Quick Hits: Buxton, Blue Jays, Quentin, Collins
Stephen Strasburg struck out 13 Red Sox tonight, becoming the first visiting pitcher to strike out that many batters in Fenway Park since Mike Mussina flirted with a perfect game in September 2001. Here's some news from around the league…
- Representatives for second overall pick Byron Buxton will be in Minnesota to negotiate with the Twins early next week, reports Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN (on Twitter). There's optimism a deal could be reached as soon as next Wednesday.
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says the Blue Jays are expected to have interest in Carlos Quentin should the Padres make the slugger available. Ben-Nicholson Smith looked at Quentin as a trade candidate last week.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote about Mets manager Terry Collins, who says he's made a conscious effort to change his style after high-strung stints with the Astros and Angels in the 1990s.
Draft Notes: Astros, Gausman, Twins, Red Sox
The MLB Draft got started last night and now the first round and supplemental round are complete. Here are some reactions to the events of day one before the action resumes at 11am CDT…
- High school shortstop Tanner Rahier and high school outfielder Anthony Alford are among the top remaining players, Nathan Rode of Baseball America writes.
- Keith Law of ESPN.com likes what the Astros (Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers Jr.) and Pirates (Mark Appel) accomplished yesterday. Law's list of best available players features nine high schoolers including third baseman Carson Kelly and right-hander Kieran Lovegrove.
- Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com provides an overview of day one, including a preview of the interaction between the Pirates and Scott Boras, the advisor for Appel. Commissioner Bud Selig said he's "very optimistic" that the new system will work out, according to Crasnick.
- McCullers and his father, Lance McCullers Sr., were selected 41st overall 30 years apart from one another, Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle notes (on Twitter).
- Blue Jays scouting director Andrew Tinnish says college right-hander Marcus Stroman is very advanced, though not necessarily MLB-ready, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- Top Orioles selection Kevin Gausman said he's confident he’ll be able to reach a deal with Baltimore, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (on Twitter). The Orioles drafted Gausman fourth overall, making him the first pitcher selected.
- Scouting director Deron Johnson said the Twins wanted Byron Buxton all along and had been targeting the high school outfielder since last summer, Phil Mackey of 1500ESPN.com reports.
- Arizona State coach Tom Esmay says top Red Sox pick Deven Marrero is committed to improving his game, Alex Speier of WEEI.com writes. Red Sox scouting director Amiel Sawdaye doesn’t sound concerned about the shortstop's unimpressive offensive numbers.