April 2024 - Baseball Wiretap

A's Hire Firm To Help Raise $500M In Funding For Vegas Ballpark

Apr 30, 2024 10:15 AM

The Athletics have retained an investment banking firm in an effort to procure $500 million in private funding towards the construction of their Las Vegas ballpark, according to a report.

The club is prepared to offer minority ownership shares in the franchise to potential investors as they put together financing for their estimated $1.5 billion stadium.

Nevada lawmakers approved $380 million in public funding last summer — taking the form of state tax credits, county-issued bonds and a county credit — to offset a chunk of the cost.

Bill Shaikin/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Oakland Athletics, Legal, Misc Rumor

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Brewers Upset With Umpires After Another 'Bad' Call

Apr 30, 2024 10:01 AM

The Milwaukee Brewers are upset after finding themselves on the wrong end of a momentum-swinging decision by an umpiring crew for a second straight day on Monday night.

The Brewers thought they had tied the game in the ninth inning of a 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night when a third strike to Jake Bauers got past Rays catcher Rene Pinto, enabling Sal Frelick to score from third.

However, Bauers was ruled out and Frelick was ordered to go back to third when plate umpire Ryan Additon ruled that the hitter's backswing hit Pinto's helmet.

"So in this case, it was a third strike to Bauers and all runners go back to the original base at the time of the pitch," crew chief Chris Guccione said. "That's the rule."

If backswing interference hadn't been ruled, the Brewers would have tied the game and had the potential winning run on third base with only one out since Willy Adames advanced from second to third and Bauers had reached first when the pitch got away.

The Brewers instead had runners on second and third with two outs while still trailing 1-0.

This came one day after the Brewers lost 15-5 to the New York Yankees in a game that featured its own controversial ruling with a different umpiring crew. Andy Fletcher, the crew chief for that game, acknowledged Aaron Judge should have been called for interference for his slide on a botched double-play attempt that sparked the Yankees' tiebreaking seven-run rally in the sixth inning.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy believed his team got a raw deal again Monday. He was ejected for the first time this season after arguing that Frelick's run should have stood.

Associated Press

Tags: Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Misc Rumor

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Rockies To Promote Outfielder Jordan Beck

Apr 30, 2024 10:12 AM

The Colorado Rockies are calling up top outfield prospect Jordan Beck, according to a report.

Beck isn't on Colorado's 40-man roster, which means the Rockies will need to make at least one corresponding transaction.

Beck, 23, was the No. 38 overall draft pick out of the University of Tennessee in 2022 and entered the season ranked 81st among all Major League prospects, per MLB.com.

Ben McKee/GoVols 24/7

Tags: Colorado Rockies, Misc Rumor

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Dodgers Go Entire Game Without Striking Out

Apr 30, 2024 10:08 AM

The Los Angeles Dodgers went their entire 8-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night without striking out once.

It marked the first time the franchise played a full game without a strikeout since August 28, 2006.

"A lot of competitive at-bats," Dave Roberts said. "Eighteen years -- we've seen a lot of baseball games since that's happened. I just think you've got to give the players all the credit for winning pitches and fighting to move the ball forward."

The Dodgers had 44 plate appearances without a strikeout. They drew eight walks.

ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Dodgers, Misc Rumor

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Brewers, Pirates, Red Sox Were In On Shota Imanaga

Apr 29, 2024 8:44 AM

Before he signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, Shota Imanaga drew interest from the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox, according to a report.

A previous report stated that the Red Sox offered Imanaga a two-year deal with $26 million in guaranteed money with vesting options for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Bob Nightengale/USA Today

Tags: Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Astros To Promote Joey Loperfido

Apr 29, 2024 8:38 AM

The Houston Astros will call up Joey Loperfido before Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians.

Loperfido isn't on Houston's 40-man roster, so they'll have to make a roster move to add him.

A seventh-round pick in 2021, Loperfido is hitting .287/.393/.713 over 122 Triple-A plate appearances this season.

