In today’s column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that despite the perception that Jacoby Ellsbury would like to leave Boston down the line, a source says that he would actually like to stay if at all possible. Neither side has asked the other to consider a long-term deal, but that could certainly change in the offseason. Here’s more from Cafardo..
In last week’s column, Cafardo wrote that Braves officials thought Michael Bourn would not re-sign when he becomes a free agent due to a less-than-stellar track record with Scott Boras clients. However, Boras told Cafardo that he has had an excellent relationship with General Manager Frank Wren and the club as a whole. The agent says he is not ruling out Atlanta at all and added that Bourn enjoys playing there.
The Red Sox are very interested in pursuing a new deal with Cody Ross, who will be coming off of a one-year, $3MM pact this winter. With many teams in need of a righthanded bat, he could likely net a Josh Willingham-type three-year, $21MM deal.
The Orioles, Nationals, and Dodgers may be among teams looking at Red Sox pitcher Aaron Cook now that he is on trade waivers.
Mariners pitcher Kevin Millwood has not been placed on trade waivers yet but he could be one of the more sought-after pitchers once he is. “He’s got ice water in his veins and he knows how to get big outs,” said a veteran scout. “A guy like that isn’t going to do the Mariners any good going forward but he could solidify a rotation.”
Cubs personnel are disappointed that Alfonso Soriano won’t waive his 10-and-5 rights to go to the Giants. The outfielder doesn’t want to play in a colder climate that could adversely affect his hitting.
It’s not hard to see why the Angels aren’t winning. Here’s how their rotation has fared since the All-Star break: Jered Weaver: 5-1, 2.83 ERA Dan Haren: 2-2, 5.04 ERA Ervin Santana: 2-1, 5.06 ERA Zack Greinke: 1-1, 5.54 ERA (since being acquired) C.J. Wilson: 0-4, 5.61 ERA Besides Kevin Jepsen, all of the relievers…
The Yankees have Robinson Cano back from a sore neck Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Red Sox, but Mark Teixeira is absent from the lineup due to an inflamed wrist, the LoHud Yankees Blog reports. Teixeira initially injured the wrist on July 29 and missed a couple of games. “It’s…
So, yeah, the response to Wednesday’s “Seattle should probably trade Felix Hernandez” column wasn’t entirely positive. I understand it was a case of raining on the parade, and I’m sorry about that. Still, it was an angle of the story that needed to be covered. Now that I’ve had a day to think more on…
The Giants are seeking outfield help following Melky Cabrera‘s 50-game suspension, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). For now the team plans to promote Justin Christian from Triple-A and stick with Gregor Blanco, Angel Pagan, and Hunter Pence as the regulars.
Rosenthal reports that Scott Hairston and Juan Pierre have yet to be placed on trade waivers, though the Diamondbacks would likely block both players from getting to San Francisco. Arizona has a higher waiver priority and both Hairston (approximately $300K) and Pierre ($200K) are reasonably priced for the remainder of the season. Alfonso Soriano remains unlikely to approve a trade to the 2010 World Champs.
Kevin Millwood and Josh Beckett still have yet to be placed on waivers according to Rosenthal. The Red Sox have put a handful of players through waivers but otherwise have remained quiet this month.
The Double-A Jackson Generals — who play their home games in Jackson, Tennessee — were over 2,300 miles away from the mound at Seattle’s Safeco Field when Mariners ace Felix Hernandez finished off his perfect game against the Rays on Wednesday afternoon. But they celebrated like they were there: [nbcsports_video src=http://www.youtube.com/embed/jtjZX1iEfjc?rel=0 service=youtube width=590 height=332] As [...]
Cherish Wednesday’s perfect game, Mariners fans, and enjoy King Felix’s Seattle tenure while it lasts. Let’s face it: there’s a good chance Felix Hernandez will end his Mariners career never having won a postseason game. The Mariners are set to finish in last place in the AL West for a third straight season and for…
There wasn’t even a near-miss in this one. Felix Hernandez dominated the Rays from top to bottom on Wednesday, striking out 12 in a perfect game to beat Tampa Bay 1-0. It was his first career no-hitter and the first perfect game in Mariners history. As for the Rays, this is becoming old hat for [...]
