Results tagged ‘ San Francisco Giants Rumors ’
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Trade Reaction: Morris to the Pirates
Guest blogger J.P. Maxwell emailed me today with his take on the Pirates trading for starting pitcher Matt Morris.
I watched an interview with Cards GM Walt Jocketty before Tuesday night’s game with the Pirates. My intention was to find out why the Cards didn’t do more at the deadline and I was also curious about why the Cards didn’t get in on Matt Morris. I understand why the Cards let him walk way a couple of years ago, but I thought the Cards could have sent a mid-level prospect to the Giants plus had the Giants “eat” about half of Morris salary to make the deal work. I know Morris hasn’t been great in about the last month and a half, but I think Morris returning to the Cardinals would have been a boost that he needed to return to his old form. Well as it turns out, Jocketty said the Cardinals were in on Morris till the last minute and were actually the front runners till the Pirates jumped in and offered to pay the remainder of Morris’ contract. I don’t know what the specifics of the deal would have been for Morris to return, but now all we can do is wonder.
Cardinal and Pirates fans out there, what do you think?
Trade Report: Pirates Hook Morris
Several readers have emailed me letting me know the Pittsburgh Post Gazett is reporting that the Pirates have "acquired starting pitcher Matt Morris from the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Rajai Davis and a player to be named later".
This must have been one of the last deals to be allowed as it wasn’t announced until well after the 3pm eastern deadline. MLB.com has more on the deal.
Rumor: Dye On the Move?
Jermaine Dye’s name continues to be mentioned in various trade rumors. The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting a potential deal that would send the future free agent Dye to the Yankees for struggling RF Bobby Abreu. Aside from the fact that Abreu and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen are close friends, the Sox are subscribing to the theory that Abreu is simply off to a slow start and will heat up along with the summer temperatures.
The other prevalent deal that won’t seem to die has the White Sox sending Dye to the Phillies for former White Sox fan favorite Aaron Rowand and some bullpen help. This trade almost happened at the Winter Meetings and also during Spring Training but never came about because the Phillies wanted reliever Matt Thornton included and the White Sox didn’t want to part with him. However, now the Sox have a new bargaining chip in struggling Mike MacDougal, whom the Phillies may consider making a reclamation project.
As if that weren’t enough, the San Francisco Giants are also said to have some interest in acquiring the outfielder.
In my opinion, the deal that makes the most sense for the White Sox would be to send Dye to the Yankees for Abreu. I think they will miss Dye’s pop in that lineup more than they realize, and I don’t buy the thought that Abreu is finished. He is only 33 years old and has a career .300 batting average to go along with his .409 on base %. There is no reason to believe that he somehow forgot how to hit over the winter, I think he simply needs a confidence boost. His defense has always been a little overrated, but he is still an average outfielder with a good arm. Lately he has started to show some signs of life at the plate and is beginning to demonstrate that he could be a very valuable acquisition to any team willing to roll the dice with him.
~ Guest Blogged by Derek Wonderland
Trade Report: Giants Trade Benitez to Marlins
The San Francisco Giants and Florida Marlins have reportedly swapped relievers. According to the AP, the Marlins are receiving the struggling veteran Armando Benitez in exchange for Randy Messenger. The Giants will also reportedly pay over $4 million of Benitez’s $7 million contract.
While Benitez has the name recognition in this deal, it would appear to be a great one for the Giants. In Messenger, they get a 25 year old reliever with a 2.66 ERA so far this year and rid themselves of a troubled player. Benitez has recently been under fire for criticizing the San Fran offense as well as his hefty 4.67 ERA. The Marlins are presumably hoping Benitez will return to his 2004 form when he saved 47 games while compiling a minuscule 1.29 ERA.
Rumor: Bonds the Boston Backup Plan?
In actuality, this rumor is what kick-started me out of my recent slump. I simply could not pass up a chance to write about this. A New York Times article is discussing the possibility of Bonds landing in Boston. That’s right Boston. I’ll let the author, Murray Chass, explain it to you.
