Zachary Links | MLB Trade Rumors

AL Notes: A’s, Moreland, Rangers, Konerko, Draft

By Zachary Links | June 8, 2014 at 2:00pm CDT

The Yankees’ offense may be struggling, but former catcher Jorge Posada says that he wouldn’t be much help if he suddenly came out of retirement. “I can’t play that game anymore,” Posada told Mitch Abramson of the Daily News at last night’s Miguel Cotto-Sergio Martinez fight at Madison Square Garden. “It’s too fast. They’re throwing too hard. I’m happy. I think my decision was great. I couldn’t play that game anymore. It’s a tough sport.” More from around baseball:

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if the A’s might look to add more punch at second base. Eric Sogard, Nick Punto, and Alberto Callaspo haven’t been doing much offensively so far, but a premium second baseman would require a substantial return. The A’s won’t part with Addison Russell and minor league right-hander Raul Alcantara is hurt.
The Rangers have lost their second first baseman to the disabled list with the news Mitch Moreland will undergo left ankle reconstruction and is expected to miss three months. In the wake of Kendrys Morales’ signing with the Twins, ESPNDallas.com’s Richard Durrett examines the Rangers’ in-house options to replace Moreland.
Paul Konerko was caught off-guard when he was traded by the Dodgers on the Fourth of July 16 years ago, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. “I was surprised not because I got traded, but because of the timing of the trade,” said Konerko, who was dealt to the Reds for closer Jeff Shaw. “I don’t think it really mattered what they got at that point. It didn’t seem like they were going to win.” The Dodgers, who finished third in 1998, were 12 1/2 games out of first place and eight games behind in the Wild Card race at the time of the deal. The Reds flipped Konerko to the White Sox seven months later for outfielder Mike Cameron and the rest is history for the South Siders.
ESPN’s Keith Law breaks down the draft for each American League club (through Round Ten) in an Insider-only piece (subscription required).

Edward Creech contributed to this post.

Outrighted To Triple-A: Jimenez, Aceves, Carlyle

By Zachary Links | June 8, 2014 at 12:46pm CDT

Today’s outright assignments..

The Phillies announced that left-hander Cesar Jimenez cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phillies designated Jimenez for assignment last week. Jimenez, 29, appeared in 19 games for the Phillies last season en route to a 3.71 ERA, and he has a career 4.81 ERA with 6.4 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and a 36.9 percent ground-ball rate in 67 1/3 innings.
The Yankees have outrighted reliever Alfredo Aceves to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, according to the MLB.com transactions page. Aceves, 31, signed with the Yankees after opting out of his minor league deal with the Orioles late in the spring. He had worked to a 6.52 ERA in 19 1/3 frames this year before being designated for assignment last week.
The Mets outrighted right-hander Buddy Carlyle to Triple-A, according to the transactions page. Carlyle, 36, made just two appearances for the Mets in 2014, working four-and-a-third innings without allowing a run. He has seen sporadic MLB action over parts of eight seasons, notching 256 1/3 innings and compiling a 5.51 ERA. The Mets DFA’d Carlyle on June 4th.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Blue Jays, D’Backs, O’s

By Zachary Links | June 8, 2014 at 12:18pm CDT

On this date in 2010, the much anticipated big league debut of Stephen Strasburg lived up to its hype. The 21-year-old struck out 14 Pirates batters in seven innings in the Nationals’ 5-2 victory in Washington, D.C. That strikeout tally set a new record for Washington that still stands today, not counting the Expos years. Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

Blue Jays Plus breaks down Edwin Encarnacion vs. James Shields.
Inside The Zona ranks the D’Backs’ best trade assets.
NL Theory turns in their 2014 spend allocation report.
Camden Depot wonders if the O’s should trade a top prospect for Jeff Samardzija.
Bucs Dugout looks at the Pirates’ unconventional start to the draft.
World Series Dreaming looks at potential landing spots for Samardzija.
The Baseball Stance says Kendrys Morales is a fit wth the Yankees.
Pinstripe Pundits looks at Alfonso Soriano’s struggles.
Call To The Pen gives a tip of the cap to Phil Hughes.
Grading On The Curve wonders who the first star from the 2013 draft will be.
Redleg Nation makes the case for Joey Votto batting first.
Royals Blue runs down AL Rookie of the Year candidates.
FanDuel looks at the prospects to pounce on in fantasy.

Please send submissions to Zach at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

Cafardo On Marlins, Burnett, Price, Cuddyer

By Zachary Links | June 8, 2014 at 9:28am CDT

In today’s column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe looks at the impact that hitting coach Kevin Seitzer has had on the Blue Jays thus far in 2014. Toronto used to be a swing-for-the-fences team, but even guys like Jose Bautista are hitting to all fields. With a new, more patient approach at the plate, Toronto is leading the league in runs, homers, and extra base hits. Here’s more from today’s column..

