Elias Rankings Update
At the end of each season, The Elias Sports Bureau ranks all MLB players numerically based on a bunch of stats. Every player is categorized in one of five position groups and by league. The rankings cover a two-year time period. They are used to determine whether free agents are Type A, Type B, or neither. If you'd like a reminder on how draft pick compensation works, read up here.
Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts reverse-engineered the Elias Rankings last year. Eddie's incredible work was made possible in large part due to information provided by ESPN's Keith Law. Eddie is now providing the rankings exclusively to MLB Trade Rumors. Today's snapshot covers the beginning of the 2008 season through August 28th, 2009. The rankings will change over the remainder of the season. Keep in mind that if players change leagues, they are ranked in their new league.
Click here to see the latest Elias Rankings.
Elias Rankings Update
At the end of each season, The Elias Sports Bureau ranks all MLB players numerically based on a bunch of stats. Every player is categorized in one of five position groups and by league. The rankings cover a two-year time period. They are used to determine whether free agents are Type A, Type B, or neither. If you'd like a reminder on how draft pick compensation works, read up here.
Eddie Bajek of Detroit Tigers Thoughts reverse-engineered the Elias Rankings last year. Eddie's incredible work was made possible in large part due to information provided by ESPN's Keith Law. Eddie is now providing the rankings exclusively to MLB Trade Rumors. Today's snapshot covers the beginning of the 2008 season through August 21st, 2009. The rankings will change over the remainder of the season. Keep in mind that if players change leagues, they are ranked in their new league.
Click here to see the latest Elias Rankings.
Red Sox Release Chris Duncan
The Red Sox released outfielder Chris Duncan, according to Dan Barbarisi of the Providence Journal. Duncan came to the Red Sox from St. Louis in the July 22nd swap for shortstop Julio Lugo. Duncan, 28, hit just .188/.255/.294 in 92 Triple A plate appearances for the Sox. Meanwhile Lugo has flourished with a .319/.367/.528 line in 81 plate appearances for St. Louis (with Boston paying the freight). Keep in mind that the Red Sox are also set to receive a player to be named later or cash as part of the trade.
Duncan crushed right-handed pitching in 2006-07, but has been derailed by injuries since.
Nationals Sign Stephen Strasburg
11:39pm: BA's Jim Callis has the contract breakdown. Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times have even further detail.
11:06pm: Baseball America's Aaron Fitt says Strasburg signed a Major League deal worth $15.67MM over four years. Despite all the fears of absurd demands from Boras, the Nationals did well here. Here's MLB.com's scouting report on the San Diego State righty.
11:04pm: This deal is close for $15MM, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. Of course, the deadline has technically already passed so we're still awaiting word.
10:14pm: Time for a fresh post chronicling the Nationals' attempt to sign first overall pick and Scott Boras client Stephen Strasburg. The latest: SI's Jon Heyman says via Twitter that the Nats are upping their bid from $12.5MM.
No Deal For Rays, LeVon Washington
The Rays failed to reach an agreement with 30th overall pick LeVon Washington, according to Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus (via Twitter). Washington, a high school center fielder, is represented by Scott Boras. The Rays will receive a pick next year as compensation.
Indians Sign Alex White
The Indians signed 15th overall pick Alex White for $2.25MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. Slot: $1.557MM. Click here for MLB.com's scouting report on the UNC righty.
No Deal For Rangers, Matt Purke
The Rangers failed to sign 14th overall pick Matt Purke, according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. Purke will instead attend Texas Christian University and the Rangers will get a pick next year as compensation.
Mariners Sign Dustin Ackley
The Mariners signed second overall pick and Scott Boras client Dustin Ackley, according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. It's a big league deal worth $9.5MM, says SI's Jon Heyman. The five-year contract ties Mark Teixeira's mark for position players, says ESPN's Jason Churchill. Baseball America's Jim Callis says the deal is actually for $7.5MM guaranteed. Click here to see MLB.com's scouting report on the UNC outfielder.
Rockies, Tyler Matzek Agree To Terms
The Rockies agreed to terms with 11th overall pick Tyler Matzek, according to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies. His signing bonus is worth $3.9MM. The Rox obviously went well over slot, but they were able to sign the high school lefty without committing to a Major League deal. Click here to see Matzek's MLB.com scouting report.
Athletics Sign Grant Green
The Athletics signed 13th overall pick Grant Green, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Green received a $2.75MM bonus, says Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. Green, a shortstop out of USC, is a Scott Boras client. Click here for MLB.com's scouting report.