On this date six years ago, the Dodgers released a 20-year-old righty named Joakim Soria, who was recovering from Tommy John surgery. Soria was later signed by the Padres out of the Mexican League and then snagged by the Royals in the 2006 Rule 5 draft. He's now one of the game's best closers. On to today's links…
- The Astros signed Dominican righty Luis Abad for a low six figures bonus, tweets SI's Melissa Segura. Back in May, Blake Bentley ranked the new Dominican prospects for MLBTR, placing Abad in a tenth-place tie and calling him "one of the most projectable pitchers you'll see."
- I took a look at Neil Walker's fantasy baseball prospects for 2011 over at RotoAuthority.
- The Mariners are interested in Japanese middle infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima, says U.S.S. Mariner's Dave Cameron. Nakajima may be posted by the Seibu Lions and could be a bargain this winter. Patrick Newman of FanGraphs has more on Nakajima.
- Royals first baseman Billy Butler changed agents, going from Doug Rogalski to Greg Genske of Legacy Sports, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Rogalski has to feel burned, as Butler is heading to arbitration for the first time this winter.
- Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts interviewed Eric Wedge for the team's managerial opening yesterday, reports ESPN's Bruce Levine. Larry Stone of the Seattle Times reports that the Mariners interviewed Bobby Valentine yesterday and have Lloyd McClendon on the docket this week.
- Billy Wagner talked to MLB.com's Mark Bowman about his retirement.
I can’t think of a better team than Seattle for Akimora to sign a minor leage deal with and try to hang on as utility IF with, maybe even show that his knee is healthy if it really is and perform like he did with at TB from 2007-2009, he was a decent fielding 2b/3b and just about nobody slashes hits from LF-cf as good as he does. the perfect team.. Love to see them give him a try..
He is just what Seattle needs. Another player with limited big league success at the plate to be an automatic out in the lineup. Can’t be worse than Jack or Josh Wilson…or can he?!
-wtk
Assuming you mean Iwamura? Not Akimora…..or were you trying to say his first name? His first name is Akinori though……
Brain dead I went… yeah.. That’s him.. Following the rays games just knew him as plain old “Aki” and watched him slash his way to a couple good seasons with them before stumbling with the Bucs.
Thanks for the correction.
Hate to see Wagner retire but if that’s what he’s really going to do then congrats on a great career to him. If he really wants a World Series ring that badly and wouldn’t mind coming back one more time he should offer himself to the Yankees or Phillies this offseason for 1-year/$1 million and be willing to accept a setup role. That could be the icing on his career cake, so to speak.
If Wagner comes back, I can see Boston going for him. A lot of teams actually but the Sox will go hard after him.
The Braves hold an option on Wagner for 2011 so if he comes back he will be a Brave.
Bingo. He’d be contractually obligated to play for the Braves, and judging from how he acted this year, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Nakajima made his debut after Ichiro left and he’s a SS, not a 2B like Ackley.