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Mariners, Rays complete 6-player trade
The Mariners pulled off the first trade of the offseason, as they dealt SS Brad Miller, 1B/OF Logan Morrison and RHP Danny Farquhar to the Rays for pitchers Nathan Karns and C.J. Riefenhauser, and minor league OF Boog Powell. Karns went 7-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 2015, leading AL rookies in innings pitched and strikeouts.
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I'm sure bigger trades will be right around the corner...Comment -
Cespedes definitely has skills, but he is injury prone and he will be expensive for the team that gets him. I'd like him to stay with the Mets but my enthusiasm is tempered.Comment -
I don't think I'd want CespedesComment -
NOV. 9: We’re down to seven possibilities on the mystery team for Park, as ESPN’s Buster Olney (Twitter link) and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Biertempfel (Twitter link) report that the Pirates have not won the bidding.
There have been reports eliminating all but seven teams from the Park bidding, leaving the Phillies, Brewers, Reds, Cubs, White Sox, Twins and Astros as possibilities. And while the Reds and Cubs are technically possibilities, it’d be surprising to see either NL club post the winning bid on a first baseman, given the stars that each has entrenched at that position. The Rockies haven’t been completely ruled out, though the report below seems to indicate they’re more of a long shot than anything else at this point.
Alan Nero, Park’s agent at Octagon, tells Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that even he does not yet know which club won the bidding, adding that both league offices were closed over the weekend (Twitter link).Comment -
Surprised Astros would be chasing after Park, doesn't seem to fit their scheme.Comment -
So the Twins were the club that won the negotiating rights to Byung Ho Park. Did not expect them to be the team with Mauer at 1B and Sano the DH. Someone is going to have to change positions if he signs.Comment -
Mariners, Rays complete 6-player trade
The Mariners pulled off the first trade of the offseason, as they dealt SS Brad Miller, 1B/OF Logan Morrison and RHP Danny Farquhar to the Rays for pitchers Nathan Karns and C.J. Riefenhauser, and minor league OF Boog Powell. Karns went 7-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 2015, leading AL rookies in innings pitched and strikeouts.
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I'm sure bigger trades will be right around the corner...
I wonder if there's a relation?
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Former Braves, Angels pitcher Tommy Hanson dies at 29
By Mike Axisa | Baseball Writer
November 10, 2015 1:56 am ET
Tommy Hanson has died at age 29. (USATSI)Former Braves and Angels right-hander Tommy Hanson has died. He was 29. Further details surrounding Hanson's death are unknown at this time.
CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman confirmed Hanson was in a coma Monday night. Zack Klein of WSB in Atlanta first reported the news.
The Braves sent the following tweet acknowledging Hanson's early Tuesday:
Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons, Hanson's teammate in 2012, sent the following tweet:
Hanson last pitched in MLB in 2013. He went 21-15 with a 3.16 ERA (126 ERA+) for the Braves from 2009-10 before dealing with numerous arm injuries. Hanson went 28-20 with a 4.36 ERA (89 ERA+) from 2011-13.
While with the Angels in 2013, Hanson spent three weeks away from the team following the death of his stepbrother. Hanson was two years older than his stepbrother, who died at age 24.
Hanson spent 2015 in the minor leagues with affiliates for the Giants. He went 4-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts, mostly at Triple A.Comment -
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I think Seattle got the better side of this trade, I really like Karns.Mariners, Rays complete 6-player trade
The Mariners pulled off the first trade of the offseason, as they dealt SS Brad Miller, 1B/OF Logan Morrison and RHP Danny Farquhar to the Rays for pitchers Nathan Karns and C.J. Riefenhauser, and minor league OF Boog Powell. Karns went 7-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 2015, leading AL rookies in innings pitched and strikeouts.
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I'm sure bigger trades will be right around the corner...Comment -
Jon HeymanBaseball Insider
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Twins win bidding to negotiate deal with Korean slugger Byung Ho Park
November 9, 2015 10:17 am ET
The Minnesota Twins won the bidding rights to Korean slugger Byung Ho Park for a $12.85 million posting fee, as Daniel Kim of Daum and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported.
The posting system provides the fee to Park's KBO team, the Nexen Heroes. The Twins will now work on a contract with Park and they must agree to terms within 30 days or he'll stay in Korea and the Twins won't have to pay the $12.85M.
Park, 29, is a first baseman who has shown major power in Korean Baseball Organization. Last season, in 140 games, he hit .343/.436/.714 with 35 doubles, 53 homers and 146 RBI.Comment -
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just utterly shockingFormer Braves, Angels pitcher Tommy Hanson dies at 29
By Mike Axisa | Baseball Writer
November 10, 2015 1:56 am ET
Tommy Hanson has died at age 29. (USATSI)Former Braves and Angels right-hander Tommy Hanson has died. He was 29. Further details surrounding Hanson's death are unknown at this time.
CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman confirmed Hanson was in a coma Monday night. Zack Klein of WSB in Atlanta first reported the news.
The Braves sent the following tweet acknowledging Hanson's early Tuesday:
Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons, Hanson's teammate in 2012, sent the following tweet:
Hanson last pitched in MLB in 2013. He went 21-15 with a 3.16 ERA (126 ERA+) for the Braves from 2009-10 before dealing with numerous arm injuries. Hanson went 28-20 with a 4.36 ERA (89 ERA+) from 2011-13.
While with the Angels in 2013, Hanson spent three weeks away from the team following the death of his stepbrother. Hanson was two years older than his stepbrother, who died at age 24.
Hanson spent 2015 in the minor leagues with affiliates for the Giants. He went 4-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts, mostly at Triple A.Comment -
The 2016 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot will not be as stacked as the past two years. Unlike 2014 and 2015, only one surefire Hall of Famer is eligible for the first time: Ken Griffey Jr.
Griffey blasted 630 home runs while making 13 All-Star teams and earning 10 Gold Glove awards. He will no doubt become the first Mariner inducted into the Hall of Fame a year from now.
Here's a partial list of those who will be eligible for the first time in 2016:
Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus, Luis Castillo, Jim Edmonds, Troy Glaus, Mark Grudzielanek, Jose Guillen, Mike Hampton, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Mike Lowell, Russ Ortiz, Chan Ho Park, Mike Sweeney and Billy Wagner.
Some good players, sure, but only Hoffman is a strong candidate for eventual induction. The former Padres closer was a seven-time All-Star and two-time runner-up in the National League Cy Young voting.
He pitched 18 seasons and finished his career with 601 saves, which was tops on the all-time list when he retired. He's now No. 2 behind Mariano Rivera.Comment -
Jose Reyes arrested on Maui for allegedly assaulting his wife on Halloween.
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Top returning players
Mike Piazza (69.9 percent of the vote in 2015): The greatest hitting catcher in MLB history has gained votes each of the three years he's been eligible. Look for him to pass 75 percent next year and join Griffey in Cooperstown.
Jeff Bagwell (55.7 percent): Bagwell's percentage went down in 2014 before rebounding a bit in 2015. He's getting close, but it's unlikely the former Astros slugger will see enough of an increase to be elected in 2016. Maybe 2017?
Tim Raines (55.0 percent): Sadly, Raines' time is running out. It will be up to the Veterans Committee to give him his deserved plaque someday.
The PED guys
Roger Clemens (37.5 percent), Barry Bonds (36.8 percent), Gary Sheffield (11.7 percent), Mark McGwire (10 percent) and Sammy Sosa (6.6 percent): No, none of these men will be elected any time soon. Look for Sosa (and maybe McGwire and Sheffield) to fall off the ballot by failing to garner at least 5 percent of the vote in 2016.
Other returning candidates
Curt Schilling (39.2 percent), Lee Smith (30.2 percent), Edgar Martinez (27.0 percent), Alan Trammell (25.1 percent), Mike Mussina (24.6 percent), Jeff Kent 14.0 percent), Fred McGriff 12.9 percent), Larry Walker (11.8 percent) and Nomar Garciaparra (5.5 percent).Comment -
Lance Lynn undergoes Tommy John surgery: Three things to know
By Mike Axisa | Baseball Writer
November 10, 2015 4:52 pm ET
Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday, the team announced. He will miss the entire 2016 season since elbow reconstruction comes with a 12-15 month rehab.
Lynn, 28, went 12-11 with a 3.03 ERA (131 ERA+) in 31 starts and 175 1/3 innings in 2015. He battled forearm and ankle trouble during the season. Lynn signed a three-year contract worth $22 million last offseason, so he doesn't have to worry about the procedure hurting future arbitration salaries.
Here are three other things to know about Lynn's elbow injury and its impact on the Cardinals.
1. The Cardinals have a lot of health concerns in their rotation.
Lynn will not pitch at all next season. We know that now. This past season the Cardinals were also without Adam Wainwright for most of the year due to a torn Achilles. Carlos Martinez had to be shut down in September due to a shoulder strain. Michael Wacha didn't get hurt -- he had a stress fracture in his shoulder in 2013 -- but was clearly worn late in the season.
Jaime Garcia? He made 20 starts in 2015 after making 16 starts total from 2013-14. He's battled all sorts of arm injuries in recent years and was finally able to get back on the mound for a significant period of time this summer. Garcia pitched so well (163 ERA+) the Cardinals exercised his $11.5 million option after the season. At this time last year the option decision was very much in doubt.