A Marlins official told Cafardo there’s no reason they won’t add a player through a trade. The National League East seems wide open, and they believe that they can find their way to the playoffs, even without the services of Jose Fernandez. Miami has lots of pieces to offer, so they shouldn’t have trouble finding a match over the next couple of months.
Phillies veteran A.J. Burnett is some contending teams are looking at, but as one AL scout tells Cafardo, “if he doesn’t pitch better he’ll be another guy the Phillies are stuck with. When he’s the A.J. we saw earlier in the year or last year, he’s a guy you want out there in a tough situation. Right now, you wouldn’t touch him.” In his last six starts he has a 7.25 ERA, after posting a 2.06 ERA in his first seven.
The Rays will have to get at least three top players for left-hander David Price and if they don’t get that offer this summer, they’ll probably pull back and wait until the offseason. Price, of course, still has great stuff, but his velocity is down, which is always a red flag. There’s also no guarantee that he’ll re-sign with the team that trades for him, which could keep the Rays from getting the haul they want.
Rockies veteran Michael Cuddyer didn’t appear to be one of the possibly available outfielders at the deadline a month ago, but he could be if Colorado’s slide continues. The 35-year-old is a great clubhouse presence and would draw trade interest along with Drew Stubbs. Cafardo mentions the Red Sox as a club that could have interest in Stubbs as they seek an outfielder with power.
The Yankees, Rangers, Angels, Mariners, and Tigers (if they lose Max Scherzer) are among the teams who will line up if Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester hits the open market. On their end, Boston must decide whether to go beyond a fifth year because the other teams surely will.
The A’s nearly traded right-hander Jim Johnson to the Marlins last week, so, they’re clearly willing to move him. Cafardo mentions the Orioles, Yankees, and Tigers as clubs that could have interest, but his rocky start and onerous contract make him a gamble.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Aaron Nola

By Zachary Links | June 4, 2014 at 11:19pm CDT

MLBTR is re-launching its Draft Prospect Q&A series this season in order to give our readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects over the next couple of weeks as they prepare for the 2014 draft on June 5-7.

This season, LSU powered their way to the Regional Final round of the NCAA Tournament thanks in large part to the pitching performances of ace Aaron Nola. While the Tigers were eliminated on Monday night by Houston, the 6’2″, 195 pound right-hander is on the verge of realizing his lifelong dream in Thursday night’s draft. Nola has probably been baseball’s most dominant pitcher over the last two seasons and appears to be a lock for the top ten.

With a laser-guided 95 mph fastball, a plus curveball, and an ever-improving changeup, Nola pitched to a 1.57 ERA with 8.71 K/9 and 1.29 BB/9 in his sophomore season. For an encore, he followed that up with a 1.47 ERA, an even stronger 10.37 K/9, and a still stingy 2.09 BB/9 in 2014. In short, Nola has been absolutely stellar over the last two years for the Tigers and is viewed as one of the most surefire talents in this year’s class.

It’s safe to say that Nola is more familiar with the draft process than 99% of prospects out there. The righty was picked by the Blue Jays in 2011 and watched his brother Austin, a talented shortstop, get drafted twice before signing with the Marlins, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. Reportedly being advised by Joe Longo of Paragon Sports, Nola is ranked No. 6 by MLB.com, No. 7 by Baseball America, and No. 10 by ESPN.com’s Keith Law. On Tuesday, Nola took time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTradeRumors about his impressive body of work and what he’ll bring to the table at the major league level:
Read more

Zach Links: You powered your team to a big win on Saturday despite some bad breaks in the second inning and getting in a bases loaded jam with the score tied 1-1. We’ve seen that from you at other points this season, where you might encounter some brief trouble but you always find a way out. How do manage to stay zeroed in when things get dicey?

Aaron Nola: For me, it’s all about slowing things down. When guys get on base, I put the game in front of me, slow everything down, focus a little more, and try not to let the game get out of control.

ZL: Even though LSU’s season ended on Monday night, how much did it mean to you to go out with a deep postseason run?

AN: We’ve been playing our best baseball these past couple of weeks and that’s the time we needed to get hot. We were good and everything was going our way but we were ahead in the third game [of the Regionals], we slipped, and Houston capitalized on it. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t have gone even further.

ZL: With so much talk surrounding you on an individual level, how have you managed to tune out all of the talk about your own individual performance and draft stock and focus on winning?

AN: Talking to my brother [Austin] about going into the draft and handling the draft helped a lot. He went through all of that when he was in college and he gave me some input and some advice on how to handle it. He basically told me not to worry about this stuff, that the draft is going to take care of itself. I’m going to be happy wherever I go. All season long I was playing for my team and trying to help them go as far as possible.

When Austin was going through the draft process, each time, he handled it really well. We were in the Super Regional in 2012 and we were all at practice when he got the call that he was drafted. We were all so excited for him, but his focus was still on helping the team win.

ZL: Did you ever feel extra pressure on the mound knowing that scouts were in attendance?

