Players Avoiding Arbitration: Friday
2014/01/players-avoiding-arbitration-friday.htmlSherman reports (via Twitter) that the Blue Jays also avoided arbitration with Esmil Rogers by agreeing to a one-year, $1.85MM contract. … The Braves are the only strict "file and trial" team that did not agree to terms with all of its arb-eligible players, meaning they could be headed for several hearings.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Price, Tanaka, Orioles
2014/01/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-1-3.htmlBlue Jay Hunter says it's time to dump the five-year policy. … On this date in 1989, the rules put in place during the 1988 season to make balk calls more uniform throughout baseball were rescinded and replaced by the pre-1988 rules.
Reds To Sign Roger Bernadina
2014/01/reds-to-sign-roger-bernadina.htmlAnd three other players -- Chris Heisey, Skip Schumaker, and Jay Bruce -- have at least some experience playing center, which seems to leave enough flexibility to avoid using an active roster spot on the new signee. … Cincinnati will be able to control the 29-year-old for one additional year if it wishes, as Bernadina has just under five years of service time.
Ervin Santana Rumors: Thursday
2014/03/latest-on-ervin-santana.htmlThe Blue Jays are still unlikely even to make Santana an offer, reports Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. … He's doing well." Though the Orioles would have no problem sacrificing a third-round pick to add Santana, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the team has not engaged in "real dialogue" over the past few days.
Ervin Santana’s Representation Currently Unsettled
2014/03/ervin-santanas-representation-currently-unsettled.htmlSantana, however, pitched through a UCL injury for years without requiring Tommy John surgery, and this past October, esteemed surgeon doctor James Andrews stated, "[Santana] doesn’t need any further treatment for his right elbow partial UCL tear, as on (the) MRI today it appears that it has completely healed." (As reported by Rosenthal.) That, of course, doesn't mean that every team doctor will agree with the assessment, but Andrews' opinion would be considered among the most highly regarded in the industry. … 8:01am: Reports last night indicated that Ervin Santana has parted ways with agent Bean Stringfellow, however agent Jay Alou of Proformance (Stringfellow's agency) tweeted that Santana is "still represented by the same person that he fist signed with 15 years ago." This morning, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal calls Santana's representation is "unsettled," adding that a split between the agents is possible, and the players union is involved in the situation (Twitter links).
Jose Bautista, Ervin Santana Leave Proformance
2014/03/jose-bautista-ervin-santana-leave-proformance.htmlSantana, of course, is still a free agent, although he appears close to picking between the Blue Jays and Orioles on one-year deals.
Offseason In Review: Pittsburgh Pirates
2014/03/offseason-in-review-pittsburgh-pirates-5.htmlAcquired 3B Brent Morel off waivers from Blue Jays. … The possibility that Volquez could become another Liriano likely made Volquez more attractive to the Pirates than a more reliable but lower-upside pitcher like Chris Capuano.
Morosi’s Latest: Jays, Tigers, Rockies, Pineda, JDA
2014/03/morosis-latest-jays-tigers-rockies-pineda-jda.htmlIn his latest notes column for FOXSports.com, Jon Paul Morosi spoke with several Blue Jays players, including Jose Bautista and Brett Lawrie, about the team's chemistry and whether or not it played a role in their disappointing 2013 campaign. … Non-roster invitees Ezquiel Carrera and Trevor Crowe will compete for a spot to platoon with Rajai Davis, though neither has been impressive thus far in Spring Training.
Quick Hits: Schierholtz, Diaz, Smoak, McGrady
2014/03/quick-hits-schierholtz-diaz-smoak-mcgrady.htmlIn an interesting piece for Sports Illustrated, Richard Deitsch posed a range questions to a group of five outstanding baseball writers -- Jay Jaffe of SI.com, La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle -- who represent different aspects of the baseball media sphere. … At 34, McGrady is working to build up arm strength and develop an off-speed offering.
Braves Sign Ervin Santana
2014/03/braves-sign-ervin-santana.htmlWhen Jimenez eventually struck a four-year deal worth $50MM (the same amount Garza was guaranteed), Santana was left as the odd man out on the free agent market. … However, Santana (and Jose Bautista) stuck with agent Jay Alou, who resigned from Proformance shortly after the news.