Sources: Increasing sense throughout league that Max Scherzer will end up with #Nationals. Unclear if deal is close.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 18, 2015
Executives throughout the MLB believe that Max Scherzer will end up with the Washington Nationals, according to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish. Cotillo later states that it is unclear if the deal between the two parties is close.
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According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, the Detroit Tigers have been in contact with James Shields' agent. General Manager Dave Dombrowski claimed that the team is not pursuing former team ace Max Scherzer, but signs are beginning to point to Shields. However, it is still unclear how extensive the talks have been between the two parties.
The Tigers would save a lot of money by letting go of Scherzer to free agency. Even after inking David Price for $19.75 million over one-year they would still have enough to make a move for Shields because he would cost reasonably less than Scherzer. Dombrowski is not afraid to spend big on pitching to win a championship. Two years ago, he signed Justin Verlander to a seven-year, $180 million extension. Losing Rick Porcello to the Boston Red Sox via trade and possibly Scherzer would hurt the Tigers in many ways, but acquiring Shields would help fill the void in Detroit's rotation. Verlander has also struggled in the past two seasons. Bringing Price back was a huge asset for potentially getting Shields. Both will be free agents after the 2015 season. However, a bigger role is their friendship status: best friends. - Evan Petzold On Friday, the Detroit Tigers avoided arbitration with leftyDavid Price. They agreed to a one-year, $19.75 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. This is a record-breaking arbitration deal. It is the largest salary to be handed out. Price made $14 million in 2014, this is a huge step up for the starting pitcher who will hit the free-agent market in one year.
The 29-year-old went 15-12 and owned a 3.26 ERA with the Tampa Bay Rays and Tigers. He led the MLB with 271 strikeouts. - Evan Petzold Saturday afternoon, the Oakland Athletics made a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. In the deal, Oakland acquired second baseman Ben Zobrist and shortstop Yunel Escobar. Tampa Bay received John Jaso and prospects Daniel Robertson and Boog Powell. The Rays also received cash ($1.5M) from the Athletics in the deal. Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle was the first to report. Later, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports confirmed. The projected lineups for next season are significantly different than what they were last season. Both teams have lots of different options at lots of different positions. Here is my take on what they will look like:
Rays: C: Jaso, Rivera. 1B: Loney. 2B: Franklin, SS: Cabrera, Forsythe. 3B: Longoria. OF: Kiermaier, Jennings, DeJesus. DH: Souza. Athletics: C: Vogt, Phegley, 1B: I. Davis, 2B: Zobrist or Sogard, SS: Escobar or Semien, 3B: Lawrie, OF: Crisp, Reddick, Fuld, Gentry, DH: Butler. Robertson, the team's No. 1 prospect according to MLB.com, projects to be a solid shortstop was taken in the first round of the 2012 draft, and slashed .310/.402/.471 for the Stockton Ports of the California League. Escobar, 32, hit .258 with seven home runs and 39 RBI's. However, he only played in 137 games. He is getting to the end of his prime years in baseball, but will not be a free agent until 2017. If he does not produce to the expectation of the Rays, he may be shipped. Zobrist, 33, only played in 146 games last season, but still managed to hit .272 with 10 home runs. He was able to add 52 RBI's. Zobrist will become a free agent after the 2015 season. He will probably sign a contract with the Athletics if they like what they see in the 2015 season. - Evan Petzold Washington Nationals veteran outfielder Jayson Werth underwent arthroscopic surgery for his right shoulder on Friday. It was to repair a AC joint on the right arm. According to reports, the surgery went well and Werth will be out for about three months. All three used for recovery time. "It's tough, because you want to play," Werth said to reporters at the time of the injury. "But it's the type of injury that is painful, and they tell me I'm not at risk of injuring myself, I guess, once it's to a level that's tolerable. If you piss it off more while it's pissed off, then you're looking at more time. It's tricky."
The 35-year-old has $63 million left on his seven-year, $126 million contract that he signed with Washington in 2010. He will make $21 next season. The Nationals open their season against the New York Mets on April 6. - Evan Petzold According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Arizona Diamondbacks inked utilityman Nick Punto to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training. This has allowed the Diamondbacks to bolster their infield depth. The veteran played in over 100 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2013 season. That was the first time he surpassed that milestone games since 2009. Punto will most likely play alongside Cliff Pennington as a reserve infielder for the 2015 season.