AN: No, I mean, I didn’t see any of them in the stands really. I saw a couple of them but usually we’re playing in a place with a lot of fans. I’m pretty good about concentrating on getting guys out and not looking up in the stands. I always played my game and I didn’t try to light up the radar gun to impress people like a lot of guys do.

ZL: What do you attribute your low walk rate to?

AN: I’ve always been accurate since we all know the strike zone gets smaller and smaller. Our coach stresses that we throw the ball in the zone, go after the hitters, and don’t pitch passively. That’s what we do and we don’t walk too many guys. We stay in the strike zone and pitch aggressively.

ZL: Have you always had exceptional command or has that come along in the last few years?

AN: Since I’ve been pitching I’ve had pretty good command but it has gotten better over the years. Part of that comes from working with [LSU pitching coach Alan Dunn] who taught me a lot about the game and what you need to do. Back in my freshman year, I threw too many strikes and my sophomore year I learned how to get the ball where it had to be. This year it was kind of the same thing.

ZL: The Twins drafted your old rotation mate, Ryan Eades, in the second round last year, and they’ve been heavily connected to you heading into the draft. What would it be mean to pitch with him again?

AN: That would mean everything. I’m blessed to be drafted anywhere but I would be excited to go there and to play with Ryan, that would be awesome. I pitched with him for a bit at LSU and I’ve known him for three or four years and he’s a great kid. He’s going move up in that organization and he’s just a positive guy to be around.

ZL: You’ve said that you’ll be happy wherever you land, but without naming teams, are there clubs in the top ten that stand out to you above others?

AN: No, like I said, wherever I go, I’m going to be thankful that that team drafted me and we don’t know anything about the draft really where you’re going to go. Whoever gets picked before me, they deserve it, they’re obviously great players and they’ll do great for their organization. Wherever I get picked, I’m going to enjoy myself and do my best for my team.

ZL: Your 2-seam fastball and curveball get a ton of attention but you also boast a strong changeup. When did you first start to really get that pitch down?

AN: I had my changeup my freshman year a little bit at the beginning, but it kind of died off, honestly. Last year I was more of fastball/curveball guy and I worked on my changeup a lot in the fall this year. For me, it was more about throwing it a lot and getting a better feel for it. I think it has improved quite a bit over the last few years.

ZL: Some scouting reports have expressed concern about your 3/4 arm slot. Is that warranted at all?

AN: I don’t think it is. I’ve been throwing with this arm slot my whole life and I’ve never used a different style. It’s been that way my whole life and I’m comfortable doing what I’m doing. I haven’t had any serious arm problems at any point and hope that I never will.

ZL: Do you feel like you have a better handle on pitch sequencing than your average college pitcher?

AN: Our pitching coach calls all our pitches but he teaches us why we throw certain pitches in certain counts and also encourages us to go with what we feel instinctively. I feel like I can call my own game because of all of the things that he’s taught me.

ZL: Did you give real thought to going pro when the Blue Jays drafted you in the 22nd round of the 2011 draft?

AN: I think I would have had to go pretty high, but after seeing Austin turn down offers twice to make a career at LSU, that’s what I wanted to do. I also wasn’t ready to make that next step from high school to pro ball and Austin has zero regrets about going to college. So, I’m glad I made the decision to go to LSU. I feel like I’ve become a better person and a better player. I’m stronger, both physically and mentally.

ZL: You turn 21 [today] – first of all, Happy Birthday – will being a top draft pick on Thursday be the best birthday present you’ve ever gotten or is there a moonwalk birthday party from ten years ago that tops that?

AN: [laughs] This will be a pretty good birthday present for me, to be honest with you, this is a pretty big one. My life changes on Thursday and for me and my family this is a big moment for us, this is special. This is definitely going to rank as one of the best birthdays ever.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Michael Chavis

By Zachary Links | June 3, 2014 at 11:54am CDT

Scouts see Georgia high school prospect Michael Chavis as someone who can do it all thanks to his well-rounded skill set as well as his versatility. Chavis spent most of his career at Sprayberry High School at the shortstop position but he also boasts arm strength that can allow him to play anywhere in the infield. He’s got the speed to play second base or stick at shortstop, and while he has a bit of experience behind the plate and in the outfield, most say his big league future is at third base. The Clemson commit is ranked No. 21 by MLB.com, No. 26 by Baseball America, and No. 27 by ESPN.com’s Keith Law.

The first-round prospect left high school on a high note, slashing .557/.580/.663 with 13 homers in his senior season. At the plate, Chavis flashed his plus bat speed as well as his plus raw power, which helped him to win the Perfect Game Home Run Derby over other notable prospects such as Alex Jackson, Braxton Davidson, and Michael Gettys.

The charismatic and confident young man spoke with MLBTradeRumors recently about what position he wants to ultimately play, the prospect of going to Clemson, and more:

Zach Links: Scouting reports seem to have you pegged as a third baseman at the Major League level, but you have the ability to play multiple positions. Do you have a preference on where you play?

