There are 6 teams that are rumored to be in the mix for Cuban center fielder Yoenis Cespedes. In reality, there is probably only 1.
Cespedes is trying to acquire his residency in the Dominican Republic. That is expected to happen in the next few days. Once that process is complete, the bidding and the courting will begin.
The Marlins are possibly the team that will win these sweepstakes if for no other reason than they intend to do almost anything in order to do so. The Marlins team president David Samson said the following this week, Read more... (341 words, 1 image, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)
The rumors have flow fast and furious. The trade scenarios have been numerous. It looks like though, in the end, the Braves will be standing pat.
Martin Prado, the subject of about a million trade rumors and scenarios, has now signed a new deal with the Braves for 1 year and a little over 4 million dollars. That puts an end to any and all trade rumors and scenarios that have been talked about for weeks now regarding Prado. He is officially with the Braves for another year. Read more... (291 words, 1 image, estimated 1:10 mins reading time)
Major League Baseball arbitration season is now in full swing. The number of players headed to arbitration….142.
The field of 142 is headed by the Giants ace pitcher Tim Lincecum who is set to ask for a record salary when arbitration figures are exchanged next week. The Giants are poised to offer Lincecum more than 14.25 million that the Yankees offered to Derek Jeter. Most players will settle before an arbitration hearing comes to pass. Last season, Lincecum made 13.1 million. He is looking for a big increase this time around.
Many other players are on the arbitration band wagon including the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw and Andre Ethier, Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, Texans Mike Napoli and Cubs pitcher Matt Garza. The arbitration ranks also include 3 players who were former free agents that accepted their teams offers including Red Sox David Ortiz, Brewers reliever Francisco Rodriguez, and Toronto‘s Kelly Johnson. Read more... (349 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
Wow, finally I have SOMETHING to type about. Finally on Friday the 13th, on the first snowy day in Upstate New York, finally the Yankees have done something this off season. And wow what a something it was. The Yankees traded one of the best up and coming young bats in baseball 22 year Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for one of the best young arms in baseball 23 year old Michael Pineda. This was a good old fashion baseball trade, where a team with lots of hitting but weak starting pitching trades a young stud to a team with lots of pitching but no hitting, for a young ace. Read more... (323 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)
There are plenty of big questions surrounding Major League Baseball as 2012 kicks into gear: Where will Prince Fielder end up? Why was Barry Larkin the only guy to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year? Will Carlos Zambrano and Ozzie Guillen be able to coexist in Miami?
However, the one question that everyone should be asking is who the 2011 NL MVP is, because while on paper it may still be Ryan Braun, there are plenty of baseball big wigs out there who still have their doubts.
One of those big wigs is Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, who recently came out and said it would “make sense” to revote on the MVP award, or strip Braun of the award if it is proven that he indeed used a banned substance at some point during the 2011 season. Read more... (413 words, 2 images, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)
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Don Mattingly Says What We’re All Thinking about Ryan Braun
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The results are in, and Barry Larkin was the only guy to make the cut in the class of 2012 for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
2012 Hall of Fame results
Years on ballot in parentheses Read more... (258 words, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)
| Player |
Votes |
Percentage |
| Barry Larkin (3) |
495 |
86.4 |
| Jack Morris (13) |
382 |
66.7 |
| Jeff Bagwell (2) |
321 |
56.0 |
| Lee Smith (10) |
290 |
50.6 |
| Tim Raines (5) |
279 |
48.7 |
| Alan Trammell (11) |
211 |
36.8 |
| Edgar Martinez (3) |
209 |
36.5 |
Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame Monday after being chosen on 495 of 573 ballots (86%). He will be inducted July 22 in Cooperstown along with the late Ron Santo, elected last month by the Veterans Committee.
“I am so humbled by the experience and so excited about being the newest member of the Hall of Fame,” Larkin said on a conference call.
Playing from 1986-04—all with his hometown Reds—Larkin hit .295 with 198 home runs, 960 RBIs, 2,340 hits and 379 stolen bases. A 12-time All-Star, he won the 1995 NL MVP award, three Gold Gloves and the 1990 World Series. In 1996, he became the first shortstop to have 30 homers and 30 steals in a season. Read more... (182 words, 1 image, estimated 44 secs reading time)
On Monday, Jan. 9, the 2012 inductees for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced, and like every other year, 2012 is sure to have its fair share of snubbs.
Jeff Bagwell knows all too well about being snubbed.
The Houston Astros great received just 47.1 percent of the vote in 2011, his first year on the ballot. To get into Cooperstown, you need to get at least 75 percent of the vote.
But before we get into possible conspiracy theories as to why one of the best-hitting first baseman in recent history missed the cut by such a wide margin, let’s go to the numbers first. Read more... (431 words, 2 images, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)
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Will Jeff Bagwell Get Snubbed Again on Hall of Fame Voting?
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Well Cubs General Manager Theo Epstein has cross trading Carlos Zambrano off his to-do list after the Cub s sent Zambrano to the Miami Marlins for right-hander Chris Volstad.
Zambrano has a career record of 125-81 with a 3.60 ERA, and he finished last year 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA. Volstad went 5-13 last year with an ERA of 4.89, and his career record is 32-39.
I am not sure whether it was the pressure of pitching in a big market in Chicago, or in his immaturity, but Zambrano, a former ace, became expendable due to repeated meltdowns. Zambrano cleaned out his locker after being ejected during a loss to Atlanta on Aug. 12, was suspended without pay and missed the rest of the season. Read more... (207 words, 1 image, estimated 50 secs reading time)
The Dodger faithful can rejoice: Joe Torre is returning to Los Angeles.
No, he’s not coming back to take over the head coaching position that he retired from two seasons ago—actually, his new role will have a much greater impact on the team.
On Wednesday, Torre announced that he had quit his job with Major League Baseball in order to pursue ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I am so appreciative of the chance (commissioner Bud Selig) gave me to see the game from a different perspective by working for Major League Baseball, especially during such a great time for our sport,” Torre said in a statement. “I have made this decision because of a unique chance to join a group that plans to bid for the Dodgers. After leaving the field, this job was an incredible experience, one that I enjoyed very much. I want to thank the commissioner and all of my colleagues over the last year, particularly the members of the baseball operations group and the major league umpires.” Read more... (441 words, 2 images, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)
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Joe Torre Resigns from MLB Position to Pursue Dodgers Ownership
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