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TORONTO SUN

Thursday, November 17, 2011

JAYS LUKEWARM ON CESPEDES

Bob Elliott

MILWAUKEE - Blue Jays president Paul Beeston had lunch with agent Adam Katz at the historic Pfister Hotel on Wednesday.

Katz represents Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes and his firm will handle Japanese starter Yu Darvish once his contract is posted.

Who is coming to Toronto first: Centre fielder Cespedes or right-hander Darvish?

“We were talking about the fun we had doing Damo Garcia’s contract with Tom Reich and Adam in the mid-1980s,” said Beeston. “How Tom would say: ‘It’s going downnnnn.’”

Beeston is in town for the owners meetings at the annual general managers meetings, which conclude Thursday.

Former Jays GM Gord Ash stopped by the table and talk turned to Toronto’s arbitration hearings in the 1980s.

“In those days, Pat Gillick and I would be on the one side of the table arguing for our arbitration number,” said Ash. “Tom, Adam and Paul would be on the other side arguing for the player’s number.”

Beeston, always the deal-maker, chortled like Muttley in the animated Wacky Races TV show.

Reich and Katz also represented Tony Fernandez and Duane Ward over the years.

Katz said later teams are coming to the Dominican Republic for private workouts to see Cespedes, who worked out for the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

A workout date for the Jays had not been set up and their GM, Alex Anthopoulos, said that the club has not decided if it will be following up. The Jays have scouted Cespedes after seeing him earlier at a showcase. He hopes to establish temporary residence in the Dominican within the next two weeks.

CLOSER CHASE

While the Jays have contacted the Colorado Rockies about obtaining Huston Street, they have company in pursuit of a closer. The Boston Red Sox also have interest in Street. Street, 27, converted 29 of 33 (88%) save chances. Next season, Street will earn $7.5 million US ... Anthopoulos said he would not rule out bringing back Frank Francisco. who saved 17 of 21 opportunities (81%).

DUELING CANUCKS

Jays right-hander Brandon Morrow is represented by agent Joel Wolfe of Wasserman Media of Los Angeles. It will be an all-OUA alumni matchup when the time comes for Wolfe to talk long-term deal with Anthopoulos about his client. While Anthopoulos attended McMaster, Wolfe went to Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Que., and then obtained his law degree at UCLA. Both Wolfe’s parents are from Montreal, they graduated from McGill and Wolfe has a summer home in Ayer’s Cliff, Que. While born in California, Wolfe has dual citizenship and was a third round pick of the Oakland- A’s as an outfielder, reaching triple-A Edmonton in 1995.

How Canadian is he?

“Well, William Shatner was in my mother’s high school graduating class,” said Wolfe.

Morrow was 11-11 with a 4.72 ERA in 30 starts for the Jays earned $2.3 million this season and could be a candidate for a long-term deal.

SALE DAY

As discussed at the all-star game, the Players Association wants two 15-team leagues for 2013 season, which would involve the Houston Astros moving to the AL West.

Drayton McLane, the Astros’ owner, arrived Wednesday. Owners are expected to vote on approval of the sale of the team to Houston businessman Jim Crane in Thursday sessions. McLane said his friend, Michael Firestone, of Toronto would now have to be happy thinking he owned the Jays.

“He thought he owned my team for 19 years,” McLane said.

Michael Weiner, Players Association boss, said in July his members wanted fairness in the divisions. With Houston moving the six-team NL Central and the four-team AL West are both eliminated, creating six five-team divisions.

WELCOME BACK

Terry Ryan is in the saddle as GM of the Minnesota Twins, taking over for Bill Smith, GM the previous four years, with a “fire in his eye” as one Twins scout said.

Ryan was asked to interview for the vacant Jays GM job in 2001 after Paul Godfrey sent GM Ash packing.

Ryan, an excellent choice, declined, saying: “I don’t think it would send a good message to our employees, interviewing for another job when they are trying to contract our team.”

Ryan, meanwhile, said Justin Morneau should be ready by spring. This season, he was restricted to 69 games because of surgery to remove a herniated disc fragment in his neck. He had three surgeries in September: Removing a cyst from his left knee, a bone spur from his right foot and tendon surgery in his left wrist.

Ryan also was happy for Andrew Albers, who pitched 62/3 innings of Canada’s gold medal win at the Pan Am Games in Mexico. The North Battleford, Sask., lefty finished the season at the Twins double-A New Britain team.

“He has great pitchability and throws lot of strikes,” Ryan said.

A CLOSING ARM?

MILWAUKEE — Is the Blue Jays’ search for a closer over? Should we stop the presses?

The Jays landed Cole Kimball on Wednesday.

Kimball, 26, who pitched for the Nationals this season, was claimed off waivers. His season ended July 13 with rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder.

The Jays hope he returns to action quicker than Dustin McGowan, who had surgery in 2008 and did not return to the majors until this year.

This season, Kimball pitched 12 games in relief for the Nationals with a 1-0 mark and a 1.93 ERA, walking 11 and striking out 11 in 14 innings.

He pitched in 12 games at triple-A Syracuse, without giving up a run.

HONOURS

Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin of Chatham, Ont., shared The Sporting News co-executive of the year honours with Detroit Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski. Melvin helped turn the Brewers around after a disappointing 2010 season, trading for both Zach Greinke of the Kansas City Royals and Shawn Marcum of the Jays. The Marcum deal netted the Jays Brett Lawrie.

