Archives › D.J. Short
-
Neftali Feliz has made it through long-toss sessions in each of the last two days after leaving Tuesday’s start against the Cubs due to shoulder stiffness, but the Rangers plan to be extra cautious before clearing him to pitch in a game again. T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that Feliz will not make his next…
-
All signs are pointing toward Chris Perez being available for Opening Day. Perez, who has been sidelined since suffering a strained right oblique on April 24, threw 20 pitches Wednesday in a simulated game without incident and has now been cleared for game action. According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, the Indians’ closer will pitch…
-
We’re getting close to the end here, folks. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times passes along word that the field of bidders for the Dodgers was narrowed down to three earlier today. They are: The group led by hedge-fund billionaire Steven Cohen and philanthropist Patrick Soon-Shiong; The group led by Magic Johnson and veteran…
-
Between now and Opening Day, HardballTalk will take a look at each of baseball’s 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2012 season. Up next: the upstart Washington Nationals. The Big Question: Are the Nationals ready to contend? After three straight last-place finishes, the Nationals…
-
Lance Berkman says Bud Selig “extorted” new Astros’ owner into moving team to AL
Mar 20, 2012, 9:45 PM EDT
Lance Berkman used a pretty loaded word earlier today to describe how MLB commissioner Bud Selig convinced new Astros’ owner Jim Crane to move the team to the American League West. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the former Astro said Selig “extorted” Crane into switching leagues as a precondition of ownership. Berkman hasn’t conveyed…
-
The Phillies released Dontrelle Willis last Friday after he allowed five runs on five hits and four walks over 2 2/3 innings this spring, but it didn’t take him long to find a new home. As first reported by Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, Willis has latched on with the Orioles on a minor league deal.…
-
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Rangers and Derek Holland are on the verge of a contract extension through at least 2016. No word on the exact terms, but the proposed deal would cover his final pre-arbitration season, all three of his arbitration seasons and at least his first year of…
-
Athletics option Jarrod Parker to Triple-A after he walks seven in Monday start
Mar 19, 2012, 9:43 PM EDT
Jarrod Parker was the centerpiece of the deal which sent Trevor Cahill to the Diamondbacks in December, but he showed this afternoon that he may need a little more seasoning. Parker issued seven walks over just 3 2/3 innings against Arizona, after which he was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. The 23-year-old right-hander undoubtedly had some…
-
Mets sell 12 minority shares of team, repay loans to MLB and Bank of America
Mar 19, 2012, 8:13 PM EDT
This is a good day for the Mets’ owners. Less than 12 hours after learning that the Wilpons and Saul Katz reached a settlement out of court to pay $162 million to trustee Irving Picard in the Bernie Madoff case, Teri Thompson and Michael O’Keeffe of the New York Daily News are reporting that the Mets’ owners…
-
We usually don’t take spring training results all that seriously, but for 49-year-old Jamie Moyer, every outing matters. And today’s was a discouraging one. Moyer was knocked around for four runs on six hits over 1 1/3 innings this afternoon against the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A squad, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. He threw…
-
Chase Utley finally broke his silence earlier this afternoon and while he didn’t say much, he told Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com that he would like to play in a game next week. The Phillies always planned to bring Utley along slowly this spring due to his chronic right knee condition, but there are some minor…
-
UPDATE: Royals inquire about Ivan Rodriguez, who is “not ready” to join team
Mar 17, 2012, 5:00 PM EDT
UPDATE: Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports that, contrary to Heyman’s report, the Royals have not made an offer to Rodriguez or invited him to camp. The club has “inquired” about the veteran backstop, but have also looked into “20 or more” players. Hard to tell whether an official offer was ever actually…
-
Josh Collmenter to open season in Diamondbacks’ starting rotation
Mar 17, 2012, 4:29 PM EDT
