March 2016 - Baseball Wiretap

Red Sox Haven't Informed Clay Buchholz About His Option

Oct 31, 2016 7:36 AM

The Boston Red Sox haven't informed Clay Buchholz whether or not they will exercise his option for the 2017 season.

The club holds a $13.5 million option on Buchholz, who they told prior to the end of the 2015 regular season that they would trigger his option for this season.

The Red Sox have until five days after the end of the World Series to make a formal decision.

Rob Bradford/WEEI

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Cubs Will Invite All Coaches To Return For 2017

Nov 1, 2016 1:09 AM

The Chicago Cubs will invite all of their coaches to return for another season as the team has made the playoffs in back-to-back years, now including their first World Series appearance in 71 seasons.

"It is unusual to have that many (coaches) stick and it's unusual to have that kind of success with that group also," Joe Maddon said.

Davey Martinez is the one coach who could be on the move, as he's been rumored to be a candidate for the vacant manager's job with the Colorado Rockies.

Jesse Rogers/ESPN

Tags: Chicago Cubs, Misc Rumor

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CBA Rules Could 'Roll Over' Through Offseason

Nov 1, 2016 1:09 AM

Both Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball Players Association head Tony Clark have expressed optimism that a work stoppage can be avoided with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on December 1.

There is still work to be done on a new deal despite Manfred saying in the past that he hoped a deal would be completed by the end of the postseason.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that the current CBA could be "rolled over for at least this offseason."

A rollover of the current rules could keep this winter's free agent market from stalling by allowing free agents to negotiate with teams without either party worrying about how a new agreement might affect them.

Joel Sherman/New York Post

Tags: Misc Rumor

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Diamondbacks, Rockies To Interview Don Wakamatsu

Oct 31, 2016 7:19 AM

Don Wakamatsu will interview with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies for their vacant managerial positions.

Wakamatsu is currently the bench coach for the Kansas City Royals.

The 53-year-old managed the Seattle Mariners for just under two seasons as he was fired in August 2010. Since then he has worked for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees.

Jon Heyman/Fan Rag

Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Misc Rumor

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Zach Britton, Kenley Jansen Named MLB's Top Relievers

Oct 31, 2016 7:37 AM

Baltimore's Zach Britton earned MLB's Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award, and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Kenley Jansen was given the Trevor Hoffman NL reliever honor.

ESPN.com

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Misc Rumor, Personal Award

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Cubs Beat Indians To Stay Alive In Series

Oct 31, 2016 7:37 AM

Behind another classic postseason start from Jon Lester, a homer from Kris Bryant and an extended outing from closer Aroldis Chapman, the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2 to narrow their deficit in the World Series to 3-2.

The Cubs are attempting to become just the sixth of 45 teams to fall behind 3-1 to come back in a best-of-seven World Series.

ESPN.com

Tags: Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Game Recap, Misc Rumor

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Ricketts May Start Regional Sports Network When Cubs' TV Deal Ends

Oct 30, 2016 1:23 PM

The Chicago Cubs' current local television deal will end after the 2019 season, after which the Ricketts family is exploring the launch of its own regional sports network.

Media rights most likely will become the biggest direct source of revenue for professional sports teams by 2018, according to a forecast by consulting firm PwC.

It would be less risky for the Cubs if they renewed with Comcast SportsNet.

Boston Herald

Tags: Chicago Cubs

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Andrew Miller Sets Playoff Strikeout Mark For Reliever

Oct 31, 2016 7:37 AM

Andrew Miller broke the Major League record for strikeouts by a relief pitcher in one postseason with 29 on Saturday night.

Miller struck out two batters in two innings as the Cleveland Indians won Game 4 of the World Series to take a 3-1 lead over the Chicago Cubs.

The left-hander has pitched 17 innings in his nine appearances this postseason.

Miller finally gave up his first run of the playoffs Saturday, bringing his postseason ERA to 0.53.

ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Indians, Stats

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World Series Ticket Prices Dip After Cubs' Losses

Oct 30, 2016 1:16 PM

Prices on the resale market for Game 5 of the World Series in Chicago plummeted on Sunday morning after the Chicago Cubs' second straight loss at Wrigley Field on Saturday.

List prices for the cheapest ticket fell to under $1,000 compared to just 48 hours before, when there wasn't a single Game 5 ticket listed on the resale market for less than $2,400.

At 11 a.m. ET, nine hours before Game 5 begins, there were 445 tickets listed for under $1,000 on StubHub.When Game 3 ended, the cheapest seats to Games 4 and 5 were $1,900 and $2,400, respectively.

