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Antonio Bastardo ... Best name in sports.
2015 Opening Day Player Tracker - Free Agent Signings, Trades, Imports, etc
- Thread starter Fondybadger
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Chicago White Sox agree to three-year deal with Melky Cabrera
If it wasn't official before, it's official now: TheChicago White Sox mean business.After taking the Winter Meetings by storm, acquiring Jeff Samardzija in a six-player trade with the Oakland A's and signing free-agent reliever David Robertson to a massive four-year, $46 million deal, general manager Rick Hahn has struck again, agreeing to a three-year deal with outfielder Melky Cabrera.
Bruce Levine of The Score 670 in Chicago was the first to report a deal was in place. Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com later confirmed the money will land between $42-$43.5 million, which seems like a fair deal for both sides. It was believed Cabrera would seek out a fourth year in the $12-$13 million range, but the consolation here will be the opportunity to enter free agency again at age 33.
Regarded as the best free-agent hitter left on the market, Cabrera joins a lineup that already featured reigning AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu, and earlier in the offseason added veteran Adam LaRoche on a two-year $35 million deal. Though Cabrera doesn't offer the same power upside as those two centerpieces, he'll likely be along for the ride pretty frequently when they do connect. In 2014, he batted .301/.351/.458 and scored 81 runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Of course, an underlying storyline here is that Cabrera is another in the line of players recently suspended for PEDs to cash in with a nice little contract. Cabrera's deal actually comes two full years after he was banned 50 games after he tested positive for testosterone. In wake of their 2013 suspensions during the Biogensis scandal, both Jhonny Peralta (four-years, $52 million with the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 2014 season) and Nelson Cruz (four-years, $57 million with the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 1) landed on their feet despite the obvious baggage.
For what it's worth, the Mariners were also believed to be in on Cabrera, if not the favorite to land him before Saturday. So obviously the concerns they had doing business with Cruz stemming from his suspension last offseason have completely disappeared.
The White Sox don't seem too concerned either. Since Cabrera rejected the Blue Jays’ qualifying offer last month, they're also giving away a draft pick with the signing. Chicago's first-round pick comes in at No. 8, so that will be protected. However, they'll end up forfeiting their third-round pick for Cabrera after losing their second-round pick to sign Robertson. The Blue Jays will receive an extra pick at the end of the first round of the 2015 draft.
If it wasn't official before, it's official now: TheChicago White Sox mean business.After taking the Winter Meetings by storm, acquiring Jeff Samardzija in a six-player trade with the Oakland A's and signing free-agent reliever David Robertson to a massive four-year, $46 million deal, general manager Rick Hahn has struck again, agreeing to a three-year deal with outfielder Melky Cabrera.
Bruce Levine of The Score 670 in Chicago was the first to report a deal was in place. Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com later confirmed the money will land between $42-$43.5 million, which seems like a fair deal for both sides. It was believed Cabrera would seek out a fourth year in the $12-$13 million range, but the consolation here will be the opportunity to enter free agency again at age 33.
Regarded as the best free-agent hitter left on the market, Cabrera joins a lineup that already featured reigning AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu, and earlier in the offseason added veteran Adam LaRoche on a two-year $35 million deal. Though Cabrera doesn't offer the same power upside as those two centerpieces, he'll likely be along for the ride pretty frequently when they do connect. In 2014, he batted .301/.351/.458 and scored 81 runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Of course, an underlying storyline here is that Cabrera is another in the line of players recently suspended for PEDs to cash in with a nice little contract. Cabrera's deal actually comes two full years after he was banned 50 games after he tested positive for testosterone. In wake of their 2013 suspensions during the Biogensis scandal, both Jhonny Peralta (four-years, $52 million with the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 2014 season) and Nelson Cruz (four-years, $57 million with the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 1) landed on their feet despite the obvious baggage.
For what it's worth, the Mariners were also believed to be in on Cabrera, if not the favorite to land him before Saturday. So obviously the concerns they had doing business with Cruz stemming from his suspension last offseason have completely disappeared.
The White Sox don't seem too concerned either. Since Cabrera rejected the Blue Jays’ qualifying offer last month, they're also giving away a draft pick with the signing. Chicago's first-round pick comes in at No. 8, so that will be protected. However, they'll end up forfeiting their third-round pick for Cabrera after losing their second-round pick to sign Robertson. The Blue Jays will receive an extra pick at the end of the first round of the 2015 draft.
hugh613
Pretty much a regular
<iframe style="width: 1px; height: 0px; border: medium none; position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" allowfullscreen="" class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="twitter-widget-0" frameborder="0"></iframe><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb"><p>Sources: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padres?src=hash">#Padres</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rays?src=hash">#Rays</a> discussing significant trade. Talks involve a number of players. Wil Myers would be main piece going to SD.</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/544986387020525568">December 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
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http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24897714/how-may-normalized-relations-between-us-and-cuba-impact-baseball
How normalized relations between US and Cuba could impact MLB
On Wednesday, President Obama announced the United States is taking steps to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba. The two nations have had a frozen relationship for 50 years now. CBS News has more on the story:
Obviously these efforts are potentially historic, though this is a baseball site, not a political site. There's plenty of other places to read and discuss the political implications. If you're reading EOB, then you want to know what a normalized relationship between the United States and Cuba could mean for the great game of baseball.
First and foremost, it could lead to safer path for Cuban-born players to make their way to MLB, and that's most important. This could be the end of players literally getting on a raft to leave the country, or dealing with smugglers and putting their lives in danger. The few details we have about the defections of Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig and Jose Fernandez (link) are enough to know how dangerous it is to defect.
I do not, however, believe a normalized diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Cuba will lead to the best players freely leaving Cuba to join <league idref="52">MLB</league> clubs. A system similar to how MLB clubs acquire players from the Mexican League could be implemented. To acquire a player from Mexico, the MLB club agrees to pay a player a bonus, and a large percentage (75 percent) of that bonus goes to the Mexican League team that controls the player's rights. Dodgers prospect Julio Urias and Pirates prospect Luis Heredia were acquired this way.
Under that system, the player would get to come to MLB, the MLB team would get acquire the player they want, and the player's former team in Cuba would get a big chunk of cash for letting the player leave. That seems much more likely than open free agency or even an international draft, in which teams in Cuba would receive no compensation for losing out on the country's top amateurs. Maybe MLB and Cuba will agree to a posting system instead, like the ones used for players in Japan in Korea.
Beyond the player acquisition aspect, opening up Cuba for travel could lead to MLB games being played in the country. MLB has gone to great lengths to globalize the game in recent years, sending teams to play exhibition games in China and regular season games in Japan and Australia, plus the World Baseball Classic was created. A regular season series being hosted in Havana -- there are more people in Havana than in 23 of the 28 MLB cities -- could be among the first MLB-related events in Cuba after relations are normalized.
Imagine Cuba being able to field a World Baseball Classic squad that includes MLB players and not just those still left in Cuba. Alexei Ramirez leading off with Puig batting second, Abreu batting third and Yoenis Cespedes in the cleanup spot. Ace Jose Fernandez hands the ball off to closer Aroldis Chapman. That isn't possible right now. Cuban-born MLB players are excluded from Cuba's WBC team. That's another thing that could change in the future.
Down the road, perhaps this will open up the chance for a minor league affiliate to be based in Cuba. The Havana Sugar Kings, which were the Reds' Triple-A affiliate from 1954-60, were the last minor league team based in Cuba. Maybe even further down the line there can be an MLB club based in Cuba, though I get the feeling that is still a long way away. That said, the idea of MLB franchise in Cuba would have have been crazy yesterday. Today? Not so much.
"Major League Baseball is closely monitoring the White House's announcement regarding Cuban-American relations," said MLB in a statement on Wednesday. "While there are not sufficient details to make a realistic evaluation, we will continue to track this significant issue, and we will keep our Clubs informed if this different direction may impact the manner in which they conduct business on issues related to Cuba."
It goes without saying that the White House's attempt to normalize relations with Cuba is about much, much more than baseball. Any impact on the game is both a long way away and a secondary concern, though the potential for impact is very real. The market for Cuban players has grown exponentially in recent years. You can be sure teams will be very interested in anything that makes it easier to scout and acquire players from the country, as well as make money in games played abroad.
How normalized relations between US and Cuba could impact MLB
On Wednesday, President Obama announced the United States is taking steps to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba. The two nations have had a frozen relationship for 50 years now. CBS News has more on the story:
"I believe we can do more to support the Cuban people and our values through engagement," Mr. Obama said from the White House. "These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. It's time for a new approach."
...
The U.S. and Cuba will now immediately begin discussions to re-establish diplomatic relations, including plans to establish an embassy in Havana. Mr. Obama has also directed Secretary of State John Kerry to review Cuba's designation of a state sponsor of terrorism. Additionally, the U.S. is taking a number of steps to significantly increase the flow of travel and commerce between the two countries.
...
The U.S. and Cuba will now immediately begin discussions to re-establish diplomatic relations, including plans to establish an embassy in Havana. Mr. Obama has also directed Secretary of State John Kerry to review Cuba's designation of a state sponsor of terrorism. Additionally, the U.S. is taking a number of steps to significantly increase the flow of travel and commerce between the two countries.
Obviously these efforts are potentially historic, though this is a baseball site, not a political site. There's plenty of other places to read and discuss the political implications. If you're reading EOB, then you want to know what a normalized relationship between the United States and Cuba could mean for the great game of baseball.
First and foremost, it could lead to safer path for Cuban-born players to make their way to MLB, and that's most important. This could be the end of players literally getting on a raft to leave the country, or dealing with smugglers and putting their lives in danger. The few details we have about the defections of Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig and Jose Fernandez (link) are enough to know how dangerous it is to defect.