"Six weeks after they agreed to terms on new contracts, Barry Bonds and J. D. Drew remain unsigned. Bonds hasn’t signed with the Giants; Drew hasn’t signed with the Red Sox. That prompts a thought. If both contracts were to fall through, the Red Sox could sign Bonds to play left field and move Manny Ramirez back to his original position in right."
What? Look, I know Boston wants to win. I know that since they tasted that sweet nectar of an epic Yankee defeat as well as a World Series Championship in the same year, they haven’t been the same. I get that. But you’re suggesting that just when it appears the Giants might be doing the right thing and not putting up with Bonds’ BS that the Red Sox are going to snatch him up and inject a cancer into their clubhouse?
Don’t get me wrong, I think both signings are in danger. I think Bonds is too stubborn and detached from reality to realize that the Giants are (or at least should be) his only option. I also think that Scott Boras may have played chicken one too many times and could be taking J.D. Drew headfirst into an oncoming semi (and really it only seems appropriate). But the reason these players aren’t signed yet is quite simple. They’re damaged goods! Bonds has only played in a few dozen games in the past year and he’s old. A body can’t be put through what Bonds put his through without consequences.
Have you ever seen those old ladies that tanned and used all those treatments and surgeries to keep themselves looking young? Sure they look good for a while and then one day they wake up and their face and everything else is hanging about two inches off the ground and they look like an old baseball glove that’s been left outside for a year. The same thing is bound to happen to good ole Barry. The man’s going to end up with the knees of Jerome Bettis and the back of Quasimodo.
Anyway, the point is, these players need these teams more than the team needs them. They just haven’t seemed to figure this out yet. If Boston doesn’t end up signing Drew, it will likely be because they got fed up with dealing with the demands of Boras and a primadona player. So, despite the fact that Bonds to Boston might make a little bit of sense on a lineup card, there’s simply no way Theo Epstein decides to jump into a situation that’s just as bad, if not worse.
digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/baseball/Bonds_to_the_Boston_Red_Sox’;
Update: Zito Signs with Giants
ESPN.com is reporting that Barry Zito has agreed in principal with the San Francisco Giants on a 7 year deal worth $126 million. A news conference is expected this afternoon to announce the deal.
In addition, "the deal, agreed to late Wednesday night, includes an $18 million option for 2014 that could increase the value to $144 million, an unidentified source told The Associated Press."
The will lock up the 28 year old lefty at least until he turns 34. Through 6 seasons of Major League service, Zito has racked up 100+ wins, 1000+ strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.55. While looking through Zito’s career statistics, I noticed something very interesting. The average annual value of $18 million is more than Zito has made in the past 4 years, COMBINED. In 2002, Zito received a $400k signing bonus and a salary of $500k. Over the next four years his salary rose to $900k, $2.5 million, $5.6 million, and $7.9 million respectively for a grand total of $17.8 million.
And that ladies and gentlemen, in case you were wondering, is why players continue to sign with Scott Boras.
Rumor: Zito Getting Giant Contract
Right about now is when Barry Zito’s faith in "super agent" Scott Boras is paying off. As the pool of free agent pitching dwindles and teams are learning what it would take to make trades happen, Zito’s stock has slowly been rising. While only a few teams (Rangers, Mets, and Mariners) considered themselves contenders for Zito’s services before this week, the New York Yankees entered the scene and lit a fire under the collective butts of any interested team.
Yesterday, the New York papers were full of Randy Johnson trade rumors and the possible Yankee signing of Barry Zito. Today, the New York Post claims that the Giants are "signaling to Scott Boras a willingness to exceed the magical $100 million barrier for Barry Zito." See what happens when the Yankees get involved?
The Mets have long been rumored to be the front-runner to land Zito, however, they’ve stuck to their guns about only giving the pitcher a 5 year deal. Boras of course is asking for 6 or 7 years (and possibly a farm as well). The Texas Rangers have given Boras a Saturday deadline to respond to their 6 year offer, but I hope they’re not holding their breath.
The Yankees on the other hand are still trying to deal the "Big Unit" and are reportedly asking for 3 pitching prospects from the Diamondbacks in return. If that deal happens, expect to see Zito’s price climb even higher.
