MLBTR Originals

Here's a look back at some of the analysis and reporting MLBTR's writing team delivered this week..

• As the losses kept piling up, A's GM Billy Beane realized that he had to make a change and fire his friend, manager Bob Geren, writes Ben Nicholson-Smith.
• Tim Dierkes reported that the Yankees claimed pitcher Jeff Marquez off of waivers from the White Sox.  This year in nine starts for Triple-A Charlotte he posted a 3.97 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 0.9 HR/9 in 47 2/3 innings.
• Did you miss this week's chat?  Don't worry, you can check out the transcript right here.
• Steve Adams profiled the remarkable run of Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong.
• Astros first-round pick George Springer credits genetics and gymnastics for his athletic ability.
• Ben-Nicholson Smith brought us an update on Super Two candidates.
• There were a ton of great pieces featured in this week's edition of Mike Axisa's Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Draft picks Archie Bradley and Trevor Bauer are both excited about their futures with the Diamondbacks.
• Howard Megdal took a look back at top picks who have been traded by their original teams.
• Here's a rundown of all of MLBTR's regular features.

Here's a look back at some of the original content from the MLBTR team this past week:

• Ben Nicholson-Smith examined Jose Valverde's $9MM club option for the 2012 season and tackled the implications of Jordan Lyles' big league debut for the Astros.
• Ben also took a look at what the declining production of designated hitters will mean for David Ortiz as he approaches free agency this offseason and gave an update on this year's Rule 5 Draft picks.
• Tim Dierkes' 2012 Contract Issue series came to a conclusion with this piece on the Twins. You can see the whole list (with brief summaries) here.
• Tim also listed some potentially available power bats and starting pitchers, and looked at what would happen it the D'Backs become buyers and/or the Cubs became sellers.
• For draft-related content, Ben interviewed Blue Jays' amateur scouting director Andrew Tinnish and also interviewed former general manager and current Rangers senior advisor/MLB Network analyst John Hart before taking a look at the Phillies' approach to the draft.
• Meanwhile, Tim introduced readers to the six college right-handers who are all in the Top 20 lists of ESPN's Keith Law, Baseball America, and Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.
• Mike Axisa rounded up the latest and greatest from the blogosphere in this week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Dan Mennella checked in on Lance Berkman's free agent stock and predicted a deal similar to Aubrey Huff's latest contract for Big Puma if he stays healthy and productive.
• Here's the transcript of this week's chat, hosted by Tim.
• Nearly three quarters of MLBTR readers thought at least one of this season's surprise teams, the Indians and Diamondbacks, would remain in contention for the long haul in a poll conducted this week.

Time to recap all of the original content we've provided over the last seven days…

• Tim Dierkes put together a list of all the players eligible for arbitration after the season and explored the offseason closer market. Contenders and their lefty relievers was another topic, and Tim also looked at what might happen if the Padres become sellers.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith spoke to Indians' director of amateur scouting Brad Grant about the team's approach to the draft. He also listed some contenders that need help in the OBP department and broke down Heath Bell's trade value.
• The 2012 Contract Issues series continued with the Tigers, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Diamondbacks.
• Ben looked at what Fred Wilpon's comments mean for the Mets while Howard Megdal had some fun with them.
• I rounded up the best the blogosphere had to offer in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Here is this week's chat transcript.

A look back at the original posts published this week at MLBTR …

• Tim Dierkes looks at the Cardinals', Brewers' and Yankees' 2012 contract issues.
• If you don't know the Bradleys in the upcoming draft, Tim gets you up to speed.
• What will happen if the D'Backs and Pirates become sellers? Tim looks into it.
• With roughly one-quarter of the season in the can, Tim writes up the best performers among position players and pitchers of this offseason's impending free-agent class.
• Sergio Santos' rise from obscurity to White Sox closer is recounted by Ben Nicholson-Smith.
• Ben breaks down the variety of ways to use MLBTR.
• Ben examines the service time implications of Danny Duffy's callup.
• The Amateur Draft Glossary is ready. Learn it and love it!
• Jaime Garcia could be in for a big pay day via arbitration, writes Ben.
• An update on the 13 players we identified as facing make-or-break seasons in the spring.
• A handful of players who were non-tendered in the offseason are playing well, writes Ben, but fewer waiver claims are getting it done.
• Howard Megdal compares Jose Bautista's sudden prominence to that of Roger Maris.
• Ben lists the links to our Facebook, Twitter and RSS feeds for each club.
• Jason Giambi's three-homer game prompts Ben to give a rundown of the oldest players in MLB.
• Interleague Play resumed this weekend, and Ben has a look at this offseason's top players who switched leagues.
• What will a "bad" season (by his standards) mean for Albert Pujols as he draws nearer to free agency? Mark Polishuk examines.