The 37-year-old has played in the league since 2001. Punto has been with the Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Dodgers and now he will play in Arizona. In his bench role last season, Punto slahsed .207/.296/.293 while adding just two home runs and 14 RBI's. However, he has never been a power hitter. The most home runs Punto hit in a single season was four back in 2005. - Evan Petzold Four legends were handed the highest Major League Baseball honor. Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio were elected to the Hall of Fame by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Randy Johnson: 534 votes, 97.3% Pedro Martinez: 500 votes, 91.1% John Smoltz: 455 votes, 82.9% Craig Biggio: 454 voters, 82.7% Johnson appeared on 534 of the 549 ballots submitted. He was just 15 votes shy of a unanimous selction. He is ranks number for in the wins above replacement category for all pitchers and has posted a 28.5 strikeout rate. The highest mark among any starter. "I got goosebumps and I felt like I've never felt before in my life," Johnson said to the Arizona Diamondbacks. "I never joined a fraternity in college and now I'm a part of one of the coolest ones in the world." Smoltz went 213-155 during his 21-year MLB career. He owned a 3.33 ERA and was successful for almost every single team he pitched for. He is most known for 20-years spent with the Atlanta Braves. He spent the next year with both the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals to finish out his career. "I'm about the most competitive person that I know," Smoltz said to the Braves. "I prided myself on giving everything I had." Several players will appear on next years ballot, however, some will not because they failed to appear on five percent of the submitted ballots. Carlos Delgado, Troy Percival and Tom Gordon are three of twelve that will not be on the 2016 Hall of Fame ballot. - Evan Petzold The Detroit Tigers have improved their bullpen, as the club signed veteran lefty Tom Gorzelanny. The deal for Gorzelanny is a one-year deal. The Tigers designated right-hander Luke Putkonen for assignment as a corresponding move. This was to make room for Gorzelanny on the 40-man roster. “Tom is an established reliever who can help solidify the bullpen on the left side,” general manager Dave Dombrowski said in a statement to Brian Beck, “and will be a nice addition to our roster.”
The 32-year-old pitched in 23 games during the 2014 season. He owned a 0.86 ERA while finishing seven of those games, but the left-hander did not earn a save. During his 10-year career, Gorzelanny has a 4.27 ERA, along with a 1.426 WHIP. He has averaged exactly nine hits per nine innings over his career with multiple teams. The veteran has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nations and Milwaukee Brewers, but now he is a part of the Tigers organization. According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, the Chicago White Sox have inked Emilio Bonifacio to a one-year deal worth $4-million. Bonifacio is 29-years-old and is known as an effective utility man. Later, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the deal for Bonifacio also includes a club option for the 2016 season. Bonifacio can play six different positions and will join his fifth team since the beginning of the 2013 season. It is quite possible that he could land a full time job with the White Sox. Bonifacio is another solid addition to the busy White Sox this offseason. They have already acquired Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche, Jeff Samardzija andDavid Robertson this winter.
With both the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs last season, Bonifacio took part in 110 games and managed 426 plate appearances. He slashed .259/.305/.345, while adding three home runs and 24 RBI's for both squads in 2014. Bonifacio stole 26 bases and drew just as many walks. He will provide talent off the bench for the White Sox, but do not rule him out for a starting spot if he impresses the coaching staff during Spring Training. - Evan Petzold The Philadelphia Phillies have brought both experience and durability to their rotation on Monday. It was announced by the team that they signed Aaron Harang to a one-year, $5-million deal. The right-handed starting pitcher is 36-years-old. "Aaron brings a wealth of experience and durability to our rotation," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told MLB.com. "He had a very solid season for the Braves last year and will complement the left-handers in our rotation nicely."
Harang will probably slot in behind both Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee in Philadelphia's rotation next season. However, he may be dealt for prospects at the trade deadline. Harang had a nice bounce back season with the Atlanta Braves in 2014. He went 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA. He passed the 200 innings pitched milestone and was able to start 33 games on the mound. Even with his age, Harang has been reliable in the past. The righty has bounced around from the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Braves and now he is with the Phillies for the 2015 season. With 13-years on his resume, he may plan to retire in the near future. - Evan Petzold |