The Dodgers have the highest projected payroll in baseball at $235MM, which means that, for the first time in 15 years, the Yankees do not have baseball's highest payroll, the Associated Press reports. Also, the Dodgers' Zack Greinke will top the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez for baseball's highest-paid player. Greinke will make $24MM in the second year of his contract, and MLB's accounting also includes a prorated portion of his signing bonus. Greinke would have counted as the highest-paid player in the game even if Rodriguez hadn't been suspended for the season. Here are more notes from the West divisions.
- Pitcher Scott Baker is "making progress" on a deal with the injury-ravaged Rangers, Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com tweets. The Mariners released Baker yesterday. Baker, 32, has played sparingly in the Majors since 2011, due to elbow troubles.
- The Mariners want to find a right-handed hitter, and they might not trade Nick Franklin unless they find one, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweets. A righty would help the Mariners balance a lefty-heavy lineup that includes Robinson Cano, Logan Morrison, Brad Miller, Kyle Seager, Dustin Ackley and Michael Saunders.
- Veteran infielder John McDonald has made the Angels roster, and he's thinking about what could be his last season in the big leagues, writes MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. "This could be my last year," McDonald says. "I'm not going to have a press conference to announce it. … You never know what can happen. I don't like putting a timetable on anything. I'm 39. I'm not foolish. There is only so long you can play." McDonald has never played more than 123 games in a season but, mostly thanks to his defense, he's managed to eke out a 15-year career with the Indians, Tigers, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Indians, Phillies, Red Sox and now the Angels.
There’s a reason why John McDonald is still around. True gamer. Stat geeks hate him. Glad to see him get another major league job.
For a guy who has basically been a career bench player McDonald has had a long career. If he had played in Boston most of his career we would have called him a dirt dog. Good luck if this is your last hurrah McDonald.
Alex Cora with a better glove.
Good comparison!
Yay, Scott Baker.
Scott Baker hasn’t played “sparingly in the Majors since 2011” He pitched in 3 games, all last year.
Stefen Romero stating his case to fill that RH hitter void the Ms have with another HR tonight.
edit:
Take away Romero stumbling out of the gate and he’s had a nice Spring. Started out something like 0-15, and now I think sees the opportunity in front of him.
He still wearing the old school stirrups?
Looks like it. Can’t quite tell for sure.
Yes, Miller, Romero, Chris Taylor all sporting the stirrups and another couple of minor leaguers, too.
Romero started the spring 0-15 or 0-18 or something like that and now has a slash of .296/.321/.648. Mac had him hitting 3rd last night. He’ll be starting the season hitting behind Cano.
I bet he hits .179 in April and gets sent down.
And just what is the friendly wager? After his torrid April you are going to wish you had him on all of your fantasy teams.
I doubt it. I’ll change my avatar to a pic of his stirrups if he’s still on the major league roster in June.
Edit: Avatar. Some angry guy apparently has never had his phone change words on him before.
I’ll sport a Cubbies C until June if he’s hitting .179 come April 30th.
Deal.
On my calendar for April 30th and I’ll save the email.
Romero got his first hit tonight. Hitting .167 so far. LOL
First RBI for Romero. Smashes a shot off Freeze’s glove at third for an RBI double. Just before a 3 run homer for Zunino!
Well, that’s enough for now. I think the Cubbies are going to be as exciting as this in the next 2 years.
Now he’s hitting a whopping .154 lol
Yeah, I was going to comment on that. Mac is letting both Saunders and Romero sit way too much when they were both productive this spring. I think he sees too much of himself in Almonte. Almonte and Ackley have played every day.
Well, the plus for you is that he’d only need a hot game or two to get up over, since he hardly has any ABs.
Always loved Johnny Mac. Huge fan favourite in Toronto. The man was and apparently still is a defensive genius. However I will never forget the emotional home run he hit on fathers day, just 5 days after he passed away . Very special moment
That’s some feat, hitting a HR after you’ve died.
This might sound far fetched on both ends (and it does) but both teams have a need. Boston is having some injury issues (again) with Victorino and he had several last year. He’s projected to be the backup CF, behind Grady Sizemore, who as everyone knows has not played in 2 seasons. Nobody else has played CF and Dan Nava would be the emergency CF.
What if Boston and Seattle swapped Gomes and Franklin? Yes, Gomes is 1y rental and Boston really doesn’t need Franklin, but used him as a utility, or emergency 1y replacement if WMB faltered and Cecchini to get ready at Pawtucket this year.
It would give Seattle RH power, a LF/RF and allow Boston to put JBJ on the roster, though he still wouldn’t be getting many AB. Question is exactly what quality OF is Seattle looking for?
Seattle would laugh at that offer. Gomes is worth almost nothing as a rental, and the last thing the M’s need is another bad defensive outfielder. They’d be better off just moving Franklin himself to the OF.
I know Gomes really doesn’t have much trade value and is only under contract for 1 season, tho it is just 5y, tho he does give good RH power and hits LH pitchers hard.
Reason I wrote in my post not sure about quality of OF Seattle is after.. Their main PBP guy, Dave Sims on a recent broadcast said some of the names he “heard” had been offered were not near what he himself Franklin was worth.
The M’s aren’t after any OF unless his name is Matt Kemp. Romero has played solid OF and has crushed the ball. He got jammed last night and fought the pitch off over the right CF wall. The M’s 13 man roster is set. The pitching staff is set (Walker may only miss 1 maybe 2 starts) and they just need to clean up the bullpen.
Sounds great for Boston, bad like the Erik Bedard trade for Seattle.
You’re one of the smartest people on here and I say this with all due respect, that’s a terrible trade idea.
Haha the Indians are in there twice.
I still say the Mariners make a run for Bautista since they can’t get Stanton, and Kemp is too risky. the Blue Jays did nothing with their pitching, and are now a last place team in that division. Start it off with Franklin ++. Might even be able to get someone like Morrow too…
The point is moot since he won’t play.