LaHair designated as Cubs set 40-man roster

Club protects Watkins, McNutt, Villanueva, Whitenack from Rule 5 Draft

By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com | 11/20/12 8:11 PM ET

CHICAGO --

The Cubs selected the contracts of four players, including Logan Watkins, their Minor League Player of the Year, and added them to the 40-man roster but also designated All-Star Bryan LaHair for assignment.

Besides Watkins, right-handed pitcher Trey McNutt, infielder Christian Villanueva and right-handed pitcher Robert Whitenack were added to the Cubs' roster, which is now at 40.

Major League Baseball's deadline to protect players is Tuesday at 10:59 p.m. CT. Players first signed at age 18 must be added to 40-man rosters within five years or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years old are to be protected within four years.

Clubs pay $50,000 to select a player in the Rule 5 Draft, to be held on Dec. 6 at the conclusion of the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. If that player doesn't stay on the 25-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $25,000.

Among the players left unprotected was right-hander Nick Struck, who was the organization's 2012 Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

The Cubs are pursuing an opportunity for LaHair, 30, with a Japanese team. He batted .259 with 16 home runs and 40 RBIs in 130 games but lost the first-base job to rookie Anthony Rizzo.

The Cubs also announced right-handed pitcher Carlos Gutierrez, 26, who was claimed off waivers from the Twins on Oct. 24, has cleared waivers and been assigned outright to Triple-A Iowa.

Watkins, 23, a 21st-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, batted .281 for Tennessee and finished second in the league in walks and triples. He led the league in runs scored (93) and compiled a 13-game hitting streak in June, collecting seven multihit games in that stretch.

McNutt, 23, has been considered a top prospect since he went 10-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 2010 for Class A Peoria, Daytona and Tennessee. In 2011, he was 5-6 with a 4.55 ERA in 23 games for the Smokies, and this season, went 9-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 34 games (17 starts).

Villanueva, 21, was acquired from the Rangers in the Ryan Dempster deal in July, and batted .279 for Class A Myrtle Beach and Daytona combined, with 14 home runs, 24 doubles and 68 RBIs. He was playing for Obregon in the Mexican Winter League. He began his Cubs career by hitting a home run in each of his first two at-bats in his first game with Daytona.

An eighth-round pick in 2009, Whitenack, who turned 24 on Tuesday, has been slowed after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011. He began the 2011 season 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 11 starts between Daytona and Tennessee, earning Southern League All-Star honors, before he was sidelined with an elbow injury.

Besides Struck, other players not protected include Frank Batista, 23, who converted 23 of his first 24 save opportunities for Tennessee. A Southern League All-Star, he compiled a 2.22 ERA in 43 games, but did struggle in a brief stint with Triple-A Iowa, posting a 5.87 ERA in six games.

The Dodgers have signed five players to Minor League contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training. Those who agreed to terms were right-handed pitchers Gregory Infante, Hector Correa, Kelvin De La Cruz, Juan Abreu and catcher Wilkin Castillo.

Ichiro thanks Amy Franz, fan who invented the ‘Ichimeter,’ with gifts and a note

By Steve DelVecchio November 21, 2012 - Posted in Baseball
Anyone who has watched a Seattle Mariners home game over the past eight years may have taken note of the “Ichimeter.” The Ichimeter is a hit-counter that was invented by Mariners Amy Franz in 2004, when it was used to count Ichiro’s hits on his way to an MLB record 262 hits in a single season. Over the past several seasons, the Ichimeter has been used to count the total amount of hits Ichiro has in his MLB career.

On Tuesday, Ichiro decided to thank Franz for her loyal service in operating the Ichimeter all those years by sending her a thank you package. Franz proudly shared the goods on Twitter, which included some autographed items and the thank you note that you see below.
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Fans all around the country dedicate themselves to traditions like the one Franz created in Seattle, but very few of them are ever personally thanked by a future Hall of Famer. We already knew Ichiro was capable of incredible feats like this one on the field, but it’s refreshing to see a star player who cares about making a person’s day off of it as well.

About Steve DelVecchio:

Steve DelVecchio is an editor and lead contributor for Larry Brown Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @SteveDelSports.

JEREMY GUTHRIE

The Royals and the least exciting rotation in the land

By Grant Brisbee on Nov 21, 10:01a

Before the Guthrie signing, the Royals weren't likely to contend. After the Guthrie signing, well, you're never going to believe this, but ...

It's hard to remember now, but last year at this time, the Royals were something of a hip pick to make noise in the A.L. Central. Not win the division outright, really. Just "make noise." I guess that can describe a team threatening to win more than 85 games, or it can describe what happens when someone steps on a chinchilla, but in this case "making noise" means the Royals had a chance to be competitive.

They lost 90 games, the fourth straight season in which they lost 90 or more, eighth season of their last nine, and 12th of their last 16. They tend to lose 90 games or so every season. So it goes.

