MLB Rumor Mill

MLB Rumor - Jul 3 "With the season's halfway point less than a week away the Angels' pitching situation remains unsettled in the rotation and the bullpen. But General Manager Tony Reagins said Thursday he won't make a trade simply to look busy. "Never would we make a decision anxiously or make a decision just to make a decision or make a move or trade just to make a trade," he said. "At the end of the day you have to find pieces that really make your club better.""Los Angeles Times Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jul 3 "The search for the missing piece from the Rangers lineup resumed in a state where the best-known ballpark is carved out of a cornfield. But Josh Hamilton was some three hours southwest of the Field of Dreams on Thursday night, instead playing center field for Triple-A Oklahoma City at the 11,000-seat Principal Park. But his field of dreams is Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Hamilton, who is on the disabled list after having surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle, hopes to resume patrolling center field there and batting third as soon as Saturday."Dallas Morning News Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jul 3 "In the contract he signed in the off-season, right-hander Jon Garland has a $10 million mutual option for 2010, and he acknowledged he would need to assess the direction the club is heading before deciding whether he wants to exercise it. "I'd be lying to you if I said no," he said. "But I really enjoy Arizona. I still think the talent and the ability on this team is incredible." Should Garland decline, he would get a $1 million buyout. If he wants to exercise it but the team declines, he would receive a $2.5 million buyout."Arizona Republic Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jul 2 "Quentin, who led the Sox with 36 home runs in only 100 games last season, will be placed on a deliberate program designed to ensure he will be able to withstand the rigors of playing the outfield and running the bases once he returns, which is expected after the All-Star break. Quentin's rehab could consist of playing the outfield for a few innings and performing as a designated hitter while gradually building endurance so his foot eventually can tolerate playing nine innings. That wasn't the case during May after Quentin initially hurt his foot."Chicago Tribune Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jul 2 "Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb will not have surgery on his ailing pitching shoulder, hoping he can play again this season. Webb made the decision Wednesday after meeting with team doctors and three other physicians. The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner, who won 56 games from 2006-08, has been sidelined since opening day. He will begin a regimen to strengthen the shoulder but isn't expected to throw for several weeks. There is no timetable for his return."East Valley Tribune Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jul 2 "Tim Hudson will throw a 90-pitch bullpen session today and then get ready for the next step in his comeback from elbow-reconstruction surgery: facing hitters. He’ll pitch batting practice the first two days the Braves are in Chicago to play the Cubs on Monday and Tuesday. If all continues to progress well, he’ll make his first rehabilitation start July 19 at Class A Myrtle Beach with an eye toward returning to the Braves in mid-to-late August."Atlanta Journal Constitution Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jul 2 "The Diamondbacks would not engage in serious discussions with the Los Angeles Angels about trading pitcher Dan Haren, according to a report on foxsports.com. If the club declines Brandon Webb's 2010 option, Haren would be needed to anchor a rotation that could be filled out with several young arms. Though a trade seems unlikely, the Diamondbacks do not appear to have ruled out the idea of moving Haren. It likely would take a package similar to the one they gave up two years ago to pry him away."Arizona Republic Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jul 1 "Jake Peavy called the news “good,” even if it wasn't the news he wanted to hear. After a scheduled evaluation yesterday, Peavy was told that he will spend at least another 10 days in the immobilizing boot protecting the strained tendon in his right ankle. But Peavy said he is “making progress” and said he “hopes” the possibility of surgery “is not even an option.” However, Peavy has no idea of when he might pitch again. And even if the boot is removed inside of two weeks, he would be at least five weeks away."San Diego Union Tribune Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jul 1 "Erik Bedard is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today, and the team hopes he can get up to around 55 or 60 pitches. If that's the case, they figure he could throw 60 pitches in a start and get through roughly four frames at Fenway Park. Why do this? Well, why not? Frankly, four innings of Bedard can be better than five innings of Garrett Olson. You bring in the Chris Jakubauskas "piggyback" rescue after that and possibly Shawn Kelley before getting around to the late-inning arms if the M's have a lead."Seattle Times Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 30 "Carlos Beltran's search for a second opinion on his ailing right knee has taken him to Vail, Colo., where he was scheduled to be examined Monday by Dr. Richard Steadman, a highly respected orthopedist and the inventor of microfracture surgery. Beltran has been on the disabled list since June 22 because of a bone bruise below his right knee that has bothered him since last month. He received a cortisone shot May 26 and missed two games as a result, but the painful condition returned a few weeks later."Newsday Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 30 "White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye is well-versed in handling trade rumors. So with a Bay Area newspaper reporting that he's on the radar of the San Francisco Giants and their general manager, Brian Sabean, Dye stuck to his own company line Monday. ''I'm not talking about trades,'' he said.....Dye has a no-trade clause covering six teams, but the Giants aren't one of them. The New York Mets, who also are starting to shop for a bat, are."