FRANCONA TAKING A BREAK FROM MANAGING

QMI Agency

After interviewing for the St. Louis Cardinals job and being mentioned as a candidate to manage the Chicago Cubs, Terry Francona has decided it would be best to take a year off.

"I'm not going to try to manage next year ... for my benefit," he told CSN New England on Wednesday.

After talking with the Cardinals -- who last week hired Mike Matheny instead as manager -- Francona re-evaluated his future.

While he has talked with Cubs boss Theo Epstein, Francona said: "I don't think it's the right opportunity.

"I need to take a step back and re-energize. That's probably in my best interest right now. In fairness to myself, it's the best thing to do."

Francona was let go by the Boston Red Sox last month after eight seasons as manager.

ASTROS CHANGING LEAGUES

In exchange for moving the Astros to the American League in 2013, Jim Crane will get a $70-million discount off his $680-million purchase price, an MLB official told the Houston Chronicle.

Astros owner Drayton McLane will contribute $35 million of the discount, with the remaining $35 million coming from Major League Baseball, the official said.

Crane's purchase of the Astros is expected to be approved Thursday.

MADDON, GIBSON HONOURED

Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays was named Wednesday as the American League manager of the year for the second time while Kirk Gibson of the Arizona Diamondbacks took National League honours.

Both were landslide winners.

Maddon, who also won the award in 2008, was first on 26 of 28 ballots. Maddon's Rays were nine games behind in the wild-card race on Sept. 3 but rallied to make the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

Jim Leyland, who led the Detroit Tigers to the AL Central title, was second while Ron Washington of the AL West-winning Texas Rangers was third.

Gibson, who steered Arizona to a worst-to-first season in the NL West, was first on 28 ballots and second on the other four.

Ron Roenicke of the Milwaukee Brewers was second while the St. Louis Cardinals' Tony La Russa was third.

Voting was done before the start of the playoffs.

RAMOS READY TO RETURN

Kidnap victim Wilson Ramos was ready to return to the diamond Wednesday for Tigres de Aragua of the Venezuelan winter league.

Ramos, a catcher for the Washington Nationals, was abducted last week in Valencia, Venezuela. As many as 11 people have been arrested in connection with the abduction of Ramos, who was rescued Friday after two days of captivity.

Nats general manager Mike Rizzo said Ramos is physically and emotionally ready to play.

"He is going to play as early as Wednesday -- he is adamant about that," Rizzo told MLB Network. "It's going to be interesting to see him back there. I'm sure he is going to be happy to be back doing what he loves doing."

DODGERS SUE FOX

The Los Angeles Dodgers are suing Fox Sports to stop the broadcaster from interfering with plans to auction the bankrupt franchise.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt ended a bitter battle with Major League Baseball over control of the team by agreeing Nov. 1 to dump the team. The plan was to sell future broadcast rights first as a way of increasing the team's value. The Dodgers' current TV contract says the team can't negotiate with any party other than Fox through Nov. 30, 2012.

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, the Dodgers said Fox Sports had sent a "cease and desist" letter to the Dodgers' adviser who was running the media rights auction.

BRIEFLY

The Texas Rangers are making a push to re-sign free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson. The Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees also have talked with Wilson's agent ... Red Sox officials Wednesday had a second meeting with managerial candidate Dale Sveum, ESPN Boston reported. Sveum is considered the favourite for the job ... The Minnesota Twins made their contract official Wednesday with veteran infielder Jamey Carroll. Carroll, 37, played in a career-high 146 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, batting .290 with 17 RBI. He signed a two-year deal worth a reported $6.75 million.

BASEBALL TEAM NAME GETS RIPPED

MORRIS DALLA COSTA

The name London Bin Ladens must have already been taken.

For the dozens waiting in rapt anticipation for the name of London's new baseball franchise in the Frontier League, their wait ended Tuesday with what should be a sense of embarrassment.

A city that already made international headlines for having one of its residents throw a banana at a black NHL player will now be known as the home of the London Rippers.

We're still trying to figure out what is more stupid, the selection of the name itself or the total oblivion in which the Rippers' owner David Martin claims he made the decision.

Most people with any knowledge of history would immediately link the name Ripper and London with Jack the Ripper, the psychopath who was never caught. He killed and dismembered at least five women in the Whitechapel area of London, England.

The baseball team's mascot is Diamond Jack. He appears in the logo as a man in a top hat, dark outfit with only his eyes visible carrying a baseball bat. Any resemblance to Jack the Ripper is purely intentional.

Here's the owners explanation.

"The character's name is Diamond Jack, a frustrated hockey player who found he could 'rip' the cover off baseballs. Despite his talent, teams grew weary of the expense of replacing balls so Diamond Jack decided to form his own team in London, Ontario."

Huh?

I suppose that sounds a lot better than the real one a father might tell his kid when he asks, why the Mascot is called Diamond Jack and the team is called the Rippers?

"Well, son, Jack is really this bad man who killed lots of women in London, England, and the man knifed them, cut open their stomachs and cut off their nipples."

The city issued a statement that indicated they would be speaking with the owner and "give him an opportunity to reconsider the name."

No matter what the Rippers do from now on, they've lost more than just fans. They've lost the right to be taken seriously. They've shown a complete lack of judgment, commitment to family values and sensitivity that any new business should show.

And the ownership has treated us like stupid cows by saying they had no idea it would be associated with the Ripper. I hate it when someone pees down my back and tells me its raining. Its marketing campaign starting with the name and logo is a cheap, taudry, insensitive piece of crap that should blow up in their faces.

