Trade Candidate: Mike Adams
2013/04/trade-candidate-mike-adams.htmlIt's been a rough start to the season for the Phillies, whose 9-12 record puts them 6.5 games out of first place in the NL East. … That trade looks pretty good for the Padres right now, and the Phillies could benefit even more.
Prospect Rumor Roundup
2013/04/weekly-prospect-rumors.htmlWith incumbent center-fielder Jacoby Ellsbury a free agent after the 2013 season, the smooth-fielding outfield prospect could be a cost-effective replacement if his offense stabilizes in time. … While speaking with Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe, Red Sox manager John Farrell said the rookie's early taste of big league action -- and struggles -- could be good for Bradley in the long run.
Epstein On Cubs Rebuilding Plan
2013/04/epstein-on-cubs-rebuilding-plan.htmlHe said that, until, the club can generate new revenue, it is placed in an "untenable position": the Cubs are "fighting upstream" against division competitors that get competitive balance draft picks, but are simultaneously unable to increase payroll to keep pace with the top of the division. … It’s not like we’re making a conscious decision to say, ‘Hey, let’s withhold $15-20 million from the 2012 or 2013 payroll because we don’t think we’re quite good enough or it’s not worth it to spend it there.
NL Notes: Cashner, Rizzo, Phillies, Thome, Wheeler
2013/04/nl-notes-cashner-rizzo-phillies-thome-wheeler.htmlThe hitter got to move to a hitter’s ballpark." Rizzo, meanwhile, feels there wasn't a place for him in San Diego. … Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner feels that the January 2012 trade that sent him to San Diego (with Kyung-Min Na) for Anthony Rizzo and Zach Cates was good for him and for Rizzo, Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Prospect Rumor Roundup
2013/05/prospect-rumour-roundup.htmlWith Toronto almost 10 games out of first place at the beginning of May, and with the bandwagon already set ablaze by fickle fans, it's safe to say that this is not the type of start to the year that the Blue Jays front office was expecting. … With arguably a top five minor league system prior to the deals, Toronto mortgaged a good deal of its future for a chance to win now.
L.I. Ducks President On Willis, Guerrero, Castro
2013/05/long-island-ducks-president-on-willis-guerrero-castro.htmlObviously, the players are teammates at some juncture in their careers and they talk about good places to play and the places that help their careers. … Castro obviously has a reputation as a very good player, especially in this market thanks to his time with the Mets.
Wei-Yin Chen Hires Scott Boras
2013/05/wei-yin-chen-hires-scott-boras.htmlChen made 32 starts and racked up 192 2/3 innings, averaging 5.5 strikeouts and 3.0 walks per nine innings pitched, which was good enough to earn him a fourth-place finish in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. … The 27-year-old Taiwanese import signed a three-year, $11.388MM contract with the Orioles prior to the 2012 campaign and played an integral part in the team's surprising playoff berth.
MLBTR Mailbag: Cardinals, Dodgers, Cano
2013/05/mlbtr-mailbag.htmlOf course, the team is in last place, having dropped its last seven. … KC would probably be willing to overpay for one year to buy time for Duffy and Paulino rehab or Ventura and/or Zimmer to develop, right? - Fred Should Santana's strong work continue, there's a good chance the Royals make a qualifying offer (which will potentially be around $14MM).
NL Notes: Cardinals, McCann, Wheeler, Dodgers, Cubs
2013/05/nl-notes-cardinals-mccann-wheeler-dodgers-cubs.htmlAnd I'm in a good place." Mets officials appear to be anticipating the call-up of top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler sooner rather than later, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. … But that is precisely what happened to the Cardinals after watching all-time great first baseman Albert Pujols leave town for Anaheim, writes Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal.
2014 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings
2013/05/2014-mlb-free-agent-power-rankings-2.htmlGarza's fourth minor league rehab outing will take place Thursday, as he recovers from a lat strain. … Ellsbury was amazing in 2011, and good in 2008-09.
NL Notes: Prado, Johnson, Mattingly, Dodgers
2013/05/nl-notes-prado-johnson-mattingly-greinke-dodgers.htmlAs David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets, Johnson says he is excited to be squaring off against his former club: "Any time you get traded, you want to come back to the place you got traded from and show them what they're missing." Johnson, along with platoon partner Juan Francisco, effectively took over for Prado as the replacement for the retired Chipper Jones. … As MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports, Prado says he is happy for his former club: “The thing that makes me feel real good is that you know that you got traded and the [Braves] now look better.
Red Sox Notes: Ellsbury, Hanrahan, Dodgers Trade
2013/05/red-sox-notes-ellsbury-hanrahan-dodgers-trade.htmlAfter a 20-8 start to the 2013 season, the Red Sox have dropped nine of their past 11 games and now find themselves in third place. … and Jerry Sands were included in the Hanrahan deal but Allen Webster and Rubby de la Rosa have looked good.
