The MLB hot stove has cooled off now that the non-waiver trade deadline has passed. However, there are still some rumblings around the MLB, especially with waiver trade deadline of August 31st rapidly approaching. With that in mind, here are all the latest MLB rumors and news you need to know.
Papelbon unlikely to join Red Sox
Closer Jonathan Papelbon has been a free agent for over two weeks, and while it seemed like he was close to a reunion with the Boston Red Sox. That is no longer the case, as team president Dave Dombrowski said, via WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.
“We had interest in him, and we expressed that to him,” Dombrowski said Monday morning. “John Farrell spoke with Jonathan Papelbon, and I think a couple of our players spoke to him, too. For his own personal reasons, he’s just decided so far not to sign. I’m not sure if he’s going to sign or not. I know he has a lot of strong feelings about Boston if he decides to sign. It’s just more of a situation where his agent says he’s not ready to make a decision.
“And now it becomes complicated because he hasn’t thrown in a game since Aug. 6. So you’re in a position where you just can’t thrust him out there. I don’t know what he’s been doing as far as throwing is concerned. I would doubt that he’s been throwing a lot. So you would have to go back out there and build up his arm strength and be in a position to face some hitters. It’s not just inserting him like it would be if you signed him right off the bat.”
Another fly in the ointment is the deadline for Papelbon to be added to an organization in time for postseason eligibility. The pitcher would have to be signed by the Red Sox before Sept. 1 for such a qualification.
“I’m sure he and his representatives know that. But I think it’s more of his own personal situation that he’s decided,” Dombrowski said. “It has nothing to do with a club interest. It’s just more, for whatever reason, his own decisions are like that.”
The Cubs are the other team that has expressed serious interest in signing Papelbon, who had a 4.37 ERA with 19 saves with the Nationals this season before being released.
Tebow already has baseball offer
Former Florida Gators and Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is holding is workout today in front of 20 MLB teams with the hope of pursuing a professional baseball career, but according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, a pro team has already offered him a contract - in Venezuela:
On the eve of his much-anticipated professional baseball showcase, Tim Tebow was offered a contract with a venerable winter-ball team in Venezuela, sources told Yahoo Sports, further legitimizing his efforts to transition from NFL quarterback to outfielder.
Aguilas del Zulia, a five-time champion of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and two-time Caribbean Series winner, sent a contract to Tebow’s representation at CAA on Monday in hopes of securing him for the league filled with major leaguers and on-the-rise prospects. While Tebow expects to map out his future in the coming weeks, one source familiar with his plans told Yahoo Sports he has interest in playing winter ball.
“He’s a great talent,” Aguilas general manager Luis Amaro told Yahoo Sports. “He’s an athlete. He’s won the Heisman. He’s won two national championships. I know baseball is a hard game, but he’ll either adjust and show he’s ready to play pro ball or not. I think it’s low risk, high reward for Zulia.”
Tebow last played competitive baseball when he was in high school, and has been out of the NFL since the Philadelphia Eagles cut him in training camp last season.
Braves won't pursue McCann until the offseason
The Atlanta Braves had flirted with the idea of acquiring catcher Brian McCann from the New York Yankees several times this year, but it doesn't look like a reunion is going to happen this year. According to MLB.com's Mark Bowman, the Yankees aren't expected to part ways with McCann, meaning he is unlikely to join the Braves until 2017:
Because the Yankees are still utilizing McCann as their designated hitter on a frequent basis and have suddenly regained legit postseason hopes, it's too early to gauge exactly what it would cost for the Braves to bring him back home. The current asking price is understandably too steep because the Yankees have no need to move him at this time.
But the landscape should change this winter and at that time, the Braves will get a better feel for how much of the $34 million McCann is owed through 2018 the Yankees are willing to eat. The Braves will want to get a good feel during the early portion of this offseason, because they view catching and starting pitching as two of their primary areas to be addressed this winter. Wilson Ramos will obviously get plenty of attention, but his cost may exceed comfort level, which is influenced by the rash of injuries he battled before the 2015 season.
McCann is batting .234 with 16 homers and 50 RBIs this season.
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