The team's name was announced on a day that was the focus of woman abuse in London. The London Abused Women's Centre's campaign, Shine A Light on Woman Abuse, has been a huge success in London.

In the fairness of full disclosure, my wife is the executive director of LAWC, but it wouldn't matter who was in charge.

The name is a slap in the face to everyone.

Purple lights and clothing will be seen throughout the city the entire month of November.

This city and its politicians have been leaders in the province in the fight to end woman abuse. Dozens of businesses and individuals in this community have donated time and money in the fight to end woman abuse.

LAWC, politicians, private businesses and citizens have done whatever they can to make this community a better place.

As a reward for their effort, their new baseball team picks a name that is associated with a serial murderer of women.

Can this baseball team really be that obtuse or maybe they just don't care.

A case in point is Martin talking about the publicity.

"The more you talk about my team the better," he said.

How's that for sensitivity?

Here's just one note that came from Barry Wells, founder of the Friends of Labatt Park and a diehard baseball fan.

"I just paid for a memorial tree to my late mother at Labatt Park who was regularly beaten by my late father. I'm appalled," Wells said. "I supported this team until this Ripper (expletive) started and it sunk in last night. I can't go to a game as is."

The Rippers have managed something unique. They've managed to strike out on their first swing.

TORONTO STAR

Thursday, November 17, 2011

MOVE TO AL IN CARDS FOR ASTROS

Major League Baseball told Houston businessman Jim Crane it would not approve his purchase of the Astros unless he agreed to move the team to the American League, the Associated Press has learned.

Crane was forced to agree to move the sale along, a person familiar with the negotiations said Wednesday on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made by MLB or the Astros. Approval of the sale could be announced as early as Thursday at a meeting of baseball executives in Milwaukee.

Crane reportedly agreed to the move in exchange for a drop in the sale price valued earlier this year at $680 million (U.S.).

JAYS ADD ARM: The Blue Jays claimed right-hander Cole Kimball off waivers from the Washington Nationals.

Kimball had a 1-0 record with a 1.93 earned-run average over 14 innings with the Nationals last season, his first in the majors. The 26-year-old also made 12 relief appearances for Triple-A Syracuse.

Kimball underwent surgery last July to repair the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder.

BIG MAC STAYS PUT: Mark McGwire and Dave Duncan are staying on with the St. Louis Cardinals under new manager Mike Matheny.

McGwire joined the Cards as hitting coach under Tony La Russa for the 2010 season and Duncan was La Russa's pitching coach with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and the Cardinals. They were announced Wednesday as coaches for 2012 under Matheny, who succeeded La Russa as manager following the team's World Series title.

BUSY TWINS: Veteran infielder Jamey Carroll signed a two-year contract with Minnesota worth at least $6.5 million. Carroll will turn 38 before spring training begins, but that didn't scare away the Twins, who've had four opening-day shortstops the past four years.

ASTROS, DODGERS PLAY ON AMID TURMOIL

Rick Gano, AP

MILWAUKEE—Ed Wade is focused on conducting the off-season baseball operations of the Houston Astros, even if his future with the team is uncertain.

With the proposed sale of the team from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane expected to be approved Thursday by major league owners, Wade is not fretting. He’s working.

“We’re business as usual,” he said. “The proposed change or whatever which way you would say it, it’s been there,” he said Tuesday as general managers opened meetings at a downtown Milwaukee hotel.

“We’ve run through the draft, we’ve run through the trading deadline. We’ve run through the labour period and now we’re at the general managers meeting and it still hasn’t been finalized,” Wade said.

Wade was the GM in Philadelphia before taking the job Houston and knows that the game’s shifts are numerous. In fact, the Astros will likely end up in the AL after the sale is approved.

“I’ve been around,” Wade said. “It’s probably more difficult for people who are new to the organization. I think realistically if you’ve been in this game for a long time you recognize that uncertainty is a fairly standard circumstance.”

Another GM is seeing some clarity following a tumultuous period — Ned Colletti of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball have agreed to a court-supervised sale of the once glamorous and now bankrupt franchise.

While the sides hope for a quick deal, giving McCourt the money to pay his divorce settlement by April, MLB sales sometimes drag on for six months to 1 1 / 2 years. Once bidders are identified, the court is likely to conduct an auction.

“We have some resolution, but we don’t have complete resolution,” Colletti said, adding that there is some relief that the episode is on its way — apparently — to being resolved.

“It takes you out of a situation that you don’t know which way is going to go — not that we know how this is going to go, either. But it’s at least one step,” he said.

Colletti said the Dodgers were still working on details for Matt Kemp’s US$160-million, eight-year contract and that it could be completed before Thanksgiving.

Scott Boras, the agent for Prince Fielder, met with Brewers GM Doug Melvin on Tuesday. Fielder and Albert Pujols are the marquee free agents this off-season.

“We’ll see how the markets play out. Our goal is to try to keep Albert Pujols,” said Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who’s already hired Mike Matheny as manager to replace Tony La Russa, who resigned after winning the World Series.

Mozeliak said it’s impossible to remove emotions from a negotiation to retain Pujols, the Cardinals’ star for the last decade.

“From a strategic standpoint, I don’t think we need to divorce ourselves from that or to simply ignore that. The facts are, he’s an iconic player. He’s been the face of this organization for a long time,” Mozeliak said.

“To deny that or to fail to recognize that, I don’t think you’re looking through the proper set of lenses.”

