The 2019 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.
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batt33SBR Hall of Famer
- 12-23-16
- 6028
#1506Comment -
EmpireMakerSBR Posting Legend
- 06-18-09
- 15581
#1507Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna has hired MDR Sports Management to represent him, the agency announced. He’s preparing for free agency after earning $12.25MM this season, his final arbitration campaign.
Ozuna’s new reps have a clear focus on Latin American ballplayers. Their lengthy client list includes one player of particular note: Ozuna’s teammate and Cardinals fixture Yadier Molina.
With the season well underway, and the Cardinals having recently committed future dollars to several other veteran players, the focus for Ozuna and company will likely be on the open market. After a flurry of extensions and a strong start to the season for Ozuna, he checked in at the number three position on MLBTR’s Free Agent Power Rankings.
But it’s at least theoretically possible that extension talks could still take place. MDR has negotiated three extensions with the Cards on Molina’s behalf. Before he was dealt to St. Louis, Ozuna was approached by the Marlins about a long-term deal. He reportedly rebuffed the Miami organization’s advance due in part to the advice of previous agent Scott Boras.Comment -
jrgum3SBR Hall of Famer
- 07-21-17
- 7005
#1508I don’t know what was worse the fact that the Giants lost to the Dodgers the last day of the season to cost them the playoffs after a tremendous season or the fact that there was no wild card which was implemented in 95.Comment -
JAKEPEAVY21BARRELED IN @ SBR!
- 03-11-11
- 29304
#1509Paddack vs Jmobile's boy Kershaw tonight
who are you rooting for? make a choice, you cannot be all over both the dodgers and padres nutsComment -
Otters27BARRELED IN @ SBR!
- 07-14-07
- 30759
#1510NL West is strong but Dodgers might run with itComment -
BigSpoonSBR MVP
- 11-04-10
- 4113
#1512Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna has hired MDR Sports Management to represent him, the agency announced. He’s preparing for free agency after earning $12.25MM this season, his final arbitration campaign.
Ozuna’s new reps have a clear focus on Latin American ballplayers. Their lengthy client list includes one player of particular note: Ozuna’s teammate and Cardinals fixture Yadier Molina.
With the season well underway, and the Cardinals having recently committed future dollars to several other veteran players, the focus for Ozuna and company will likely be on the open market. After a flurry of extensions and a strong start to the season for Ozuna, he checked in at the number three position on MLBTR’s Free Agent Power Rankings.
But it’s at least theoretically possible that extension talks could still take place. MDR has negotiated three extensions with the Cards on Molina’s behalf. Before he was dealt to St. Louis, Ozuna was approached by the Marlins about a long-term deal. He reportedly rebuffed the Miami organization’s advance due in part to the advice of previous agent Scott Boras.Comment -
JAKEPEAVY21BARRELED IN @ SBR!
- 03-11-11
- 29304
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koz-manSBR Hall of Famer
- 11-21-08
- 7102
#1518Royals top prospect Lopez recalled to majors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals are giving top prospect Nicky Lopez his big league shot, summoning him from Triple-A Omaha and putting him right into the starting lineup for their series opener against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.
The 24-year-old Lopez was the Royals' fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft. He was hitting .353 with a .457 on-base percentage with the Storm Chasers. Lopez also has struck out just five times in 116 at-bats, the fewest of anybody in the Pacific Coast League.
He was batting second and playing second base against the Rangers, while the versatile Whit Merrifield -- one of Kansas City's best hitters -- was moved to right field and will lead off.
The Royals optioned right-hander Jake Newberry to Omaha to clear roster space for him.Comment -
dudekidSBR MVP
- 12-08-09
- 3200
#1519Ozuna balling out after a dreadful year last yearComment -
ApricotSinner32Restricted User
- 11-28-10
- 10648
#1520Royals top prospect Lopez recalled to majors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals are giving top prospect Nicky Lopez his big league shot, summoning him from Triple-A Omaha and putting him right into the starting lineup for their series opener against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.
The 24-year-old Lopez was the Royals' fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft. He was hitting .353 with a .457 on-base percentage with the Storm Chasers. Lopez also has struck out just five times in 116 at-bats, the fewest of anybody in the Pacific Coast League.
He was batting second and playing second base against the Rangers, while the versatile Whit Merrifield -- one of Kansas City's best hitters -- was moved to right field and will lead off.
