Make Or Break Year: Kendrys Morales
2012/03/make-or-break-year-kendrys-morales.htmlHe appeared in yesterday's Spring Training contest, but hasn't played in an official game since May 29th, 2010, the day he injured his left ankle in a walk-off home run celebration gone wrong. … But there’s a difference between appearing in a Spring Training game and contributing regularly at the Major League level.
2013 Contract Issues: Pittsburgh Pirates
2012/05/2013-contract-issues-pittsburgh-pirates.htmlWalk-off home runs aside, it's been a slow start at the plate for Barajas, who has a .472 OPS so far in 2012. … There's no guarantee he'll finish this season in Pittsburgh, so it'd be premature to assume he'll play on next year's Pirates team.
2013 Contract Issues: Tampa Bay Rays
2012/05/2013-contract-issues-tampa-bay-rays.htmlThe Rays are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series: Eligible For Free Agency (6) Carlos Pena - Pena isn't hitting for much power yet, but he's drawing lots of walks and he's a capable defender at first base, according to The Fielding Bible Volume III. … Scott has eight home runs and a .789 OPS now, and if he continues hitting this option could seem team-friendly by the end of the season.
Quick Hits: McLouth, Padres, Oswalt, Hamilton
2012/05/quick-hits-mclouth-padres-oswalt-hamilton.html"You don't let immense talent walk. … Nelson Cruz swung the hottest Texas bat, going 4-for-5 with a home run and eight RBIs.
Sveum, Dempster Talk About Potential Moves
2012/05/sveum-dempster-talk-about-potential-moves.htmlThe 35-year-old owns a 2.14 ERA in 54 2/3 innings spread across eight starts, and his walk (2.5 BB/9), home run (0.5 HR/9), and hit (7.1 H/9) rates are the best they've been in years. … The Cubs have the worst record in baseball (15-30) and they've lost their last ten games, the franchise's longest losing streak in 15 years.
Orioles To Extend Adam Jones
2012/05/orioles-adam-jones-nearing-extension.htmlThough he has a career on-base percentage of .322, his walk rate and on-base percentage are both on the rise. … He's on his way to establishing career-highs in home runs (14 so far) and slugging percentage.
Magglio Ordonez To Retire
2012/05/magglio-ordonez-to-retire.htmlOrdonez, who hit a walk-off home run to end the 2006 ALCS and send the Tigers to the World Series, spent the last seven seasons of his career playing in Detroit. … Ordonez retires with 294 home runs and a .309/.369/.502 batting line in 1848 games over the course of 15 seasons with the White Sox and Tigers.
Quick Hits: Bard, Halladay, De La Rosa
2012/06/quick-hits-bard-halladay-de-la-rosa.htmlAccording to Baseball Reference, Bard became the first starting pitcher since 1918 to walk six and hit two batters in…… Zambrano hit a 431-foot home run, the longest by a pitcher in four years according to the ESPN Home Run Tracker, and struck out seven in 7 2/3 innings.
Rays Designate Brandon Allen For Assignment
2012/06/rays-designate-brandon-allen-for-assignment.htmlHis brief tenure in Tampa Bay included a walk-off home run on April 26th but was otherwise unremarkable. … The Rays designated Brandon Allen for assignment upon reinstating him from the disabled list today, MLB.com's Bill Chastain reports.
Trade Candidate: Alfonso Soriano
2012/06/trade-candidate-alfonso-soriano.htmlYet Soriano’s an exceptionally aggressive hitter (only 12 qualified hitters swing at a higher percentage of pitches) who doesn't walk or get on base much relative to the rest of the league. … All 12 of his home runs have come since May 15th, so he's still capable of impressive bursts of power.
Checking In On The Latest $100MM Contracts
2012/06/checking-in-on-the-latest-100mm-contracts.htmlThe 28-year-old leads the National League in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, walks, doubles and wOBA, so this deal couldn't be going any better for the Reds. … His last 40 games have been legitimately Pujols-like: 11 home runs and an OPS over 1.000.
Arbitration Eligibles: San Diego Padres
2012/10/arbitration-eligibles-san-diego-padres-2.htmlVolquez, the more explosive pitcher of the pair, will be entering his walk year and would like to remain with the club beyond 2013. … He seems to prevent home runs and hits enough to survive in Petco despite an MLB-leading walk total.
Poll: Will Josh Hamilton Return To The Rangers?
2012/10/poll-will-josh-hamilton-return-to-the-rangers.htmlTypically, someone with a .285/.354/.577 batting line and 43 home runs in their walk year would be a lock for…… Immediately after the Rangers' 5-1 loss to the Orioles in the AL Wild Card game, the focus shifted to Josh…
Offseason Outlook: New York Mets
2012/10/offseason-outlook-new-york-mets-2.htmlStill, improving the bullpen is a must for a team that ranked 29th in MLB in reliever ERA (4.65), 25th in…… Davis placed fifth in the NL with 32 home runs this year and is under long-term control, so the team's asking price would be high.