Wainwright, Garcia, Wacha and Martinez figure to be four of the team's five starters next season, and all four come with health concerns. It might work out, but that's not a good situation.
2. The Cardinals need to add a starter this offseason, if not two.
Thanks to the questionable rotation health outlined above, the Cardinals are going to have to add a starting pitcher this offseason. At the very least they need to re-sign or replace free agent John Lackey, who gave the team 218 innings with a 143 ERA+ in 2015.
St. Louis has Tyler Lyons, Tim Cooney and Marco Gonzales as depth pitchers, but adding another veteran innings eater would be a wise move. Heck, signing two wouldn't be a bad idea, not with Martinez coming off his shoulder injury and Wacha looking so taxed in September and October. There's no such thing as too much pitching.
Obviously Zack Greinke and David Price are the big names. If the Cardinals don't want to break the bank -- they already have a bonafide ace in Wainwright, after all -- second-tier free-agent starters like Bartolo Colon, Doug Fister, J.A. Happ and Chris Young could be lower cost options. There's always potential trades as well.
3. Lynn had the surgery at the best possible time.
Tommy John surgery is obviously very bad and the Cardinals will be worse without Lynn next season. That said, he had the procedure at the best possible time. First and foremost, he's now guaranteed a full 15-month rehab before spring training 2017. There won't be any temptation to rush him back in 12 or 13 months.
Secondly, it's very early in the offseason. The only notable transaction so far is the Nathan Karns-Brad Miller trade. Every free-agent starter remains on the board. The Cardinals have time to digest the Lynn injury, develop a plan of attack for the coming weeks, and execute it. This is the best of an otherwise bad situation.Comment -
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Cards icon Brock recovering after leg amputation
St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock, a former base-stealing champion, has had his left leg amputated below the knee due to an infection related to diabetes.
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Fuken Diabetes!!!!Comment -
Boras' comments hint at battleground between players, owners
By Dayn Perry | Baseball Writer
November 11, 2015 6:43 pm ET
On Wednesday at the annual MLB general managers meetings in Florida, super-agent Scott Boras held court with the press. Among the topics he addressed was MLB's increasing revenues and the players' decreasing share of those revenues ...
Thanks in large part to lucrative local television contracts, teams' coffers are swelling, and while players are well-compensated by any reasonable standard, they're losing ground in terms of the percentage of league revenues. As Nathaniel Grow of FanGraphs noted earlier this year, this has been a trend for some time. As recently as the early 2000s, player salaries accounted for more than 55 percent of league revenue. Since then, that share has declined precipitously, all the way down to the 43 percent that Boras cited on Monday.
It so happens that the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the contract between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) that governs their working relationship (and all economic aspects of that working relationship), is up for renegotiation. Without question, Tony Clark and the MLBPA will aim to recapture that lost share of revenues during the course of those negotiations, just as owners will angle to keep the gains they've made.
The current CBA expires on Dec. 1, 2016, so you can expect talks, at least on an informal basis, to begin soon in an effort to avoid a labor stoppage. The MLBPA and the owners have a much smoother relationship right now than they've had in some time, so that's a positive. That said, Boras went on to do a bit of pre-negotiation groundwork with his subsequent comments ...
It goes without saying that a pre-negotiated revenue split won't be happening in the absence of a salary cap, which is not something the MLBPA has ever been willing to consider. Instead, the MLBPA will seek to raise the minimum salary and perhaps do away with the qualifying offer system, which has served as a drag on the "middle class" of free agents.
One factor in the players' decreasing share has been the willingness of individual players to sign away arbitration and free-agent years in exchange for the security of the long-term, early-service-time contract. Boras, for one, is known to discourage his clients from doing this, but for some players the prospect of life-changing money is too much to resist. It's a personal decision in each instance, but it has bearing on the collective. If, for instance, the minimum salary is increased substantially, then this trend may correct itself. Front-line young players would then have more financial security early in their careers, which in turn would make them more willing to eschew the early contract extension and thus hit free agency on schedule.
In other words, the MLBPA may be best served by seeking incremental gains that put in place the foundation of "revenue-share comeback," rather than trying to fully reverse the entire trend in one round of negotiations.Comment -
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It's not watered down. None of the other guys listed in that article has a chance of getting in.Comment -
Former Braves, Angels pitcher Tommy Hanson dies at 29
By Mike Axisa | Baseball Writer
November 10, 2015 1:56 am ET
Tommy Hanson has died at age 29. (USATSI)Former Braves and Angels right-hander Tommy Hanson has died. He was 29. Further details surrounding Hanson's death are unknown at this time.
CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman confirmed Hanson was in a coma Monday night. Zack Klein of WSB in Atlanta first reported the news.
The Braves sent the following tweet acknowledging Hanson's early Tuesday:
Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons, Hanson's teammate in 2012, sent the following tweet:
Hanson last pitched in MLB in 2013. He went 21-15 with a 3.16 ERA (126 ERA+) for the Braves from 2009-10 before dealing with numerous arm injuries. Hanson went 28-20 with a 4.36 ERA (89 ERA+) from 2011-13.
While with the Angels in 2013, Hanson spent three weeks away from the team following the death of his stepbrother. Hanson was two years older than his stepbrother, who died at age 24.
Hanson spent 2015 in the minor leagues with affiliates for the Giants. He went 4-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts, mostly at Triple A.
Word!
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€” When Major League Baseball general managers convene one year from now to begin next offseason's business, Stephen Strasburg's future will be a major topic of discussion: He is positioned as the marquee pitching free agent of the 2016-2017 offseason.
For now, it doesn't appear there is active dialogue between his agent, Scott Boras, and the Washington Nationals about a contract extension. And Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said Tuesday that he hadn't received a trade inquiry for Strasburg at the general managers' meetings.
Yet Strasburg's name is in the news, anyway, as Boras disclosed Wednesday that Strasburg underwent a "minor" medical procedure roughly one month ago to remove a non-cancerous growth from his back.
Boras said the growth was "muscular" in nature and had bothered Strasburg while he pitched. Strasburg is fine now, Boras said, and presumably will benefit from normal offseason workouts prior to the most important season (economically) of his baseball career.
Strasburg, 27, dealt with back and shoulder discomfort throughout a 2015 season in which health issues limited him to 127-1/3 innings. (A left ankle injury affected him in the first half, before his performance improved after the All-Star break.) If the excised growth was a chief cause of the back and shoulder trouble, then the Nationals — and Boras —€” can feel confident Strasburg will reclaim the ace status he's held intermittently during his career.
"He's durable," Rizzo said. "He pitched (215) innings the year before. When he's right, he wants to go deep into games. As he's progressed, as he's strengthened himself from the Tommy John (surgery in 2010), he's capable of going deep into games and deep into seasons."
Among major-league pitchers with at least 600 innings over the past four seasons, Strasburg ranks 10th in adjusted ERA, behind current free agents Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto, David Price, and Jordan Zimmermann.
Strasburg will become a free agent at age 28, which Boras believes is young by the standards of free-agent pitchers.
"Stephen Strasburg is a very young pitcher," Boras said. "He's got a great arm. He's got true No. 1 ability. He's just stepping into his career. He was a very young draft pick . . . He was pitching in the big leagues at 21. Now his body has grown into maturity. He's stronger. Certainly, what we saw the last two months of this season is (what's) to come, of the best of Stephen Strasburg.Comment -
Another impressive outing from @Braves' Lucas Sims. Final line: 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K: http://atmlb.com/1ks5fHBComment -
Braves' Simmons to Angels for Aybar
The Braves will ship Andrelton Simmons to the Angels for Erick Aybar and a pair of top minor league pitching prospects.Comment -
2015 Silver Slugger awards: Nelson Cruz wins for first time
By Dayn Perry | Baseball Writer
November 12, 2015 6:02 pm ET
On Thursday, MLB announced the winners of the 2015 Silver Slugger awards. The Silver Slugger awards, which date back to 1980, are voted on by coaches and managers from both leagues. Voters are prohibited from casting ballots for players on their own teams.
Here's more on the selection criteria from Louisville Slugger:They base their selections on a combination of offensive statistics including batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, as well as the coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value.And now, your winners for 2015 ...
CATCHER
AL: Brian McCann, Yankees
NL: Buster Posey, Giants
FIRST BASE
AL: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
NL: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
SECOND BASE
AL: Jose Altuve, Astros
NL: Dee Gordon, Marlins
THIRD BASE
AL: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
NL: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
SHORTSTOP
AL: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
NL: Brandon Crawford, Giants
OUTFIELD
AL: Nelson Cruz, Mariners; J.D. Martinez, Tigers; Mike Trout, Angels
NL: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies; Bryce Harper, Nationals; Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
DESIGNATED HITTER
AL: Kendrys Morales, Royals
PITCHER
NL: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
Notables? Cabrera claimed his sixth career Silver Slugger, while McCutchen and Trout each won for the fourth straight year. Nelson Cruz, meanwhile, wins his first career Silver Slugger and does so at age 35.Comment -
