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…… Needs Addressed There’s reason to believe general manager Jeff Luhnow will build a contender in Houston.
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. … "At the end, if there was that level of confidence that he was part of the best 25-man roster, then we felt he should be on the team.
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. … Shutdown Inning has some ideas for what the Rangers can do with Jurickson Profar.
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). … Comak writes that there's a chance that this outcome could've come about with the pair's jerseys being flipped, had the offseason played out a bit differently.
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. … But with Zack Greinke and Capuano on the DL and Aaron Harang gone via trade, the Dodgers' quandary about what to do with Lilly appears to be resolved, at least for now.
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. … The list begins with Paul Maholm of the Braves and Bowden notes that he wound up there only after Ryan Dempster used his no-trade clause to block a deal to Atlanta.
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. … "I don’t think there’s any question that the reason a club offers a player guarantees when they don’t have to is they deem it to be beneficial to them -- just by the nature that they offer them," says Boras.
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. … "He'll figure out the on-base thing," said Hoyer, who says Castro is "just in a slump right now." If there was any doubt, it sounds like the Cubs will be trade deadline sellers once again.
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…… Kazmir has a 5.13 ERA in eight starts with the Indians this season but his secondary numbers are good enough that MLBTR's Steve Adams believes he could earn a decent free agent contract this winter.
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. … The Tribe Daily asks if the Dolan family has smoothed things out with the Indians' fanbase.
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. … Antonetti side-stepped a question about what the Tribe would be looking for in July, saying their focus for the time being is getting healthy.
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). … The Cubs are "making progress" in trade negotiations surrounding Matt Garza, and they're actively talking with the Rangers, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Indians and Dodgers.
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. … Here's the latest on the right-hander...
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. … With Alex Rodriguez apparently prepared to fight his reportedly upcoming suspension, sources tell the New York Daily News that Rodriguez "may accuse the Yankees in his appeal of mishandling his injuries, forcing him to turn to other alternatives to stay on the field." Were Rodriguez to pursue such an approach, however, he could run into other issues with his contract.
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. … In addition to raising the question of what would happen with first baseman Adam LaRoche, who is under contract for next season, the team would have to move rookie Anthony Rendon back to his natural position at third.
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. … Garza's peripherals with Texas (8.5 K/9, 2.3 BB/9) remain above average, but it's likely a 4.46 ERA isn't what the Rangers were hoping for when they acquired him.
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)…… "There is so much money in the game, free agency is crazy," an anonymous GM tells Peter Gammons (Twitter link)
AL Central Notes: Royals, Asdrubal, Indians, Hahn
2013/10/al-central-notes-asdrubal-indians-hahn.htmlRead more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/30/4587620/royals-mantra-must-be-spend-now.html#storylink=cpy The Indians won't move Asdrubal Cabrera this offseason, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer predicts…… "If there was ever a time the Royals had both the resources and motivation to make a push for the short-term, this is it," Mellinger writes.
Boras On Ellsbury, Choo, Drew, Morales
2013/11/boras-on.htmlAgent Scott Boras joined ESPN's Keith Law on his latest Behind the Dish podcast. … The agent explained that people running into Ellsbury, which caused his two major injuries, has nothing to do with his durability.
Quick Hits: Free Agents, Scherzer, Papelbon, Mulder
2014/01/quick-hits-free-agents-scherzer-papelbon-mulder.htmlForbes Magazine's Maury Brown discusses Major League Baseball's growing revenues and the effect on player salaries and acquisitions in a podcast with BostInno's Alex Reimer, who has a partial transcript of the interview here. … "Last offseason, there were a number of guys affected in ways different than we expected compared to a freer market…
Rangers Notes: Globe Life, Bard, Cubs, Bonuses
2014/02/rangers-notes-globe-life-bard-bonuses.htmlDurrett also notes that the naming rights deal is the latest example of how the Rangers have one of baseball's…… The Rangers officially announced their new stadium naming rights deal with Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company today, as Rangers…
AL Notes: Iwakuma, Goins, Trout
2014/03/al-notes-iwakuma-goins-trout.htmlIn his podcast yesterday (audio link), ESPN.com's Buster Olney talked with colleague Jayson Stark about a possible extension for Mike Trout of the Angels (among many other topics). … His record $1MM pre-arbitration deal is already in the bag, but what's next? Olney says that executives around the league tell him that, if Trout agrees to anything less than a monster ten-year (or greater) deal, their take would be that he hopes to have a chance to make a triumphant return to his native east coast with a large-market team.
Quick Hits: Pineda, Lester, Rangers, Beede, Burnett
2014/03/quick-hits-pineda-rangers-beede-burnett.htmlIn a podcast, Tim Britton and Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal try to determine what a Lester extension might look like, and they arrive somewhere in the neighborhood of five years and $110MM guaranteed, perhaps with an option of some kind. … As Ryan Lawrence of the Daily News noted earlier today, the back of the Phillies' rotation is uncertain -- Cole Hamels, Jonathan Pettibone and Ethan Martin are all dealing with injuries, and it's not clear what they have in Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.