Here's the latest from the NL East…
- Prince Fielder said he wouldn't have minded playing for the Nationals, telling media (including Amanda Comak of the Washington Times) that he enjoyed his meeting with Nats management in December and was interested in playing with the club's young stars, particularly Bryce Harper. Fielder said he wasn't sure if Washington ever presented him with a formal contract offer.
- The Mets have signed right-hander Kevin Mulvey to a minor league contract, according to the club's minor league Twitter feed. Mulvey was originally drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 2006 draft. He was part of the trade package New York sent to Minnesota in the Johan Santana deal and, in 2009, was sent by the Twins to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Jon Rauch. The D'Backs released Mulvey last week. Mulvey last pitched in the big leagues in 2010 and has a 7.90 ERA in 27 1/3 career Major League innings.
- The early impression of the Marlins' new stadium is that it favors hitters when the retractable roof is open and favors pitchers when the roof is closed, reports Robbie Levin of the Miami Herald.
- Scott Elarton's trip with his son to a Phillies/Rockies game last summer was the first step in Elarton eventually signing a minor league deal with the Phillies, reports Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The 10-year veteran last pitched in the Majors in 2008 and his last taste of pro ball was 16 games with the White Sox Triple-A affiliate in 2010.
I am glad PF is not part of Nationals for that kind of money. That’s a lot of money tied to one player.
He would have made them favorites to win the east, IMO. Glad he’s where he’s at, but he would have greatly improved the Nats and given them a really impressive window to win.
agreed, and the fact that he is still a young player; 28
I think they should have signed him, could have made them instand contenders in DC.
Being favorites to win the NL East might make them one of the better teams in baseball, which is what the Nationals are a few good moves and years away from being IMHO. If they hadn’t signed Werth to that insane contract, they might have pulled off signing Fielder.
It’s looking more and more like the Nationals will either try to aquire a CF either through a trade this season, or through free agency in the off-season(Upton, Victorion, Bourn) which would allow for Morse to move to 1B and Werth to move to LF
TB can afford to move Upton and might try to do so, even if they are in contention. They have Jennings, who is ready and will be Upton’s replacement after the season regardless.
They can save 7m and probably get a decent prospect as well, then Rizzo gets some time to try and lock up the man he’s been trying to acquire for years.
Except I wouldn’t want to trade prospects for Upton(Rays always seem to get great deals)
Maybe sign him after the season.. but to be honest, Bourn would be my first choice if the Braves don’t sign him to an extension
It’s been gone over hundreds of times here over the years, but still… it’s is hard to believe the twins settled for that package of prospects from the mets when they were demanding top flight people from both the NYY and the Red Sox.
There was talk of BOTH Hughes + Gardner from NYY and Ells + lester from Boston and to a lesser degree.. lester +, or Ells, + and still.. Hughes + Gardner from the Yankees. it was like the twins wanted Santanna out of the AL period and would take far less to do so.
Rehash over.
So the real question the Marlins brass needs to know the answer to, is can the roof move fast enough to switch every half-inning?