New Red Sox GM Ben Cherington said he and new Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein talked again Tuesday about compensation for Epstein’s departure from Boston with a year left on his contract.

Cherington said one of the problems in reaching a solution is that both he and Epstein are conducting a managerial search — they’ve interviewed several of the same candidates, including Dale Sveum, who is supposed to meet with both teams for a second time in Milwaukee — and they’ve been busy with transitions to new jobs.

“And there is no secret there is a bit of a disagreement on what the level of compensation should be,” Cherington said. “Theo and I talked today. The more we talk, the more progress we make. I’m still optimistic and hoping that we can find a resolution.”

Joe Torre, MLB’s executive vice-president for baseball operations, gave a briefing of the first day of meetings.

“A couple of clubs brought up situations, we talked about some replay possibilities, ground rule possibilities, stuff like that,” he said.

“We talked about some international issues, amateur workouts and tryouts and things like that.”

Torre said expanding replay — currently it determines whether home runs clear the fence and are foul or fair — would take some work.

“I think the commissioner hinted at a possible fair-or-foul change. Again, once you make that statement, you start thinking about things that go along with it. If you call a ball foul and the replay shows it’s fair, then where do you put the runners?” Torre said.

“It’s not that easy to just say ‘let’s replay this’ or ‘let’s replay that’ when certain things come up.”

GLOBE & MAIL

Thursday, November 17, 2011

BLUE JAYS CLAIM COLE KIMBALL OFF WAIVERS FROM WASHINGTON

CP

The Toronto Blue Jays claimed right-hander Cole Kimball off waivers from the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

He had a 1-0 record with a 1.93 earned-run average over 14 innings with the Nationals last season, his first in the major leagues. The 26-year-old native of Great Meadows, N.J., also made 12 relief appearances for the triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.

Kimball underwent surgery last July to repair the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder.

BLUE

Thursday, November 17, 2011

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE KIMBALL ON WAIVERS FROM NATS

By Gregor Chisholm /

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays claimed right-hander Cole Kimball off waivers from Washington on Wednesday afternoon.

The Nationals had been trying to outright Kimball to Triple-A, but they were unable to get him through waivers.

The 26-year-old had surgery on his right shoulder in July and is facing a rehab that is expected to last until at least February.

Cole Kimball went 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 games for the Nationals last season. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Kimball went 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 games for the Nationals in 2011. He held opponents to a .174 average and had scoreless outings in 10 of his 12 contests.

The New Jersey native also appeared in 12 games for Triple-A Syracuse this season. He posted five saves and didn't allow a run in 13 2/3 innings.

Kimball has appeared in 166 career games in the Minor Leagues, with a 4.33 ERA and 33 saves. His best season came in 2010, when he went 8-1 with a 2.17 ERA and 18 saves in Class A and Double-A.

INBOX: ARE BLUE JAYS CLOSE TO FINDING CLOSER?

Beat reporter Gregor Chisholm fields questions from fans

By Gregor Chisholm /

Q - I hear so many rumours about the Blue Jays trading a good prospect for A's closer Andrew Bailey. Do you see this move happening, and if so, what prospect do you think we'd have to give up?

A - It will take a lot more than one good offensive prospect for a team to pry Bailey away from the A's. Oakland reportedly has been listening to offers for its closer, but the 27-year-old right-hander is under club control for the next three seasons and the A's are under no pressure to pull the trigger on a trade.

A lot of teams are looking for late-inning relief, and with free-agent candidates asking for a lot of money, the A's can afford to shoot for the moon in trade negotiations. Oakland general manager Billy Beane reportedly turned down an offer from Texas last July, which included three very good prospects, and there's no reason to believe the asking price has dropped in recent months.

There doesn't appear to be anything imminent, and trade talks likely will continue well into December. Bailey posted 24 saves with a 3.24 ERA in 42 games in 2011.

Q - Any chance the Blue Jays will go after Ryan Madson now that Jonathan Papelbon signed with the Phillies? He could be a great fit for the open closer's role.

A - Madson likely isn't a realistic option for the Blue Jays to pursue, because he will be seeking a long-term contract through free agency. GM Alex Anthopoulos has been very hesitant to guarantee multiyear contracts to relief pitchers, and Madson reportedly has been asking for a deal that will span four seasons.

Anthopoulos will continue to monitor this situation just like he does with every top talent that is available through free agency or trade. If the asking price drops, then Toronto could enter the mix, but as of right now, potential closers are in high demand across the league, and Madson should be able to find a team willing to approach his asking price.

A - With all this talk about Toronto's closer situation, where does Huston Street fit in? There have been a lot of reports that the Rockies are looking to trade him.

A - Colorado would love to find a taker for Street after the veteran right-hander lost his closer's job to Rafael Betancourt in August.

The Rockies aren't under any pressure to cut salary, but shedding Street's $7.5 million contract in 2012 would free up money for other areas of need. Street also has a player option for 2013 at $9 million that can be bought out for $500,000.

Street went 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA while recording 29 saves in 33 opportunities this past season. He has enjoyed three consecutive seasons with at least 20 saves, and has 178 during his seven-year career.

That type of performance could attract the Blue Jays' attention after a year in which the club tied for the American League lead with 25 blown saves. Street also should come cheaper than other potential closers on the trade market because of his high salary. Street could become a consolation prize for teams who miss out on Joe Nathan and Jonathan Broxton in free agency.

Q - Have there been any rumours of Kelly Johnson going anywhere? I haven't seen any. Seems he may be a good option to keep for short term, and the market for second basemen is shrinking.

