Ortiz bails out on Yankees
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 17, 2009 
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Via Ken Rosenthal:
Yankees Class AAA right-hander Russ Ortiz has exercised his right to become a free agent, according to his agent, John Boggs.
Ortiz, 35, had the right to become a free agent if the Yankees did not promote him to the majors after three starts.
He made his third start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, allowing three runs in four innings after pitching 13 scoreless innings in his previous two starts. Ortiz was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA for SWB after going 3-6 with a 5.57 ERA for the Astros, who released him on July 30.
The Yankees, unable to currently offer Ortiz a spot on their major-league roster, asked him to remain in their organization. But Ortiz wants to be part of a contender and return to the postseason, Boggs said.
“But Ortiz wants to be part of a contender and return to the postseason, Boggs said.”
And I want to hit Mega Millions. What did the Rolling Stones say? You can’t always get what you want.
good
Laura-
$170 million jackpot tomorrow!!!!
SO he prefers his chance that some contender signs him than the Yankees call him up when the roster expands? Oh well.
which “contender” does he think is going to sign him?
Rishi
August 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
which “contender” does he think is going to sign him?
***
The Mets
Erica – always OPPC
August 17th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Rishi
August 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
which “contender” does he think is going to sign him?
***
The Mets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
the Yankees are the best freakin team in the league what better contender is there???? boy he is stupid plus Mitre and Joba are both in jeporady of thre rptation spots WOW!!
Good riddance. Russ Ortiz, makes Dice K look like Maddux in terms of control.
^^can someone translate that?
Rishi August 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
which “contender” does he think is going to sign him?
________________
Texas..
Scott “Gordon Gekko” Boras strikes again:
Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said the team offered Washington a bonus “consistent with late first round picks,” but could not come to an agreement with Washington and his agent, Scott Boras.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....picks.html
I shouldn’t denigrate him too much, though, since he played his role in helping Teixeira humiliate the Boston FO. Well played on that one.
LOL what a joke. Rosters expand in September and I’m sure he would be called up…. whatever team he goes to now is not going to have as good a shot at winning as the Yankees do. Good riddance.
Russ Ortiz? huh? Never heard of this guy.
Yankee fans are great.
Russ Ortiz is “stupid” because he doesn’t think he has a chance to replace Joba in the rotation.
Joba’s spot in the rotation is only in jeopardy on the internet.
The yankees were not going to put Ortiz on the 40 man roster. So he wasn’t going to get called up.
Poor Russ. He walked off the mound with a lead in game 6 of 2002. Dusty handed him the ball. Poor form. Then the Giants’ pen coughed up the game to those Roid Monkey Angels. Just a bad scene all the way around.
As long as Kei Igawa is here when the rosters expand, I’m a happy camper. I mean, Who doesn’t want to see the “K” Man come September?
“$170 million jackpot tomorrow!!!!”
$106 if you take it in cash.
Ortiz knew he had no chance here and wants to go to a place where he can pitch. He isin’t going to the postseason with us.
What’s the big deal?
“the Yankees are the best freakin team in the league what better contender is there???? boy he is stupid plus Mitre and Joba are both in jeporady of thre rptation spots WOW!!”
joba’s job is as safe as 23 year old’s job can be
Rish – hmmm. I think that could be a jinxy thing. Why don’t we wait til the end of August and then decide whether we should do it. I think it will be cool by then.
Just a drive by to say:
1. A good listen if you want to hear panic and total Monday morning quarterbacking is WEEI. But I am not putting them down entirely because I hear some of the same stuff here and we’re up 7.5! Of course I enjoy listening to it, what with the Sux being such a fav of mine.
2. I have the right to feel any way I want, even if nobody else feels the same way. I am going to detest Stephen Strasburg if he doesn’t sign with the Nats. It doesn’t have to make sense to you. I love the Nats. How in hell did the Rays get to the top of the heap? By signing the top guns. But with Boreass as his agent, I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t do it, even though I understand they offered him the highest signing bonus ever offered.
3. I believe that the Ortiz karma has permeated RSN and the Suxers themselves. I understand Wakefield limped off the mound on Saturday so they have some concerns there.
Later y’all!
The guy isin’t even on the 40 man and wouldn’t have been called up once the rosters expanded (why create a 40 man spot for him, when they already gave one to Towers).
He saw the writing on the wall and decided to see what else is out there. Smart move by him. Why toil away in the minors?
