Quick Hits: Hernandez, MacDougal, Headley
2013/02/quick-hits-hernandez-macdougal-headley.htmlLast night Jason Martinez of MLB Depth Charts and I discussed the Hernandez deal and the most improved teams in…… Links from around MLB on a day that many are still buzzing about Felix Hernandez’s seven-year, $175MM contract extension with the Mariners...
Quick Hits: Mariners, Indians, Red Sox, Zambrano
2013/02/quick-hits-2-10.htmlMLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith and Jason Martinez of MLB Depth Charts discussed the 2014 free agent class and busy weeks for the Mariners and Indians on the most recent edition of the Rosters & Rumblings podcast. … In an interview with WEEI's Dennis & Callahan this morning, Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino discussed the team's philosophy regarding free agents and their approach to Josh Hamilton this winter, writes WEEI.com's Alex Speier.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Schumaker, Bourn, Phillies
2013/02/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-1-12.htmlBaltimore Sports and Life discussed the ZiPs projection system in this week's podcast. … On this date in 2003, the Red Sox completed an unusually complicated move when they acquired Kevin Millar from the Marlins.
Robinson Cano Rumors: Friday
2013/03/robinson-cano-rumors-friday.htmlThere’s some disagreement as to whether the Yankees made Cano an official offer, Buster Olney said on ESPN.com’s Baseball Tonight podcast. … GM Brian Cashman announced yesterday that the Yankees extended a "significant offer" to Robinson Cano.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Ethier, Harper, Cordero
2013/03/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-4-2.htmlBaltimore Sports And Life talked World Baseball Classic in the latest podcast. … On this date in 1987, Charlie Kerfeld agreed to one of the more ludicrous deals in the history of baseball.
Quick Hits: Yankees, Cano, Lohse, Nationals
2013/03/quick-hits-yankees-cano-lohse-nationals.htmlOn the latest edition of the Rosters & Rumblings podcast, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith and Jason Mart.inez of MLB Depth Charts discussed Robinson Cano's contract status and the Padres' 2013 chances. … A more restrained approach to spending by the Yankees doesn't mean that they can't re-sign Cano to a hefty, long-term deal, writes MLB.com's Mike Bauman.
Offseason In Review: Houston Astros
2013/03/offseason-in-review-houston-astros.htmlLuhnow told Keith Law on ESPN's Behind The Dish podcast that he’s ready to embrace the unpredictability of young players…… The Astros’ patient approach to building a contender won’t lead to many wins at the MLB level in 2013.
Kyle Lohse Signing Reactions
2013/03/kyle-lohse-signing-reactions.htmlThe current system allows bad teams to make up ground on the good ones, which wasn't possible before, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said on Law's podcast a few weeks ago. … Kyle Lohse's long winter ended yesterday, as the 34-year-old righty signed a three-year, $33MM deal with the Brewers.
Quick Hits: Red Sox, Posey, Cano, Indians
2013/04/pirates-gm-neal-huntington-and-rays-gm-andrew-friedman-claim-that-their-decisions-to-leave-gerrit-cole-pirates-and-wil-myer.htmlThe Giants have locked up catcher Buster Posey with an eight-year, $159MM extension, but in Keith Law's latest podcast for ESPN, Posey's agent, Jeff Berry of Creative Artist Agency (CAA), contemplates what might have happened if Posey and the Giants had decided to go year-to-year through the arbitration system. … Pirates GM Neal Huntington and Rays GM Andrew Friedman claim that their decisions to leave Gerrit Cole (Pirates) and Wil Myers (Rays) in the minors to start the 2013 season were motivated not by service-time concerns, but by those players' readiness, MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Profar, Meyer, Joba, Colletti
2013/04/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-1-10.htmlPhoul Ballz caught up with a pair of Phillies prospects in their latest podcast. … On this date in 2002, Barry Bonds belted a homer in the first inning off of the Brewers' Nelson Figueroa for his 574th career round tripper.
East Links: Harvey, Red Sox, Myers, Zobrist, Marlins
2013/04/east-links-harvey-myers-zobrist-marlins.htmlMatt Harvey has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball this season, and the Mets hurler appeared on the Baseball Tonight podcast with ESPN's Buster Olney to discuss how he could have signed with the Angels out of high school (Harvey appears near the 28:50 mark of this audio link). … Here's more from the Eastern divisions...
Quick Hits: Agents, Lilly, Harvey
2013/04/quick-hits-agents-lilly-harvey.htmlAgent Jamie Murphy of TWC Sports, in an interview on Buster Olney's Baseball Tonight podcast on ESPN, says that client-stealing by other agents isn't particularly prevalent in baseball. … When players do change agents, Murphy says, it's mostly "for the right reasons," such as, for example, a player changing from an inexperienced agent to a more experienced one.
Quick Hits: Maholm, Royals, Shields, Martin
2013/04/odds-ends-2-2.htmlRoyals General Manager Dayton Moore spoke with ESPN's Buster Olney (audio link) on his latest podcast about his moves this winter. … req'd) looked at five early season surprises and wondered if they'd be able to sustain it across the entire year.
