Baseball Blogs Weigh In News & Rumors

On this date in 2003, the Red Sox completed an unusually complicated move when they acquired Kevin Millar from the Marlins.  The then 31-year-old was sold to Japan's Chunichi Dragons and had to first clear waivers in order to finalize the deal.  However, Boston intervened by claiming Millar, who decided that he would rather stay in the states anyway.  Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..

• Lasorda's Lair caught up with new Dodgers utility man Skip Schumaker.
• Wahoo's On First loved the Indians' signing of Michael Bourn.
• That Ball's Outta Here wonders if the Phillies have the wrong strategy for their farm system.
• A's Farm runs down Oakland's top ten prospects.
• Monkey With A Halo wants the Angels to get in on Kyle Lohse.
• Dodgers Nation dreams of Justin Verlander.
• Did The Tribe Win Last Night weighs in on the Bourn signing.
• The Tribe Daily points out that Bourn's arrival overshadows Daisuke Matsuzaka.
• On The Way Home looks at the residual effects of Felix Hernandez's extension.
• Baltimore Sports and Life discussed the ZiPs projection system in this week's podcast.
• MLB Prospect Watch explored the possible ramifications of the Fish rushing Jose Fernandez.
• MLB Injury News talks Didi Gregorius' injury.
• Fantasy CPR sees Freddy Garcia as a fantasy sleeper candidate.
• MLB Reports says that the A's will regret trading Chris Carter.
• Rankings Professor has the top five first baseman under 25.
• Kingdome of Seattle Sports compares this year's M's to last year's A's.
• Rays Colored Glasses wonders what Tampa Bay could fetch for David Price.
• Puckett's Pond remembers some guy the Twins drafted named Joe Thiesmann.
• Full Spectrum Baseball talks about a new kind of California gold rush.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.  

On this date in 1982, the Dodgers broke up the longest-playing infield foursome in baseball when they traded second baseman Davey Lopes to the A’s for minor leaguer Lance Hudson.  The second baseman had played with Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell in Los Angeles since 1974.  Garvey parted ways with the Dodgers after the ’82 season when he signed a five-year, $6.6MM deal with the Padres.  That would be the final year in L.A. for Cey as well as he was traded to the Cubs in the winter.  Russell, meanwhile, remained with the club before retiring in 1986.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Jays Journal talks expectations for Josh Johnson.
• Yankees Fans Unite brings us their top 40 Yankees prospects.
• Did The Tribe Win Last Night? caught up with Indians prospect Francisco Lindor.
• The Composite explains why the Mets shouldn’t sign Michael Bourn.
• I R Fast has the skinny on Hiroyuki Kobayashi.
• Lasorda’s Lair remembers a baseball pioneer.
• Swingin A’s thinks that Oakland overpaid for Jed Lowrie.
• Free Lance spoke with Scot Drucker of Paragon Sports International.
• Pinstripe Pundits wonders if the Yankees gave their best DHs to the Orioles.
• Braves Banter stacks this year’s Atlanta outfield against 2003’s cast.
• MLB Prospect Watch wonders if Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar will start 2013 in the outfield.
• Yanks Go Yard hopes that we see the debut of Pat Venditte this season.
• Baltimore Sports And Life discusses the value of the O’s first round pick in this week’s podcast.
• Rising Apple is hopeful that the Mets bullpen will be better in 2013.
• MLB Reports says it’s a big year for Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.
• Rankings Professor gives us the top five catchers under 25.
• The Giants Cove looks at San Francisco’s pitchers of the future.
• Kings of Kauffman checked in with Royals beat writer Bob Dutton.  
• Puckett’s Pond talks Twins with a little help from Too Short.
• NASORB is happy about Felix Hernandez‘s extension.
• NatsGM looks at Washington’s offseason moves.
• Shutdown Inning looks at the future of free agency.
• PhoulBallz sat down with Kevin Frandsen.

