Dan Johnson - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Chris Dickerson - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Kurt Suzuki - Athletics declined option, declared free agency
Jon Lester - (Boston Red Sox) Red Sox exercised option for 2014 ($13m)
Danny Worth - (Detroit Tigers) Activated from DL
Stephen Pryor - (Seattle Mariners) Activated from DL
Felix Pie - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Wandy Rodriguez - (Pittsburgh Pirates) Pirates exercised option for 2014 ($13m)
Matt Tuiasosopo - (Arizona Diamondbacks) Claimed off waivers from Tigers by Diamondbacks
Jose Veras - Tigers declined option, declared free agency
Joe Nathan - Declined mutual option, declared free agency
Joe Bisenius - Released by Braves
Jackson Laumann - (Chicago White Sox) Traded from Braves to White Sox for future considerations
Zach Booker - (Baltimore Orioles) Re-signed to minor league contract
Shawn Roof - (Baltimore Orioles) Re-signed to minor league contract
Tim Adleman - (Cincinnati Reds) Signed to minor league contract
Josh Sullivan - (Colorado Rockies) Signed to Minor League Contract
Taylor Green - (Milwaukee Brewers) Re-signed to minor league contract
Santo Manzanillo - (Milwaukee Brewers) Outrighted to minors
Jesus Sanchez - (Milwaukee Brewers) Outrighted to minors
Alex Sanchez - Released by Mets
Casper Wells - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Kyle Lotzkar - (Texas Rangers) Signed to Minor League Contract
Johan Santana - (New York Mets) Activated from DL
Johan Santana - Mets declined option, declared free agency
Darnell McDonald - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Sean Bierman - (Chicago White Sox) Traded from Rays with Ben Kline to White Sox to complete earlier trade for Jesse Crain
Ben Kline - (Chicago White Sox) Traded from Rays with Sean Bierman to White Sox to complete earlier trade for Jesse Crain
Jose Arredondo - Declared free agency
Brett Wallach - (Miami Marlins) Signed to minor league contract
Doug Bernier - (Minnesota Twins) Re-signed to minor league contract
Arby Fields - (Seattle Mariners) Signed to Minor League Contract
Luke Montz - (Oakland Athletics) Signed to Minor League Contract
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Where could Joe Nathan end up?
Over the past 2 seasons Joe Nathan has been one of the top closers in baseball and for good reason. The soon-to-be 39-year old RHP has nailed down 80 saves over the past 2 seasons with a 2.09 ERA with the Texas Rangers. He declined his option yesterday to test the open market and see who offers him the most money. I think teams are going to be very concerned with his age and injury history especially since he had Tommy John surgery in 2010.
Nathan pitched extremely well out of the bullpen last season appearing in 67 games and getting saves in 43 of them. He had a K/9 of 10.2 and a BB/9 of 3.1. Hitters hit .162/.239/.225 against him last season with only 2 homers and 10 RBIs. It doesn't seem likely he can repeat these gaudy numbers from this most recent season as he had a .228 BABIP against him and that low of a BABIP will most likely be unsustainable.
I expect many teams to inquire about him including teams like the Astros and the Yankees. But I think he will want to sign with a team that can offer him both a closing role and make the playoffs. That will narrow it down to about 2-3 teams including the Cardinals and the Indians. Nathan looks like he wants a 1 or 2 year deal worth about 6 million a year.
Nathan pitched extremely well out of the bullpen last season appearing in 67 games and getting saves in 43 of them. He had a K/9 of 10.2 and a BB/9 of 3.1. Hitters hit .162/.239/.225 against him last season with only 2 homers and 10 RBIs. It doesn't seem likely he can repeat these gaudy numbers from this most recent season as he had a .228 BABIP against him and that low of a BABIP will most likely be unsustainable.
I expect many teams to inquire about him including teams like the Astros and the Yankees. But I think he will want to sign with a team that can offer him both a closing role and make the playoffs. That will narrow it down to about 2-3 teams including the Cardinals and the Indians. Nathan looks like he wants a 1 or 2 year deal worth about 6 million a year.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Could Brad Ausmus be a successful big league manager?
Brad Ausmus has been swirling around the hot stove lately. But not as a catcher, instead he is interviewing for different managerial jobs including the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, and the Detroit Tigers. The 44-year old 3-time Gold Glover has served in the Padres front office since the 2010 season. Ausmus spent 18 seasons in the major league compiling nearly 1600 career hits and hitting .251. He wasn't famous for his offense, but he was more famous for his defense being known as one of the smarter players in the game. He is 6th all-time in Total Zone Runs at 99 and 13th in Range Factor.
Many big league managers had playing experience as a catcher. Why? Because catchers need to know about the team. They are the "field general" as they manage the pitching staff and control the defense on the field. Leadership is an absolute must in a catcher as he needs to show confidence in his pitchers and his defense.
Ausmus has had no prior USA managerial experience but he was the manager for the Israel national team in the qualifiers for the 2013 World Baseball Classic where they lost in the pool finals to Spain.