I do not, however, believe a normalized diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Cuba will lead to the best players freely leaving Cuba to join <league idref="52">MLB</league> clubs. A system similar to how MLB clubs acquire players from the Mexican League could be implemented. To acquire a player from Mexico, the MLB club agrees to pay a player a bonus, and a large percentage (75 percent) of that bonus goes to the Mexican League team that controls the player's rights. Dodgers prospect Julio Urias and Pirates prospect Luis Heredia were acquired this way.
Under that system, the player would get to come to MLB, the MLB team would get acquire the player they want, and the player's former team in Cuba would get a big chunk of cash for letting the player leave. That seems much more likely than open free agency or even an international draft, in which teams in Cuba would receive no compensation for losing out on the country's top amateurs. Maybe MLB and Cuba will agree to a posting system instead, like the ones used for players in Japan in Korea.
Beyond the player acquisition aspect, opening up Cuba for travel could lead to MLB games being played in the country. MLB has gone to great lengths to globalize the game in recent years, sending teams to play exhibition games in China and regular season games in Japan and Australia, plus the World Baseball Classic was created. A regular season series being hosted in Havana -- there are more people in Havana than in 23 of the 28 MLB cities -- could be among the first MLB-related events in Cuba after relations are normalized.
Imagine Cuba being able to field a World Baseball Classic squad that includes MLB players and not just those still left in Cuba. Alexei Ramirez leading off with Puig batting second, Abreu batting third and Yoenis Cespedes in the cleanup spot. Ace Jose Fernandez hands the ball off to closer Aroldis Chapman. That isn't possible right now. Cuban-born MLB players are excluded from Cuba's WBC team. That's another thing that could change in the future.
Down the road, perhaps this will open up the chance for a minor league affiliate to be based in Cuba. The Havana Sugar Kings, which were the Reds' Triple-A affiliate from 1954-60, were the last minor league team based in Cuba. Maybe even further down the line there can be an MLB club based in Cuba, though I get the feeling that is still a long way away. That said, the idea of MLB franchise in Cuba would have have been crazy yesterday. Today? Not so much.
"Major League Baseball is closely monitoring the White House's announcement regarding Cuban-American relations," said MLB in a statement on Wednesday. "While there are not sufficient details to make a realistic evaluation, we will continue to track this significant issue, and we will keep our Clubs informed if this different direction may impact the manner in which they conduct business on issues related to Cuba."
It goes without saying that the White House's attempt to normalize relations with Cuba is about much, much more than baseball. Any impact on the game is both a long way away and a secondary concern, though the potential for impact is very real. The market for Cuban players has grown exponentially in recent years. You can be sure teams will be very interested in anything that makes it easier to scout and acquire players from the country, as well as make money in games played abroad.
gsro
Give me the NHL, or give me death
In the deal, which includes the Washington Nationals, San Diego also receives catcher Ryan Hanigan, left-hander Jose Castillo, and right-hander Gerardo Reyes from the Rays.
Heading to Tampa Bay is right-hander Burch Smith, first baseman Jake Bauers and catcher Rene Rivera from the Padres, and outfielder Steven Souzaand left-hander Travis Ott from the Nationals.
Washington will receive right-hander Joe Ross and shortstop Trea Turner as a player to be named later on June 14.
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Chris Davis receives Adderall exemption following suspension
After receiving a 25-game suspension on Sept. 12 for unauthorized use of the drug Adderall,
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has requested and been granted a theraputic use exemption from the league in order to continue using it in 2015.
This according to Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who made the revelation during a team-related event on Tuesday.
Despite a disappointing season that saw his average drop to .196 and his home run total drop from 53 to 26, the loss of Davis was obviously a big blow to Baltimore's offense at the worst possible time. The suspension ended up costing Davis the final 17 games of the regular season and all seven of the Orioles' postseason games (they were swept by Kansas City in the ALCS), meaning he'll also be forced to miss opening day in 2015.
The timing was awful, and the circumstances surrounding his suspension were puzzling to say the least. Prior to the 2013 season, Davis was said to have a therapeutic use exemption for Adderall to treat his diagnosed ADHD. He stopped applying or was denied in 2013 but obviously kept taking Adderall, which led to two failed tests in two years. The first got him a warning. The second a suspension.
The league reportedly issued 113 therapeutic use exemptions for the 2014 season, including 112 for attention deficit disorder or ADHD. The option was there for him then, just as it was before and just as it is now. But for whatever reason Davis wasn't among those with an exemption. Davis has not spoken publicly about the circumstances surrounding his suspension. Per the rules of the joint drug prevention and treatment program, MLB isn't allowed to comment either. So it's possible we'll never know the whole story.
Of course, what matters now for Davis and the Orioles is that it appears he'll be covered in 2015, allowing him to use Adderall without the threat of a larger suspension. But it would have been interesting to see how Baltimore would have fared against the Kansas City Royals with Davis in the lineup.
Padres acquire Wil Myers in complex three-team deal
By the time this particular three-way transaction was fluffed, speculated upon, tamped and sealed, the Tampa Bays Rays had parted with outfielder Wil Myers, who once and for a short time had been their future and now appears to be the San Diego Padres.
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As both franchises continued to resituate themselves under fresh management, the Rays are expected to receive three minor leaguers (right-hander Joe Ross, right-hander Burch Smith and first baseman Jake Bauers) and catcher Rene Rivera. The Padres would receive Myers, catcher Ryan Hanigan and minor-league pitchers Gerardo Reyes and Jose Castillo.
Shortstop Trea Turner from the Padres and Ross from the Rays go to the Washington Nationals, who would send outfielder Steven Souza and left-hander Travis Ott to the Rays.
The trade, first reported by Fox Sports and hashed out by several outlets, including Yahoo Sports, is pending physicals.
It’s complicated, so here’s how it apparently plays out at the end:
• The Padres get: Myers, Hanigan, Reyes and Castillo.
•The Rays get: Souza, Ott, Rivera, Smith and Bauers.
• The Nationals get: Turner (as a player to be named later) and Ross.
Down the line, the Padres put Myers in the outfield corner opposite Matt Kemp, assuming that trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers is finalized. Hanigan fills the catching vacancy left by Rivera (and Yasmani Grandal, who is headed to the Dodgers).
The Rays put Rivera at catcher, Souza (2014’s International League MVP) in right field and restock their farm system. Souza batted .130 in 26 plate appearances spread over 21 games for the Nationals last season. He also memorably saved Jordan Zimmermann’s no-hitter on Sept. 28 with a lunging, over-the-shoulder catch in left-center field for the 27th out.
The Nationals line up Turner behind shortstop Ian Desmond, who can be a free agent after 2015, and Ross behind a rotation that could lose Zimmermann on the same timetable.
The immediately significant player is Myers, who turned 24 a week ago. He was the linchpin of a seven-man trade two years ago, the one that sent James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City, which the Royals turned into their first postseason appearance since 1985, or five years before Myers was born.
A.J. Preller, the Padres’ new general manager, has been aggressive in attempting to turn over a roster that appeared to be losing ground in the NL West. While sorting through the results of Kemp’s physical exam, Preller, who’d whiffed on free agents Pablo Sandoval and Yasmani Tomas, on Wednesday added Myers, the 2013 American League rookie of the year who backslid in 2014. A wrist fracture limited Myers to 87 games last season, during which he batted .222 with a .294 on-base percentage. That the wrist is healed and Myers can return to being one of the game’s top young talents is the risk assumed by the Padres, and perhaps the reason Myers was available.
The worst offensive team in baseball last season and something close to the worst for years, the Padres appear close to upgrading with Kemp and Myers in the middle of their lineup. Kemp also has a recent injury history, however, and these are the chances a low-spending club takes when it shares a division with the World Series champion San Francisco Giants and flush Dodgers. The Padres have had the lowest opening day payroll in the NL West every year since 2009.
Report: Royals sign Edinson Volquez for two years, $20 million
What a world we live in. Edinson Volquez, who was released by the San Diego Padres 16 months ago, and then had a decent bounce-back season in Pittsburgh in 2014, is set to make $20 million over the next two seasons.The Kansas City Royals have reportedly signed
Volquez, according to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, sticking him in their starting rotation along with Yordano Ventura, Danny Duffy, Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie.
Aside from two possible imports — Chihiro Kaneko and Kenta Maeda — and one possible retiree in Hiroki Kuroda, Volquez was the best starting pitcher available on Jeff Passan's Ultimate Free-Agent tracker.
Volquez, 31, won't be James Shields, that's for sure. He may not even be the 2014 version of himself. With the Pirates, Volquez rebounded from a dreadful 2013 (hello, 5.71 ERA!) and managed a 13-7 record with a 3.04 ERA. He hadn't had an ERA under 4.00 since his rookie season in 2008.
Volquez's FIP, though, was more than a run higher than his ERA, an indication that he's a strong regression candidate. In other words: If Volquez's ERA balloons up past 5.00 like it was in 2011 and 2013, don't say we say we didn't warn you, Kansas City.
Report: Giants re-sign reliever Sergio Romo for two years, $15M
The San Francisco Giants haven't done much this offseason beyond getting sized for their World Series rings. They earned the bronze medal in the Jon Lester sweepstakes. They haven't addressed their need in left field. They watched Pablo Sandoval leave for Boston,leaving another hole at third base. At the very least, the Giants aren't letting another fan favorite leave.
The Giants have reportedly re-signed relief pitcher Sergio Romo, their former closer, to a two-year, $15 million deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. It's pending a physical. It's not an earth-shattering move, but for antsy Giants fans who are watching plenty of moves happen around them, it's something.
Romo, who'll be 32 during the 2015 season, is a lifelong Giant. He was drafted and developed by San Francisco, a 28th-round draft pick who would eventually become its closer. He lost that job in 2014 after a rough spell, but served as a setup man afterward.
He's not a flame-thrower by any means. Romo depends on his slider and it's served him well throughout his career. He has a 2.51 ERA in 251 career innings dating back to 2008.
The Giants' next move? Many think they're a good fit for free-agent pitcher James Shields, which would be a much bigger signing than two more years of Romo.
