Phillies deny sign-stealing speculation
PHILADELPHIA -- With typical long-windedness and Southern charm, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel denied the rumor that his team has been stealing signs.
"I can tell you this -- if I can steal signs, I will. I mean, if I can," he said, to laughter, after an 8-6 win over the Yankees in Game 5.
"No, we're definitely not stealing. We don't have their signs and we're not stealing their signs. But we are trying."
The allegations resurfaced in light of excessively frequent trips to the mound by Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. Cameras have shown New York calling pitches via a sequence of signs -- typically reserved for when a runner is on second -- even with the bases empty.
Dodgers third-base coach Larry Bowa, who served in the same capacity with the Yankees and who managed the Phillies from 2001-04, added fuel to the fire on Monday.
"There's rumors going around that when you play the Phillies, there's a camera somewhere or bullpen people are giving signs," Bowa told ESPN 950, a Philadelphia affiliate. "And catchers are constantly changing signs. That's the rumor. Now, is it proven? No."
But the Phillies are having none of it.
"I guess he knows something that I don't know about, obviously," Shane Victorino said before Monday's game. "We play between the lines, and that's what it's about.
"For Bowa to come out and say something like that, if he doesn't know what he's talking about, if he doesn't have cold, hard facts, he shouldn't say something like that. It's just not something that should be said. For you to pop off like that, I'm not happy."
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Buzz: Molina, Barajas and Yorvit on Omar's List
Mets reporter Marty Noble of MLB.com believes Bengie Molina, Rod Barajas and Yorvit Torrealba will be on Omar Minaya's list, as he looks for a catcher.
Barajas and Molina will be free agents at the end of this season.
...the buzz from Colorado suggests the Rockies will buyout torrealba's $3.5 million option, making him a free agent, as they finally turn to Chris Ianetta as their starting catcher...
...molina is probably the best overall option, but, at 36 years old, i am not sure i could justify giving him even a two-year deal, which i suspect he is going to ask for and get from someone... molina has a good arm, he's a good run producer, but, i would rather see the Mets spend that roughly $6 million per season on some other aspect of the roster... but, if omar ends up signing molina, i will not complain...
...like i said before, given their history, i just can't believe the Mets and torrealba finding common ground… i don't know why, but, i see him signing with the Giants, assuming molina goes elsewhere...
...which is why i keep coming back to barajas, who, while not the most dynamic hitter around, he has good-enough power, he will drive in runs, and he's a terrific, all-around defensive catcher... plus, he can probably be had on a one-year deal, he'll likely require no more than $2 million, and he's been on the DL only once in the last six seasons...
Barajas hit just .226, but with 19 HR and 71 RBI, in 125 games for the Blue Jays this season -- he hit .267 against left-handed pitching, while Omir Santos hit .283 against righties.
Meanwhile, in a post to MLB Trade Rumors, Tim Dierkes takes a look at six catchers who could be available in trade, including Indians C Kelly Shoppach, Royals C John Buck and Pirates C Ryan Doumit.
Doumit hit .318 with 15 HR in 166 games during 2008, but hit just .250 with 10 HR in half as many games in 2009.
...doumit is interesting, from an offensive point of view... the problem is, he is always injured and he’s a very weak on defense, which i believe is a priority for the Mets... it's a shame, because he's a switch hitter, he has power from both sides of the plate, and he can play first base and the outfield...
The 28–year-old Doumit will earn $3.5 million next season and $5 million in 2011, after which the team holds an option for 2012 and 2013.
(c) METSBLOG.
MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday to the Mets?
You knew it was just a matter of time before Scott Boras made news for one of his free agents by saying that Matt Holliday was comparable to the Yankees Mark Teixeira, who the Yankees signed last offseason for $180 million.
I am sure Boras is going to do whatever is in his power to drive up the price for Matt Holliday, which means that his statements that he wants to return to the Cardinals was just words, with no meaning behind them. What Holliday forgot to say was "and as long as they are the highest bidder for my services".
Yesterday, SI.com's Jon Heyman speculated that the Mets will be the favorites to sign Matt Holliday this offseason. I am not sure if he said this because he appears weekly on WFAN, the Mets radio station or not, but there are signs the Mets may not spend heavily this offseason. Then again, they have to do something to get their fans to stop talking about their disastrous 2009 season. Signing Matt Holliday will do that, and bring some excitement back to the Mets fans.
Heyman goes on to say that a few other teams, notably the Braves and Giants will be in the mix for Holliday's services, and that Holliday will more than likely stay in the National League.
