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Seeking Producer For MLB Trade Rumors Podcast

By Tim Dierkes | April 26, 2016 at 10:37am CDT

The MLB Trade Rumors Podcast has been going strong for over a year now. You can check out our Soundcloud page to listen to past episodes. Unfortunately, our podcast producer has to step down, which means we are in the market for a replacement.

We are seeking a new producer to put together each week’s episode and ensure the best possible sound quality. If you’re interested and have relevant experience, please email mlbtrhelp@gmail.com explaining your qualifications and technical setup/process. Please also include links to sample shows that you have produced, and don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any ideas about how to improve the current show.

MLBTR Podcast: Prospect Chatter With Ben Badler

By Cray Allred | April 23, 2016 at 8:09pm CDT

On this week’s show, Ben Badler of Baseball America joins host Jeff Todd to share his prospect expertise. Among the players considered are Trevor Story of the Rockies and Nomar Mazara of the Rangers. Badler also discusses some of the most intriguing names to watch on the international market — with a particular focus on near-to-the-majors players from Cuba and Japan.

Click here to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, and please leave a review! The podcast is also available via Stitcher at this link.

The MLB Trade Rumors Podcast runs weekly on Thursday afternoons.

Matt Klentak Discusses Dartmouth College: MLBTR College Series

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 20, 2016 at 10:48am CDT

MLBTR continues a series of interviews with top baseball executives about their college years. We’ll ask about why those chose their school, memorable moments, their favorite professor, important connections made, college learnings they still use today, etc.

We’ve already spoken to Reds GM Dick Williams and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer. Next up in our question-and-answer series is Philadelphia Phillies Vice President and General Manager Matt Klentak – a graduate of Dartmouth College.

* * * * *

Matt, thanks for talking to MLBTR. You earned an economics degree from Dartmouth College in 2002. Why did you choose Dartmouth?

“There were a few things about Dartmouth that jumped out right away. No. 1, just walking around campus – it’s one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. On top of that, it obviously had a very strong academic reputation. And Coach (Bob) Whalen did an excellent job recruiting me and selling me on their baseball program. So it was really a combination of the three factors – the campus and the community environment, the academics, and the baseball program.”

What other schools were you considering?

“I looked at a few different schools. I initially looked at some schools down south with top baseball programs, but I ultimately realized I wasn’t going to play much there. I might have been able to go there and make the team, but I wasn’t going to see a lot of action on the field. Once I realized that, I started to shift my focus to programs in the northeast where I might be able to play more regularly. I looked at a variety of the schools in the northeast, but ultimately settled on Dartmouth.”

Being in an Ivy League school, academics definitely took precedence over athletics. What was it like playing in that type of an environment – where it was school first?

“My dad always talked to me about the fact that baseball wasn’t – by itself – going to open up doors for me. It was going to be a combination of baseball and academics. He said it to encourage me to take school seriously back in junior high and high school. It turned out that he was right. Ultimately, my success at Dartmouth was a combination of baseball and academics. Managing the Dartmouth workload and playing Division I baseball – that was a challenge. It really forced the student-athletes to be disciplined and to prioritize their time management. The academic demands required a great deal of studying and homework. And the baseball program had its own demands. But I think that the student-athletes learned about the importance of time management.”

Thinking back to your freshman campaign, what do you remember about your first year on campus?

“It was exciting. It was the first time I was living away from home, and everything was new. Meeting lots of new people. Learning about what it takes to play baseball at the Division I level. Learning how to manage academics and baseball at the same time. Everything was new. Everything was exciting. And there were challenges you were facing for the first time in your life that you never experienced living at home. Ultimately, it can be very satisfying when you find you achieved some success.”

You earned your degree in economics, and that has suited you well in baseball. If you had to choose all over again, would that have been your major – or would you have gone another route?

“I think I would have chosen economics. I think any major is going to teach a student to think critically and to improve their writing skills. There were a lot of majors that would have interested me. I think economics was the right balance for me of objective thinking and mathematics. It was the right balance for my interests and my skill set.”

What important connections did you make at Dartmouth that helped you as moved forward into a baseball career?

“First and foremost, I’m still to this day very close to my college coach, Bob Whalen – and I stay in touch with him. Whenever I can, I get out to see the Dartmouth baseball team play. While I was there, I was teammates with Bryn Alderson – who works for the Mets. His father is Sandy Alderson. I had a chance to get to know the Alderson family, and they have been helpful to me in my baseball career. I met Jim Beattie while I was there; at the time, he was a general manager. As importantly as anything, I became friends – and in many cases, best friends – with my teammates, who I’m still in touch with to this day. A number of them work in the baseball industry.”

