25 years ago today, Bart Giamatti banned Pete Rose from Major League Baseball for life for gambling on the game. As Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller points out, the next year could be a turning point for Rose, as Rob Manfred replaces Bud Selig as commissioner and MLB prepares to host the All-Star Game in Cincinnati next July. Miller suggests it’s time for baseball to give its all-time hits leader a second chance. Here’s more from around the game.
- The Athletics recently claimed Yunel Escobar from the Rays on revocable waivers, but Escobar does not want to play for Oakland, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman writes. “I am very concerned with Yunel having been selected on waivers by Oakland,” says Escobar’s agent, Alex Esteban. “While I believe Oakland is an excellent organization, I don’t feel that it is the best organization for him.” Esteban adds that Escobar has a good relationship with Rays manager Joe Maddon. Of course, Escobar does not have a no-trade clause and cannot block a trade to the A’s, but his disinterest in playing for them is one variable to keep in mind as the situation develops. Escobar has stayed out of trouble in Tampa, but he did not get along with Bobby Cox in Atlanta and received a suspension for a homophobic slur while playing for Toronto.
- White Sox top prospect Carlos Rodon dominated Sunday in his second career start for Triple-A Charlotte. Rodon pitched four innings and struck out eight batters, including five of the last six he faced. Less than two months after signing as the third overall pick in the draft, Rodon is already pitching well at the highest level of the minor leagues.
- Martin Prado and Brandon McCarthy have played well since the Yankees traded for them this summer, writes Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com. Prado played mostly third base with the Diamondbacks, but since being traded he’s played there sparingly, instead appearing more often in right field and at second base. That’s not surprising, given that the Yankees had acquired Chase Headley the previous week. “They talked to me about that the first day before I even stepped out on the field,” says Prado. “I had this experience in the past with the Braves. It’s not like I haven’t done it.”
- The most likely destination for Bartolo Colon is either the Angels or Dodgers, one executive tells Adam Rubin of ESPN New York (via Twitter). The Tigers don’t have the money for him, Rubin writes. The Mets placed Colon on revocable waivers on Saturday. Rubin tweets that he does not think the Mets will get rid of Colon simply to avoid paying him his $11MM salary next year.
- Wilin Rosario is dealing with a wrist injury just as he might be coming to a fork in the road with the Rockies, Nick Groke of the Denver Post writes. Rosario is eligible for arbitration after the season and he hasn’t made an overwhelming case to start next season, hitting .248/.289/.399 while concentrating on improving his defense. One element possibly in Rosario’s favor, though, is that there won’t be many good catchers available on the free agent market — Russell Martin is the only obvious starting-caliber catcher.
At least something good pitching-wise has come from this awful 2014 White Sox season.
If we are going to get technical, this is coming from the awful 2013 White Sox season…
Technically yes, but the pitching this year has been far worse than 2013. That’s what I was referring to.
What is this strange posturing on the part of Escobar’s agent?
It does seem rather strange. Taken at face value, it could just mean that he’s had issues on every team he’s ever played with until the Rays, and he’s happy in Tampa. Why mess with a good thing?
If you look at it from the angle that Escobar likes the Rays, which is supported by his below market value extension, then it sort of makes sense. He had his issues with the Braves and Jays and likes where he is.
The posturing is strange and it doesn’t make any sense to talk to the media about it.
It just struck me as very odd because it’s not like August waiver claims are even highly correlated to actual player movement, nor does it seem likely that the Rays would sell low on a guy who was worth ~3 wins last year and is on a team-friendly contract.
Needlessly antagonistic, imo. Then again, this IS coming from the camp of Yunel Escobar.
I wouldn’t be surprised if his agent thought that the behavior problems would start back up if he was separated from Maddon’s zen personality. He probably enjoys living in Tampa Bay as well.
This occurred to me as well, and his agent is privy to information that we do not have. He knows EXACTLY how Yunel feels about all of this and probably has a pretty good read on his client and how he will react in a given situation. Buyer beware in this case because you are probably getting the Toronto/Atlanta version, rather than the Tampa version if you decide to pull the trigger on this guy.
He’s tempermental, and has found a good home. Messing with that might bring some messy results, and ones the A’s don’t necessarily need.
