April 2013 - Baseball Wiretap

Brian Wilson Won't Audition Until He's 100 Percent

Oct 5, 2014 9:49 PM

Brian Wilson is recovering from Tommy John surgery and doesn't plan on working out for interested teams until he's fully ready.

"He won't let anyone look at him until he's completely ready to go," said a National League scout. "I think everyone is anxious to see when that time comes, because if he gets it back to what he used to be, he's going to help someone immediately down the stretch of a pennant race."

The Detroit Tigers might be in need of a reliever and a return to the San Francisco Giants can't be ruled out.

Nick Cafardo/Boston Globe

Tags: San Francisco Giants, Free Agent Rumor

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Bochy's New Deal Worth $5M Annually

Oct 29, 2014 11:30 AM

The new contract Bruce Bochy signed with the San Francisco Giants does not make him the highest-paid manager in baseball.

However, he may have the second-highest salary.

Bochy is believed to be closing in on the $5 million mark, behind only Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels.

Hank Schulman/Sulia

Tags: San Francisco Giants, Misc Rumor

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SweetSpot Writers Name Votto Preseason MVP

Oct 31, 2014 6:37 AM

ESPN's SweetSpot bloggers have named Joey Votto their preseason MVP for the second consecutive year.

Votto collected 24 of the 47 first-place votes, with the other 23 distributed among nine different players.

After the Cincinnati Reds first baseman came Bryce Harper, Ryan Braun, Buster Posey, Andrew McCutchen, Jason Heyward, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Giancarlo Stanton and Adrian Gonzalez.

David Schoenfield/ESPN

Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Misc Rumor

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Marlins Add Jose Fernandez To Roster

Oct 31, 2014 2:15 PM

Jose Fernandez, the team's top pitching prospect, was among seven players added to the Miami Marlins' roster ahead of Opening Day.

The unexpected addition of Fernandez was made Sunday following injuries to right-handers Nate Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez.

Associated Press

Tags: Miami Marlins, Misc Rumor

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Bradley Makes Red Sox, Will Start In Left

Oct 31, 2014 3:41 PM

Jackie Bradley Jr. has made the Boston Red Sox out of spring training and will start in left field on Monday afternoon against the New York Yankees.

The 22-year-old is the first rookie to draw an Opening Day starting assignment for the Red Sox since Shea Hillenbrand in 2001.

"Like he's handled everything else, he didn't jump up and down," John Farrell said. "He took it in stride. I think it speaks to the maturity of where he is as a person."

Gordon Edes/ESPN

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Misc Rumor

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Giants' Sandoval Remains On Active Roster

Oct 5, 2014 9:59 PM

The San Francisco Giants must believe that Pablo Sandoval's right elbow has improved enough for him to play because he remains on the team's 25-man roster.

"Pablo's OK," Giants vice president and assistant general manager Bobby Evans said.

Sandoval stretched and played catch with teammates before Saturday's game. Bruce Bochy hoped to get Sandoval an at-bat late in the game but didn't find a proper situation.

Chris Haft/MLB.com

Tags: San Francisco Giants, Injury

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Wilson Accuses Rangers Of Having 'Communication Issues'

Nov 2, 2014 1:10 AM

C.J. Wilson, who left the Texas Rangers to sign with the Los Angeles Angels last offseason, says there were communication issues between the players, agents and front office.

"That's one of the reasons why I feel like a lot of the guys have left Texas over the past couple of years because of communication issues with the agents and the players and the general manger. They get very tenuous," Wilson said.

Wilson said the attitude with the front office in Los Angeles is "definitely different" and that there's "a lot more interpersonal relationships with the front office" than there was in Texas.

The Angels decided to move on from Wilson after the 2011 season and pursue Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish instead.

"When you're a free agent and the team that you're with tells you that they don't think you're that good or whatever, it doesn't give you any incentive to sign back," Wilson said. "They've played the whole wait-and-see card. It didn't really work with [Josh] Hamilton and it didn't work with me, either.

"They were hoping I would basically beg to come back, and that wasn't going to happen once I had fantastic contracts offered to me by the Marlins and by Anaheim."

Richard Durrett/ESPN

Tags: Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Misc Rumor

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Nationals, Desmond Have Discussed Extension

Oct 31, 2014 10:27 AM

The Washington Nationals have discussed a potential contract extension with infielder Ian Desmond this spring.

Desmond agreed to a one-year, $3.8 million contract for 2013 to avoid arbitration earlier this offseason.

However, it doesn't seem likely that the two sides will reach an agreement before Opening Day on Monday.

All parties declined to comment on talks.

Adam Kilgore/Washington Post

Tags: Washington Nationals, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Leyland Glad Verlander May Spend Entire Career With Tigers

Jul 4, 2014 5:29 PM

The Detroit Tigers signed Justin Verlander to a contract that runs through at least the 2019 season on Friday, with an option for 2020.