The Royals optioned right-hander Jake Newberry to Omaha to clear roster space for him.Comment -
batt33SBR Hall of Famer
- 12-23-16
- 6028
#1521Shaun Anderson will start for the Giants on Wednesday against the Blue Jays, marking the MLB debut for a hard-throwing right-hander widely viewed as one of the organization's most promising prospects.Comment -
CrossSBR Hall of Famer
- 04-15-11
- 5777
#1522I’m convinced that the Cubs are an All Star team this year.Comment -
BigSpoonSBR MVP
- 11-04-10
- 4113
#1523Vlad Jr. finally breaks out with his first 2 HR of career v the Giants. Think the kid is gonna be alright.Comment -
jrgum3SBR Hall of Famer
- 07-21-17
- 7005
#1524Chris Sale’s 17 K performance wasted by the Bosox tonight. I’ll take the K’s and QS but it would’ve been nice to also get the win after a performance like that. I didn’t think my over bet would cash but luckily the game went to extras and got there.Comment -
Chi_archieSBR Aristocracy
- 07-22-08
- 63172
#1526
wow what a performanceComment -
EmpireMakerSBR Posting Legend
- 06-18-09
- 15581
#1527The Yankees announced that they’ve acquired first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales from the Athletics in exchange for cash or a player to be named later. In order to open a spot on the 40-man roster, New York transferred righty Jonathan Loaisiga from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
Morales, 35, was designated for assignment by the Athletics yesterday. Oakland had picked him up early in the season after losing first baseman Matt Olson to a hand injury for more than a month. However, the veteran Morales struggled quite a bit in limited time with the A’s, hitting at a .204/.310/.259 clip and connecting on just one home run. With Olson and fellow first baseman Mark Canha healthy in Oakland alongside designated hitter Khris Davis, there simply wasn’t a place on the Athletics’ roster for the struggling Morales.
That’s not necessarily the case up in the Bronx, however. While Luke Voit has solidified himself as the team’s primary first baseman, the outfield/designated hitter mix is considerably less certain. Morales could see fairly regular time at DH in the short term, leaving the Yankees with a starting outfield of Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier, while Cameron Maybin shifts into a reserve role. Although Morales’ 2019 production has been nonexistent, he’s just a year removed from a respectable .249/.331/.438 batting line and is a combined .270/.330/.465 hitter dating back to the 2009 season — when he first established himself as a Major League regular.
Of course, that alignment isn’t anywhere near what the Yankees had envisioned heading into the season, but the team’s jaw-dropping list of injuries has been well documented by now. Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Andujar, Greg Bird, Troy Tulowitzki and Didi Gregorius are all on the injured list, while Aaron Hicks was only just activated from the IL and has yet to make his season debut. To their credit, despite that slate of injuries, the Yankees are hitting .253/.333/.430 (104 wRC+) as a team and rank right in the middle of the pack in terms of total runs scored among MLB clubs.Comment -
ApricotSinner32Restricted User
- 11-28-10
- 10648
#1530Man verlander -360 today wtffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffComment -
koz-manSBR Hall of Famer
- 11-21-08
- 7102
#1531Cubs' Zobrist remains on leave amid divorce
Cubs veteran Ben Zobrist remains on a personal leave of absence from the team, and court documents filed in Chicago indicate he is getting divorced.
According to the documents, his wife, Julianna, is listed as the plaintiff. Julianna Zobrist is a professional singer who has performed the national anthem for teams that her husband has played for. She also sang "God Bless America" before Game 4 of the 2016 World Series between the Cubs and Indians at Wrigley Field.
Zobrist, 37, is in the final season of a four-year contract that he signed with the Cubs after beginning his career in Tampa Bay in 2006. He helped the Kansas City Royals win the title in 2015 and did the same the following season with the Cubs.
The team has not given a reason for his absence nor a potential return date.
"No indication," manager Joe Maddon said. "I texted with him the other day and reminded him how much I care about him, how much we miss him."
Zobrist was hitting .241 with 10 RBIs in 26 games prior to taking his absence from the team.Comment -
dudekidSBR MVP
- 12-08-09
- 3200
#1532Cubs' Zobrist remains on leave amid divorce
Cubs veteran Ben Zobrist remains on a personal leave of absence from the team, and court documents filed in Chicago indicate he is getting divorced.
According to the documents, his wife, Julianna, is listed as the plaintiff. Julianna Zobrist is a professional singer who has performed the national anthem for teams that her husband has played for. She also sang "God Bless America" before Game 4 of the 2016 World Series between the Cubs and Indians at Wrigley Field.
Zobrist, 37, is in the final season of a four-year contract that he signed with the Cubs after beginning his career in Tampa Bay in 2006. He helped the Kansas City Royals win the title in 2015 and did the same the following season with the Cubs.
The team has not given a reason for his absence nor a potential return date.
"No indication," manager Joe Maddon said. "I texted with him the other day and reminded him how much I care about him, how much we miss him."
Zobrist was hitting .241 with 10 RBIs in 26 games prior to taking his absence from the team.