A - Johnson is currently in the unenviable position of having to wait for a new collective bargaining agreement to be reached between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players' Association. There is still a possibility that the talks, which are currently ongoing, will include changes to the compensation process for free agents.

Under the current agreement, Johnson is classified as a Type A free agent. Once the Blue Jays offer the veteran infielder arbitration, another team would be forced to surrender a top Draft pick to sign Johnson.

That's something organizations are hesitant to do for Johnson, and as a result, his overall value in the open market has been negatively impacted. If the current system remains in place, there is still a strong possibility that Johnson would be forced to accept arbitration from Toronto and try his luck as a free agent next offseason.

Q - With Seattle looking to unload Chone Figgins, is there any thought with the Jays to get him via trade and have him play second base? He could provide the leadoff hitter the Jays need, and cover the hole at second.

A - Seattle reportedly is open to the idea of paying a portion of the $17 million in guaranteed money that Figgins is owed through the 2013 season. That could increase interest around the league, but it remains uncertain whether the Blue Jays would be one of those clubs once Johnson's situation at second base is resolved.

Figgins is coming off back-to-back subpar seasons, and he hasn't enjoyed much success since 2009, when he was still with the Angels. The 33-year-old hit just .188 with 11 stolen bases in 2011, and was unable to find a consistent approach at the plate.

Those subpar numbers could be enough to dissuade the Blue Jays from pursuing the veteran infielder. There's also the issue of a vesting option on Figgins' contract in 2014 that would need to be worked out. If Figgins reaches 600 plate appearances in 2013, he receives an additional year valued at $9 million. Anthopoulos does not like those type of options, because of the distractions they can cause to both the player and the team.

Q - Is there any chance the Jays will try to increase Eric Thames' versatility by trying him at second base -- much like they are planning to do by trying Edwin Encarnacion in the outfield?

A - I'm not sure why, but this seems to be a popular question this week. There are no plans to transition Thames to second base, and there isn't anything to suggest the 25-year-old would be capable of playing the position.

The situation is not comparable to Encarnacion learning how to play left field. Second base requires a lot of lateral movement with quick reaction time, and Thames doesn't have the body type nor the skillset required for a middle-infield position. He is best suited as a corner outfielder or as a designated hitter.

Q - Will Jose Molina continue to back up J.P. Arencibia this year, or will he or the Jays be looking elsewhere? What are the options available should he not be around in 2012?

A - Toronto is expected to offer arbitration to Molina, but the veteran catcher should be able to find more guaranteed money through free agency.

The Type B free agent could net the Blue Jays a pick in next year's First-Year Player Draft, and it's the type of compensation that Anthopoulos highly covets. If Molina is unable to secure a better contract, he could find himself back in Toronto next year, but don't expect the situation to be resolved any time soon.

Toronto could explore the possibility of signing Chris Snyder if Molina does leave for another organization. The Blue Jays have expressed interest in Snyder in the past, and it would not be a surprise for the two sides to explore a potential contract. Snyder hit .271 with three homers and 17 RBIs last season for Pittsburgh, and he is currently a free agent.

Q - With all of the focus on Arencibia, what has happened to Brian Jeroloman, and how does he fit into the plan going forward?

A - Jeroloman spent the 2011 season as Toronto's first option to be called up if either of the club's two Major League catchers suffered an injury. That is expected to be his role again in 2012, and he'll likely spend the year backing up top prospect Travis d'Arnaud in Triple-A Las Vegas.

The 26-year-old Jeroloman didn't get a chance to play at the big league level this season because Arencibia and Molina did not require any time on the disabled list. If one of the two catchers goes down with an injury, then Jeroloman would slide into a backup role with the Blue Jays, but at this point, he just provides depth to the organization and does not fit into their long-term plans.

Q - I know that the Jays have said Brandon Morrow has a guaranteed job in 2012. But he was very disappointing this season, so I would like to know how much of a chance is there of him being traded.

A - There's no such thing as an untouchable player when it comes to Anthopoulos' team. Every player could be available for the right price, but when it comes to Morrow, that price would be extremely high and there's no reason to think a deal would be considered.

Morrow suffered through an inconsistent season in 2011, but seemed to find a groove late in the year. The 27-year-old took a more aggressive approach on the mound and also introduced a cut fastball that led to improved results.

People often forget that the 2011 season was only Morrow's second full year as a starting pitcher. There was bound to be some ups and down along the way, but Toronto certainly hasn't soured on its No. 2 starter.

The Blue Jays are looking at possible ways to upgrade their starting staff, and dealing Morrow would go against that initiative. The native of California arguably has the best pure stuff of any pitcher on the Blue Jays' roster, and the club still expects big things from him in the future.

SPORTSNET.CA

Thursday, November 17, 2011

INTERNATIONAL RISK

Yoennis Cespedes will definitely hit the market; it's just a matter of when.

Shi Davidi

Japanese ace Yu Darvish and Cuban centre-fielder Yoennis Cespedes are two of the off-season's most intriguing wildcards, a pair of players yet to hit the open market but who still have tongues wagging among potential suitors.

What to make of them, how much they are worth, and how much can they be expected to contribute upon arrival to the big-leagues are among the most challenging issues teams must answer before deciding whether to make a hard charge or look elsewhere for help.

Each is a proposition rife with risk and potential reward for the victor.

