Jane Lee of MLB.com is reporting Andrew Bailey has been diagnosed with a Forearm strain following his visit to Dr. James Andrews.
It appears at this point Bailey and the A’s have dodged a bullet, although his availability for the start of season is in doubt.
If Bailey can’t start the season save opportunities would likely fall to Grant Balfour or Brad Ziegler.
Jose Bautista and Blue Jays to Finalize 5-year $65 Million Deal
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2011/02/
Rich Harden Out with Lat Stiffness
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd
Gary Sheffield Officially Announces Retirement
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2011/2/17/1999038/g
Ronald Belisario May Miss 2011 Season with Visa Issues
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=6128774
Dodgers Considering Bringing Back Jeff Weaver?
http://www.truebluela.com/2011/2/17/1998823/with-ronald-
Rockies Sign John Maine to Minor League Deal with Spring Training Invite
http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_
Joe Crede Won’t Reports to Rockies Spring Training
Lance Berkman Makes Controversial Comments About Texas Rangers
http://www.lonestarball.com/2011/1/28/1962144/c-j-wilson
Oakland A’s trying to trade for Chone Figgins?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/athletics/detail?entry_id=81976
Joe Beimel Signs Minor League Deal with Pirates
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11028/1121286-100.stm
New York Mets Reportedly Having Financial Problems and May be Looking for Investors
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/colu
Freddy Sanchez Hopes to be Ready for Regular Season for Giants
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2F
Indians not Considering Trading Grady Sizemore or Fausto Carmona
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110127&conte
Tampa Rays Sign Casey Kotchman
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/jan/28/rays-
Angels Invite Mike Trout to Spring Training.
http://www.ocregister.com/sports/league-286127-official-angels.html
Dodgers Sign Mike MacDougal to Minor League Contract
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2011/01/dodgers
Justin Duchscherer Throws for Orioles and “Mystery Team”
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/
Toronto Blue Jays Sign Jason Fraser to $3.5 Million Deal
Baltimore Orioles Interested in Signing Vladimir Guerrero?
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog
Blue Jays Interested in Trading for Micheal Young?
http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2
Indians Reportedly Interested in Signing Casey Kotchman.
http://twitter.com/#!/jonmorosi/status/30
Chicago Cubs Invite Braden Looper and Augie Ojeda to Spring Training
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/01/
Byung-Hyun Kim Signs With Japanese Pacific League Team
http://www.npbtracker.com/2011/01/rakuten-si
White Sox May Be Interested in Signing Freddy Garcia
http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/27/white-so
Florida Marlins to Play 3 Home Games in Seattle in 2011
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/27/2038332
A’s Union Representative Brad Ziegler Says Union is Split 50/50 on Expanded Playioffs
http://twitter.com/#!/JeffFletcherAOL/status/30769747809280000
Hank Conger to Compete for Angels Everyday Catching Job in 2011
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbr
Cubs Sign Two Cuban Prospects
http://cubbiescrib.com/2011/01/27/cubs-bring-in-cuban-talent/
Arizona Diamondbacks Acquire Armando Galarraga from Detroit Tigers.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles
Colorado Rockies sign Willy Taveras Minor League Contract
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_17186874
Oakland Athletics sign Andy LaRoche To Minor League Deal
http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_17186250
Arizona Diamondbacks sign Micah Owings to Minor League Contract
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles
Texas Rangers Won’t Rule Out Signing Vladimir Guerrero
| It is a slow day so far as Christmas approaches. Only a couple of minor updates this morning.
The Adrian Beltre situation is getting more interesting every day. His Agent Scott Boras is reportedly asking for around 90 million over 5 years. The only two offers that have been publicized are a 5 year 64 million dollar offer from the Athletics that has reportedly been pulled. And a 5 year 70 million dollar offer from the Angels which has also reportedly been pulled. Other teams have been mentioned as possible suitors for Beltre including the Rangers. But no other teams appear to have significant interest at the moment. This appears to be a situation of Boras trying to get the Angels to bid against themselves. Angels owner Arte Moreno is a smart businessman and knows the biggest spending teams including the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies are almost assuredly are not interested in signing Beltre. My guess is the Angels will end up signing Beltre. Brandon Webb rumors were rampant on Tuesday including a deal with the Rangers was eminent. These rumors were quickly rebuffed and Webb remains unsigned as of this morning. The teams most linked with Webb at this point are the Ranges, Nationals and Cubs. The were also whispers of a “mystery team” The idea of a mystery team sounds funny until you remember a mystery team ended up signing Cliff Lee. Jeff Francis has been linked with five teams including the Mets, Nationals, Pirates, Rangers and Yankees. Francis has never lived up to his early career hype and battled shoulder problems. At this point in his career he is a low cost pitcher with some upside for a team looking to take a flier on a fifth starter. |
Orioles Turn Attention from Adam LaRoche to Derrek Lee
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/2010/12/currently_at_impasse_with_laro.html
The Yankees Hit with 18 Million Dollars in Luxury Tax Down From 25.7 Million in 2009.
Theo Epstein Reiterates Papelbon is Closer After Finalizing Deal for Bobby Jenks
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/12/epstein_papelbo.html
Angels on Again Off Again Interest in Adrian Beltre.
Brandon Webb is in Texas. Wait Brandon Webb is not in Texas.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101221&content_id=16353822&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
Athletics Finalize Deal With Rich Harden. Role as Starter or Bullpen to be Determined
| Jane Lee of MLB.com is reporting the Athletics deal with Rich Harden is official.Harden is expected to compete for the 5th spot in the A’s rotation.
Harden’s massive potential and history of injuries has been well documented. He seems like he has been around forever but will be just 29 heading into the 2011 season. At this point in his career he is trying to salvage any hint of the potential he showed earlier in his career. |
| Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting Hideki Matsui is on the verge on signing a one year deal with the Athletics. With the loss of Jack Cust to the Mariners the A’s are in desperate of a proven DH. Deal is expected to be announced today. |
MLB network is reporting Jack Cust has signed a 1 year 2.5 million deal with the Mariners. The hope is Cust will become their primary designated hitter. Cust had 13 Hr and 52 RBIs in only 349 at bats for the Athletics last season. If Cust can get 400+ at bats in 2011 this would seem to be a good value signing for the Mariners.
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