Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com is reporting Sean Burnett will sign a 2 year deal with the Nationals pending a physical.
Deal is reported to be for 2 years 4 million dollars with a 3.5 million mutual option for 2013.
Sean Burnett to Sign with Nationals
December 23, 2010Wednesday December 22, 2010 Day in Review
December 22, 2010Driver Sentenced to 51 Years to Life in Nick Adenhart Death
http://www.ocregister.com/news/gallo-281330-adenhart-driving.html
Yankees Interested in Signing Johnny Damon
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-damon-discussing-possible-reunion-1.2562562
Five Teams Interested in Jeff Francis
http://twitter.com/#!/jcrasnick/status/17566350843060224
Is Andy Pettitte Leaning Towards Retirement?
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/12412/cashman-pettitte-leaning-towards-retirement
Are the Phillies Looking to Trade Joe Blanton?
http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/the_latest_on_blanton/3837255?new_post=true
Zack Greinke is Helping Increase Brewers Ticket Sales
Reds Interested in Scott Podsednik?
December 22, 2010Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting the Reds may be interested in signing Scott Podsednik.
The Angels have also reportedly expressed interest in signing Podsednik.
Andy Pettitte Leaning Towards Retirement?
December 22, 2010| Wallace Matthews from the ESPN New York Blog is reporting that Yankees General manager Brian Cashman says Andy Pettitte is leaning towards retiring.
This would be a blow to the Yankees rotation going to 2011 as the list of available quality starting pitchers is thin. |
Latest on Adrian Beltre, Brandon Webb and Jeff Francis
December 22, 2010| 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. |
Phillies Looking to Deal Joe Blanton?
December 22, 2010| It was reported last week that the Phillies were trying to trade Joe Blanton after the Cliff Lee signing. But those rumors quickly died down.
This morning Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting the Phillies are indeed looking to trade Joe Blanton. Blanton is scheduled to make 8.5 million in 2011 and 2012 which might be considered a little below market value when compared to deals being signed this off season. It has been widely reported that the Phillies would try to trim payroll to help recover money alloted to Cliff Lee when they signed him last week. |
Jenks Can Earn 1 Million Bonus for Closing Games
December 21, 2010Rob Bradford of the WEEI Full Count Blog reports that Bobby Jenks can earn a bonus of up to 1 million dollars for “closing games”
Not to split hairs but the article does not say saving games. I am operating under the assumption that Jenks would generally be earning saves if he is closing games.
Jenks can earn an additional $200,000 when he reaches 30, 40, 50, 55 and 60 games finished.
This is curious since Theo Epstein plainly stated Jonathan Papelbon was the Red Sox closer for 2011.
Maybe this is merely insurance to compensate Jenks in the event he becomes the Red Sox closer for any reason?
Sounds like the Red Sox bullpen situation could get very interesting in 2011.
Tuesday December 21, 2010 Day In Review
December 21, 2010Orioles 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
Theo Epstein says Jonathan Papelbon is the Red Sox Closer
December 21, 2010| Ian Browne of MLB.com is reporting that Theo Epstein has made it clear to Jonathan Papelbon that Papelbon is the Red Sox closer going into 2011.
There had been speculation when Bobby Jenks was signed last week that Papelbon’s closer job could be in jeopardy. This is a story that will probably get a lot of attention in spring training and early in the 2011 season. Especially if Papelbon blows a save or two early in the regular season. |
Angels Reportedly Pull Offer to Adrian Beltre
December 21, 2010| The Adrian Beltre story has been a hot topic today.
Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times is reporting the Angels have pulled their reported offer of 5 years 70 million dollars to Adrian Beltre. Though the Angels would not rule out signing Beltre. Beltre is represented by Scott Boras who is reportedly asking for a 5 year deal in the 85-90 million dollar range . The Angels had contentious dealings with Boras in 2008 when they were trying to sign Mark Teixeira to a long term deal before being outbid by the Yankees. Angels owner Arte Moreno has reportedly made it clear that his offer to Beltre will not be increased. |
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