Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel is on the mend and set to return next month. With that in mind, O's General Manager Dan Duquette doesn't seem terribly focused on adding a starting pitcher, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Here's more from around baseball..
- Blue Jays right-hander Carlos Villanueva hopes to stay in Toronto, but wants to do so as a starting pitcher, writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Villanueva avoided arbitration with a $2.2775MM deal this winter but would likely look for a significant pay bump as a starter.
- This winter's free agent market figured to be light on heavy hitters anyway, but Melky Cabrera's situation means that the Rangers would have an even harder time replacing Josh Hamilton, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. One Texas official cautiously predicted that the slugger would re-sign with the team, but we learned last week that Hamilton will wait until the offseason to negotiate.
- It hasn't been a successful year for the Astros, but things could get worse upon their arrival in the American League West, writes Randy Harvey of the Houston Chronicle.
- Speaking of the Astros, they released 2008 second-round pick Jay Austin earlier today (hat tip to Jayne Hansen of What The Heck, Bobby). The 22-year-old outfielder never advanced beyond Advanced-A ball in his time with Houston.
- Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine is staying upbeat in the face of the latest controversy surrounding him and the club, writes MLB.com's Ian Browne. Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia were reportedly the most vocal in a meeting between the players and principal owners regarding Valentine.
The Astros blog is named after Bobby Heck but not his blog; it’s run by Jayne Hansen
I find it sad that my favorite team is in the news more for its actions behind closed doors than its transactions or play on the field. I also can’t think of a time where the Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots were all more important in Boston than the Sox.
Buddy, calm down. Seriously. A lot of us remember a time when frustration with the Red Sox just meant it was another season. They got issues sure. but I tend to believe they’re being seriously magnified by the press. A few minor adjustments an this is still a team that can be a tough challenger next season.
I’m a relatively young fan (I moved to Boston from NC in 1997 at eight years old and picked up the Sox shortly after) but the Boston sports media is really starting to get to me. Ugh.
I agree there’s still a ton of talent on the team and that the Sox could contend in 2013 with good health and a couple decent additions. It’s just sad seeing the media hype non-issues rather than actually, you know, provide facts.
Thing to remember about the average Boston fan: We’re more superstitious than the average fan. Thus the media can whip us into a frenzy faster. The best thing to do is ignore them.
Have faith. Ride it out.
”
A few minor adjustments”
Ha!! That’s a good one.
Don’t be surprised.. I have seen those minor adjustments turn a worn out ’86 WS team into the team that went to the PO 2x straight in 88-89 and very young again that was very young once again. The Red Sox very rarely (like not since 1965) do total rebuilds, but have only had 1 sub .500 record team and are almost always competitive.
There are plenty of people here that despise the Red sox and same everywhere, mostly people jealous of the way they always win games moreso than some of the front running fan base that is vocal and only shows up when they are very good.
This current team only needs to move a couple of pieces also to do a partial rebuild, they have done several of them in my nearly 50 years watching this team. No total rebuild required as they always have the farm to bring a few in currently and a few more in another year-2 down the line, plus can garner a couple prospects in people who are more than worthy of decent prospects on the roster, as in Ellsbury and Salty.
Josh Hamilton is having a great game tonight! Two mammoth Homeruns.
Boston is harvesting the bad karma they got after fleecing the Padres for Adrian Gonzalez.
Not true.. San Diego just gave away one of the best pieces from that deal in Anthony Rizzo to the Cubs for a handful of nothing.. Not Boston’s fault and Kelly got hurt, but is still a good prospect.
Padres don’t give away Rizzo to a sharp Epstein and SD still makes a smart deal for someone they never could have resigned.
Obviously you’re not that knowledgable. Even if the Padres got Nothing (which isn’t the case) it DID save them from spending 20+ MM/year on him!
What team will go the hardest after Hamilton?
@Gator4444
Most likely the Rangers. Seeing how the season has progressed, I envision only a handful of teams making a serious offer. Hamilton is having a great year, but not the ridiculous season he started out earlier. He’s come back to earth, as have the crazies that were predicting he would command and get $25MM per and 10 yrs back in May.
Easy to say the Dodgers, but 2/3 of their outfield is locked up long-term and they have $42 million invested in Puig, so I don’t see them going after Hamilton the hardest. I guess they could move Ethier to first base, but I think they will focus on starting pitching, first base (not much out there), and perhaps SS or 3B if they’ve really soured on Gordon.
I’d say the Giants, and then link him up with their pal Conte. 0_o
Angels, Dodgers, Rangers, Giants, Mariners, Cardinals, and my dark horse picks the Orioles.
I’d let Charlie V stay and start.. Over the course of the season he’s pretty much been their best pitcher, or atleast since Morrow has gone down.
Charlie V? Isn’t Charlie V the erstwhile Power forward last seen with the Pistons? Seriously, I’d love to see the Brewers make an effort to get him back. He was under appreciated in his first stint thanks to Ned Yost and Ken Macha, then inexplicably given away to Toronto for PTBNL who turned out to be nobody.
I know Craig Counsell mentored him on union stuff and Counsell’s in the front office now and the Brewers could use a starter or two.
As we learned in Beverly Hills Cop 2, Carlos is Spanish for Charles. So at one point Milwaukee had two “Charles” Villanuevas in town with the Brewers and Bucks. 🙂
Ed Wade: the gift that keeps on giving, and you can’t return or exchange it.
That post about the Astros had a hilarious line in it.
“Our primary focus is on pitching, defense and run production.” – Jeff Luhnow.
So what ISN’T their primary focus?
Haha right! “What we’d like to focus on is hitting, running, pitching, and defense. It’s vital that we combine power with speed. and also formulate a solid pitching rotation and bullpen.” ^___________^
Zach Links/ all of mlbtr: STOP adding a little blip each and every day about Bobby V, and the meeting. For Gods sake. It’s media blown anyways. Way to keep up the bs hype. Sorry this comment isn’t patting mlbtr on the back, andthat it’s real talk.
I think Villanueva deserves a significant pay bump whether he does remain in the rotation or is a long man out of the bullpen. Guy has been probably the Jays most reliable pitcher no matter if its in the pen or rotation. Not to mention we acquired him from the Brewers for simply cash, so if I’m AA I give the guy the starter money he wants even if it doesn’t guarantee him a spot. Although with Drabek and Hutch out I think it will for the time being.
I can’t understand why the Jays are being so tentative with Villanueva! He’s been outstanding all year, from the bullpen to the starting rotation. (Plus, he’s had a great moustache and is very well-spoken.) I would think the front office would lock him up right away, but they continue to disrespect him by questioning his durability, when they’re ENTIRE STAFF has been unreliable (Alvarez, Romero) and/or injured (Morrow, McGowan, Hutchinson, Drabek)! I don’t get it.