International Notes: Diaz, Dodgers, Medina
2013/01/international-notes-diaz-dodgers-medina.htmlThe age difference is crucial for Diaz as Cuban players with at least three years of professional experience in Cuba and who are at least 23 are exempt from the capped bonus pools.
Michael Bourn Rumors: Tuesday
2013/02/michael-bourn-rumors-tuesday.htmlWright noted that he’s happy to help the organization recruit free agents if it makes a difference on the field.
Pirates Sign Francisco Liriano
2013/02/pirates-to-sign-francisco-liriano.html10:52pm: If Liriano's option year vests at $5MM or $6MM, he can earn the difference between that and the full $8MM based on games started in 2014, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
Avoiding The Qualifying Offer
2013/02/avoiding-the-qualifying-offer.htmlThis offseason many of our targets didn't require that, but it was a secondary benefit, not the driving factor in our pursuit." One NL exec I spoke to seemed less concerned about potentially losing a draft pick, saying, "If we really want the player and feel he can make the difference for us in having a championship club – or building toward a championship club – it’s not a significant factor.
Yankees Notes: Cano, Hughes, Prospects
2013/02/yankees-notes-cano-hughes-prospects.htmlThere is "a significant difference in either talent assessment or valuation" between the two sides…
Players Reflect On Arbitration Hearings: Kyle Lohse
2013/02/arbitration-rewind-kyle-lohse-beats-minnesota-in-2005-and-2006.htmlThe Twins countered at $2.15MM, a difference of $250K…
Players Reflect On Arbitration Hearings: Jeff Mathis
2013/02/jeff-mathis-arbitration-case.htmlIn the arbitration case involving catcher Jeff Mathis and Angels in 2010, a difference of $600K was decided in large part because of one simple stat: games started.
Offseason In Review: Toronto Blue Jays
2013/03/offseason-in-review-toronto-blue-jays.htmlThe difference is, they’re no longer the team’s best options.
East Notes: Red Sox, Ellsbury, Santana, Nationals
2013/03/quick-hits-16.htmlBowden writes that it's not hard to imagine a scenario in which Soriano is the difference in a Detroit-Washington World Series.
New York Notes: Rivera, Wheeler, Alderson
2013/03/new-york-notes-rivera-wheeler-alderson.htmlNow, the question is whether the 43-year-old can be the difference maker for the Bombers in his farewell season.
Players Reflect On Arbitration Hearings: Dan Uggla
2013/03/players-reflect-on-arbitration-hearings-dan-uggla.html“It made sense for me to go ahead and take that chance and go into the room because there was such a big difference and we were so far apart.
Extension Candidate: Michael Brantley
2013/03/extension-candidate-michael-brantley.htmlThe difference was that Granderson was entering his age-27 season at the time of his extension (Brantley turns 26 in…… With all this in mind, I'll split the difference between the Maybin and Granderson extensions and predict that the Tribe…
Offseason In Review: Seattle Mariners
2013/03/offseason-in-review-seattle-mariners.htmlMorse, Morales, Ibanez and others will make a difference, but the group doesn't include an impact bat.
Cardinals Extend Adam Wainwright
2013/03/cardinals-agree-to-extension-with-wainwright.htmlOne potential reason for the difference in the extended pitchers: Wainwright's extension begins with his age 31 season, while Cain's began with his age 27 campaign.
Does Elvis Andrus Affect Ian Desmond?
2013/04/ian-desmond.htmlOne major difference is that Andrus' contract covers only free agent years, while Desmond will be arbitration eligible for 2014 and '15.
Rays Say Timing Of Shields-Myers Deal Was Key
2013/04/rays-say-offseason-timing-of-shields-myers-deal-was-key.htmlHe isn’t so sure the timing of the move made any difference.
Notable April Extensions
2013/04/notable-april-extensions.htmlWhat a difference a year can make! Cain has since been topped by Zack Greinke, Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander.
Extensions Down This Offseason
2013/04/extensions-down-this-offseason.htmlOne notable difference is in the number of players extended with less than two years of big league service.
Quick Hits: Maholm, Royals, Shields, Martin
2013/04/odds-ends-2-2.htmlIn Griffin's eyes, there's no one on the open market right now that could step in and make a difference right away.
MLBTR Mailbag: Stanton, Harvey, Hamilton
2013/04/mlbtr-mailbag-2.htmlBut I wonder if the team might decide they have the outfield depth to part with Gregory Polanco, assuming a major difference-maker with control beyond this year becomes available.
Los Angeles Notes: Angels, Scioscia, Dodgers
2013/05/los-angeles-notes.html“There is no move to make,” Dipoto said, “Our best talent, our best team, is here.” DiGiovanna agrees, citing the Angels’ weak farm system as an important difference from last season, when the Halos were able to promote an impact talent in Mike Trout.
Quick Hits: White Sox, Reds, Red Sox, Phillies
2013/05/quick-hits-nationals-mets-white-sox.html"There is really nobody out there that would make much of a difference.
Yanks, Red Sox, Rangers, O’s On Lee’s No-Trade List
2013/06/yanks-red-sox-rangers-os-on-cliff-lees-no-trade-list.htmlThe difference this time is that he comes with a market-value financial commitment.
Cafardo On Norris, Crisp, Papelbon, Vazquez
2013/06/heres-more-from-todays-column-the-astros-will-craft-a-game-plan-early-this-week-for-how-to-approach-their-veteran-assets.htmlNo one more aggressive in the pursuit of pitching than Orioles GM Dan Duquette who knows that one veteran starter could make all the difference.
Cardinals Sign Oscar Mercado To Over-Slot Deal
2013/06/cardinals-agree-to-over-slot-deal-with-mercado.htmlCallis adds, in a second tweet, that the $528,600 difference between Mercado's bonus and the assigned pick value is the most significant gap in any over-slot deal so far this year.