MC: A lot of people ask me that and they ask if I’d be more comfortable at third base or at second base. Right now, I’d be more comfortable at third base just because I’ve played there, but down the road I think I’d be just as comfortable at second base once I get more reps in. I definitely have the speed to play second base.

ZL: What do you expect the transition of moving over to second base to be like?

MC: The only adjustment is that at second base, you have more time. You have to play the ball differently, knowing different things, the angles on the throws…the only difficult part would be learning how to turn the double play from the other side of the bag, with the footwork and your body going the opposite way.

ZL: Could you see yourself playing outfield or catcher?

MC: People have talked to me about that and I’ve done some scouting drills where they had me make throw downs. I think I could make that transition, just because I think I have the catcher’s mentality; I have a bulldog heart. I’d rather not become a catcher but if it comes down to “Hey, Mike, you can either play catcher or get out of baseball,” I think I’ll go out to be a catcher.

ZL: You’ve had a couple of notable big leaguers come out of your high school in Marlon Byrd and Kris Benson. Have you ever had a chance to meet them and get advice from them?

MC: Kris Benson came back to high school in my freshman year and he talked to me teammates and everything but I haven’t talked to him since….As for Marlon Byrd, he follows me on Twitter, if that counts.

ZL: If you got to talk to them, what would you ask them?

MC: I’d be curious to talk to Kris about his college experience because he went to Clemson as well and that’s where I’m committed. So I’d be curious to hear about what he has to say about the Clemson experience compared to MLB life. Byrd went to Georgia Tech so I’d like to ask both of them if they felt like that experience benefited them or if they wish they went straight into the draft [out of high school].

ZL: You’re widely projected as a first round pick. Is there any chance that you change course and go to Clemson?

MC: If everything doesn’t work out as I hope it does, then yes.

ZL: If you go pro and skip college, is there any part of you that worries about missing out on things, whether its the baseball experience or just being a college kid?

MC: Obviously, college life compared to the life of a professional baseball player will be different. In college baseball you have a bunch of fans and everyone knows you, but once you hit the lower parts of minor leagues, it’s going to be four fans in the stands at every game. That’s a big difference.

As for the college life, I’m not a big partier or anything like that, so if I did go to Clemson the main reason would be to play baseball. I honestly don’t think I’d miss out on too much when it comes to that.

ZL: What will you major in if you go to Clemson?

MC: Sports broadcasting. That’s something I’d like to get into when my playing career is through.

ZL: What role do you envision yourself in? Play-by-play? Color analyst? Studio anchor?

MC: I haven’t really thought that out in detail, but I know that I love talking about baseball and I want to stay around the game even after I’m done playing, so I figured it’d be good for me.

ZL: What does your daily baseball consumption look like?

MC: I watch MLB Network just about 24/7. It’s on the TV whether its me watching or my dad and it’s all that’s ever on. My mom gets tired of watching so much baseball and sometimes she goes into her room by herself to go watch something else.

ZL: Do you have set goals in mind for the first few years of your career? Do you want to reach Triple-A by a certain point or the majors by a certain point, or do you not think about timetables?

MC: As for right now, obviously it’s kind of early to talk about that because I’m not even a professional baseball player yet and, ideally, I’d like to get into the organization and get acclimated to everything there. I’d say in three years I’d like to be in the majors though.

ZL: Has your swing changed at all in recent years?

MC: It has changed, but not a lot. We made minor tweaks, but they made a big difference this year. One of my problems this summer is that when I would come into contact I’d rise up with my front leg and we changed that by activating my back leg and using my lower half a lot more.

ZL: Ever catch yourself Googling your own name to see what’s being written about you?

MC: I do every now and then but I tried to avoid that, especially during the season, because I didn’t want to get caught up in the hype and start pressing things.

ZL: Every scouting report I’ve seen has noted how well-rounded you are. In your estimation, what’s the one characteristic you possess that stands out above the others?

MC: I think it would be either how hard I play or how much I truly love being out there.

ZL: Some of the draft sites out there like to bestow major league comparisons on prospects. Who would you say your game is styled after?

MC: I haven’t exactly styled my game after anybody…For a second base comparison I was thinking Dan Uggla when he was on the Marlins. Third base, I think of myself as a David Wright. He’s not a big guy but he can hit for power.

ZL: You’ll be one of just seven players in attendance at the draft. Are you excited about that?

MC: Oh I was thrilled to get that invite. I was actually in class when I found out and the person from MLB called me to let me know that I was invited. I didn’t have the number saved and, I don’t know why, but I just knew it was MLB calling to invite me. I walked out of the classroom to take the call and when I walked back in I was so excited. I just sat in the back of the classroom with a big smile on my face.

ZL: Was your teacher mad at you for taking a call during class?