Seattle acquires outfielder Justin Ruggiano from Cubs
SEATTLE (AP) -- The priority for general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Lloyd McClendon was to add a pair of right-handed hitters and a starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners this offseason.Seattle gained the second right-handed bat it sought on Wednesday, acquiring Justin Ruggiano from theChicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Matt Brazis.While the acquisition of Ruggiano is not close to the same scale of the signing of slugger Nelson Cruz this month, it fulfills Seattle's the need to find a right fielder that has strong career numbers against left-handed pitching.
''This is an addition we had talked about for a while,'' Zduriencik said.
Ruggiano appeared in 81 games last season for the Cubs, hitting .281 with six homers and 28 RBIs but was slowed by two stints on the disabled list, including season-ending ankle surgery to remove bone spurs. Ruggiano said he finished his rehabilitation on his ankle about three weeks ago.
He's shown glimpses of power and hitting for average during two seasons in Miami. In 2012, Ruggiano batted .313 with 13 homers, a year after hitting a career-best 18 home runs in 128 games.
Ruggiano also provides flexibility in the outfield; he's played all three positions. He was a little surprised by the trade.
''I want to be a part of that lineup every day,'' Ruggiano said. ''But I'm here to fill whatever role they want me to fill and help Seattle win some games.''
Ruggiano's career splits make him almost a certainty to be in Seattle's lineup whenever a lefty is on the mound. For his career, Ruggiano has a .266 batting average, .508 slugging percentage and .836 on-base plus slugging against left-handed pitching.
''We saw this as a guy who certainly could hit left-handed pitching, he has done that in his career,'' Zduriencik said.
Seattle designated for assignment pitcher Logan Bawcom to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Ruggiano.
Brazis, 25, was 4-1 and a 2.36 ERA in 40 relief appearances last season with Single-A High Desert and Double-A Jackson.
Red Sox obtain reliever Varvaro for minor leaguer
BOSTON (AP) -- The Red Sox have obtainedAnthony Varvaro from the Atlanta Braves for Aaron Kurcz in a swap of right-handed pitchers.
Varvaro was 3-3 with a 2.63 ERA for the Braves last year, his fifth season in the majors. The Red Sox also sent cash to the Braves.
Boston is remaking its bullpen after letting Burke Badenhop and Scott Breslow become free agents and losing out on left-hander Andrew Miller, a free agent who signed with the New York Yankees.
In 61 relief outings last season, the 30-year-old Varvaro had 50 strikeouts and 13 walks. The Braves designated him for assignment on Monday.
Kurcz, 24, was 3-2 with a 2.14 ERA with Double-A Portland last season.
After receiving a 25-game suspension on Sept. 12 for unauthorized use of the drug Adderall,
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has requested and been granted a theraputic use exemption from the league in order to continue using it in 2015.
This according to Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who made the revelation during a team-related event on Tuesday.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that he was told by Davis that the first baseman has received a therapeutic use exemption for Adderall next season.
“It's a good thing,” Showalter said during the 36th annual OriolesREACH Holiday Party for Kids at Dave & Buster’s in Arundel Mills. “Yeah, he told me he was approved for it.”
Despite a disappointing season that saw his average drop to .196 and his home run total drop from 53 to 26, the loss of Davis was obviously a big blow to Baltimore's offense at the worst possible time. The suspension ended up costing Davis the final 17 games of the regular season and all seven of the Orioles' postseason games (they were swept by Kansas City in the ALCS), meaning he'll also be forced to miss opening day in 2015.
The timing was awful, and the circumstances surrounding his suspension were puzzling to say the least. Prior to the 2013 season, Davis was said to have a therapeutic use exemption for Adderall to treat his diagnosed ADHD. He stopped applying or was denied in 2013 but obviously kept taking Adderall, which led to two failed tests in two years. The first got him a warning. The second a suspension.
The league reportedly issued 113 therapeutic use exemptions for the 2014 season, including 112 for attention deficit disorder or ADHD. The option was there for him then, just as it was before and just as it is now. But for whatever reason Davis wasn't among those with an exemption. Davis has not spoken publicly about the circumstances surrounding his suspension. Per the rules of the joint drug prevention and treatment program, MLB isn't allowed to comment either. So it's possible we'll never know the whole story.
Of course, what matters now for Davis and the Orioles is that it appears he'll be covered in 2015, allowing him to use Adderall without the threat of a larger suspension. But it would have been interesting to see how Baltimore would have fared against the Kansas City Royals with Davis in the lineup.
Padres acquire Wil Myers in complex three-team deal
By the time this particular three-way transaction was fluffed, speculated upon, tamped and sealed, the Tampa Bays Rays had parted with outfielder Wil Myers, who once and for a short time had been their future and now appears to be the San Diego Padres.
<figure class="cover get-lbdata-from-dom go-to-slideshow-lightbox" data-orig-index="0" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1418916572583_1673" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; cursor: pointer;">
View photo
</figure>As both franchises continued to resituate themselves under fresh management, the Rays are expected to receive three minor leaguers (right-hander Joe Ross, right-hander Burch Smith and first baseman Jake Bauers) and catcher Rene Rivera. The Padres would receive Myers, catcher Ryan Hanigan and minor-league pitchers Gerardo Reyes and Jose Castillo.
Shortstop Trea Turner from the Padres and Ross from the Rays go to the Washington Nationals, who would send outfielder Steven Souza and left-hander Travis Ott to the Rays.
The trade, first reported by Fox Sports and hashed out by several outlets, including Yahoo Sports, is pending physicals.
It’s complicated, so here’s how it apparently plays out at the end:
• The Padres get: Myers, Hanigan, Reyes and Castillo.
•The Rays get: Souza, Ott, Rivera, Smith and Bauers.
• The Nationals get: Turner (as a player to be named later) and Ross.
Down the line, the Padres put Myers in the outfield corner opposite Matt Kemp, assuming that trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers is finalized. Hanigan fills the catching vacancy left by Rivera (and Yasmani Grandal, who is headed to the Dodgers).
The Rays put Rivera at catcher, Souza (2014’s International League MVP) in right field and restock their farm system. Souza batted .130 in 26 plate appearances spread over 21 games for the Nationals last season. He also memorably saved Jordan Zimmermann’s no-hitter on Sept. 28 with a lunging, over-the-shoulder catch in left-center field for the 27th out.
The Nationals line up Turner behind shortstop Ian Desmond, who can be a free agent after 2015, and Ross behind a rotation that could lose Zimmermann on the same timetable.
The immediately significant player is Myers, who turned 24 a week ago. He was the linchpin of a seven-man trade two years ago, the one that sent James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City, which the Royals turned into their first postseason appearance since 1985, or five years before Myers was born.
A.J. Preller, the Padres’ new general manager, has been aggressive in attempting to turn over a roster that appeared to be losing ground in the NL West. While sorting through the results of Kemp’s physical exam, Preller, who’d whiffed on free agents Pablo Sandoval and Yasmani Tomas, on Wednesday added Myers, the 2013 American League rookie of the year who backslid in 2014. A wrist fracture limited Myers to 87 games last season, during which he batted .222 with a .294 on-base percentage. That the wrist is healed and Myers can return to being one of the game’s top young talents is the risk assumed by the Padres, and perhaps the reason Myers was available.
The worst offensive team in baseball last season and something close to the worst for years, the Padres appear close to upgrading with Kemp and Myers in the middle of their lineup. Kemp also has a recent injury history, however, and these are the chances a low-spending club takes when it shares a division with the World Series champion San Francisco Giants and flush Dodgers. The Padres have had the lowest opening day payroll in the NL West every year since 2009.
Report: Royals sign Edinson Volquez for two years, $20 million
What a world we live in. Edinson Volquez, who was released by the San Diego Padres 16 months ago, and then had a decent bounce-back season in Pittsburgh in 2014, is set to make $20 million over the next two seasons.The Kansas City Royals have reportedly signed
Volquez, according to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, sticking him in their starting rotation along with Yordano Ventura, Danny Duffy, Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie.
Aside from two possible imports — Chihiro Kaneko and Kenta Maeda — and one possible retiree in Hiroki Kuroda, Volquez was the best starting pitcher available on Jeff Passan's Ultimate Free-Agent tracker.
Volquez, 31, won't be James Shields, that's for sure. He may not even be the 2014 version of himself. With the Pirates, Volquez rebounded from a dreadful 2013 (hello, 5.71 ERA!) and managed a 13-7 record with a 3.04 ERA. He hadn't had an ERA under 4.00 since his rookie season in 2008.
Volquez's FIP, though, was more than a run higher than his ERA, an indication that he's a strong regression candidate. In other words: If Volquez's ERA balloons up past 5.00 like it was in 2011 and 2013, don't say we say we didn't warn you, Kansas City.
Report: Giants re-sign reliever Sergio Romo for two years, $15M
The San Francisco Giants haven't done much this offseason beyond getting sized for their World Series rings. They earned the bronze medal in the Jon Lester sweepstakes. They haven't addressed their need in left field. They watched Pablo Sandoval leave for Boston,leaving another hole at third base. At the very least, the Giants aren't letting another fan favorite leave.
The Giants have reportedly re-signed relief pitcher Sergio Romo, their former closer, to a two-year, $15 million deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. It's pending a physical. It's not an earth-shattering move, but for antsy Giants fans who are watching plenty of moves happen around them, it's something.
Romo, who'll be 32 during the 2015 season, is a lifelong Giant. He was drafted and developed by San Francisco, a 28th-round draft pick who would eventually become its closer. He lost that job in 2014 after a rough spell, but served as a setup man afterward.
He's not a flame-thrower by any means. Romo depends on his slider and it's served him well throughout his career. He has a 2.51 ERA in 251 career innings dating back to 2008.
The Giants' next move? Many think they're a good fit for free-agent pitcher James Shields, which would be a much bigger signing than two more years of Romo.