On this date in 2008, the Mets gave Johan Santana the richest contract ever for a southpaw pitcher.  Santana's deal was worth $137.5MM over six years and completed the blockbuster trade with the Twins.  The Mets got the two-time Cy Young award winner in exchange for pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, and outfielder Carlos Gomez.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Wahoos On First wanted to see the Indians sign Travis Hafner.
• Lasorda's Lair brings us an exclusive with Dodgers GM Ned Colletti and manager Don Mattingly.
• The Giants Cove peers into the future to look at the Giants' roster in 2016.
• Seattle Sports Central attempts to quantify the marine air affect at Safeco.
• The Friarhood wants to see the Padres lock Chase Headley up for the long term.
• Free Lance wonders what the worst players in 2012 might do in 2013.
• Blue Jays Plus sat down with prospect Chase DeJong.
• Yankees Fans Unite checked in with Jim Abbott.
• Baseball News Source asks how valuable Yoenis Cespedes is.
• Boys Of Summer is concerned about the Mets-Michael Bourn situation.
• Puckett's Pond likes what the Twins have done with their pitching.
• Pinstripe Pundits imagines a mid-season fire sale.
• Rising Apple looks at potential outfield targets for the Mets in 2014.
• MLB Reports examines the White Sox's payroll.
• Yanks Go Yard breaks down the backup options behind Mariano Rivera.
• NASORB sticks up for Kendrys Morales' defense.
• MLB Prospect Watch wants to see the Twins go all-in on rebuilding.
• Seattle Clubhouse talks Mike Morse.
• Golden Gate Sports asks if Joe Mauer's deal is a good baseline for Buster Posey. 
• Red Sox Post preaches patience for Boston fans.
• I R Fast breaks down the non-roster outfielders.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.  

On this date in 2008, the Twins announced that they struck new deals with Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer to keep them in Minnesota long-term.  Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, got the richest deal in franchise history at the time with a six-year, $80MM pact.  Cuddyer, meanwhile, got $24MM over three seasons.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere…

• Halos Heaven turned in their final Angels projections for 2013.
• Shutdown Inning looks at the market for Elvis Andrus.
• Kingdome Of Seattle Sports liked the M's end of the Justin Upton deal that never happened.
• NASORB still sees John Jaso as a solid hitter in a full-time role.
• Wahoo's On First wonders if the Tribe's offseason additions will change their character.
• Lone Star Ball examines past comparables for Andrus.
• Swingin' A's sees a current Oakland equivalent for Jaso.
• Mariner Melee explains the SafeCo effect.
• Baseball Reality Tour inducts Scott Hairston into a fairly exclusive club.
• Feelin' Kinda Blue unveils their list of top 50 Dodgers prospects. 
• Jays Journal revisits the Vernon Wells trade.
• Lasorda's Lair bids farewell to Diamond Vision.
• Rising Apple addresses a misguided narrative.
• The Tribe Daily looks at the Indians bullpen.
• Yanks Go Yard wonders where the Bombers rank in the AL East after this winter.
• Pinstripe Pundits goes dumpster diving.
• Baseball News Source looks at five minor league deals with potential big league impact.
• Rays Colored Glasses talks Mike Napoli.
• Baltimore Sports And Life discusses a contract extension for Matt Wieters.
• Kings of Kauffman writes that the James Shields trade could be KC's biggest ever.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.  

On this date in 2002, Scott Rolen became the highest paid player in Phillies history. The third baseman signed a one-year contract worth $8.6MM, avoiding his final season of arbitration-eligibility. Rolen was traded to the Cardinals at midseason, and his then-record salary has since been eclipsed numerous times. Here's the latest from around the web…

• Federal Baseball wrote about the impact of Rafael Soriano on the Nationals' bullpen.
• NASORB doesn't think the Mike Morse trade makes sense for the Mariners.
• Athletics Nation broke down the John Jaso pickup for the Athletics.
• A's Farm says getting Jaso was a win-now move for the Athletics.
• Yanks Go Yard wonders if Justin Upton would be worth the price for the Yankees.
• River Ave. Blues wrote about the conflict between Yankees' team policies.
• Pinstripe Pundits listed some right-handed hitting options for the Yankees.
• Rising Apple thinks Brian Wilson would be a worthy gamble for the Mets.
• Wahoo's on First wonders if the Cardinals matchup for an Asdrubal Cabrera trade.
• Blue Jays Plus looked at a possible extension for Aaron Hill.
• Lasorda's Lair believes Scott Hairston is a good fit for the Dodgers.
• A Giant Perspective wants the Giants to target Jonathan Sanchez and Jair Jurrjens.