That said, the A’s are one of the few teams where he might fit in. They do things in a similar vein to Tampa, and they do need to shake things up a bit. It’s a pretty significant risk for the A’s to take, but at least they will know what they are getting into now if they do pull the trigger.
Escobar’s always thought he’s a much better player than he really is. Not that he’s a bad player.
Its not that he doesnt want to play for Oakland, its that he doesnt want to play with Billy Beane. Cant “include” everybody Billy.hahaha
“The Tigers don’t have the money for him,”
Oh please.
I mean they do, but they don’t really. Verlander gets an 8 million dollar raise next year. Price will make a few million more than Scherzer did this year. Porcello is looking like he’s headed for the Fister route, but he’d get a raise if he’s still around. That pretty much cancels out Hunter’s money coming off the books.
I don’t think VMart will be hard to resign, but they’re up agains their salary limits and Colon is a pitcher they really shouldn’t bring on board with those restrictions.
In case you don’t know, Ilitch is the 3rd richest owner in baseball, worth $3.2 billion. I’m sure he’s got $11 million to spend somewhere. That’s 0.003%, which is equivalent of someone who has $10,000 spending $30. He is as rich as Jerry Jones is.
I can’t stand these writers/fans who say all of that nonsense. This is the same guy remember who got turned down from a player who was offered $144 million (give or take)
And the Jay’s are the richest owners, what is your point? Sometimes teams set budgets and won’t go over them.
“Sometimes teams set budgets and won’t go over them.”
There’s a difference between something they Won’t do and something they Can’t do.
The same team also sent Fister away for pennies on the dollar in a move that was justified as making salary space to sign Nathan. Is that nonsense? Or is that more tangible proof than assuming an owner will spill unlimited funds into a team? He’s not the only billionaire owner. They’ve all got an extra 11 million. If you’re going to call my point nonsense, you best have something better than that for I am not impressed. I’ve always considered you to be a level headed person to converse with and I’m sorry that you’ve given me reason to think otherwise.
I didn’t call Your point nonsense at all. I was referring to what Rubin said. Just the fact that people say Team X doesn’t have the money. I find it silly.
Because we have a disagreement on something makes me no longer a level headed person?
“In case you don’t know” is a pretty condescending way to start off a reply. You really think I’d sit down and go through their 2015 budget without knowing how rich Ilitch is?
It has nothing to do with disagreement. You said “that nonsense,” which was just what I was saying.
Let me elaborate more on that, I wasn’t trying to be a wise guy when I said “In case you don’t know”, because not many people do know Illitch is worth $3+ billion. Even one of my cousin’s friend who is from Detroit and a Tigers fan didn’t even know Illitch was a billionaire to begin with.
But yes I find it nonsense when they say “don’t have the money”. What they should be saying is “would rather spend the money elsewhere” or “don’t want to pay for his services”., etc.
Every team has a limit. The Royals aren’t going to resign James Shields. Their owner, David Glass, is worth 1.8 billion.
Detroit is getting pretty close to theirs as we saw last year with the Fister trade.
I don’t disagree with you that every team has a limit. But it doesn’t mean they can’t afford the players.
The Yankees for instance traded Matt Thornton because of payroll flexibility. Not because they can’t afford him.
And David Glass has been Heavily criticized in the past for this.
These guys don’t spend their personnel wealth on payroll it doesn’t really matter what his personnel wealth is. As it is he is running the tigers at a loss right now
“These guys don’t spend their personnel wealth on payroll”
Well technically they do with the money they make but I know what you mean. Again, you’re missing my point it seems. There’s a difference between what a team/owner Wants to spend and what they Can spend.
If Colon were to be claimed by the Dodgers, what do you think he would be traded for? I can’t imagine a straight salary dump. Any possibility at a 5-10 guy or 10-15 on the Dodgers prospect lists?
maybe 1 10-20 guy
Looking forward to Rodon’s big league debut, should be a fun watch!
I kind of expect him to make some starts at the big league level this year. Nothing like 7+ innings of work but maybe 3-5. Rosters will be expanded so they will have bullpen depth (though not good)
It really comes down to whether or not you believe his story. Did he always bet on the Reds to win? Or did he manipulate games? If he did bet against the Reds then his ban is justified. But personally I tend to believe he has too much of an ego to bet against his team.