Any players on opposing teams that you came across that went on to become important connections for you?

“There’s a nice group of baseball executives that played in the Ivy League at the same time. I’m not trying to just name GMs, but there’s (Colorado GM) Jeff Bridich, who played at Harvard. (Cleveland GM) Mike Chernoff played at Princeton. (Oakland GM) David Forst was at Harvard. (Boston GM) Mike Hazen was at Princeton. (Oakland assistant GM) Dan Kantrovitz was at Brown. And (MLB senior VP) Peter Woodfork was at Harvard as well. That’s a pretty good group.”

***Read more after the break …

Were there lessons you learned in college that you still utilize today?

“Learning how to think critically … learning how to problem solve … time management skills … and learning how to write. That’s a skill that I developed both in college and in my job with the Commissioner’s Office right after that.”

What were your most memorable experiences that you can share?

“Both my sophomore and junior year, we won the Red Rolfe Division. The 2000 team – that was the first time that Dartmouth had won the division, and that was pretty exciting. And then to follow that up in 2001, we forced a one-game playoff against Brown – and then beat Brown to advance to the championship series. Those were two pretty exciting years for us.”

You spent three seasons as Dartmouth’s starting shortstop. Were you always a shortstop or did you also play other positions?

“Back when I was in high school, I had to decide whether I wanted to be a pitcher or focus more on playing every day. Ultimately, I decided to focus on playing shortstop so I could be on the field more frequently. It was a good decision. I was never the most talented player on the field, but I enjoyed getting out there and doing whatever I could to help the team win on a daily basis.”

Do you ever miss being on the field?

“I miss it all the time. If I could still play, I would absolutely still be playing.”

Final question. What advice do you give to high school and college students who want to work in a Major League front office some day?

“Really focus on the college experience. There’s a lot that can be learned outside of the classroom and off the baseball field. All those things that you learn in college can really help you on a baseball field and in life. I typically encourage people to enjoy and make the most of their college experience. They can focus on the next phase of their career once their college experience is over.”

* * * * *

Chuck Wasserstrom spent 25 years in the Chicago Cubs’ front office – 16 in Media Relations and nine in Baseball Operations. Now a freelance writer, his behind-the-scenes stories of his time in a big league front office can be found on www.chuckblogerstrom.com.

MLB-Related Job Opening

By Jeff Todd | April 19, 2016 at 2:01pm CDT

From time to time, as a service to our readers, MLB Trade Rumors will post job opportunities of possible interest that are brought to our attention. MLBTR has no affiliation with the hiring entity, no role in the hiring process, and no financial interest in the posting of this opportunity. The following information was provided by the hiring entity:

Baseball Research Position

We are a well-known sports entity hiring an analyst in our MLB research group. You will be working in an office-based setting with other members of a research staff and will be responsible for handling a variety of statistical and other informational needs. The ideal candidate is a recent college graduate with a genuine interest in a career in the baseball industry. This position is located in Southern California (relocation not provided).

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university (or sufficient relevant experience)

Preferred qualifications

Prior baseball or team sports experience
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Keynote, Photoshop

If interested, please reply to the following email address by May 2, 2016:
bcresearchposition@gmail.comIn the subject line of the email, please put “Research Position”. The body of your email should first contain your resume, appropriately formatted. In addition to the traditional resume information, please be sure to include any details about athletic experience or ability to speak a second language.

Below your resume, please put 1) your full contact information, 2) how you obtained this listing, and 3) your minimum annual salary requirement. The salary requirement needs to be a specific dollar figure. Applications without that information will not be considered.

If not local, candidates must be able to find transportation to Southern California for an interview.

Alec Hansen (Oklahoma) Interview: Draft Prospect Q&A

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 19, 2016 at 9:18am CDT

MLBTR continues its Draft Prospect Q&A series, which gives 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 as they prepare for the 2016 draft on June 9-11.

University of Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Alec Hansen hasn’t played up to his potential in 2016, but remains an intriguing prospect. At the beginning of the spring, he was rated third on MLB.com’s Draft Prospect Watch and No. 9 on Baseball America’s Top 100 in March. But ESPN’s Keith Law recently wrote that “Hansen was a potential 1-1 guy (top draft pick) going into the school year, missed fall ball with a forearm injury, lost his rotation spot after a dismal start to the season and now could slip out of the first round.”

