Though the Brewers and righty Chase Anderson participated in an arbitration hearing on Monday, they’ll have to wait a while longer to learn the results. As the Associated Press reports (via USA Today), MLB and the player’s union agreed to request that all first-year arb-eligible starters have their cases heard (or otherwise reach agreement) before any decisions are issued. Other effected players and teams include Michael Wacha of the Cardinals, Collin McHugh of the Astros, Jake Odorizzi of the Rays, Marcus Stroman of the Blue Jays, and Taijuan Walker of the Diamondbacks. The filing gaps in these cases are relatively narrow — McHugh’s case has the most at stake ($3.85MM versus $3.35MM) — but the decision will ensure that one case isn’t able to influence the others. In Anderson’s case, the panel is deciding between his $2.85MM submission and Milwaukee’s $2.45MM counter. You can find all of the filing figures and settlement amounts for this year’s arb class right here.
Here’s the latest out of the NL Central…
- Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang will stand trial on DUI charges on February 22nd, Jee-ho Yoo of Yonhap reports. That’s after the start of Pittsburgh’s spring camp, though it seems the trial itself won’t pose any major limitations on his availability. There are much broader concerns here, of course. Kang is obviously in need of a reevaluation of his decisionmaking — it’s his third such arrest — and it remains to be seen what kind of disciplinary and/or remedial action he might face from the court (if not also the commissioner’s office).
- The latest surgery for Reds righty Homer Bailey represents yet another setback, but won’t necessarily force the club to make a 40-man roster move, as Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Referencing the team’s group of young rotation candidates, president of baseball operations Dick Williams said that “there will be an opportunity for the guys who are coming to assert themselves.” At the same time, the Reds will likely “at least look around to see if there are some options” available to bolster their depth.
- The Cubs thought they were doing Jason Hammel a favor when they declined his $12MM option in November, thereby enabling him to reach free agency, but it ended up hurting the right-hander’s value, writes ESPN’s Buster Olney (subscription required). Hammel agreed to a two-year, $16MM deal with the Royals on Sunday, though it took nearly three months for him to find a job despite being one of the most accomplished starters available in a weak class of free agents. Rival teams inferred from the Cubs’ decision that the Theo Epstein-led franchise didn’t think Hammel was good enough to crack their rotation going forward, Olney suggests, and late-season elbow tightness didn’t help matters. The 34-year-old Hammel didn’t pitch past Sept. 24 — when he allowed six earned runs in a 2 1/3-inning start — meaning he missed the Cubs’ run to the World Series.
- Meanwhile, Cubs senior VP of player development and amateur scouting Jason McLeod spoke recently about the state of the arms on the Chicago farm, as Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago reports. While the club lacks “impact starters at the upper levels,” he notes, there’s optimism more broadly. “We now feel really good, not just with the depth of the organization but having some major league starting impact guys who are at the the A-ball level and progressing toward Double-A now,” said McLeod, who also discussed the team’s hopes for just-acquired righty Eddie Butler.
Affected not effected players. Don’t mean to be picky, love the work you do Jeff!
Then ignore the errors and put the correct word in its place yourself.
If it bothers you that much Kehoe, then ignore the people who correct these errors. The grammar and spelling errors from professionals these days is atrocious.
If it bothers you so much that it bothers me so much that people are always correcting one another then ignore me. It can can go both ways Leefieux.
Oh I don’t really care they have said before that if there’s an error they like to know, that’s all c:
*than
Nope, “then” is correct.
STOP
Hammel time.
Kang should get a nice lengthy suspension
Baloney. No. He shouldn’t
He’s got a problem but a lengthy suspension?
Herpes or a sore shoulder would be a problem. 3 DUI’s is way more than a problem.
If the league suspends players for significant amount of time for things like supposed domestic abuse and supposed PED use, like Dee Gordon suspended half the season last year, how on earth do you not think a 3rd DUI arrest isn’t worthy of at least a 50 game suspension or so? I mean last year Aroldis Chapman served a 30 game suspension for allegedly committing domestic violence against his girlfriend…. despite no charges being made by the police. He wasn’t charged because their were inconsistencies in the girlfriends reports and lack of physical evidence. So in other words Chapman had his reputation tarnished and was suspended for about 20% of the season based solely off empty accusations. Kang has been ARRESTED three times for DUI violations. How does that not warrant at least a similar 30 game suspension?
I should clarify when I say “supposed” PED use. I am one of the people who think people overreact when it comes to PEDs in sports. I personally don’t see any problem with people doing everything it takes to be better at their jobs. If they want to risk their lives and longevity by taking drugs, so be it. It’s their decision. It’s not like a guy shooting roids in his a** or popping pills is harming anyone but himself…… supposedly harming himself I should say. Only “adverse” side effect of PED use in baseball is that is makes better baseball players. Why people are “anti” that is beyond me. With the amount players are paid and the top dollar that tickets cost to see said players play, I think they players themselves should be doing everything possible to be the best player they can be. I mean if “artificial” gains made by PEDs is so taboo, then LASIK surgery should be banned in golf and every other sport as well for that matter. “Artificially” giving people better eyesight is performance enhancing.
I agree. He needs to get his life together and act like a professional on and off the field. If he does have a problem it looks like he does…. that suspension time could be utilized to get some professional help and help him to prioritize things and make better decisions.
Kang is indeed entering into a rehab program. And per MLB’s Joint Drug Program, participation in such a program “shall be considered as a mitigating factor in any discipline imposed” by the Pirates or the commissioner’s office.
How long? where you calling for a lengthy David Freese suspension too for similar issues?
The three DUI’s keeps getting thrown out there, but isn’t it only one DUI that has had under MLB contract? I don’t see how MLB can give some sort of length suspension for his actions outside of his time he wasn’t with the Pirates.
Yes they can. If it presents a pattern.
Also, correct me if I’m wrong, he was under much stricter foreign DUI laws than the ones we have here in the States.