MC: No, she understood. She was really cool.

ZL: If you weren’t going to be there for it live, what would draft night look like for you? Just the immediate family or a big party for everyone?

MC: We would probably just have the same people that are going to go up with me for draft night and afterwards we’d have a bigger party with everyone.

ZL: Will you be giving Commissioner Selig a handshake or a hug?

MC: I don’t know, it might be an in the moment thing. He might get both.

ZL: Do you have your suit picked out?

MC: No, I don’t, but I decided that I’m going to try to wear a bowtie.

Other entries in this year’s series include prep shortstop Nick Gordon, University of San Francisco center fielder Bradley Zimmer and Louisville right-hander Nick Burdi.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Nick Gordon

By Zachary Links | June 2, 2014 at 5:00pm CDT

Florida’s Nick Gordon is universally regarded as the best shortstop in the 2014 draft and, according to some, is the best position player prospect in the draft. With a pedigree like his, it’s no surprise. Gordon is the son of three-time All-Star right-hander Tom “Flash” Gordon and the younger brother of Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon. While his father made his mark in the game and Dee continues to see his star rise, all signs point to Nick making a terrific legacy of his own in the years to come.

At 6’2″, 170, Gordon exhibits tremendous speed both on defense and around the base paths. Of course, he also boasts a terrific arm for the shortstop position and, in fact, many believe that he could pursue pitching if he wanted to. At the plate, the Olympia High School star projects to be an above-average hitter, but his intangibles and makeup have scouts drooling just as much as his physical tools.

In 27 games last season, Gordon, reportedly being advised by Beverly Hills Sports Council, which also represented father Tom “Flash” Gordon and represents brother Dee, posted an absurd slash line of .494/.576/.843 in 99 plate appearances and stole 13 bases. The youngster has had the attention of college scouts and pro scouts alike for years, but his senior season helped to boost his stock even further.

Gordon, ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the draft by ESPN.com’s Keith Law, No. 5 by MLB.com, and No. 7 by Baseball America, spoke with MLBTradeRumors late last week about the draft process, the possibility of going No. 1 overall, and what he’s learned from watching his father and brother:

Zach Links: What advice has your dad given you about the draft process?

Nick Gordon: He gives me very good advice. He just tells me to sit back and take it one day at a time, don’t stress out about these things. You can’t control what happens. I did my best and left it all on the field and after that it’s in God’s hands.

ZL: What did you take away from your brother’s draft experience?

NG: I just remember the great feeling we had afterwards. Just knowing the hard work he put in high school and to know that it was starting to mean something. He was ready for his moment and he earned it.

ZL: Do you feel like your transition to major league life will be smoother than others thanks to your family’s experience and guidance?

NG: I think I have a little bit of an edge because of my brother and dad. With everything I’m about to go through they can help me along the way and give me information that maybe some other kid might not get because of the relationships I have with my dad and my brother.

ZL: Scouts look at you as a phenomenal shortstop prospect but there’s also talk that you could be a strong pitcher as well. Is that something that interests you?

NG: I’ll do whatever my team needs from me. I love playing shortstop, it’s my Plan A and I don’t really have a Plan B. I think I can be a great one. But, if my team needs me to pitch, I’ll do whatever my team needs from me.

ZL: Before you chose Florida State, what other schools were you giving serious consideration to?

NG: Florida, North Carolina, Clemson, LSU, and a couple of other big schools. I even liked UCF a lot.

ZL: Why did you ultimately choose FSU?

NG: I went down and I loved it. Every bit of it. The coaching staff they have, the players, and just a great environment to be around. It’s like a home away from home for me and knowing the coaches there, it’s phenomenal. Being there I feel like I learned more about my game and myself. It also helped that I knew a couple of other players that have been there as well and they told me it’s awesome.

ZL: Is there a certain range that you have in mind that would make you forgo college? Certain contract terms? Certain clubs?

NG: I could see myself playing in every single uniform so every club interests me. I wouldn’t mind playing for every single club. I just want to play the game. My lifelong dream has been to play professional baseball and I want to fulfill my dream. Whichever organization I end up with, I know that God has a plan for me.

ZL: If you had to call it now, what are the odds that you go to Florida State?

NG: When that day comes for me to decide, I’ll talk it over with my family and I’ll do whatever is best for me, my mom, and my dad. I couldn’t really put odds or a number on it.

ZL: I’ve read that you’re working to add muscle to your frame. What’s your weight right now and what’s your goal weight?

NG: My goal weight is about 185, 190 pounds. When I get older, probably 24 or 25, then I’d like to be 195 or 200. Right now I’m at 177-180 pounds.

ZL: Do you have any concern that more muscle will hinder your speed and agility?

NG: Not at all. In fact I think it can make it just that much better.

ZL: What’s the top thing you want to improve on as you go forward?

NG: My strength and staying healthy and getting stronger.

ZL: At what age did you realize that you had a good chance of becoming a major league baseball player?

