Category: MLB (Page 402 of 448)

According to multiple national sources including MLB Rumors.com, the Chicago Cubs traded catcher Michael Barrett to the San Diego Padres for backup Rob Bowen, a young prospect in Kyler Burke and cash considerations.

This is just another example of how a team will get rid of a player – regardless of their situation on the field – if he’s a cancer in the clubhouse. The Cubs don’t really have any better options behind the plate than Barrett (even with his .256 BA), but were apt to deal him after he fought in the dugout with starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano during a June 1 game against Atlanta, and the way he reportedly pissed off other teammates as well.

As for the Padres, they’ll get a little more pop in Barrett, but average wise, he’s no better than Josh Bard. It’ll be interesting to see how San Diego rotates the two and whether or not Barrett can mesh with the Pads pitching staff. Although, if he can’t work with currently the best pitching staff in the majors, who can he work with?

General Manager Brian Sabean recently commented that the Giants might be sellers come the July 31 trade deadline, and the possibility of Barry Bonds being traded isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

That spurned San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins to at least toy with the notion Bonds would be traded and where he might go. Jenkins brought up the Indians, Tigers, A’s, Angels and Red Sox before squashing those teams for just one: the New York Yankees.

I doubt this would ever, ever, EVER happen because the Giants’ top brass (i.e. Peter Magowan and Larry Baer) are concentrating more on getting Bonds to pass Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record in a San Fran uniform than winning ball games. And if you question me on this, check out the Giants’ putrid lineup these days and then make note that they unexplainably have the 12th highest payroll in the league and next to nothing as far as young position players.

Regardless, could you imagine what the Yankee haters would do if Bonds does wind up in pinstripes? Nevertheless Yankee fans who hate Bonds? Lets hope for the sake of baseball and hell, the human race in general, this doesn’t happen.

Attorneys for MLB are trying to argue that online fantasy baseball companies should not be able to operate without paying license fees to the league. Apparently MLB is worried about players not being properly compensated for the use of their names.

Here’s a question – How much money does the league and its players get off of all the video game rights, jersey sales and bobble heads? Now everyone wants to get paid off of fantasy sports too? Hey, newsflash MLB: fantasy sports have been around for over a decade and a half. People used to run leagues and calculate scores by using the stats out of newspapers, so don’t try to use this as a cash cow now that fantasy sports are huge. As if baseball doesn’t have enough issues with, oh I don’t know, maybe players freaking cheating! No, lets concentrate on making sure online fantasy companies have to pay royalties to use the players’ names, because God forbid players aren’t getting paid enough now.

Deadspin.com had a great idea to get around all of this:

“With the first pick of the draft, I take Alex Hodrigues, shortstop for the New York Spankees.”

Even before he no-hit the Brewers Tuesday night, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander was something to behold. He broke onto the scene last year as a 23-year old phenom, winning 17 games and claiming the AL Rookie of the Year Award. But just as fast as the nonentity came, it left entering this season, taking a backseat to other storylines around baseball (like the return of Roger Clemens for example). It’s amazing to think at 24 and entering only his second year, that everyone already expects him to win 15-plus games. That’s how special a pitcher he is and I’m looking forward to watching his career take off from here.

Also on the Verlander-no hitter front, the guys at SPORTSbyBROOKS.com note that he threw the no-no on the same day of baseball’s first perfect game. John Lee Richmond of the Worcester Ruby Legs (nice name by the way) blanked the Cleveland Blues at the Agricultural Fairgrounds June 12, 1880. Trivia Pursuit question anyone?

According to FOXSports.com, the Washington Nationals are reportedly interested in Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes. The 22-year old Dukes is a multi-talented player, but he also allegedly threatened to kill his wife and children recently, including sending a photo of a handgun to her cell phone.

If the Nationals end up giving away their best pitching prospect, Collin Balester, for that piece of garbage, then they deserve to remain in last place every year. Washington just doesn’t have the young talent to offer Tampa Bay a decent package for Dukes. Of course at this point, the Rays might just be looking for a bag of practice balls and some Big League Chew.