Baseball Blogs Weigh In News & Rumors

On this date in 2005, the Rangers traded Alfonso Soriano to the Nationals for outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge and pitcher Armando Galarraga.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The ‘Zona is happy about the D’Backs return for Didi Gregorius.
• Pinstripe Pundits has warmed up to the deal from the Yankees’ perspective.
• Camden Depot understands the O’s decision to let Nick Markakis go.
• Baseball Essential caught up with Yankees prospect Rob Refsnyder.
• Section 215 wonders if Ruben Amaro will pull the trigger on a Cole Hamels deal.
• Maniac Ball looks at some potential Angels non-tender targets.
• Beisbol’s Org. makes a case for Dick Allen’s induction to the Hall of Fame.
• Baseball Hot Corner examined the Blue Jays bullpen.
• Blue Jays Plus looked at Toronto’s acquisition of Michael Saunders.
• The First Out At Third is wary of Scooter Gennett.
• Angels Win previews the Halos’ starting rotation.
• South Side Sox is puzzled by the White Sox’s decision to tender Dayan Viciedo.
• NASORB is not happy about Seattle’s acquisition of J.A. Happ.
• Talking Brewers previewed the Rule 5 draft.
• The Nats Blog weighs the merits of trading Jordan Zimmermann.

On this date in 2012, Mets third baseman David Wright agreed a seven-year, $122MM contract extension.  The new money, when combined with his previously exercised 2013 club option, made for an eight-year, $138MM pact.  Wright slashed just .269/.324/.374 last year while dealing with a left shoulder injury and will look to get back on track in 2015.  This week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The ‘Zona talks Yasmany Tomas.
• Beisbol’s Org looks at the Red Sox’s outfield situation.
• Angels Win breaks down the Angels’ starting infield.
• The First Out At Third looks at Khris Davis‘ trouble with the changeup.
• Talking Brewers says Milwaukee would be smart to jump on Ryan Lavarnway.
• Halos Heaven wants the Angels to do business with the A’s.
• Blue Jays Plus examines Russell Martin‘s defense.
• Talking Brewers has an idea for a trade.
• Pine Tar Press wants to see a balanced lineup in KC.
• The Baseball Stance says the Yankees can wait on David Robertson.

On this date in 1988, Steve Sax signed a three-year deal as a free agent with the Yankees, as Leo Panetta of NationalPastime.com writes. The former NL Rookie of the year replaced Willie Randolph at second base and Randolph went on to sign with the World Champion Dodgers, replacing Sax.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The Zona has an offseason plan for the D’Backs.
• Beisbol’s Org says shopping Justin Upton makes sense.
• Angels Win previews the Halos’ offseason.
• Nats GM has some ideas for upgrading Washington’s offense.
• Ian Thomas Malone wonders if the qualifying offer is working.
• The First Out At Third expects Carlos Gomez to continue to improve.
• Blue Jays Plus looks at how J.A. Happ affects Marco Estrada.
• Maniac Ball looks at some possible pitching targets for the Angels.

On this date in 2011, Rays skipper Joe Maddon won the American League Manager of the Year Award for the second time after leading Tampa Bay to a 91-71 record.   For years, Maddon helped the Rays defy the odds, and now he’ll try to help the Cubs snap the Curse of the Billy Goat.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Sports Injury Alert looked at how injuries ruined the Rangers.
• Redbird Rants discusses Stephen Piscotty in right field.
• Blue Jays Plus weighs the pros and cons of re-signing Melky Cabrera.
• Camden Depot wonders if the Orioles should trade Matt Wieters.
• The First Out At Third is high on Jeremy Jeffress.
• Inside The ‘Zona runs down the D’Backs’ top ten prospects.
• MLB Reports says the Royals can’t stand pat.
• Maniac Ball looked at the Angels’ bullpen surplus.

On this day in 1976, the Athletics released outfielder Billy Williams, marking the end of his Major League career. Williams played all but two of those seasons with the Cubs, hitting 392 of his 426 home runs for Chicago. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere.

• Dodgers Digest looks at Los Angeles’ new front office.
• WHYGAVS previews the Pirates’ offseason.
• McCovey Chronicles notes that Hanley Ramirez‘s willingness to play third base could affect the Giants.
• Crashburn Alley reviews Ruben Amaro’s performance in 2014.
• USS Mariner examines the way the Mariners think about Michael Saunders.
• Lookout Landing lists Kyle Seager‘s best defensive plays of the 2014 season.
• Pinstripe Alley looks at Max Scherzer as a potential free agent target for the Yankees.