Update: Bonds and Giants Come To Terms
Barry Bonds has finally found a team willing to have him. Of course, it’s the same team that’s been putting up with him for years now. The San Francisco Giants signed the embattled slugger to a one year $16 million deal.
As I said before, the Giants were really the only option for Bonds. San Francisco fans are the only fans in baseball that don’t despise Bonds and the Giants players were the only players that would be able to deal with the clubhouse cancer.
The signing means Bonds will, in all likelihood, break Hank Aaron’s all time home run record and infuriate most of the country and sports media while doing it, essentially holding the game hostage for yet another year. Wonderful…
Winter Meetings Preview
Well sorry about the delay folks. For once the forecasters got it right. We got 10 inches of snow on top of 2 inches of ice (both setting a new record for the ENTIRE month of November). This town does NOT deal with snow well. The word snow comes out of the weatherman’s mouth and there are 10 accidents just on principle alone. Anyway, we’re still basically snowed in but I’m back in the saddle and ready to fire up The Rumor Mill again. What better way to do that than a quick roundup of everything going on to get you ready for the Winter Meetings which I’m sure will give me plenty to write about. Hold on, cause here we go.
The Signings:
- The Chicago White Sox signed a one year deal with Scott Podsednik for $2.9 million. The Sox are still said to be pursuing trades, namely for Chone Figgins, however, so this could just be a sign and trade.
- The New York Mets have reached an agreement with their free agent pitcher Tom Glavine. While Glavine had been considering a return to Atlanta, the Braves were apparently not able to find the funds to make that happen. The Mets on the other hand, apparently had an extra $10.5 million laying around.
- The Cleveland Indians have taken two big strides to bolster their bullpen. The Indians signed the left handed Aaron Fultz from the Phillies and the right handed Roberto Hernandez from the Mets. The Tribe’s ‘pen needed some experience and what better way to do that than sign a 42 year old pitcher?
- The San Francisco Giants have re-signed their second baseman, Ray Durham. Durham had been injury prone throughout his career with the Giants, however, in his contract year last year, Durham managed to stay healthy by focusing on strength and conditioning and it paid off. Durham hit a career best 26 home runs and was rewarded by the Giants with a two year, $14 million deal.
- The Seattle Mariners have signed Jose Guillen to a one year $5.5 million contract.
- The San Francisco Giants have reportedly reached a deal with free agent
outfielder, Dave Roberts. Roberts will apparently be following his
former skipper, Bruce Bochy, to the Giants and will be given a three
year $18 million contract. - The Giants also re-signed Rich Aurilia to a two year deal.
and now… The Rumors:
- The St. Louis Cardinals are apparently taking another look at free agent pitcher Jason Schmidt. After signing second baseman Adam Kennedy and pitcher Kip Wells at what are, at least for this offseason, considered bargain prices, the defending champs apparently have some extra money to spend.
- The Dodgers and Red Sox apparently met last night to discuss a possible deal involving Manny Ramirez and Brad Penny.
- The Chicago Cubs are still courting Julio Lugo as well as Kenny Lofton and Jason Schmidt.
- Toronto Blue Jays center fielder, Vernon Wells, looks to be poised to cash in big in next year’s free agent market, a fact that could prompt the Jays to trade Wells while his value is high.
- The Seattle Mariners are reportedly shopping first base slugger, Richie Sexson.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates are still looking for a left handed bat and might end up having to trade for one rather than pull someone off the steadily shrinking scrap heap.
- Interest in pitcher Miguel Batista seems to be growing with the Phillies, Cubs, and Cardinals all linked to the pitcher.
- A deal involving the Cubs’ Jacque Jones and the Rockies’ Jason Jennings has reportedly been discussed.
- Oh, and shocking as it may be, interest in Barry Bonds is apparently quite low. I seem to remember saying something like that a while back…
Well, that should catch everyone up on the current events. The Winter Meetings are currently underway and as always I’ll keep you up-to-date on all the Rumors and Rumblings from across baseball.
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