NG: I always believed that, ever since I was a kid I said I’d be a Major League baseball player. And when my teachers said, “You need a backup plan,” I said, “No ma’am, I’m going to be a baseball player.” All my life I’ve all I’ve known is baseball and I’ve always been striving to be a baseball player and an athlete. I was never okay with anyone telling me that I wouldn’t make it as a player.

ZL: Did you play other sports growing up? Was there ever a point in your life where you thought your future might be in a different sport?

NG: I played football and basketball. I played both up until 9th grade. I was playing football and I broke my ankle in 6th grade and then rolled it playing ball..or at least I thought I rolled it. My dad just told me that I bruised it. Whatever it was, I think it just told my brain [to stop playing] basketball and football.

ZL: What positions did you play in each sport?

NG: I played running back and slot back and safety in football and in basketball I played shooting guard and small forward.

ZL: There was a report recently that the Astros are considering you at No. 1 overall. I’m sure you don’t want to address any team or outcome specifically, but what would it mean to you to be the very first player off the board?

NG: It would mean the world to me. I know how much talent there is in this draft. You can’t really predict it and there are so many guys that could go No. 1, so it would be a blessing. If the day comes and I’m the No. 1 pick, that’d be great, but I’m taking it one day at a time. There’s so much great talent here and you can’t predict who will be No. 1.

ZL: If, hypothetically, you had your pick, would you prefer to play in a warm climate like what you’re used to in Florida or would you welcome a change? [Note: The Astros and Marlins have the top two picks in the draft, but it gets a lot colder from there with the White Sox, Cubs, and Twins rounding out the top five.]

NG: I’d welcome a change because I know I can play in a warm or cold climate. I know that some guys have a hard time playing in cold weather and I know if I go out there in the cold weather, I’ll be fine. I want that change and that experience as well because just playing in the hot sun all the time can wear on you too. When I do get the chance to go elsewhere, I mean, it can get cold, but if I’ve got to play in the cold or the sun, I’m going to play the same way no matter what. There’s no difference in my mind.

ZL: You’ve spoken quite a bit about your relationship with God. How has that shaped you as a baseball player and as a person?

NG: I thank God every moment, for everything I get, everything I do. My faith is a very big part of my life experience and my success in baseball. I thank God for everything and the position he’s put me in and even when he allows for me to learn from my mistakes.

ZL: Recently it was announced that you’ll be one of just seven prospects in attendance on draft night. Who will be with you?

NG: My mom, my father, my little sister, my little brother, and my coach and his wife.

ZL: Will you be nervous on draft night?

NG: I think I’ll be a little bit nervous, but I think I’ll be relieved when I hear that today is the day I’m welcomed into professional baseball.

ZL: Did you ever find it challenging to keep yourself focused on your high school team’s goals as you prepared to take the next step in your career?

NG: Not at all. It’s actually pretty fun for me to sit there and play with my teammates. I enjoyed it as much as I could and I rarely thought about things concerning the draft. A lot of times my coach would come to me and say, “Wow, it looks like you’re not really thinking about the draft too much,” and I just said that I’m enjoying my teammates…I’m appreciative of every moment I had with them. I loved playing with those guys.

ZL: We all know that you’re not going to last until the Dodgers’ pick at No. 22, but how cool would it be to play alongside your brother on the other side of second base?

NG: It’d be pretty cool but it’d be competition every single day even though we don’t play the same position anymore [laughs]. We’d give each other a handful but it’s brotherly love. I mean, that’d be great. It’d be a blessing to play next to my brother and my family would love that as well.

ZL: Who wins in a footrace, you or your brother?

NG: I don’t know…well…he’d get me. There’s not too many people in this world that can run as fast as him. He wouldn’t beat me by much, but he’d get me.

ZL: How about basketball in the driveway, 1-on-1?

NG: I’d dunk on him.

ZL: As someone whose lifelong dream has been to dunk a basketball, I’m jealous. At what age could you dunk?

NG: The first time was in 8th grade. I remember as soon as I did it I called Dee right after the game. The ref told me to get off the rim. I remember it like it was yesterday. When I called Dee, my mom was in the background yelling “What?! You got in trouble for hanging on the rim?“

Draft Notes: Finnegan, Indians, Red Sox

By Zachary Links | June 1, 2014 at 8:05pm CDT

With the recent rash of Tommy John surgeries in baseball, general managers are scared of taking pitchers at the top of the draft and giving them lucrative contracts, writes Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “There’s more awareness right now with the health of pitchers than I’ve ever seen,” one NL exec said. “It brings so much apprehension and anxiety right now. I don’t think we’ve ever been so sensitive to what’s going on because of all of the pitching injuries. Anyone with health issues, they’re going to fall. You going to spend $6MM to $7MM on a pitcher who’s headed for Tommy John surgery?” This is why some baseball executives believe collegiate pitchers Jeff Hoffman (East Carolina) and Erick Fedde (UNLV) could fall out of the top ten.

