Alex Rodriguez
Rumors

Keith Law of espn.com recently got to see two high school shortstops who play in Florida and provide an updated scouting report on the pair.  One, Manny Machado, he calls the second best prospect in the draft - behind Bryce Harper and ahead of Jameson Taillon - and the other, Nick Castellanos, figures to be selected in the first round.

Manny Machado, Brito Miami Private HS, SS

Manny Machado is going to get the Alex Rodriguez comparison - tall, athletic, right-handed-hitting Latino shortstop from a Miami-area high school - but A-Rod Lite is more apt, since he's not preternaturally gifted as a hitter as A-Rod was. Machado can hit with strong, quick wrists, good rotation, and excellent extension through his swing.  He has a 70 (out of 80) arm and good hands at shortstop although there's some sentiment that he'll outgrow the position.  He's going to fill out significantly over the next 10 years, but he has the tools to be a plus defender at shortstop.

Nick Castellanos, Archbishop McCarthy High School, SS

Although Castellanos lacks the defensive acumen to play shortstop professionally, his bat is still strong enough to fit at third base.  Castellanos has very strong hands and wrists, so even though he still has an 18-year-old's build, he can generate power now.  Whatever team drafts him will likely do so to play third base or even possibly a corner outfielder if necessary.  His bat projects to hit for average and power when he reaches his mid-20s.

In the comments section of Law's report, he notes that the Pirates sent a number of talent evaluators to watch Machado.  Drew Pomeranz is also a named being linked to the Pirates with the second overall pick.  Either way would leave Taillon for the Orioles with the third pick, something they'd be excited about.  The Mets have also been linked to Machado if he ever lasted to their pick, #7, but the Royals have not shown much interest picking at #4.

to read the entire article, please visit espn.com.

Buster Olney of espn.com gave us updates today about the various pitchers that are available and the teams going after them in his latest post.

The most obvious player is the Phillies who were looking for pitching at the start of the month when Chan Ho Park and Jaime Moyer were not pitching well.  Now that Brett Myers needs hip surgery (is this anecdotal, or are we seeing more hip surgeries recently?  Chase Utley, Mike Lowell, A-Rod and now Myers...) the Phillies border on desperate. 

Pedro Martinez doesn't seem to make much sense for Citizens Bank Ballpark and he'd like tax an already overworked bullpen with five and six inning starts. Jake Peavy and Roy Oswalt are options, but both the Padres and Astros are expected to ask for significant compensation something the Phillies might not be able to afford.  Erik Bedard is another option, but the Mariners gave us so much (Adam Jones and Chris Tillman) they may try to ask for something similar in return which might not be worth it. 

That leaves the most logical option and the one that has been frequently mentioned already: Brad Penny of the Red Sox.  Boston is a good match for the Phillies because they're rumored to be interested in shortstop Jason Donald.  The Red Sox have been rumored to be interested in Jack Wilson as well becuase of the difficulty they've had at shortstop this year, but Donald may be more appealing.

There has been plenty of reaction to the news that Manny Ramirez tested positive for a performance enhancing drug yesterday:

• Gerry Callahan of the Boston Herald writes that Manny's stupidity got him caught.
• John Harper of the New York Daily News thinks Ramirez should not get into the Hall of Fame.
• George Vecsey of the New York Times notes that upcoming Hall of Fame ceremonies will lack cache without big stars like Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez in them.
• Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times points out that Ramirez will lose $7.7M because of the suspension.
• Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union-Tribune wonders if the Dodgers now have enough money to trade for Jake Peavy after the money they save on Ramirez suspension.
• Bill Plaschke of the LA Times thinks that the Dodgers should cut Manny.
• TJ Simers of the LA Times believes Ramirez has some 'splainin' to do.
• Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post does not believe Ramirez.
• Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says we shouldn't over look the other bad guys in the Ramirez case.
• Randy Youngman of the Orange County Register does not think anyone should be surprised by the suspension. Lance Berkman wasn't surprised.
• Eric Neal of espn.com thinks that Dodgers fans will get angry with Manny in the coming days.
• Peter Gammons of espn.com points out the danger any future employer of Ramirez takes on because Manny is one failed drug test away from missing 2/3 of the season.

Let's take a spin around the baseball rumors today:

• Tom Glavine is expected to make a decision in the next day or two on whether to accept the Braves offer.  Mark Bowman of mlb.com reports that Glavine was scheduled to meet with Braves general manager Frank Wren today.
• The Yankees will not void Alex Rodriguez's contract because he admitted to steroid use in 2001-2003 while with the Texas Rangers.
• The Royals have not ruled out adding more players via free agency, but Royals general manager Dayton Moore noted that to add players, they'd have to subtract payroll in the process.
• Dan Uggla had his arbitration hearing today.  A decision is expected Thursday or Friday.
• Despite earlier rumors that the Diamondbacks are interested in bringing Juan Cruz back, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic believes that the team is unlikely to bring Cruz back because they would not get a compensation pick unless he signs with another team.
• The Blue Jays signed Kevin Millar.
• Jake Peavy says that he's happy to be staying in San Diego.
• Giants general manager Brian Sabean doesn't envision a scenario where he would trade Jonathan Sanchez.
• Brian Roberts is still trying to work out a long term extension with the Orioles.

