The Knobler Blog : CBSSports.com Blogs

Zambrano with Marlins: 'Happy to be here'

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:05:57 EST

JUPITER, Fla. -- Carlos Zambrano kept coming back to the same thing.

"I'm just happy to be here," Zambrano said, on his first day of work with the Marlins. "I'm just happy."

Zambrano's first day of spring was certainly less eventful than it would have been had he remained with the Cubs, where he would have had to answer to teammates and to others about his troubled Cubs career, including his outburst and "retirement" last August. With the January trade that sent Zambrano to the Marlins, the Cubs became part of his past, although not a forgotten part.

"I do apologize for all the things, but in my head and in my heart, I wanted to do good," Zambrano said. "They're good fans there. They deserve a championship in Chicago."

Interest in Marlins is up, and ticket sales . . .

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:48:05 EST

JUPITER, Fla. -- The new Marlins attracted a big media turnout for their first workout Wednesday . . . and only a few fans.

Will the regular season be the same?

Club president David Samson said Wednesday that the team expects to have sold around 15,000 season tickets by the time they officially open their new ballpark on April 4 against the Cardinals.

"That's a record for us," Samson said. "That's what we've been budgeting."

With 30 pitches, Santana hands Mets some hope

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:46:37 EST

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- We still have no idea at all what Johan Santana can mean to the Mets this season.

But it sure is easy to see what he means to them this spring.

Simply by taking the mound, even for a 30-pitch bullpen session, Santana provides a hint of hope to a team that so often seems hopeless. Every day he shows up and his left shoulder doesn't hurt, the Mets can point to him and say, "See, here's something that could go right."

Because the perception of the Mets right now is that everything goes wrong.

How Albert Pujols can help the 2012 Cardinals

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:27:55 EST

JUPITER, Fla. -- In the oddest of ways, perhaps Albert Pujols is helping the Cardinals this spring.

His presence is felt . . . because of his absence.

Let me explain.

Because Pujols is gone -- and because Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan are also gone -- the Cardinals have a strong sense that they're now being doubted. And a strong sense that they're the rare defending champions who come to camp with something to prove.

Anniversary approaching, Wainwright feels great

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 6:28:21 EST

JUPITER, Fla. -- Tuesday is the anniversary of the day Adam Wainwright's 2011 season ended with an elbow injury.

"I'll celebrate it," Wainwright said Sunday. "Maybe strike out a few guys."

If the rest of Wainwright's 2012 spring is as smooth and happy as the start of it was, the Cardinals will celebrate, because the guy who finished second in the 2010 National League Cy Young voting (after finishing third in 2009) now says that Tommy John surgery was only "a speed bump in my career."

Wainwright has been throwing every third day for more than a month now, so his bullpen session on the first official day of spring training wasn't exactly a revelation. It was, however, a reminder of how far he has come, and how quickly it has all happened.

Cardinals, Molina stop talking deal -- "for now"

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:42:00 EST

JUPITER, Fla. -- When Albert Pujols arrived at spring training last year, negotiations on a new contract were over. And, as it turned out, Pujols was on the way out of town.

Sunday, Yadier Molina opened Cardinals camp by saying his contract negotiations with the team had ended.

For now, the free-agent-to-be catcher then added.

For now.

$69.5 million for 1 win? Yankees will take it

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 0:21:39 EST

Is $69.5 million too much to pay for one win?

Not necessarily.

What if without that one win, you don't win the World Series? And with it, you do?

I asked basically that question, boiled down to 140 characters, on Twitter Friday morning. And Yankee fans overwhelmingly answered that yes, the ridiculous amount of money they spent on A.J. Burnett was worth it.

Wakefield to announce retirement

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:18:01 EST

Tim Wakefield's knuckleball got him 17 years with the Red Sox and two World Series rings.

He decided not to try for one more.

The 45-year-old Wakefield will announce his retirement Friday afternoon, the team announced. He'll leave with 200 career wins, 186 of them with Boston.

The Red Sox had offered Wakefield a chance to come to spring training to win a job, but the right-hander decided against it. He leaves just six wins shy of the franchise record, which is shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens. Wakefield does hold the Red Sox record for most games started with 430, 48 ahead of Clemens, who is second. He is also the first Red Sox to pitch 3,000 innings for the team.

