Dotel Prefers Yankees
Just got a note from my favorite source today. Remember our New York barber friend who’s in tight with Octavio Dotel? My source got another haircut today, and Dotel’s preference was revealed to be the Yankees.
According to my source, both the barber and another friend of Dotel’s were confident that the reliever wants to pitch for the Yankees. In addition, Dotel believes he will be ready to pitch by opening day.
Signing Dotel could make up for the Yanks’ failure to get Rudy Seanez and would give them a strikeout heavy, dominant bullpen. In Mariano Rivera, Kyle Farnsworth, and Octavio Dotel, the Yankees would have three men capable of closing games. It could be reminiscent of the famous Lidge-Dotel-Wagner trio.
No new word on Dotel’s merengue album at this time.
Update: Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yanks are closing in on a one-year, $2MM deal with Dotel. Looks like the reliever got his wish. Rosenthal mentions a possible June return to a Major League mound for Dotel; based on my info I think it’ll happen in May.
Thanks to Dan
Dotel’s Agent Confirms Cards’ Interest
Octavio Dotel‘s agent, Dan Horwits, confirmed late Saturday that the Cardinals have been in contact with his client. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article by Derrick Goold, more than a dozen teams have inquired about Dotel.
Of course, regular visitors of MLBTradeRumors.com were privy to this information early on Thursday, long before the newspapers picked it up. The scoop came via our favorite source, a New York barber in the know about Dominican players. In addition to St. Louis, the Mets would like to fit Dotel into an 8th inning role, and the Indians are looking for an insurance policy should Bob Wickman not return.
The Post-Dispatch article left out the most pertinent fact – that Dotel is hard at work on a merengue album.
Mets, Indians, Cards Contact Dotel
In recent years, Octavio Dotel has whiffed batters at a ridiculous rate, sometimes approaching 13 per nine innings. While tough to hit in general, Dotel has been prone to the home run and too generous with bases on balls.
The colorful Dotel went down this summer with a strained right elbow, and by June Dr. James Andrews was wrapping a tendon from his leg around that same elbow. Interestingly, the tendon was long enough to be wound three times around the elbow, giving Dotel superhuman strength. Well, I’m not sure about the strength but it was wrapped three times.
Dotel elected for the surgery against Oakland’s wishes, and a door was opened for Huston Street to become Rookie of the Year in 2005. Dotel was one of the first free agents to file, and has declared in the past that he’d be happy to pitch in a setup role if need be. He even volunteered to play for free.
Dotel was ranked 31st on the RotoAuthority Top 50 Free Agents list, and Boston was picked as his likely destination. Now comes word of three other teams interested in Dotel’s services, courtesy of an unusual source. My source’s barber (in New York) is apparently friends with Dotel, as they knew each other back in the Dominican Republic. The barber informed my source that Dotel has been contacted by the Cardinals, Mets, and Indians. The best part, straight from my source:
"He also told me that Octavio is working on a record, not a record for saves or strikeouts or anything, a merengue record. He is supposedly a great singer. Seriously."
There you have it. It might sound a little far-fetched, but have fun with it. My honest opinion is that this report is accurate and truthful. St. Louis seems the most likely choice, as the club has shown great patience and has been rewarded with rehab projects like Chris Carpenter.
Thanks to Dan K.