On this date in 1916, the Cubs purchased future Hall of Famer Three Finger Brown from the Chicago Whales. The right-hander's career was over 12 appearances later, but he retired with a 2.06 ERA (139 ERA+) and 239 wins. Here's the latest on some of the Cubs' division rivals…
- The Phillies have watched former Reds reliever Jon Coutlangus throw recently, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The lefty logged 41 innings for the 2007 Reds and has a 3.94 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 189 2/3 minor league innings.
- Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch points out that few players have put St. Louis on their no-trade lists in recent years.
- Fernando Gonzalez isn't the only Dominican prospect the Cardinals signed. Goold reports that the Cardinals have agreed to sign 17-year-old outfielder Jorge Araujo. Vice president of player procurement Jeff Luhnow says the left-handed hitter is "toolsy."
- Paul Swydan of FanGraphs asks whether Ross Ohlendorf used advanced stats to beat the Pirates in arbitraiton and concludes that it wasn't necessarily to Ohlendorf's advantage to use anything more complicated than ERA, WHIP and K/BB. The right-hander beat the Pirates in arbitration yesterday after winning one game in 2010.
- The incentives in Shaun Marcum's deal were part of the reason the Brewers were able to avoid arbitration with him. MLB.com's Adam McCalvy has the details on Marcum's incentives, which provide the former Blue Jay with a $200K bonus if he reaches the 200-inning plateau.
Marcum’s never hit 200 IP.. he did come close last year.. Without having to face the sox and yanks, which were always his shortest starts, he should be fine.
I almost forgot about the great Jon Coutlangus, I can always count on updates for even the most random players here. Love it!
I wonder if it has anything to do with Pujols… I usually hate when people try to make those kinds of connections, and the Cardinals have had a presence in the DR, but we know how much Pujols cares about his home country and the Cardinals might be making an effort to show Pujols they are like-minded in that area.
In any case, I like these signings, you never know who will turn up a star.
The Phillies are in the Central now?
I guess you missed the Reds reference in the same sentence?
Nah, I was just making a weak joke.
I actually like the joke since it has almost nothing to do with the Reds, I mean you could make any connection to the central of any division for that matter if thats how they are going to do this now.
Sign Coutlangus if not for the jokes alone!