The Toronto Blue Jays have some interest in both, and team president Paul Beeston spent part of his day after arriving at the Pfister Hotel on Wednesday morning meeting with Adam Katz, the agent for Cespedes.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos also continues to show some interest in starter C.J. Wilson, who appears to have a number of suitors but whose contract demands may be sky-high.

The belief is the Blue Jays would prefer to invest in a top of the rotation starter rather than a big-name closer, but it's unclear how serious they are about Wilson, or perhaps fellow free agents Mark Buehrle or Roy Oswalt.

The trade market, with Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams revealing that he may rebuild the club and the Cubs in similar waters, may also open some possibilities for the Blue Jays.

GM Alex Anthopoulos did get one thing accomplished Wednesday, claiming right-handed reliever Cole Kimball off waivers from the Washington Nationals. The 26-year-old right-hander was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 games last season before his year was cut short by rotator cuff surgery on his shoulder.

As for Cespedes and Darvish, here's what we know about them thus far.

Cespedes will definitely hit the market; it's just a matter of when. The 26-year-old defector has already held workouts for a handful teams in the Dominican Republic, where he is working to gain temporary residency status, something that should happen in a week or two, before seeking free agency in baseball.

"He feels like he's major-league ready," Katz said of Cespedes.

Darvish's status is less certain.

The 25-year-old right-hander has kept his intentions a tightly guarded secret, although it is believed he will ask the Nippon Ham Fighters to post his negotiating rights. Once that happens, all 30 teams in the majors will have an opportunity to submit a silent bid which the winning club pays to the Fighters for a 30-day window to work out a contract with Darvish.

That makes landing him a far more complicated process than signing Cespedes, who can simply choose the best deal and go where he wants.

Darvish doesn't have that luxury, and one theory as to why he's yet to announce his intentions is that he'd like to see some teams make their moves as a way to exert some control over where he ends up.

He is also likely to wait until after the Japan Series - a best-of-seven currently tied 2-2 between the Softbank Hawks and the Chunichi Dragons - comes to an end to avoid stealing the spotlight.

Speaking in general terms, Anthopoulos essentially said at some point teams must stop waiting.

"At this time of year everybody has a lot of balls up in the air, whether it's trades, free agency, things like that, I think sometimes you just have to make a decision with what's available to you at the time," he said. "You realize if you make a decision to go one route, you may close yourself off to some other avenues, but I believe in this period sometimes a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. If you have a guarantee in terms of acquiring a player, it may not make sense to wait around."

Still, Anthopoulos and Texas Rangers counterpart Jon Daniels are the only GMs known to have travelled to Japan to watch Darvish pitch this season, an indication that their interest is sincere.

Several other Blue Jays scouts have also watched Darvish this season, part of what Anthopoulos described as a "year to start dipping our toe in the Asian market and to scout it and get an understanding of it."

Understanding all the elements at play is crucial when estimates for Darvish's posting fee range from $50-$100 million. The higher end seems unreal given the current high is the $51.1 million the Boston Red Sox put up in 2006 for Daisuke Matsuzaka, reportedly $10 million more than the next closest bid.

That year that New York Yankees also paid $26 million for the rights to pitcher Kei Igawa, who struggled badly and is now mired in their minor-league system.

Matsuzaka, recovering from Tommy John surgery, also hasn't lived up to expectations, and both he and Igawa offer reason to proceed cautiously with Darvish, as the history of both Japanese and Cubans show the difficulty in gauging how the skills transfer.

"It's a very good question," Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said when asked if scouting older international players is tougher than younger amateurs. "All of us that have been scouts, you always look at the tools, look at the age of a player and you look at his performance, how has he done in the arena that he's in.

"If it would be a player in Latin American, then you have to judge that as it is. If it's a player in Korea or Japan, you have to judge it as it is comparative to the talent that he's playing against."

Hideo Nomo is the most successful Japanese pitcher to have come across the Pacific, appearing in 323 games and winning 112 of them over 12 big-league seasons. Like many of his counterparts, he found initial success before tailing off, but unlike others, managed to rebound and post strong seasons in the latter part of his career.

Matsuzaka came out of the gates with two solid seasons, but has struggled on the mound and with health issues since.

Some feel, however, that Darvish may be different. The son of an Iranian father and Japanese mother, his frame is more like those of an American pitcher, perhaps better suited to sustain the rigours of a big-league season.

His personality is also different, with more of a flamboyant edge that should allow him to thrive in the spotlight that will follow him.

There will be cultural issues to be sure, as well, but the Blue Jays would be somewhat prepared to deal with those as manager John Farrell was the pitching coach in Boston when Matsuzaka came over. He would likely have some ideas on how to ease Darvish's transition.

The Rangers have a pair of Japanese relievers on their roster - Yoshinori Tateyama and Koji Uehara - and while that would appear to be a plus, that can complicate things because of the hierarchical nature of Japanese society, in which the young usually defer to their elders.

And those are all things that must be deal with after a team pays a hefty posting fee.

Some of that money can be recovered through additional advertising and marketing opportunities, but there are fewer of those with a Japanese pitcher than a position player since he doesn't play every day. In-stadium banner ads, for instance, only generate revenue on the day a starter pitches, which amounts to some 15-16 home dates in a season.

That's why a team must be convinced the baseball element is there, because that's the key payoff.

"I don't think you can have any certainty," Anthopoulos said of the challenges in evaluating players like Darvish. "You take all the information you have, put it all together and make the best determination and judgment that you can. You have to rely heavily on your scouts, and first-hand evaluations are more important than anything else when it comes to that because of the transition in leagues. Other than that, you hope you get the right eyes on the right players and that you get the right evaluation."