Quick Hits: Boras, Draft, Cubs, Dietrich
2013/05/quick-hits-boras-draft-cubs-dietrich.htmlBlue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos characterizes this year's draft as "a down year" in a podcast interview with ESPN's Buster Olney. … 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.
Hoyer On Bullpen, Walks, Feldman, Soriano, Draft
2013/06/hoyer-on.htmlCubs GM Jed Hoyer was on Buster Olney's podcast for ESPN today; here are some highlights. … The Cubs' bullpen sports a 4.26 ERA, 13th in the National League.
Central Notes: Liriano, Carpenter, Berry, Kazmir
2013/06/central-notes-liriano-carpenter-berry-kazmir-royals.htmlFrom earlier today in the two Central divisions, Cubs GM Jed Hoyer sat down for a podcast with ESPN's Buster…… Here are some other items from both the AL and NL Central...
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Huntington, Indians, Uribe
2013/06/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-1-7.htmlRumbunter Plus spoke with Pirates GM Neal Huntington on this week's podcast. … On this date in 1998, Bill Russell was let go as the manager of the Dodgers and replaced in the dugout by Glenn Hoffmann.
AL Central Notes: Peavy, Perkins, McDonald, Indians
2013/06/al-central-notes-peavy-perkins-mcdonald-indians.htmlIndians general manager Chris Antonetti spoke with Olney as a guest on today's Baseball Tonight Podcast (Antonetti joins around the 30-minute mark) and spoke at length about the trade deadline. … We learned earlier today that the White Sox are reportedly "open for business" and willing to trade anyone besides Chris Sale and their long-time franchise cornerstone Paul Konerko.
Olney’s Latest: Biogenesis, Utley, Wilson, Garza
2013/07/olneys-latest-biogenesis-utley-wilson-garza.htmlOlney also spoke with his colleague Jayson Stark on today's Baseball Tonight podcast, and they discussed the impact of Biogenesis on pennant races in addition to discussing the upcoming trade deadline (Biogenesis talk begins immediately; trade discussions begin shortly after the 11:00 mark). … In his latest column (Insider subscription required and recommended), ESPN's Buster Olney writes that Nelson Cruz is among the players whose free agent stock could be severely impacted by the Biogenesis scandal.
Matt Garza Rumors: Friday
2013/07/matt-garza-rumors-friday.htmlEarlier today, ESPN's Buster Olney said on the Baseball Tonight podcast with Jayson Stark that he'd be "shocked" if Matt Garza was on the Cubs by the All-Star break. … Stark, countered by saying he's heard that the Cubs may be willing to wait until a team meets their price.
Quick Hits: Haren, Rodriguez, Extensions
2013/08/quick-hits-haren-rodriguez-extensions.htmlHow have recent early-career contract extensions held up over time? To approach the question, Sam Miller of Baseball Prospectus looked at it another way: standing here today, would the team choose to sign the player to the portion of the deal that remains? While the full article requires a subscription, the Baseball Prospectus team also discussed this issue in their most recent podcast. … Let's take a look at a few stray links to round out the weekend ...
NL East Notes: Nationals, Zimmerman, Halladay, Abreu
2013/08/nl-east-notes-nationals-zimmerman-halladay-abreu.html(For a detailed discussion of Abreu's prospect value, check out this recent podcast from Baseball America's Ben Badler and John Manuel.) As an "early guess," Bowden places the Marlins atop the list of Abreu pursuers. … While first baseman Freddie Freeman has had an outstanding campaign for the Braves, Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that shortstop Andrelton Simmons has been the team's most valuable contributor.
West Notes: Hoffman, Giants, Abreu, Garza
2013/09/west-notes-hoffman-giants-abreu-garza.htmlMatt Garza has been a disappointment for the Rangers since they traded for him, but that's consistent with the rest of his career, ESPN's Jayson Stark says on ESPN Dallas' Fitzsimmons and Durrett podcast. … The Padres have promoted former star closer Trevor Hoffman to upper level pitching coordinator and special assistant to GM Josh Byrnes, according to a team release.
NL West Notes: Kemp, Price, CarGo, Tulo, Gray
2013/10/nl-west-notes-kemp-cargo-tulo.htmlOn yesterday's Baseball Tonight Podcast, ESPN's Buster Olney told colleague Tim Kurkjian that the Dodgers are expected to be the most aggressive team in pursuing a trade for David Price this offseason. … The Dodgers announced this week that Matt Kemp underwent surgery to repair the A-C joint in his left shoulder.
Quick Hits: Jimenez, Ellsbury, Cubs, 2014 Draft
2013/10/quick-hits-jimenez-ellsbury-cubs-2014-draft.htmlThe Indians "would love" having Ubaldo Jimenez back on a one-year, $14.1MM qualifying offer contract (with an option for 2015)…… As the World Series shifts to St.