Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir does not seem to interested on signing a long-term deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to the St. Petersburg Times. With 2 years left until he hits the open market, it would be wise for Tampa Bay to explore signing him now and buying out some of […]
Filed under: Tampa Bay Rays | 3 Comments »
Here at MLB Fleece Factor, we would just like to take the time to wish everyone a healthy & happy New Year. Hopefully, 2008 will be the beginning of a new year filled with trade rumors, acquisitions, and an exciting baseball season altogether.
Get your drink on, but be safe!
Filed under: _Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Welcome again to Great Moments in Fleece History, where we occasionally induct various baseball transactions into this dreary closet of extraordinary fleeces. You can check them all out here. Today, we induct the November 14, 2003 trade of A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants into the infamous Hall.
The Date: November 14, 2003
The Players: San Francisco […]
Filed under: Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, _Great Moments in Fleece History | 11 Comments »
It’s time to take “a look back” at the first year of the JD Drew era in Boston.
Following the 2006 season, Drew opted out of his contract with the LA Dodgers and agreed to a five year contract worth $70M with the Boston Red Sox. Due to worries about the outfielder’s shoulder, the deal includes clauses which […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, _A Look Back, _Polls | 7 Comments »
The Beaver County Times reports this morning that the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with the Cleveland Indians, are a finalist for free agent pitcher Matt Clement. Clement, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, has narrowed his choice down to these two teams so that he can stay close to his new house […]
Filed under: Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 Comments »
We often catch some slack over here at The Fleece Factor for picking on Omar Minaya and the Mets. So, in our “A Look Back” series, let’s take a moment and review one of his fine moments in recent history: signing Moises Alou last winter to a one year deal for $7.5M (with a club […]
Filed under: New York Mets, _A Look Back, _Polls | 10 Comments »
Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Texas Rangers may be interested in free agent pitcher Bartolo Colon. Durrett notes that the Rangers have an obvious need for a starter since they traded away Edinson Volquez in the Josh Hamilton trade.
Colon, 34, is just four wins shy of 150 for his career. However, he […]
Filed under: Texas Rangers | 3 Comments »
Date: December 10, 1971
Trade: GM of the New York Mets, Bob Scheffing, traded SP Nolan Ryan, P Don Rose, C Francisco Estrada, and OF Leroy Stanton to the California Angels for SS Jim Fregosi.
Nothing like trading a future Hall-of-Famer for a “past his prime” shortstop to spark a great moment in fleece history. Fregosi was only […]
Filed under: Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, _Great Moments in Fleece History | 10 Comments »
In a rather surprising twist to the Roger Clemens Mitchell Report story, Brian McNamee - Clemens’ former trainer who told Senator George Mitchell that the seven time Cy Young award winner was involved with performance enhancing drugs - may look to file suit against Clemens for defamation of character if Clemens continues to thwart McNamee’s allegations.
According to MLB.com’s […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, _Mitchell Report/Steroids | 6 Comments »
I just wanted to let you all know that we can be reached via e-mail at MLBfleecefactor@gmail.com. We will be doing a mailbag (answering readers questions) roughly every 2 weeks. Questions should focus primarily on baseball, but can ultimately be about whatever topic is on your mind. We will try and answer as many as we can each […]
Filed under: _Mailbag | No Comments »
According to ESPN, former major league catcher Jim Leyritz was arrested for drunken driving and vehicular homicide early Friday morning in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Leyritz was apparently out having a few too many pops for his 44th birthday when he decided to drive home drunk. He struck another vehicle, and the passenger of that car was ejected […]
Filed under: New York Yankees | No Comments »
According to MLB.com, the Houston Astros have signed RP Oscar Villarreal to a 2-year deal, with a club option for 2010. The right-hander will make $2.85 million over for those 2 guaranteed years. The 2010 club option is for $2 million.
