The Rangers will activate outfielder Josh Hamilton on Monday, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. GM Jon Daniels has announced that Hamilton is “physically and game ready” per Wilson (via Twitter). The Angels are on the hook for most of the remaining salary on his contract. Hamilton is hoping to rebound from a couple sub-par seasons by his standards. Statistically, 2013 was his worst season on a rate basis, and he was still five percent better than the average hitter. His rehab work produced mixed results. He battered Double-A pitching (9-for-17), but scuffled in Triple-A action (7-for-29).
- Ryan Howard has recovered some trade value after a hot month of hitting, writes Corey Seidman of CSN Philly. The Phillies’ first baseman has hit 10 home runs with 21 RBI and a .303 average over his last 30 games. Seidman identifies three clubs as potential fits for Howard – the Angels, Rays, and Twins. The Angels have struggled mightily against right-handed pitching. They could easily insert Howard into the designated hitter slot to help solve that issue. The Rays and Twins have performed better overall, but both clubs have received poor production from their designated hitters. I happen to agree with Seidman’s analysis and even tabbed Minnesota as a potential fit for Howard earlier this evening.
- Shohei Otani could be the next Japanese star to transition to the majors, writes Jim Caple of ESPN. The 20-year-old is still three to four seasons from being posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters. He owns a 2.71 ERA with 274 strikeouts in 259 innings. The righty can reach back for 100 mph heat, but he also displays solid ability at the plate. In between starts, he plays about three to four games a week in the field. In 485 plate appearances, he’s hit .253/.303/.445 with 15 home runs. Major league teams will be more interested in his triple-digit heater, but pitchers like Madison Bumgarner can tell you about the value of an offensive presence in the nine-hole.
Otani should haved jumped too the mlb as an innernational free agent after high school….
So many extra ‘o’s in your comments…
I just hope the Fighter’s don’t ruin his arm…like they did with Darvish…and post him when he is first eligible….he could be best buds with his Idol..Masahiro here with the Yankees….
I bet Tanaka wishes he had pitched as much Darvish did in his first few seasons.
Darvish is my favorite pitcher…I just think the fighters over used him…he pitched over 1200 innings in 7 seasons….and then got 50 million bucks too send him too the league…..
He’s a NL pitcher, did you not hear how well he hits? No way The Dodgers don’t lock up a guy like that who can supposedly pitch and hit.
The limits on posting fees prob will have more teams hang on until one season left and then post.
Given the injuries to Japanese pitchers after they come over. I think an MLB team might be wise not to pitch them every five days. Alternate between 6 and 7 days rest year 1, and gradually work towards being every five days by their third season
Would really be cool to see Otani pitch and hit. Be a All Star version of Micah Owings, just a way better pitcher.
MLB teams won’t allow him too pitch and play an position…if he wants too hit he has to go too an NL team…..
Thats what he was implying, Micah Owings never played a position.
don’t even mention howard and angels in the same paragraph.
You’re right. Cron and Krauss are much better options.
maybe not. but they are younger, cheaper and have some potential to improve.
they are younger and cheaper but if the phillies eat 50 mill of howards contract it could be a big steal for the angels
Howard isn’t even owed 50M anymore, plus the Phillies aren’t gonna give him away at this point. As a LH DH, he actually has some type of value now. He was a 0.7 oWAR, including the first month of the season where he hit under .200 and lead MLB in Ks.
Somebody said on this post about maybe the angels could look at pedro alverez if the pirates were looking to trade him regardless if they are in or out of contention? I’m still hooked that they do make a deal to get revere
I’m sure Howard would LOVE to be traded to the Rays. He just finished building a new oceanfront house nearby.
The problem with the Howard to Rays talk is that the Rays aren’t struggling at DH. Their DHs have an .801 OPS which is good for 5th in the league and that’s while playing in a tough hitting home park.
Howard makes no sense for the Angels or Twins either.
He kinda does make sense for the angels, they need a lefty power bat and adam lind is also available but just wondering who the angels would have to give up, but if the phillies take on 50 mill of the contract , I don’t think the angels would have to give up much,
Could pedro Alvarez be a fit?
only if the pirates were out of contention I see them moving alverez to maybe get a bullpen arm, and if josh bell was ready
Idk if they are in contention and bell not ready I could see them moving him. They could slide Walker to first jhay to second Kang to third and mercer to short
If they were to fall out of contention, Alverez might be the bat for them to move, I know there are other options for the angels to go get but a lot of people are saying the angels should go get cargo but I wouldn’t
In or out of contention I don’t think it matters. I think the Pirates will try to move pedro at the deadline no matter what
He would be a nice fit for the angels but just what would the price be, I still have my money on that they do get a deal done for ben revere
Otani sounds like another Japanese pitcher with a lot of mileage on his arm. Playing every day as a starter is a recipe for Tommy John.
The angels do need a lefty power bat and a left fielder, So who is a better fit for them howard and ben revere or adam lind and revere? Or other options
Pedro Alvarez?
Only if the pirates were out of contention and if josh bell was ready to come up by next season, the angels could get him cheap as long as the angels don’t have to give up heaney/newcomb/tropeano
Taking on Ryan Howard for anything more than a modest investment in dollars (and maybe a “depth” piece destined for the minor leagues is just too much of a risk. He’s still 35 years old, and he’s barely above a replacement value player as a hitter. His fielding, obviously, has never been much good. Couple that with a lack of other skills beyond power, and no versatility, and you would have to have a very specific need. There’s a lot of money left on the contract. There is a price where he might be worth a flyer for an AL team, but it’s got to be low
Twins should seek a package deal to acquire howard and bring back revere. Improving from vargas and hicks along with ervin santana’s suspension ending could set them up to win the central
I don’t see the twins staying around that long
Depending on the seriousness of Victor Martinez knee injury Howard could be a good fit with the Tigers, especially with Philly eating most of his salary owed. Teams are going to be walking Cabrera all season long as it is.
I’d offer Arcia and Nolasco for Howard. Might even consider throwing in Tommy Milone. But the Phillies would have to take Nolasco and his remaining two years as part of the trade.
At that point, the Phillies wouldn’t be required to eat any cash in the deal, and the Twins could clear the way for Santana’s return, a possible Milone promotion (if he isn’t traded), and/or the inevitable arrival of one Jose Berrios in the near future. But right now, there’s no room for any of that, as Hughes, Gibson, Pelfrey, and May all deserve to remain in the rotation.
Not saying any of this will happen, but I’d love to see Howard hitting under Mollie’s tutelage, behind Joe, and hanging with Torri. The guy might be reborn for a season or two.
Howard is a replacement level player. He does nothing for me, but I like the way you think in terms of giving up one bad contract for another.
As a Twins fan, I don’t think Ryan Howard moves the needle that much. I hope they wait to see if the Blue Jays decide to sell. I would love to have Edwin Encarnacion or Joey Bats in the middle of that lineup. They make Target Feild look like a Little League park. They have enough pitching depth here and in the minors to stand pat at the deadline.