The Hell? Is this a real story? I feel like you would hear about this stuff more oftenComment -
Otters27BARRELED IN @ SBR!
- 07-14-07
- 30759
#1533SAw that zobrist story. She cheated on himComment -
EmpireMakerSBR Posting Legend
- 06-18-09
- 15581
#1534WASHINGTON — The gamble to give Wilmer Font another shot in this short-handed Mets rotation resembled a sucker’s bet almost from the start Wednesday night.
With Zack Wheeler on full rest for Thursday and Jacob deGrom behind him, manager Mickey Callaway could have deferred Font’s start to Friday against the anemic Marlins. Instead the journeyman right-hander drew a dangerous Nationals lineup, and got blasted.
And an offensive attack that had shown life in recent days went into hiding in a 5-1 loss at Nationals Park that snapped the Mets’ three-game winning streak.
It’s Wheeler who will be asked to deliver the series victory on Thursday, when he faces Anibal Sanchez. The Mets’ series in Miami is scheduled to open with deGrom on the mound.
Font was finished against the Nationals after 2 ¹/₃ ugly innings in which he allowed five earned runs on six hits with two walks. It was a rare letdown this month by a Mets pitcher — the team entered play with a 2.44 ERA in May, which ranked second in the major leagues.
The right-hander had earned a measure of trust after keeping the Mets afloat in his first appearance with the team, in San Diego last Wednesday when he allowed two runs over four innings in a no-decision. Font was acquired last week in a trade with the Rays, as the Mets try to fill a rotation slot with Steven Matz and Jason Vargas both sidelined by injuries.
Victor Robles’ homer leading off the third put the Mets in a 4-0 hole, and the Nationals weren’t finished teeing off against Font, who surrendered doubles to Anthony Rendon and Howie Kendrick for an additional run.
Rendon smashed an RBI double in the first, after Adam Eaton had walked leading off and Robles reached on an infield single. Juan Soto’s RBI ground out extended the Nationals’ lead to 2-0 before Kendrick delivered a run-scoring single.
J.D. Davis blasted a double off the left-field fence in the third against Patrick Corbin to give the Mets a run. But Jeff McNeil was forced to stop at third and never made it home.
The lefty Corbin struck out 11 batters over eight innings in which he allowed one run on four hits. It was Corbin’s third start against the Mets this season — he had also pitched effectively in the other two.Comment -
batt33SBR Hall of Famer
- 12-23-16
- 6028
#15355 Innings in the win.....and first at bat rips a double...on a 2 hit day......Comment -
JaimeMiroSBR MVP
- 03-14-17
- 2515
#1538sheesh the Marlins have lost 7 straight... do we fade?Comment -
EmpireMakerSBR Posting Legend
- 06-18-09
- 15581
#1539The Yankees announced tonight that third baseman Miguel Andujar will undergo surgery to repair the labrum tear in his right shoulder next Monday. He’s expected to miss the remainder of the 2019 season.
The team and fans alike had huge hopes for Andujar, who finished second in 2018 American League Rookie of the Year voting, but his 2019 campaign will unfortunately come to an end after just a dozen games and 49 plate appearances. The 23-year-old originally landed on the injured list after just three games and missed the entire month of April as well as some time in early May before opting to return in an attempt to play through the injury.
Andujar, though, went just 3-for-34 at the plate with a walk and nine strikeouts in his brief return to the active roster before being placed back on the IL. Yankees skipper Aaron Boone said yesterday that Andujar was once again weighing his options and planned to talk them over with his family, though the decision apparently didn’t take all that long this time around.
The injury to Andujar is the most serious the Yankees have faced in a season that has already been permeated by health woes, but the team currently has both Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu healthy as well as Gio Urshela playing the best baseball of his professional career. The club eventually hopes to have both Troy Tulowitzki and Didi Gregorius back in the infield mix as well, and if that happens, they’ll still have a strong mix of options to pair with first baseman Luke Voit in rounding out the infield.
That said, the impact of losing a bat that produced a .297/.328/.527 batting line with 27 homers, 47 doubles and a pair of triples a year ago can’t be understated. Andujar was a key middle-of-the-order presence for last year’s 100-win Yankees club, and while there’s no shortage or internal options to replace him on a fully healthy club, it’s also unlikely that any of the alternatives can match that level of offensive output. Whoever shoulders the load at third base for the remainder of the season will likely be a defensive upgrade over Andujar, who struggled with the glove last season.
Andujar will still accrue Major League service time while he finishes out the season on the injured list, and he’ll cross the two-year mark in the months to come. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until after the 2020 season and won’t be a free agent until the 2023-24 offseason. The Yankees, meanwhile, will be able to easily open a 40-man roster spot by transferring him to the 60-day injured list the next time a need arises.Comment
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