Hansen says he’s healthy – and that his junior year struggles could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. He’s still going through the growing pains of pitching – as he’s still getting bigger. Despite an uneven season, teams are interested in pitchers who stand 6-foot-8 and can throw 99 MPH. He took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTR earlier this week and was honest about his 2016 campaign – after a little family talk:

Chuck Wasserstrom: I’m going to start out by throwing some names at you. Nick Hansen swam at Iowa State and later coached at Wisconsin. Debbie Hansen swam at Wisconsin. Eric Hansen swam at Iowa State and later coached at the University of Arizona. Brooke Hansen is a freshman swimmer at Texas. Obviously, if Dad, Mom, Uncle and Sister have all done it, then it’s a family business. How did you miss out on that?

Alec Hansen: “I was a big-time swimmer growing up, and when I got to middle school I was playing other travel sports, too. I started liking the other sports better. I played baseball. I played basketball. I played football. Swimming was one of those sports where it’s the same thing every day. It was monotonous. So by the time I was in middle school I just was more interested in football, basketball and baseball.”

Back in 2013, you were selected by the Rockies in the 25th round of the draft, but you’re the son of a pair of one-time Division I athletes. Was there ever really a chance you would have turned pro, or did Mom and Dad sort of make it a slam dunk that you would be going to college?

“With them both being college athletes, they got to experience it. That’s what they wanted for me – to experience going to college and being part of a team. That’s why they wanted me to go to college. That’s an experience that lasts a lifetime, and you learn a lot from it. I’m really glad that I went to college after high school. Especially OU. I love OU.”

Did you really give much consideration about signing out of high school?

“I talked to my parents about it. We came up with an amount of money that – if I got that offer – that I should take it and play professionally. It would have been worth it if I got that much money. If I didn’t that offer, I would go to school. I didn’t get the amount of money that I was asking for, so I went to school. Now that I went to school, I see why they wanted me to go to college. Now that I look back at it, I should have asked for even more money, because you can’t put a dollar amount on the experience and the people you meet in college.”

Why did you pick Oklahoma?

“Of all the choices I had, the one that stood out to me was Oklahoma. It was a school that I always liked and wanted to go to growing up. Things just fell into place and worked out. Once I came out and visited OU, I made my decision pretty quickly.”

Turning to 2016 … obviously, this hasn’t been the easiest year for you.

“Not everything is always perfect. I’m not a person who gets too up or down about anything in life. Yes, it’s been frustrating. But it hasn’t changed who I am. I still work hard. I know this is all a process, and I’m still going to get a lot of opportunities to develop. My overall goal is not to be a first-round draft pick … it’s to make it to the big leagues.”

Can you talk about this year, and how much you’ll be able to grow off it?

“I think this is just something a lot of guys go through at any level. I know it happens at the professional level. You have expectations, but you’re not performing. It just becomes a battle – and you have to learn to overcome it. Maybe this could be a blessing in disguise. It could be a good thing for me. I haven’t pitched a lot now, so I’ll be able to go out and throw a lot this summer.”

I’d like to talk about your game a little bit. The scouting report is a plus fastball sitting 94-97 and touching 99, plus slider, above average curveball, makings of average changeup. How accurate would you call that report?

“I’d call that accurate. I’ve always thrown hard. My off-speed has always been pretty good. It’s just a matter of putting it all together. I think the more opportunities and experience I get to pitch in game settings, then it will all fall into place.”

[Continue reading after the break for more.]

Photo courtesy of OU Athletics Communications.

You’re 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, and you can reach 99 MPH. How uncomfortable do you want batters to be in the box when they face you?

“I think part of my problem sometimes is that I’m my own biggest competitor. Sometimes, I get so caught up in competing against myself … I don’t worry too much about the batter. I know if I could do what I’m capable of doing, then their chances aren’t very good.”

You have to step back and just play pitch-and-catch. Just throw the ball to the glove.

“Yeah.”

A person I’ve seen you compared to in some stories is Jon Gray of the Rockies. Do you agree with that?

“I’ve never really seen him pitch, but I’ve heard the comparisons. Everyone says we both throw hard and both have a hard slider, so I guess I’d be comparable. Another one I’ve heard is Lucas Giolito with the Nationals. I’ve watched him pitch. I feel like I look more like him.”

Have there been particular pitchers you’d like to model yourself after?

“I really like watching Matt Harvey pitch. It’s kind of hard not to like watching him pitch. I like his demeanor during the game. How he is on and off the field. I like his style.”

How would you describe his style?

“I feel like he’s a little Hollywood, but not too much – if that makes sense.”

How much does his success drive you?

“He was in the same position I’m in not too long ago. It just shows you that it’s possible if you put your mind to it.”

Have you been looking ahead at all to this year’s draft, or have you been trying not to worry about it right now?

