Deadspin: mlb roundup

The Return Of The Powerful Lip Fur, And Milton Bradley Is A Cub (Hide All Sharp Objects)

Rick Chandler — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:30:36 EST

• No Way This Ends Badly. Cubs, Milton Bradley agree to sane, very thrifty three-year, $30 million deal, pending physical examination. Hopefully will not include psychological testing. [Chicago Tribune]

• The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You. Of course, losing Bradley means that the Rangers need to find another ~~head case~~ impact player, and Manny Ramirez pretty much fits the bill. [All Headline News]

• Former Alaska Goldpanner Headed To A's. Everyone welcome the prodigal son, Jason Giambi, back to Oakland ... hopefully sans certain banned chemicals and ointments. The only thing we want to see in that suitcase is underwear and a mustache, Jason. [San Francisco Chronicle]

• RIP, Carl Pohlad. Billionaire Twins owner passed away on Monday at age 93. Fun fact: Played football at Gonzaga, where he was recruited by alumnus Bing Crosby. [MLB]

• How Many Times Do I Have To Say No?. Andy Pettitte rejects Yankees latest one year, $10 million offer, but Brian Cashman continues to stand beneath his bedroom window holding a boom box over his head. [New York Daily News]

Shatner's Short-Term Red Sox Memory, Sabathia And Manny Head Arbitration List, And Everyone Wants To Buy The Cubs

Rick Chandler — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:30:16 EST

• He's Also Not Very Good At Fractions. Come with us now as William Shatner is tested for Alzheimer's on an episode of Boston Legal. He does great when asked about the 1967 Red Sox, but he's a little confused at the question "Who is the best Red Sox pitcher this season?" To which he answers, "Josh Pecker." Or maybe it was intentional. He does know how to hold a grudge. With video goodness. [Surviving Grady]

• CC, Manny Head List Of Players Offered Arbitration. It's arbitration season, and as expected, the Brewers' CC Sabathia and the Dodgers' Manny Ramirez were among 24 players who got offers, up from 17 last season. The Red Sox made offers to Paul Byrd and Jason Varitek. They have until Sunday to accept. Among those not offered arbitration were Pedro Martinez of the Mets and John Smoltz and Tom Glavine of the Braves. [NBCSports]

• Phillies Release Burrell, Moyer Back Into The Wild. The New York Daily News reported on Monday that the Phillies declined to offer arbitration to ancient pitcher Jamie Moyer, leftfielder Pat Burrell and righthanders Tom Gordon and Rudy Seanez. Can this be wise? [Crashburn Alley]

• Early Christmas Shopping. At least three more people have expressed interest in buying the Chicago Cubs, as Chicago real estate investor Hersch Klaff; the Ricketts family, founder of online brokerage TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.; and a group led by Marc Utay, a New York private equity investor, all filing proposals by the Thanksgiving deadline. "Sources declined to comment on the size of the three bids, which include the team, Wrigley Field and Tribune's 25-percent stake in Comcast SportsNet, a regional cable sports network."

• Sadness In The Jays Nest. Canadian billionaire Ted Rogers, owner of the Toronto Blue Jays, has died of heart failure at the age of 75. [Toronto Globe And Mail]

• This Could Be Dan Plesac's Year. Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice and Tommy John head list of players on the Hall of Fame ballot released on Monday, with Henderson making his debut, and Rice eligible for the 15th and final time. Yes we can! [MLB.com]

We Have An Opening Bid In The Manny Auction

Rick Chandler — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:00:49 EST

The Dodgers have an offer on the table to keep Manny Ramirez, but is it just for show? We'd know better if we knew what it was, but GM Ned Colleti isn't talking. Speculation is that it's "either two years for $50 million or three years for $75 million," according to the Los Angeles Times. That's less than the 2 years for $60 that was initially reported, and a sight less than Alex Rodriguez' $27.5 million average for his 10-year deal. Ramirez' agent, Scott Boras, will likely hold out for a longer deal, perhaps six years. Dealing with Boras is always fun!

It all just could be a beard anyway. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt wants to look like he's trying to keep him, knowing full well, probably, that the real Manny Money is on the east coast. And I don't mean Baltimore.

From the Los Angeles Times:

The deal that was proposed to Ramirez on Tuesday night would give the 36-year-old free-agent outfielder "the highest average annual value in the history of the franchise and the second-highest average annual value in baseball" — somewhere between the $27.5 million per season earned by Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees and the $22.9 million earned by Johan Santana of the New York Mets — according to General Manager Ned Colletti.

Somewhere, Indonesian children are standing by in sweatshops poised to assemble thousands of these. They're just waiting for the official word.

Oh, and the Dodgers declined to pick up the option of pitcher Brad Penny as well.

• Yankees Lose The 'Stache. No!. He survived a steroids scandal and thrilled us all by growing a controversial yet formidable porn 'stache, but it seems that the Jason Giambi era in New York is finished (unless the Mets pick him up. Or perhaps the Brooklyn Cyclones). The Yankees sent our hero into the wilds of free agency, declining to pick up the $22 million team option on his contract for 2009. Pitcher Carl Pavano is also gone, New York opting out on the $13 million they would have spent watching him get treatment in the trainer's room.

• Glove Is A Many Splendored Thing. Greg Maddux won his major league record 18th gold glove on Wednesday, while the Phillies captured two with outfielder Shane Victorino and shortstop Jimmy Rollins. The Mets also had two, with outfielder Carlos Beltran and third baseman David Wright.