digging around a little bit earlier today, but couldn’t find that particular article read it on.. WEEI? ESPN Boston, one of those had a story about them having 48 hours *if* Cook decides to opt out to make a roster decision, so they have some time at least if my memory (which can be poor S/term) is correct.
The team can really send both Anderson and Iglesias back down. Neither helps the team much, if any. They will of course have 2 other serious dilemmas coming up shortly again with both Matsuzaka and Andrew Miller.
IMO, Miller may not even get a shot and either Padilla or Albers will be the casualty for the Matsuzaka slot.
Ah, if they have time to make a decision then it’s not so bad. They really can’t justify letting Cook go, with how shaky the rest of the rotation’s been.
I agree with pretty much everything else you said.
Sucks to hear about your team’s player (especially one as exciting as Cespedes) skimping out on payments like that, especially when it’s payments to charity or a baseball facility like that…. I really hope he gets that worked out and soon.
edit: if he really does owe them that much money, he doesn’t pay it soon, and there’s a physical contract, he absolutely deserves a lawsuit over it.
“It’s encouraging that MLB suspended Tigers outfielder Delmon Young following last week’s incident in New York City”.
Really? How is that encouraging? MLB should stop behaving like a “Moral Police” and focus in the real problem: drugs, be it “recreational” or “performance enhancers”.
You’re saying they should not have suspended him for assaulting another person? Not to mention it was a hate crime and he was drunk. He should be suspended for longer than he got in my opinion, especially due to his history.
So, you’re saying that MLB should suspend people for actions that DON’T harm others (e.g. taking drugs of any kind) and not suspend players for actions that DO harm others (such as Young’s alleged assault) or have a very strong potential to (every MLB player DUI)?
How is that not moral policing?