Offseason Outlook: Milwaukee Brewers
2012/10/offseason-outlook-milwaukee-brewers-2.htmlThough Brewers relievers were one of five groups to average more than one strikeout per inning, they ranked last in…… Guaranteed Contracts Ryan Braun, OF: $135.5MM through 2020 Aramis Ramirez, 3B: $30MM through 2014 Rickie Weeks, 2B: $23MM through 2014 Yovani Gallardo, SP: $19.5MM through 2014 Jonathan Lucroy, C: $10.5MM through 2016 Corey Hart, 1B: $10.33MM through 2013 Norichika Aoki, OF: $1.5MM through 2013 Arbitration Eligible Players (estimated salaries) Carlos Gomez, OF: $3.4MM (fourth time eligible) Kameron Loe, RP: $2.6MM (third time eligible) Jose Veras, RP: $2.6MM (third time eligible, non-tender candidate) Manny Parra, RP: $1.6MM (third time eligible, non-tender candidate) Nyjer Morgan, OF: $2.6MM (second time eligible, non-tender candidate) John Axford, RP: $5.1MM (first time eligible) Chris Narveson, SP: $800K (first time eligible) Marco Estrada, SP: $1.6MM (first time eligible) Travis Ishikawa, 1B: $900K (first time eligible, non-tender candidate) Contract Options None Free Agents Francisco Rodriguez, Shaun Marcum, Alex Gonzalez, Yorvit Torrealba, Livan Hernandez The Brewers had a number of promising starting pitchers emerge over the course of the 2012 season, but that’s not going to stop general manager Doug Melvin from pursuing rotation help this coming offseason.
Arbitration Eligibles: Baltimore Orioles
2012/10/arbitration-eligibles-baltimore-orioles-2.htmlThere's no doubting his power, though he's not one to draw a walk or add value on defense. … Davis should make decent money as a first-timer, with a 33-home run platform year and some decent longball totals early in his Rangers career.
Arbitration Eligibles: Pittsburgh Pirates
2012/10/arbitration-eligibles-pittsburgh-pirates-2.htmlFirst time: James McDonald ($3MM), Neil Walker ($2.9MM), Gaby Sanchez ($1.8MM) Second time: Garrett Jones ($4.4MM), Charlie Morton ($2.6MM), Chris Resop ($1.3MM) Third time: Joel Hanrahan ($6.9MM), Jeff Karstens ($3.8MM) Hanrahan remains an asset for the Pirates, though this year's return to a big-time strikeout rate came with the unwanted side effects of a high walk rate and a lot of flyballs. … Jones needs a platoon partner, but he did hit .289/.332/.556 with 25 home runs in 434 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.
Arbitration Eligibles: Los Angeles Angels
2012/10/arbitration-eligibles-los-angeles-angels-2.htmlIt seems sudden due to the time missed, but the 29-year-old Cuban will be entering his walk year in 2013. … Spending the majority of his time at DH, Morales managed to pop 22 home runs in 522 plate appearances this year.
2013 Top 50 Free Agents With Predictions
2012/10/2013-top-50-free-agents-with-predictions-1.htmlLiriano posted a 5.34 ERA in 2012, walking five batters per nine innings. … He had some home run problems in 2012 and missed a few starts with back issues, and to hear multiple MLB executives tell it, we've got him ranked way too high.
Arbitration Eligibles: Atlanta Braves
2012/11/arbitration-eligibles-atlanta-braves-2.htmlPrado is entering his walk year, and the Braves could try to lock him up in the range of Howie Kendrick's four-year, $33.5MM contract. … Hanson, 26, pitched better than his 4.48 ERA but allowed a lot of hits and home runs in a disappointing campaign.
East Notes: Mets, Jays, Shields, Red Sox, Nationals
2012/11/east-notes-mets-ross-red-sox-nationals.htmlFor now, people familiar with the Nationals’ thinking expect them to either trade arbitration-eligible John Lannan or allow him to walk, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. … I've been here 12 years, this is my home.
Arbitration Eligibles: Toronto Blue Jays
2012/11/arbitration-eligibles-toronto-blue-jays-2.htmlIn six late-season starts he limited walks and home runs while striking out more than a batter per inning. … One of those players, Rasmus, seemed like an emerging extension candidate when, midway through the season, he had 17 home runs and an .821 OPS.
Notable Non-Tendered Players
2012/12/notable-non-tendered-players.htmlHe's coming off his second Tommy John surgery and posted a 3.11 ERA in 55 innings last season while his strikeout (8.8 K/9) and walk (5.1 BB/9) rates took big hits, but teams do love to roll the dice on formerly elite closers coming off down seasons and/or injury. … Mark Reynolds - Power is hard to find these days, and the 29-year-old Reynolds hit 37 home runs just a year ago.
Diamondbacks Discussing Kubel Trades
2012/12/diamondbacks-discussing-kubel-trades.htmlKubel's first season in the National League saw the 30-year-old produce a .253/.327/.506 triple slash line with career bests in home runs (30) and walk rate (10 percent). … 12:59pm: Some think a Kubel trade could happen today, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.
Week In Review: 12/2/12 – 12/8/12
2012/12/week-in-review-12212-12812.htmlBurton would have been entering a walk year in 2013, so the contract buys out one free agent year with an option for another. … The 34-year-old posted a .275/.346/.531 batting line with 26 home runs in 472 plate appearances for the Reds this past season.