Notable Umps Rapuano Tschisa Cousins Retire - RealGM Wiretap

Major League Baseball has announced the retirement of crew chiefs Ed Rapuano Cheap NFL Jerseys China , Tim Tschida and Derryl Cousins.

Jim Joyce, Ted Barrett and Fieldin Culbreth have been promoted to crew chiefs as the roster of umpires was shuffled.

Vic Carapazza, Manny Gonzalez and Alan Porter have been hired as full-time staff members after they split time between the majors and minors in recent years.

Dodgers Brewers Swap Involving Braun Puig Was Never Close - RealGM Wiretap

Recent reports have suggested that the Los Angeles Dodgers nearly sent Yasiel Puig as part of a package to the Milwaukee Brewers for Ryan Braun.

A source told Jon Heyman that "there was a lot of dialogue but [a swap] was never close."

Regardless, it seems as though the two clubs could revisit talks this winter.

Padres Sign Will Venable To Extension - RealGM Wiretap

The San Diego Padres have signed Will Venable to a two-year contract extension through 2015.

Venable will make $4.25 million in each of the next two seasons.

The outfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough 2013 season, batting .273 with team highs of 20 home runs Cheap NFL Jerseys , 49 RBIs and 55 runs scored.

Trouts Agent Implies He Wanted $1M Salary - RealGM Wiretap

Mike Trout's agent implied in talks with the Angels that his client coveted a $1 million salary for this season, according to sources.

The figure would have been the largest ever paid to a player with fewer than two years of service.

Trout, as a pre-arbitration player, had no leverage. And the Angels simply followed a scale that they use for all of their pre-arbitration players.

The team renewed Trout for $510,000 -- the top of their scale for one-plus players Cheap Jerseys From China , but just $20,000 above the major-league minimum.

A source said that the Angels actually made Trout a higher offer than $510,000, then renewed him as a punitive measure when he would not accept. Another source, however Cheap China Jerseys , said the Angels did not negotiate in any fashion, refusing to deviate from their scale.

Report Showalter Selig Discuss A Rod Comments - RealGM Wiretap

Buck Showalter reportedly spoke with Bud Selig earlier this month in the wake of his comments about Alex Rodriguez.

The New York Times described the talk as "productive."

Showalter had told USA Today Sports that if Selig suspended Rodriguez for the 2014 season, it would be unfair because the New York Yankees would benefit financially. They would not have to pay him his $25 million salary for 2014, saving significant money against the luxury tax and revenue sharing.

Rodriguez was eventually was suspended through the 2014 season. He is appealing the ban.

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