April 2019 - Baseball Wiretap

No Extension Talks Between Red Sox, Eduardo Rodriguez

Sep 30, 2019 7:56 AM

The Boston Red Sox haven't initiated any conversations with Eduardo Rodriguez about a long-term extension.

However, Rodriguez is open to such talks.

"I still have two more years here. We'll see how that goes. I love it here and I want to stay here for a long time. If they want me to, I'll stay here," Rodriguez said. "I haven't had that conversation yet so I don't know how that feels."

Rodriguez had a solid season for Boston, posting a 3.81 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 203.1 innings.

Rob Bradford/WEEI

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

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J.D. Martinez On Opt-Out: I Don't Mind Moving Around

Oct 1, 2019 7:54 AM

When asked about the opt-out clause in his contract with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, J.D. Martinez raised eyebrows with his response.

"I don't mind moving around," Martinez said. "I kind of like it."

Martinez has played for three teams over the last four years.

He has an opt-out in the five-year, $110 million deal he signed with the Red Sox prior to the 2018 season.

Pete Abraham/Boston Globe

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

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Pirates Will Retain Neal Huntington As General Manager

Oct 1, 2019 7:54 AM

The Pittsburgh Pirates let Clint Hurdle go on Sunday, but they'll retain general manager Neal Huntington.

Huntington has held the job since 2007. He's the fourth-longest tenured GM in the Major Leagues.

The Pirates haven't won a division title since 1992.

"While we felt it was time to make a change at the managerial level, I strongly believe that Neal Huntington and the leadership team that he has assembled are the right people to continue to lead our baseball operations department," owner Bob Nutting said. "... Neal and his leadership team are well into an extensive review of every element of our baseball operations."

Mike Axisa/CBS Sports

Tags: Pittsburgh Pirates, Misc Rumor

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Twins Best Yankees By One For Home Run Record

Sep 30, 2019 7:45 AM

The Minnesota Twins hit three home runs on Sunday to edge the New York Yankees by one for all-time home run record.

The Twins clubbed 307 homers this season.

"I don't think anybody will ever forget the 'Bomba Squad,'" Rocco Baldelli said.

Last week, the Twins became the first team in Major League history to hit 300 home runs in a season.

ESPN

Tags: Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Stats

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Average MLB Game Time Rises To Record 3:05:35

Sep 30, 2019 1:14 AM

The average time of a nine-inning game reached a record length in the major leagues this season.

Major League Baseball said Sunday the final figure for the 2019 regular season was 3 hours, 5 minutes, 35 seconds. That topped the 3:05:11 in 2017.

The average had dropped to 3:00:44 in 2018, helped by new restrictions that cut mound visits without pitching changes.

MLB's average was 2:46 in 2005.

ESPN.com

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Sources: Angels Appear Unclear Of Brad Ausmus' Job Status

Sep 30, 2019 7:38 AM

Brad Ausmus may lose his job as manager of the Los Angeles Angels after just one year with the team, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

His status has been under review by the team's leadership in recent days, at the end of what has been a disappointing season on the field and a tragic one off the field, with the midseason death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

ESPN.com

Tags: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Misc Rumor

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David Ross Has 'Interest' In Succeeding Joe Maddon

Sep 30, 2019 7:56 AM

Former Cubs catcher David Ross, who is considered a leading candidate to succeed Joe Maddon as the team's manager, was asked during Sunday's Baseball Tonight show if he'd be interested in the job if the Cubs called.

"I think it's one of the best jobs in baseball," said Ross, who currently works as an analyst for ESPN. "I've got a lot of close ties with those guys. I think the interest would be there. I think my heart is drawn to that dugout a little bit.

"The rumors are flattering. It makes you think about a lot of things. I've got a nice job here at ESPN that I enjoy and gives me a lot of free time with my three kids."

ESPN.com

Tags: Chicago Cubs, Misc Rumor

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Pirates Fire Manager Clint Hurdle

Sep 29, 2019 2:14 PM

The Pirates fired manager Clint Hurdle on Sunday.

"Words cannot express how much respect and appreciation I have for Clint as a person and a leader," GM Neal Huntington said in a statement. "He was the right person at the right time to take on the enormous challenge of leading our Major League team out of an extended losing streak and piloting us to three straight Postseason appearances. We will be forever grateful for his dedication to the Pirates organization on and off the field. This was an extremely difficult decision for us. As an organization, we believe it was time for a managerial change to introduce a new voice and new leadership inside the clubhouse.

"This has been a challenging season on many levels. We are committed to assessing and improving upon our operations at all levels in order to return Postseason baseball to Pittsburgh."

ESPN.com

Tags: Pittsburgh Pirates, Misc Rumor

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Cubs, Joe Maddon Decide To Part Ways

Sep 30, 2019 1:08 AM

The Cubs are moving on from Joe Maddon, the manager who led them to their first World Series title in 108 years, team president Theo Epstein and Maddon announced Sunday.

Maddon, 65, is officially a free agent after the Cubs missed the postseason for the first time in five years. A nine-game losing streak in late September sealed the fate of the Cubs, and possibly Maddon, as well.

Maddon and Epstein made the announcement in St. Louis, where the Cubs are trying to play the rare recent role of spoiler in keeping the Cardinals from clinching the NL Central.

ESPN.com

Tags: Chicago Cubs, Misc Rumor

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A's Beat Mariners, Clinch Home-Field In AL Wild-Card Game

Sep 29, 2019 12:24 AM

Ramon Laureano hit a solo home run in the third inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 on Saturday night, clinching home-field advantage for the American League wild-card game.

The A's will host the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. Tampa Bay lost 4-1 at Toronto earlier Saturday. Oakland has won three of its last four games and is 18-7 in September.

ESPN.com

Tags: Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, Game Recap, Team Achievement

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Justin Verlander Reaches 3,000 Career Ks, 300 Ks In 2019

ESPN.com

Pete Alonso Breaks MLB Rookie Record With 53rd HR

ESPN.com

Red Sox Plan To Slash Payroll To Avoid Luxury Tax

ESPN.com

Felix Hernandez Wants To Pitch In 2020

Greg Johns/MLB

Bryce Harper On Gabe Kapler: 'I Think He's Done A Good Job'

R.J. Anderson/CBS Sports

Twins Become First Club To Hit 300 Home Runs

ESPN

Marty Brennaman Calls Final Game For Reds

Associated Press

Carlos Correa To Rest Back Until Playoffs

ESPN

Joe Maddon 'Very Optimistic' About Future With Cubs

Katherine Acquavella/CBS Sports

Theo Epstein Denies Red Sox Rumors, Says He's Focused On Cubs

Jesse Rogers/ESPN

Twins Capture First AL Central Title Since 2010

Associated Press

Bryce Harper: Heckling From Nationals Fans Crossed The Line

Associated Press

Brewers Clinch Playoff Berth, Eliminate Cubs, Mets

ESPN

Joe Espada Could Be Candidate To Manage Mets

Buster Olney/ESPN

Nationals Clinch Wild Card Berth

Eddie Matz/ESPN

Rockies, Giants Set Mark With 25 Pitchers

Associated Press

MLB Sets Strikeout Record For 12th Consecutive Season

ESPN

Padres, Kirby Yates Discussing Contract Extension

Kevin Acee/San Diego Union-Tribune

Yankees' Interest In Marcus Stroman Wasn't Very High

Wallace Matthews/Yahoo! Sports

Twins Investigating Giants Over Sam Dyson's Health

R.J. Anderson/CBS Sports