It was on this day in 1995 that the Yankees hired Joe Torre as their manager. Torre was something of a questionable hire at the time, given that he had already been fired in three previous managerial jobs and had a losing record (894-1003) as a bench boss.  Needless to say, he turned that reputation around in the Bronx — Torre won four World Series championships, six AL pennants and 10 AL East titles as the Yankees’ manager, leading them to the postseason in all 12 of his years with the team.  This success paved the way for Torre’s induction into the Hall of Fame last summer.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere…

• Camden Depot reminds everyone that despite Adam Jones‘ playoff struggles and free-swinging ways, he’s still an excellent player.
• Inside The Zona believes the Diamondbacks should offer A.J. Pollock a contract extension this offseason.
• Beisbols Org thinks Chihiro Kaneko could provide more value in MLB than his better-known Japanese counterpart Kenta Maeda.
• Blue Jays Plus is critical of the Jays’ trade of Adam Lind for Marco Estrada.
• Emerald City Swagger looks at Justin Smoak‘s disappointing Mariners career.
• Rays Colored Glasses doesn’t blame Joe Maddon for taking the Cubs’ managerial job.

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

On this date in 2000, Joe Torre became the fifth manager to win four World Series championships, joining Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel, Connie Mack, and Walter Alston in the exclusive club.  McCarthy and Stengel sit atop the leaderboard with seven World Series rings, a record that will not be tied or topped for a very long time, if ever.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Camden Depot says the Orioles should pick up Nick Markakis‘ option.
• Beaneball discusses Coco Crisp‘s lackluster defense.
• Sports Talk Florida reflected on Andrew Friedman’s best deals.
• Inside The Zona wonders if the D’Backs might go for Chad Billingsley.
• Blue Jays Plus says Adam Lind and John Mayberry Jr. make a great pair.
• MetsBlog is wary of Jay Bruce‘s hitting abilities.
• Baseball Hot Corner is glad to see Tim Hudson in the World Series.
• Rays Colored Glasses is concerned about Tampa Bay.
• Cheap Seats Baseball looks at the Rangers’ outfield.
• Beisbol’s Org discussed Jake Arrieta‘s journey.
• Maniac Ball spoke with former Angels minor league trainer Mike Metcalfe.

Blue Jays star outfielder Jose Bautista was born on this date in 1980.  The 34-year-old has made five consecutive All-Star appearances for Toronto and slashed .286/.403/.524 in 2014.  He’ll look to extend that All-Star streak to six consecutive seasons and help the Blue Jays get back to the playoffs in 2015.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Camden Depot is focusing on the positives.
• Inside The ‘Zona looks at David Hernandez as a possible non-tender candidate.
• Baseball Hot Corner compares the postseasons of the Royals and Giants.
• MetsBlog wants to see the Mets employ a closer-by-committee.
• Screwball Baseball measures “in the park power.”
• Examiner looked at where the Cardinals’ value came from.
• Beisbol’s discusses Kyle Schwarber‘s future.
• Blue Jays Plus talks Aaron Sanchez.

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

On this date in 2013, for the first time in baseball history, two playoff games on the same day ended with the score of 1-0, as Leo Panetta of NationalPastime.com writes:

“In Game One of the ALCS, the Tigers blank Boston at Fenway Park with the contest’s lone run scoring on Jhonny Peralta’s sac fly in the sixth, and Jon Jay‘s fifth inning sacrifice fly at Busch Stadium provides the only run the Cardinals will need to take a 2-0 game advantage to Los Angeles in the NLCS.”

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Screwball Baseball doesn’t blame Clayton Kershaw for his postseason woes.
• Pinstripe Pundits wonders if Ian Desmond is the Yankees’ answer at shortstop.
• Inside The Zona discusses Patrick Corbin after surgery.
• Blue Jays Plus looks at Colby Rasmus‘ time in Toronto.
• Beisbol’s wonders if James Shields is worth it for the Royals.
• Bless You Boys looks ahead to the Tigers’ offseason.
• Lasorda’s Lair sees Hanley Ramirez back in Dodger blue.
• The Baseball Stance looks at how J.J. Hardy‘s deal affects the Bombers.
• Rays Colored Glasses wonders if Ryan Howard could interest the Rays.
• Royals Blue doesn’t want a repeat of the 1985 World Series.

On this date in 2010, Hanshin Tigers outfielder Matt Murton broke Ichiro’s Japanese record for the most hits in a single season when he recorded his 211th hit of the year.  The 2003 first-round draft pick of the Red Sox had a rather unremarkable stint with the Rockies in the year prior, but made a major impact overseas.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Pinstripe Pundits stacks up Mariano Rivera‘s 1996 vs. Dellin Betances‘ 2014.
• Inside The Zona handicaps the race for Yasmany Tomas.
• Blue Jays Plus has an unconventional idea for Aaron Sanchez.
• Sports Injury Alert looks at the Orioles’ resilience in the face of injuries.
• Screwball Baseball says current A’s come from Boston and future A’s from San Diego.
• Beisbol’s applauds the mysterious Ken Giles.
• NYY Fans has six steps the Yankees should take to build a better organization.
• Maniac Ball looks at the Angels’ farm system.
• A’s Farm looks ahead to 2015.