The 2015 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread

[BigSpoon]

Aroldis Chapman accused of domestic violence during an October 30th incident. Dodgers were on the verge of trading two prospects for him before the news broke. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14...lence-incident

[EmpireMaker]

Aroldis Chapman Allegedly Involved In Domestic Dispute

By Jeff Todd | December 7, 2015 at 10:34pm CST
10:32pm: The Red Sox were in talks on Chapman in November before learning about the incident through a background check, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports. Boston was exploring deals for both Chapman and Craig Kimbrel at the time, says Speier, and turned its attention exclusively toward the latter after finding out about the allegations.
10:10pm: C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer has Jocketty’s full quote, on Twitter: “We’ve talked to several clubs. I notified all of them tonight that we’d step back a couple of weeks or whatever it takes.”
9:28pm: Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty says that a trade of Chapman may be delayed by several weeks, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon tweets. That’s certainly far from the most important element of this story, of course. But a delay in completing a transaction also seems to represent only the minimum potential impact on Chapman’s marketability.
For one thing, any club would obviously want to know if a player being acquired will face disciplinary action. Notably, we’ve yet to hear anything on the situation of Reyes, whose arrest was reported about a month ago, suggesting that the process won’t be swift.
Quite apart from any suspension or fine, moreover, the disturbing report could well come with broader ramifications for Chapman’s future if the alleged facts are supported by the investigation. And that’s probably true whether or not he is ultimately charged in relation to the incident.
8:54pm: Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was allegedly involved in a serious domestic dispute in late October, Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown and Jeff Passan report. The outlet says that it obtained police records relating to the matter.
According to those reports, says Yahoo, Chapman’s girlfriend told investigating officers that he “choked” her and pushed her against a wall. Chapman is also alleged to have discharged a handgun into the garage of his home.
There were no arrests in the incident. Chapmans attorney, Jay Reisinger, said in a statement to Yahoo that he and his client “vehemently deny the allegations as stated.”
The incident is the reason that a reported trade this morning to the Dodgers has been held up, according to Yahoo. Cincinnati has been aware of the matter “for some time,” Passan adds in an interview on MLB Network Radio (Twitter link). Major league baseball will investigate the matter, Brown and Passan further report.
An investigation obviously appears to be warranted under the new domestic violence protocol put in place between the league and the player’s association. Commissioner Rob Manfred can issue any punishment deemed appropriate “in light of the severity of the conduct,” after an investigation. Notably, neither criminal charges nor a conviction are required to support the imposition of discipline.
The commissioner’s office is said already to be investigating fellow high-profile players Jose Reyes and Yasiel Puig under the domestic violence policy.

[BarkingToad]

My thoughts exactly! These GM's and scouts must know a lot more than us...

I'm sure their sabermetrics tell these GMs they're getting great value

[Cross]

So no trade to la?

[MexicanStallion]

Just some more additional Chapman news here.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal was told by at least one team that spoke with the Reds that Aroldis Chapman might have injured a hand in his alleged domestic violence incident.

The police report from the incident says Chapman punched the passenger’s side window of his car and cut his left pinkie knuckle, so that's presumably what the potential injury is in reference to. It doesn't seem like the injury would have any lasting effects, however. Major League Baseball is investigating the incident involving Chapman and his girlfriend.

[Shortstop]

"Mo Money, Mo Problems"

Biggie knew what was up! RIP!

[El Nino]

Chapman may have fukked this up.

[koz-man]

Source: Chapman deal in limbo as MLB probes

A proposed deal between the Reds and Dodgers for closer Aroldis Chapman is in limbo amid an investigation by MLB into an Oct. 30 incident between Chapman and his girlfriend.
===========================

Its funny . My home paper reported the trade went through.

And no mention about the incident at all.

[EmpireMaker]

BREAKING NEWS: INF/OF Ben Zobrist reportedly agrees with @Cubs on 4-year, $56M deal, pending physical.

[EmpireMaker]

Joel Sherman Verified account @Joelsherman1

Told that Castro to #Yankees has been agreed upon, but not finalized. Still medical review, etc. #Cubs

[Chi_archie]

Castro an interesting under acheiver

might make the most lackluster 3,000 hit accumulation in mlb history

[EmpireMaker]

DBacks get Shelby Miller, Braves get #1 pick Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte & Aaron Blair:

[yisman]

Cubs moving and shaking big time today

[Cross]

Zobrist a definite upgrade over Castro, well done Cubs.

[Otters27]

Just some more additional Chapman news here.



FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal was told by at least one team that spoke with the Reds that Aroldis Chapman might have injured a hand in his alleged domestic violence incident.

The police report from the incident says Chapman punched the passenger’s side window of his car and cut his left pinkie knuckle, so that's presumably what the potential injury is in reference to. It doesn't seem like the injury would have any lasting effects, however. Major League Baseball is investigating the incident involving Chapman and his girlfriend.

Would want to get hit with a punch from a guy who throws 103 mph

[Shortstop]

Would want to get hit with a punch from a guy who throws 103 mph

Ha! I was thinking the same thing!

[Shortstop]

DBacks get Shelby Miller, Braves get #1 pick Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte & Aaron Blair:

Perhaps he'll get some run support in Arizona?

A change of scenery will do him well, I'm sure...

[Shortstop]

Joel Sherman Verified account @Joelsherman1

Told that Castro to #Yankees has been agreed upon, but not finalized. Still medical review, etc. #Cubs

Castro an interesting under acheiver

might make the most lackluster 3,000 hit accumulation in mlb history

Yeah, Castro is definitely an under achiever. Guy has a ton of talent.