Alex Rodriguez admitting to steroid use is dominating the headlines today, but there's till news to report.

• Adam Kennedy was released by the Cardinals.
• Jeff Weaver has agreed to a minor league contract with the Dodgers.
• Rich Aurilia has signed with the Giants for $1M for 2009 if he makes the team.
• The Brewers are very close to announcing that they have signed Braden Looper to a one year contract for 2009 with a team option for 2010.
• Rockier general manager Dan O'Dowd stated today that the team is no longer interested in Joe Beimel.
• Morgan Ensberg and the Rays have agreed to a minor league deal.
• The As signed Edgar Gonzalez to a minor league deal.
• The Diamondbacks may still be interested in bringing Juan Cruz back.
• The Astros were not interested in Adam Dunn and are not in on Bobby Abreu either.
• There are allegedly two teams still interested in Ken Griffey Jr. and his agent expects to have a deal completed by next week.

Let's take a look at the latest Mark Teixeira rumros:

• All the drama started today with a revealing statement from Red Sox owner John Henry: "We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor."
• Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, had a fairly standard response: "The Boston ownership was kind enough to request and travel to meet with Mark Teixeira. While it was a very positive meeting Mark was candid and advised he is in the process of making a decision and is now attempting to eliminate teams."
• Alex Speier of WEEI gives us his take on the two statements and reviews the tepid history between Boras and the Red Sox.
• Joel Sherman of the New York Post compares the possibility of Teixeira signing with the Nationals to Alex Rodriguez unexpectedly signing with the Rangers in 2000.  The Nationals are still waiting to hear from Teixeira regarding their contract offer.
• Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times spoke with Torii Hunter who spoke with Teixeira who told Hunter that the Angeles offer "blew everyone away."  DiGiovanna reports that the Red sox offer is believed to be approximately eight years and $175M while the Angels offer is believed to be in excess of eight years and $160M.
• George King of the New York Post says that Brian Cashman tells him that the Yankees were not the team who allegedly outbid the Red Sox.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated is suggesting that the Dodgers will attempt to keep Manny Ramirez in Los Angeles by going above market value on a per year basis, but offering fewer years keeping the total amount of the contract a bit lower, reducing the risk and ultimate cost to the Dodgers.  Heyman mentions that rumors about the per year amount are in the Alex Rodriguez level, $27M per year.  Ned Colletti did mention that the team had not spoken with Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras, yet.

Yesterday, it was reported that Manny Ramirez casually suggested that he could get a six year contract in free agency.  It now appears to be not-so-casual.  Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports that Scott Boras feels that Ramirez deserves a six year contract, pointing out that Barry Bonds played into his 40s and that Alex Rodriguez is signed into his 40s as well.  In a recent conversation with Boras, the New York Post's Joel Sherman writes that Boras strongly hinted at a six year deal then as well.

Buster Olney takes a look at reasons why general manager Brian Cashman should leave New York when his contract runs up at the end of the 2008 season or return to the team he's worked for his entire life. 

Go:

1. Alex Rodriguez: If his production ever started to wane as the slugger continues on the wrong side of 30, he'd be virtually impossible to move because of his contract and chase of Barry Bonds home run record
2. An exit from New York would dramatically reduce Cashman's daily stress level.  That's no secret.
3. Hank Steinbrenner: He may not have much involvement with the actual operation of the team, but his blusterings every week or so are a mess that Cashman often ends up cleaning
4. Derek Jeter: The fan favorite and future Hall of Famer is declining defensively at shortstop and will ultimately need to be moved to the outfield or first base.  That's not going to be a pleasant conversatoin

Stay:

1. Cashman has lived his entire life in New York.  So has his wife.
2. The Yankees embattled general manager has been with New York for over two decades and truly feels that the Yankees are a special part of New York that needs to be handled properly.  He's certainly been the man to do that so far.
3. No team in baseball can provide Cashman with the money, personel and access that a general manager can want to develop a team...with the right direction.
4. In 2005 Cashman took over the baseball operations department and rededicated the team to the amateur draft, the way the Yankees built the 96-00 dynasty.  The Yankees are still a few years away from seeing the fruits of that organizational change and Cashman may want to finish what he started.
5. If Cashman does stay and the team is able to turn things around with a philosophical change to making the draft important again, Cashman will certainly go down as one of the most influential front office men in Yankees history, if not all of baseball as well.