Category: Rumors & Gossip (Page 202 of 225)

      Brett Favre to compete for job?

      August 3, 2008 /

      Wow. A source close to the Packers has revealed that the team is going to allow Favre to compete for the starting job.

      Another source close to the club, said that the Packers have agreed to allow Favre to compete with Aaron Rodgers for the starting job and he won’t necessarily be the backup this season. Trade talks with Favre have not advanced and coach Mike McCarthy is expected to come up with a plan that will split the practice repetitions with Rodgers.

      This is a huge shift from the Packers’ perspective. All along, they’ve been saying that they were going to move on with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback, but evidently Favre’s (understandable) stubbornness, along with the prospect of the media circus that would ensue once he got to camp, has convinced the team to allow him to try to win his job back.

      Regular readers know I am a die-hard Packers fan, and this shift in policy only seems fair. Other than having to deal with the uncertainty each offseason, the Packers’ resistance to Favre’s return never made a whole lot of sense. Cutting him wasn’t an option, as he could go and play for the Vikings. Trading him turned out not to be an option, because Favre wouldn’t meet with the Bucs or the Jets. This is the only fair and equitable course of action.

      So now we’ll have a camp battle between a future Hall of Famer (and runner-up in the 2007 MVP voting) versus… Aaron Rodgers. I wonder who is going to win…

      By all accounts, Rodgers has looked pretty sharp in camp, though one has to wonder how he’s going to play under this kind of pressure. Favre, assuming he hasn’t lost “it,” should be able to seize his old job back.

      Unless, of course, this whole competition is just a farce and the team is planning on giving the job to Rodgers regardless of how either QB plays. Obviously, the preseason games will be vitally important to the public’s perception of the QB battle.

      From the POV of a Packer fan, this situation just went from frustrating to interesting in the blink of an eye.

      Monday morning update (8/4): The Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel is reporting that the Packers have contacted the Vikings about a potential trade. Just when I thought this was over…

      Fantasy Football, NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Red Sox trade Manny Ramirez to Dodgers

      July 31, 2008 /

      According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Boston Red Sox officially unloaded outfielder Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pittsburgh’s Jason Bay will head to Boston, while the Pirates will get four minor league prospects in return.

      The Red Sox traded Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers late Thursday afternoon, SI.com has learned.
      Jason Bay is headed to Boston as part of the deal, SI.com has learned. The Pirates will get four minor leaguers in the three-way trade.

      The Red Sox went back-and-forth with the Marlins and Dodgers as the 4 p.m. ET deadline approached. Ramirez said earlier today, as first reported by SI.com, that he would accept a trade to any team.
      The announcement will be made in conjunction with a World Baseball Classic announcement at Dodger Stadium shortly.

      Interesting. This is a pretty sweet deal for the Dodgers because they get the power-hitting Ramirez and didn’t have to give up Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier (two of their top young talents), as previously rumored. They probably had to part with some of their top minor league talent, but the Dodgers might have just leapfrogged Arizona in the NL West and certainly have enough talent to take on whichever teams emerge from the National League.

      As for the Sox, they get a productive outfielder in Bay and get rid of a headache in Ramirez. Bay doesn’t have the pop Manny does, but he’s a solid player and he’s under contract until 2009.

      MLB, Rumors & Gossip

      Packers willing to trade Brett Favre within the division?

      July 31, 2008 /

      ESPN.com (via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) is reporting that the Green Bay Packers might be willing to trade Brett Favre within the NFC North, specifically Minnesota or Chicago.

      An NFL source said he understood from the Packers that trading within the NFC North would be a last resort, according to the report. And the Packers are still trying to convince Favre to consider trade possibilities with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets.
      But while the Packers continue to try to buy themselves more time to deal, Favre has yet to talk to either team.

      And it appeared Thursday that he was preparing to make the roughly 1,000-mile trip north to Green Bay to return to the Packers.

      Unless the Packers fleece the Vikings or Bears for multiple high draft picks, teams should never, ever, under any circumstance trade within the division. NEVER…EVER.

      You never want to help an opponent get stronger and Favre, at least in theory, would make the Vikings or Bears better. In a 16 game season, wins are invaluable in the NFL, so why help one of your opponents gain an edge? (Again, assuming the Vikings and Bears aren’t offering an unbelievable package for Favre.)

      NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Manny Ramirez on his way to Florida?

      July 31, 2008 /

      Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that a three-team blockbuster trade might be brewing involving Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez. The rumored deal would send Ramirez to Florida.

      There’s still work to be done in the Red Sox-Marlins part of the megadeal, but one swap that’s on the table would send young outfielder Jeremy Hermida, power-hitting outfield prospect Mike Stanton and hard-throwing young pitcher Ryan Tucker from Florida to Boston for Ramirez. However, the Marlins are said to be trying to keep the highly-regarded Stanton out of the trade. Josh Willingham was discussed as a replacement for Hermida, but it appears Hermida would be the main player going in the first part of a potential deal.

      In the most talked-about three-team scenario, Boston would send one or more of those players acquired from Florida to Pittsburgh for star outfielder Jason Bay, who would be a more palatable replacement for Ramirez than either Hermida or Willingham. Other combinations being discussed are believed include reliever John Grabow or perhaps even shortstop Jack Wilson. But Pittsburgh is said to be still trying to enhance its end of things, and Boston could wind up tying to substitute a different third team other than Pittsburgh.

      It’s interesting to see the Marlins mixing it up as buyers. Normally at this time of year, they’re selling whatever pieces they have to acquire prospects for down the road. But given that they’re only 1.5 games back in the NL East, it’s nice to see them go for it and try to swing deals to win in the now.

      Could you imagine what Manny would do against NL pitching? Scary thought.

      MLB, Rumors & Gossip

      Ken Griffey Jr. heading to White Sox?

      July 31, 2008 /

      According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, Cincinnati Reds’ outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. is deciding whether or not to accept a trade to the Chicago White Sox.

      The Reds have traded Griffey to the White Sox, pending his approval. Griffey will decide Thursday morning whether he will approve the deal, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. It is not known what the Reds would receive in return.
      Griffey, as a player with at least 10 years of major-league service, five with the same club, has the right to block any deal. The White Sox attempted to acquire him from the Reds at the trade deadline in 2005, but the trade reportedly was nixed by Reds ownership for financial reasons.

      The White Sox, leading the American League Central by a game and a half, would use Griffey mostly in the outfield, the source said. However, they do not have an obvious spot for him unless they make another deal.

      The Sox are set at the corners with Carlos Quentin in left and Jermaine Dye in right. They could play Nick Swisher at first to open center for Griffey, a move that would reduce the playing time of first baseman Paul Konerko and designated hitter Jim Thome. But Griffey has not played center regularly since 2006.

      Cincy is Griffey’s hometown but it would be nice to see him play for a contender in the latter part of his career. The White Sox certainly have enough talent to win the AL Central, although the Angels and Red Sox will be incredibly daunting in the postseason.

      As a baseball fan, here’s hoping that Griff accepts the deal and we get to see him in the playoffs.

      Update: Griffey approves the trade to Chicago.

      MLB, Rumors & Gossip

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