MLB was ready to pass expanded replay and eliminate home plate collisions at last month's Winter Meetings. However, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, the main hurdle is union approval. In an email to FOX Sports, MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark wrote the union's executive board discussed both issues "at length" during its December meeting, but "a consensus on both matters was not reached." Clark added "what has been contemplated exceeds what was agreed to" in regards to instant replay and "as it relates to home plate collisions, there are several points of view to explore with the players and we continue to do so." In today's news and notes from the American League:
- The Yankees will not make a final decision about how to handle the possibility of Alex Rodriguez reporting to Spring Training until speaking with the comissioner's office, reports ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand. One baseball official told Marchand the Yankees could send Rodriguez to their minor league camp and even go as far as instructing coaches not to hit him grounders or throw him batting practice.
- The only reason for Rodriguez to attend Spring Training is to give the media even more A-Rod headlines next month, opines Jayson Stark of ESPN. Several industry sources familiar with baseball's Basic Agreement and Joint Drug Agreement tell Stark neither agreement explicitly gives a player suspended for the season the right to attend Spring Training with one official calling the wording "intentionally vague."
- The Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League have released a statement on their Facebook page saying they will not sign A-Rod and doing so "would be a hurtful precedent." However, the San Rafael Pacifics of the independent Pacific Association are open to the possibility, tweets the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea, who first wrote about the team's interest last August. In the article, Shea notes the Pacific Association does not adhere to MLB suspensions and has no mandatory drug testing.
- Mitch Moreland told reporters, including Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com, he still isn't sure whether he will playing for the Rangers or elsewhere in 2014. "They’ve definitely made a lot of moves and have been very active this offseason," Moreland said. "From what I know right now, I’m still here and still a Texas Ranger and happy to be here and looking forward to the season." Earlier today, we learned Texas has been unwilling to discuss Moreland in trade talks. If that remains the case, Moreland says he has been told his role will be changing and he will use Spring Training to prepare himself to play first base, the outfield, and DH.
- The Twins are still showing no interest in exploring multi-year pacts with any of their three arbitration eligible players, tweets Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a total of $4.8MM for the trio of Trevor Plouffe, Brian Duensing, and Anthony Swarzak. In a separate tweet, Berardino reports an arbitration hearing will probably not be needed for Swarzak because the salary gap should be pretty narrow. The filing deadline is Tuesday.
- After sitting out 2013, Chone Figgins wants to play this season and will work out for teams in Tampa this week, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. After a .298/.395/.393 line with the Angels in 2009, Figgins signed a four-year, $36MM deal with the Mariners and proceeded to struggle in Seattle with a .227/.302/.283 slash over the life of the contract.
I can see why the Twins won’t discuss a long term deal with Trevor Plouffe since they don’t want to block Miguel Sano who isn’t that far away from being ready to join the Twins on a full time basis
That, and Plouffe isn’t very good.
There is that aspect of it as well.
the fact that he’s not that good seems more logical
I’m sure that definitely factors into the Twins decision not to explore a long term deal with Plouffe which as a Twins Fan I’m glad since I’m looking forward to seeing Miguel Sano man the hot corner in the near future
“Factors into”.
Good one.
Trade Moreland for Price.
Why would the Rays need Moreland?
Because ex-Ranger first basemen tend to be monster players for the next organization they play for?
…cough…just…cough…in…cough…smoak…cough
Smoak??
Adrian Gonzalez, mark teixeira, Chris Davis
Sooo.. You are saying if you trade for a Rangers 1b, that they will get better in another organization??
Most likely. That is what the history has shown.
with that reasoning, i’m sure the rays can’t wait to hand over price straight up.
Agreed. it’s like they always were protecting the wrong one at the wrong time and not by more than a couple of years either. Like gonzalez when tex was close to walk time, then Davis when they figured Moreland was going to be the 1b for years.
It reeks when that happens, boston has given away SP like that, Bob Ojeda, John Tudor. some organizations just have had that happen over a short period of time at a certain position.
That’s only because they were traded before hitting their stride as major leaguers. They would’ve done the same (if not better) for the Rangers had they stayed.
We gave Chris Davis a good 3 years to hit his stride. We tried him at multiple positions and he just never worked out. He is also from around here and he’s said that that had an effect on him when he played here.