“I think I did prior to the start of the season and a little bit during the season. But now, I’m kind of just trying to worry about the team. Just having fun with the team … trying to win as many games as we can … doing whatever I can to help the team out. I’m not worried about the draft right now. Whatever happens happens. I can’t really do anything about it other than do as good as I can.”

You said you’re back throwing. Everything feel good?

“Yes. I threw (Tuesday) and I felt great. And I threw great, too, so hopefully I’ll get more chances to get back on the mound.”

Arm’s good? Head’s good?

“Yes. All good.”

– – –

MLBTR Podcast: Barry Svrluga Talks Nationals

By Cray Allred | March 17, 2016 at 4:30pm CDT

Washington Post national baseball writer Barry Svrluga — who recently authored The Grind, which is now available on paperback — joins the show to discuss the Nationals’ biggest stories heading into the season. Among the items of discussion are GM Mike Rizzo, new manager Dusty Baker, and the contract status of Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.

MLBTR’s own Charlie Wilmoth then hops on the line to cover the latest with the Pirates. (And it’s only fair to note that he has written his own volume on the Bucs.) Charlie breaks down the addition of David Freese and the team’s overall infield mix, addresses the uncertainty in the rotation, and talks about the possibility of an extension with one or more of the team’s candidates for a new deal.

Click here to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, and please leave a review! The podcast is also available via Stitcher at this link.

The MLB Trade Rumors Podcast runs weekly on Thursday afternoons.

MLB Pursuing New Signing Rules For Cuban Players

By | March 5, 2016 at 6:22pm CDT

Major League Baseball has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Treasury Department to offer Cuban players a better route to sign with major league clubs, writes Ben Strauss of the New York Times. Presently, a U.S. embargo against Cuba forces defectors to establish residency in a third country before they can join the professional ranks. While relations have thawed between America and the island nation, the embargo remains in place and could create additional future challenges.

Agreements with baseball leagues in Japan, Korea, and elsewhere include financial compensation for when a player leaves to join the majors. However, the embargo of Cuba makes it a crime to transfer money to the Cuban government. These new talks are aimed at circumventing the embargo.

The proposed plan includes the creation of a non-profit entity to develop baseball and other public interests in Cuba. Teams would donate to this non-profit when signing away Cuban players – theoretically dodging the embargo since the money would not be directly accessible by the government. It’s not yet clear if the Treasury Department will agree with this interpretation for a host of reasons. A spokesman for the league defined the proposal as “opening the way for more substantive talks.”

The need for a new process was most recently made obvious by the reported travails of prospect Lazaro Armentaros aka “Lazarito.” Conflicting reports indicate that, at the very least, Armentaros’ former agent Charles Hairston of Culture39 was physically threatened by a Dominican buscone. His family refuted the notion that Lazarito or his family were in any danger. Regardless of the truth here, other major leaguers have detailed the often life threatening conditions experienced by a defector and their family.

As Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com notes, about 125 players have defected from Cuba in the last 20 months. The sooner baseball and the U.S. government can solve this humanitarian issue, the better.

MLBTR Seeking Agency Data

By Tim Dierkes | February 25, 2016 at 10:22am CDT

We do our best here at MLBTR to keep an updated agency database. However, there are always a few gaps. Currently, I’m working on a project to determine how much 2015 WAR is represented by each agency, basically an update of this post. However, we are lacking agency information for the 23 players listed below. If you know who represents any of these players, please email us at mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com. Also, if your agency has inaccurate info in our database, please let us know and we’ll correct it. Thanks!

Survey For Podcast Listeners

By Tim Dierkes | February 24, 2016 at 11:34am CDT

If you’ve listened to the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast before, we’d love your feedback. Please help us out and take this brief ten-question survey. Thanks!

Follow MLBTR On Instagram

By Zachary Links | February 21, 2016 at 12:19pm CDT

Recently, MLB Trade Rumors launched a brand new official Instagram account: @TradeRumorsMLB. Each day, we’re sharing conversation-inspiring images about the hottest topics in baseball. From there, we invite you to give us a like, weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section, and even share the link with a friend.

On Saturday, immediately after news of the Orioles’ agreement with Yovani Gallardo broke, MLBTR’s Instagram gave fans a sneak peek at what he will look like in his new jersey. Just before that, MLBTR asked readers to predict the landing spots for Yulieski Gurriel and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. a.k.a. the Super Gurriel Bros. Another recent image asked readers to weigh in whether the Orioles would sign Pedro Alvarez or Dexter Fowler or instead trade for Jay Bruce.

So, what are you waiting for? If you don’t have an Instagram account, this is the perfect excuse to sign up and get one. Follow us on Instagram today!

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