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 29 "Ervin Santana declared himself fit to return to the rotation after giving up three hits, striking out seven and walking none Sunday night in a 3 1/3 -inning rehabilitation start in an Arizona Summer League game. "It felt very, very good," said Santana, sidelined since June 12 because of an inflamed triceps. "There's no discomfort. I feel I'm ready to go.""Los Angeles Times Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 29 "The Diamondbacks and Brewers have engaged in trade discussions, according to reports out of Milwaukee on Sunday. Brewers Assistant General Manager Gord Ash wasn't specific on which players the teams have discussed, but Diamondbacks left-hander Doug Davis and Felipe Lopez are two names that would make sense logically. "Because they're one of the few clubs with available pieces, their asking price is way too high," Ash told reporters. "So they don't have to make a deal yet.""Arizona Republic Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 27 "Jarrod Washburn is friends with Jeff Weaver and in a fantasy football league with Doug Mientkiewicz. The possibility of Washburn joining his pals in Dodger blue appears very real. The Dodgers are interested in the Seattle Mariners starter, a durable left-hander who could bolster an injury-plagued rotation. Washburn has pitched at least six innings in 12 of his 14 starts this season. He also likes Dodger Stadium."Los Angeles Times Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 27 "No, the Cubs aren't looking to replace Milton Bradley -- not yet. But sources confirmed Friday that the team had conversations with the Cleveland Indians about Mark DeRosa earlier this month when the Indians were shopping the versatile ex-Cub. Baseball insiders expect DeRosa to be traded by the July 31 non-waiver deadline, and the Cubs could find themselves in position to reacquire him depending on the asking price and ownership's willingness to take on about $2 million in salary."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 26 "Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Webb will seek three additional opinions on his ailing right shoulder before determining a course of action. General Manager Josh Byrnes said Webb will visit Keith Meister, the Texas Rangers' team physician; David Altchek, the New York Mets' team physician; and James Andrews, a renowned orthopedic surgeon based in Birmingham, Ala."Arizona Daily Star Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 24 "As the trade deadline approaches, General Manager Ned Colletti said Tuesday he has not had a definitive conversation with owners Frank and Jamie McCourt to determine whether the Dodgers can take on a big contract through a trade this summer. The Dodgers' gate revenue has dropped this season. The team did not raise prices on tickets or parking, and attendance has dropped 6%, as compared to the same number of home games last season."Los Angeles Times Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 24 "CC Sabathia is still on track to start Friday night against the Mets, but Brian Cashman won't feel completely at ease with the status of the big lefthander until he throws in the bullpen Wednesday. Sabathia left his start on Sunday night in the second inning with bicep tendinitis. The GM said Monday that reports on his expensive left arm were good. The plan is for Sabathia to play catch today and throw his side session tomorrow, which will be the true test to determine if he'll be ready to go."New York Daily News Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 24 "Lidge was wearing a Threshers uniform with his familiar No. 54 for his second rehab appearance since going on the disabled list June 7 with a sprained right knee. He was eligible to be reinstated last night, but it was decided he needed another tune-up instead while his teammates played the Rays right down I-275 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. And after pitching a scoreless eighth inning in a 5-3 loss, he pronounced himself ready to go. "My guess is they'll probably activate me [tomorrow] but I don't really know for sure," he said. "Philadelphia Inquirer Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 24 "As if the Twins weren't frustrated enough with Luis Ayala's pitching, the reliever helped force his way off the team by requesting a trade three weeks ago, Manager Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday. "He wanted an eighth-inning role; that's why he signed here," Gardenhire said. "His thoughts were if we gave him the ball in that eighth inning, he'd be able to do the job. My thoughts are, 'If you're not getting them out, you're not going to pitch in the eighth inning.' We're trying to win, so there's your difference." The Twins designated Ayala for assignment Monday, when they promoted righthander Bobby Keppel from Class AAA Rochester."Minneapolis Star Tribune Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 24 "Shoulder surgery appears to be a strong possibility for Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Webb, who on Tuesday underwent his second MRI in the past week and met later in the day with team physician Dr. Michael Lee. "We met and discussed options," General Manager Josh Byrnes said. "Everyone wants to be sure he takes the right course of action." One possibility appears to be surgery to repair his labrum, a procedure that would require a nine-month rehab process."Arizona Republic Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 23 "We're entering that nefarious time of the summer, when the trade rumor mill spits out an endless stream of b.s. whispers, which amount to and signify nothing. Nevertheless, it's our duty to report on these things. Here's one ESPN is reporting on Rumor Central, where never will you find such a wretched hive of scummy, villanous speculation. It suggests that the Royals could deal Jose Guillen to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur."Kansas City Star Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 22 "It was hard to tell whether two days of rest helped Alex Rodriguez, but the slumping third baseman will have some more days off coming his way in the near future to help him get past the fatigue that has slowed him down this month. Joe Girardi plans to rest A-Rod once a week for the next month, a plan Rodriguez said was devised by Dr. Marc Philippon, the Colorado surgeon who operated on his hip in March."New York Daily News Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 19 " Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb was dealt another setback Thursday when he felt discomfort in his right shoulder during a throwing session, causing the Diamondbacks to cancel the bullpen session that had been scheduled for Friday in Seattle. Webb left the team and returned to Phoenix, where he will be re-evaluated, according to manager A.J. Hinch. The setback casts doubt on whether he will pitch again this season. "Arizona Republic Comments (0)

MLB Rumor - Jun 19 "Either way, general manager Jim Hendry is working the prospective trade markets as hard as he does every year and is said to be itching to pull off a deal to help the team, given the opportunity. Meantime, he says he's not even certain what he'll need come July, depending on how well and quickly third baseman Aramis Ramirez comes back from his shoulder injury and whether Thursday's late offensive fireworks are a sign of good things to come."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)