MLB - NEWS & NOTES

With Cubans you have to compare them to the other guys who came from the same place. Yulieski Gurriel was better than Jose Abreu in the same league, so sure he's past his prime but there is real reason to sign him up for 3-4 years. That stat line is also only this season, which they are only 23 games into, sample size can skew data. He's won the MVP down there a few times I believe so the guy is legit. Lourdes Gurriel Jr is only 22, so they will scout him like any other young player and try to sign him for future potential. I will do a back flip if the Cards get Lourdes.

 

im sure the Cards will be in the thick of things for him. they usually are on these guys.

 

Moreland's $5.7M deal with Rangers avoids arbitration

PHOENIX (AP) ? First baseman Mitch Moreland has agreed to a $5.7 million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing set for Wednesday.

Moreland gets a raise without an arbitration hearing for the third year in a row. He will be eligible for free agency after this year's World Series.

Moreland made $2,975,000 last season, when he hit .278 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs in 132 games, starting 110 of those at first base.

When the sides exchanged figures last month, Moreland asked for $6 million and Texas offered $4.7 million, leaving the settlement $362,500 above the midpoint. Texas hasn't gone to an arbitration hearing since 2000 with Lee Stevens.

Drafted by the Rangers in 2007, Moreland made his major league debut midway through the 2010 season and was part of the team's first World Series that October. He has a .258 average with 88 homers and 294 RBIs in 626 big league games.

 

JD Martinez, Tigers finalize $18.5 million, 2-year deal.

 

Belt, Giants agree at $6.2 million just before hearing

PHOENIX (AP) ? First baseman Brandon Belt and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $6.2 million, one-year contract.

The deal was completed just before the scheduled start of their salary arbitration hearing Wednesday. The agreement was $200,000 below the midpoint between the $7.5 million Belt had asked for and the $5.3 million the Giants had offered when figures were exchanged last month. Belt made $3.6 million last year, and Giants general manager Bobby Evans expressed interest in signing Belt to a multiyear contract before the 2016 season.

The 27-year-old Belt batted .280 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs last year as the Giants missed the playoffs. In 2014, Belt returned from concussions to help lead the Giants to their third World Series in five years.

 

now that is good money. solid numbers for a solid contract. not breaking the bank!

 

Belt didn't get the benefit of the open market.

 

Moustakas, Royals agree to $14.3 million, 2-year contract

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? The Royals and third baseman Mike Moustakas agreed Thursday to a $14.3 million, two-year contract that not only avoids arbitration this year but also buys out his final year.

Coming off his first All-Star appearance, the 27-year-old hit .284 last year with 34 doubles, 22 homers and 82 RBIs while also setting career-highs in on-base percentage and slugging.

Kansas City offered $4.2 million and Moustakas countered with $7 million. The sides settled on $5.6 million this season and $8.7 million next season, keeping general manager Dayton Moore's streak intact of never having taken a case to an arbitration hearing.

All of the Royals' arbitration-eligible players are under contract for this season.

 

not bad money for moose. kc is smart to not load up with $20 mil dollar deals for players.

the phils learned a painful lesson about bad contracts and money that hopefully the new regime will not repeat.

 

Strike 3, your out !



Made history too.

 

Brewers trade OF Khris Davis to Athletics for 2 prospects

MILWAUKEE (AP) ? The Milwaukee Brewers have traded power-hitting outfielder Khris Davis to the Oakland Athletics for a pair of prospects.

Milwaukee acquired catcher Jacob Nottingham and right-handed pitcher Bubba Derby in the deal Friday. The A's and Brewers each won only 68 games last year.

The 28-year-old Davis hit 27 home runs last season, 10th-most in the National League, and he batted .247 with 66 RBIs in 121 games. Davis is not eligible for free agency until after the 2019 season.

Davis has played exclusively in left field during his three seasons in the majors.

The A's have used switch-hitting veteran Coco Crisp and slick-fielding Sam Fuld in left.

The Brewers have acquired several young players since hiring general manager David Stearns last September. Shortstop Jean Segura and reliever Francisco Rodriguez are among the veterans Milwaukee has traded.

Nottingham, who turns 21 in April, hit .316 with 17 home runs and 82 RBIs in Class A last year. He was acquired by the A's in midseason for the deal that sent Scott Kazmir to Houston ? where Stearns had been assistant GM.

Derby, who turns 22 later this month, was 1-1 with a 1.21 ERA in 14 total games at the rookie and Class A levels.

 

It now looks like Lazarito won't sign until July 2, when it appears Victor Garcia and Jonaton Machado will also be available.

 

Closer Aroldis Chapman agrees with Yankees at $11,325,000

NEW YORK (AP) ? Closer Aroldis Chapman and the New York Yankees agreed Friday to a one-year contract worth $11,325,000, avoiding salary arbitration.

Acquired from Cincinnati in December, Chapman had asked for $13.1 million and had been offered $9 million when the sides exchanged figures last month. The agreement was $275,000 above the midpoint.