Who could blame him? Here is what he did after getting traded to the Cardinals-in 235 ABs, he went 13-55-.353-.419-.604-1.023, after going 11-55-12-.286-.378-.454 in 346 ABs with the A's.
For fantasy/roto owners, Holliday hitting at Citifield 81 games a season is not anything to get excited about. I, for one, own Holliday at $47 in the UBA league, and I hope the Red Sox or Yankees sign him so I don't get dinged with a $5 hit to my draft day salary of $260. If not, I won't be retaining him at $47, and will take the $5 hit to my draft day salary for the third straight draft.
Holliday will certainly improve the Mets lineup, and he should have plenty of RBI opportunities, but his power production will more than likely drop hitting at Citifield. I can see an 18-105 season from Holliday in 2010 should he sign with the Mets.
(c) 2009 Sportsblogs, Inc.
MLB Rumors: Farrell Turns Down Interview
Take this for what it is worth as it is coming out of Boston, but as a follow-up the TD's news from last night, Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell has reportedly turned down the chance to interview with the Cleveland Indians.
This is turning into quite a he said-she said between the Indians (and Paul Hoynes) and Red Sox (and ESPN, Boston Globe, etc).
Since serving as the director of player development -- a concept that has since been apparently ignored by the Indians - Farrell would be welcomed back with open arms. However, until we get a confirmation, everything is speculation.
Assumed to be at the top of the wishlist, this would not be the best of news. I have a feeling this is all going to go down a similar path as it did with the Browns and all of the Bill Cowher talks from last winter. If so, I can't wait to see who the MLB version of Josh McDaniels will be!
(c) WaitingForNextYear 2007 - All Rights Reserved.
Gonzalez unsure about his status for '10
PHILADELPHIA -- Minutes after the Marlins suffered a 7-6 loss in 10 innings to the Phillies, Dan Uggla walked into Fredi Gonzalez's office and gave his manager a hug goodbye.
In line for a big payday in his second year of arbitration, there have been questions for a while as to whether Uggla will be a Marlin in 2010.
As of Sunday, there now are questions as to whether Gonzalez and/or members of his staff will be with the club next year.
Before taking the field for their final game of the season, the Marlins had to deal with some offseason speculation. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Marlins have had conversations with Bobby Valentine about a possible position within the organization.
"We all have bosses. Nobody is owed anything," Gonzalez said after completing his third season managing the club. "You just keep going forward."
The 59-year-old Valentine has managed the Rangers and Mets in the big leagues. For the past six years, he was managing the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. Recently, he returned to ESPN as an analyst. Valentine also is drawing interest from Cleveland and Washington, ESPN reports.
It is unclear what position the Marlins would have interest in offering Valentine, but it could be to manage.
Gonzalez received a two-year extension at the beginning of Spring Training and he's under contract through 2011.
When asked if he's been given any indications of his future, Gonzalez responded: "I don't even know how to answer that question. We'll know more in a week."
Standard procedure for the Marlins is to not confirm or deny rumors.
Speaking with reporters in the press box at Citizens Bank Park, team president David Samson said the organization after every season does a complete evaluation of all its employees, ranging from marketing to the playing field.
Samson said this year is no different, and that people shouldn't read into speculation.
The Marlins finished 87-75, in second place behind the Phillies in the National League East.
"We don't talk about rumors; we never have," Samson said. "The answer is after every season we always evaluate everyone, so that is normal. We're all disappointed. Certainly, winning 87 or 88 games is a positive for the organization, but our goal every year is to make the playoffs. That's that. Rumors come out all the time this time of year about all sorts of things. From our perspective, there is nothing different about this year than the 10 others I've had in baseball."
Florida has yet to make a decision on the status of its coaching staff. Addressing the media Saturday, president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said that would be made after the season.
In terms of a time frame, the coaches' contracts all run through Oct. 31. No firm decisions regarding the staff or Gonzalez is expected in the next few days.
The organization was hopeful of reaching the playoffs, but was eliminated Tuesday night.
"We were just purely too inconsistent, in my opinion, this year to make it," Beinfest said on Saturday. "I don't want to sound like we're terribly disappointed or unhappy, because that's not the case."
Florida's 87 wins are the third-most in club history. The only Marlins teams to win more games are the 1997 (92) and 2003 (91) squads. Both those squads won the World Series.