Many big league managers had playing experience as a catcher. Why? Because catchers need to know about the team. They are the "field general" as they manage the pitching staff and control the defense on the field. Leadership is an absolute must in a catcher as he needs to show confidence in his pitchers and his defense.
Ausmus has had no prior USA managerial experience but he was the manager for the Israel national team in the qualifiers for the 2013 World Baseball Classic where they lost in the pool finals to Spain.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Todays Transactions: October 23, 2013
Jeff Manship - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Manship, 28, started 4 games and relieved 7 for the Colorado Rockies. In those 11 total games he pitched to a 7.04 ERA in 30.2 innings while striking out 18 and walking 12. The former 14th round pick has appeared in 52 games in 5 big league seasons.
Peter Moylan - (Los Angeles Dodgers) Designated for Assignment
Moylan, 34, struggled in 14 relief appearances for the LA Dodgers. He threw a total of 15.1 innings with 7 walks and 6 strikeouts. The side-armer also made 38 appearances for the Dodgers AAA affiliate posting a 2.74 ERA in 46 innings.
Jorge De Leon - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
De Leon, 26, appeared in 11 games for the Houston Astros posting a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings with 6 strikeouts and 7 walks. He also made 42 combined appearances for Houstons AA and AAA affiliates posting a combined 4.09 ERA.
David Purcey - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Purcey, 31, appeared in 24 games for the White Sox and had a 2.74 ERA. He struck out 23 and walked 17. He has 111 big league appearances between 5 MLB seasons.
Wilkin Ramirez - (Minnesota Twins) Activated from DL and outrighted to minors
Ramirez, 27, hit .272 in 81 big league at bats for the Minnesota Twins. He spent most of the year injured on the DL with a variety of injuries including a fractured left tibia and a head injury.
Tim Lincecum - (San Francisco Giants) Signed to 2-year contract for 2014-2015 ($35m)
Lincecum, 29, pitched to a 4.74 ERA in 32 MLB starts. Lincecum threw 197 innings and struck out 193 while walking 76. In 7 big league seasons Lincecum has started 220 games and pitched to a 3.46 ERA with 1510 strikeouts in 1411 big league innings.
Manship, 28, started 4 games and relieved 7 for the Colorado Rockies. In those 11 total games he pitched to a 7.04 ERA in 30.2 innings while striking out 18 and walking 12. The former 14th round pick has appeared in 52 games in 5 big league seasons.
Peter Moylan - (Los Angeles Dodgers) Designated for Assignment
Moylan, 34, struggled in 14 relief appearances for the LA Dodgers. He threw a total of 15.1 innings with 7 walks and 6 strikeouts. The side-armer also made 38 appearances for the Dodgers AAA affiliate posting a 2.74 ERA in 46 innings.
Jorge De Leon - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
De Leon, 26, appeared in 11 games for the Houston Astros posting a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings with 6 strikeouts and 7 walks. He also made 42 combined appearances for Houstons AA and AAA affiliates posting a combined 4.09 ERA.
David Purcey - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Purcey, 31, appeared in 24 games for the White Sox and had a 2.74 ERA. He struck out 23 and walked 17. He has 111 big league appearances between 5 MLB seasons.
Wilkin Ramirez - (Minnesota Twins) Activated from DL and outrighted to minors
Ramirez, 27, hit .272 in 81 big league at bats for the Minnesota Twins. He spent most of the year injured on the DL with a variety of injuries including a fractured left tibia and a head injury.
Tim Lincecum - (San Francisco Giants) Signed to 2-year contract for 2014-2015 ($35m)
Lincecum, 29, pitched to a 4.74 ERA in 32 MLB starts. Lincecum threw 197 innings and struck out 193 while walking 76. In 7 big league seasons Lincecum has started 220 games and pitched to a 3.46 ERA with 1510 strikeouts in 1411 big league innings.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Bryan Price: Reds Manager
Bryan Price, recently named the Reds pitching coach has been with the organization since 2009 as the pitching coach. He is part of the reason the Reds are 4th in the MLB in ERA and 1st in strikeouts. He was one of the top pitching coaches in baseball and he certainly will give the Reds an extra boost.
Price, 51 played minor league baseball for 5 seasons playing for the Angels and Mariners organizations. He became the pitching coach of the Seattle Mariners for their record-breaking 2001 season and stayed until after the 2006 season when he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He stayed with the Diamondbacks as the pitching coach until he resigned when AJ Hinch replaced Bob Melvin as the manager in early 2009. After that he worked with the Phillies as a minor league consultant until the off season when he signed with the Reds as the pitching coach.
He obviously will be good with the Reds at pitching, but I am a little bit concerned about his ability to managing the very potent offense of the Reds. Obviously he will have help from Brook Jacoby, the Reds hitting coach. He has the entire offseason to learn about the team and the offenses strengths and weaknesses.
I think he will do well with a very good roster. He has already built a very good pitching staff and I am curious on what he will do with the Reds offense.