Villarreal, 26, was acquired from the Braves in a trade for OF Josh Anderson on Nov. 16, 2007. Oscar […]
Filed under: Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, _Polls | 4 Comments »
MLB.com is reporting that the New York Yankees have instructed 2nd baseman Robinson Cano to pull out of action with his Dominican Winter Baseball League club, the Estrelles de Oriente.
“The Yankees sent a letter to Cano to stop playing, but they didn’t offer many details or reasons,” Orientales general manager Alfredo Griffin told ESPN Deportes. MLB.com […]
Filed under: Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees | 6 Comments »
The New York Mets are showing continued interest in free agent starter Jon Lieber according to the New York Daily News.
Lieber has a career ERA of 4.28, and has won 17 games in a season as recently as 2005 with the Phillies. However, Lieber went 3-6 with a 4.73 ERA in 14 games for Philadelphia last season. And […]
Filed under: New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies | 8 Comments »
UPDATE: (12/28) 6:58am (EST): According to Yahoo! Sports, the 1-year deal is valued at $1 million, and also includes performance bonuses. Just about what we figured.
According to Alyson Footer of MLB.com, the Houston Astros have inked free agent OF Darin Erstad to a 1-year pact. The 33-year old veteran will serve as a left-handed batter off […]
Filed under: Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, _Polls | 3 Comments »
According to MLB.com, the Kansas City Royals and free agent catcher Miguel Olivo have come to terms on a 1-year deal, with a mutual option for 2009. Terms of the contract have not yet been disclosed.
Olivo, 29, hit .237 with 16 HR and 60 RBI for the Florida Marlins in 2007. He has a strong […]
Filed under: Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals | 1 Comment »
According to La Velle E. Neal III at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the New York Mets could still be a possible landing spot for Johan Santana. Neal seems to feel that the Twins like enough of the Mets’ prospects where a deal could possibly get done. Also, it would make sense that the Twins would prefer to […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees | 3 Comments »
UPDATE: (12/27) 4:05pm (EST) Bill Center of the Union-Tribune reports that Prior’s incentives are an additional $3.5 million on top of his $1 million base salary. Even better.
UPDATE: 5:54pm (EST) The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Prior’s deal is for only 1 year, at a $1 million base salary. Incentives could take the deal to around $5.5 million. There is no option. If […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres | 4 Comments »
The attorney for “The Rocket” Roger Clemens, Rusty Hardin, is currently doing his own investigation on the validity of the Mitchell Report, according to Foxsports.
“We are convinced the conclusions in Mitchell’s report are wrong and are investigating the findings ourselves”, said Hardin. Clemens has denied the allegations that he injected his “butt cheecks” with steroids through […]
Filed under: _Mitchell Report/Steroids | No Comments »
According to the New York Times this morning, the Minnesota Twins could be softening their demands for Johan Santana in a potential deal with the New York Yankees. As opposed to both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, word is the Twins could request AA pitcher Jeffrey Marquez instead of Ian Kennedy. Last season, Marquez went 15-9 […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees | 25 Comments »
According to MLB.com, the only two major league clubs hit with the luxury tax for this past season were the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The penalty was introduced in 2003. The Yankees tax bill for 2007 was about $23.9 million, with Red Sox owing about $6.1 million for the year. Boston was […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees | 2 Comments »
Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post mentioned yesterday that the Florida Marlins have signed former Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Jose Castillo. Castillo was the Pirates starting 2B from 2004-2006, but was only a utility player in 2007, playing 34 games at 3B and 20 games at 2B. He hit only .244 last season with 0 […]
Filed under: Florida Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates | No Comments »
The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford has some interesting quotes from David Ortiz regarding the Red Sox courting of Johan Santana. In summary, Ortiz thinks the possibility of the Sox getting Johan is very, very small.