Let's recap all of the original content we provided here at MLBTR over the last seven days…

• Tim Dierkes listed some potentially available relievers as well as players that could be on the market if the Twins decide to become sellers. He also published a list of 2012 free agents, arbitration records for position players, and each agency's contract haul from this winter.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith spoke to Brandon Inge about his tenure with the Tigers, as well as Alex Avila and GM Dave Dombrowski about the team's catching depth. He also looked back at all of the relievers the Rays lost this past offseason.
• Steve Adams looked back at Jose Bautista's contract extension just three months after it was signed. Bautista was also the focus of Howard Megdal's latest Jack Of All Trades post.
• Mark Polishuk evaluated the Twins' rebuilt bullpen while Ben did the same for the Padres, Rays, and Diamondbacks. Dan Mennella looked at Heath Bell as a trade candidate and I went back and re-lived the first Mike Piazza trade.
• The 2012 Contract Issues series continued with the Rockies, Athletics, Phillies, and Royals.
• This week's poll question asked about Milton Bradley's future.
• I dug up the best the blogosphere had to offer in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• This week's chat transcript can be found here.
• Here's a list of MLBTR's regular features.
• We're looking for help with @closernews.

Among the many topics covered in this week's MLBTR original analysis was, of course, the no-hitters of Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander. You can find those pieces and other insights from MLBTR's writing staff right here:

• Verlander reflected on his achievement and his career development, as Ben Nicholson-Smith writes.
• With roughly five weeks of the season in the rearview, Mike Axisa looks at the performances of this offseason's free agents: Which ones have earned their keep and which ones haven't, and the best pitchers by ERA+ and best hitters by OPS+.
• Here's the best baseball blogging of the week, as compiled by Mike.
• Royals GM Dayton Moore's offseason is looking pretty good right now, writes Ben.
• In the wake of Liriano's no-no, Howard Megdal writes that if history is any indication, the lefty improved his chances of remaining in Minnesota.
• A look at the financial implications of Eric Hosmer's promotion to the bigs.
• Mark Polishuk examines David Wright as a trade candidate, and Ben does the same with Wilson Betemit.
• Which positions players and which pitchers were the best minor league signings?
• A now famous deal between the Giants and Twins sent Liriano to Minnesota. Ben examines the transactions history of the hurlers who've thrown no-nos since 2005.
• Here's the transcript from this week's MLBTR chat with Tim Dierkes.
• Jered Weaver is off to a ridiculously hot start. Tim examines how much the righty will make next year.
• The red-hot Indians are all the rage. Here's their recent trade history, and here's how they were built.
• Our Contract Issues series continues with the Astros, the Angels, and the Mets.
• This piece, by Ben, will help you keep tabs on those former relievers who have converted to starting.
• Tim looks back at Tim Lincecum's historic arbitration case and wonders what it might mean as the ace is once again eligible for arbitration after the 2011 season.
• The Offseason In Review series is complete.

Here's a rundown of MLBTR's original content from the past week….

