InGameNow

New York Yankees Rumors: No Arbitration for Pettitte, Abreu

December 1st, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

Strange day for the New York Yankees in terms of free agency and arbitration.

The Yankees have declined to offer arbitration to Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu and Mike Mussina (expected). The Bobby Abreu move is particularly curious considering that they would either pay a good player a relatively affordable price - or, more likely, lose him to a larger deal elsewhere and recoup two draft picks… .surely something the aging, overpriced Yankees team could use. Right? John Heyman reports:

“The Yankees will not offer arbitration to free agents Andy Pettitte and Bobby Abreu, SI.com has learned. The Yankees did not want to chance taking either player to arbitration since both players made $16 million in 2008 and stood to make even more than that in arbitration. Both players can still re-sign with the Yankees though only Pettitte appears to have a good chance to do so.

Both Pettitte and Abreu had been classified as a Type A free agent, which would have given the Yankees two draft picks if either departed: the first round selection of whichever team signs the player and a supplemental pick at the end of the first round. But because the Yankees declined to offer either player arbitration, they gave up a chance to win a draft pick from the signing team.”

New York Yankees Rumors & NBA Scores

Alex Rodriguez Follows Madonna to Mexico

November 30th, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

What’s weirder:

1. Alex Rodriguez’s outfit
2. Alex Rodriguez sat front row at a Maddona concert… but won’t publicly say he’s dating Madonna
3. ARod is wearing a freaking scarf?

Red Sox Rumors: Derek Lowe Wants to Wear Red Sox

November 30th, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

The Red Sox are on Derek Lowe’s short list of desired teams, Nick Cafardo writes in Sunday’s Boston Globe. “If you’re looking four or five years down the line, they fit the criteria of what I’m looking for,” said Lowe. “It’s not just the fact I played there - but, yeah, there were a lot of things I enjoyed - but they’re definitely a franchise that has a chance to win.”

Lowe told Cafardo he has not had financial discussions with any teams, and that includes the Red Sox…The Mets “don’t expect to outbid either the Yankees or Red Sox for (Derek) Lowe, if it comes to that, especially with agent Scott Boras putting out the word that he’s looking for a five-year deal in the $15 million-$16 million a year range,” according to the New York Daily News . . .

According to Boras, numerous teams have contacted him about the Dodgers’ free agent righthander, writes the Globe’s Adam Kilgore. “There is a very aggressive market for Derek,” Boras said. “A widespread number of teams are interested. Certainly, when there is a pitcher in this free agent market who has established a pattern of durability he has for four years in Los Angeles, that’s going to be there.”

– Boston.com

Boston Red Sox Rumors & Scores

Breaking: Red Sox Sign Junichi Tazawa

November 28th, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

Great news for Red Sox fans:

The Red Sox, Hideki Okajima and Daisuke Matsuzaka can welcome another young, Japanese pitching sensation: Junicihi Tazawa.

The Daisuke Matsuzaka deal was much discussed (oft critized) because the Red Sox paid a monstrous premium for the rights to acquire Dice-K. But that has put them in a great situation when it comes to recruiting Japanese players - who want to be around Dice and an organization that is equipped for an ‘out-of-towner:

Reports coming out of Japan indicate that the Red Sox are the choice of coveted amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa, a 22-year-old righthander who idolizes Daisuke Matsuzaka. Sankei Sports reported on Thursday that Tazawa told an associate that he has agreed to a three-year major league deal with the Red Sox, placing him on Boston’s 40-man roster. The official announcement is expected on Dec. 1 according to the report.
- Boston Globe

Boston Red Sox Rumors & Scores

10 Highest Paid MLB Players: Largest Salaries

November 28th, 2008 | By InGameNow Posted in MLB

MLB Free Agency has been off to a mild start.

As mega free agents CC Sabbathia, Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira are prime to make big money - none of those three have signed their mega deals yet. In part this because teams are moving more methodically, the economy is in shambles, and there are too many moving parts (ie, the Yankees won’t chase Teixeira without having CC turn them down).

As we prep for the first major signing, you can prepare with the 10 Highest Paid MLB players / salaries.

Free agent predictions, by the way:
1. CC Sabbathia: Angels
2. Mark Teixeira: Red Sox
3. Manny Ramirez: Dodgers (big free agency loser of the three)

Highest-Paid Players (Avg. annual value)
Player, Rank Dollars Year
1. Roger Clemens $28,000,022 2007
2. Alex Rodriguez $27,500,000 2008-17
3. Alex Rodriguez $25,200,000 2001-10
4. Johan Santana $22,916,667 2008-13
5. Roger Clemens $22,000,022 2006
6. Manny Ramirez $20,000,000 2001-08
7. Miguel Cabrera $19,037,500 2008-15
8. Derek Jeter $18,900,000 2001-10
9. Carlos Zambrano $18,300,000 2008-12
10. Andruw Jones $18,100,000 2008-09

Boston Red Sox Rumors & Scores

Charity Golf Tourny Dumps Roger Clemens

November 26th, 2008 | By Jack Newhouse Posted in MLB

Roger Clemens life hit a new low. For the past 4 years, the Rocket has hosted the Giff Nielsen Day of Golf for Kids. This year, the Charity told Clemens they would be better off without him.

The golf tourny was played this year at Houston’s Shadow Hawk Golf Club on Veterans Day.

Here is a pic of Clemens, his wife, and Lance Armstrong at the 2006 event. Don’t expect to see the Rocket there any time soon.

For those who are not over the age of 40, Giff Nielsen was a BYU QB who is in the College Football Hall of Fame. Nielsen played for the Houston Oilers.

Nielsen now works in Texas T.V. This is a pic of him interviewing The Rocket.