Here are more draft notes from around MLB:

This year’s draft has been said to be deep in arms, both at the collegiate and high school levels. As teams debate whether to take more polished products or roll the dice on prep upside, an interesting study from J.J. Cooper of Baseball America is worth considering. Cooper finds pitchers who attended college were significantly more likely to undergo Tommy John surgery than were those who went straight from high school to the professional ranks. Those findings could have implications both for how teams sort their draft boards and for the decision-making process of drafted players.
TCU left-hander Brandon Finnegan could become a top-ten pick because of his increased velocity, tweets CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman.
The Indians, armed with the 21st, 31st, and 38th overall choices and a $8.23MM overall pool (eighth-highest in the league) are hoping to take advantage of the deep slate of prospects, report MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian and Alec Shirkey. “You have more money than 22 other clubs,” explained Brad Grant, the club’s director of amateur scouting. “So I have a lot more agent calls this year than I had in the past because we have the flexibility to do a lot of different things.“
The Red Sox don’t own a top-ten pick in this year’s draft, but they’ve been able to land high-end talent before by taking chances on guys with injuries, writes Tim Britton of the Providence Journal. Boston snagged Jackie Bradley, Jr. with the 40th overall pick in 2011, an ultra-talented outfielder who had a subpar junior season that included a wrist injury. The Red Sox will pick 26th and 33rd on Thursday.
Because baseball players take so much longer to develop than their counterparts in other sports, the MLB draft is a particularly difficult feat. However, that doesn’t stop teams from kicking themselves after making franchise-altering mistakes, according to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. MacPherson runs down some of the most regrettable choices in modern draft history, from the Padres taking Matt Bush in 2004 over Justin Verlander to 24 teams passing on Mike Trout before he fell to the Angels in 2009.

Jeff Todd and Edward Creech contributed to this post.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Buehrle, Markakis, Strasburg

By Zachary Links | June 1, 2014 at 12:57pm CDT

On this date in 1920, pitcher Babe Ruth, acquired from Boston in the offseason, hit cleanup in the Yankees’ lineup and also got the win when he tossed four innings as the starter in the team’s 14-7 victory over Washington at the Polo Grounds. During his 15 years with New York, Ruth took the mound five times for the club. Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

Blue Jays Plus breaks down the partnership of Mark Buehrle and Dioner Navarro.
Camden Depot unearths Nick Markakis’ secret platoon issue.
Federal Baseball says Stephen Strasburg’s first inning troubles can’t slow him down.
Reviewing The Brew checks in on the curious case of Marco Estrada.
Inside The Zona has some tips for Paul Goldschmidt.
AL Eastbound & Down wants Toronto to keep Drew Hutchinson.
The Beanball wonders where all of J.J. Hardy’s power went.
You Gotta Like These Kids evaluates A’s GM Billy Beane.
Friars On Base says it’s time for serious change in San Diego.
Grading On The Curve says that the Royals’ troubles go beyond the big league level.
Royals Blue says KC needs a king.
Rays Colored Glasses runs down some college pitchers the Rays might look at.
Baseball Stooges scouted the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
Replacement Level Red Sox plays “Where are they now?”

Please send submissions to Zach at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Nick Burdi

By Zachary Links | June 1, 2014 at 12:05pm CDT

Teams looking to draft a future closer with serious velocity will be taking a long look at Louisville pitcher Nick Burdi. In fact, with a fastball that hits 96-100 mph on the radar gun, Burdi stands as the hardest thrower in college. To complement the heat, Burdi also boasts a plus slider that can develop into a premium pitch.

You could say that hard throwing runs in the family. Burdi’s older brother, Drew, was a quarterback at Western Michigan. His younger brother, Zack, is a promising pitcher in his own right for the Cardinals. Burdi has shown that he can hold that velocity over two- and three-inning outings, leading some to believe that he could blossom into a starter. Baseball America has Burdi pegged as the No. 27 prospect in the draft, MLB.com has him ranked at No. 34, and ESPN.com’s Keith Law has him at No. 52. Burdi spoke with MLBTradeRumors on Friday about his skill set, whether he’d be interested in starting, and more:

Zach Links: What can you bring to an MLB organization?

Nick Burdi: I think what I can bring is just being a reliable relief pitcher. I’m already comfortable in that role and I’m ready to be the seventh or eighth inning guy, know my place, and help a team out.

ZL: Ultimately, though, you want to close, right?

NB: Yes, absolutely.

ZL: Who are some of the closers that you’ve modeled yourself after?

NB: Trevor Rosenthal, Aroldis Chapman, and Craig Kimbrel. I always watched the taller closers and followed what they did.

ZL: How vital is the “closer’s mindset”?

NB: I think being a closer is different when the game is on the line, everything is riding on the line at the end. So, I think having that mindset is something that really sets some pitchers apart from others. It’s a big quality and having that football mentality where you want to just go in and set everyone down is what I bring every time.