Felix Hernandez pitched the third perfect game of 2012 Wednesday afternoon, setting a record for most perfect games in a season. It was also the second in Seattle. The Mariners beat the Rays 1-0.
Felix Hernandez during his perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Photo: © Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE
Hernandez struck out 12, allowing just 15 balls in play. He commanded the plate, throwing 113 pitches, 77 for strikes. Tampa Bay managed just five fly balls against him in the game.
Felix now has won a Cy Young award and thrown a perfect game, and he’s only 26 years old. The win gives him 96 for his career, a total that could be a lot higher if he pitched for a better team. At a young age, he’s put down a great foundation for a Hall of Fame career.
Felix Hernandez takes a perfect game into the ninth inning, scheduled to face Jose Lobaton, Elliot Johnson, and Sean Rodriguez. Their current batting averages/OBPs are .228/.331,.245/.312, and .207/.272.
Update: Desmond Jennings pinch hits. He falls behind 1-2.
Update: Jennings fouls off two pitches before swinging and missing for the first out of the inning.
Update: Jeff Keppinger pitch hits. He’s five for seven this year in that role.
Update: Keppinger falls behind 1-2. He grounds an easy ball to the shortstop for the second out.
Update: Rodriguez gets ahead 2-0. He swings an misses at a pitch outside, then takes a breaking ball over the plate to even the count. Sean then takes a perfect pitch on the lower inside corner, and Felix Hernandez throws a perfect game!
Felix Hernandez is pitching a perfect game against the Rays with two out in the eighth inning. He may need it as the Mariners lead just 1-0.
Update: Carlos Pena strikes out swinging to end the eighth, and Hernandez retired 24 straight batters. His three K in the inning gives him ten for the game.
Update: If Hernandez pitches the perfecto, it would be the first time there would be three perfect games in one season.
6:02 p.m EDT update: Hernandez is perfect, getting a called third strike on Sean Rodriguez to end the ninth. It’s the first perfect game in Mariners history, and the Rays became the first team ever to be on the losing end of three perfect games. Hernandez ended up striking out five of the final six [...]
It’ll be a short-lived lead, but Max Scherzer fanned 10 Twins over seven shutout innings Wednesday to move past teammate Justin Verlander for the major league lead with 178 strikeouts. He’s gotten there in just 140 2/3 innings, while Verlander has racked up his 174 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings. If Scherzer maintains his current…
The Seattle Mariners ended the Rays seven-game win streak with two runs in the bottom of the ninth as Tampa Bay falls 3-2. An error by the usually sure-handed Carlos Pena on a Chone Figgins sacrifice put runners at second and third with no one out. A sacrifice fly tied the game, then Eric Thames singled home the winning run. Seldom used players figured big in the Seattle win.
Matt Moore and Kevin Millwood both pitched well enough to win, Moore walking one and striking out nine in seven innings, Millwood one and eight.
The low scoring game capped a day of fairly low scoring games. The majors averaged 7.73 runs per game on Tuesday, the 24th lowest scoring day of the season (with at least 10 games played). Six shutouts contributed to that average, and in three other games the losing team scored just one run.
It could be do-or-die time for Justin Smoak. With Mike Carp returning to the disabled list because of a strained groin, the Mariners brought Smoak back to the majors on Tuesday. He’ll likely play regularly at first base as the team tries to determine whether to include him in its plans for 2013. Smoak hit…
A couple of notable international free-agent deals to pass along …
The White Sox have agreed to terms with Dominican right-hander Victor Done, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 16-year-old Done has a good delivery and throws a hard fastball and sharp curveball, reports Badler, who adds that the South Siders have “significantly increased” their international presence over the past year.
The Mariners have signed 16-year-old Brazilian left-hander Luiz Gohara, whom many teams regarded as the best pitcher in this year’s international signing class, according to Badler. Gohara’s fastball already touches 94 mph, reports Badler, and he throws a good slider. (h/t to Andy Loretta of Baseball Latin America, who first passed along a link to a Portuguese-language report of Gohara’s signing).
