Misc Rumor - Baseball Wiretap

Marcell Ozuna Regrets Passing On Cardinals' Qualifying Offer

Mar 3, 2020 10:04 AM

Marcel Ozuna signed a one-year, $18 million contract with the Atlanta Braves this winter.

Ozuna did so after rejecting the one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier in the offseason.

The outfielder expected to land a multiyear deal in free agency.

"If I knew before it was going to happen like this, I would have taken it," Ozuna said of the qualifying offer. "But I wanted to make sure I had a chance (at a contract) for my career."

He hit .241/.328/.472 last season.

"If they offer a good offer, I would get it," Ozuna said. "But they didn't do it. … I thought the Cardinals were going to offer something (early), but they didn't do that after I rejected the qualifying offer. So, I got patient. And I waited. And I talked to my agent a lot of the time. We were waiting – and then Atlanta was the team that gave me the opportunity for the one year and a good deal. I had to do that."

Derrick Goold/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tags: St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Fernando Tatis, Jr. Says 'Nothing Happening' With Extension Talks

Mar 3, 2020 10:04 AM

The San Diego Padres and Fernando Tatis, Jr. were set to discuss a contract extension this offseason, but the young star says there is "nothing happening" currently.

Tatis, who just turned 21 in January, won't become a free agent until after the 2024 season.

"(We will) talk about it if the Padres come with something, but there's nothing happening out there yet," he said.

A.J. Preller appeared on the Ben & Woods Show on 93.7 The Fan earlier this week and was asked about Tatis.

"Definitely not looking to comment publicly ... We'll sit down with him and his representatives when the time is right here, and kind of get a feel for where they're at and see if there's something there," the general manager said.

Mike Axisa/CBS Sports

Tags: San Diego Padres, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Investigation Into Red Sox Won't Conclude This Week

Feb 28, 2020 7:42 AM

Major League Baseball is still investigating the Boston Red Sox for stealing signs during their championship run in 2018.

It was originally reported that the Red Sox implemented a scheme that involved using the replay monitor to decode the signs from the opposing battery and then relay the pitch selection to the batter via a runner on second or sometimes first.

Rob Manfred said last week that he expected the Boston investigation to conclude by the end of this week.

Dayn Perry/CBS Sports

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Misc Rumor

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Alex Bregman Becomes Seventh Astros Player HBP In Five Games

Feb 27, 2020 8:34 AM

Alex Bregman was hit on the back by a pitch on Wednesday, making him the seventh Houston Astros player drilled in five spring training games.

Some opposing players have called for retaliation against the Astros following Major League Baseball's finding that Houston broke rules against electronic sign stealing en route to its 2017 World Series title and again in 2018.

"I think I got hit, like, 10 times last year or something like that," Bregman said. "One of them got me good last year, but that one was just a split-finger."

Associated Press

Tags: Houston Astros, Misc Rumor

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MLB Appoints Kerwin Danley As First Black Crew Chief

Feb 27, 2020 8:30 AM

Major League Baseball has appointed its first African American umpire crew chief by promoting Kerwin Danley to the position, according to a report.

MLB often shuffles its roster of umpires in the offseason to account for retirements, promotions and new hires.

Danley, 58, has worked two World Series and been on the field for 10 other postseason rounds, including the AL Championship Series last year. He also has been chosen to call two All-Star Games.

Associated Press

Tags: Misc Rumor

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Bryce Harper 'More Calm' In Year 2 With Phillies

Feb 26, 2020 9:06 AM

Nearly a year after he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce Harper says he's more comfortable in his second year with the club.

"It's definitely different," Harper said.

"Coming into camp this year, it’s a lot better knowing you’re going to be here for the next 12 years. A lot better coming in. A lot more calm. Not as crazy. Not as many cameras or anything like that. Just talking to you guys, which is great. So just trying to enjoy that and go about it the right way and talk to the young guys as much as possible. [Mickey] Moniak, [Bryson] Stott, [Alec] Bohm, just trying to get to know them a little bit more each day. Because those are the guys that are going to help us hopefully this year and beyond that. So just trying to talk to them as much as possible and try to get to know them a little bit more."

Todd Zolecki/MLB

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Misc Rumor

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Mets May Enter Season Without Designated Fifth Starter

Feb 27, 2020 8:40 AM

The New York Mets are considering entering the season without a fifth starter, instead making their plans based on their opponent, according to a report.