“No,” Ortiz said when asked if he thought his good friend, Santana, would be traded to the Sox. “I was following […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees | 1 Comment »
Fleece Factor would like to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We hope you all enjoy this wonderful time with your families, and get all the presents that you have been asking Santa for. Enjoy it, then come back for all the rumors that will take you into the New Year, and the […]
Filed under: _Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
ESPN.com tells us that Rogers Clemens has finally spoken out by vehemently denying his use of HGH or steroids via his official website. This was Clemens’ first “public” comments in regards to the Mithell Report, which had mentioned his name 82 times.
He said he did not use HGH or steroids when he was with the Toronto […]
Filed under: New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, _Mitchell Report/Steroids | No Comments »
According to Ken Mandel of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies have signed OF So Taguchi to a 1-year deal, worth around $1 million. The deal also includes an option for the 2009 season.
Taguchi, 37, will clearly serve as a deep bench (5th OF) player for the Phils, and will probably spell Shane Victorino occassionally in CF, or Burrell in […]
Filed under: Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals | 2 Comments »
In some downtime before the holidays, I’ve decided to take some time to create the Major League Baseball all-overpaid team.
Let’s start by naming our 5-man starting pitching rotation:
# 1 - Barry Zito (7 years, $126 million)- San Francisco Giants
# 2- Carlos Silva (4 years, $48 million)- Seattle Mariners
# 3- Mike Hampton (8 years, $121 million)- […]
Filed under: _ Dream Teams | 13 Comments »
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Minnesota Twins are expected to deal Johan Santana after the New Year, as they analyze the best possible “final offers” from the teams involved. Sound familiar? We’ve heard rumors as such for weeks now, with nothing new to report.
The Yankees remain reluctant to give up two of […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees | No Comments »
I stumbled across this picture of new Mets catcher Brian Schneider and his wife in New York City, outside of Radio City Music Hall. Hey, it turns out even catchers with a .252 career average do OK for themselves… go figure.
Filed under: New York Mets | 7 Comments »
Saturday’s news comes from Barry M. Bloom, at MLB.com:
It seems that the Orioles may be keeping left-hander Erik Bedard afterall. Team president Andy MacPhail told The Baltimore Sun newspaper that Bedrard will likely be the team’s starter on Opening Day. MacPhail added that he’s through listening to trade proposals for Bedard at this point.
The Texas […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers | No Comments »
As reported by Baseball America, the White Sox have signed Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez. The deal is said to be worth just $4.75 million over four years.
Ramirez can play the outfield and the infield (including second base and shortstop). He led Cuba’s Serie Nacional in homers last season, popping 20 bombs.
Ramirez is said to be […]
Filed under: Chicago White Sox | No Comments »
According to Rotoworld.com, the Texas Rangers have made a trade with the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Josh Hamilton. In return, the Reds get RHP Edinson Volquez and LHP Daniel Herrera.
Josh Hamilton is a solid talent, and should slot into the Rangers outfield nicely. There are concerns about his ability to stay healthy (only played in 90 […]
Filed under: Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers | 3 Comments »
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney lays a little knowledge on us all this morning, in his daily blog:
It appears the Cubs are still in discussions with the Orioles regarding 2B, and admitted steroid user, Brian Roberts.
Joba Chamberlain is likely to start the ‘08 season in the bullpen. He may join the rotation around mid-season however, depending on […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners | No Comments »
According to to ESPN’s Buster Olney, it seems that the Padres are the front-runners to land Mark Prior. The right-hander is trying to come back from injuries and regain his form of 2003 (yes, it has been that long already), where he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 K’s.
The Padres are playing the […]
Filed under: Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers | 3 Comments »
Have you ever bought a fleece at some store thinking you bought a Large, and then you go home and realized you foolishly bought an Extra Large? Well, that’s what Seattle Mariners fans are going through right now, as Ken Rosenthal is reporting the terms of newly acquired pitcher Carlos Silva’s deal are 4 years and $48M […]
Filed under: Seattle Mariners | 8 Comments »