It's not fair to suggest their bad season was because "Royals gonna Royal" or some other tautology, though. They were supposed to have a youngish, potent offense and a rotation with some interesting pieces. But two of those interesting pieces -- Danny Duffy and Felipe Paulino -- went down to elbow injuries. Another one of those interesting pieces, Jonathan Sanchez, was interesting in the same way that the end of Requiem for a Dream was interesting. Luke Hochevar joined another recent Royal on a list that he didn't want to be on.

The idea was sound. Then baseball happened in all the wrong places. The good news is the Royals still have those young hitters. Even better news is that Wil Myers is coming up soon, and he might turn into the best hitter of all.

And if you're going to have young hitters of note, you'll need pitchers to keep you in the game. Thus, the siren call of the league-average pitcher is strong for a team like this. Just get a staff of league-average pitchers, and they'll be just fine. Maybe more than fine. The attempt at such a rotation, so far:

1. Jeremy Guthrie
2. Ervin Santana
3. Bruce Chen
4. Luke Hochevar
5. Luis Mendoza

Guthrie's contract -- three years, $25 million -- is making some people giggle, but more than a few are making a case for it. Guthrie is an average pitcher, the argument goes. He's an innings eater. Nom nom nom. He can eat 200 innings of varying quality, and that's an underrated and valuable thing. Based off WAR, FanGraphs' estimates suggest he's being paid his proper value.

That argument is completely accurate. Just not for the Royals.

If the Royals could magically guarantee league-average goodness and innings-eating wonder from Guthrie, Santana, and Chen, they would probably -- wait for it -- make some noise in the Central. With the bullpen a strength and the offense (hopefully) on the rise, some middle-of-the-road innings-eating would be a huge boon. The pitching wouldn't be a reason they could contend, but it wouldn't be a reason they couldn't, either.

Here's what will happen, though: One of the innings-eaters will do what he's supposed to. One will do worse. One will either do much worse, or he'll be injured. There's no algorithm that comes with that guess. It was pulled straight from the nether regions. But when the best-case scenario of the entire rotation is something around "acceptable", that leaves a lot of room for "unacceptable."

Also, I'm getting paid for every time I type "innings eater" in this piece. So bear with me. I'm the Livan Hernandez of words about baseball.

Pretend there's a team in baseball. We'll call them the "Phillies." And pretend this team has four starters locked in stone -- maybe two or three of them are aces, but they're all quality. Now that's a team that can use an innings eater at the back of the rotation. The upside doesn't have to be there. The pitchers at the end of the rotation just have to be better gambles in the short term than the in-house options. The teams that aren't counting on the innings eaters are the ones that can actually use them.

But the Royals are counting on the whole lot of them to do decent things. Maybe you can sort of do that with elite pitchers, but once you get down to the Guthries of the baseball world, there's a lot more uncertainty and variance. And Guthrie is the best of the three at the top of the rotation. He's supposed to be the lock.

The alternative for the Royals was to sit on the money and give the rotation spot to a worse pitcher. These are no longer the days of "Just spend it on the draft/international market!", so it's not like they did a bad thing. If the alternative is a worse rotation and a richer ownership group, it's hard to get mad at re-signing Guthrie or trading for Santana. They're just moves devoid of a whole lot of upside. And the Royals could use some upside.

If Duffy and Paulino come back healthy and effective, or if a couple of prospects come up to do what Hochevar never could, then Guthrie will make a lot more sense. The good news is that he'll still be around! That's also the bad news. Until the Royals get better around him, it's a move that doesn't allow them to ... wait for it ... make a lot of noise. Jeremy Guthrie has value, and so does Ervin Santana. That expected value probably isn't too different from what they'll be paid for. The Royals still aren't going to contend. All of that can be true at the same time.

Smart moves, not big money, can make the offseason

Wheeling and dealing, shrewd signings often better in turning around a team

By Anthony Castrovince | Archive

11/23/12 10:00 AM ET

Cespedes had a strong rookie season in Oakland, batting .292 with 23 home runs and 82 RBIs

Thanksgiving spending spree taking place across the United States on Black Friday stands as a precursor, of sorts, to the high-dollar dealing that has been initiated -- but will soon explode -- within Major League Baseball.

It is a fact that some clubs will try to buy their way into respectability this winter, try to use dollars to bridge the distance between a losing record in 2012 and October life next fall. Perhaps they'll be successful, though a less-than-spectacular free-agent market won't make that task any easier.

The free-agent forays make for good discussion this time of year. But what's more interesting is watching general managers attempt to work their magic, molding a contender out of raw clay, sometimes in subtle ways.

Baseball, at its core, tends to be a sport that appeals to and rewards the patient. Not just because of its pace of play, but also because of the decidedly deliberate manner of club construction it takes to build a winner. It is a sport in which it is especially difficult to go from worst to first, and a sub-.500 standing one year doesn't bode particularly well for a postseason berth the next.

