The New York Yankees have acquired OF Justin Maxwell from the Washington Nationals in exchange for RHP Adam Olbrychowski. Maxwell spent most of last season in the Majors with Washington and batted .144 with three home runs, 12 runs batted in and five stolen bases. Olbrychowski spent last season between Class A Advanced and AA and went 3-2 with a 3.90 ERA, one save and 56 strikeouts working primarily out of the bullpen.
Maxwell is a top prospect who has been a demon on the basepaths in the Minor Leagues. He also has the dubious distinction of striking out in 30.3 percent of his at-bats as a professional. He was designated for assignment last Thursday. To make room for Maxwell on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated OF Jordan Parraz for assignment.
Maxwell has been acquired for outfield depth and will likely fill that role primarily playing at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre though he'll compete for a spot on the team in Spring Training.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Mets Brass Meets with Selig
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig met with Mets ownership figures recently to discuss their troubled financial situation. Mets owner Fred Wilpon, president Saul Katz, and COO Jeff Wilpon met with Selig. The meeting was unannounced by the commissioner's office and the Mets have denied that it took place.
The meeting came in the wake of a lawsuit by Irving Picard, a trustee hoping to recover money lost in the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme, news that Fred would be willing to sell 20-25 percent of team to recoup his potential losses in the suit, and news that a group consisting of Martin Luther King III, Ed Kranepool, Donn Clendenon Jr., and Jerry Meli have merged as potential buyers.
The meeting came in the wake of a lawsuit by Irving Picard, a trustee hoping to recover money lost in the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme, news that Fred would be willing to sell 20-25 percent of team to recoup his potential losses in the suit, and news that a group consisting of Martin Luther King III, Ed Kranepool, Donn Clendenon Jr., and Jerry Meli have merged as potential buyers.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Yanks sign Garcia
The New York Yankees have agreed to terms with RHP Freddy Garcia on a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training. Garcia will compete with RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Sergio Mitre, and RHP Ivan Nova for the final two rotation spots in Spring Training. Right now, he looks like the front runner for the fourth starter's role. He could also compete for a role out of the bullpen, especially as a long reliever.
Last season with the Chicago White Sox, Garcia went 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 28 starts. He is the only one of the four competing for the final two spots who managed a full season of starts last year.
Last season with the Chicago White Sox, Garcia went 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 28 starts. He is the only one of the four competing for the final two spots who managed a full season of starts last year.
Yankees and Rangers Still Spatting
In the most recent wave of insults flying between the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers Yanks President Randy Levine has called Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg "delusional." Levine also said that Greenberg should be focused on "getting his team off welfare," suggesting that he should eliminate the Rangers as a revenue sharing beneficiary. This came in response to Greenberg taking credit for LHP Cliff Lee opting to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies for a significantly lower amount of money than what the Yankees offered him.
The spatting began when Greenberg criticized Yankees fans for being uninformed about their team and hostile toward each other during the American League Championship Series. Greenberg apologized for that comment, claiming that he wouldn't discuss their business publicly. Clearly, though, he has not kept that promise.
The spatting began when Greenberg criticized Yankees fans for being uninformed about their team and hostile toward each other during the American League Championship Series. Greenberg apologized for that comment, claiming that he wouldn't discuss their business publicly. Clearly, though, he has not kept that promise.
Mets Shortstop
As Spring Training approaches (pitchers and catchers report in mid-February) LeRoy will begin its preseason analysis of the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and the hated New York Yankees. We will continue with the shortstops and go on with the New York Mets.
When the Mets traded SS Rey Ordonez to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (which they still were then) and didn't get much back some would have said they had no shortstop. When they signed IF Rey Sanchez to man the position some would have said they had a shortstop, he just wasn't very good. But everyone knew that they had a shortstop on the way. With one minor interruption by IF Kazuo Matsui, that plan has gone accordingly.
1. Jose Reyes: Reyes came back from injury last season in a big way. He had a few hiccups along the way, the most noticeable being a high-thyroid condition which forced him to miss nearly a month at the beginning of the season. But Reyes still had a great season, batting .282 with 30 stolen bases. He's in the final year of his contract and could be traded mid season if the Mets aren't playing well. Until then, the Mets have a stud at shortstop.
2. Luis Hernandez: Hernandez is competing for a job as a utility player and is also in the never ending mix of players competing at second base. He's a natural shortstop so he fits well behind Reyes. Hernandez has had a good amount of experience as a Major League utility player and was the starting second baseman for the Mets for a time last season. He did a good job in an extremely limited amount of time last season, hitting .250 and playing second, third, and short. His defensive versatility has never been questioned, but historically that has been his strong point. The Mets shouldn't expect him to provide much more than good defense should he win a job on the team. Right now, though, he's the front runner to be the understudy to Reyes and perhaps 3B David Wright.
3. Chin-lung Hu: Hu is a former top prospect with the Los Angeles Dodgers and one of the premier players from Chinese Taipei. The Mets formerly introduced him last week and hailed him as the first Taiwanese player in Mets history which indicates that his chances of making the team are perhaps better than they appear. Hu spent 2009 in the Majors as a utility infielder and did terrible, batting .181. He had a cup of coffee last season and did even worse in that stint, finishing at .130. However, he batted .317 in the Minors last season. He's not a natural second baseman but has played there enough to get thrown into the mix in the Spring Training competition. He'll stick with the organization if he gets cut in Spring Training and could be recalled mid season if a need arises. He'll be a player to watch this March.