Chapman threw the 62 fastest pitches in the major leagues last season, ranging from 103.92 to 102.36 mph. He was 4-4 with a 1.63 ERA and 33 saves in 36 chances, striking out 116 and walking 33 in 66 1-3 innings. He made $8,075,000.

Major League Baseball is investigating Chapman under the sport's new domestic abuse policy following a disturbance in Florida on Oct. 30 involving his girlfriend. Prosecutors decided not to file charges.

Players have won three of four cases decided this year. Just two players remain scheduled for arbitration hearings next week: Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu and Houston designated hitter Evan Gattis.

 

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has cast removed, status still uncertain

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina had the cast removed from his injured left thumb, but it will be some time before the team knows if he will be ready to start the season, general manager John Mozeliak said Sunday.

Molina has undergone two surgeries on the thumb during the offseason. The second surgery took place in December, and he was expected to be in a cast for four to five weeks.

"The cast came off. Obviously now it's about gaining strength back," Mozeliak told KMOX Radio in St. Louis. "I really think in about two to three weeks we should have a pretty good idea if he's on pace to be ready to go at the beginning of the season or not. But I think we've just got to be patient. But right now all arrows point positively, and that's exciting."

The second surgery took place because Molina was still experiencing discomfort in the thumb. The first operation came in mid-October after the Cardinals were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series.

After the first procedure, the Cardinals had anticipated he would be ready for spring training. After the second, the team hoped the eight-time Gold Glove winner and seven-time All-Star would be ready for Opening Day.

The 33-year-old Molina returned for the playoffs after injuring the thumb while tagging out the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo at the plate in Chicago on Sept. 20.

 

somehow he's appealing. what is he appealing that he cheated and got caught 3 times? what an idiot.

 

He has an invite to Spring Training also...

 

Latest On Gurriel Brothers

By Jeff Todd | February 16, 2016 at 9:54am CST

The current location of major Cuban ballplayers Yulieski Gurriel and Lourdes Gurriel is still unknown after their recent defection, but they tell MLB.com?s Jesse Sanchez that they are training in secret in preparation for a move to a big league organization. As Sanchez notes, such an ?underground? approach is not uncommon for players seeking to complete their journey away from Cuba.

There are many obstacles still left for the brothers to navigate, of course, but their intentions are not in doubt. ?I know there are a lot of people who worried about us,? said Yulieski, ?but we are working hard and training every day to accomplish our dreams to play in the Major Leagues.?

Notably, the pair does have hopes of signing as a package, which is certainly an intriguing possibility. ?We would like to play together on the same team, have my brother near me,? Yulieski tells Sanchez. ?But if the circumstances don?t permit it and we have to go different paths, that?s what we will do.?

As that quote hints, there very well could be a variety of practicalities that make a common team unlikely. For one thing, the elder Yulieski would likely do well to sign shortly after reaching eligibility, both to increase his value as a near-term contributor and to speed his ascent to the majors. But his younger sibling would need to wait until he turns 23 ? and thereby sheds bonus pool limitations ? to maximize his earnings.

Needless to say, it also isn?t clear whether the same teams that will be most interested in adding a veteran third baseman will also be best-positioned to make a more future-looking investment in Lourdes. Of course, as Dave Cameron of Fangraphs has recently suggested, the package concept could also provide some wiggle room for navigating MLB?s rules.

One important question is whether Yulieski has, as reported, achieved Panamanian residency. He declined to address that matter with Sanchez, but did say that he hopes to join a major league organization ?this year? and has intentions ?to play as soon as possible.? Notably, Panama?s top immigration officer has denied that Yulieski has current residency, per this Spanish-language link to La Prensa.

 

Tommy Hunter gets $2 million in Indians' deal

CLEVELAND (AP) ? Pitcher Tommy Hunter has a $2 million base salary in his one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians.

Hunter can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses as part of Friday's agreement based on pitching appearances: $100,000 each for 25 and 30, and $200,000 apiece for 35, 40, 45 and 50.

A 29-year-old right-hander, Hunter was 4-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 58 relief appearances for Baltimore and the Chicago Cubs, who acquired him on July 31 for outfielder Junior Lake.

Primarily a starter from 2008-12, Hunter has pitched out of the bullpen for the past three seasons. He has a 46-33 career record with a 4.31 ERA in 75 starts and 209 relief appearances for Texas (2008-11), Baltimore (2011-15) and the Cubs.

 

Royals add netting to Kauffman Stadium to improve safety

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? The Royals are installing additional netting at Kauffman Stadium that extends toward the outfield end of each team's dugout to improve the safety for fans sitting along the foul lines.

Several clubs have considered ways to protect fans from foul balls hit into those seats, and some have suggested that similar netting should be mandatory in major league ballparks.

Royals vice president Kevin Uhlich said Wednesday that the club considered several options before deciding on the new netting. The club hopes it strikes a balance between safety and allowing fans sitting in premium seats to have the same kind of ballpark experience as in years past.

The World Series champion Royals play their opener April 4 against the New York Mets, the team they beat in five games for the title.