Odubel Herrera’s brilliance has been a key to the Phillies’ surprising success so far this season, and his emergence since being selected in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft highlights the way the Rule 5 has changed in recent years, Matthew Trueblood of Baseball Prospectus writes. One reason players like Herrera, Delino DeShields and Ender Inciarte have been available in the Rule 5 in recent years is that teams seem to prefer protecting players who have power, making low-power but potentially high-OBP players available. Also, the emergences of players like those listed above (as well as Hector Rondon, Mark Canha, Logan Verrett and so on) suggests there’s enough talent in the game for MLB to withstand expansion without significantly diluting its talent level — leaving aside the complex question of what markets the league should expand to. Here’s more from the East divisions.
- The Red Sox’ terrific 2011 draft class has become the franchise’s foundation, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal writes. The team had four of the first 40 picks in that draft, and used them to select Jackie Bradley and Blake Swihart, as well as Matt Barnes and Henry Owens. That group alone would have made the draft a good one, but the Sox also snagged Mookie Betts, Travis Shaw and Noe Ramirez in the later rounds. Bradley fell to the Sox at No. 40 in part because of a wrist injury that held him back in his junior year at South Carolina. Bradley was a gamble, and not all gambles on talented players whose stock have fallen work out — MacPherson mentions 2012 first-rounder Deven Marrero, and I might add 2010 39th overall pick Anthony Ranaudo, whose stock fell prior to the draft due to an elbow injury. Bradley, though, was a steal, and he, Betts and the rest of the Sox’ 2011 class looked poised to lead the organization forward.
- The Mets have no plans to use outfielder Michael Conforto at first base with Lucas Duda on the shelf, ESPN’s Adam Rubin tweets. “Right now Michael has a lot on his plate and I don’t need to add more to it,” says manager Terry Collins. The team is currently weighing its options in the wake of Duda’s injury, and has shown at least some interest in James Loney. MLBTR’s Jeff Todd recently listed potential first base solutions the Mets could pursue.
The two markets baseball SHOULD expand to:
Charlotte, NC and Portland, OR
The southeastern US and the northwestern US are criminally underrepresented and this could help solve the problem.
The two markets baseball WILL expand to:
Montreal, Canada and Mexico City, Mexico
Montreal had a shot and just didn’t care enough no matter what revisionists would have you believe. Mexico City is 2500 more feet above sea level than Denver and we all know how difficult baseball is even at that altitude.
Do Charlotte and Portland have the population density? I like both those cities but you’d see a lot of empty seats. I’m from DC, who somehow didn’t have a team for decades. But that’s a huge area, which additionally pulls millions of people from the VA and MD suburbs.
Mexico City is a no brainer. Central America needs a team.
I’d like to see the Marlins moved and their owner throw in jail.
Mexico City Cartel. Don’t perform we release you… Without your head.
Montreal did care, and it still does care. Loria was an a**hat, and the O is a horrible place to watch a baseball game. It’ll be a lot easier for Montreal to stomach a new baseball stadium with no Loria, a pro-MLB mayor, and the debt of the Olympics no longer hanging over the city.
Charlotte NC would be good with Montreal would be great I hope everyone 40 man roster is protected but this my ideal buth teams get the first 3 pick(6) total then they get to pick from everyone minor league not covered by the40 man. Then we can go for it make it like Football team every team plays every team 3 times from the opposite league to keep it fun plus a DH would add to the fun # make it not boring
Quick memory.. I remember the worst ‘robbery” of the last expansion being the Indians leaving rico carty exposed and having to give up the best catching prospect in the game at the time.. Rick cerone to get him back.. I doubt ANY team would leave, what was then like the top 5 prospect in the game unprotected, as Cerone was and John Lowenstein (traded along with Cerone) was a hotshot kid also.
Prospects are treated much better now.
Those who remember, or feel like looking it up will find Cleveland left Carty exposed because they figured neither expansion team would draft one of the best DH’s in the game then, simply because he was.. To old.. I thought it was laughable when the lists came out then and new he was a goner. Way some franchises were ran then.. Clevelend by Veeck, Twins by griffith.. It was hilarious.
I remember when the Cubs left Girardi exposed and the Rockies snagged him early. I remember thinking who leaves their young starting catcher exposed and expects them not to be picked? The Cubs made so many questionable moves back then. Playing chicken with Maddux being the dumbest.
DeShields availability in the rule 5 had little to do with the type of player he was, and much more to do with the type of personality he was. Dropping him from the 40 and making him available in the Rule 5 may have been what gave him the kick in the pants he needed.
I can see Montreal getting another shot, but I’m not sure about Mexico City. Not only are there issues with altitude, MLB would have to consider the overall security issues as well. Mexico City by comparison is safer than other Mexican cities, but isn’t a walk in the park. And while there are plenty of American cities that have their own safety concerns, there isn’t a fear that the national government could collapse via the military or a cartel.