Is this it for Magglio Ordonez?

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:16:28 EST

Is this the end of the line for Magglio Ordonez?

Ordonez, who turned 38 last month, told Deportes Union Radio in his native Venezuela Wednesday that he hopes to play one more season in the major leagues. But Ordonez also admitted that the free-agent market hasn't yet provided him with an opportunity, and said that he's not interested in a minor-league contract with only an invitation to major-league spring training.

"A few teams have been interested, including Oakland, but there's been nothing concrete," Ordonez said. "The market has been tough for me, but I'm working towards continuing my career."

Ordonez drove in just 32 runs in 92 games last year for the Tigers, after signing a one-year, $10 million contract. He had trouble coming back from a broken right ankle suffered in 2010, and then refractured the same ankle during the American League Championship Series against the Rangers.

If Jurrjens is healthy, Braves could trade him

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:42:45 EST

One more name to watch in trade talks this spring: Jair Jurrjens.

He was a popular name on the market when the winter began. The Braves didn't trade him, in part because they couldn't convince potential trade partners that he's healthy and can stay healthy.

Perhaps he can prove that this spring. If so, the Braves could well try to move him again, according to sources.

As I pointed out in this column, big spring training trades have become a rarity in modern baseball. But Jurrjens isn't terribly expensive ($5.5 million this year), and when he's been healthy, he's been very good. His ERA in the first half of the 2011 season was 1.87, second to Jered Weaver among major-league starters.

A's shock us with not-so-crazy Cespedes signing

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:32:05 EST

Yes, it's a shock.

"Oakland?" one baseball executive repeated to me after I told him the A's were the team signing Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Yes, Oakland.

Yes, it's a shock. But that doesn't necessarily make it a crazy idea for the A's, and here's why:

Even if he's cheap, scouts don't want A.J.

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:27:13 EST

In three years with the Yankees, A.J. Burnett has made $49.5 million and has put up the highest ERA (4.79) for any pitcher in franchise history with 80 or more starts.

Of the 41 big-league pitchers who have made 90 starts over the last three seasons, Burnett has the highest ERA.

It's not hard to figure out why the Yankees are desperate to dump him, especially after adding Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda to their rotation.

A.J. Burnett also had four starts last year where he went at least seven innings and allowed no more than three hits. The entire Pirates rotation had three, two of them by the since-departed Paul Maholm.

Orioles scouts banned in Korea after signing

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:34:05 EST

The Orioles usually upset their own fans by not being aggressive enough, or not spending money.

Now they've found their way into something of an international incident with a very aggressive signing.

According to Korea's Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Baseball Association announced Thursday that it will ban Orioles scouts from attending games, after the team signed 17-year-old pitcher Kim Seong-min for a reported $550,000. Meanwhile, Major League Baseball is looking into the signing, after a request from the Korean Baseball Organization, which runs professional baseball in that country.

The KBA objected to the signing, because Kim was not yet in his final year of high school. The association also said that any other teams signing players that young would also be banned from scouting in the country.

Stay away from steroids -- but vote how you want

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 1:36:01 EST

This summer, the Hall of Fame will ask kids to pledge to stay away from steroids.

Next winter, the Hall of Fame will send out a ballot that includes Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro.

A contradiction? A message to voters?

Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson insists that it's neither one. Idelson said Wednesday that the Hall has always been an education center, in addition to being a baseball museum and a Hall of Fame, and that the new BASE (Be a Superior Example) program fits in with that.

Guthrie could help Rockies, but how much?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:56:58 EST

The Rockies watched their promising 2011 season collapse because the rotation fell apart.

Not enough starters. Not enough dependable starters.

Jeremy Guthrie, acquired Monday from the Orioles for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom, should be an improvement. But is he enough, and is he the right guy for the job?

The Rockies rotation is deeper and more dependable, with the addition of Guthrie, as well as Guillermo Moscoso, Josh Outman and Tyler Chatwood, acquired earlier in the winter. It's still shaky enough, however, that Guthrie could well end up as the opening day starter (Jhoulys Chacin is the other likely option).

Orioles, A's show interest in Manny Ramirez

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:20:52 EST

When Manny Ramirez said in December that he wanted to return to baseball, it was fair to ask if any team would -- or should -- care.

