The latest from around baseball…
- The Brewers had some interest in Sergio Romo prior to their signing of Neftali Feliz, Andrew Baggarly of the Bay Area News Group. Milwaukee was known to be looking for relief pitching and landed both Feliz on a big league deal and Joba Chamberlain on a minors contract this week. The Brewers also made an offer to Romo’s former Giants teammate Santiago Casilla before they signed Feliz. Romo was known to have received interest from at least two non-Giants teams this offseason, though there hasn’t been much buzz overall about the veteran right-hander’s market.
- Drew Pomeranz told reporters (including Tim Britton of the Providence Journal) that he received a stem-cell injection in his left elbow after last season concluded. The southpaw said he felt some “minor elbow discomfort” last year but is now feeling healthy as he enters his pre-Spring Training preparations. Pomeranz’s health was a major source of controversy last season, as Padres GM A.J. Preller was issued a 30-day suspension for failing to disclose medical information about Pomeranz to the Red Sox before Boston acquired the lefty for top pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza.
- Speaking of Pomeranz, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told the Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham (Twitter link) and other reporters that the two sides are getting close to a deal to avoid an arbitration hearing. Pomeranz filed for a $5.7MM salary while the Sox countered with a $3.6MM offer.
- The Braves have the top farm system in baseball, ESPN’s Keith Law opines, as he ranks the minor league systems of all 30 teams in a three-part series for ESPN.com subscribers. The Yankees (#2 on Law’s list) and Padres (#3) also have strong cases for the top spot, though Law gives Atlanta the edge due to the Braves’ sheer volume of talented pitching prospects and position players in the middle of the field. Coming in at the bottom of the ranking are the Diamondbacks, who Law feels are “several drafts away from getting back into the middle of the pack” thanks to ill-advised trades, draft picks and international signings under the regime of former GM Dave Stewart.
- Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is now being represented by ACES, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). Jim Munsey, Saltalamacchia’s former agent, is leaving the business, so we could soon be hearing more about further representation switches from other Munsey Sports Management clients like Sean Burnett or Rafael Lopez. Check out MLBTR’s Agency Database for an extensive listing of representation information for more than 2,500 Major League and Minor League players. If you see any errors or omissions, please let us know via email: mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.
Probably should read Diamondbacks are “several top 5 Draft Picks away from middle of pack”
The Angels aren’t last anymore! Progress!
That could be due more to the Marlins and Dbacks being inept than the Angels actaully improving.
Angels actually had a nice draft last year. Well see if they keep the players.
Both are factors. Poor decisions by other teams and the Angels actually have picks to draft decent players.
DBacks could have the best farm system in baseball in a hurry if they decided to trade Goldschmidt, Pollock, Peralta, Lamb, Corbin and others. That’ll never happen though, at least not until the new front office has a chance to see this team play together and assess what they have
Not saying they aren’t valuable but who right now in this market would trade for any of those guys and pay huge (Eaton, sale) level prospects to get them? Just curious as to your dream scenario for that
Goldy would definitely command more than Eaton, Pollock too probably. But like you said, it’s kinda late in the offseason to make a major splash like that
Sidewinder, that really isn’t saying anything as the Marlins could quickly have the best system if they traded Yelich, Prado, Gordon, Stanton, etc. As any other team cooks stack up on prospects by trading everyone good on their team.
Exactly
I used to have an ESPN subscription, but don’t currently. Anyone willing/able to pass along what was said by Law about the Marlins system? I’m obviously assuming they’re in the bottom 2 or 3. I’m just curious how he describes it, and if there is at least any positives right now, outside of Garrett, Peters, Anderson, and Edward Cabrera
Their farm system does not draw rave reviews
An ESPN sub costs about three bucks a month. I hope you believe you should be paid for your job. We all should.
Keith Law doesn’t get paid unless he gets subscribers? I always new ESPN was a giant pyramid scheme!
*knew*
They usually barely write anything of substance, which is why I got rid of my subscription, which was free the way I had it. I also am not really a fan of Keith law, but I’m still curious what he said in this situation. Also, he clearly gets paid outside of who subscribes to ESPN insider lol
Keith law is my only reason for insider columns, don’t necessarily agree with him but interesting nonetheless, Jim Bowdens come from some dystopian farce the way he writes them lol
It is odd that we somehow demand that journalists give their work away for free at this point. Look at how many people complain about ads on this free website, for example. Journalism is work; we all deserve to get paid for our work.
I’ve hated the way Pomeranz was required from the start..Dombrowski was called on his bluff; they showed their cards, then dealer said, “you lost, still want to call?” He then looked everyone at the table in the eye and started to nod his head as he shoved his chips in..and now he’s offering him bullpen money…after you gave your top pitching prospect up for the guy?..to have a 2nd chance at giving him back…and not do it? Swallow your “pride”.
Law has the nearly-bone-dry “we don’t have any prospects left that are tradeable that we don’t absolutely need soon” Giants farm ranked ahead of the A’s farm, which has been stocked by two years of good draft position and trades.
… just a little bias there?
Angels going still have rough year with Astros and mariners getting better
I hope MLB is ready for another magical division dominating run by the Braves starting around oh lets say 2019