Seattle acquires outfielder Justin Ruggiano from Cubs
SEATTLE (AP) -- The priority for general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Lloyd McClendon was to add a pair of right-handed hitters and a starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners this offseason.Seattle gained the second right-handed bat it sought on Wednesday, acquiring Justin Ruggiano from theChicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Matt Brazis.While the acquisition of Ruggiano is not close to the same scale of the signing of slugger Nelson Cruz this month, it fulfills Seattle's the need to find a right fielder that has strong career numbers against left-handed pitching.
''This is an addition we had talked about for a while,'' Zduriencik said.
Ruggiano appeared in 81 games last season for the Cubs, hitting .281 with six homers and 28 RBIs but was slowed by two stints on the disabled list, including season-ending ankle surgery to remove bone spurs. Ruggiano said he finished his rehabilitation on his ankle about three weeks ago.
He's shown glimpses of power and hitting for average during two seasons in Miami. In 2012, Ruggiano batted .313 with 13 homers, a year after hitting a career-best 18 home runs in 128 games.
Ruggiano also provides flexibility in the outfield; he's played all three positions. He was a little surprised by the trade.
''I want to be a part of that lineup every day,'' Ruggiano said. ''But I'm here to fill whatever role they want me to fill and help Seattle win some games.''
Ruggiano's career splits make him almost a certainty to be in Seattle's lineup whenever a lefty is on the mound. For his career, Ruggiano has a .266 batting average, .508 slugging percentage and .836 on-base plus slugging against left-handed pitching.
''We saw this as a guy who certainly could hit left-handed pitching, he has done that in his career,'' Zduriencik said.
Seattle designated for assignment pitcher Logan Bawcom to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Ruggiano.
Brazis, 25, was 4-1 and a 2.36 ERA in 40 relief appearances last season with Single-A High Desert and Double-A Jackson.
Red Sox obtain reliever Varvaro for minor leaguer
BOSTON (AP) -- The Red Sox have obtainedAnthony Varvaro from the Atlanta Braves for Aaron Kurcz in a swap of right-handed pitchers.
Varvaro was 3-3 with a 2.63 ERA for the Braves last year, his fifth season in the majors. The Red Sox also sent cash to the Braves.
Boston is remaking its bullpen after letting Burke Badenhop and Scott Breslow become free agents and losing out on left-hander Andrew Miller, a free agent who signed with the New York Yankees.
In 61 relief outings last season, the 30-year-old Varvaro had 50 strikeouts and 13 walks. The Braves designated him for assignment on Monday.
Kurcz, 24, was 3-2 with a 2.14 ERA with Double-A Portland last season.
Brandon Morrow to join Padres
Free-agent right-hander Brandon Morrow and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract, a deal that allows him to earn up to $8 million if he starts regularly next season.
Morrow can make $5 million in performance bonuses based on starts: $1 million for 12 and each additional four through 28. He also can earn $1 million based on relief appearances: $250,000 each for 40, 50, 60 and 65 games.
He also would get a $500,000 bonus if he is on the active 25-man roster for 168 days or more.
The 30-year-old Morrow has spent the last five seasons with the Blue Jays, who recently declined the right-hander's $10 million option for 2015.
Morrow has battled various injuries in recent seasons, including a hand injury that limited him to just 13 games -- six starts -- in 2014, when he went 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA.
A former first-round draft selection, Morrow is 42-43 with a 4.28 ERA in parts of eight seasons with the Blue Jays and Mariners.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Padres designated left-hander Juan Oramas for assignment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Marlins sign Michael Morse
Veteran free agent Michael Morse signed a two-year contract with the Miami Marlins.
The Marlins didn't disclose financial terms but sources told ESPN.com that Morse will earn $16 million in the deal.
Morse can earn more in the contract through performance bonuses.
The 32-year-old outfielder/first baseman hit .279 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs for the World Series champion San Francisco Giants last season, his first with the team. He hit .250 with four RBIs in 16 at-bats in the World Series.
In 10 seasons with the Seattle Mariners,Washington Nationals, Baltimore Oriolesand Giants, the right-handed hitter has batted .281 with 99 homers and 333 RBIs.
He was paid $6 million in 2014.
Morse is the latest addition this offseason for the Marlins, who have made a flurry of moves after locking up slugger Giancarlo Stanton to a record $325 million contract. They also traded for All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon, right-hander Mat Latos and right-hander Dan Haren, who has indicated he might retire.
ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Indians sign Gavin Floyd to deal
CLEVELAND -- Right-hander Gavin Floyd has agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with theCleveland Indians, giving him a chance to make a comeback from his latest elbow surgery.
The deal, announced Tuesday, allows him to earn an additional $6 million in performance bonuses.
The 31-year-old broke a bone in his elbow while throwing a curveball with Atlanta last June. He had surgery and couldn't resume throwing until after the season. That injury occurred during his ninth start since returning from Tommy John elbow-ligament replacement surgery.
Floyd is 72-72 with a 4.40 ERA in 196 starts and 12 relief appearances with Philadelphia, theChicago White Sox and the Braves. His best season was 2008, when he went 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA in 33 starts for the White Sox.
Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press
Daniel Descalso joins Rockies
The Colorado Rockies reached agreement Tuesday on a two-year contract with former St. Louis Cardinals infielder Daniel Descalso, the team announced.
Descalso will receive a guaranteed $3.6 million over the two seasons with an opportunity to earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses, said his agent, Steve Canter.
The 28-year-old versatile utilityman has played first base, second base, third and shortstop in the majors. He hit .243 with a .654 OPS over parts of five seasons in St. Louis, and became a free agent when the Cardinals nontendered him in December.
New Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich, trying to rebound from a 96-loss season, had traded infielder Josh Rutledge to theLos Angeles Angels last week but resisted the temptation to deal away Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez.
"It would be easy for somebody in my shoes, a brand new GM, a young GM, to want to come in and make a splash, do something sexy," Jeff Bridich said Tuesday during a teleconference. "I fought that urge, but I'm not going to say it wasn't there.
"We've been close-ish to a few things. But it hasn't happened, hasn't worked out. We're not going to panic. ... We have to remember the type of talent that we have here."
Bridich said the Descalso signing wasn't so much a direct response to sending Rutledge to the Angels for righty Jairo Diaz. The Rockies actually had their eye on Descalso, and could be asked to play some outfield or possibly catch as well.
"I'm anticipating filling a variety of different roles, bouncing around the infield and doing whatever I can to help the team win on a given night, if that's playing third, second, short, first, wherever they ask me to play," said Descalso, who will make $1.5 million next year and $2.1 million in 2016. "That's kind of the outlook I have going into this thing."
Descalso can earn up to $500,000 annually in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 250, $100,000 for 300, $150,000 for 350 and $200,000 for 400. He hit .242 with 10 RBIs in 104 games last season.
He hit .214 in 84 postseason at-bats with the Cardinals, but achieved a highlight in Game 5 of the 2012 National League Division Series when he homered, went 3-for-5 and contributed a game-tying single off Drew Storen in the ninth inning of St. Louis' come-from-behind 9-7 victory over the Washington Nationals.
"He's built a reputation in this game as a tough, smart player," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We talk about those things all the time. We're striving to get better and better in those areas, and he's going to add to that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Brett Anderson to join Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with left-hander Brett Anderson, with $4 million in possible incentives, sources told ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
Anderson went 1-3 with 2.91 ERA in his only season with the Colorado Rockies, who elected to decline his $12 million option.
Finger and back problems marred Anderson's 2014 in Colorado, limiting the 26-year-old to eight starts.
For his career, Anderson is 27-32 with a 3.73 ERA. He played his previous five years with the Oakland Athletics before he was dealt to the Rockies prior to the 2014 season.
Angels get Matt Joyce from Rays for Kevin Jepsen
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Angelsacquired outfielder Matt Joyce from the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in exchange for right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen.
The Angels have big plans for Joyce, envisioning him as their primary designated hitter and possible No. 2 hitter, which would allow AL MVP Mike Trout to hit third in front of Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. Joyce's left-handed bat and playing experience at both corner outfield spots also should allow Hamilton to spend more games as a designated hitter.
''He gives us a lot of flexibility and makes us a deeper and more balanced team,'' Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said. ''We just felt like this was an opportunity for us to build a deeper and well-balanced lineup for 2015, and continue to move in such a way that we feel like we're making the team better.''
Joyce batted .254 with nine homers and 52 RBIs last season, his seventh in the majors and sixth with Tampa Bay. The 2011 All-Star and Tampa native has 88 homers and 313 RBIs in his career, but knew he might be headed for a move from the retooling Rays.
''I was a little surprised that I went to the Angels, just because I think there were some teams they were talking about, but I don't think it could've worked out any better for me personally,'' Joyce said. ''I'm excited to come to a great city.''
Dipoto expects Joyce to supplant youngster C.J. Cron, who batted .256 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs while taking over late in his first major league season as the Angels' regular designated hitter. The Angels are hoping a combination of several players will fill the offensive void left by Howie Kendrick, who was traded to the Dodgers for pitching prospect Andrew Heaney.
The Angels gave up a key piece of their bullpen to acquire Joyce.
Jepsen was the Angels' seventh-inning specialist last season, his seventh with the club. He established career bests with 65 innings pitched, 75 strikeouts and a 2.63 ERA, making 65 scoreless appearances - third-most in the majors.
Dipoto envisions Mike Morin, Cory Rasmus, Vinnie Pestano and Fernando Salas taking on Jepsen's responsibilities in the Angels' fairly deep bullpen.
Jepsen was drafted by the then-Anaheim Angels in 2002, ranking alongside fellow draftee Erick Aybar as the longest-tenured Angels. Jepsen ranks fifth in franchise history with 315 appearances, becoming one of just four relievers to pitch at least seven seasons with the Angels.
Joyce and Jepsen are both arbitration-eligible this winter. Joyce could hit free agency after the 2015 season, while Jepsen has another arbitration year left.
