Latest blog entries about MLB
The Texas Rangers will have pitchers and catchers reporting to Surprise in a couple of weeks, and the team’s roster is starting to round into shape. The Rangers swapped Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo early in the offseason, addressing their corner outfield need while also opening up a spot for Josh Smith to play every […]
Who is he and where did he come from? He’s Seth Martinez. If you’re like me, you saw the name “Seth” in an article about Red Sox transactions and briefly celebrated because you thought that Seth Lugo was coming to Boston. Seth Martinez is not Seth Lugo. He does, however, own a World Series ring […]
David Bote was once thought of as a versatile enough player to keep around on a long-term deal given him by Theo Epstein, a five-year deal that didn’t end until a buyout last year. And, you know, it might have worked until Bote suffered a serious shoulder injury in May 2021 that kept him out […]
As we stretch into day 23 of the Arizona Cardinals head coach search, the question becomes… What is going on? It seemed like after the news of Anthony Campanile signing an extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars to remain their defensive coordinator, it seemed inevitable that it was going to be Mike LaFleur. Today though, it […]
Newly-signed outfielder Dylan Carlson ‘s deal with the Cubs is of the minor league variety, but it comes with a very healthy big league rate if he makes the team – $2 million, per Jon Heyman , plus another $1 million in possible incentives. It’s not a big deal – literally or figuratively – but that structure tells us a few things, and it got me thinking about the Cubs’ bench competition (specifically the 4th outfielder gig). So I’m just gonna flow through some thoughts. At a minimum,...
Ernie Clement is a 29 (40 in March) year-old, right-handed hitting infielder. The Guardians picked him in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. He is, to this point, the most successful player taken in that round, by a long shot (the others from that round who have played in the major have negative bWARs). […]
A day after the Royals announced they are no longer considering an Overland Park site at the Aspiria campus for a potential new ballpark, another option appears to be unavailable. The Clay County Commission issued a public statement today explaining that they will not submit a ballot initiative to voters in April to fund a […]
The Colorado Rockies announced they have agreed to a deal with the New York Yankees, sending right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli to the Bronx in exchange for minor league first baseman T.J. RumField. Chivilli, 23, looked like he could be a staple of a fresh Rockies bullpen when he debuted with the team in 2024. After […]
“Shorty you’re my Angel, you’re my darling Angel” No doubt somewhere in the Bronx or Tampa, Matt Blake is quietly singing Shaggy’s popular refrain to himself while watching video. YES Network’s Jack Curry reported that the Yankees landed Angel Chivilli, a right-handed reliever, from the Colorado Rockies, sending Triple-A first baseman T.J. Rumfield in return […]
The Dodgers’ two biggest needs this offseason were bullpen help and outfield production, and they went and signed the two best free agents at those positions in Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker, each contract setting records for average annual value. With Tucker the lineup looks much deeper, and can be considered stacked even for a […]
You guys. I have been waiting for this moment for over a year. I almost can’t believe it’s finally here. Deep breath, and here it goes: I WROTE A CHILDREN’S BOOK FOR CUBS FANS! My first book ever. It’s called “My First Trip to the Bleachers: Big Feelings at the Cubs Game.” And it’s finally available for pre-sale. You can get your copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org . I really hope you like it. And I really hope you pre-order a copy! Pre-Order Right Here! My Firs...
Organized professional baseball has been played in Kansas City since 1884, when the Kansas City Unions of the Union Association took the field. Despite this long history, the city has been light in witnessing baseball milestones. Organized professional baseball has been played in Kansas City since 1884, when the Kansas City Unions of the Union […]
Fifth in the series. Today we look at the Cubs’ new third baseman. Alex Bregman should need no introduction. The Cubs wanted to sign him last year but were unable to close the deal. They made up for it this year, signing the free agent to a massive five-year, $175 million contract. Bregman has won two World […]
By the mid-to-late-2000s, it was readily apparent the dynasty years were over. The Yankees hadn’t reached a World Series since 2003. Perhaps worse, they’d allowed the Red Sox to break The Curse, with one of sport’s wildest combacks in the ALCS That Shall Not Be Talked About. Despite those setbacks, however, the Yankees continued to […]
With Spring Training just around the corner, we’re going to see more movement in free agency very soon. There’s another wave yet to sign , and there is some starting pitching at the front of it. Jon Heyman was on MLB Network discussing, among other things, the state of Zac Gallen’s free agency, which he suggested could reach a conclusion relatively soon: . @JonHeyman reports that the D-backs, Cubs and Orioles are teams that continue to express interest in free agent starter Zac Galle...
Former Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay turns 49 today. Overbay was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 18th round of the 1999 draft. He had a couple of brief stints in the majors in 2001 and 2002 before making the team out of spring training in 2003, having been ranked Baseball America’s 65th-best prospect. […]
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list. Well we are now officially through the first four rounds of our annual Community Prospect List, where A’s […]
Locking in defensive returns is often the difference between a red arrow and a green one in the world of Fantasy Premier League. While goals and assists capture the headlines, the 4-point windfall for a clean sheet remains the gold standard for goalkeepers and defenders, while even midfielders benefit from a sneaky 1-point bonus for […]
Spring Training is nearly here, and not a moment too soon for those of us shoveling snow from our driveways and scraping ice off the windshields. As the Sox pack up for Camelback Ranch, they have fresh validation that Rebuild 2.0 is stocking the system with real upside. MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 100 Prospects list […]
The Rays front office has quietly done a nice job restructuring the outfield group – so quietly that the improvements may have even flown under the radar of many fans. The outfield production was less than ideal last season. Together, Rays outfielders produced an 85 wRC+ – which was the 5th lowest among all outfields […]
A multi-sport athlete who also played football as well as baseball at Springboro High School in Springboro Ohio, Andrew Joseph “A.J.” Ewing really stood out on the diamond. A natural right-hander whose father had him learn how to swing from the left side as a kid, Ewing quickly began standing out not just as compared […]
“Into the unknoooooown, into the unknooooooooooooooooown” Francisco Renteria – 68Gabriel Rincones – 49Moises Chace – 24Matthew Fisher – 13Griff Burkholder – 5Keaton Anthony – 5Cade Obermueller – 4Carson DeMartini – 4Jean Cabrera – 1Mavis Graves – 1 It’s hard to remember the last time the Phillies had signed an international prospect of this much acclaim. […]
Spring training: when the sunlight is bright and falls upon certain players more than others. A new pitch, a new swing, or a fresh face can all capture the attention of fans and writers alike eager to emerge from the cold tyranny of a baseball-less winter. At Blue Jays spring training in 2022, Yosver Zulueta […]
Santiago Espinal is fresh off a -1.4 bWAR season that saw him hit .243/.292/.282 overall in 328 PA with the Cincinnati Reds. Garrett Hampson, meanwhile, went just 3 for 19 in his short stint with Cincinnati last season as part of a three-franchise year where he hit .143/.250/.169 overall. Then, there’s Michael Chavis, who hasn’t […]
Although it’s not quite the bump back to mid-August that many front offices would prefer, Major League Baseball has set this year’s Trade Deadline as far back as they are currently permitted by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Instead of the customary July 31 date, this year’s Trade Deadline will be on August 3 at 5pm CT. The timing has been increasingly flexible in recent years to allow MLB to schedule the deadline around games – they want to avoid teams playing in the hours leading ...