2011 first-round pick Trevor Bauer has stolen the show in Diamondbacks’ camp, posting a 2.57 ERA and 7/1 K/BB ratio over seven innings during Cactus League action. We’ve heard multiple reports recently that the 21-year-old right-hander was being seriously considered for a spot in the starting rotation, but it appears his major league debut will…
-
Placido Polanco sent for X-rays after leaving game with finger injury
Mar 17, 2012, 3:43 PM EDT
According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, Placido Polanco left this afternoon’s game against the Blue Jays with an injury to his left ring finger. He jammed the finger diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt. No word yet on his condition, but an extended absence is the last thing the Phillies need after…
-
The Red Sox announced this afternoon that they have released Carlos Silva. The veteran right-hander signed a minor league deal with Boston over the winter in hopes of competing for a spot in the starting rotation, but he failed to make an appearance this spring due to complications with a preexisting shoulder injury. Silva signed…
-
Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Rockies will discuss today whether to sign Dontrelle Willis, who was released by the Phillies yesterday after allowing five runs on five hits and four walks over 2 2/3 innings this spring while dealing with arm fatigue. “It’s tough at this point in camp, but we…
-
Vin Scully announced last August that he was returning for his 63rd season in the booth. He has routinely skipped road trips outside of National League West opponents in recent years, but the Los Angeles Times reports that the 84-year-old plans to limit his travels even further this season. The Dodgers are scheduled to play…
-
A.J. Burnett throws first side session since surgery to repair orbital fracture
Mar 17, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT
It’s not clear when A.J. Burnett will make his Pirates’ debut, but he took a step in the right direction this morning in Bradenton, Florida. According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Burnett threw 30 pitches — all fastballs — during his first side session since undergoing surgery to repair a fractured orbital bone…
-
MRI on Michael Morse’s lat strain shows no further damage
Mar 17, 2012, 12:01 PM EDT
The Nationals initially called Michael Morse day-to-day after he was diagnosed with a mild strain of his right lat muscle early last week. He returned to the lineup as the designated hitter on Monday and Tuesday, but it’s clear he’s not out of the woods yet. Dan Kolko of MASNSports.com reports that Morse recently underwent…
-
Daniel Bard has some doubters about his move to the starting rotation
Mar 17, 2012, 11:09 AM EDT
Daniel Bard is being stretched out as a starter this spring after spending the past four seasons (including three in the majors) as a reliever. He tossed five scoreless innings over his first two Grapefruit League appearances, but was blasted for seven runs over 2 2/3 innings on Thursday against the Cardinals. We shouldn’t panic…
-
Chris Perez throws bullpen session, aims to pitch in a game next week
Mar 17, 2012, 10:30 AM EDT
Chris Perez‘s bullpen session yesterday went a lot better than the one that left him with a strained left oblique nearly a month ago. According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Perez threw 20 pitches — all fastballs — in his first throwing session since the injury and felt no pain in his…
-
Mets manager Terry Collins implied earlier this month that he planned on Johan Santana starting Opening Day against the Braves on April 5, saying “in my mind, in my heart, he’ll be ready.” Or at least that’s what we thought he meant. Collins clarified his comments yesterday, telling Andy Martino of the New York Daily…
-
Carl Crawford is expected to miss the start of the season following a setback with his surgically-repaired left wrist, but he did make some progress yesterday. Crawford was able to take 15 “controlled swings” in the cage with both hands, the first time he’s done so since his setback, after which he told Peter Abraham…
-
The Padres and catcher Nick Hundley already avoided arbitration in mid-January by agreeing on a one-year, $2 million contract, but Corey Brock of MLB.com hears that negotiations on a contract extension have “heated up” this week and that a deal “could be close.” Hundley has actually talked with the Padres about a possible extension dating…
-
We learned earlier this week that Scott Baker had trouble getting loose in a B-game on Saturday, which “raised some red flags” about his throwing elbow. The Twins and Baker continue to downplay the severity of the issue, but it’s increasingly likely that he’ll begin the season on the disabled list. According to Phil Mackey…