Asked if Gonzalez's job is safe, Samson said: "There is no difference between this year and every other year that I've been in baseball. We meet and talk about [things] following the year as it pertains to payroll, as it does on the field, as it does for marketing, as it does for sales. Everything."
With a win Saturday, Gonzalez collected his 242nd victory as Marlins manager, establishing a franchise record. In three seasons with Florida, Gonzalez is 242-243.
Jack McKeon was 241-207 from 2003-05, including the 2003 World Series title.
Gonzalez has managed one of the youngest teams in the league. This year's squad had a league-low $36 million payroll.
"I think it says a lot with all the youth he's had here," Marlins veteran Wes Helms said of Gonzalez. "He's not really had a veteran team, so he's had to do a lot more to keep everything in line, and keep everything organized. He's done an exceptional job with the low payroll, and everything. You've got to give him so much credit with what he's done here.
"I know the players respect him. I know with the payroll and the young kids here, he's got it organized and he's doing it the right way. To be that successful in three years is pretty good."
Jon Heyman of SI.com reported Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria felt the team underachieved.
Reached in New York, Loria said of the managerial situation, "I don't really have any comment. I don't talk about rumors, and you know that. Talk to Beinfest."
In a somber Marlins clubhouse after Sunday's loss, several players expressed hope that Gonzalez would return. But they noted there is the business side of the industry.
"I don't know nothing about that. I cannot control that," said All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who won the NL batting title with a .342 average. "I'm not a GM. Hopefully he can come back. I think we did pretty good. I think we can do better. I hope Fredi can come back next year.
"We were over .500, and we have a lot of young guys, and a couple of guys got hurt. I think we came really close. But it's the game. You can only control what you can control."
Outfielder Cody Ross said he's taking the speculation in stride.
"I just heard some rumblings going on in the clubhouse earlier today," Ross said. "Rumors are rumors. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard somebody is going to be traded or fired, I'd be really rich.
"At this point, nothing really surprises me any more. I think he's done a great job. Basically when you manage you have to manage guys' personalities -- how to push them, not just on the field. It takes a lot in the clubhouse. If he weren't to come back, it would be a surprise, yeah. He's done a great job the last few years."
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Twins to sign Sano for $3.15M bonus
Miguel Angel Sano, a Dominican shortstop considered by many as the top free agent teenage prospect in Latin America, will sign with the Minnesota Twins for a $3.15 million bonus, according to Sano's agent Rob Plummer.
Sano's deal is contingent on getting a visa from the U.S. Consulate in the Dominican to play in the United States. Earler this year, Major League Baseball conducted an age investigation -- a prerequisite for every player signed in Latin America -- that confirmed Sano's identity but could not very his exact age. Sano claims to be 16 years old, but there have been rumors in the Dominican Republic that he may be older.
Sano's agent, Rob Plummer, said Tuesday that he expects an agreement to be signed this week.
"I'm very thankful to get this chance to sign with the Twins," Sano told the Associated Press. "I'm going to work very hard to try to get to the majors in two years."
Twins general manager Bill Smith declined comment to AP.
If Sano's contract holds, he will have earned the highest bonus for a player from Latin American -- outside of Cuba -- this year, and he will have received the second highest bonus ever for a Dominican amateur player. Last year, pitcher Michel Ynoa received $4.25 million from the Oakland Athletics.
Sano's deal surpasses the $3.1 million the St. Louis Cardinals gave outfielder Wagner Mateo this year, though the Cardinals recently voided the deal as a result of an eye condition. Mateo's representative Edgar Mercedes has threatened to sue the Cardinals to reclaim the bonus. The Yankees gave catcher Gary Sanchez $3 million, which would fall behind Sano as the second-largest deal this year if the Mateo deal remains voided.
The Pittsburgh Pirates appeared to be Sano's most ardent suitor, but negotiations between the two sides were at a standstill after agent Rob Plummer rejected a $2.6 million offer from the team.
The rumors about Sano's age seem to stem from the fact that his body type appears more advanced than a typical 16 year old. For that reason, many believe that even if Sano is the age he claims to be, he will likely have to play somewhere other than shortstop, perhaps third base or in the outfield. It's likely that Sano won't begin his professional career until next season. Sano would easily be the most heralded Latin American player signed by the Twins.
(c) 2009 ESPN Internet Ventures.
Thornton a compelling option to Jenks
CHICAGO -- Prior to the start of the 2008 season, Matt Thornton paid a visit to Ozzie Guillen's Spring Training office in Tucson to deliver a message.
