Archives › D.J. Short
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Craig passed along a story earlier this week that Michael Young was listed among the potential candidates to play for Mexico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Young was on Team USA for the WBC back in 2009, but he’s eligible to play for Mexico since his mother is of Mexican descent. However, the veteran…
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Ugueth Urbina working out with Caracas Lions, hopes to return to MLB
Dec 29, 2012, 2:44 PM EDT
We heard earlier this week that former MLB reliever Ugueth Urbina was released from prison after serving a little over half of his 14-year sentence for the attempted murder of five workers on his family’s ranch in his native Venezuela. Now he’s ready to embark on an unlikely comeback attempt. In a story that was…
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Adam LaRoche hopeful of re-signing with Nationals, but talking to “a few other teams”
Dec 29, 2012, 1:15 PM EDT
Nothing much has changed in negotiations between Adam LaRoche and the Nationals. While LaRoche wants a three-year deal, the Nationals aren’t willing to budge beyond two guaranteed years. With no resolution in sight, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post checked in with LaRoche yesterday for an update. “We’re talking to a few other teams,” LaRoche…
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Marlins not interested in Cuban free agents Dariel Alvarez and Aledmys Diaz
Dec 29, 2012, 11:50 AM EDT
The Marlins aggressively pursued Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes last offseason before he landed a four-year, $36 million deal from the Athletics, but the club has taken a decidedly different approach this winter, shedding big names while putting a focus on stockpiling prospects and fielding a team on the cheap. That’s why it comes as no…
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According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Mets are “scouring” the market for bullpen help. He mentions Jose Valverde, Francisco Rodriguez and Matt Capps among those still available, but it’s unclear whether the Mets have any interest in those specific pitchers. Frank Francisco had surgery earlier this month to remove a bone spur from his…
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After watching Sean Burnett, Mike Gonzalez and Tom Gorzelanny all sign elsewhere this offseason, the Nationals are in the market for a left-handed reliever. The pickings are starting to thin out, but Dan Kolko of MASNSports.com reports that J.P. Howell remains the club’s top choice in free agency. Howell, who turns 30 in April, posted…
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Matt Garza didn’t make another start after July 19 this past season due to a stress reaction in his throwing elbow, but he’s hoping for better luck in 2013. According to David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com, Garza hasn’t had any issues with his elbow since he resumed throwing earlier this month. Barring any setbacks, he fully…
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Brian Wilson has narrowed down his list of potential landing spots
Dec 28, 2012, 7:29 PM EDT
We haven’t heard much about Brian Wilson recently, but CBS Sports’ Scott Miller reports that he’s drawing “lots of interest” in free agency. While he isn’t close to signing yet, he has narrowed down his list of potential landing spots from nine or 10 teams to around five. It’s not clear if any of those…
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According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the Cubs have agreed to sign left-hander Hisanori Takahashi to a minor league contract. The deal includes an invite to spring training. Takahashi posted a lousy 5.54 ERA over 51 relief appearances this season between the Angels and Pirates. However, he compiled solid secondary numbers, including a 52/14…
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After the Diamondbacks surprisingly slithered in to sign Cody Ross to a three-year, $26 million deal over the weekend, the general feeling was that they would trade one of their outfielders. Not much has changed on that front over the Christmas holiday. One person familiar with the Diamondbacks’ thinking told CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman that…
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UPDATE, SUNDAY: The Pirates will also get right-handed reliever Mark Melancon from the Red Sox, according to Bowden. Heyman says there’s “still some discussion” about the remaining players involved so negotiations may run past Christmas. ***************** SATURDAY, 5:02 PM: Heyman reports that it’s a six-player deal, with four going to Pittsburgh and two going to Boston.…
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Hall of Fame hopeful Dale Murphy took part in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) chat on Reddit yesterday. There’s some really interesting stuff in there, ranging from thoughts on his playing career to sabermetrics and the new Wild Card play-in game. It’s a must-read for anyone who followed Murphy’s career, but I was mostly struck…
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Diamondbacks reach three-year, $26 million deal with Cody Ross
Dec 22, 2012, 12:36 PM EDT