It will be very interesting to see how he performs in the Bronx...

[BigSpoon]

The D-Backs gave up way too much for Miller, Atlanta wins that trade easy. That package they gave up might have almost been enough to get Jose Fernandez from the Marlins.

[El Nino]

The D-Backs gave up way too much for Miller, Atlanta wins that trade easy. That package they gave up might have almost been enough to get Jose Fernandez from the Marlins.

Inciarte can rake. I hate this trade.

[EmpireMaker]

The D-Backs gave up way too much for Miller, Atlanta wins that trade easy. That package they gave up might have almost been enough to get Jose Fernandez from the Marlins.

The asking price on Jose Fernandez is known to be sky-high, but reports tonight in the wake of the D-backs’ Shelby Miller blockbuster further illustrate the unlikely nature of a Fernandez trade. According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins were working on a trade with the Diamondbacks that would’ve included Patrick Corbin and Dansby Swanson in talks for Fernandez (Twitter link). Beyond that already-steep starting point, the Marlins asked that three other prospects be included in the deal, he adds.

[Chi_archie]

The asking price on Jose Fernandez is known to be sky-high, but reports tonight in the wake of the D-backs’ Shelby Miller blockbuster further illustrate the unlikely nature of a Fernandez trade. According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins were working on a trade with the Diamondbacks that would’ve included Patrick Corbin and Dansby Swanson in talks for Fernandez (Twitter link). Beyond that already-steep starting point, the Marlins asked that three other prospects be included in the deal, he adds.

they should keep fernandez

[koz-man]

Zobrist a definite upgrade over Castro, well done Cubs.

Agree. I always liked Zobrist.

The Cubs earned a "That A Boy" on that move!!!

[yisman]

pretty dumb to give up anything of value for Starlin Castro

he's a loser and will always be a loser

shame the Cubs traded him, he was the epitome of a Cub

[MexicanStallion]

So much activity this winter it seems with baseball.

White Sox acquired 3B Brett Lawrie from the Athletics for RHP J.B. Wendelken and LHP Zack Erwin.

In 562 at-bats with the A's in 2015, Lawrie hit .260/.299/.407 with a career-high 16 homers and 60 RBI. The 562 AB's were the most the 25-year-old infielder has received in his five years as a major league player. The A's had a need to move Lawrie after they acquired Jed Lowrie in November. And the White Sox had a big hole at third base.

[EmpireMaker]

The New York Mets today announced the club has acquired second baseman Neil Walker from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for lefthanded pitcher Jonathon Niese.

Walker, 30, batted .269 (146-543) with 32 doubles, 16 home runs and 71 RBI in 151 games for Pittsburgh in 2015. His 16 home runs were tied for most by a National League second baseman while his .328 on-base percentage was tied for third-best among NL second basemen.

Overall, his 93 home runs since 2010 are fifth-most among major league second basemen in that time (second most in the National League in the same time frame) while his 283 extra-base hits during that span are most by a NL second baseman.

The switch-hitting Walker batted .276 (124-450) against righthanded pitching in 2015, while his career average versus righties is .275. Overall, Walker owns a career OPS of .769 since breaking into the big leagues in 2009.

[EmpireMaker]

The Mets need lefthanded pitchers, I like them getting Walker but wish they gave up someone else. Now they really need to come up with probably 2 lefties.

[EmpireMaker]

they should keep fernandez

They will keep him unless someone is willing to pay a King's ransom for him. They intend to keep him unless someone makes that offer that is impossible to turn down.

[Andy117]

The Mets need lefthanded pitchers, I like them getting Walker but wish they gave up someone else. Now they really need to come up with probably 2 lefties.

I didn't think Niese was gonna be on the team for 2016, he wasn't gonna make the rotation and I don't know if he's really that valuable in the pen.

[Cross]

pretty dumb to give up anything of value for Starlin Castro

he's a loser and will always be a loser

shame the Cubs traded him, he was the epitome of a Cub

the 2016 world champion Chicago Cubs?

[EmpireMaker]

I didn't think Niese was gonna be on the team for 2016, he wasn't gonna make the rotation and I don't know if he's really that valuable in the pen.

Not saying he is great, he isn't bad, it's just that they need more lefty pitchers they are loaded with righties.

[EmpireMaker]

Asdrubal Cabrera and the @Mets are finalizing a two-year deal worth $18 million http://tw.nbcsports.com/PN2

[Chi_archie]

Asdrubal Cabrera and the @Mets are finalizing a two-year deal worth $18 million http://tw.nbcsports.com/PN2

seems bargainish

[BigSpoon]

So much activity this winter it seems with baseball.

White Sox acquired 3B Brett Lawrie from the Athletics for RHP J.B. Wendelken and LHP Zack Erwin.

In 562 at-bats with the A's in 2015, Lawrie hit .260/.299/.407 with a career-high 16 homers and 60 RBI. The 562 AB's were the most the 25-year-old infielder has received in his five years as a major league player. The A's had a need to move Lawrie after they acquired Jed Lowrie in November. And the White Sox had a big hole at third base.

A's not get much back for Lawrie. He still has a lot of potential.

[koz-man]

Mark Reynolds signs with Rockies


The Rockies and first baseman agreed to a 1-year, $2.6M contract, according to multiple reports. The 32-year-old hit .230 with 13 HRs and 48 RBIs for the Cardinals this year.