ZL: How long did it take you to cultivate that way of thinking and what’s going through your head when you’re running out to the mound?

NB: For me, I kind of learned the whole mindset of being a closer while I was at Chatham playing in the Cape Cod League and facing stiff competition up there. You learn that role pretty quickly because you know that if you have success there against that kind of talent, it shows big league scouts that you’re capable of more. I took that into my sophomore year and, as you said, I just felt comfortable in that closer’s role. I just close everything down when I’m up there it just me and the catcher.

ZL: Do you feel like you could start in the big leagues? Is that a transition you’d be interested in making?

NB: Yeah, if a team wants to groom me to be a starter I’d be comfortable with that. That’s what I was doing up until these last two years, so I’d never rule it out. But, for me, growing into this closers role has made me that much better of a pitcher. That’s where I shine.

ZL: How was making that transition from starter to closer for you in terms of recovery time? I’d imagine that it’s hard for a lot of guys to go from pitching every fifth day to consecutive outings.

NB: Yeah, not for me. With my diet and my workout regiment, it was kind of an easy transition. You pitch an inning on Friday and then maybe on Saturday and you’ll usually get Sunday off. It was never a bad bounce back for me.

ZL: What does your diet look like?

NB: I’ve gotten really serious about it over the past couple of years. I eat a lot of chicken, fish, veggies, rice, fruit, smoothies, and stuff like that. As a closer, recovery is really important, so I’m very diligent about putting the right things in my body.

ZL: With a fastball that sits at 95-98 mph, velocity is one of your best attributes. Did it take you some time in college to develop that or have you always been throwing that hard?

NB: Since my junior year of high school I’ve been throwing pretty hard and my senior year of high school I reached this velocity. I’ve also become a more complete pitcher and over the last few years I’ve been making the most of my slider and the other pitches.

ZL: When did you realize you were MLB bound?

NB: Back in junior high I was hitting 93-94 [mph] on the gun and that’s when I got really serious with the game of baseball. Ever since then, that’s what I’ve lived and breathed. I work out, play the games, and then get start getting ready for the next day immediately after. This is what I’ve always wanted to do.

ZL: When did you stop playing football? Could you have pursued that instead?

NB: I played quarterback freshman and sophomore year. Honestly, at that time, that was probably my better sport and I had some interest from different colleges. My pitching also got sharper at this point and I realized that if I wanted to make it baseball I had to totally commit to it and give up the whole football deal.

ZL: You’re widely regarded as one of the top pitchers in this year’s draft and there’s no shortage of complimentary things written about you online. Do you pay attention to the rankings, scouting reports, etc?

NB: For me, I’m focused on just going out and playing baseball. As a closer, there’s not much more I can do than going out there and getting the job done. Hopefully teams realize the stuff that I have and my potential. I’m a hard working player who wants to give his all every single day and I’m sure everyone sees that.

ZL: What were some of the other schools you had offers from before you committed to Louisville?

NB: I had an offer from Florida State and I was also talking to LSU, Clemson, and Vanderbilt.

ZL: What did you learn from your time at Louisville?

NB: Over these past two-three years, [Louisville pitching coach Roger Williams] has really taught me how to control the game. If I went to a different school, I’m not sure that I would have gotten all of the same benefits and insight. I’m really glad that I got to develop my game at Louisville and I’m grateful to the coaches for giving me the chance to make those strides in my game.

ZL: Your brothers are accomplished athletes themselves. Drew played quarterback at Western Michigan and your younger brother Zack is a pitcher for Louisville. Could we see Zack on a big league mound someday?

NB: Yeah I definitely think so. He throws 93-95 mph, touching 96 at times, so he’s a little bit like me. Over time he’s going to grow a bit more and I think he’ll be a starter ultimately. He has a big frame and he’s so athletic so I think that’s the best role for him.

ZL: Is Zack in the same mold as you or is he a different kind of pitcher?

NB: He’s a little bit different. His mechanics are a little more clean than mine when I was his age. His fastball is right there and he’s got a good change up, so I think once he develops his other pitches a bit more he could be just as good as anybody.

ZL: When you were taken in the 24th round of the 2011 draft, did you give some real consideration to making the jump to the pros?

NB: Coming into my senior year that was something that was up in the air and I ended up being drafted by the Twins. There was some consideration on my part, but I always wanted to come to school and play at the college level and play in the College World Series.

ZL: One scouting report indicated that you made some changes to your delivery which may have an adverse affect on your command. Do you feel like that’s a valid point?

NB: I don’t think so. I know people have said that but this year I pitched 32 innings and had just eight walks. So, from a command standpoint with my two plus pitches I’m able to place everything in the exact spot I want to.

ZL: Who did you grow up rooting for?

NB: I was kind of a Red Sox fan, though I wasn’t a diehard or anything. I just love watching the game in general.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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