With so many player signings this week and lots of arbitration news, I created a separate article just for those. Here are a few of the smaller but tastier bits of non-arbitration baseball news and activity over the past week:
Trainer’s Table:
Carl Crawford had surgery on his ailing left wrist, a move that comes as a shock to those expecting a bounce back year from him. After the worst year of his career, trying to live up to a monster contract from the Red Sox, many baseball analysts were expecting a return to his normally solid production. The Red Sox have to be upset with the course of events leading to Crawford’s surgery. His wrist has been an on again/off again issues the past several years, including being very sore during the last month of the season. So why wasn’t there an immediate battery of tests and proper diagnosis right after the season ended? Why does it take the player ramping up his off-season workouts to admit to himself he is really injured? The Red Sox do not have a real timetable for his return yet, but hopefully he will not miss more than 2 or 3 weeks of the start to the 2012 season.
Mike Napoli has finally started to do some light running on his injured left ankle, which occurred while running the bases in the World Series. While he will be ready to start spring training on time, there is concern he will not be able to properly squat and actually catch by the start of the season. Last year the 30 year old slugger caught 76 games, played 37 at first and DH’d for another 20. Napoli’s bat helps lengthen the Texas Rangers lineup considerably and he was as big a reason as any that they returned to the World Series last year. (.320 Avg, .414 OBP, .631 SLG in 369 at bats)
Kangaroo Court:
The Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs still can’t come to an agreement over the compensation for Theo Epstein leaving the Red Sox with one year left on his contract. Usually, such moves throughout baseball in the past have been quietly settled with a low or medium ranked minor league prospect, but there are still some hard feelings with the Red Sox and their former GM (so what else is new?). The matter has been turned over to the commissioner Bud Selig who will “mediate” the compensation. Looks like Selig will be earning his over $20 million dollar salary after all!
Japanese Player Postings:
Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki signed a two year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers worth a reported $2.25 mil total, with incentives. The club has an option for the third year. The Brewers had won the rights to negotiate with Aoki for a sum of $2.5 mil. Aoki wanted to play in the majors and was willing to take a significant pay cut from what he was earning in Japan to do so (last year Aoki earned $4.2 mil). The 30 year old Aoki won the rookie of the year in 2005, is a 3 time batting champ and a 6 time Gold glove winner in his 7 year career in the Japanese league. Since there is a great possibility of the Brewers losing Ryan Braun for 50 games at the beginning of the season, there is a solid chance Aoki will be able to show what he can do in the majors this year.
Free Agent Signings:
Bartolo Colon signed a 1 year deal with the Oakland Athletics with a yet unreported salary (rumors are that it is for $2 mil). The 39 year old Colon had a great first half last year for the NY Yankees, but slowed down considerably in the second half. Part of the second half slide was attributed to knee issues which Colon says he is over. The A’s needed to fill out their rotation after making multiple trades this off-season.
Carlos Pena signed a 1 year deal with his old team the Tampa Bay Rays. It is worth a reported $7.25 mil, down from his $10 mil salary last year with the Cubs. But the 33 year old slugger and his agent, had probably decided they couldn’t wait any longer, what with many teams having already filled their DH/1B needs. Pena had his typical year last year, one where he hit his weight (.225), banged out close to 30 homers (28) and walked/struck out a ton (101/161).
Trade Talks:
The Indians, in reaction to the news on Roberto Hernandez Heredia (AKA “Fausto Carmona”), traded for starting pitcher Kevin Slowey from the Colorado Rockies. With the uncertainty of Heredia’s (Carmona’s) return to the Indians this year, they decided to trade for an experienced arm that can give them some innings in the rotation if needed. The Indians sent minor league reliever Zach Putnum and some cash back to the Rockies. Though he was called up for 8 games late in the season, the 24 year old Putnam spent most of 2011 in triple-A with a 6-3 record, 1.22 WHIP and a 3.65 ERA. The Rockies probably aren’t going to compete this season, so getting a young arm for Slowey had to make them happy.
The Red Sox traded their shortstop Marco Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Clayton Mortensen. It is almost weird seeing the Red Sox making a trade to free up money in order to make another move. But the Red Sox and Yankees have been very frugal this off-season, and this move continues the trend. I am assuming by freeing Scutaro’s contract (he was slated to make $6 mil this year) they will now pursue a one year deal with Roy Oswalt. The Red Sox have plenty of options at short with Mike Aviles, Nick Punto and their young 22 year old prospect Jose Iglesias. Clayton Mortensen is a 26 year old former first round pick that hasn’t been able to crack the majors quite yet. The Rockies will be his 4th organization!
Out To Pasture:
Craig Counsell announced his official retirement as an active player. The 41 year old Counsell had a long 16 year career that included 2 World Series Championships. The first one with the Marlins in 1997 and the second one with the Diamondbacks in 2001. Counsell, the scrappiest of players, somehow was able to stay around in the majors year after year, the continuous underdog. Most people who played with Counsell loved him and his attitude. He was considered a winner and always seemed to step up in the post-season, including being named the NLCS MVP in 2001. Counsell will continue working with the Milwaukee Brewers as a special assistant to the general manager Doug Melvin. Counsell ended with career stats of: 1,624 games played, 647 R, 42 HR, 390 RBI, 103 SB, .255 Avg, .342 OBP, .344 SLG
Old Man River:
Jamie Moyer, the aged 49 year old veteran pitcher, is trying to catch on for yet another year. He has signed a minor league deal, with an invite to training camp, with the Colorado Rockies. He surprisingly under went Tommy John surgery and entirely missed last year. Moyer’s first season was way back in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs. Man how time flies! He has 267 career wins and has aspirations of one day reaching the magical 300 plateau.
Our Prayers Go Out:
Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter has been fighting brain cancer since May and, unfortunately, a new round of brain tumors have been discovered. The Kid, as he is affectionately known, provided many happy memories for New Yorkers when he played for the NY Mets in the late 80’s, including the magical 1986 World Series victory. He was deservedly inducted into the HOF in 2003.
Los Angeles Dodgers For Sale:
With the ongoing saga of the Dodgers and their owner dragging on, the team was allowed to file a bankruptcy reorganization plan. This basically is designed to protect and satisfy all the parties involved that if the Dodgers owe them money; they will get paid (even if it takes quite a while). The sale of the Dodgers organization is now officially scheduled for April 30th, the same date that Frank McCourt (the current embattled owner) owes a monstrous sum to his ex-wife as part of their divorce settlement. The deadline for initial bids is tomorrow, so we will have a better picture on potential buyers shortly.
It’s getting close to spring training! Hopefully the arbitration eligible player signings finish next week… see you guys for next week’s edition of ROUNDING THE BASES!
No comments:
Post a Comment