Baseball Guru
07-18-2005, 01:02 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=knight-_WWW_12157985&prov=knight&type=lgns
BY CLARK SPENCER, cspencer@herald.com
July 18, 2005
With trade rumors swirling from all directions, A.J. Burnett and Mike Lowell packed their bags Sunday and headed off to Arizona with the rest of the Marlins.
Whether they'll be in uniform for tonight's game against the Diamondbacks remained iffy.
Sources said it is almost certain Burnett won't be making his next scheduled start with the Marlins on Tuesday, and that he and Lowell could both be gone as soon as today.
The Baltimore Orioles remained the top contender to pry both players from the Marlins, though Florida continued to talk to a host of teams about a trade for Burnett, and one report had the two players going in a three-way trade that involved the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres.
But a source with knowledge of the discussions said the Orioles had the upper hand in dealings, and that one of the key issues hinges on whether Burnett agrees to a contract extension.
Burnett, who is eligible for free agency after the season, is thought to be looking for a 4- or 5-year deal that would pay him about $9 million to $10 million annually.
According to multiple sources, the Orioles would agree to a deal either way, but that their package to the Marlins would differ based on whether they can convince Burnett to sign long-term with them.
It's expected that any deal with the Orioles would involve sending the Marlins pitching prospect Hayden Penn, right-handed reliever Jorge Julio and outfielder Larry Bigbie. The Orioles also could throw in left-handed reliever Steve Kline.
With the July 31 trade deadline looming, the Marlins have reached a critical point, and owner Jeffrey Loria and general manager Larry Beinfest are expected to join the team in Phoenix today.
VARGAS DEBUTS
Rookie Jason Vargas gets his first big-league start tonight against the Diamondbacks, and he's not afraid to admit he expects to sense some jitters before taking the mound.
But that won't be unusual.
''Every time I've gone out there I've had some type of butterflies, so I'll be expecting those,'' said Vargas, a 22-year-old left-hander who was taken by the Marlins in the second round of the 2004 draft.
Vargas originally went to Louisiana State University, transferred after one season to a junior college and ended up at Long Beach State, where he and Jared Weaver comprised one of the top pitching tandems in college baseball. Weaver was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last season but waited until this summer to sign.
The Marlins put Vargas on the fast track.
Because his father was a high school baseball coach in California, Vargas said he has spent his entire life around the sport and was ``running around on the field getting hit by baseballs before I can remember.''
About 20 to 30 friends and family members from California are expected to make the trip to Phoenix for Vargas' debut.
PITCHING AID
Pitching help is on the way for the Marlins.
They could have as many as three pitchers coming off the disabled list within the next week to 10 days.
Josh Beckett, Ismael Valdez and Antonio Alfonseca are each nearing returns.
Beckett (left abdominal strain) is tentatively scheduled to start Saturday in San Francisco, Valdez (out since April with a broken right fibula) could also be ready to join the staff by week's end, and Alfonseca (right elbow stress fracture) could be ready on the Marlins' next homestand.
Manager Jack McKeon said if Beckett isn't able to go Saturday, either Scott Olsen or Vargas would make that start against the Giants.
Valdez is scheduled to make his final rehab start tonight in Iowa for Triple A Albuquerque (N.M.), and McKeon said the veteran right-hander could be inserted into the bullpen for long-relief duty when he comes off the DL.
Alfonseca is schedule to throw a bullpen/simulation game today at the Marlins' training complex in Jupiter.
• The Marlins optioned reliever Chris Resop to Double A Carolina and Sunday and recalled right-handed reliever John Riedling from Triple A.
BY CLARK SPENCER, cspencer@herald.com
July 18, 2005
With trade rumors swirling from all directions, A.J. Burnett and Mike Lowell packed their bags Sunday and headed off to Arizona with the rest of the Marlins.
Whether they'll be in uniform for tonight's game against the Diamondbacks remained iffy.
Sources said it is almost certain Burnett won't be making his next scheduled start with the Marlins on Tuesday, and that he and Lowell could both be gone as soon as today.
The Baltimore Orioles remained the top contender to pry both players from the Marlins, though Florida continued to talk to a host of teams about a trade for Burnett, and one report had the two players going in a three-way trade that involved the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres.
But a source with knowledge of the discussions said the Orioles had the upper hand in dealings, and that one of the key issues hinges on whether Burnett agrees to a contract extension.
Burnett, who is eligible for free agency after the season, is thought to be looking for a 4- or 5-year deal that would pay him about $9 million to $10 million annually.
According to multiple sources, the Orioles would agree to a deal either way, but that their package to the Marlins would differ based on whether they can convince Burnett to sign long-term with them.
It's expected that any deal with the Orioles would involve sending the Marlins pitching prospect Hayden Penn, right-handed reliever Jorge Julio and outfielder Larry Bigbie. The Orioles also could throw in left-handed reliever Steve Kline.
With the July 31 trade deadline looming, the Marlins have reached a critical point, and owner Jeffrey Loria and general manager Larry Beinfest are expected to join the team in Phoenix today.
VARGAS DEBUTS
Rookie Jason Vargas gets his first big-league start tonight against the Diamondbacks, and he's not afraid to admit he expects to sense some jitters before taking the mound.
But that won't be unusual.
''Every time I've gone out there I've had some type of butterflies, so I'll be expecting those,'' said Vargas, a 22-year-old left-hander who was taken by the Marlins in the second round of the 2004 draft.
Vargas originally went to Louisiana State University, transferred after one season to a junior college and ended up at Long Beach State, where he and Jared Weaver comprised one of the top pitching tandems in college baseball. Weaver was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last season but waited until this summer to sign.
The Marlins put Vargas on the fast track.
Because his father was a high school baseball coach in California, Vargas said he has spent his entire life around the sport and was ``running around on the field getting hit by baseballs before I can remember.''
About 20 to 30 friends and family members from California are expected to make the trip to Phoenix for Vargas' debut.
PITCHING AID
Pitching help is on the way for the Marlins.
They could have as many as three pitchers coming off the disabled list within the next week to 10 days.
Josh Beckett, Ismael Valdez and Antonio Alfonseca are each nearing returns.
Beckett (left abdominal strain) is tentatively scheduled to start Saturday in San Francisco, Valdez (out since April with a broken right fibula) could also be ready to join the staff by week's end, and Alfonseca (right elbow stress fracture) could be ready on the Marlins' next homestand.
Manager Jack McKeon said if Beckett isn't able to go Saturday, either Scott Olsen or Vargas would make that start against the Giants.
Valdez is scheduled to make his final rehab start tonight in Iowa for Triple A Albuquerque (N.M.), and McKeon said the veteran right-hander could be inserted into the bullpen for long-relief duty when he comes off the DL.
Alfonseca is schedule to throw a bullpen/simulation game today at the Marlins' training complex in Jupiter.
• The Marlins optioned reliever Chris Resop to Double A Carolina and Sunday and recalled right-handed reliever John Riedling from Triple A.