This one is from Nov 21st...
Dodgers get reliever Joel Peralta in four-player trade with Rays
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have spent the last year trying to build a stable bullpen, went out and acquired a relief pitcher Thursday that new boss Andrew Friedman knows well.Joel Peralta, the veteran right-hander, is joining the Dodgers after being shipped across the country in a four-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Friedman, who became the Dodgers' president of baseball operations in October, was the GM of the Rays all four years Peralta played there.
Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Timessizes up the particulars on Peralta:
In 2014, Peralta wasn't as good, posting a 4.41 in 63 innings. Also coming to L.A. is Adam Liberatore, a left-handed pitcher who hasn't pitched in the big leagues yet, but had a 1.66 ERA in Triple-A last season, striking out 86 in 65 innings.
In return, the Rays get two pitchers too: Jose Dominguez, who can pump the radar gun up to 103 mph but has a 6.14 career ERA in 14 appearances, and Greg Harris, a 20-year-old who pitched in Single-A in 2014.
Despite putting together a bullpen loaded with ex-closers — such as Brian Wilson, Chris Perez and Brandon League — the Dodgers finished with a 3.80 ERA from their relievers in 2014, ninth worst in baseball. Their closer, Kenley Jansen, was one of the top saves men in the NL (his total of 44 tied him for third-best) but getting to Jansen often proved an adventure for the Dodgers.
Peralta isn't the youngest pitcher or the most attractive name out there, but he ought to at least help.
Free-agent right-hander Brandon Morrow and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract, a deal that allows him to earn up to $8 million if he starts regularly next season.
Morrow can make $5 million in performance bonuses based on starts: $1 million for 12 and each additional four through 28. He also can earn $1 million based on relief appearances: $250,000 each for 40, 50, 60 and 65 games.
He also would get a $500,000 bonus if he is on the active 25-man roster for 168 days or more.
The 30-year-old Morrow has spent the last five seasons with the Blue Jays, who recently declined the right-hander's $10 million option for 2015.
Morrow has battled various injuries in recent seasons, including a hand injury that limited him to just 13 games -- six starts -- in 2014, when he went 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA.
A former first-round draft selection, Morrow is 42-43 with a 4.28 ERA in parts of eight seasons with the Blue Jays and Mariners.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Padres designated left-hander Juan Oramas for assignment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Marlins sign Michael Morse
Veteran free agent Michael Morse signed a two-year contract with the Miami Marlins.
The Marlins didn't disclose financial terms but sources told ESPN.com that Morse will earn $16 million in the deal.
Morse can earn more in the contract through performance bonuses.
The 32-year-old outfielder/first baseman hit .279 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs for the World Series champion San Francisco Giants last season, his first with the team. He hit .250 with four RBIs in 16 at-bats in the World Series.
In 10 seasons with the Seattle Mariners,Washington Nationals, Baltimore Oriolesand Giants, the right-handed hitter has batted .281 with 99 homers and 333 RBIs.
He was paid $6 million in 2014.
Morse is the latest addition this offseason for the Marlins, who have made a flurry of moves after locking up slugger Giancarlo Stanton to a record $325 million contract. They also traded for All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon, right-hander Mat Latos and right-hander Dan Haren, who has indicated he might retire.
ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Indians sign Gavin Floyd to deal
CLEVELAND -- Right-hander Gavin Floyd has agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with theCleveland Indians, giving him a chance to make a comeback from his latest elbow surgery.
The deal, announced Tuesday, allows him to earn an additional $6 million in performance bonuses.
The 31-year-old broke a bone in his elbow while throwing a curveball with Atlanta last June. He had surgery and couldn't resume throwing until after the season. That injury occurred during his ninth start since returning from Tommy John elbow-ligament replacement surgery.
Floyd is 72-72 with a 4.40 ERA in 196 starts and 12 relief appearances with Philadelphia, theChicago White Sox and the Braves. His best season was 2008, when he went 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA in 33 starts for the White Sox.
Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press
Daniel Descalso joins Rockies
The Colorado Rockies reached agreement Tuesday on a two-year contract with former St. Louis Cardinals infielder Daniel Descalso, the team announced.
Descalso will receive a guaranteed $3.6 million over the two seasons with an opportunity to earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses, said his agent, Steve Canter.
The 28-year-old versatile utilityman has played first base, second base, third and shortstop in the majors. He hit .243 with a .654 OPS over parts of five seasons in St. Louis, and became a free agent when the Cardinals nontendered him in December.
New Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich, trying to rebound from a 96-loss season, had traded infielder Josh Rutledge to theLos Angeles Angels last week but resisted the temptation to deal away Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez.
"It would be easy for somebody in my shoes, a brand new GM, a young GM, to want to come in and make a splash, do something sexy," Jeff Bridich said Tuesday during a teleconference. "I fought that urge, but I'm not going to say it wasn't there.
"We've been close-ish to a few things. But it hasn't happened, hasn't worked out. We're not going to panic. ... We have to remember the type of talent that we have here."
Bridich said the Descalso signing wasn't so much a direct response to sending Rutledge to the Angels for righty Jairo Diaz. The Rockies actually had their eye on Descalso, and could be asked to play some outfield or possibly catch as well.
"I'm anticipating filling a variety of different roles, bouncing around the infield and doing whatever I can to help the team win on a given night, if that's playing third, second, short, first, wherever they ask me to play," said Descalso, who will make $1.5 million next year and $2.1 million in 2016. "That's kind of the outlook I have going into this thing."
Descalso can earn up to $500,000 annually in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 250, $100,000 for 300, $150,000 for 350 and $200,000 for 400. He hit .242 with 10 RBIs in 104 games last season.
He hit .214 in 84 postseason at-bats with the Cardinals, but achieved a highlight in Game 5 of the 2012 National League Division Series when he homered, went 3-for-5 and contributed a game-tying single off Drew Storen in the ninth inning of St. Louis' come-from-behind 9-7 victory over the Washington Nationals.
"He's built a reputation in this game as a tough, smart player," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We talk about those things all the time. We're striving to get better and better in those areas, and he's going to add to that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Brett Anderson to join Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with left-hander Brett Anderson, with $4 million in possible incentives, sources told ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
Anderson went 1-3 with 2.91 ERA in his only season with the Colorado Rockies, who elected to decline his $12 million option.
Finger and back problems marred Anderson's 2014 in Colorado, limiting the 26-year-old to eight starts.
For his career, Anderson is 27-32 with a 3.73 ERA. He played his previous five years with the Oakland Athletics before he was dealt to the Rockies prior to the 2014 season.
Angels get Matt Joyce from Rays for Kevin Jepsen
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Angelsacquired outfielder Matt Joyce from the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in exchange for right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen.
The Angels have big plans for Joyce, envisioning him as their primary designated hitter and possible No. 2 hitter, which would allow AL MVP Mike Trout to hit third in front of Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. Joyce's left-handed bat and playing experience at both corner outfield spots also should allow Hamilton to spend more games as a designated hitter.
''He gives us a lot of flexibility and makes us a deeper and more balanced team,'' Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said. ''We just felt like this was an opportunity for us to build a deeper and well-balanced lineup for 2015, and continue to move in such a way that we feel like we're making the team better.''
Joyce batted .254 with nine homers and 52 RBIs last season, his seventh in the majors and sixth with Tampa Bay. The 2011 All-Star and Tampa native has 88 homers and 313 RBIs in his career, but knew he might be headed for a move from the retooling Rays.
''I was a little surprised that I went to the Angels, just because I think there were some teams they were talking about, but I don't think it could've worked out any better for me personally,'' Joyce said. ''I'm excited to come to a great city.''
Dipoto expects Joyce to supplant youngster C.J. Cron, who batted .256 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs while taking over late in his first major league season as the Angels' regular designated hitter. The Angels are hoping a combination of several players will fill the offensive void left by Howie Kendrick, who was traded to the Dodgers for pitching prospect Andrew Heaney.
The Angels gave up a key piece of their bullpen to acquire Joyce.
Jepsen was the Angels' seventh-inning specialist last season, his seventh with the club. He established career bests with 65 innings pitched, 75 strikeouts and a 2.63 ERA, making 65 scoreless appearances - third-most in the majors.
Dipoto envisions Mike Morin, Cory Rasmus, Vinnie Pestano and Fernando Salas taking on Jepsen's responsibilities in the Angels' fairly deep bullpen.
Jepsen was drafted by the then-Anaheim Angels in 2002, ranking alongside fellow draftee Erick Aybar as the longest-tenured Angels. Jepsen ranks fifth in franchise history with 315 appearances, becoming one of just four relievers to pitch at least seven seasons with the Angels.
Joyce and Jepsen are both arbitration-eligible this winter. Joyce could hit free agency after the 2015 season, while Jepsen has another arbitration year left.
This one is from Nov 21st...
Dodgers get reliever Joel Peralta in four-player trade with Rays
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have spent the last year trying to build a stable bullpen, went out and acquired a relief pitcher Thursday that new boss Andrew Friedman knows well.Joel Peralta, the veteran right-hander, is joining the Dodgers after being shipped across the country in a four-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Friedman, who became the Dodgers' president of baseball operations in October, was the GM of the Rays all four years Peralta played there.
Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Timessizes up the particulars on Peralta:
Peralta, who turns 39 in March, has pitched in 69 or more games in each of the last four seasons. He led the major leagues with 80 appearances in 2013, when he posted a 3.71 earned-run average. Peralta is under contract next year for $2.5 million. His deal includes $2.5-million team options for 2016 and 2017.
In 2014, Peralta wasn't as good, posting a 4.41 in 63 innings. Also coming to L.A. is Adam Liberatore, a left-handed pitcher who hasn't pitched in the big leagues yet, but had a 1.66 ERA in Triple-A last season, striking out 86 in 65 innings.