That’s just a matter of timing. Those players would’ve gotten better over the years for the Rangers had they stayed.
the better question is why would they even trade price for him.
Well, I was being hopeful in thinking this guy was suggesting Moreland in a package for Price.
i sure hope so.
“Mike” is a super ninja gm.
Try moreland and sardinas top the brewers for gallardo and a prospect
No, don’t try that. Not giving up on Gallardo til mid-season at earliest.
Not to mention that we have no need for a prospect shortstop for a few years.
Does the name Loney ring a bell?
I hope you do not mean strait up
Can we start calling this A-rod/Spring Training thing “Spring Training-gate”?
No
It seems like an odd time to start to caring what the JDA agreement says.
I understand what A-Rod did but seriously not hitting him grounders or throwing him BP is just embarrassing to the Yankees if they are really considering it. Even sending him to MiLB is debatable.
Trying to sabatoge his career is a little low if you ask me…its like stooping down to A-Rods level.
How would it be sabotaging his career? A-rod will not be playing in the MLB in ’14 as long as this 162 game suspension is in effect. A-Rod should not even be allowed to attend spring training. If A-Rod shows up, the reason is because A-Rod wants the attention. Nothing more.
Spring Training being a media circus would be even more embarrassing to the Yankees.
There’s no point of giving him any at bats in any games when they could be playing other kids
I think ARod is the embarrassing one in this instance.
Figgins should retire
A Mark Mulder type contract. Nothing to lose if he is released before Spring Training is over.
I think he was doomed in Seattle. He should get a minor league deal with a team with a good lineup and show what he has left. A player just doesn’t lose all his skills overnight like Figgins showed with the Mariners.
“…again.” as in “Figgins should retire again.” (What, two sub .200 seasons followed by golf doesn’t count?)
I just read this because Figgins was in the headline
Me too. I read his Seattle line and thought “Man, who wouldn’t want to sign him?”
Figgins pls hang it up!
A Figgins minor league contract with a ST invite just screams Dan Duquette, don’t you think?
Well, maybe the screaming will wake up Dan Duquette out of his deep sleep!
It’s worth a try!
Sounds more like Andrew Friedman if you ask me.
I’d bet Figgins would’ve been a much better player under his old bench coach (now TB manager) Joe Maddon. And I think he still could be if he went to the Rays. If anyone knows how to use Figgins on the field (outside of Mike Scioscia) it’s Maddon.
No more homeplate collisions? 🙁
Figgins wasn’t good enough to player 3B for a terrible Marlins team in 2013. I can’t imagine him being worth any team’s time.
That’s the story for a lot players who go to Seattle these days. I’d still bet he’d be a more productive player let’s say for… the Yankees… Rangers… Red Sox… Angels??? They should’ve kept him. I saw the Brandon Wood catastrophe before it happened because the kid couldn’t draw a walk to save his life. Seems like the Angels lost their aggressive baserunning style the moment they let him go. I think he should just go back to the Angels as a utility player again.
Figgins should just go back to the Angels on a minor league deal. Should never have let him go in the first place. Many of us Angels fans were skeptical of Brandon Wood, and for good reason. Seems like the Angels’ aggressive baserunning they were known for disappeared when they let him go. I’d still put money on Figgins performing better with better lineups like the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers, etc. I’d still put money on him at least being a decent utility player like he was when he first came up to the big leagues. What could it hurt on a minor league deal?
If ARod decides to come to spring training the Yankees should welcome him and Tony Pena himself should work with ARod to help him learn to play catcher so that, should ARod return to the team in 2015 he’ll be ready to contribute to help warm up the pitching staff and play on occasion.
Not sure of the unions goal whereby dragging their feet and not approving expanded replay and attempting to avoid collisions. I can see the collision part needing additional work but expanded replays seem to help the game.
Moreland for Anthony Fernandez or Blake Beaven and a C level prospect would be a great trade between the Mariners & Rangers if Jack Z and Daniels are interested making the move as Smoak to the Pirates for pitching help would also be a good move for change of scenery.
A soon-to-be 36 year-old whose only worthwhile skill is his speed? No thanks.