Gauging which other teams may have interest in Darvish isn't easy. The Yankees and Red Sox have both been surprisingly quiet on that front and Ben Cherington, the new GM in Boston, seemed to play down their potential interest.

"We had payroll room to be aggressive in acquiring a starter; we felt Daisuke was the best starter on the market that winter so we were aggressive. Different off-seasons, the needs may be different," he said. "We have what we feel are three really good healthy starting pitchers in our rotation, we're going to look to add to those. But the needs of the team may be different this off-season than they were in 2005-06."

On the other hand, Cherington does have some level of interest in Cespedes, and will check in on him when he heads to the Dominican Republic on Friday.

Several teams are kicking tires on the Cuban, the subject of a YouTube video produced by his representatives in the Dominican that has only added to the hype around him.

"I haven't seen anything quite like it since 'Spinal Tap,'" quipped Katz.

Already there are predictions he'll fetch more than the $30.25 million over six years they Cincinnati Reds handed left-hander Aroldis Chapman in 2010.

Anthopoulos regretted at the time the Blue Jays didn't have enough information to bid higher on Chapman, but that won't be an issue with Cespedes, who they've seen multiple times internationally.

Toronto's reputation as an international city popular with Latin American players may help lure him, as might the presence of Cuban shortstop Yunel Escobar and star right-fielder Jose Bautista.

Of course that matters little if the dollars aren't there, and it's unclear if they've made an evaluation to justify the expenditure.

Either way, like Darvish, he is a most intriguing possibility this winter.

JAYS TAKE FLIER ON KIMBALL

The Toronto Blue Jays have claimed reliever Cole Kimball off waivers from the Washington Nationals, the team announced Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Kimball appeared in in 12 games for Washington last season, posting a 1-0 record with a 1.93 ERA over 14 innings, his first season in the Major Leagues.

The Great Meadows, New Jersey native held opponents to a .174 average and had scoreless outings in 10 of his 12 appearances.

The 6-3, 225 lb right-hander also pitched in 12 relief outings for the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League and did not allow a run in 13.2 innings, while adding five saves.

Kimball had his season end prematurely after suffering a right shoulder injury leading to rotator cuff surgery on July 13.

The 12th round selection in 2006 by Washington has appeared in 166 career minor league games (45 starts) and has posted a 4.33 ERA with 33 saves, 222 walks and 389 strikeouts in 365.2 innings.

OTTAWA CITIZEN

Thursday, November 17, 2011

OTTAWA CLOSES IN ON JAYS' AFFILIATE FRANCHISE

City to go through process for Double-A relocation

Don Campbell

Professional baseball, this time featuring the Double-A farm team of the Toronto Blue Jays, will likely be back in Ottawa for the 2013 season.

That's the scenario that has emerged from interviews with various sources around the Double-A Eastern League, including league commissioner Joe McEacharn.

McEacharn confirmed Wednesday the league has given permission to Beacon Sports, a Massachusetts based brokerage firm, to explore Ottawa for the relocation of one of its existing franchises in time for the 2013 season.

Beacon Sports managing director Richard Billings was in Ottawa Wednesday to meet with city councillors, including Rick Chiarelli and Bob Monette, the two biggest proponents for the return of pro baseball to the capital.

In early December, Beacon Sports is expected to present the city with a proposal for a long-term lease on city-owned Ottawa Stadium in response to the city's call for bids to become a long-term tenant at the stadium.

City staff are scheduled to report to council in January with the results of the bidding process as well as the money that will be needed to get the stadium ready for baseball by 2013.

While Double-A baseball is one notch below the league in which the Ottawa Lynx played before the team's departure after the 2007 season, its teams are often better stocked with major-league prospects.

All signs indicate Ottawa would become the new home of the Eastern League franchise currently in Binghamton, New York. That would involve a swap of working agreements between the New York Mets, the major league parent team of the existing Binghamton club, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto's Double-A team now plays in Manchester, New Hampshire. That trade of affiliations would occur after the 2012 season.

But that would only happen if the bid process were successful and a deal could be struck between the city and Beacon Sports. If that goes ahead, Beacon Sports would immediately turn its attention to finding local investors who would own a portion of the team.

"We hope to have a sense if it's going to happen by early January," McEacharn said from his office in Portland, Maine. "And to get to that point seems consistent with the city timeline."

McEacharn said if the Ottawa bid falls into place, he would expect ownership to have its management team in place sometime next summer. McEacharn said with only 16 months between January 2012 and Opening Day 2013, Ottawa's new owners would face tight deadlines.

"Really, even at this point, for 2013, this is late," he said. "For any team to be successful, they have to be there this summer, developing a brand and creating a community awareness. This isn't (lowerlevel) independent ball where you just show up a week or two before the season.

"Ownership must be invested in the community. And if we are (in Ottawa) - the Eastern League will give it its all to make it successful."

A report by city staff has already said the stadium will need about $3.9 million in improvements over the next 10 years, and about $700,000 would need to be spent before a long-term baseball team could operate starting in 2013.

Based on the city's assessment study, it is suggested that up to $2.5 million is needed for various upgrades to bring the stadium up to standards required for a minor-league team affiliated with a major-league team.

Up to $5.1 million more could be spent to enhance the facility to the "industry standard." The report specifies all costs be borne by the potential tenant.

More likely, bidders will ask the city to bear the cost of some of the improvements.