In return, the Rays get two pitchers too: Jose Dominguez, who can pump the radar gun up to 103 mph but has a 6.14 career ERA in 14 appearances, and Greg Harris, a 20-year-old who pitched in Single-A in 2014.
Despite putting together a bullpen loaded with ex-closers — such as Brian Wilson, Chris Perez and Brandon League — the Dodgers finished with a 3.80 ERA from their relievers in 2014, ninth worst in baseball. Their closer, Kenley Jansen, was one of the top saves men in the NL (his total of 44 tied him for third-best) but getting to Jansen often proved an adventure for the Dodgers.
Peralta isn't the youngest pitcher or the most attractive name out there, but he ought to at least help.
Matt Kemp has arthritis in his hips, jeopardizing trade to Padres
LOS ANGELES -- The San Diego Padres were reviewing medical information before signing off on a trade for Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, a source said, with a Thursday deadline to complete the deal fast approaching.
Should San Diego pull out of the trade -- and, according to USA Today, Kemp's physical revealed arthritis in both hips -- two other major trades and three other teams could be affected.
The Padres and Dodgers agreed to a trade one week ago that would send Kemp, catcher Tim Federowicz and $32 million to San Diego for catcher Yasmani Grandaland pitching prospects Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin. The Dodgers then planned to trade Eflin and their own pitching prospect, Tom Windle, to the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
In addition, if the Kemp deal crumbles, the Padres might have to rework a three-team trade with the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays agreed to Wednesday since their interest in catcherRyan Hanigan -- one of the pieces in that trade -- presumably would be affected by whether or not Grandal remains a Padre.
If San Diego general manager A.J. Preller was trying to pry better terms out of the Dodgers, such as more money to cover Kemp's remaining $107 in contract obligations, the leak of Kemp's medical information could give the Dodgers room for a grievance. The 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects the privacy of patients' medical information.
Kemp was the runner-up for the National League MVP in 2011, but has dealt with a long string of injuries since April 2012. He underwent two shoulder surgeries, a major operation on his right ankle and dealt with three hamstring strains. Until now, he had never been diagnosed with a hip ailment.
Kemp, 30, hit 17 of his 25 home runs and drove in 58 runs after the All-Star break last season. The Dodgers have been looking to trade an expensive veteran outfielder -- either Kemp, Andre Ethier or Carl Crawford -- for more than a year.
LOS ANGELES -- The San Diego Padres were reviewing medical information before signing off on a trade for Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, a source said, with a Thursday deadline to complete the deal fast approaching.
Should San Diego pull out of the trade -- and, according to USA Today, Kemp's physical revealed arthritis in both hips -- two other major trades and three other teams could be affected.
The Padres and Dodgers agreed to a trade one week ago that would send Kemp, catcher Tim Federowicz and $32 million to San Diego for catcher Yasmani Grandaland pitching prospects Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin. The Dodgers then planned to trade Eflin and their own pitching prospect, Tom Windle, to the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
In addition, if the Kemp deal crumbles, the Padres might have to rework a three-team trade with the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays agreed to Wednesday since their interest in catcherRyan Hanigan -- one of the pieces in that trade -- presumably would be affected by whether or not Grandal remains a Padre.
If San Diego general manager A.J. Preller was trying to pry better terms out of the Dodgers, such as more money to cover Kemp's remaining $107 in contract obligations, the leak of Kemp's medical information could give the Dodgers room for a grievance. The 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects the privacy of patients' medical information.
Kemp was the runner-up for the National League MVP in 2011, but has dealt with a long string of injuries since April 2012. He underwent two shoulder surgeries, a major operation on his right ankle and dealt with three hamstring strains. Until now, he had never been diagnosed with a hip ailment.
Kemp, 30, hit 17 of his 25 home runs and drove in 58 runs after the All-Star break last season. The Dodgers have been looking to trade an expensive veteran outfielder -- either Kemp, Andre Ethier or Carl Crawford -- for more than a year.
A's trade All-Star catcher Derek Norris to Padres
<cite class="byline vcard top-line" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419002198124_1640" style="font-style: normal; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 12.1000003814697px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">By JANIE McCAULEY (AP Baseball Writer)<abbr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1419002198124_1639" style="display: block;">10 hours ago</abbr></cite>AP - Sports
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The revamping Oakland Athletics made yet another trade of a star player this offseason, sending catcher Derek Norris and minor league right-hander Seth Streich to the San Diego Padres on Thursday night for righties Jesse Hahnand R.J. Alvarez along with an international signing bonus slot.
San Diego's been busy, too. At about the same time they wrapped up the deal with the A's, the Padres finalized a trade to acquire outfielder Matt Kemp from the division rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
Norris, a 25-year-old All-Star, batted .270 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 127 games for the A's, who lost 9-8 in the wild-card game at Kansas City. Oakland had depth at catcher, with capable backstops John Jaso and Stephen Vogt still on the roster despite both dealing with injuries last season. Jaso ended the year out with a concussion for the second straight season.
A's general manager Billy Beane made his second trade of the day, while San Diego has several pending swaps. On Wednesday, the Padres acquired outfielder Wil Myers from Tampa Bay. San Diego sends catcher Yasmani Grandal and two pitchers to the Dodgers in the deal for Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz.
The New York Daily News first reported Norris was headed to the Padres.
Alvarez, 23, was 0-0 with a 1.13 ERA in 10 appearances for the Padres last season.
Earlier Thursday, the A's acquired left-hander Eury De La Rosa from the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash.
The 25-year-old Hahn went 7-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 14 outings and 12 starts over 73 1-3 innings while spending the final four months in the big leagues.
Hahn, who's 6-foot-5 and made his major league debut on June 3, could fit into an Oakland rotation that lost both Jon Lester and Jason Hammel in free agency to the Chicago Cubs while Oakland traded Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox.
Of Oakland's seven All-Stars last season, only two are left - reliever Sean Doolittle and starter Scott Kazmir. Third baseman Josh Donaldson was traded to Toronto last month, then first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss to Cleveland earlier this month. Two-time Home Run Derby champion Yoenis Cespedes was dealt to Boston at the trade deadline for Lester. Then, last week, the slugging outfielder Cespedes was traded by the Red Sox to the Detroit Tigers.
Beane has said big changes were needed for the A's to contend again in an AL West division that the Angels won by 10 games ahead of the A's, the West winner in 2012 and '13.
The 23-year-old Streich went 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 50 2-3 innings for Class-A Stockton.
Justin Upton acquired by Padres
The San Diego Padres have acquired left fielder Justin Upton from the Atlanta Braves, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney and Jerry Crasnick.
Other details of the deal were not immediately available on Friday.
Upton will join a Padres outfield that includes slugger Matt Kemp, acquired this month in a five-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kemp was the first of a few big deals by new Padres general manager A.J. Preller, who also has added outfielder Wil Myers, the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year, from Tampa Bay and All-Star catcher Derek Norris from Oakland.
Upton hit .270 for Atlanta in 2014, collecting 29 home runs and 102 RBIs.
The 27-year-old will make $14.5 million in 2015 and is set for free agency in 2016.
ESPNLosAngeles.com's Mark Saxon contributed to this report.
Details have not come out yet....Padres have traded for 3 OF this offseason - Myers, Kemp, and Upton
The San Diego Padres have acquired left fielder Justin Upton from the Atlanta Braves, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney and Jerry Crasnick.
Other details of the deal were not immediately available on Friday.
Upton will join a Padres outfield that includes slugger Matt Kemp, acquired this month in a five-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kemp was the first of a few big deals by new Padres general manager A.J. Preller, who also has added outfielder Wil Myers, the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year, from Tampa Bay and All-Star catcher Derek Norris from Oakland.
Upton hit .270 for Atlanta in 2014, collecting 29 home runs and 102 RBIs.
The 27-year-old will make $14.5 million in 2015 and is set for free agency in 2016.
ESPNLosAngeles.com's Mark Saxon contributed to this report.
Details have not come out yet....Padres have traded for 3 OF this offseason - Myers, Kemp, and Upton
Here is the trade...
lhp max fried, ss jace peterson, 3b dustin peterson, of mallex smith going to braves for justin upon and low-level player<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><iframe id="rufous-sandbox" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="display: none;"></iframe>
lhp max fried, ss jace peterson, 3b dustin peterson, of mallex smith going to braves for justin upon and low-level player<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><iframe id="rufous-sandbox" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="display: none;"></iframe>
testing...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>mallex smith nice pickup for braves. averaged 76 SBs last 2 years. .300 plus. also from northern florida (close to Ga)</p>— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/545964625293242368">December 19, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>mallex smith nice pickup for braves. averaged 76 SBs last 2 years. .300 plus. also from northern florida (close to Ga)</p>— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/545964625293242368">December 19, 2014</a></blockquote>
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GatorsLeafsBills
Pretty much a regular
WTF are the Padres doing?! They are loading up
Toronto_Mike
Scent of a Woman
GLB,
enjoy your $248 pools win?
enjoy your $248 pools win?
hugh613
Pretty much a regular
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" lang="en-gb"><p>Source: Padres nearing deal to acquire Will Middlebrooks (via <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan">@JeffPassan</a>) --> <a href="http://t.co/iEaRtiITKK">http://t.co/iEaRtiITKK</a></p>— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooSports/status/545980244428353536">December 19, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Fondybadger
CTG Partner
San Diego where your fantasy keepers go to die 
GatorsLeafsBills
Pretty much a regular
GLB,
enjoy your $248 pools win?
:rofl: I figured it was going to be very small so Im not angry. CBB pools only get like 10k. With a slate like those games that night, I wasn't expecting a big return.
Padres obtain Middlebrooks from Red Sox
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- In yet another move for the retooling Padres, San Diego obtained third basemanWill Middlebrooks from the Boston Red Sox for catcher Ryan Hanigan on Friday night.
Hanigan was acquired by San Diego from Tampa Bay earlier in the day in an 11-player, three-team deal that also brought outfielder Wil Myers, the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year, to the Padres.
