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Famous sons get drafted
In the 23rd round of the MLB draft, the Angels took Torii Hunter Jr. -- and his dad made the announcement.
One round later, the Mariners selected Trey Griffey, the son of Ken Griffey Jr.
Trey caught one TD as a WR at Arizona in 2015Comment -
Buster Olney
@Buster_ESPN
2 days
Giancarlo Stanton in any at-bats ending in a 2-strike count (0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2): 9-for-110, 1 HR, 75 strikeouts.
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In regards to Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun’s potential availability this summer, one American League executive told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, “That’s the name I’m waiting for.” Braun is in the first season of a five-year, $105MM extension, and both the money he’s owed and his PED history are roadblocks standing in the way of a possible deal, reports Cafardo. The writer adds that the quality of return in a hypothetical Braun trade will come down to how much of his contract Milwaukee eats. The 32-year-old has dealt with injuries this season, but he has still slashed an outstanding .316/.378/.541 with 11 home runs through 217 plate appearances.
More from the Boston-area insider:
- The fact that one of Braun’s teammates, Jonathan Lucroy, is still on the Brewers surprises some baseball executives. One National League exec thinks rebuilding Milwaukee has an unrealistic asking price for Lucroy. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old has made his case for a major return by serving as perhaps the majors’ best catcher this season; plus, he has a cheap club option for 2017 ($5.25MM).
- Opinions are split within the Braves organization as to whether they should trade 25-year-old right-hander Julio Teheran or build around him. The Braves have fielded inquiries on Teheran, but it would cost a significant haul to acquire him, notes Cafardo. In 82 innings this year, Teheran has recorded an excellent ERA (2.85) and put up strong strikeout and walk rates of 8.45 and 2.52, respectively. He’s also controllable through 2020 on an eminently reasonable contract.
- In not-so-shocking news, the Padres are hoping to move struggling outfielder Matt Kemp, a major league source told Cafardo. However, given Kemp’s contract (he’ll make $21.5MM per year through 2019) and lack of production, it’s going to be difficult to find a taker. With his combination of subpar defense and disappointing offense, the former MVP candidate has been among the majors’ least valuable players this year.
- Reliever Daniel Hudson, a pending free agent, could be a hot commodity around the trade deadline if the Diamondbacks decide to sell. The right-handed flame-thrower has tossed 24 2/3 innings this year and logged a 1.82 ERA, 8.03 K/9 and 2.19 BB/9, also inducing ground balls 49.2 percent of the time.
- Free agent outfielder Shane Victorino is still looking for a new team, his agent, John Boggs, told Cafardo. Victorino has been available since the Cubs released him May 23. The 35-year-old was a replacement-level player in 71 games last season, batting a weak .230/.308/.292 in 204 combined PAs with the Red Sox and Angels, so he might continue to have difficulty finding work.
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what happened to shortstop , the OP? just realized I haven't seen him for awhile.Comment -
What do you do with him on your fantasy team?
Among 171 position players with enough at-bats to qualify, Stanton's .192 batting average is the lowest.Comment -
This is a good thread that Shortstop started, we can keep it going and maybe he will get reinstated at some point down the line.Comment -
Snell is called up and is going to pitch Thursday, take a look at him.Comment -
Taillon probably is on his way back up this week too.Comment -
The Dodgers have released outfielder Carl Crawford, as MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick tweets. Recently designated for assignment, Crawford obviously did not draw any interest on the waiver wire.
Crawford is still owed $35MM or so on the ill-fated contract he first signed with the Red Sox, after all, and there was no chance that was being taken over by another organization. That cash will remain on the Dodgers’ books, with other teams free to add Crawford at the league minimum rate.
Though the waiver clearance was fully expected, it would be surprising if there isn’t at least some interest in the 34-year-old veteran. He has struggled this year, and continues to deal with a variety of maladies, but Crawford still owns a useful .278/.320/.400 batting line in over 1,000 plate appearances over his four seasons in Los Angeles.
That’s solid league-average hitting, which is all the more appealing when combined with his other skills. Crawford continues to move well on the bases when healthy. And he’s long been viewed as a quality outfielder. The recent returns from defensive metrics aren’t as promising, but he’s only been seen as a negative in a small and injury-riddled sample.
The fleet-footed Crawford certainly isn’t the player he once was, but as an essentially free asset he makes for an interesting addition to the open market. Organizations interested in a left-handed-hitting outfielder could do a lot worse, at a much higher cost, so he could be pursued relatively broadly for a just-released player.Comment -
Shields gets shelled again, but pathetic Tigers blow a 7 run lead and let him off the hook. He has to be designated for a AAA stint here.Comment -
Combining his hits in the MLB and Japan, Ichiro is one shy from Pete Rose's major-league record of 4,256.Comment -
Pete Rose ain't having none of that talk: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/16...an-hits-recordComment -
He pitched really well tonight.
The Pirates announced that they have placed ace Gerrit Cole on the 15-day disabled list due to a right triceps muscle sprain, as MLB.com’s Adam Berry tweets. Right-hander Jameson Taillon has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to make tonight’s start — the second big league outing of his career. Cole’s DL stint is retroactive to June 11.
Cole, 25, has worked to a 2.77 ERA this season that closely matches last season’s 2.60 mark, although his strikeout (7.2 K/9), walk (2.6 BB/9) and ground-ball (42.9 percent) rates have all trended in the wrong direction this year. He exited his most recent start after two innings due to tightness in his triceps, and the Pirates had been hopeful that he’d only miss one start, but it appears he’ll be sidelined a bit longer than that at this stage. Whether his DL stint extends beyond the minimum 15 days remains to be seen.
[Related: Updated Pittsburgh Pirates Depth Chart]
The 24-year-old Taillon has made a dominant return to the mound in 2016 after missing the 2014-15 seasons due to injury. In 61 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level this season, Taillon has a 2.04 ERA with a brilliant 61-to-6 K/BB ratio, and he turned in a quality start in his first big league effort last week when he held the Mets to three runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts across six innings. He’ll tangle with the Mets once again tonight — this time on the road in New York. Taillon doesn’t appear to quite be in the Bucs’ long-term rotation plans for this season just yet, as he was optioned following his recent appearance. Cole’s health could play a role in those plans, of course, though one would also imagine that Pittsburgh will be mindful of Taillon’s innings count following a two-year layoff from taking the mound in a game setting.Comment -
Stanton definetly having a terrible year,but when all said and done..his stats will be thereComment -
oddly, Taillon did not appear to throw hard according to radar last night as he did his first startComment -
Veteran reliever Joe Nathan prepares to help Cubs if they need him
A potential boost to the Chicago Cubs' bullpen, Joe Nathan is trying to come back from a second Tommy John surgery at 41 because "that's all I know."Comment -
I hope he still has a fastball to go with his twitchiness.Comment -
Chris Young is dealing with tightness in his quad. John Farrell doesn't believe it will be longer than a one-day absence, but Red Sox aren't taking any chances. That's why Rusney Castillo is playing left field tonight.Comment -
Costly win tonight for Detroit. Will be interesting if Moya can get some playing time.
J.D. Martinez left Thursday's game against the Royals with a non-displaced fracture of the radial neck of his right elbow.
Martinez hurt his arm running into the right field wall in the second inning. He was replaced in right by Mike Aviles, who started the game in left field. Obviously this is a pretty serious injury and a possible season-ender. Martinez is headed for a CT scan tomorrow, which could reveal even more damage. The Tigers' outfield is in shambles right now with Martinez out indefinitely and Cameron Maybin still nursing a quad injury.Comment