The return of pro baseball goes against conventional thinking. The Lynx left the city after playing to dwindling crowds in their final seasons.

McEacharn said that is all part of the process.

"The (Ottawa) history cannot be ignored," he said. "At the same time, it's not dispositive. I look at Ottawa and see strengths and weaknesses, and, on the surface, Ottawa, given the right ownership and management, could be successful.

"And if there's a high likelihood of success there, we are interested. If not, we're not interested. We are not willing to accept failure."

A Double-A franchise relocating in a city where Triple-A baseball failed is not without precedent. The Eastern League went into Richmond, Virginia, in 2010 after the Triple-A Braves left following the 2008 season. The new Double-A team has been a big success.

THE HERALD BULLETIN

Thursday, November 17, 2011

MANNIE LEAVES STRONG LEGACY IN LOCAL BASEBALL

George Bremer

ANDERSON, Ind. — A 14-year-old Adam Lind sat on the bench, watching and waiting for his chance to shine during a Babe Ruth All-Star Game.

With his team down two runs and the bases loaded in the final inning, manager Rudy Mannie finally gave Lind that chance.

The future Toronto Blue Jays slugger strode confidently to the plate.

And promptly struck out.

In the immediate aftermath, the boy was in tears. Mannie did his best to console him and rebuild his confidence.

By winter, it was beginning to work.

“He said all winter long that he was going to meet this kid again, this pitcher, and he was going to hit a home run off of him,” Mannie told a Toronto Star reporter in 2007. “The next year, in the all-star game, they met up again. I think there were two men on this time, and Adam hit a home run. From there, I think that’s where Adam really took off. That was his moment.”

Perhaps.

But it was just one of many moments in a lifetime spent helping local youth learn to love the game for Mannie.

The erstwhile Anderson Babe Ruth president died Sunday after collapsing during his weekly church service. He was 63.

Doctors attempting to revive Mannie found one blood clot in each lung and evidence of cancer.

“None of us knew that he had lung cancer,” said Tammy Milburn, Anderson Babe Ruth’s vice president and Mannie’s longtime confidante. “We found out that day.”

Mannie never was one to talk much about himself, good or bad. Instead, he put all of his considerable focus into helping young people.

He was involved with Anderson Babe Ruth for 20 years, and he coached football and baseball in Muncie before that.

Three years ago, he became the Babe Ruth president and he grew the league from two teams to seven in that short span.

He could be found working at Crawford Field during all hours of the day and in all seasons of the calendar.

In many ways, the league became like a family for him.

“It’s hard to imagine it without him there,” Pendleton Heights assistant baseball coach Carlos Leyva said. “He lived Babe Ruth baseball and making that league go. Those were his kids.”

The day Mannie died, he still was hard at work on next season. In fact, he left Milburn a voice mail around 2 p.m. talking about a fundraiser he had planned at the Mounds Mall on Black Friday.

That kind of story won’t surprise anyone who knew Mannie.

Former Anderson University baseball coach Don Brandon remembers going out to Ivy Tech or Pendleton’s Fall Creek House in the dead of winter and working with players alongside Mannie.

Mannie was a fan of the New York Yankees and the Indiana Hoosiers, and he even liked to call himself the Black Bobby Knight.

Brandon said Mannie had more than a little of the old coach in him.

“He loved kids and he loved baseball,” Brandon said. “But he was strict. You learned how to play the game with him.”

It’s nearly impossible to find a former player who doesn’t love and respect Mannie.

Leyva and former Highland baseball coach Matt Bair were teammates on Mannie’s first Babe Ruth team in Anderson. Leyva later returned to the league to coach alongside Mannie and credits him with instilling his own desire to become a high school coach.

Lind felt so strongly about Mannie and the impact he’d had on his life, he paid to fly the coach out to New York in 2007 to get an up-close look at Yankee Stadium.

“I knew he was a big Yankees fan and figured there was no other way to get him out there,” Lind said. “I think it was like a dream come true for him.”

Mannie walked the grounds with a Yankees cap on his head and an IU jacket over his shoulders. The game that night was rained out, but Lind’s gesture drew the attention of the Blue Jays’ TV people and Mannie was mentioned on the broadcast the next day.

He likely would have hated that.

Mannie rarely sought out attention. He never thought of himself or his acts as special.

“He loved to fly under the radar and didn’t want a lot of recognition for the things he did,” Leyva said. “But they’re worthy of all the recognition in the world.”

In the hours following Mannie’s death, word spread quickly. Former players of all ages gathered at Crawford Field on Sunday evening, and Milburn sat with them and listened to their stories.

“I sat back in awe, thinking that one person made that big of an impact,” she said. “It was amazing to see these people want to go to the one place they thought he would be.”

There are plans to dedicate a plaque in Mannie’s honor when the next Babe Ruth season begins. And Milburn would like to see his name somehow permanently added to Crawford Field.

Other memorials already have begun.

The players that gathered Sunday placed three baseballs and some battery-operated candles on the pitcher’s mound at Crawford Field.

Storms tore through the area that night, but when Leyva and Brandon arrived the following morning the balls and candles somehow still were there.

“They kind of weathered the storm,” Leyva said.

Anderson Babe Ruth will weather the storm as well.

There will be an election to name a new president, and Milburn will throw her name in the hat. After 10 years working beside Mannie, she just wants to finish as much of his work as possible.

“When he passed away, I told my husband I lost my other half,” Milburn said. “I just want to keep his name out there. What he did for baseball is phenomenal.”

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