Brewers infield prospect Javier Betancourt was shot in the arm in the wake of an argument on Friday in his native Venezuela, according to reporter Andriw Sanchez Ruiz (hat tip to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Betancourt is headed to Milwaukee to recover and surgery may be required, though Brewers GM David Stearns told Haudricourt (Twitter link) that the club is still considering treatment options. “Javier’s injuries are not life threatening and he is resting comfortably,” Stearns said. MLB security is currently investigating the incident. Betancourt, 22, joined the Brewers from the Tigers in November 2015 as part of the return in the Francisco Rodriguez trade. The infielder has hit .265/.311/.357 over 2231 career plate appearances in the minors, with the last two seasons coming at Milwaukee’s Double-A affiliate. All of us at MLBTR wish Betancourt the best in a full recovery.
Here are some notes from around baseball…
- The Rangers signed Doug Fister earlier today but aren’t done looking for pitching, as MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports (Twitter link) that the club is still showing interest in Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn. Given the uncertainty in the Texas rotation and Fister’s own inconsistent performance in recent years, it isn’t surprising that the Rangers are looking to further augment their staff with a pitcher who could be more comfortably slotted near the front of the rotation. Texas has cast a wide net in search of pitching help — beyond Cobb and Lynn, the team has also been linked to Jake Arrieta and Tyler Chatwood, plus the Rangers are expected to be one of the top suitors for Shohei Otani.
- The Padres have some degree of interest in Eric Hosmer since he is younger than other free agent first base options, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes. For instance, Lin hasn’t heard of anything serious about the Padres pursuing Carlos Santana, the second-best first baseman on the open market. Hosmer is just 28, and thus if signed to a long-term deal, would likely still be a contributor once the Padres are ready to contend. A player like Santana, who turns 32 in April, could already be declining by the time San Diego is done rebuilding, which could be at least two seasons from now. Of course, the Padres also already have Wil Myers at first base, and a Hosmer signing is probably the only scenario that would see the team ask Myers to move to a corner outfield spot.
Why do people even go back to Venezuela anymore?
Because he’s from there?
Why do people go home? Maybe their family and loved ones are there. The same reason that any of us go home when we travel for work I guess.
Agreed. This is their job and like it or not, home is where home is. If family and friends are there, I’d be going there too. If I had unlimited resources you could “move” home but being where he is in his career, he’s kind of stuck.
Because they are immigrants on work visas. When their work is over (ie the offseason), they go home.
They are not immigrants, they’re guest workers.
Because there are no mass shootings in the U.S. right?
Imagine a ball player from North Korea
With all that goes on in the US and how divided it is you could argue the same thing about Americans overseas lol
If you are referring to the fact that Venezuela is one of the most dangerous countries in the world you have a point. Many Venezuelan cities have some of the highest homicide rates in the world.
Most Venezuelan MLB established players stay in the country because they become targets in Venezuela. Sad reality for them. They stopped playing winter league and try to keep their love ones safe. In the past, players like Magglio Ordonez, Johan Santana, Uguet Urbina have been victims of assault, kidnap for ransom, or thread during the off-season. Less know players have been even killed.
Santana is better than Hosmer.
There is a case for that, but in the context of the Padres potentially signing him that is not the point.
Right now, you are correct. In 4 years, when Santana is 36 and Hosmer is 32, that’s less likely. Both players will still be on the contract they sign this off season. Admittedly, there is a lot more speculation on the Hosmer side of the equation, and a lot more estimation on the Santana side.
I’m hoping they don’t sign Hosmer and just stick with Myers at first base for now. Hosmer is alright, but they have Naylor on the way. Plus, if they’re going to sign an impact free agent to help the rebuild, they might as well wait until next year’s free agent class.
Don’t get me wrong; naylors bat is awesome, but he needs a lot of work on that glove.
I rather have myers there over him
If we had a dh he’d be a good fit, but we don’t. I see him as future trade bait
So many horrible things happening to ballplayers in the past couple of years.
How can you say that? They live live in the limelight and any misfortune is reported as breaking news. Do you have any idea how many people got shot in the arm, stabbed in the leg or had their faces broken up in a beating. With all the violence in the world, you think horrible things are happening to ballplayers! Let me tell you friends, they live a life of unadulterated privilege, over abundance and are pedestalized and treated as Gods in our society.
Yeah, with Myers already entrenched at 1st base and Naylor hitting very well this far in the minors I don’t see the need to overpay a free agent 1st baseman. If they wanna overpay a good free agent, it should be at a portion of need like, idk, shortstop.
How much money will it take for Cozart to say he likes the school system in San Diego?
3/$42MM according to MLBTR
mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/2017-18-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html
My question is who besides the Padres needs a shortstop badly enough to pay him that much money?
Entrenched with his 29 RBI’s at Petco and 9 errors ha. His first footwork at 1B goofy and he’s right handed. If he was entrenched why interest another off wall comment
RBI’s and errors are your argument? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Myers is great, but there’s so many better ways to show why
He’s horrendous base runner, strikes out 180 times and hit .200 or less 4 out of 6 months, other than that great
He only hit below .200 in two months dumb ass
Slow on the driveway
“Entrenched”
Brain dead
Entrenched yeah stuck with contract u mean. Put him in OF get value up and jettison loser
With the question marks in the rotation, I don’t understand why the Cardinals doesn’t want to resign Lynn.
Bc the cardinals have a decent farm with Reyes due back soon
And Lynn is going to want to get paid.