March 2022 - Baseball Wiretap

Nationals, Juan Soto Discussing 13-Year, $425M Extension

Jun 30, 2022 5:42 PM

Talks between the Washington Nationals and Juan Soto about a potential 13-year, $425 million contract extension are "intensifying," according to a report.

Mike Rizzo said in March that the organization's "No. 1 priority," was to sign Soto to an extension.

Soto and agent Scott Boras rejected an offer of $350 million over the same length of time earlier in negotiations.

The deal would be the second-largest Major League contract ever, behind only Mike Trout's $426.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

Jacob Calvin Meyer/Washington Post

Tags: Washington Nationals, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Blue Jays Showing Interest In Andrew Benintendi

Jun 30, 2022 7:33 AM

The Toronto Blue Jays are showing trade interest in Andrew Benintendi, according to a report.

The report adds that Toronto may also be interested in some of Kansas City's bullpen arms. The Blue Jays' bullpen currently ranks in the bottom third of Major League Baseball in terms of ERA.

Benintendi, who turns 28 next week, is hitting .303/.368/.391 in 304 plate appearances this season.

Jon Morosi/MLB Network

Tags: Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Former No. 1 Pick Mark Appel Makes Major League Debut

Jun 30, 2022 7:28 AM

Mark Appel, the No. 1 overall pick in 2013, made his Major League debut on Wednesday night just a month shy of his 31st birthday.

He pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 4-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Appel allowed one hit and recorded one strikeout.

"It's pretty surreal," he said.

The right-hander was taken first overall by the Houston Astros and then traded to the Phillies in 2015.

Due to injuries and ineffectiveness, Appel left baseball in 2018 before coming back to the Phillies organization in 2021.

ESPN

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Misc Rumor

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Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom Take Next Steps Toward Returns

Jun 30, 2022 7:21 AM

Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer took their next steps toward returning to the New York Mets' rotation on Wednesday.

deGrom, sidelined since last July 7, threw 27 pitches to hitters in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and could progress to a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment.

Scherzer has been sidelined since straining his left oblique muscle while pitching on May 18. He made his second rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday night.

He allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one before he was relieved. He threw 80 pitches, including 57 strikes.

ESPN

Tags: New York Mets, Injury, Misc Rumor

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St. Pete Mayor Reopens Talks On Future Rays Stadium Site

Jun 30, 2022 1:05 AM

The mayor of St. Petersburg is reopening talks about the future of the Tropicana Field site where baseball's Tampa Bay Rays play their home games.

Mayor Ken Welch said Wednesday that two previous proposals for the 86-acre downtown location are being scrapped, with a new round of plans to be solicited beginning in mid-August. Welch, St. Petersburg's first Black mayor, has made a priority of including such things as affordable housing and greater job opportunities along with Rays baseball.

ESPN.com

Tags: Tampa Bay Rays, Misc Rumor

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Bryce Harper Will Have Surgery; Out Six Weeks

Jun 29, 2022 8:19 AM

Bryce Harper will indeed undergo surgery on his fractured left thumb, according to a report.

Harper will return after six weeks or so. He was scheduled to meet with specialists in Philadelphia early this week.

He suffered the injury Saturday night against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Harper took a 97-mph Blake Snell fastball to the hand and exited the game immediately. 

"Things happen for a reason," Harper said. "Everybody says that. This reason sucks right now, but at the same time, it is what it is. I've got to be positive. I've got to be positive for the guys in here. I know they'll pick up the slack. I'm just really bummed for the organization, the guys, the city of Philadelphia, the fans. I love running out there and playing every day. Definitely bummed."

NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. To Skip 2022 Home Run Derby

Jun 29, 2022 8:14 AM

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. won't participate in July's Home Run Derby so that he can preserve his wrist health and focus on the second half of the season.

Guerrero dealt with wrist soreness in May.

"I think (the wrist) is something that I'm going to have to (manage) for the rest of my career, so I just want to make sure that I keep doing all my exercises and everything that I have to do to keep it healthy," he said. "I told them that I wasn't going to be able to do (the derby) because I preferred to rest and be ready for the second half to help the team win games."

Guerrero participated in the 2019 Home Run Derby as a rookie and hit a record 91 home runs over the duration of the event while finishing second. 

