Royals picking up ALL of Berroa's contract
I'm sure the trade wouldn't have gotten done any other way. ... By the way, there are 10 sumo wrestlers here who were on the field during Cubs batting practice, with the grand champion hanging out at the batting cage with Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry. Thankfully, they all wore kimonos. They are in town for the Sakura Cup, to be held starting tomorrow at the Sports Arena.
Gurnick's reporting this:
"The Dodgers were willing to pick up virtually all of the remaining $3.5 million on Berroa's $11 million, four-year contract that runs through 2008 with a 2009 option. It was either pay the price in money or top prospects. He earns $4.75 million this year with a $500,000 buyout of a $5.5 million option next year."
Which is it?
According to my sources -- two of them -- the Royals are picking up ALL of it. Berroa had no future in that organization, so I'm guessing they just wanted to get rid of him and give him a fresh start. Wouldn't have made any sense for the Dodgers to pick up much, if any, of it.
Seems other places are reporting that the Dodgers got cash as well.
"The Royals traded Berroa and cash to the Dodgers on Friday in exchange for Juan Rivera, the Royals' official site reports."
"Berroa will head to Triple-A Las Vegas for now. The 30-year-old former Rookie of the Year was hitting .291/.323/.519 with 10 homers for Triple-A Omaha. He'll be an option as a part-timer if the Dodgers' infield doesn't get healthy soon. The cash picked up by the Dodgers in the deal will likely cover the vast majority of the approx. $3.5 million he was still owed under the teams of his four-year deal. In Rivera, the Royals are picking up a non-prospect. The 21-year-old was hitting .241/.267/.345 in 10 games for low Single-A Great Lakes."
Dunno.