Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1208 of 1503)

      Cashman: Yankees not after Barry Bonds

      July 27, 2008 /

      While he put on his best tap-dancing shows while answering questions regarding whether or not his club would acquire Barry Bonds, New York Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman essentially said he would not pursue the former Giant.

      So when Cashman was asked on Friday if he had talked with Jeff Borris, the agent for Barry Bonds, he
      quickly amended his instinctive response.

      “I wouldn’t say,” Cashman said, before waiting a moment and answering definitively. “I have not. I don’t want to take this down the wrong path.”

      That was as close as Cashman came to saying, unequivocally, that the Yankees would not pursue Bonds, the career home run leader. Bonds is dogged by legal issues but still hopes to play this season.

      The Yankees discussed Bonds, among many other topics, at their organizational meeting Thursday in Tampa, Fla..

      After signing former Mariners’ first basemen Richie Sexson and acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady from Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t make much sense for the Yankees to toy with Bonds. Still, the fact that Cashman didn’t openly deny that the Yankees would sign Bonds makes you wonder if the GM has something up his sleeve.

      MLB

      Manny Ramirez willing to accept trade

      July 27, 2008 /

      Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein recently said that if Manny Ramirez were willing to waive his no-trade clause, the club would be willing to trade the power-hitting outfielder. Well, apparently Manny is willing to waive the clause to play for somebody else.

      “If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object,” said Ramirez in a telephone interview with ESPNdeportes.com on Sunday.

      “I don’t have any preferences: I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don’t care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball,” added Ramirez.

      Ramirez, .298, with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs this season, returned to the Red Sox lineup on Saturday to face the New York Yankees after missing the two previous games due to pain in his right knee.

      Love the third-person reference. The Red Sox don’t need this. They’re trying to win their third title in five years and are in the thick of a hot AL East race. If Ramirez doesn’t want to play in Boston anymore, then fine. The club should deal him for some high-end future prospects and move on. Yeah it creates a huge hole in the middle of the order, but sometimes distractions outweigh talent in sports.

      MLB

      Bears sign their offense to an extension

      July 27, 2008 /

      Chicago Bears GM Jerry Angelo said he would take care of receiver/ kick returner extraordinaire Devin Hester if he came to camp. And he kept his word.

      The deal that Devin Hester showed up Friday to work out was finally hammered out Sunday, with the Bears agreeing to a four-year contract extension with the wide receiver/return man that could be worth as much as $40 million.

      The contract, which locks up Hester with the Bears through 2013, includes $15 million in guarantees—the type of reward he was looking for after holding for two days in protest of a scheduled $445,000 salary. If Hester develops into the No. 1 receiver he believes he can be, then he will be able to trigger up to $10 million in escalators in the final year of the deal, according to a league source.

      Hester becomes the 10th Bears starter and fifth Pro Bowl player the Bears have signed to a contract extension this off-season. It is believed this new contract will make Hester the highest-paid return man in NFL history.

      For a franchise that has been criticized in the recent past for not taking care of their players, the Bears have done a nice job locking up their key players over the last two years. Some may think $15 million in guarantees is a little steep for a returner, but then those people clearly haven’t watch Bears games the past two years. Hester is worth every penny.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Was Brett Favre close to becoming a Buc?

      July 27, 2008 /

      How close was Brett Favre to becoming a Tampa Bay Buccaneer? According to the Tampa Tribune, thisclose.

      The Bucs may not be sitting out the Brett Favre trade talks after all.

      Though it was believed that the Bucs and Jets had both decided to wait until Favre reported to camp to renew any trade talks with the Packers, we are now hearing of a discussion between the Bucs and Packers that supposedly took place on Saturday. And the end result may be why the Favre saga is suddenly at a standstill.

      It is believed that the Bucs and Packers were close to an agreement on compensation but that the agreement fell apart sometime on Saturday.

      The sticking point is no doubt the Packers demand for a conditional draft pick that would become a No. 1 based either on Favre’s performance or his new team gaining a berth in the playoffs.

      That has always seemed to be a rather hefty asking price and it seems the Bucs have balked at that. It is believed that the Jets are continuing to sit this thing out, and that may be where the Bucs are now.

      As I wrote just days ago, Favre to Tampa makes sense. Although as the article points out, even if Favre can get Tampa to the playoffs, giving up a future first round pick seems a bit steep. Especially if Favre turns around and announces his retirement again after the 2008 season.

      NFL

      Yankees add Xavier Nady – second half run anyone?

      July 26, 2008 /

      The New York Yankees have yet to lose since the All-Star Break.

      Yes – those New York Yankees. The one’s many pundits have forgotten about because they were consumed by the sexier first-half story of the Tampa Bay Rays.

      I don’t know if I qualify as a pundit, but I certainly forgot about the Yankees when they dropped more than six games back in the AL East pre-All-Star Game. It’s exciting to talk about clubs not named the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, and it’s great that new teams like the Rays are competitive this year.

      But after eight straight wins – the latest coming in a 10-3 rout of the Red Sox in Boston on Saturday – it’s time to start paying attention to the Bronx Bombers again. Everyone knows about the All-Star lineup, but now the pitching is finally starting to come together. Vets Mike Mussina (13-6) and Andy Pettite (12-7) have both bounced back from brutal 2007 campaigns, plus youngster Joba Chamberlain (2.30 ERA) is starting to flash his immense talent. And is Sidney Ponson really 6-1?

      Pitching is the key to the Yankees success this year. Pitching is the key to the Yankees’ success every year. After adding yet another quality bat in Xavier Nady (.327 BA) and more bullpen help in Damaso Marte thanks to a recent trade with the Pirates, the Bombers have once again put themselves in a tremendous position to make a second half run.

      Comment fodder: Will the Yankees’ pitching hold up? How much will Nady and Marte add to the club? Or if you can’t stand the Yankees, can the Rays and Red Sox keep the Evil Empire from reaching the postseason?

      MLB

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