2013 MLB players to keep an eye on (will be updated all spring)

[koz-man]

I think I'm in the minority on this one...

I'm thrilled that the Pirates signed Charlie Morton to a 3-year deal this week.

I've always been a big Charlie fan and I'm confident he's going to continue on from his strong 2013

performance.

It's always good to resign a pitcher that has done well, But 7 million a year for 3 years.

On a positive note you have to take a chance once in a while.

Hope it works out for you & the Bucs.

[Shortstop]

It's always good to resign a pitcher that has done well, But 7 million a year for 3 years.

On a positive note you have to take a chance once in a while.

Hope it works out for you & the Bucs.

Thanks! I'm confident that it will.

Yeah, $21M over 3 years. Players are getting crazy wealthy these days!

By the way, did you see that Choo signed w/Texas for $130M over 7 years? Damn!

[Shortstop]

It's always good to resign a pitcher that has done well, But 7 million a year for 3 years.

At first, I actually thought it was a 3-year deal for $7M ($2.333M per year)

Hopefully, Pittsburgh gets a nice return on this investment...

[koz-man]

Thanks! I'm confident that it will.

Yeah, $21M over 3 years. Players are getting crazy wealthy these days!

By the way, did you see that Choo signed w/Texas for $130M over 7 years? Damn!

Wow. way to much. The Reds would never match or come near that....

The Billy Hamilton era begins!!!

[Chi_archie]

Morton is easily worth the 21 million over 3 years. You don't see above average vet post arbitration starters getting less than 10 million per year that often anymore.

[koz-man]

Wow. way to much. The Reds would never match or come near that....

The Billy Hamilton era begins!!!

After looking at his numbers. He has outstanding speed, no doubt, But

he has to pick up his OBP.

The Reds are working with him to bunt better. That should help his on base %.

[Chi_archie]

Hamilton hit pretty decent throughout the minors I think he will have surprising pop too

[yisman]

I like Hamilton a lot.

I do not like Charlie Morton and he's not worth that money.

[Shortstop]

After looking at his numbers. He has outstanding speed, no doubt, But

he has to pick up his OBP.

The Reds are working with him to bunt better. That should help his on base %.

From the few times I've seen him play, I was very impressed.

I find it surprising that he's not a great bunter already at this point in his career?

One would think that would be one of his top strengths based on his amazing speed.

[MexicanStallion]

Hamilton hit pretty decent throughout the minors I think he will have surprising pop too

I don't see him having much pop at all. He had 13 HR/2000+AB and probably half of those were inside the park homers. I like the rest of him though.

[koz-man]

From the few times I've seen him play, I was very impressed.

I find it surprising that he's not a great bunter already at this point in his career?

One would think that would be one of his top strengths based on his amazing speed.

Agree. But I guess practice makes perfect!!

[koz-man]

I don't see him having much pop at all. He had 13 HR/2000+AB and probably half of those were inside the park homers. I like the rest of him though.

The last thing I would want him to try... is hitting homers.

Keep the ball on ground and get on base and all should work just fine.

Like the movie "Major League" Every time he hits a fly ball. He has to do 20 push-ups.

[Shortstop]

The last thing I would want him to try... is hitting homers.

Keep the ball on ground and get on base and all should work just fine.

Like the movie "Major League" Every time he hits a fly ball. He has to do 20 push-ups.

That would be great!

[Chi_archie]

There is pop Mex!

[Shortstop]

When home, I have been glued to The MLB Network the past couple of days.

They've been airing some really great programs!

[Shortstop]

Morton is easily worth the 21 million over 3 years. You don't see above average vet post arbitration starters getting less than 10 million per year that often anymore.

Very true in this day and age.

Call me crazy, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Charlie Morton in the All-Star Game in the not too distant future...

[koz-man]

When home, I have been glued to The MLB Network the past couple of days.

They've been airing some really great programs!

Getting the baseball itch?

Spring Training voluntary reporting for P & C is Feb 13th....let the count down begin!!!!

[Shortstop]

Getting the baseball itch?

Spring Training voluntary reporting for P & C is Feb 13th....let the count down begin!!!!

Yeah, you could say that. I actually have it year round!

What's that, a little over six weeks? It's getting closer...

[Shortstop]

Haven't been following the Tanaka story much.

Anyone have any insight as to which team wants him the most?

From what I hear, it could be a very steep price tag...

[Shortstop]

Yasiel Puig charged with reckless driving in Florida clocked at 110MPH in a 70MPH zone.

[Shortstop]

Penn State Head Coach O'Brien goes to the Texans...

Oh wait, that's not baseball related!

[MexicanStallion]

Penn State Head Coach O'Brien goes to the Texans...

Oh wait, that's not baseball related!

It might be time to start the 2014 MLB Players to keep an Eye on. Baseball season will be here before you know it.

[shaunovery]

Baseball season creeping up

[broadway6]

good post...

