MLB - NEWS & NOTES

It very well could happen, just as of right now there isn't a signed deal, just an offer. Some are speculating Boras is trying to bait other teams into making an offer that would surpass the alleged Red Sox deal.

 

Too bad he didn't stay in Detroit...

 

Report: The Royals have made a seven-year, $147 million offer to Eric Hosmer...

The offer apparently tops the Padres offer by $7 million over the course of the deal.

 

Dodgers, Royals, White Sox make a three-team trade

The hot stove was finally turned on a few days after the new year — we’re now cooking on low heat this Thursday night. The Dodgers will get Royals reliever Scott Alexander and White Sox minor league infielder Jake Peter, the Royals will receive Dodgers prospect Trevor Oaks and minor league infielder Erick Mejia, and the White Sox will receive Dodgers reliever Luis Avilan, Royals reliever Joakim Soria, and $3 million ($2 million from the Dodgers, $1 million from the Royals). The trade has been announced by all three teams. Here are links to the Dodgers’ tweets.

Alexander, 28, is under team control through 2022 and won’t become eligible for arbitration until after the 2019 season. The lefty has a career 2.78 ERA with a 78/38 K/BB ratio in 94 innings across three seasons in the majors. Alexander is a ground ball machine, having induced them at a 72.9 percent rate, which is the second-highest rate since the start of the 2015 season behind Zach Britton (77.7%).

Peter, 24, was selected by the White Sox in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. This past season, with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, he hit .279/.344/.417 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 516 plate appearances. Peter has spent most of his minor league career at second base but has also played third base, shortstop, and both outfield corners.

Oaks, 24, was selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. MLB Pipeline rated him as the No. 14 overall prospect in the Dodgers’ system. The right-hander spent most of his 2017 season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, putting up a 3.64 ERA with a 72/18 K/BB ratio in 84 innings.

Mejia, 23, was signed by the Mariners as an international free agent in June 2012, then sent to the Dodgers in the Joe Wieland trade in January 2016. He spent most of his 2017 campaign with Double-A Tulsa, batting .289/.357/.413 with 25 stolen bases and 61 runs scored in 403 plate appearances. Mejia has spent most of his time at shortstop, but has also logged time at second base and third base.

Avilan, 28, is eligible for arbitration in his third of four years. This past season, the lefty posted a 2.93 ERA with a 52/22 K/BB ratio in 46 innings.

Soria, 33, pitched 56 innings for the Royals last year with a 3.70 ERA and a 64/20 K/BB ratio. He is owed $9 million for the 2018 season and has a mutual option for 2019 worth $10 million with a $1 million buyout.

What does this mean for the teams involved? The Dodgers acquire a solid lefty reliever to replace Tony Watson, who became a free agent, and remain able to stay under the $197 million luxury tax threshold. The Royals clear Soria’s salary, which allows them to potentially bring back Eric Hosmer (or sign someone else). The White Sox got a pair of solid relievers without breaking the bank. (HBT)

 

Slow Winter so far, in my opinion... Things should heat up soon. Some really big FA's remain up for grabs.

 

Report: Padres re-sign Craig Stammen to two-year deal
The oft-injured reliever netted a two-year, $4.5 million deal with the Padres on Friday.

 

Red Sox avoid arbitration with Steven Wright
The knuckleballer settled for a one-year, $1.1 million deal in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

 

Padres trade Yangervis Solarte to the Blue Jays
The Padres will receive minor leaguers Edward Olivares and Jared Carkuff in the trade.

 

Mets sign Jay Bruce to three-year, $39 million contract

 

solid deal there. not backbreaking at all.

 

Toronto, Donaldson agree on record $23M deal
Blue Jays unable to strike deals with Osuna, Stroman

TORONTO -- Josh Donaldson did not get the long-term deal he was hoping for -- at least not yet -- but a record-setting pre-arbitration settlement should come as a pretty good consolation prize.

Donaldson and the Blue Jays avoided arbitration on Friday morning by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $23 million (all figures in U.S. dollars). The deal came just a couple of hours before Friday's 1 p.m. ET deadline for teams and players to exchange figures in preparation of the arbitration process. (MLB.com)

 

Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey passed away due to natural causes on Saturday. He was 87.

Harvey was the ninth umpire elected to the Hall of Fame and one of the final Major League umpires who never attended an umpiring school. Over his 31 years in baseball, spent entirely in the National League, Harvey worked 4,673 games, which is the fifth most all-time and was the third most for any umpire at the time of his retirement in 1992.

"Hall of Famer Doug Harvey was one of the most accomplished umpires of all-time," Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement on Sunday. "Known for his strong presence and communication skills, he umpired some of the most memorable moments ever, including from behind the plate for Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run to open the 1988 World Series. A generation of umpires learned as a result of Doug's example, his eagerness to teach the game and his excellent timing behind the plate.

"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Doug's family, his friends and the umpiring community."

 

MCCUTCHEN TO SF for 2 lesser known prospects. Wow. Talk about a steal here.

 

Curtis Granderson to the Jays 1 year $5M. That is on the cheap side. Many were thinking closer to $10M.

 

That's a good deal for Grandy... Jays like the power guys.

 

Joy reuilding mode and its bad mode rebuilding we didnt get equal value for cole either.

 

Nats ink Kendrick for two years...

Astros acquire Gerrit Cole from Pirates...

The Pirates have reportedly signed reliever Felipe Rivero to a four-year contract extension...

Yadier Molina plans to retire when his contract ends, that would be after the 2020 season...

Report: Mets sign Adrian Gonzalez
After getting released by the Braves last month, it looks like Gonzalez will make his home in the NL East after all...

 

yeah sad. 2 pieces that could easily help the buccos in trades and you guys got hornswaggled.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/heres-baseballs-economic-system-might-broken-224638354.html

long, but great article on the failed economics of baseball. a great read guys. I wouldn't steer you wrong.

 

The Cubs have reportedly signed lefty Brian Duensing to a two-year, $7 million deal.