Regular MLBTR Features
If you're a regular MLBTR reader, you'll be familiar with our chats, Week In Review posts and Baseball Blogs Weigh In feature. Here's some more detail on when you'll see our weekly features and exactly what to expect from them:
- MLBTR Chats - Join Tim Dierkes every Wednesday at 2pm CDT to chat about the latest trades, signings and rumblings around the Major Leagues.
- Baseball Blogs Weigh In - Every Friday, I feature some of the best writing from baseball blogs around the web. Whether it's opinion, stats or something else entirely, you can connect to the best of the blogosphere once a week on MLBTR. If you want to submit a post of yours, you can reach me at: zachbbwi@gmail.com.
- Week In Review - It's remarkable how much happens in seven days. Every Sunday night, MLBTR summarizes the week's biggest stories in our Week In Review posts.
- MLBTR Originals - Edward Creech gathers all our original analysis and reporting in one place every Sunday night.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Profar, Meyer, Joba, Colletti
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. With that home run, Bonds passed Harmon Killebrew, putting him sixth on the all-time home run list. Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..
- Shutdown Inning has some ideas for what the Rangers can do with Jurickson Profar.
- Mayflies & Big Flies sat down with Twins prospect Alex Meyer.
- Southpaw Yakker discusses the Yankees and Joba Chamberlain coming to the end of the road.
- Lasorda's Lair chatted with Dodgers GM Ned Colletti.
- The Hardball Times illustrates why Paul Maholm is underappreciated.
- Pinstripe Pundits is excited about the early returns on Vernon Wells.
- Baseball Big Brother Project wonders if perfection could be a road to mediocrity.
- The Shea Faithful isn't concerned about who takes credit for Matt Harvey.
- I R Fast took an up close look at Jose Fernandez's big league debut.
- Kingdome of Seattle Sports previews the future of the Mariners/Astros rivalry.
- That Ball's Outta Here asks how long the Phillies will stick with Roy Halladay.
- Rankings Professor looked at the ten prospects closest to making a big league impact.
- MLB Reports looks at the A's newest diamond in the rough.
- Phoul Ballz caught up with a pair of Phillies prospects in their latest podcast.
- Baseball Reality Tour turns in their leadoff hitter power rankings.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.
AL East Notes: Ellsbury, Red Sox, Ichiro, Yankees
In an interview with Mut & Merloni on WEEI, ESPN's Buster Olney said that the perception is that Jacoby Ellsbury will take Scott Boras' advice when it comes to free agency. That means chasing the biggest payday available, and Olney sees the outfielder leaving the Red Sox if he hits the open market. Here's more from around baseball..
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that there was not unanimity in the Yankees front office about bringing back Ichiro Suzuki and that the move was fueled by the club's hierarchy. There was specific disagreement about giving the veteran a two-year contract and there were execs who would have preferred to see that money directed to Russell Martin instead.
- The Orioles' trade of Luis Ayala shows their faith in left-hander T.J. McFarland, writes Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. O's skipper Buck Showalter echoed those sentiments and also added that the club likes the player they got back, reliever Chris Jones.
- MLB's 40-somethings have shown that they can still produce, including the elder statesmen of the Yankees, writes John Schlegel of MLB.com.
- While it's a small sample size, the early returns on Vernon Wells are promising for the Yankees, writes MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince.
MLBPA To Consider Permanent Certification For Jay-Z
MLBPA Executive Director Michael Weiner says the union will consider whether Jay-Z was selling his interest in the Brooklyn Nets, among other things, in deciding whether to grant him permanent certification to represent MLB players in contract talks with clubs, writes Liz Mullen of Sports Business Daily.
Jay-Z and two other employees of his Roc Nation Sports company have applied to become MLBPA-certified agents. The rapper has secured temporary limited certification to serve as a baseball agent but is currently partnered with CAA Sports and agent Brodie Van Wagenen.
“We look forward to getting the application from all the Roc Nation individuals. We will examine if there are conflict or ownership issues that need to be addressed, including whether Mr. Carter is going to divest an interest in the Nets," Weiner said.
Jay-Z made waves last week when he and CAA managed to pull Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano away from Scott Boras. Many believe that the move will lead Cano to working out a contract extension with the Yankees, but Van Wagenen says that is not a given.
Blue Jays Notes: Wells, Gonzalez, Batista, Jeffress
Jose Reyes says that he isn't sweating the Blue Jays' slow start and it doesn't sound like the front office is either. Here's the latest out of Toronto..