Transaction Retrospection: The Jackson-Hudson Trade
2013/05/transaction-retrospection-white-sox-land-jackson.htmlIn 11 starts following the trade, Hudson posted a 1.69 ERA, 7.9 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9, cementing his place in Arizona's rotation. … Three years later, it looks like the Diamondbacks got a very good return for a talented but struggling starter.
The Best Spring Training Additions Of 2013
2013/05/the-best-spring-training-additions-of-2013.htmlA lot of Spring Training pickups generate more of a negative reaction than a positive one, but here's a look at some of the best minor (and one major) pickups that took place during Spring Training 2013... … Kyle Lohse -- Lohse would be the "major" pickup I referenced earlier, and he's been good for the Brewers through the first two months of his three-year deal.
Quick Hits: Angels, Montero, Gomes, Dodgers
2013/05/quick-hits-angels-montero-gomes-dodgers.htmlIf Montero will play predominantly first base and designated hitter going forward, that puts him in an awkward position, because one of the reasons he was sent down in the first place was that his hitting wasn't particularly good even for a catcher. … Miguel Cabrera might have been hitting home runs in Anaheim if the Angels had been able to swing a deal for him in 2007, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.
How Valuable Are Competitive Balance Draft Picks?
2013/05/what-are-competitive-balance-draft-picks-worth.htmlSome will take place after the first round, others after the second round. … This distribution of outcomes is fairly telling -- in 55 picks, there's one superstar (Wright), two very good players (Jones and Gonzalez), a good closer (Street), a decent regular (Saltalamacchia) and a smattering of role players.
AL Central Notes: Twins, Wang, Iwakuma, Brett
2013/05/al-central-notes-5.htmlThe team sits at 23-28, good for fourth place in the division. … While the Twins have struggled to be contenders on the field, the club once again figures to be players in the international market.
Prospect Rumor Roundup: 2012 Draft Review
2013/06/prospect-rumour-roundup-2012-draft-review.htmlDahl has since regained his Low-A spot and produced solid-but-unspectacular results in his first 10 games; he was recently placed on the minor league disabled list. … Still just 18, Correa has held his own in A-ball while showing the ability to hit for a solid average, an impressive understanding of the strike zone and good power.
Trade Candidate: Scott Feldman
2013/06/trade-candidate-scott-feldman.htmlThat's clearly been the case, as the Cubs currently have a 25-35 record that puts them 14.5 games out of first place in the NL Central. … Feldman, 30, signed a one-year, $6MM contract with the Cubs this offseason, and probably had a pretty good idea that he could see his name on the market if things didn't go well on Chicago's north side.
Quick Hits: Rodriguez, Nolasco, Davis, Martin, Astros
2013/06/quick-hits-gallardo-nolasco-davis-martin-astros.htmlNot trying to spend their way out of last place is the right strategy for the Astros, Bowden says, because of the top picks they get as a result. … The Pirates have had a number of surprisingly good pitching performances this year, and what connects them is catcher Russell Martin, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes.
Trade Candidate: Jesse Crain
2013/06/trade-candidate-jesse-crain.htmlBut given their place in the standings and Crain's impending free agency, the White Sox have little to lose, and there are occasional trades where a contender will pay premium prices for a very good setup man. … The White Sox have fallen 9.5 games back in the AL Central after losing their last four games, and unless they can pull off the unlikely feat of battling their way into the playoff picture in the next few weeks, their veterans will likely be part of trade rumors as late July approaches.
Phillies Sign J.P. Crawford
2013/06/phillies-sign-jp-crawford.htmlChuck Hixson of Philly Baseball Insider was the first to tweet that a deal was in place. … Callis notes that Crawford was "easily the best" shortstop in this year's draft class, as he has a good bat, speed, good defense and a little power as well.
Twins Notes: Perkins, Buxton, Trade Market
2013/06/twins-notes-perkins-buxton-trade-market.htmlThe Twins finished up the 2012 season with a 66-96 record -- good for last place in the AL Central. … That same GM opined that the Twins are going to be good "quick" and called Byron Buxton the "best player in minor league ball." He also pointed out that top prospects Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario, both of whom were recently promoted to Double-A, are on the fast track to the Majors.
Quick Hits: Nolasco, Stanton, Yankees, Ramirez
2013/06/quick-hits-nolasco-stanton-yankees-ramirez.htmlI like everything about this place: mound size, good place to pitch, crowd is great and a great team. … That would still leave the Bucs with a good crop of young players that would include Gerrit Cole, Starling Marte, Alen Hanson, Josh Bell and their 2013 draft class, but it would be a high price, as one would expect.
Injury Updates On Impending Free Agent Starters
2013/06/injury-updates-on-impending-free-agent-starters.htmlBeyond that, the loss of one of their best starters this season could place the Halos in a deeper hole and push them toward selling at this year's deadline. … Roy Halladay told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that he's feeling good and has been tossing from 60 feet for the past few days.