• Our Draft Prospect Q&A series rolled on as Ben Nicholson-Smith chatted with Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon.
• We looked at the arbitration records for starting pitchers and catchers.
• Eating money in trades or by releasing players is never ideal, but sometimes it's a necessary evil.  Mike Axisa took a look at the teams that are paying players to play elsewhere this season.
• Did you miss out on Tim Dierkes' Wednesday chat?  Well, turn that frown upside down because you can read the transcript right here.
• The Rangers, Rays, Reds, and Giants were profiled in our 2012 contract issues series this week.
• Earlier that day, Tim released his analysis of the 2013 free agent class.  Here's our freshly published 2013 free agent list.
• On Friday we brought you an update on this year's Rule 5 picks.  Eight of the 19 players selected in the Major League phase of last offseason's Rule 5 draft are back where they started.
• It's early in the season but Ben Nicholson-Smith updated us on the value of impending free agents.
• Check out our list of baseball's longest tenured GMs.
• Howard Megdal pointed out the shocking baseball transgressions in The Babe and investigated how teams have dealt with suddenly losing players historically.
• Dan Mennella looked at a major Trade Candidate, Francisco Rodriguez.
• David Price and Clayton Kershaw are likely going to redefine the market with their next contracts.
• We updated our list of the largest contracts in draft history.
• Here's some of the best baseball analysis from around the web in this week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith reflected on Ryan Howard's extension, one year later.

Here's a look back at some of the original analysis and reporting MLBTR's writing team delivered this week..

• Days after announcing his retirement, Carlos Delgado talked to Ben Nicholson-Smith about his career.
• Do you have the MLBTradeRumors app on your iPhone?  This week, Howard Megdal learned that Tim Byrdak does.
• Tim took a look at some of the most regrettable high-priced contracts from the 2009-2010 offseason.
• Three years and one day ago, the Blue Jays cut Randy Wells, allowing him to re-sign with the Cubs.
• We asked our readers if MLB should change the luxury tax deadline.
• Jered Weaver could be considered an extension candidate and a trade candidate, writes Mark Polishuk.
• The Offseason In Review series rolled on with a look at the Phillies, Tigers, and Astros.
• Here's an explanation of the many ways to enjoy MLB Trade Rumors.
• Here's an updated list of the largest contracts by service time in the majors.  We also broke down all of Boston's long-term commitments in one handy post.
• Have you taken a gander at our agency database?  It's constantly updated with all of the latest representation changes.
• The Blue Jays expect to move David Purcey soon and Ben identified some possible destinations for the hurler.
• This week we introduced our 2012 Contract Issues series by looking at the Pirates, Orioles, and Marlins.
• Mike Axisa rounded up some of the best baseball analysis on the web in this week's Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Twenty years later, Ben took a look back at the 1991 draft.
• Check out the transcript of Tim's Wednesday chat with MLBTR readers.
• We broke down the four upcoming player options this winter.

The offseason hot stove has cooled down as teams evaluate their needs early in the season, but we're still providing plenty of content here at MLBTR. Here's recap of our original posts from the last seven days…

• Tim Dierkes spoke to several executives and agents about what Vernon Wells would have gotten as a free agent this past offseason while Ben Nicholson-Smith spoke to Rockies' senior director of international scouting Rolando Fernandez about how the team has constructed its rotation.
• Tim also listed next offseason's best available starters, and Ben listed some players that may qualify as Super Twos after the season as well as some that could just miss the cutoff.
• Several players could be in line for major arbitration raises after the season, and the free agent second base market has changed dramatically over the last few months.
• Ben looked at when sellers start selling and revisited both the Brandon Phillips trade and the Jason Hammel trade. Josh Beckett's extension also came up, as did some sophomore pitchers that are candidates for long-term deals.
• I listed the $100MM+ contracts that have already been completed, and also listed how each team acquired their current closer.
• We looked at a number of young players that are candidates for long-term contract extensions, including Gio Gonzalez of the Athletics, Starlin Castro of the Cubs, Tim Lincecum of the Giants, and David Price of the Rays. 
• Russell Branyan of the Diamondbacks, Erik Bedard of the Mariners, and Jeremy Guthrie of the Orioles were looked at as trade candidates.
• The offseason in review series continued with the Rangers, Nationals, Royals, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Cardinals.
• This week's poll question asked if you think Manny Ramirez deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
• I rounded up the best the blogosphere had to offer in this week's Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Howard Megdal reviewed some early-season managerial changes.
• This week's chat transcript can be found here.
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