New York will enter the season with Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Rick Porcello as their top four starters.

The fifth starter could be either Steven Matz or Michael Wacha, depending on whether the opposing team is better against righties or lefties.

Joel Sherman/New York Post

Tags: New York Mets, Misc Rumor

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Marlins To Host World Baseball Classic Final

Feb 26, 2020 7:51 AM

The 2021 World Baseball Classic will be played Taiwan, Tokyo, Phoenix and Miami.

The Marlins will host the semifinals and final along with half of the quarterfinals.

The tournament will be played from March 9-23 next year. There will be four groups of five teams. Those are the 16 participants in the 2017 tournament plus four qualifiers to be determined during a 12-nation tournament this March 13-25 at Tucson, Arizona.

Associated Press

Tags: Miami Marlins, Misc Rumor

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Diamondbacks Unaware Of Madison Bumgarner's Rodeo Gigs

Feb 25, 2020 7:49 AM

The Arizona Diamondbacks didn't know Madison Bumgarner had been competing in rodeo events under the alias "Mason Saunders."

It was reported on Sunday that he won $26,560 in a team-roping competition in December.

Mike Hazen was aware Bumgarner was "a very strong horseman," and the general manager added that even though he didn't know about the rodeos, that knowledge wouldn't have affected Arizona's decision to sign the left-hander to an $85 million, five-year contract.

"Madison's a grown man and we know he's committed to helping us achieve our goals as a team," Hazen said. "Those have been the conversations that we've had from the time we first talked to him until very recently."

Associated Press

Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Misc Rumor

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MLB To Judge: Cheating Attempts Part Of Sports

Feb 26, 2020 9:06 AM

Major League Baseball has told a federal judge that attempts at cheating are a part of sports.

MLB is urging the judge to dismiss a lawsuit by fantasy contestants.

Five men sued MLB, MLB Advanced Media, the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox in federal court in Manhattan, claiming fraud, violation of consumer protection laws, negligence, unjust enrichment and deceptive trade practices by teams that violated MLB's rules against the use of electronics to steal catchers' signs.

The five said they participated in DraftKings fantasy baseball contests.

"Rules violations -- large and small, intentional and unintentional, technical and game-changing -- are a never-ending source of sports television, talk radio, web and elevator commentary by sports pundits and fans alike," MLB said Friday in papers submitted to U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff.

"And fans' general awareness of the potential for infractions is underscored in this case by the fact that clubs were publicly disciplined for electronic sign-stealing violations during the 2017 regular season."

Associated Press

Tags: Misc Rumor

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Jose Altuve Grazed By Pitch In First Spring Away Game

Associated Press

Josh Reddick: Astros Have Received Death Threats

Dayn Perry/CBS Sports

Padres, Brian Dozier Agree Upon Minor League Deal

A.J. Cassavell/MLB

George Springer Will Continue As Leadoff Hitter

ESPN

Madison Bumgarner Has Been Competing In Rodeos Under Alias

Associated Press

Jonathan Lucroy Changed Signs With Every Pitch Against Astros

Joon Lee/ESPN

Pennsylvania Little League District Dropping 'Astros'

ESPN

MLBPA Pushes Back Against Claim They Pushed For Player Immunity

Matt Snyder/CBS Sports

Giancarlo Stanton: I Would've Hit 80 HRs If I Knew What Was Coming

Matt Snyder/CBS Sports

Cubs To Use Kris Bryant As Leadoff Hitter

Jesse Rogers/ESPN

Shin-Soo Choo Confident He Can Play Beyond 2020

Associated Press

Kris Bryant On His Future: 'I'm A Chicago Cub'

Jordan Bastian/MLB

LeBron Calls Out Rob Manfred: 'Listen To Your Players'

ESPN

Red Sox Reach Minor League Deal With Jonathan Lucroy

ESPN

Rockies GM In No Rush To Clear Air With Nolan Arenado

Associated Press

Cubs, Giants Raise Minor League Pay Early

Associated Press

Arte Moreno Nixed Joc Pederson Trade With Dodgers

Associated Press

Giants Excluding Aubrey Huff From 2010 World Series Reunion

ESPN

Francisco Lindor: 'I Wanna Win' In Cleveland

Alden Gonzalez/ESPN

Brock Holt, Brewers Agree Upon Contract

Jeff Passan/ESPN