Free Agent Retrospective: Randy Johnson
2013/03/free-agent-retrospective-randy-johnson.htmlJohnson accomplished this in a Diamondbacks uniform, helping the franchise capture its first World Series championship in 2001. … Few players would have justified the expense.
Offseason In Review: St. Louis Cardinals
2013/04/offseason-in-review-st-louis-cardinals-2.htmlNotable Losses Kyle Lohse, Lance Berkman, Brian Fuentes Needs Addressed The Cardinals finished the 2012 season with 88 wins, a wild card playoff berth and a trip to the National League Championship Series. … by MLBTR's Steve Adams The Cardinals didn't make any significant changes, but spent big to retain their own players following a season in which they were one game from a return to the World Series.
Transaction Retrospection: The First Hunter Pence Trade
2013/04/transaction-retrospection-the-first-hunter-pence-trade.htmlPhiladelphia, meanwhile, received a boost to their lineup that helped cement a division championship. … Let's look at all of the players involved...
Rays See Value In Longoria’s $100MM Extension
2013/04/rays-see-value-in-longorias-100mm-extension.htmlWith what we’ve got right now, and what our team’s looking like this year, our goal is to win a World Championship this year. … He, like Fuld and several other players who spoke to MLBTR this spring, ultimately views Longoria’s extension as a positive.
Quick Hits: Borbon, Cubs, Rendon, Profar
2013/04/quick-hits-borbon-cubs-rendon-profar.htmlThe Cubs' ownership has continued to push out its promised timeline for a championship. … It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that several teams are considering moving big-name young players to second base, with major potential hot stove implications.
Yankees, Robinson Cano Continue Discussing Contract
2013/05/yankees-robinson-cano-continue-discussing-contract.htmlBut again, I'll reiterate what I always reiterate, which is we're always going to field a championship-caliber team. … More on the Yankees: Can a team with a $228MM payroll earn the designation "scrappy?" Steinbrenner used that adjective, expressing admiration for the Yankees' young players and cheap veterans that have allowed them to successfully weather injuries to key players so far.
Quick Hits: Boras, Draft, Cubs, Dietrich
2013/05/quick-hits-boras-draft-cubs-dietrich.htmlMLB.com's Carrie Muskat notes that they'll get another chance to watch all except Appel, since Oklahoma, USD and UNC are all in the field of 64 for the NCAA Division I baseball championship. … Scott Boras isn't generally in favor of pre-free agency extensions, but he ultimately lets his players decide for themselves, he tells Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
Peavy Open To A Trade, If Necessary
2013/06/peavy-open-to-a-trade-if-necessary.htmlYou pay players and you have players in place to try to win a division, get in the playoffs, to…… "Is it best to keep players who make a nice salary on a team that’s not destined to do anything,…
Reactions To The Jake Peavy Trade
2013/07/reactions-to-the-jake-peavy-trade-1.html"There's a lot of uncertainty facing the situation which concerned me," said Dombrowski, "especially with our scenario trying to win a championship. … Matt Eddy of Baseball America has a scouting report on all players involved, noting Garcia is the centerpiece for the White Sox and calling him "a five-tool talent who runs, throws and defends enough to handle center field in his youth and right field down the line." Two years ago, the Red Sox wouldn't have made this trade, writes Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.
Phillies Notes: Manuel, Bullpen, Papelbon
2013/08/phillies-notes-manuel-bullpen-papelbon.htmlHe led the Phillies to five straight division titles and captured a World Series championship in 2008. … Manuel has exactly 1,000 wins in his storied career and is beloved by the players he has guided.
AL West Notes: Rangers, Ogando, Astros, A’s
2013/08/al-west-notes-rangers-ogando-astros-as.htmlThe Rangers have a narrow half-game lead over the Athletics as they seek a third division championship in four seasons. … Following today's DFA of lefty Wade LeBlanc, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart notes that 14 of the 25 players on the Astros' active roster are rookies (on Twitter).
Offseason Outlook: Colorado Rockies
2013/10/offseason-outlook-colorado-rockies.htmlIf Monfort is as serious about bringing a championship to Denver as he says, he can spend the necessary dough to get someone like Shin-Soo Choo or Carlos Beltran. … Guaranteed Contracts Troy Tulowitzki, SS: $16MM Michael Cuddyer, OF: $10.5MM Carlos Gonzalez, OF: $10.5MM Arbitration Eligible Players Wilton Lopez (4.038): $2.2MM Juan Nicasio (2.124, Super Two): $1.7MM Mitchell Boggs (4.007): $1.5MM Josh Outman (4.036): $1.4MM Jonathan Herrera (4.001): $1.2MM Manny Corpas (5.125): $1MM Contract Options Jorge De La Rosa, SP: $11MM Rafael Betancourt, RP: $4.25MM mutual option ($250K buyout) Matt Belisle, RP: $4.25MM mutual option ($250K buyout) Free Agents On May 1st, the Rockies were in the NL West driver's seat with a 17-11 record after a hot start to the year.
AL Notes: A-Rod, Girardi, Starling, Red Sox
2013/10/al-notes-a-rod-girardi-starling-red-sox.htmlHere's more from the American League as the Tigers and Red Sox prepare to square off for Game 2 of the League Championship Series tonight... … our fan base saw when we lost significant players at various positions, it was not easy to plug holes because the talent just doesn't exist." In that same appearance, Cashman admitted that he thought the Cubs had a real chance to steal manager Joe Girardi from the Yankees before the skipper signed a new four-year deal last week.