Im in STL, I'll add

colton wong is suppose to be decent, but matt carpenter has been working out at 2nd all offseason, and they have ronnie cedeno and daniel descalso...

shortstop is a big question... people already have furcal getting hurt at some point (w good reason), and Kozma not living up to his little stretch last year... that only leaves Ryan Jackson, who is impressive defensivly and supposedly better offensively every year... and hes 24 yrs old

Oscar Tavares is suppose to be something like the next Albert Pujols, but hes only 20 yrs old... with a aging Beltran in right, a Injury prone Holliday in left, allen craig full time at first now... he could see a decent amount of time... especially since the only real center fielder they have other than him would be john jay w shoemaker gone.

the cardinals young pitching is pretty insanly deep... which ever one makes the starting rotation, might be a diamond in the rough... they are all high 90's strikeout machines, shelby miller, rosenthol, lynn, and joe kelly being the favorites for 2013

...

I have questions about the reds/chapman in the rotation... he was so lights out as a closer, letting it fly every night... how is he gonna handle dialing it back to start every 5 days for 7-8 innings?

... cardianls are gonna be young at some key spots, but the pitching and bench have the potential to be scary good

If you would of added Wacha...

[Chi_archie]

can't wait till we start getting pitchers and catchers reporting countdowns

[koz-man]

can't wait till we start getting pitchers and catchers reporting countdowns

Me too.

Feb 13th... voluntary pitchers, catchers, & injured players
Feb 18th....voluntary other players
Feb 25th....Mandatory All Players!!!!

[koz-man]

Penn State Head Coach O'Brien goes to the Texans...

Oh wait, that's not baseball related!

As a PSU fan I hate to see him go. He did one hell of a job with all the distractions.

But I wish him well in Houston.

Wondering who will be PSU next leader? Larry Johnson was named interim

Top candidates are Al Golden, Mike Munchak, and Jim Caldwell.

[Shortstop]

As a PSU fan I hate to see him go. He did one hell of a job with all the distractions.

But I wish him well in Houston.

Wondering who will be PSU next leader? Larry Johnson was named interim

Top candidates are Al Golden, Mike Munchak, and Jim Caldwell.

I agree that he did an outstanding job with the program over the last couple of years.

Granted he was only 15-9, but I don't think anyone else would have surpassed his accomplishments.

[koz-man]

I agree that he did an outstanding job with the program over the last couple of years.

Granted he was only 15-9, but I don't think anyone else would have surpassed his accomplishments.

He does an excellent job with his QB's and will jump start Houston offense. You will see an improvement in Schaub and Keenum. IMO

I believe he was the reason walk-on Matt McGloin, (from my home town) is in the NFL.

[Carseller4]

Chances Cubs get Tanaka???

[Andy117]

Chances Cubs get Tanaka???

Depends on whether he cares about winning.

[MexicanStallion]

Chances Cubs get Tanaka???

Ben Badler of Baseball America writes that the Mariners "look like the favorites" to land Masahiro Tanaka.

This is after ESPN's Jerry Crasnick was told earlier Thursday that the M's were a "team to watch" on Tanaka. Badler has his finger on the pulse of all international signings matters, so if he says Seattle is the favorite for the Japanese righty, everyone would be wise to believe him. He also lists the Cubs, Dodgers and Yankees as clubs that will be "strongly in the mix" for Tanaka.

[Mitchell88]

cant wait getting closer and closer. Nash does a great job along with a lot of other guys here giving us great baseball information

[Shortstop]

He does an excellent job with his QB's and will jump start Houston offense. You will see an improvement in Schaub and Keenum. IMO

I believe he was the reason walk-on Matt McGloin, (from my home town) is in the NFL.

Absolutely! Great points.

In my opinion, O'Brien's replacement will have much more pressure on his shoulders than he did.

The kids that stuck around and those that honored their signing commitments must be shaking their heads right now...

[koz-man]

Ben Badler of Baseball America writes that the Mariners "look like the favorites" to land Masahiro Tanaka.

This is after ESPN's Jerry Crasnick was told earlier Thursday that the M's were a "team to watch" on Tanaka. Badler has his finger on the pulse of all international signings matters, so if he says Seattle is the favorite for the Japanese righty, everyone would be wise to believe him. He also lists the Cubs, Dodgers and Yankees as clubs that will be "strongly in the mix" for Tanaka.

The Yanks start to make a move with Wells leading the way....

The Yankees might have an ace in the hole while trying to lure Masahiro Tanaka into pinstripes — one of his fellow countrymen, Vernon Wells said.

Veteran starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda could help Tanaka, 25, ease into the majors, Wells said.

"He's a great person to be a mentor to him," Wells said.
Kuroda, 38, has pitched the last six years in the majors. But he spent much of his career in Japana, and relies on his splitter, much like Tanaka, widely considered the prize of the free-agent pitching market.
Kuroda's big-city experience — he also played with the Dodgers — would also be a boon to Tanaka, should he end up in The Bronx.
"He's been in a couple of different big markets, being in L.A. and New York," Wells said. "Knowing the changes, knowing what comes with the travel that we have, the schedule the we have."
But, still, the Rangers might how playing alongside fellow starter and countryman Yu Darvish would be more attractive to Tanaka, who went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last season in Japan, Wells said.
"Texas has a guy that has been through it and done it," Wells said. "So you're going to have quite a few choices and great organizations to choose from."
Wells was speaking with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM with Jim Duquette and Mike Ferrin.
The Yankees are believed to be willing to pay top dollar for Tanaka, who is expected to be pursued aggressively by possibly as many as 10 teams. Tanaka has until Jan. 24 to accept a contract. The team that signs him not only must pay his former team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, a $20-million posting fee, but will also have to give Tanaka a multi-year contract worth as much as $100 million.