Then why did Ortiz bother signing with the Yankees? Whose rotation is he going to join? The Sox? Maybe…Rangers? They don’t need him. Angels? Do they need him? I don’t think so. Phillies?
It sort of stinks as that’s just one less arm the Yankees have to turn to, but oh well.
Laura-
I would definitely take the lump sum
There goes the final piece to the Verlander deal
Joba’s spot in the rotation is only in jeopardy on the internet.
____________________________________________________________
LOL
Um… all veterans are given these opt our clauses and most exercise them. ortiz isin’t the only one.
he wants to be in the big leagues, can’t blame him.
Via Me….
HE SUCKS
Who knows whether to believe that report about the Sox’ offer to the Jays? If true, the Jays were fools not to accept it. I’m not looking forward to the off-season, where Halladay will definitely be traded….more agita about him going to the Sox.
“I would definitely take the lump sum”
Me too. Can you imagine the look on the bank teller’s face when you go to deposit that check? LOL!
He signed here because he probably thought he had a legit shot at the #5 starter spot. But we brought in Gaudin, added Towers to the 40 man, and there didn’t seem to be any place for him, and he noticed it and bailed out.
He doesn’t owe us anything, he has to look out for his own career.
Ortiz is probably even behind Igawa on the depth chart. Can’t blame him for trying to look around for a better opportunity to be added to an ML roster.
checked the MLB Trade Rumors/Heyman report.
personally, i don’t think Boston’s offer was all that great.
not exactly the equivelent of: Joba, Montero, and Ajax
Laura – I like the new and improved Alex! He’s a keeper.
August 17th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
“I would definitely take the lump sum”
Me too. Can you imagine the look on the bank teller’s face when you go to deposit that check? LOL!
****
LOL.
Although, I definitely don’t think that is an amount of money you just stick in your checking account
“He doesn’t owe us anything, he has to look out for his own career.”
I don’t think that anyone here is saying that he does. Him wanting to go to another team makes sense. What’s so strange is his proclamation that he wants to play for a contender and get to the postseason. Isn’t that a bit unrealistic considering that the guy doesn’t seem to pitch that well? That’s the part that struck me as odd.
“Although, I definitely don’t think that is an amount of money you just stick in your checking account”
No. But it would be fun to do just to see the expression on the teller’s face.
Laura – I like the new and improved Alex! He’s a keeper.
August 17th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
“$170 million jackpot tomorrow!!!!”
$106 if you take it in cash.
————————————
$246 million for the powerball… one advantage if u live in pa/nj border.. u can play both poweball and megamillions
Oh no! Vegas adjusted our odds of winning the World Series after the Russ Ortiz betrayal hit the wire, we’re not the favorites anymore!
“$170 million jackpot tomorrow!!!!”
$106 if you take it in cash.
—————————
And then they take taxes out. So you’d be looking at around 62 mil. Nothing to sneeze as for sure….but not 170 mil either.
Ortiz couldn’t handle the heat the 5th starter race.
When it was just Sergio Mitre it was semi tolerable but now with Gaudin added to the mix?
Who could live with such pressure?
“And then they take taxes out. So you’d be looking at around 62 mil. Nothing to sneeze as for sure….but not 170 mil either.”
62mil is more than I have right now so you won’t get any complaints from me. Hell, I’d be happy with $62,000 as well!
“$246 million for the powerball… one advantage if u live in pa/nj border.. u can play both poweball and megamillions ”
I’m in Chicago. IL has Mega while IN has Powerball. I’m surrounded by millions.
Odds? He’s the heavy in Vegas. Russ Ortiz counts cards like a hard drive.
Isn’t Ortiz’s number 21?
Laura – I like the new and improved Alex! He’s a keeper.
August 17th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
“And then they take taxes out. So you’d be looking at around 62 mil. Nothing to sneeze as for sure….but not 170 mil either.”
62mil is more than I have right now so you won’t get any complaints from me. Hell, I’d be happy with $62,000 as well!
*****
Exactly.
I would be jumping up and down if I found $62 dollars at this point. LOL
No that is not a CB imposter, it’s really him!
My theory is that all these guys just hate Scranton, PA. Maybe if the AAA affiliate played somewhere more cosmpolitan, we could keep real veteran talents like Russ Ortiz in the organization…
WEEI is GREAT radio.. It is making the last hour of my workday a pleasure. I listened to the site before, don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to tune in last week or today until now.
Thanks Trisha
For $62 million, I’d get Legends seats for a half-season.
Russ Ortiz is the Edward Thorp of baseball.