It's the fifth big trade Padres general manager A.J. Preller has made in just more than a week. Preller has also obtained Matt Kemp, Justin Upton andDerek Norris in an effort to bolster the worst offense in the majors.
Middlebrooks hit 15 homers as a rookie in 2012 and 17 in 2013 before injuries, a .191 average and shuttling up and down from Triple-A led to what he called ''a rough year.''
The Padres traded third baseman Chase Headley to the New York Yankees on July 23.
Yangervis Solarte, obtained from the Yankees in that deal, had been penciled in as the Padres starter for 2015.
Yankees send Prado, Phelps to Marlins for Eovaldi, Jones
NEW YORK (AP) -- Looking for rotation help at a relatively low price, the New York Yankees acquired right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, outfielder Garrett Jones and minor league pitcher Domingo German from the Miami Marlins on Friday for versatile Martin Prado and righty David Phelps.
A right-hander who turns 25 in February, Eovaldi was obtained by the Marlins in July 2012 as part of the deal that sent All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He throws at up to 98 mph and was 6-14 with a 4.37 ERA in 199 2-3 innings last season.
''He's got a good arm and he's young,'' said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who felt he needed more health and depth in his rotation. ''We are getting younger.''
Eovaldi joins a rotation coming off numerous 2014 injuries: Masahiro Tanaka (torn elbow ligament), CC Sabathia (knee surgery), Michael Pineda (shoulder muscle). The Yankees' original rotation last season combined to start just 77 of 162 games: Sabathia (eight), Hiroki Kuroda (32), Nova (four), Tanaka (20) and Pineda (13).
Cashman agreed this week to a $5 million, one-year deal with left-hander Chris Capuano. He says he still has no idea whether Kuroda wants to pitch next year.
New York doesn't appear to be interested in big-money free agents such as Max Scherzer and James Shields.
''We're clearly going to continue to be open-minded to any legitimate opportunities, and that's the optimal word, legitimate opportunities,'' Cashman said, ''something that obviously fits within our current circumstances.''
New York had dealt another key fill-in starter, Shane Greene, to Detroit in the deals that brought shortstop Didi Gregorius to the Yankees.
Prado, 31, was obtained by the Yankees from Arizona at the July 31 trade deadline and hit .316 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in 133 at-bats for New York. An All-Star in 2010, he plays second, third and the outfield. Prado is owed $11 million in each of the next two seasons, and will collect his second $1 million assignment bonus for being traded.
New York is sending the Marlins $3 million a season in twice-a-month installments to offset some of Prado's salary. Eovaldi is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.
Prado had been projected to start at second base. The trade could lead the Yankees to making another move or to give 23-year-old Rob Refsnyder or 25-year-old Jose Pirela a chance to win the second base job in spring training. Pirela batted .305 at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre and made his big league debut in September, Refsnyder hit .342 at Double-A Trenton and .300 at Scranton last season.
Phelps, 28, was 5-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 17 starts and 15 relief appearances, and had been in position to compete with Adam Warren and others to be New York's fifth starter, a position open until Ivan Nova returns from elbow surgery in May or June. Phelps also is eligible for arbitration for the first time.
Jones, 33, provides left-handed-hitting backup to Mark Teixeira at first base and outfield depth behind projected starters Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran. Jones hit .246 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs last season and is signed for $5 million for 2015. His acquisition seems to lock out Alex Rodriguez as a possible backup at first.
''He's made for our ballpark,'' Cashman said.
German, a 22-year-old right-hander, was 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA for Greensboro in the South Atlantic League, striking out 113 in 123 1-3 innings.
NOTES: In addition to German, the Yankees acquired RHP Gonzalez Germen from the Mets for cash in the first trade between the New York rivals since Mike Stanton went the Bronx for Felix Heredia in a December 2004 swap of left-handers. The 27-year-old German had a 4.75 ERA in 25 relief appearances this year with the Mets. The Yankees designated RHP Preston Claiborne for assignment.
Pirates win rights to negotiate with South Korean shortstop
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pirates have won the rights to negotiate with South Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang.
Pittsburgh has a 30-day window to sign the 27-year-old, who hit .354 with 39 homers last season for the Nexen Heroes while being named the MVP of the Korean Baseball Organization. If the Pirates reach an agreement with Kang, the Nexen Heroes would receive the posting fee for Kang's rights, reported to be $5,002,015 by Yonhap News Agency.
If the two sides don't come to terms, Kang's rights would remain with the Heroes.
The Pirates are searching for depth in the middle infield behind second baseman Neil Walker and shortstop Jordy Mercer.
Major League Baseball announced Monday that Pittsburgh submitted the high bid.
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- In yet another move for the retooling Padres, San Diego obtained third basemanWill Middlebrooks from the Boston Red Sox for catcher Ryan Hanigan on Friday night.
Hanigan was acquired by San Diego from Tampa Bay earlier in the day in an 11-player, three-team deal that also brought outfielder Wil Myers, the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year, to the Padres.
It's the fifth big trade Padres general manager A.J. Preller has made in just more than a week. Preller has also obtained Matt Kemp, Justin Upton andDerek Norris in an effort to bolster the worst offense in the majors.
Middlebrooks hit 15 homers as a rookie in 2012 and 17 in 2013 before injuries, a .191 average and shuttling up and down from Triple-A led to what he called ''a rough year.''
The Padres traded third baseman Chase Headley to the New York Yankees on July 23.
Yangervis Solarte, obtained from the Yankees in that deal, had been penciled in as the Padres starter for 2015.
Yankees send Prado, Phelps to Marlins for Eovaldi, Jones
NEW YORK (AP) -- Looking for rotation help at a relatively low price, the New York Yankees acquired right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, outfielder Garrett Jones and minor league pitcher Domingo German from the Miami Marlins on Friday for versatile Martin Prado and righty David Phelps.
A right-hander who turns 25 in February, Eovaldi was obtained by the Marlins in July 2012 as part of the deal that sent All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He throws at up to 98 mph and was 6-14 with a 4.37 ERA in 199 2-3 innings last season.
''He's got a good arm and he's young,'' said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who felt he needed more health and depth in his rotation. ''We are getting younger.''
Eovaldi joins a rotation coming off numerous 2014 injuries: Masahiro Tanaka (torn elbow ligament), CC Sabathia (knee surgery), Michael Pineda (shoulder muscle). The Yankees' original rotation last season combined to start just 77 of 162 games: Sabathia (eight), Hiroki Kuroda (32), Nova (four), Tanaka (20) and Pineda (13).
Cashman agreed this week to a $5 million, one-year deal with left-hander Chris Capuano. He says he still has no idea whether Kuroda wants to pitch next year.
New York doesn't appear to be interested in big-money free agents such as Max Scherzer and James Shields.
''We're clearly going to continue to be open-minded to any legitimate opportunities, and that's the optimal word, legitimate opportunities,'' Cashman said, ''something that obviously fits within our current circumstances.''
New York had dealt another key fill-in starter, Shane Greene, to Detroit in the deals that brought shortstop Didi Gregorius to the Yankees.
Prado, 31, was obtained by the Yankees from Arizona at the July 31 trade deadline and hit .316 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in 133 at-bats for New York. An All-Star in 2010, he plays second, third and the outfield. Prado is owed $11 million in each of the next two seasons, and will collect his second $1 million assignment bonus for being traded.
New York is sending the Marlins $3 million a season in twice-a-month installments to offset some of Prado's salary. Eovaldi is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.
Prado had been projected to start at second base. The trade could lead the Yankees to making another move or to give 23-year-old Rob Refsnyder or 25-year-old Jose Pirela a chance to win the second base job in spring training. Pirela batted .305 at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre and made his big league debut in September, Refsnyder hit .342 at Double-A Trenton and .300 at Scranton last season.
Phelps, 28, was 5-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 17 starts and 15 relief appearances, and had been in position to compete with Adam Warren and others to be New York's fifth starter, a position open until Ivan Nova returns from elbow surgery in May or June. Phelps also is eligible for arbitration for the first time.
Jones, 33, provides left-handed-hitting backup to Mark Teixeira at first base and outfield depth behind projected starters Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran. Jones hit .246 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs last season and is signed for $5 million for 2015. His acquisition seems to lock out Alex Rodriguez as a possible backup at first.
''He's made for our ballpark,'' Cashman said.
German, a 22-year-old right-hander, was 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA for Greensboro in the South Atlantic League, striking out 113 in 123 1-3 innings.
NOTES: In addition to German, the Yankees acquired RHP Gonzalez Germen from the Mets for cash in the first trade between the New York rivals since Mike Stanton went the Bronx for Felix Heredia in a December 2004 swap of left-handers. The 27-year-old German had a 4.75 ERA in 25 relief appearances this year with the Mets. The Yankees designated RHP Preston Claiborne for assignment.
Pirates win rights to negotiate with South Korean shortstop
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pirates have won the rights to negotiate with South Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang.
Pittsburgh has a 30-day window to sign the 27-year-old, who hit .354 with 39 homers last season for the Nexen Heroes while being named the MVP of the Korean Baseball Organization. If the Pirates reach an agreement with Kang, the Nexen Heroes would receive the posting fee for Kang's rights, reported to be $5,002,015 by Yonhap News Agency.
If the two sides don't come to terms, Kang's rights would remain with the Heroes.
The Pirates are searching for depth in the middle infield behind second baseman Neil Walker and shortstop Jordy Mercer.
Major League Baseball announced Monday that Pittsburgh submitted the high bid.
Panda replacement: Giants to acquire Casey McGehee from Marlins
According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the Miami-Sun Sentinel, the San Francisco Giantsreportedly have a deal in place to acquire veteran third baseman Casey McGehee from the Miami Marlins. Rodriguez adds the Marlins will receive minor league pitchers Kendry Flores and Luis Castillo. Both are considered lower-level prospects.It's not exactly the big name many anticipated the Giants would land to fill the sizable gap created by Pablo Sandoval's departure. The Giants were also in on but eventually lost out on free agentsChase Headley and Yasmany Tomas, who were viewed as the best bets available at third base in the short and long term. McGehee is more of a short term, fall-back option, but he fills the need nonetheless.