Zach Links will be taking over the Baseball Blogs Weigh In feature going forward, and you can reach him here. Only one email per week, please.

On this date in 2006, the then-Devil Rays franchise acquired its first Japanese-born player by signing reliever Shinji Mori to a two-year contract worth $1.3MM. They won his negotiating rights through the posting process with a $1MM bid. Mori suffered a major shoulder injury in Spring Training though, so he never actually appeared in a game for Tampa Bay. Here's the latest from the baseball blogosphere…

• McCovey Chronicles thinks the Giants should wait a year before considering an extension for Buster Posey.
• Motor City Bengals says the time is right for the Tigers to extend Justin Verlander.
• Through the Fence Baseball wrote about Michael Bourn and draft pick compensation.
• Pirates Prospects lists some alternatives for the Pirates in case Francisco Liriano's deal falls through.
• South Side Sox wonders if the White Sox should listen to offers for Chris Sale.
• Lookout Landing wrote about the cost of acquiring Justin Upton.
• Baseball News Source says the Mariners should trade Justin Smoak or Mike Carp.
• Mariner Melee ranks some outfield trade targets for the Mariners.
• The Blue Jays Hunter wrote about the Darren Oliver dilemma in Toronto.
• Rising Apple wonders how the Mets will spend the rest of their money.
• The Process Report thinks Chris Archer may be an extension candidate with the Rays.
• Pinstripe Pundits wrote about a Red Sox-Yankees trade for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
• Baseball Professor explains why the Red Sox will make the playoffs in 2013.
• The True Fan's Sports Blog says the Yankees are overrated.
• Beyond the Box Score analyzed the Hall of Fame voting, specifically the votes that were not revealed publicly.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

On this date five years ago, the Royals signed Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The then-39-year-old right-hander had not pitched in MLB since 2005 and missed all of 2007 with arm surgery. Nomo made the team but was released after allowing 14 baserunners and nine runs in 4 1/3 innings spread across three relief appearances. He retired later that summer. Here's the latest from around the web in 2013's first installment of BBWI.

• SF Giants Rumors interviewed Madison Bumgarner.
• Blue Jays Way broke down a 1990 blockbuster between the Blue Jays and Padres.
• MLB Prospect Watch listed teams that match up with the Marlins for a potential Giancarlo Stanton trade.
• Blue Jays Plus looked at the history of top pitchers who were traded in the wake of the R.A. Dickey deal.
• Baseball Professor analyzed Aroldis Chapman's transition to the starting rotation.
• Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness wrote about the Andre Ethier and Michael Bourn.
• Lasorda's Lair says the Dodgers better receive top prospects if they trade Ethier.
• Wahoo's on First thinks the Indians need rotation help even after signing Brett Myers.
• Disciples of Uecker says the Brewers should look to extend Yovani Gallardo.
• River Ave. Blues took an early look at the Yankees' payroll situation heading into 2014.
• Yanks Go Yard wonders if the Yankees should swoop in to sign Mike Napoli.
• Red Sox Post doesn't think the Red Sox should worry about forfeiting a draft pick for Adam LaRoche.
• BoSox Banter listed some first base targets for the Red Sox.
• MLB Injury News compared Javier Vazquez to Brandon Webb.
• Angels Win ranked the Angels' top 50 prospects.
• Puckett's Pond listed some New Year's resolutions for Twins GM Terry Ryan.
• Cardinals Fan in Cubs Land says the Cardinals are still looking for an Ozzie Smith heir.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

On this date in 1994, the Padres and Astros completed a 12-player trade. Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley, and four others went to San Diego in exchange for Derek Bell, Doug Brocail, Ricky Gutierrez, and three others. It was the fourth largest trade of the 20th century in terms of the number of players involved. Here's the latest from around the web…

