As MLB Trade Rumors nears its ten-year anniversary, I’ve decided to update the design for desktop and tablet users. The changes are mostly aesthetic, but if you’re willing to take five minutes and send us feedback on the new look, I’d love to hear it. Just drop me a line at mlbtrdata@gmail.com and I’ll send you a link where you can preview our new design. I hope to roll it out within the next few weeks. – Tim Dierkes
With that said, here’s some news from around the league…
- Adam Wainwright’s return to the Cardinals is now pending only a doctor’s approval, writes MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch. Wainwright threw 27 pitches in a simulated game and faced six hitters, allowing a single but then retiring four hitters on strikeouts and a fifth via fly-out. Wainwright said that he felt like himself on the mound and called the session “incredibly uplifting.” Langosch notes that he also fielded grounders and tested his quickness on covering first base without issue. If all goes well, he could be activated not only for the postseason, but for the Cardinals’ upcoming regular-season series against the Pirates.
- Via MLive.com’s Chris Iott, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus briefly spoke about the team’s decision to bring him back and his expectations for the 2016 season (video link). Ausmus said that after a conversation with GM Al Avila, he knew that reports suggesting he’d be fired didn’t come from him or owner Mike Ilitch. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweets that he spoke to someone close to Ron Gardenhire — a rumored candidate to replace Ausmus — and was told, “Just when you think you got it figured out, it always surprises you.”
- The latest Q&A conducted by Fangraphs’ David Laurila is an excellent conversation with Orioles infielder Paul Janish — a longtime defensive wizard who has struggled to maintain consistent big league playing time due to his offensive deficiencies. Janish discusses with Laurila the rigors of playing in the minor leagues, the difficulty that being labeled presents (both mentally and in terms of getting future opportunities) and acceptance of his limitations. Janish believes that he can contribute to a big league club for at least another three to four years but admits that finding the right spot is more crucial for a player like him than it is others. I enjoyed Janish’s self-assessment and the insight into the experiences of less established stars that are perennially fighting for roster spots and would encourage all to check out the piece.
Ausmus doesn’t deserve to return to Tigers , same as Williams in Washington . Both Managers where handed a Playoff team , and both are incompetent excuse makers, especially Ausmus .
The rotation in Detroit has the looks of a playoff caliber one…?
plus the injury to one of the best players in the game and a woeful bullpen
Any rotation that has Price slotted at #1 is playoff caliber..
After Price, that starting rotation fell right off.
I know you’re around here somewhere Tim…
In honor of the old script? I think you should bring it back for just one day, go back into your email archives (if you keep one) of members and invite some of the old gang that used to hang out here when the place 1st started out..
I miss those days man… They are mostly gone (members) most of the writers you brought in along the way have found great jobs with nice publications, or web services. Good for them and you have made yourself and this site into a house hold name and 1st go to place for anything happening in the game of baseball.
I quit drinking many years ago, but if could find a tankard somewhere? I’d take a swig of grog in your honor my friend.
John
Thanks! I’ll have to think of what kind of retrospective thing we could do.