It could make Verlander baseball's first-ever $200 million pitcher and also keep him with the Tigers for the length of his carer.

"I think it was obviously a great situation for him. I think it's a great situation for the organization. I think it's a great situation for the fans," manager Jim Leyland said. "He's been with the Tigers for going on his eighth year, [and he could stay] conceivably 15 years or maybe 16. That's pretty much a whole career. I think that's got a nice ring to it."

Adam Berry/MLB.com

Tags: Detroit Tigers, Misc Rumor

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A-Rod Will Attend Opening Day At Yankee Stadium

Feb 7, 2014 11:19 PM

Alex Rodriguez will be at Yankee Stadium on Monday for the Opening Day game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.

Rodriguez, who will start the season on the disabled list after undergoing left hip surgery in January, did not spend time with the Yankees during spring training.

The 37-year-old third baseman is rehabbing from the left hip surgery and is expected to rejoin the team during the middle of the season.

Matt Ehalt/ESPN

Tags: New York Yankees, Misc Rumor

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Pettitte Still Expects Yankees To Contend For Title
Andy Pettitte isn't buying the notion that the New York Yankees are going to struggle this season.

Matt Ehalt/ESPN

Johan Santana To Have Season-Ending Surgery
David Altchek, who performed Johan Santana's first anterior capsule surgery on Sept. 2, 2010, will again perform the surgery.

Adam Rubin/ESPN

Bradley Headed To New York With Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox took Jackie Bradley, Jr. with them to New York for next week's season-opening series with the New York Yankees.

Peter Abraham/Boston Globe (via Twitter)

Scout Predicting Long Year For Yankees
No team has had a more troubling spring than the New York Yankees.

Jon Heyman/CBS Sports

Amaro: Phillies Better Suited To Handle Down Year For Halladay
When asked if the Philadelphia Phillies could be done in this season if Roy Halladay struggles, Ruben Amaro Jr. said he believes his club is deeper this year.

Sam Donnellon/Philadelphia Daily News

Trout Popular Pick To Win AL MVP
Mike Trout, who lost the 2012 American League MVP award to Miguel Cabrera, is a popular pick to win the award in his second season.

David Schoenfield/ESPN

Wright Looks To Be Good For Opening Day
David Wright says he is recovered from a strained intercostal muscle on his left side and ready for Opening Day.

Adam Rubin/ESPN

Freddy Garcia Signs With Orioles
Garcia was released by the San Diego Padres earlier this week.

Associated Press

Kershaw Next In Line For Huge Extension
In the wake of the Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez contract extensions, Clayton Kershaw stands next in line to cash in.

Tim Brown/Yahoo! Sports

Lucrative Extensions Bad News For Free-Spending Clubs
Of the top 25 Major League players, as ranked by ESPN's Baseball Tonight, all but two are signed through at least the 2015 season.

David Schoenfield/ESPN

Miguel Tejada Makes Kansas City's Roster
Miguel Tejada is a six-time All-Star who last played in the major leagues in 2011 with the San Francisco Giants.

Associated Press

Rockies Cut Hernandez, Keep Torrealba
Ramon Hernandez, 36, signed a two-year, $6.4 million contract before last season. He hit only .217 with five homers and 28 RBIs in 52 games for the Rockies in 2012.

Associated Press

Ellsbury Isn't Against Discussing Extension During Season
Jacoby Ellsbury, who will be a free agent after the 2013 season, says he wouldn't find in-season discussions to be a distraction.

Alex Speier/WEEI.com

Diamondbacks, Goldschmidt Agree To $32M Deal
Paul Goldschmidt batted .286 with 20 home runs, 82 RBIs and a .359 on-base percentage in 145 games last season.

Jim Bowden/ESPN

Mets Deny Santana's No-Hitter Led To Injury
The Mets are trying to end speculation that Johan Santana's latest shoulder injury can be traced to his 134-pitch no-hitter last June.

Adam Rubin/ESPN

Posey Signs Nine-Year Deal With Giants
The $167 million contract includes a full no-trade clause.

ESPN

Tigers Give Verlander Deal That Could Reach $202M
The Detroit Tigers have reached an agreement on a new deal with Justin Verlander that could exceed $202 million over eight years, according to sources.

Buster Olney/ESPN

Giants Extend Bochy, Sabean Through 2016
From the final out of the 2012 season, the extensions were considered a foregone conclusion.

Alex Espinoza/MLB.com

Tigers To Open Season Without Closer
Detroit's bullpen includes Joaquin Benoit, Octavio Dotel, Al Alburquerque and Brayan Villarreal along with left-handers Drew Smyly, Darin Downs and Phil Coke.

Associated Press

Jackie Bradley Closer To Making Red Sox
Without Ryan Sweeney in the picture, Jackie Bradley, Jr. has a decent shot at making the team following his red-hot spring.

Gordon Edes/ESPN