Two months later, Ramirez hasn't yet signed but there is interest. According to sources, Ramirez has been talking to both the A's and Orioles about a deal to play in 2012, and indications are both teams have significant interest in signing him.

Ramirez still needs to serve the drug suspension that pushed him into "retirement" last April, and he would miss the first 50 games of the season.

The A's and Orioles both make sense for Ramirez, as both had designated hitters are gone via free agency (Hideki Matsui for the A's, Vladimir Guerrero for the O's). And both teams take a chance, because neither is expected to contend this year.

More kids to watch: Moore, Montero, Arenado

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:20:58 EST

Heading to spring training 2010, Stephen Strasburg was the big new name, the guy everyone had to see . . .

Until people started talking about Jason Heyward, too. And Aroldis Chapman.

It was still the spring of Strasburg, but it really became the spring of the phenom.

This spring could be the same.

Harper would join short list of 19-year-olds

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:07:33 EST

As CBSSports.com colleague Jon Heyman wrote, the Nationals plan to give 19-year-old Bryce Harper a real chance to make their team out of spring training.

In fact, one Nationals official told me he believes that Harper should make it, and that even though he is still learning, "he can help you win while he learns."

Besides, it's not unheard of for a 19-year-old to play in the big leagues. Mike Trout did it for 14 games with the Angels last summer. Both Uptons (B.J. and Justin) did it.

Alex Rodriguez played in the big leagues when he was still 18 years old.

Garza gets $9.5 million, from the Cubs or . . .

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:17:10 EST

Matt Garza and the Cubs avoided arbitration Friday morning by settling on a contract that will pay him $9.5 million and also includes performance bonuses.

Next question: Who will pay him that $9.5 million?

Garza has been the subject of trade talks for much of the winter, and some people who speak regularly with Cubs management believe that the team will continue shopping him in spring training. There could be a lively market for starting pitching in March, with the Yankees, Nationals and Rays all going into spring with more than five starters, and with the White Sox still believed to be open to moving Gavin Floyd, as well.

Garza's settlement wouldn't figure to hurt the Cubs' chances of moving him. The pitcher had asked for $12.5 million, while the Cubs filed at $7.95 million. The settlement is below the $10.225 million midpoint, but the bonuses could raise it above that.

With Jackson, Nationals are trying to win now

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:14:23 EST

The Nationals were already going to be one of the more interesting teams to watch this year.

Now it's time to wonder if they could actually win.

They think so, and it's why they committed money to sign Edwin Jackson to a one-year, $11 million contract, as CBSSports.com colleague Jon Heyman first reported Thursday afternoon.

Jackson joins a Nationals rotation that already featured young stars Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann, and already added Gio Gonzalez this winter. The Nationals also have John Lannan, Chien-Ming Wang and Ross Detwiler, although they could now look to trade one of them this spring.

Sparky in Japan? It almost happened

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:27:47 EST

Sparky Anderson won in Cincinnati, and he won in Detroit.

Probably would have won in Japan, too.

We'll never know, but what we do know now is that he thought about giving it a try. In a soon-to-be-published book about his 32-year friendship with Anderson, Dan Ewald reveals that the Hanshin Tigers offered to make Sparky their manager soon after he left the Detroit Tigers at the end of the 1995 season.

Ewald, the former Tigers PR man, writes that he and Sparky discussed the offer for three full days before Anderson decided to turn it down.

Victor Martinez has surgery, out for all 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:21:07 EST

The Tigers already expected Victor Martinez to miss the 2012 season.

Now it's definite.

Martinez underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee on Friday, the team announced Monday. And that was simply preparation for an ACL reconstruction surgery that he will undergo sometime in the next 6-8 weeks.

At one point, the Tigers thought there was some chance Martinez could return in time for the playoffs, if they make it there. But the decision to have the microfracture surgery before the ACL surgery rules that out.

What's next for Tigers? Maybe Cespedes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:48:25 EST

The Prince Fielder signing should push the Tigers' 2012 payroll up over $130 million.

Is there any money left?

Could be, but the Tigers are unlikely to spend it on a full-time designated hitter, or on a fifth-starter candidate who would require a guaranteed major-league contract.

