Chase Headley traded to Yankees, gets game-winning hit in debut
It's too little, too late for the Padres, who waited two years after Headley's career year in 2012 (31 HR, 115 RBI) to trade him when his value was at its highest. As a result, the package from the Yankees isn't that impressive: minor leaguers Rafael DePaula and Yangervis Solarte. Headley was hitting .323 in July at the time of the trade on Tuesday, and arrived in time to get the walk-off hit in the 14th inning that same day.
Phillies want to trade Ryan Howard
Howard has $70 million remaining on his five-year extension signed in 2010, and other GMs have said the Phillies would be willing to eat a lot of that money. The guy can't hit lefties and is hitting in the .220s; what's that worth to other teams? My guess would be not much.
McGwire on unfriendly terms with Jose Canseco
Canseco attended the A's honoring of the 1989 World Series team last weekend, while McGwire was conspicuously absent because of his duties with the Dodgers. Mac is still unwilling to forgive his fellow Bash Brother for writing a book and spilling the beans about the PED industry in 2005. Canseco has apologized to McGwire for outing him in the book, but Mac is unwilling to let bygones be bygones.
It's too late. I don't care to ever speak to him again. What he did was wrong.
I'm not the biggest Jose Canseco fan either, but Mac needs to learn life's too short to hold a grudge.
Bryant Gumbel: If LaRussa is in the Hall, McGwire should be too
Gumbel said on his HBO sports show that 43% of LaRussa's managerial wins came as McGwire's manager and that McGwire deserves the Hall of Fame every bit as much as LaRussa. My problem with his logic is this: How often did McGwire's contribution directly correlate with a win? Of his 583 home runs, how many of them strongly influenced the outcome of the game? My guess is very few, or not enough that it would make a substantial difference in LaRussa's win total. Plus, LaRussa's winning percentage in 14.5 seasons with McGwire (.510) is lower than his 10 years managing post-McGwire (.530).
Theo Epstein upset over Cardinals gift draft pick
In 2012, MLB implemented a way for small-market, small-revenue teams to gain an extra draft pick with a competitive-balance lottery. The Cardinals, the defending NL champs, actually received one of the picks this year and Cubs GM Theo Epstein isn't happy about it.
It's not necessarily the type of thing [the Cardinals] need, given their performance on the field and off the field. They do a fantastic job, and it just doesn't seem like something they need at this point.
BONUS: Ryan Raburn pulls a Melky