Central Links: Twins, Cubs, Segura
The Twins have plenty to be excited about following the hot starts of top prospects Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton, writes Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports in his first Prospect Heat Check column. Passan spoke to 20 GMs and executives, with one AL evaluator telling him that "Sano is exploding," and adding that the 20-year-old looks to have improved at third base. Here's more on the Twins and more from baseball's Central divisions…
- Former Tigers reliever and current Twins setup man Casey Fien sympathizes with the trials that his former roommate Casper Wells has gone through early this season, writes John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press. Fien recalls Spring Training of 2010, when he went from the Tigers, to the Red Sox, to the Blue Jays and back to the Tigers in the span of a month. Wells was with four organiations in April.
- Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts presented his plans for a $300MM renovation for Wrigley Field today, and Fran Spielman and Stefano Esposito of the Chicago Sun-Times have the highlights. Ricketts caused controvery by stating that if the Cubs are unable to receive the outfield sign space they need (among other requests), they would have to consider moving from Wrigley Field. Ricketts went on record as saying the Cubs need "to run a business like a business and not a museum."
- David Kaplan of CSN Chicago tweets the following Ricketts quote from his presentation: "We anticipate increasing spending on the baseball side as soon as we know what we can do with this plan."
- USA Today's Bob Nightengale praises Brewers GM Doug Melvin for insisting that the Angels include shortstop Jean Segura in any return for Zack Greinke last July (Twitter link). Segura entered play Wednesday hitting .367/.418/.567 three doubles, three triples, three homers and seven steals.
Chien-Ming Wang Does Not Exercise Out Clause
Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang has agreed to remain with the Yankees organization rather than exercise the first opt-out clause in his minor league contract, according to a report from Focus Taiwan (via Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues).
Wang, 33, has allowed just two earned runs through his first 19 innings at Triple-A (three starts). He's fanned seven and walked three during his time with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. According to the Focus Taiwan report, Wang's contract contains four more opt out clauses: May 31, June 30, Aug. 10 and Aug. 31.
Wang inked a minor league deal following a strong performance in the World Baseball Classic (12 scoreless innings). In parts of five seasons with the Yankees, Wang pitched to a 4.16 ERA, 4.2 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and 60.1 percent ground-ball rate.
Highest Ground-Ball Rates Among 2014 Free Agents
Yesterday, Tim Dierkes took a look at the hardest-throwing pitchers in the upcoming 2014 free agent class. While we're dealing with small sample sizes through the season's first month of course, monitoring trends like that throughout the year can help paint a picture of what the offseason will be like. Here's a look at another desirable trend in free agent hurlers — ground-ball rate — with April in the books…
Starters
- Jake Westbrook — 63.1 percent ($9.5MM mutual option)
- Jon Garland — 55.2 percent
- Tim Hudson — 54.6 percent
- Jason Marquis — 54.2 percent
- Hiroki Kuroda — 52.4 percent
- Roberto Hernandez — 52.2 percent
- Paul Maholm — 51.9 percent
- Ubaldo Jimenez — 50.7 percent
- Jon Lester — 49.5 percent ($13MM club option)
- Andy Pettitte — 49.5 percent
Relievers
- Scott Downs — 78.1 percent
- J.P. Howell — 68 percent
- Derek Lowe — 64.3 percent
- Matt Lindstrom — 60.7 percent ($4MM club option)
- Eric O'Flaherty — 60.6 percent
- Casey Janssen — 57.9 percent ($4MM club option)
- Chad Qualls — 57.1 percent
- Matt Albers — 56.5 percent
- Scott Atchison — 52.8 percent
- LaTroy Hawkins — 50 percent
Last offseason, Kuroda was the top ground-ball starter, and Sean Burnett topped the charts for free agent relievers. Both were paid well this offseason, with Kuroda receiving $15MM from the Yankees for one year and Burnett signing a two-year, $8MM with the Angels.
Among this year's group of starters, only Jimenez appears on both lists, though he will need to rediscover some semblance of control to establish much of a market for his services. As far as relievers go, Lindstrom and Albers appear on both lists, though grounders are less emphasized than strikeouts among late-inning arms.
Notable Transactions From May 2012
We're officially through with one month of the 2013 campaign, meaning we're one month closer to the busiest time of the time of the regular season here at MLBTR. The trade deadline still hasn't quite taken shape, but if May 2012 was any indication, there should still be plenty of noteworthy transactions this month. Here's a look at the notable moves from last May, courtesy of MLBTR's Transaction Tracker…
Extensions
- The Orioles and Adam Jones agreed to a six-year, $85.5MM contract extension.
- The D-backs and Miguel Montero agreed to a five-year, $60MM contract extension.
Trades
- The Angels acquired Ernesto Frieri — currently the team's closer — from the Padres in exchange for infielder Alexi Amarista and right-hander Donn Roach.
- The Marlins acquired Justin Ruggiano from the Astros in exchange for minor league catcher Jobduan Morales.
- The Rays acquired Drew Sutton from the Pirates for cash just one day after the Pirates had acquired Sutton from the Braves (also for cash considerations).
- The Red Sox acquired Scott Podsednik from the Phillies for cash considerations.
- The Cubs acquired Koyie Hill from the Reds for cash considerations.
- The Blue Jays acquired catcher Paul Phillips from the Brewers for cash considerations.
- The Cardinals acquired infielder Jamie Romak from the Royals for cash.
- The Phillies and Rays swapped outfielders Rich Thompson and Kyle Hudson.
- The Pirates acquired first baseman Jeff Larish from the Red Sox for cash considerations.
- The Rangers acquired Ryan Spilborghs from the Indians for cash considerations.
Waiver Claims
- The Yankees claimed Ryota Igarashi from the Blue Jays.
- The Padres claimed Neil Wagner from the Athletics.
- The Rangers claimed John Gaub from the Rays.
- The Brewers claimed Cody Ransom from the Diamondbacks.
- The Yankees claimed Matt Antonelli from the Orioles.
- The Padres claimed Eric Stults from the White Sox (Stults is still a member of San Diego's rotation).
- The Athletics claimed Travis Blackley from the Giants.
- The Yankees claimed Justin Thomas from the Red Sox.
- The Twins claimed Erik Komatsu from the Cardinals.
International Signings
- The Yankees signed Cuban outfielder Adonis Garcia to a one-year minor league deal worth $400K.
Major League Signings
- The Rangers signed Roy Oswalt to a one-year, $5MM deal with another $1MM worth of incentives available. Oswalt, of course, did not sign this offseason either.
- The Dodgers signed Bobby Abreu to a Major League contract following his release from the Angels.