If reports are believable, the yankees are still negotiating with Bryan Mitchell, Chad Thompson, and Evan DeLuca and that’s about it.
They are not negotiating with Cody Stiles. He’s hi stylin it to UNC.
Hey I can’t wait for Wednesday night–Buccholz vs. Halladay, a couple of “aces” squaring off at the artist formerly known as the SkyDome. I’m sure some Red Sox fans will weep throughout imagining how closer to the playoffs they would be had Theo’s poo-poo platter of overhyped prospects been enough to get them Halladay.
If I win the jackpot, Guess the Line Up goes professional.
Btw- the game will be held today from 5-6:40.
Erica – always OPPC
August 17th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
If I win the jackpot, Guess the Line Up goes professional.
Btw- the game will be held today from 5-6:40.
—————————
Erica, If i win it, I’m buying the rights for GTLU from you
Now Erica, that was the most selfless, endearing thing that anyone has ever said on this blog.
Erica, thanks. Now I’ll have something to do until 5:00
I would rather start Ortiz than Gaudin.
Russ should go sign with Boston. Then, Big Papi will only be the 2nd best Ortiz on the team.
If reports are believable, the yankees are still negotiating with Bryan Mitchell, Chad Thompson, and Evan DeLuca and that’s about it.
—-
wonder if they come back to Lyons and Meade
Ed H.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Now Erica, that was the most selfless, endearing thing that anyone has ever said on this blog
****
Aww thanks. You made me blush
Theo Epstein is enamored with junk pile types. Maybe Russ Ortiz can join the immortal Paul Byrd on the Suxies staff.
Blackaccord
August 17th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Erica – always OPPC
August 17th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
If I win the jackpot, Guess the Line Up goes professional.
Btw- the game will be held today from 5-6:40.
—————————
Erica, If i win it, I’m buying the rights for GTLU from you
*****
Hahaha. I would sell. But beware, it would not be cheap. I enjoy being the GTLU Nazi!
Not getting to call up Russ Ortiz? Damn! Does that mean Ed Whitson is unavailable?
I’m not giving up my amateur status if GTLU goes pro! lol
For those who need a reminder, here are the current standings for GTLU:
After 18 rounds, there have been 51 different winners. Here are the participants with 2 wins or more:
Ramey – 5 Wins – 7/22, 7/21, 8/6, 8/7, 8/11
Miggs – 4 wins – 7/23, 8/6, 8/11, 8/13
Andrew – 3 wins – 7/27, 8/6, 8/11
CM – 3 wins – 8/5, 8/6, 8/7
NYY626 – 3 wins – 8/4, 8/6, 8/7
Patrick (the Prospect Hugger) – 3 Wins – 7/27,7/17, 8/7
WTWVTSC- 3 Wins – 7/24, 8/6, 8/11
YankeeRay – 3 Wins – 8/5, 8/6, 8/7
Yanksfan – 3 Wins – 7/28, 7/29, 8/6
Dan the Man – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/7
Eights – 2 wins – 7/27, 8/6
Evan D – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/11
Henner – 2 wins – 7/27, 8/7
IDCWYT – 2 wins – 7/28, 8/6
Jon Locke – 2 wins – 8/5, 8/6
RayVT – 2 wins – 8/5, 8/7
SA – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/7
Upstate Kate – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/7
William Buckner – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/11
Joe Girardi (no winner) 7/30, 7/31, 8/10, 8/12
Send “Blue Skies” as a Ringtone to Your Cell
Blue skies smilin’ at me
Nothin’ but blue skies do I see
Bluebirds singin’ a song
Nothin’ but bluebirds all day long
Erica, did you get my email? If not, let me know – you might need to email me.
I don’t get Michael Kay. Now he thinks Tiger Woods had a Buster Douglas moment? Tiger is going to fall apart now? What is equally annoying is that he just explained why Tiger rubs him the wrong way – he’s robotic, not enough of an everyman, etc…. (that doesn’t bother me at all, I like Tiger). Yet, he doesn’t like Nick Swisher….and Nick IS like the everyman. Of course, he doesn’t like AJ pieing people either…..I’m not quite sure what Kay wants from athletes
He has to have knowledge that someone else would take him right?
Betsy-
I never got anything
. I would have written you back
Bucholz (I can not spell his name for my life, and I’m a good speller) is pitching well now……..