The Mets appear to be strong at shortstop. Reyes should put together another All-Star caliber season. Hernandez may not even be on the team but he provides good depth whether he's in New York or Buffalo. No one really knows what to expect from Hu but he provides depth and is an intriguing player. Manager Terry Collins has admitted that IF Ruben Tejada will be the everyday shortstop at Buffalo so he may be in the mix as well, although no one has ruled out Tejada winning the second base job in Spring.
When the Mets traded SS Rey Ordonez to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (which they still were then) and didn't get much back some would have said they had no shortstop. When they signed IF Rey Sanchez to man the position some would have said they had a shortstop, he just wasn't very good. But everyone knew that they had a shortstop on the way. With one minor interruption by IF Kazuo Matsui, that plan has gone accordingly.
1. Jose Reyes: Reyes came back from injury last season in a big way. He had a few hiccups along the way, the most noticeable being a high-thyroid condition which forced him to miss nearly a month at the beginning of the season. But Reyes still had a great season, batting .282 with 30 stolen bases. He's in the final year of his contract and could be traded mid season if the Mets aren't playing well. Until then, the Mets have a stud at shortstop.
2. Luis Hernandez: Hernandez is competing for a job as a utility player and is also in the never ending mix of players competing at second base. He's a natural shortstop so he fits well behind Reyes. Hernandez has had a good amount of experience as a Major League utility player and was the starting second baseman for the Mets for a time last season. He did a good job in an extremely limited amount of time last season, hitting .250 and playing second, third, and short. His defensive versatility has never been questioned, but historically that has been his strong point. The Mets shouldn't expect him to provide much more than good defense should he win a job on the team. Right now, though, he's the front runner to be the understudy to Reyes and perhaps 3B David Wright.
3. Chin-lung Hu: Hu is a former top prospect with the Los Angeles Dodgers and one of the premier players from Chinese Taipei. The Mets formerly introduced him last week and hailed him as the first Taiwanese player in Mets history which indicates that his chances of making the team are perhaps better than they appear. Hu spent 2009 in the Majors as a utility infielder and did terrible, batting .181. He had a cup of coffee last season and did even worse in that stint, finishing at .130. However, he batted .317 in the Minors last season. He's not a natural second baseman but has played there enough to get thrown into the mix in the Spring Training competition. He'll stick with the organization if he gets cut in Spring Training and could be recalled mid season if a need arises. He'll be a player to watch this March.
The Mets appear to be strong at shortstop. Reyes should put together another All-Star caliber season. Hernandez may not even be on the team but he provides good depth whether he's in New York or Buffalo. No one really knows what to expect from Hu but he provides depth and is an intriguing player. Manager Terry Collins has admitted that IF Ruben Tejada will be the everyday shortstop at Buffalo so he may be in the mix as well, although no one has ruled out Tejada winning the second base job in Spring.
Pagan gets one-year deal
The New York Mets have agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with RF Angel Pagan, avoiding arbitration. Last season Pagan batted .290 with 37 stolen bases and played good defense in all three outfield positions. He figures to be the team's starting right fielder this season as well as spelling CF Carlos Beltran on occasion.
The Mets had three arbitration-eligible players this season in Pagan, RHP R. A. Dickey, and RHP Mike Pelfrey and avoided arbitration with all three of them.
The Mets had three arbitration-eligible players this season in Pagan, RHP R. A. Dickey, and RHP Mike Pelfrey and avoided arbitration with all three of them.
King Wants to move into Baseball Business
Martin Luther King III is part of a group interested in purchasing the available shares of the New York Mets. King has called the reports "premature" but has indicated that he is interested in making baseball more diverse. The group also includes Ed Kranepool, Donn Clendenon Jr., and Larry Meli along with several unnamed investors. Mets owner Fred Wilpon has refused to discuss any impending sale.
King is the son of the late civil rights leader and the director of the King Center in Atlanta. Kranepool is a former Mets franchise player who is now in the credit-card processing business and Clendenon is the son of the late Mets first baseman. Meli is a TV executive.
The deal appears to be far from complete. Wilpon has intimated that he "may or not" be willing to sell a 20 to 25 percent share of the team. Meli has publicly stated that the King group wants to buy 50 percent of the team. The team is valued at $858 million by Forbes. The King group claims to have $1 billion in assets.
If the deal is made King would become the first African American owner in baseball. MLB has been combating its lack of support among the African American populace for years and would welcome any owner who could generate interest in that demographic.
King is the son of the late civil rights leader and the director of the King Center in Atlanta. Kranepool is a former Mets franchise player who is now in the credit-card processing business and Clendenon is the son of the late Mets first baseman. Meli is a TV executive.
The deal appears to be far from complete. Wilpon has intimated that he "may or not" be willing to sell a 20 to 25 percent share of the team. Meli has publicly stated that the King group wants to buy 50 percent of the team. The team is valued at $858 million by Forbes. The King group claims to have $1 billion in assets.
If the deal is made King would become the first African American owner in baseball. MLB has been combating its lack of support among the African American populace for years and would welcome any owner who could generate interest in that demographic.
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