Shi Davidi/Sportsnet

Tags: Toronto Blue Jays, All-Star, Misc Rumor

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Fernando Tatis, Jr. Expects To Swing Bat In Two Weeks

Jun 29, 2022 8:11 AM

Fernando Tatis, Jr. has received positive news on his return from a broken wrist, with his doctor saying that he can begin swinging a bat in two weeks.

The San Diego Padres shortstop met with the doctor in Phoenix, where he underwent X-rays and was given the plan for his next steps.

"This was the first time I came out happy after a doctor's appointment," Tatis said.

Tatis reportedly injured the wrist in an offseason motorcycle accident in his native Dominican Republic and had surgery in mid-March.

He said once he is cleared to swing a bat off a tee, it will be another 10 days before he can start hitting pitches from a machine. A minor league rehab assignment is likely to follow.

ESPN

Tags: San Diego Padres, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Angels' Archie Bradley Broke Elbow Trying To Join Brawl

Jun 29, 2022 8:06 AM

Archie Bradley broke a bone in his right elbow while climbing over the dugout railing during the Los Angeles Angels' massive brawl with the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

Bradley will be out for at least one month. He won't start a throwing program for four weeks while his elbow heals, and he could be down a "couple of months," according to trainer Mike Frostad.

The reliever slipped and fell off the railing when the fight broke out in the second inning immediately after Angels opener Andrew Wantz hit Seattle's Jesse Winker with a pitch. 

Bradley is 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA and two saves in 21 appearances for Los Angeles, but he spent time on the injured list earlier this season with an abdominal strain.

ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Freddie Freeman Fires Agents Who Led Offseason Negotiations

Jun 29, 2022 8:01 AM

Freddie Freeman has fired the agency that represented him in his offseason negotiations, Excel Sports Management, according to multiple sources.

Freeman left the Atlanta Braves and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency, which came as a shock to many. He had a long history with the Braves and they were coming off a World Series championship.

Freeman acknowledged his status with his agent is "fluid," but did not confirm the firing.

"Last weekend in Atlanta was a very emotional time for me and my family," Freeman said. "I am working through some issues with my longtime agents at Excel. My representation remains a fluid situation and I will update if needed."

The MLB Players Association sent an email to agents on Freeman's behalf Monday, ordering agents to not contact the player. This is common practice when players do not want to be besieged by agents. Freeman is listed within baseball's central system as currently being self-represented.

Buster Olney/ESPN

Tags: Atlanta Braves, Misc Rumor

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Bryce Harper May Need Thumb Surgery

Todd Zolecki/MLB

Blue Jays Sign Veteran Reliever Sergio Romo

Jon Heyman/New York Post

Mets Move Tylor Megill To 60-Day IL

Associated Press

Guardians Complete Minority Sale To David Blitzer

Associated Press

Royals Trade Carlos Santana To M's For Wyatt Mills, William Fleming

ESPN.com

Ole Miss Beats Oklahoma For College World Series Title

Mike Axisa/CBS Sports

Ronald Acuna, Jr. Can't Put Pressure On Foot After Foul Ball

Associated Press

Cardinals' Jack Flaherty Leaves Start With Stiff Shoulder

ESPN

Twins Pitching Coach Wes Johnson Leaving For LSU

ESPN.com

Eight Ejected After Wild Brawl Between Mariners, Angels

ESPN.com

D-Backs Calling Up Dallas Keuchel To Start

ESPN.com

Bryce Harper Out Indefinitely With Broken Left Thumb

ESPN.com

Dodgers Place Daniel Hudson On IL With Season-Ending ACL Tear

ESPN.com

Cristian Javier, Astros' Bullpen No-Hit Yankees

ESPN.com

Phillies Give Former No. 1 Pick Mark Appel First Call-Up At Age 30

espn.com

Emotional Freddie Freeman Gets Ring, Ovations In Return To Atlanta

espn.com

Max Scherzer 'Getting Closer,' But Won't Start On Sunday

espn.com

Yankees, Aaron Judge Settle Before Arbitration Hearing

ESPN

Reds' Luis Castillo Drawing Early Trade Interest

Jon Heyman/New York Post

Cole Hamels Targeting 2023 Comeback

Jon Heyman/New York Post