Darren Rovell/ESPN

Tags: Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Misc Rumor

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Toxicology Report Shows Jose Fernandez Drunk, Used Cocaine

Oct 31, 2016 7:37 AM

Jose Fernandez had cocaine in his system and was legally drunk when he was killed in a boating accident last month, according to autopsy and toxicology reports.

The reports were obtained by ESPN on Saturday.

Fernandez, 24, had a blood alcohol content of .147, nearly twice the legal limit, when his boat crashed into a Miami Beach jetty Sept. 25.

It is unknown who was driving the boat at the time of the crash.

ESPN

Tags: Miami Marlins

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Andrew Miller Sets Postseason Mark With 15th Scoreless Inning
Andrew Miller made history in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday night, extending his scoreless innings streak to 15 this month.

Jane Lee/MLB

Rob Manfred Against Changing DH Rule For World Series
Rob Manfred isn't in favor of playing the World Series under a single set of rules in future seasons.

Jayson Stark/ESPN

Cubs, Sammy Sosa Haven't Communicated In Three Years
Sammy Sosa hasn't had any communication with the Cubs in three years, the slugger told the Wall Street Journal.

R.J. Anderson/CBS Sports

World Series Ratings Highest Since 2009 After Two Games
The first two games have averaged 18.3 million viewers on Fox, up 27 percent from last year.

Dayn Perry/CBS Sports

Indians To Start Carlos Santana In Left Field For Game 3
Carlos Santana has only played four innings in left field during his career, with those frames coming back in 2012.

Associated Press

Median Ticket Price For Game 3 At Wrigley Field Is $3,000
As the World Series returns to Wrigley Field for the first time in 71 years, fans in Chicago face the most costly games in baseball history.

Darren Rovell/ESPN

Kyle Schwarber Not Cleared To Play In Field
Kyle Schwarber will be limited to pinch-hit duty as the World Series shifts to Wrigley Field.

Jesse Rogers/ESPN

Mariners Will Look To Add Left-Handed Power Reliever
Jerry Dipoto is looking for "a legit late-inning presence."

Bob Dutton/News Tribune

Indians Plan To Use Three-Man Rotation
The Indians plan use to three starters on three days' rest in the World Series.

Andrew Marchand/ESPN

Joe Maddon: Jason Heyward Still 'Big Part' Of Cubs' Future
Joe Maddon had a one-on-one meeting with Jason Heyward before Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday.

Jesse Rogers/ESPN

Cubs Haven't Ruled Out Playing Kyle Schwarber In Outfield
The Cubs haven't ruled out playing Kyle Schwarber in the outfield when the World Series shifts to Wrigley Field for Games 3, 4 and 5 this weekend.

Jesse Rogers/ESPN

Yoenis Cespedes To Opt Out Of Deal With Mets
Yoenis Cespedes plans to opt out of his contract with the Mets, leaving two years and $47.5 million on the table, according to sources.

Adam Rubin/ESPN

Jason Heyward Again Out Of Cubs' Lineup For Game 2
For the second-straight game, the Cubs are benching Jason Heyward.

Jesse Rogers/ESPN

Report: Alcohol Factored Into Boat Crash That Killed Jose Fernandez
The strong odor of alcohol was found on Jose Fernandez and two other men in a boat when they died in a crash last month, according to a search warrant affidavit by Miami-Dade County authorities.

ESPN

Twins To Hire Thad Levine As General Manager
Thad Levine has been with the Rangers since 2005.

La Velle E. Neal III/Minneapolis Star Tribune

Game 2 Moved Up An Hour Due To Expected Rain
The second game of the World Series has been moved up an hour because of expected rain in the Cleveland area on Wednesday night.

R.J. Anderson/CBS Sports

Carlos Santana Took Fly Balls In Left Field During Workout
The Indians considered playing Carlos Santana in right field when they played in Philadelphia earlier this year, but it never happened.

Paul Hoynes/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Corey Kluber Sets World Series Record With 8 Ks In Three Innings
Corey Kluber tossed six shutout innings as the Indians took Game 1 of the World Series 6-0 over the Cubs.

Andrew Marchand/ESPN

Kyle Schwarber Likely To DH For Cubs In Game 1
Kyle Schwarber will be with the Cubs for the World Series and it appears likely that he'll be in the lineup for Game 1 as the club's designated hitter.

Carrie Muskat/MLB

Red Sox May Not Hire New General Manager
The Red Sox may not hire a new general manager to replace Mike Hazen, who left to become the lead decision-maker with the Diamondbacks.

Peter Abraham/Boston Globe