They might, according to sources, still try to spend it on Yoenis Cespedes.

Indians put Carmona on restricted list

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:32:04 EST

The Indians announced Thursday that they have put "Fausto Carmona" on the restricted list.

And yes, that's what they called him.

Carmona, as we found out last week, is actually Roberto Hernandez Heredia. He was arrested by Dominican Republic police and charged with using a fake identity.

Because of that, the Indians don't yet know when Carmona (or Hernandez) is going to be able to come to the United States. By putting him on the restricted list, they won't have him count against their roster limit and won't have to pay him.

Cespedes is a free agent, and bidding can begin

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 8:23:42 EST

The bidding for Yoenis Cespedes can finally begin.

The 26-year-old Cuban outfielder has established residency in the Dominican Republic, and Major League Baseball told teams on Wednesday that he is now officially a free agent.

But where will he go, how much will he cost, and how fast could he make an impact?

First, the where: Cespedes himself told reporters in the Dominican that the Cubs have shown the most interest in him, with the Marlins, Tigers, White Sox and Orioles also involved. The Nationals have also shown interest in Cespedes, and the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies scouted him, although it's believed that none of the three will be among the top bidders.

Red Sox like Oswalt, but does he like them?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:33:04 EST

The Red Sox like Roy Oswalt. But is the feeling mutual?

The Sox, sources say, have made a significant offer to the free-agent right-hander. Oswalt has yet to accept, raising some doubt about his interest in going to Boston.

Oswalt already told the Tigers he wasn't interested in going to Detroit, sources said, and even a recruiting phone call from Justin Verlander didn't sway him. While he may not have given the Red Sox as definite a "no," it is thought that he would prefer teams closer to his home state of Mississippi.

Oswalt has long shown interest in going to the Cardinals, but it's unclear how interested the Cardinals are in him. The Rangers had interest in him earlier in the winter, but they have since added Yu Darvish to their rotation. The Reds were also thought to be a team that Oswalt would like, but they traded for Mat Latos.

For Prince, going to Tigers is like going home

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:57:59 EST

You could almost say that Prince Fielder is going home.

He was born in California. He went to high school in Florida. He came to the big leagues in Milwaukee.

But for a few of his formative years, Detroit was home. Tiger Stadium was home. The Tiger clubhouse was home.

And now he's going back, going to join the Tigers on a nine-year, $214 million contract.

Tigers patient on Victor Martinez replacement

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:13:20 EST

It's been almost a week since the Tigers found out that Victor Martinez would likely be lost for the season with a knee injury, and the team still doesn't have a replacement.

What's taking so long?

Actually, it won't be a surprise if the Tigers' search for a Martinez replacement goes on quite a while longer, perhaps even into the 2012 season.

While the Tigers seem to have some interest in Raul Ibanez, Hideki Matsui and Vladimir Guerrero, and less in Johnny Damon, none of the possible Martinez replacements would provide the Tigers with exactly what Martinez gave them -- a quality switch hitter who gives Miguel Cabrera protection in the batting order.

Posada's Yankee career defined by wins and rings

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:10:45 EST

The Yankees sent out a whole bunch of lists and numbers Monday, ahead of Tuesday's Jorge Posada retirement press conference.

The numbers are impressive (more doubles than Mickey Mantle, more home runs than Don Mattingly), and I'm sure we'll spend more time dissecting them in five years, when Posada shows up on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.

I'm more impressed by the wins and the rings.

I'm more impressed that through the better part of 17 years, Posada was catching regularly for a team that won championships. The Yankees won four World Series with him behind the plate, and they went 65-41 in postseason games that he started (a .613 winning percentage that would translate to 99 wins over 162 games).

Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona arrested

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 8:49:16 EST

Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona was arrested Thursday in the Dominican Republic, charged with using a fake identity.

According to Dominican police (via spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar on Twitter), Carmona's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia, and the pitcher is actually 31 years old, not 28.

The police said Carmona (or Hernandez) was arrested when he went to the American consulate to renew his visa. The police said they were working in cooperation with the consulate.

It's not yet clear what charges Carmona (or Hernandez) will face, or what effect this will have on his contract with the Indians. The Indians picked up the pitcher's $7 million option for 2012 in October.