Is it true?

It is according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, who reported that 21-year major league veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez will announce his retirement on Monday.

Sources: Pudge Rodriguez will announce his retirement Monday in Dallas. #rangers #marlins

April 18, 2012 4:57 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@clarkspencer

clarkspencer

This, after the 40-year old free agent had hoped to latch on with a team this off-season, but no offers to his liking ever emerged.

Pudge failed to attract interest after batting just .218/.281/.323 with two home runs and 19 RBI in 137 plate appearances last season for the Nationals.

He'll finish up with 2,844 career hits, 311 career homers and a .296/.344/.464 career slash line.

Rodriguez, who won 13 Gold Glove awards will go down as one of the best defensive catchers of all time, and as a fitting end to a sparkling career behind the plate, will retire with the Rangers with whom he started his career in 1991.

But perhaps the one thing that Pudge will be remembered for is bringing life  back to hapless Detroit baseball.

To Tigers fans,  Pudge was the straw that stirred the drink, and without him there would have been no huge superstars in Detroit.

Happy Retirement, Pudge.

Now here's the type of rumor I've been craving as we close in on the July 31st deadline:

Is Roy Halladay on the move?

Dan Graziano of the Star Ledger reports that the Toronto Blue Jays are quietly contacting teams (namely the Cardinals and Dodgers) to gauge interest and the possible returns for ace pitcher, Roy Halladay.

Graziano states:

Apparently, the returns other teams are getting for top-talent pitchers such as C.C. Sabathia, Rich Harden and Erik Bedard has inspired the Blue Jays to at least find out what it could get for one of the best pitchers in the American League. It remains unlikely that they'd deal him, but you never know.

The teams mentioned are the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers both teams that are "far, far away from the AL East."

Obviously acquiring a pitcher of Halladay's caliber would require a large package of players and prospects and would likely surpass the bounty Milwaukee paid for C.C. Sabathia. Not only is Halladay pitching incredibly well, compiling an 11-7 record with a 2.89 ERA, but he's also under contract until 2010, making him MUCH more appealing than a rental like Sabathia.

It would not at all be surprising for a package from either team to include their top rated prospects who had previously been labeled "untouchable" (Colby Rasmus for the Cardinals and Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers).

As a Cardinals or Dodgers fan, what would you want your team to give up to acquire Halladay?

The Cleveland Indians have dealt ace pitcher, and reigning Cy Young award winner, CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers for a package of 4 prospects. The Brewers will now have one of the best 1-2 punches in the league by pairing Sabathia with ace Ben Sheets. However, the Brew Crew also gave up an impressive package for a player who is certainly just a rental (Sabathia will be a free agent at the end of the season). The Indians received:

Matt LaPorta
Rob Bryson
Zack Jackson
and a player to be named later (rumored to be Taylor Green)

LaPorta was said to be untouchable when the year began so the Indians certainly didn't give away their ace. LaPorta, a power hitter, was ranked as the 23rd best prospect overall last year by Baseball America.

The trade would seem to put the Brewers into the favorite roll (supplanting the St. Louis Cardinals) for the NL Wild Card if not for the NL Central title as well. However, the deal is also likely to trigger other trades now that a pitcher of Sabathia's caliber has been dealt. Look for the Cubs and or the Cardinals to try to respond with moves of their own.

Update:

Sabathia won his Brewer debut despite walking a season high 5 batters. He went 6 innings giving up 2 earned runs.