Ari Alexander/KPRC

Tags: Houston Astros, Misc Rumor

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MLB Uniforms To Change After Complaints

Apr 29, 2024 8:31 AM

Major League Baseball plans to address its uniform fiasco after changes this spring to the standard jerseys and pants led to widespread complaints from players and fans, according to a memo sent to clubs.

The prominent modifications include a return to larger lettering on the back of jerseys, remedying mismatched gray tops and bottoms and addressing the new Nike jerseys' propensity to collect sweat.

The changes, which will happen at the latest by the beginning of the 2025 season, will also include fixes to the pants, widely panned this spring for being see-through.

Jeff Passan/ESPN

Tags: Misc Rumor

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Cubs Place Jordan Wicks On IL With Strained Forearm

Apr 29, 2024 8:26 AM

The Chicago Cubs have placed Jordan Wicks on 15-day injured list with a strained forearm.

Wicks, 27, was scheduled to start the series finale against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, but he was scratched on Saturday.

"There was a forearm issue and I think it made sense for us to be cautious here," Craig Counsell said. "We'll see how it responds over the next week and see where we're at. The hope is maybe we caught this soon enough and it's a short stay."

Wicks is 1-2 with a 5.70 ERA in five starts.

Associated Press

Tags: Chicago Cubs, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Red Sox Acquire Garrett Cooper From Cubs

Apr 28, 2024 1:15 AM

The Boston Red Sox acquired first baseman Garrett Cooper from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday for cash considerations.

Cooper, 33, was designated for assignment by the Cubs this week after hitting .270 with a home run and six RBIs in 12 games. His playing time was limited with the emergence of Michael Busch.

ESPN.com

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Official Trade

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Brewers' Wade Miley Needs Tommy John Surgery

Apr 27, 2024 1:19 PM

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Wade Miley said Friday that he needs Tommy John surgery.

Miley, 37, was put on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation on April 22, retroactive to April 19.

"I need a full Tommy John," Miley said Friday before the Brewers faced the New York Yankees.

ESPN.com

Tags: Milwaukee Brewers, Injury

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Anthony Rendon Faces Lengthy Recovery From Hamstring Tear

ESPN.com

Orioles' Top Prospect Jackson Holliday Optioned Back To Minors

ESPN.com

Giants Selling Minority Stake At $4 Billion Valuation

Giles Turner/Bloomberg

Max Scherzer Calls For Umpire Relegation System

Dallas Morning News

White Sox Become Just Fourth Team With Three Wins Through 25 Games

Mike Axisa/CBS Sports

MLB Bringing Back Players Weekend In August

Jesse Rogers/ESPN

Dusty Baker Wins Baseball Digest Lifetime Achievement Award

Associated Press

Marlins To Move A.J. Puk Back To Bullpen

Christina De Nicola/MLB

Rockies, Tyler Danish Agree To Minor League Deal

Anthony Franco/MLB Trade Rumors

Cubs Pitcher Told To Change Glove Over White In Flag Patch

Associated Press

Max Scherzer Set To Make Rehab Start For Triple-A Round Rock

Associated Press

Rangers Sign Johnny Cueto To Minor League Deal

ESPN

Dave Roberts Working With Shohei Ohtani On Plate Discipline

ESPN

Mike Trout Homers In First Leadoff AB Since 2020

Associated Press

Phillies' Ranger Suarez Extends Scoreless Streak To 25 Innings

Todd Zolecki/MLB

Mike Trout After Game-Ending Strikeout: 'I've Gotta Come Through'

Adrian Garro/MLB

Diamondbacks Release Jace Peterson

Anthony Franco/MLB Trade Rumors

Rimas Sports Denied Request To Keep Representing MLB Clients

Alden Gonzalez/ESPN

Brewers' Jakob Junis Sent To Hospital After He's Hit During BP

ESPN

Rays Place Pete Fairbanks On IL With Nerve-Related Issues

ESPN.com