UPDATE: Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM reports that Ross got a three-year, $26 million contract. The deal includes a club option for 2016 which carries a $1 million buyout. Not a bad deal for someone who made $3 million in 2012. 12:01 PM: According to Mark Feinsand of the…
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The Mariners acquired Kendrys Morales from the Angels this week in exchange for Jason Vargas, but they aren’t done trying to add bats. George A. King III of the New York Post reports that the Mariners have “serious interest” in Raul Ibanez. It’s a bit of an odd fit on the surface, as the club…
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UPDATE: Marc Carig of New York Newsday reports that the Mets have also discussed Saunders as an option to replace R.A. Dickey. However, it’s not clear whether they have spoken with his agent or if they are willing to go to multiple years in order to sign him. 10:01 AM: We heard earlier this week…
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The Athletics have been trying to move to San Jose for a long time now, but with the Giants’ territorial rights continuing to stand in the way, they are ready to make some temporary concessions. According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, A’s owner Lew Wolff is seeking a new five-year lease to…
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Watch Jimmy Fallon, Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal revisit “Who’s on First?”
Dec 21, 2012, 9:30 PM EDT
I know, I know. We have seen Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First?” re-imagined and spoofed many times before, usually unsuccessfully, but this version is pretty cool. The classic comedy routine was revisited during Thursday’s episode of “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” complete with cameos from Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal. Check it out below.…
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There wasn’t anything interesting on the surface about the Astros signing Jose Veras to a one-year, $2 million deal earlier this week, but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the club intends to use him as their closer next season. In fact, they have included incentives in his contract with that very role in…
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According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Mariners have signed right-hander Jeremy Bonderman to a minor league contract. The deal includes an invite to spring training. Bonderman hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2010 and required Tommy John surgery this April, but he’s gearing up for a comeback at the age of 30. The 2001 first-round…
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Mets considering Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano as potential R.A. Dickey replacements
Dec 20, 2012, 9:32 PM EDT
The Mets jumped at the chance to trade R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays earlier this week in exchange for catchers Travis d’Arnaud and John Buck, prospect right-hander Noah Syndergaard and prospect outfielder Wuilmer Becerra. While it’s a tall order, they now need to find a way to replace the 2012 NL Cy Young Award…
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Orioles and Mariners have discussed trade for Tigers’ Rick Porcello
Dec 20, 2012, 8:06 PM EDT
The Tigers lost one potential suitor for Rick Porcello after the Angels acquired left-hander Jason Vargas from the Mariners yesterday, but the young right-hander is still drawing plenty of interest around the majors. FOX Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Mariners and Orioles are among the teams who have talked to the Tigers about…
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With Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter and the newly-acquired Collin Cowgill as the top internal options on their 40-man roster, the Mets don’t have a legitimate everyday outfielder at this point. Now they are looking at someone who hasn’t played in the majors since September 22, 2011. SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt hears that the Mets…
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UPDATE: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the deal is worth around $15 million. Nothing to get too worked up about, but long-term deals for relievers can be risky business. 11:08 PM: Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com reports that the Giants and Sanitago Casilla have agreed to a three-year extension, pending a physical.…
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Josh Hamilton was officially introduced as the newest member of the Angels this afternoon at ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney in Anaheim. Courtesy of the Associated Press, below is our first look at Hamilton in his new digs. Yes, that is Mike Scioscia creepin’ in the background, likely daydreaming about filling out his lineup card…
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Phillies ‘intensifying pursuit” of free agent outfielder Cody Ross
Dec 15, 2012, 3:36 PM EDT
The Phillies have reportedly agreed to terms with Mike Adams and John Lannan over the past 24 hours, but general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. isn’t done with his offseason shopping list. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Phillies are “intensifying” their pursuit of free agent outfielder Cody Ross. They have some competition, though, as…