• SF Giants Rumors interviewed former Giants closer Brian Wilson.
• Over The Monster says there's a problem with the Joel Hanrahan trade for Boston.
• Raise the Jolly Roger isn't blown away by what the Pirates received in the deal.
• Bucs Dugout says Mark Melancon was a good addition for the Pirates.
• Talkin' Sox with Dan wrote about Daniel Bard's role in the Hanrahan trade.
• River Ave. Blues thinks the Yankees could use a Hanrahan trade of their own.
• The Beanball says Hanrahan is not a closer.
• Wahoo's on First calls Nick Swisher a perfect fit for the Indians.
• Bless You Boys says the Tigers should wait for the right deal to trade Rick Porcello.
• Rays Colored Glasses wonders if the Rays will get back in the hunt for Justin Upton.
• Chicken Friars is glad the Padres have not traded prospect Jedd Gyorko.
• Pinstripe Pundits says Russell Martin will be an underrated loss for the Yankees.
• Blue Jays Plus thinks the Blue Jays will experience a defensive decline next season.
• The True Fan's Sports Blog looked at the top three remaining free agents.
• Rising Apple thinks Nyjer Morgan could be a fit for the Mets.
• MLB Reports wrote about the state of the Giants' roster.
• South Side Sox eulogized A.J. Pierzynski.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

The holidays are coming and the baseball hot stove usually slows down for a week or so, but not that much. Expect plenty of signings and trades before the New Year, as well as plenty of blog posts. Here's the latest from around the web…

• Baltimore Sports & Life interviewed Orioles left-hander Zach Britton.
• Halo Hangout wonders how Josh Hamilton's past will affect his future.
• House of the Bluebird analyzed the R.A. Dickey trade for the Blue Jays.
• Rising Apple says the Dickey trade was a necessary move for the Mets.
• Hume's Jays Bullpen wrote about he Blue Jays and their competitive window.
• Blogging Mets thinks service time will factor into the debuts of Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud.
• The True Fan's Sports Blog wrote about the team pursuing Nick Swisher.
• Pinstripe Pundits mused about the possibility of Robinson Cano leaving the Yankees.
• Know Hitter thinks it's time for the Mariners to trade Felix Hernandez.
• Pro Ball NW says the Mariners need to see some improvement from their young core.
• Sports of Boston wonders why the Red Sox weren't in on Kendrys Morales or Jason Vargas.
• NASORB calls the Morales pick-up a significant one for the Mariners.
• CLNS Radio is unsure how much better than 2013 Red Sox will be than the 2012 team.
• Talkin' Sox with Dan wonders what's going on with Mike Napoli.
• Call to the Pen says the Tigers should hold on to all their starting pitchers.
• Climbing Tal's Hill thinks Carlos Pena might be another Carlos Lee for the Astros.
• Through the Fence Baseball wonders what the Cubs will do with Matt Garza.
• Dodgers Nation thinks the Dodgers should trade Andre Ethier.
• Three For Ten says the Phillies filled two holes by signing John Lannan.
• Twinkie Town thinks Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey accidentally switched contracts.
• The Giants Cove isn't a fan of the Giants bringing Andres Torres back.
• A's Farm thinks the Athletics roster might be set for 2013.
• Lasorda's Lair tries to sort out the Dodgers' roster clog.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

On this date in 2007, the Diamondbacks finalized two trades that brought Dan Haren, Connor Robertson, Chad Qualls, Chris Burke, and Juan Gutierrez to Arizona. Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland, Greg Smith, Chris Carter, Aaron Cunningham, and Carlos Gonzalez went to the Athletics for Haren and Robertson while Jose Valverde went to the Astros for Qualls, Burke, and Gutierrez. We've seen a number of big multiplayer trades in recent weeks, so here's a massive round up the latest from the baseball corner of the web…

The Josh Hamilton Signing (MLBTR link)

• True Grich says things have changed for the Angels since the days of being spurned by free agents.
• Baseball Time in Arlington called Hamilton's defection a long-term gain and short-term loss for the Rangers.
• Beyond the Box Score looked at how much Hamilton will actually help the Angels.
• Call to the Pen says Rangers GM Jon Daniels has no one to blame for the team's offseason but himself.

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