Offseason Outlook: Tampa Bay Rays
2013/10/offseason-outlook-tampa-bay-rays.htmlA contender may be looking to acquire Price so they can challenge for a World Series in 2014 and 2015; Friedman needs the return on the Price trade to keep the Rays afloat for championship runs for the rest of the decade. … In an ideal world for Tampa Bay, they'd be able to sign Price to a multiyear extension --- in the realistic/ideal world, the club would be able to free up $13MM in payroll space while moving Price for at least one or two players like Myers, a star prospect who quickly broke out in the majors and looks to be a lineup stalwart for years to come.
NL Notes: Beltran, La Russa, Rockies
2013/10/nl-notes-rbi-program-peavy-la-russa-ellis.htmlIn the article, Ellis breaks down the Dodgers' loss to the Cardinals in the NL Championship Series, as well as the approaches of the St. … Many of the players that Tony La Russa led to a World Series victory in 2011 as manager of the Cardinals are no longer with the team, but La Russa says that the organizational culture remains unchanged.
2014 MLB Free Agent Tracker And Important Dates
2013/10/2014-mlb-free-agent-tracker-and-important-dates.htmlThe Red Sox front office will have little time to bask in the glow of the franchise's eighth World Championship. … Upcoming important dates: Players with at least six years of Major League service and no contract for 2014 are eligible to become free agents as of 8am central time today, October 31st.
2014 Top 50 Free Agents With Predictions
2013/11/2014-top-50-free-agents-with-predictions-1.htmlAfter missing out on Jose Dariel Abreu, we'll learn soon if the Red Sox are willing to guarantee a third year to Napoli, for real this time, fresh off a World Championship. … Once all top 50 players have signed, the winners will receive sweet prizes.
Huntington: Qualifying Offer For Burnett Did Not Fit Budget
2013/11/huntington-qualifying-offer-for-burnett-did-not-fit-budget.htmlBurnett, it's how do we build a championship team in the big picture. … Comparing the Pirates to teams like the Rays and A's, he explained that building a winner in a small market is more complicated than just getting players at reasonably sub-market rates: "It's not where we value A.J.
Offseason Outlook: Detroit Tigers
2013/11/offseason-outlook-detroit-tigers.htmlThe Tigers made a return to the American League Championship Series in 2013 but saw themselves on the outside looking in for a second straight season, with the Red Sox advancing to the Fall Classic. … Guaranteed Contracts Prince Fielder, 1B: $168MM through 2020 Justin Verlander, SP: $160MM through 2019 (plus $22MM vesting option for 2020) Anibal Sanchez, SP: $68MM through 2017 Miguel Cabrera, 3B: $44MM through 2015 Torii Hunter, RF: $14MM through 2014 Victor Martinez, DH: $12MM through 2014 Arbitration Eligible Players (service time in parentheses) Max Scherzer (5.079): $13.6MM projected salary Rick Porcello (4.170): $7.7MM Doug Fister (4.058): $6.9MM Austin Jackson (4.000): $5.3MM Alex Avila (4.061): $3.7MM Phil Coke (5.028): $2.1MM Andy Dirks (2.139, Super Two): $1.7MM Don Kelly (4.138): $900K Al Alburquerque (2.147, Super Two): $700K Free Agents Jhonny Peralta, Joaquin Benoit, Omar Infante, Ramon Santiago, Brayan Pena, Jose Veras The first order of business this offseason was shored up when Detroit hired Brad Ausmus as their new skipper, giving the former catcher a three-year deal despite no prior Major League managerial experience.
Central Notes: Twins, Scherzer, Shields, Samardzija
2013/11/central-starter-notes-twins-scherzer-shields-samardzija.htmlIllitch's goal is, and that is to win a world championship," Boras continued. … As he further explained, Dombrowski could be discussing Scherzer with other clubs in part to guage his value and to see how those teams value their own players.
Quick Hits: Closers, Twins, Narveson, Kinsler, Lopez
2013/11/quick-hits-closers-twins-narveson-kinsler-lopez.htmlIan Kinsler could block trades to all but ten teams, but he didn't put the Tigers on the list because he liked their chances of winning a championship, John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press reports. … The Sox traded four players last offseason to get Joel Hanrahan (and infielder Brock Holt), but Hanrahan quickly went down with an elbow injury.
MLB And MLBPA Release 2013 Report On PED Testing
2013/11/mlb-and-mlbpa-release-2013-report-on-ped-testing.htmlEvery player is subject to a urine test upon reporting to Spring Training and is subject to an additional random urine test at some point between the commencement of Spring Training and the end of the championship season (i.e., the conclusion of the regular season). … The JDA also provides for further testing based upon reasonable cause as well as follow-up testing for disciplined players.
Cafardo On Tanaka, Jimenez, Cruz, Lackey, Ichiro
2013/12/cafardo-on-1-2.htmlIn this week's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that the Orioles owe it to their fans to take a shot at a championship by bolstering the roster. … Nelson Cruz is the best available free agent among position players, but his demand of four years at $75MM has turned off teams.
NL Central Notes: Pirates, Samardzija, Morgan, Cards
2014/01/nl-central-notes-pirates-samardzija-morgan-cardinals.html“They have several players who fit the profile to be starters on championship-caliber teams. … “They have several players we felt would contend to be No.
Yankees Sign Masahiro Tanaka
2014/01/yankees-to-sign-masahiro-tanaka.htmlTanaka suffered just one loss overall in his historic 2013 season -- a 160-pitch (yes, 160) complete-game loss in Game 6 of the Japan Series (NPB's championship series). … Information on the bidding for Tanaka was kept largely under wraps by the teams and his agents at Excel Sports Management, but the Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers and Diamondbacks were all known to have been players for his services.