Erica, I had this same problem with Trish. I wonder if you’d have better luck e-mailing me…..If you don’t mind, I will ask Pete tonight (can’t do it from work) if he wouldn’t mind sending you my e-mail address. This is extremely annoying……
**Also, I know you would have emailed me back.**
Yeah how dare Ortiz try and seek work elsewhere rather than staying in the minors!!!
No, he isin’t stupid, He is actually smart. He realized there was not a realistic job available for him in the majors with us, so he decided to try and find another one. Happens all the time. Those are the smart ones, not the ones who stay in the minors all season without a prayer of joining a ML roster but think they do…
One of my all-time favorite moments in sports commentary was when Jim Lampley described Buster Douglas as having “a heart as big as the ecomomic power of Japan.”
Russ Ortiz said he wanted to be APART of a contender that returns to the postseason. Not the minor league affiliate of a contender.
Did people seriously think he was trying to imply the Yankees were no contenders? Crazy…
Betsy-
I will e-mail you then as soon as Pete sends it to me!
He should be happy to be a part of the Yankees franchise.
Great, Erica – I will email Pete as soon as I get home.
Funny how I read that as “Ortiz Bails out the Yankees” like he was doing us a favor by leaving.
I don’t get the hate. Gotta admire the competitive spirit these guys have. The deal is they all want to pitch in the bigs, even if it’s for some scrub team like the Padres, or heck even the Mets need pitching now.
Can’t hate on these guys at all. Even Tomko. Hopefully the Yankees will be sending him a huge fruit basket or art kit after the game.
Russ Ortiz was smart – there was no way he was going to catch up to Igawa’s 28 Scranton wins.
In this economy, I doubt Scranton would build another statue to a great AAA pitcher either.
(I wish the headline above was “Ortiz quits” – John Henry would have gotten himself in a twitter over that)
I just bought my first ever lottery ticket.
“I just bought my first ever lottery ticket.”
Tom – buying them is easy. selling them tomorrow is harder.
Tom in N.J.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I just bought my first ever lottery ticket.
****
Were you insprired by the idea of buying the rights to GTLU from me as well?
CB,
just caught your writeup on Heathcott. Thanks for that.
I’ll definitely keep my eye on him when he gets started in the Yanks system.
The Yanks have restored my faith as far as their eye for young talent and this seems like another step forward.
If the day comes that the Yankees have a top-3 farm system (doesn’t seem too far fetched), the rest of the league may just curl up in a ball and pout.
“Tom – buying them is easy. selling them tomorrow is harder.”
Yeah, surprisingly enough, there’s no market on eBay for old non-winning lottery tickets.
The yankees don’t even need a top 3 farm system. By merely being better than average the yankees command an incredible advantage over everyone else.
Other teams need a top farm system that graduates players year after year to stay competetive with the league and the yankees. The yankees ability to sign free agents means they merely need to be able to fill gaps with their farm and produce helpful pieces to be a great team.
Lets face it, unless the yankees hit on a number of pitching prospects they will never have a top 3 farm system due to the lack of impact position players that drop to where the yankees are picking.
I’ll take top 15, or top 10.
why do people insist on putting a second “i” in isn’t?
I saw the headline on the post and thought David Ortiz might be deciding to sit this weekend:)
Good for Russ Ortiz. If he thinks he can make a comeback and have a positive impact for someone at age 35 he should go for it. Personally, I could care less. His decision has zero impact on the 2009 Yankees. Baseball is a business. Ortiz used the Yankees and made a business decision, just as the Yankees did by tendering him a contract with very narrow parameters.
DT-HA! I hadn’t thought of that….
Erica, nah. If I were to buy GTLU from you it would be a disatser. I’d be the Isiah Thomas of it.
Valerie
August 17th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
why do people insist on putting a second “i” in isn’t?
****
What exactly are you nitpicking about??? Did I spell nitpick correctly????
Tom in N.J.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
DT-HA! I hadn’t thought of that….
Erica, nah. If I were to buy GTLU from you it would be a disatser. I’d be the Isiah Thomas of it.
*****
LOL. Would you make bad business decisions or harass the employees in an unacceptable manner?
aubrey huff was traded to the tigers for a minor leaguer
Valerie
August 17th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
why do people insist on putting a second “i” in isn’t?
————————————————————
I have a theory that people are conspiring to annoy you.
listening to David Wright press conference. DO you think the photogs have enough pictures? I mean how many do you need to take of him. I’m sure he still has a headache and those flash bulbs don’t help.
I have a theory that people are conspiring to annoy you.
—
That isin’t it.
File this one under Whatever.