- The Blue Jays' claim of Casper Wells off of waivers likely means that Toronto will soon go with a seven-man bullpen, writes MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. The club had been carrying eight relievers but that will soon change and it's probable that right-hander Edgar Gonzalez will be the one who is designated for assignment. Gonzalez was claimed off of waivers on Sunday.
- General Manager Alex Anthopoulos told reporters, including Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, that Miguel Batista was signed primarily for minor league depth. The right-hander was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo after being picked up yesterday afternoon.
- Jeremy Jeffress hasn't been placed on waivers just yet and Anthopoulos noted that he has until Sunday to do so, Davidi writes. The club is also going to look and see if there's a deal for the reliever, but there's no interest just yet.
Nolan Ryan To Remain With Rangers As CEO
The Rangers will announce shortly that Nolan Ryan will stay with the club as CEO, a source tells Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Jeff Wilson's Twitter). Ryan met Sunday afternoon with principal owners Bob Simpson and Ray Davis to discuss the CEO's future for the first known meeting since a March 8th pow-wow in Fort Worth.
“After productive discussions the last several weeks with Ray Davis and Bob Simpson about the structure of our organization, together we are moving forward. In my role as CEO, I am focused on working closely with ownership and with [General Manager] Jon Daniels and Rick George to build on the success of the past five years and to bring a championship to Arlington," Ryan said in the press release.
Meanwhile, Davis and Simpson's statement in the release praised Ryan for the guidance that he has given Daniels and president of business operations Rick George over the years. There has been talk over the last few months that Ryan was unhappy with his perceived shrinking role within the organization. Daniels was recently bumped up to president of baseball operations, a move that Ryan believed would reduce his amount of control over personnel decisions.
Quick Hits: Buck, Borbon, Astros, Mets, A’s
After the R.A. Dickey trade, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said the inclusion of John Buck was needed because his club needed to shed the catcher's $6MM salary. However, Mets assistant GM John Ricco told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that Buck was part of the trade package from the beginning and not a late throw-in just even out money in the deal. Buck is off to a hot start for the 2013 season and if he continues to perform, he'll be a solid contributor for the Mets this season. Here's more from around baseball..
- While it's still very preliminary, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes (on Twitter) says that the qualifying offer for the 2013-14 offseason should be right around $14MM. This past offseason, the qualifying offer was worth a little less at $13.3MM.
- Julio Borbon could be a worthwhile pickup for the Astros and Mets in the opinion of Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Borbon was designated for assignment by the Rangers earlier this evening.
- In the wake of Josh Reddick's injury, A's skipper Bob Melvin says he is especially grateful for the depth that the club's front office has put in place, tweets Jane Lee of MLB.com.
Nationals, Mike Rizzo Working On Extension
The Nationals want to keep General Manager Mike Rizzo in place for the long term and the club is currently in talks with him about a contract extension, according to Amanda Comak of The Washington Times. Nats principal owner Mark Lerner confirmed that the two sides are discussing a new deal.
One source with knowledge of the discussion told Comak that the Nationals have already indicated they will exercise the 2014 option on Rizzo’s contract, securing him through at least next season. The GM is currently entering the final guaranteed year of the five-year pact he signed before the 2011 season. Any deal that is worked out between the two sides will have to include a significant pay raise for Rizzo, Comak writes.
Recently, Tim Dierkes recapped Rizzo's winter, which including signing the best available reliever in Rafael Soriano and re-signing Adam LaRoche.
Orioles Sign Cale Iorg
We'll keep track of today's minor moves here..
- The Orioles have signed shortstop Cale Iorg to a minor league contract, a source with knowledge of the situation told Chris Cotillo of CLNSRadio.com. Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) has also confirmed the move. The Tigers released the defensively-strong farmhand last week.
Indians Designate Robert Whitenack For Assignment
The Indians announced that they have designated right-hander Robert Whitenack for assignment. In a related move, the Tribe will place catcher Omir Santos on the 40-man roster.
Whitenack's stay in Cleveland was short as he was just claimed off of waivers by the Tribe on April 3rd. The 24-year-old struggled through 51 1/3 innings at High-A Daytona last season, posting a 5.96 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9.
Whitenack, ranked 23rd among Cubs prospects this offseason by Baseball America, underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011. The publication noted that his velocity was averaging just 90 mph after touching 96 mph in 2011 and that his slider had lost bite. If he can rediscover his 2011 form, BA feels that he has the ceiling of a No. 3 starter.