"I said, 'Look, I want you to know I'm ready for anything,'" said Thornton, recounting the past conversation in the White Sox clubhouse at U.S. Cellular Field on Wednesday. "I told him, 'I'm ready to throw one inning, to one hitter, three innings or whatever you need.'
"That struck true to this year," Thornton said.
With nine games remaining in the 2009 regular season, the 33-year-old Thornton closes out a campaign that has elevated him to one of the best setup men in the game. His 24 holds tie Thornton for third in the American League, to go along with his 2.65 ERA amassed over his career-high 68 innings pitched.
Thornton has fanned 81, walked 16 unintentionally and yielded just 55 hits. The White Sox hold a $2.25 million option on the hard-throwing left-hander for 2010 that they almost certainly will pick up, but now the question jumps out as to what role Thornton will hold within the bullpen for the upcoming season?
Will he continue to save games in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings for the White Sox? Or will the White Sox decide to trade Bobby Jenks, one of the steadier and frequently spectacular closers in the game over the past 4 1/2 seasons, and move Thornton into this role?
When asked about the future closer possibility on Wednesday, Thornton certainly didn't want to speculate.
"It's out of my hands," Thornton said. "I mean, whatever they need me to do, I'll do. I care about one thing and that's winning baseball games. I don't care about personal records, tributes, whatever you want to call it."
Jenks, 28, sat one save away from his fourth straight year with at least 30 when he pulled a right calf muscle before Tuesday's game against Minnesota. That injury shut him down for the remainder of 2009, a season that by Jenks' own admission, wasn't as good as he had hoped.
Six blown saves matched Jenks' career high, which previously happened in 2007. His ERA of 3.71 ranks second-worst to the 4.01 he posted in 2006, but the truly eye-catching number was the nine home runs given up by Jenks over 53 1/3 innings. That total is one less than Jenks allowed over the past three seasons and the total of 196 1/3 innings.
A ninth-inning mishap on Sept. 17 in Seattle pretty much summed up Jenks' recent struggles. Trying to protect a 3-1 lead, Jose Lopez homered to open the frame off of the right-hander. Two outs later, Bill Hall homered to tie a contest the White Sox would lose in heartbreaking fashion in 14 innings.
"I've had plenty of opportunities to help this team get closer to first place," Jenks said. "And my home runs being up so high are a main reason as why my season definitely could have been better.
"Maybe it's a lack of concentration or focus. It's just frustrating, going out there in the bullpen and having good stuff and then not having the same stuff when you are out there during the game."
Rumors of possible trades involving Jenks started freely circulating during the past Hot Stove period, although never confirmed by the team. Jenks earned $5.6 million in his first year as an arbitration eligible player and figures to get an increase going into 2010.
Combining that potential pay bump with Jenks' 2009 showing, along with Thornton's presence, and Jenks suddenly becomes trade bait who could bring back talented young players in return. To Jenks' credit, he handles this sort of talk the same way he handles a rare blown save -- face it on the day it happens and then move on. The Jenks family is expecting its fourth child this offseason, so the closer has more important things on his mind.
"Would I want to stay? Absolutely, yes, of course. I would be sad if I'm not here," Jenks said. "But on the other hand, it's out of my control. There's always going to be another team out there looking for pitching. It would be very unfortunate because I love it here, but it is part of the game."
Asked Wednesday if he still had confidence in Jenks, White Sox general manager Ken Williams answered with a direct, "Yes."
"Bobby Jenks is under contract and he's here," Williams said. "It's not something I need to discuss or entertain right now."
Providing analysis for a move to the closer's role doesn't mean Thornton is campaigning for the job. In fact, Thornton staunchly defended Jenks' 2009 season, talking about how Jenks had set the bar so high by saving the deciding game of the 2005 World Series, posting back-to-back 40-save seasons and retiring an astonishing 41 consecutive batters in 2007 that this solid season seems sub-par.
Nonetheless, Thornton will have the chance to close in these next two weeks due to Jenks' injury. It is still to be determined if that job will extend into 2010.
"If I get in that situation, so be it," said Thornton, who is 1-for-6 in save opportunities this year, but only one blown save came in the ninth. "At the same time, we need to have a strong bullpen next year. You can't just go get rid of everyone. It's up to Kenny, [White Sox chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf], Coop [pitching coach Don Cooper] and Ozzie to decide who is back next year. Bullpen strength, as we've seen in 2007, is very important.
"I've enjoyed the time throwing in the ninth inning. It's fun. It's exciting. It's definitely a little different. The crowd is really into it."
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
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