MVN - Most Valuable Network

That’s a Laugh

Talk that the Los Angels Angels could pry Mark Teixeira from the Atlanta Braves merely for third base prospect Brandon Wood and utilityman Robb Quinlan got a hearty laugh from Angels general manager Tony Reagins—who dismissed that speculation (in a Minnesota newspaper) as the babble of bloggers, a line Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman loves, though he qualifies by saying some of us babbling bloggers actually do good work.

Bottom line: Heyman’s right. To get Teixeira would take more than a pair—maybe a full house, if not a royal flush. Not that the prospects-rich Angels couldn’t afford it. But, as Heyman says, citing Sandy Alderson from his days running Oakland, a mere prospect and swingman would barely rent Teixeira for the weekend.

Still, don’t be surprised to see Teixeira move at or before the deadline, even if there’s no way on earth they get back what they gave up (Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison, Elvis Andrus—now there’s one of the great names in baseball!) to get him in the first place. The Braves’ bottom line, even if they haven’t yet made it official: They’re all but out of the NL East race, unless there’s an unexpected miracle in the offing.

Big “unless.”

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE JUNGLE . . .

SECOND CHANCE—For former Baltimore Orioles outfielder and Mitchell Report subject Jay Gibbons, who ended up with the Long Island Ducks after washing out of the Orioles earlier this year. The Milwaukee Brewers are taking the flyer on Gibbons, who wasn’t exactly going to go broke with the Orioles eating the remaining $11.9 million on the four-year deal he signed in 2006.

Gibbons was released by the Orioles in March after he batted .189 with no home runs and four RBIs in 16 games in spring training. He played in only 84 games last season because of surgery on his left shoulder.

Now, Gibbons, 31, is expected to spend the next 10 to 14 days at Double-A Huntsville before being promoted to Triple-A Nashville, if all goes according to plan. He had been playing with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.

—ESPN.

Gibbons was suspended over the Mitchell Report contention that he received human growth hormone just after baseball government banned the substance officially. He has since owned up to his use, acknowledging he made a big mistake, and even offered to donate the salary to charity if a team picked him up on a minor league deal following his release by the Orioles.

When no team did, he hooked on with the Ducks, whose principal owner Frank Boulton said the team was thrilled for Gibbons.

HOLDING OUT—Jorge Posada wants to put off shoulder surgery if he can—saying he’ll try rehabilitating his shoulder for fifteen days before deciding finally—though it means the longtime Yankee catcher won’t be able to work behind the dish when he plays.

I’ve got 15 days to make a decision,” said Posada, who went on the DL Monday. “I’ll rehab it and see how it feels and have a decision by then. It’s not about me. It’s about the team now, how can I help the team. That’s why I’m going to go through the rehab. If I’m able to hit, I’m going to try to do that. If I’m not able to hit, I’m going to have surgery.

—Jorge Posada.

Posada missed over a month earlier in the season with shoulder tendinitis. Subsequent examination has shown fraying around the rotator cuff, and Posada would likely face a six-month recovery time if he opts for surgery after all.

WASHING TIME?—The Yankees are also said to be kicking the proverbial tyres on Jarrod Washburn, the Seattle lefthander (and former Angels mainstay) who’s been heating up a bit of late in spite of that horrid Mariners team. Needing pitching help, the Empire Emeritus is sure to be interested in a guy who’s 2-2/2.65 in his last eight starts.

What may not interest them, according to Sports Illustrated: whether the Mariners push to include Jose Vidro in any such deal, and whether the Yankees might try jamming Kei Igawa, whom they might like to unload, down the Mariners’ throats in exchange for taking Vidro off their hands for the privilege of reeling in Washburn.

Washburn isn’t exactly an unknown commodity to the Yankees: he’s 5-5 but with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP lifetime against them, even if they’ve hit .245 against him lifetime.

 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm and is filed under Jay Gibbons, Baltimore Orioles, Jarrod Washburn, Jose Vidro, Catbird, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Mark Teixeira, Kei Igawa, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Jorge Posada. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.