McGehee, 32, is a .264/.324/.400 career hitter over six big league seasons. He actually spent the 2013 season in Japan, before returning to MLB with the Miami Marlins. In the first half of 2014, he came out strong, hitting .321 and knocking in 53 runs, but the power upside shown in his previous MLB run — he averaged 17 from 2009-11 — was non-existent. McGehee finished with a .287/.355/.357 slash line, only four home runs and 76 RBIs in 691 plate appearances.
By comparison, Sandoval has averaged 17 home runs and 73 RBIs with a .292/.345/.464 slash line over his six full seasons. That's slightly better than McGehee's career slash and peak production, but obviously McGehee is on the downside of those numbers while Sandoval may just be reaching his peak. The Giants will likely have to pursue an upgrade elsewhere in their lineup to offset the expected future loss in production.
As for the Marlins, McGehee became expendable on Friday after they acquired Martin Prado in a five-player deal with the New York Yankees. It's not a huge return, but Miami is probably most happy about getting out from under McGehee's arbitration salary, which MLB Trade Rumors projects at $3.5 million.
According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the Miami-Sun Sentinel, the San Francisco Giantsreportedly have a deal in place to acquire veteran third baseman Casey McGehee from the Miami Marlins. Rodriguez adds the Marlins will receive minor league pitchers Kendry Flores and Luis Castillo. Both are considered lower-level prospects.It's not exactly the big name many anticipated the Giants would land to fill the sizable gap created by Pablo Sandoval's departure. The Giants were also in on but eventually lost out on free agentsChase Headley and Yasmany Tomas, who were viewed as the best bets available at third base in the short and long term. McGehee is more of a short term, fall-back option, but he fills the need nonetheless.
McGehee, 32, is a .264/.324/.400 career hitter over six big league seasons. He actually spent the 2013 season in Japan, before returning to MLB with the Miami Marlins. In the first half of 2014, he came out strong, hitting .321 and knocking in 53 runs, but the power upside shown in his previous MLB run — he averaged 17 from 2009-11 — was non-existent. McGehee finished with a .287/.355/.357 slash line, only four home runs and 76 RBIs in 691 plate appearances.
By comparison, Sandoval has averaged 17 home runs and 73 RBIs with a .292/.345/.464 slash line over his six full seasons. That's slightly better than McGehee's career slash and peak production, but obviously McGehee is on the downside of those numbers while Sandoval may just be reaching his peak. The Giants will likely have to pursue an upgrade elsewhere in their lineup to offset the expected future loss in production.
As for the Marlins, McGehee became expendable on Friday after they acquired Martin Prado in a five-player deal with the New York Yankees. It's not a huge return, but Miami is probably most happy about getting out from under McGehee's arbitration salary, which MLB Trade Rumors projects at $3.5 million.
hugh613
Pretty much a regular
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><iframe style="display: none;" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="rufous-sandbox" frameborder="0"></iframe><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Rangers">@Rangers</a> reportedly on verge of acquiring Yovani Gallardo. Clubs have not confirmed <a href="http://t.co/dPzFrakIxa">http://t.co/dPzFrakIxa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HotStove?src=hash">#HotStove</a> <a href="http://t.co/W8WLS8bWwe">pic.twitter.com/W8WLS8bWwe</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/556914703763402752">January 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
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guaranteeed
Pretty much a regular
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS <small class="time" style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(136, 153, 166);"> 2m2 minutes ago</small>Max scherzer has an agreement on a 7-year deal with nats. Dollars are not known.
guaranteeed
Pretty much a regular
wonder what they get for Zimmerman now think they have to move him
orangemonk
Creep - Dee oh double gee
Very surprising. Nats probably had the best staff in MLB already -- insane with max. No matter the dollar it's prob given that he won't be worth it over 7 years. Glad tigers didn't re-sign him.. But he is one of my favorite pro athletes and wash fans will love him for a few years
:shake:
gsro
Give me the NHL, or give me death
def. agree he won't be worth it over the next 7 years, but that's a damn good S5:
Mad Max
Fister
Stras
Zimmerman
Gio
I do wonder though, there was rumors of trading Zimmerman in the offseason, with the signing of Max I wonder if that is explored again...they do need to add another bat
Fondybadger
CTG Partner
Braun for Zimmy would be nice
gsro
Give me the NHL, or give me death
damn, you're awake?
Fondybadger
CTG Partner
Passed out about 615pm last night
gsro
Give me the NHL, or give me death
The rich got even richer with word Sunday night that the Washington Nationalshave agreed to a seven-year contract with free agent righthander Max Scherzer.
Even before Scherzer agreed to head to the nation’s capital, ESPN's Buster Olney claimed the Nationals had the best starting rotation in baseball. The starters for the NL East champions already include Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, Gio Gonzalez, and Tanner Roark.
But are the Nationals done dealing? A source had earlier told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that the Nationals wouldn't have the financial flexibility to sign Scherzer unless they have a trade in place to move Zimmermann and possibly shortstop Ian Desmond.
Barry Svrluga and Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, however, report the addition of Scherzer doesn’t necessarily mean the Nationals would have to deal anyone for financial reasons. There has been speculation that the Nationals would be willing to deal Zimmermann, who will make $16.5 million before entering free agency next winter.
“If Scherzer’s deal was backloaded … then Scherzer’s 2015 salary simply would replace Zimmermann’s and the Nats would end up with a comparable (maybe even better) pitcher for this season,” writes Svrluga and Kilgore.
Like Zimmermann, Desmond will be in line for a big pay day when he hits free agency last winter. The Nats reportedly discussed a three-way deal with the Mets and Rays involving Desmond, but those talks fizzled and the Rays ended up sending Ben Zobrist to Oakland.
The odd man out at this point is Roark, who already is 28 and had a breakout season last year with 15 wins and a 2.85 ERA in 31 starts. But the Nats are built to win now and injuries happen, so there will be no need to move an effective starter who is not even eligible for arbitration.
gsro
Give me the NHL, or give me death
I guess I would just sleep too if I watched McCarthy manage the game away at the end
T
tipyerbartender1
Guest
Max scherzer has an agreement on a 7-year deal with nats. Dollars are not known.
Next Mud Hen up.
orangemonk
Creep - Dee oh double gee
210?!?!?!?!?!? holy fuck.
guaranteeed
Pretty much a regular
dont think so
tv money skyrocketing
tv money skyrocketing
Coverdatspred
Curious About George Costanza‘s Modeling Career
I'm reading that it's severely backloaded. The Nats will be paying Max like 15 mill a year till 2028. This makes the Bobby Bonilla deal look like chump change.
hugh613
Pretty much a regular
Report: Nationals open to trading Stephen Strasburg
Bill Baer
Jan 19, 2015, 12:48 PM EST
54 Comments
They may keep Jordan Zimmermann, but USA TODAY’s John Perrotto reports that the Nationals are open to trading Stephen Strasburg, saying he is “very much available”. He adds that both sides believe it is time to move on.
Strasburg, 26, avoided arbitration in his second year of eligibility last week, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $7.4 million. He’ll be eligible for arbitration in his final year going into the 2016 season, after which he can become a free agent.
Strasburg has been one of baseball’s best starters over the past three seasons, compiling an aggregate 3.10 ERA with a 630/147 K/BB ratio in 557 1/3 innings. His 28 percent strikeout rate over that span of time is bested only by Yu Darvish (30.1%) and new teammate Max Scherzer (28.6%).
Bill Baer
Jan 19, 2015, 12:48 PM EST
54 Comments
They may keep Jordan Zimmermann, but USA TODAY’s John Perrotto reports that the Nationals are open to trading Stephen Strasburg, saying he is “very much available”. He adds that both sides believe it is time to move on.
Strasburg, 26, avoided arbitration in his second year of eligibility last week, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $7.4 million. He’ll be eligible for arbitration in his final year going into the 2016 season, after which he can become a free agent.
Strasburg has been one of baseball’s best starters over the past three seasons, compiling an aggregate 3.10 ERA with a 630/147 K/BB ratio in 557 1/3 innings. His 28 percent strikeout rate over that span of time is bested only by Yu Darvish (30.1%) and new teammate Max Scherzer (28.6%).
gsro
Give me the NHL, or give me death
Veteran free-agent outfielder Colby Rasmus has signed a one-year contract with the Houston Astros, the team announced Tuesday.
The deal will pay Rasmus $8 million, a baseball source told ESPN.com.
The Astros also are nearing a deal with free-agent right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, baseball sources told ESPN.com.
The deal will pay Rasmus $8 million, a baseball source told ESPN.com.
The Astros also are nearing a deal with free-agent right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, baseball sources told ESPN.com.
Fondybadger
CTG Partner
Womp Womp
Fondybadger
CTG Partner
Sandy Koufax, career: 2,324 innings, 131 ERA+, 53.2 WAR, .655 Win%
Johan Santana, career: 2,026 innings, 136 ERA+, 50.7 WAR, .641 Win%
Johan Santana, career: 2,026 innings, 136 ERA+, 50.7 WAR, .641 Win%
Fondybadger
CTG Partner
The Milwaukee Brewers sign All Star pitcher and 20 game winner to replace Yovani Gallardo :rofl:
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/289324641.html
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/289324641.html
Frank
Pretty much a regular
:chin: that's a stunner
Fondybadger
CTG Partner
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Would like to see how other stats matched up but was too lazy. Saw this on FB from the Aaron Gleeman (guy who wrote the NBC article on Johan above).
Fondybadger
CTG Partner
Rumors that Brewers traded for Jon Papelbon and $12 million for Clint Coulter and guaranteeing Paps 2016 salary at 16 million
T
tipyerbartender1
Guest
That's terrible news.
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