The Mariners were also reported to be interested in his services.
Price, 51 played minor league baseball for 5 seasons playing for the Angels and Mariners organizations. He became the pitching coach of the Seattle Mariners for their record-breaking 2001 season and stayed until after the 2006 season when he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He stayed with the Diamondbacks as the pitching coach until he resigned when AJ Hinch replaced Bob Melvin as the manager in early 2009. After that he worked with the Phillies as a minor league consultant until the off season when he signed with the Reds as the pitching coach.
He obviously will be good with the Reds at pitching, but I am a little bit concerned about his ability to managing the very potent offense of the Reds. Obviously he will have help from Brook Jacoby, the Reds hitting coach. He has the entire offseason to learn about the team and the offenses strengths and weaknesses.
I think he will do well with a very good roster. He has already built a very good pitching staff and I am curious on what he will do with the Reds offense.
The Mariners were also reported to be interested in his services.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Carlos Beltran: Great Hitter
After signing with the St. Louis Cardinals on a 2-year deal after the Cardinals won the World Series Carlos Beltran has become into an essential hitter for the Cardinals with his .282 average for the Cardinals and ripping 56 home runs in just 2 seasons. He has definitely lived up to the 2-year 26 million dollar contract he signed.
Beltran was considered to be on the decline when the Cardinals signed him which made sense since he hadn't hit 25 homers in a season since 2008. He did have a solid 2011 with a .300 average and 22 homers but people worried about his age and the Cardinals picked him up on the cheap compared to what other players have done. He proceeded to do extremely well for the Cardinals with 56 home runs plus 5 postseason homers. In 2012 he had his highest WAR since 2008. He has declined a bit since last season despite his batting average being better, but those numbers were key to helping the Cardinals win the NL pennant.
Beltran has been hitting the ball harder with his highest LD% in a full season in his career and some of the best seasons overall for him. It also raises the question of who he will play for next year. Will it be the Cardinals? Or will it be the Yankees?
Beltran was considered to be on the decline when the Cardinals signed him which made sense since he hadn't hit 25 homers in a season since 2008. He did have a solid 2011 with a .300 average and 22 homers but people worried about his age and the Cardinals picked him up on the cheap compared to what other players have done. He proceeded to do extremely well for the Cardinals with 56 home runs plus 5 postseason homers. In 2012 he had his highest WAR since 2008. He has declined a bit since last season despite his batting average being better, but those numbers were key to helping the Cardinals win the NL pennant.
Beltran has been hitting the ball harder with his highest LD% in a full season in his career and some of the best seasons overall for him. It also raises the question of who he will play for next year. Will it be the Cardinals? Or will it be the Yankees?
Friday, October 18, 2013
Baseball Transactions: October 18th, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Juan Ramirez - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Ramirez, 25, struggled to a 7.50 ERA in 18 big league appearances and 24 innings. He mainly pitched in the Phillies minor league system. He pitched in 34 games between Reading and Leigh Valley and pitched to a 4.04 ERA in 49 innings.
David Purcey - (Chicago White Sox) Outrighted to minors
Purcey, 31, pitched to a 2.13 in 24 big league games and 25.1 innings. He also pitched to a 3.03 ERA in 26 appearances for the White Sox AAA affiliate in Charlotte.
Manuel Corpas - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Corpas, 30, pitched to a 4.54 ERA in 31 games for the Colorado Rockies. He struck out 30 and walked 16. He pitched in 21 games and a 5.49 ERA for the Rockies AAA affiliate. He struck out 35 and walked 15.
John Lannan - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency Lannam, 29, pitched to a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts for the Phillies he pitched 74.1 innings and struck out 38 and walked 27. He was once a top pitching prospect for the Washington Nationals but he has really struggled in the past couple years.
John Lannan - (Philadelphia Phillies) Activated from DL
Juan Ramirez - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Ramirez, 25, struggled to a 7.50 ERA in 18 big league appearances and 24 innings. He mainly pitched in the Phillies minor league system. He pitched in 34 games between Reading and Leigh Valley and pitched to a 4.04 ERA in 49 innings.
David Purcey - (Chicago White Sox) Outrighted to minors
Purcey, 31, pitched to a 2.13 in 24 big league games and 25.1 innings. He also pitched to a 3.03 ERA in 26 appearances for the White Sox AAA affiliate in Charlotte.
Manuel Corpas - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency
Corpas, 30, pitched to a 4.54 ERA in 31 games for the Colorado Rockies. He struck out 30 and walked 16. He pitched in 21 games and a 5.49 ERA for the Rockies AAA affiliate. He struck out 35 and walked 15.
John Lannan - Refused Minor League Assignment - Declared free agency Lannam, 29, pitched to a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts for the Phillies he pitched 74.1 innings and struck out 38 and walked 27. He was once a top pitching prospect for the Washington Nationals but he has really struggled in the past couple years.
John Lannan - (Philadelphia Phillies) Activated from DL
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