Category: MLB (Page 382 of 448)

Present and former players are on pins and needles Thursday, awaiting the “Mitchell Report” to be released. The report is supposed to name at least 60 players who have abused steroids in MLB. Two big names have already been released: New York Yankee pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte.

A former trainer for Roger Clemens provided information about Clemens’s steroid use to investigators for former Senator George Mitchell, who will release a report Thursday on steroids in baseball, two lawyers familiar with the investigation said.

The trainer, Brian McNamee, also provided information about steroid use by pitcher Andy Pettitte and first baseman David Segui, the lawyers said. McNamee spoke to Mitchell’s investigators under pressure from federal prosecutors investigating the use of steroids in baseball.

It’s kind of ironic how the first two names released (officially, at least) were pitchers. Everyone likes to talk about how the hitters are all juiced, but obviously this report will put things in perspective that it’s not just them. More to follow…

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the sticking point in the Red Sox acquiring ace Johan Santana seems to be whether or not they’d be willing to give up young centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

While no deal appeared imminent, there were indications that in their talks with the Red Sox, the Twins were focused on a package headlined by center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
The Red Sox have offered Ellsbury and pitcher Jon Lester in separate deals, while refusing to include both in the same offer.

Of those two options, the Twins were said to be leaning toward a package of Ellsbury, infield prospect Jed Lowrie and relief prospect Justin Masterson, with the sides haggling over a fourth player.

If Boston winds up caving and includes Ellsbury and/or Lester for Santana, aren’t they mortgaging their future a bit assuming they’d have to give up multiple young prospects (including at least one major league-ready prospect)? At the trade deadline last year, they gave up a promising starter in Kason Gabbard for Eric Gagne (what a sweet deal that turned out to be) and now might have to part with Lester, too. I’m certainly not comparing Gagne to Santana, but Curt Shilling and Tim Wakefield aren’t going to pitch forever and the Sox are going to need some young guns down the road.

– According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets offered Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey and others for Johan Santana. However, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com writes that the Mets did not talk to the Twins about Santana.

– The A’s are interested in Barry Bonds. Friday, Bonds pleaded not guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

– The Yankees need a reliever and rumor has it that they’re willing to part with outfielder Hideki Matsui to land one. The Giants have an abundance of young pitching, but zero position players, so Jonathan Sanchez, Brad Hennessey and Kevin Correia’s names have been thrown out as possible trade bait for Matsui. Starter Noah Lowry’s name has also been linked to the Giants obtaining Matsui.

– The Cubs are shopping Mark Prior and are also interested in Japanse outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. The Padres and White Sox are also interested in Fukudome.

According to MLB.com, Barry Bonds wants to play in 2008.

“He’s training currently and he’d like to come back in 2008 to put a World Series ring on his finger,” said Jeff Borris, as the annual Winter Meetings began to wind down. “Barry definitely wants to continue playing. So I’m actively pursuing jobs for him from teams that are committed to winning.”

Bonds was indicted last month on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice for allegedly lying about his use of performance-enhancing drugs in testimony given to a grand jury four years ago. He’s expected to plead not guilty on Friday at his arraignment in San Francisco, which will begin the legal maneuvering in the case.

Hey Jeff, tell your client that he’s got bigger things to worry about than baseball.

According to the LA Times, the Dodgers and former Braves’ outfielder Andruw Jones have agreed to a two-year, $36 million contract.

Jones, 30, hit 26 home runs and drove in 94 runs last season for the Atlanta Braves. He hit at least 25 home runs and won a Gold Glove for the 10th consecutive season.

The Dodgers are expected to move weak-armed Juan Pierre to left field, leaving Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier for right. The surplus of outfielders could make either Kemp or Ethier expendable and the Dodgers are believed to have been asked for Kemp in trade discussions for several available pitchers, including left-hander Erik Bedard of the Baltimore Orioles.

Interesting that Jones only wound up with a two-year deal, although he is coming off his worst offensive performance as a pro. Maybe the idea is for Jones to turn in a couple of productive years and hit the market again at age 32.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com thinks Jones will bolster the Dodgers’ lineup.