And yet, quite a few clubs have countered that assumption quite convincingly. Several shrewd GMs have sped up the timetable, so to speak. In very few of those examples, free agency was the obvious theme of the dramatic turnaround.

Consider this: In the past five seasons, 10 of the possible 42 postseason teams (including four in 2012) were teams that had losing records the year before. Those teams are as follows: the 2008 White Sox, '08 Rays, '09 Rockies, '10 Reds, '11 D-backs, '11 Brewers, '12 Nationals, '12 Reds, '12 A's and '12 Orioles.

Obviously, some of those examples are more extreme than others. The 2011 Nats, for instance, finished just one game under .500, while the '11 Orioles were 12 back of the break-even mark.

But now more than ever, in an era of an expanded postseason field, clubs have the ability to talk (and work) themselves into a basis for belief, just as those 10 teams did. And it is interesting -- and perhaps instructive -- to note that none of those 10 teams made their leap after making major expenditures in free agency proper.

I say "proper" because the most impactful spending among that group of clubs came in the international investments made by the '08 White Sox, '10 Reds and '12 A's in Cuban imports Alexei Ramirez, Aroldis Chapman and Yoenis Cespedes, respectively, and the '12 Orioles' signing of Taiwanese right-hander Wei-Yin Chen.

This illustrates a grander point in the game, that an intelligent approach to the international waters is essential in building a ballclub, though the particulars of that environment changed considerably with last year's Collective Bargaining Agreement and the spending caps it put in place (it is worth noting, however, that Ramirez, Cespedes and Chen, all of whom were over 23 and playing in what is considered to be a professional environment, would not have counted against that cap, had it been in place at the time they were signed).

More often, though, it's been an opportunistic approach in the trade market that has allowed clubs to make sizable climbs.

There are many ways to approach that market.

For the 2011 Brewers, '12 Reds and '12 Nationals, the approach was to deal from depth in the farm system to add impact arms in Zack Greinke, Mat Latos and Gio Gonzalez, respectively. Proven frontline starting pitching was, is and always will be the game's most important commodity when trying to build a World Series winner, though the costs in prospects can obviously be punitive (and the full scope of the costs from each of those deals cannot yet be analyzed). But each of those clubs was rewarded in the immediate for their willingness to sacrifice some of the future.

Sometimes the right deal means knowing when to part with proven talent. With the 2008 Rockies, who dealt Matt Holliday for a package that included Carlos Gonzalez and Huston Street, it was a fairly obvious decision, in that Holliday was a year away from free agency and unlikely to sign an extgension.

But for the 2008 Rays, who dealt Delmon Young in a trade with the Twins that landed them Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett, it was about knowing how to cash in on a commodity that still had a ton of affordable upside. Young had been projected as a superstar, but the Rays had enough concerns about his makeup and his solid-but-not-spectacular rookie year to give him up. Garza and Bartlett were key contributors to that year's American League championship team and later netted the Rays a prospect haul of nine players in two separate deals.

The 2012 A's are the most dramatic (and possibly unrepeatable) example of a team using the trade market to turn around, as they dealt three All-Star pitchers -- Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill and Andrew Bailey -- to reshape their roster and build what turned out to be a division champion.

And the 2012 O's are the most dramatic example of that aforementioned subtlety. Suffice to say when they signed Chen or Miguel Gonzalez or traded Jeremy Guthrie for Jason Hammel, people didn't start propping them up as Wild Card contenders.

Point is, for the likes of the Royals, Red Sox, Pirates, Padres and several others with reasonable pieces in place, you can take that big step from one year to the next, provided you approach the winter in the right way.

The Blue Jays have obviously made the biggest splash in that attempt, though their trade with the Marlins almost had a free-agent feel to it, in that it involved the acquisition of so much monetary commitment. A year from now, we'll know how well this approach worked.

What we can assume for now, given recent history, is that somebody is going to jump from sub-.500 to the playoffs, and they'll likely have their offseason dealings to thank.

I think you could also add Yasiel Puig and Alay Soler to that list of players not counting against the cap when they were signed.

I would have invested in Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig, and Alay Soler. I think they were all worth the risks involved. In fact, I was on the bandwagon when I heard that all three had abandoned Cuba for greener pastures. Lake Erie would have sufficed for those greener pastures.

Last NY Giant to hit home run dies at Va. home

The Associated Press – Fri, Nov 23, 2012 11:19 AM EST...
GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) --

The last player to hit a home run for the New York Giants before they moved has died.

A funeral home says former Major League Baseball player Gail Harris died at his Gainesville, Va., home on Nov. 14. He was 81.

The final home run before the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1957 came against Pittsburgh. Harris played for the New York Giants and the Detroit Tigers between 1955 and 1960.

Following his career as a first baseman he worked in insurance sales.

A memorial service was held for Harris in Manassas, Va. on Nov. 17. Pierce Funeral Homes says his remains were cremated.

Harris was originally from Abingdon, Va.

Bourn offers cornucopia of skills on open market

Speedy center fielder doesn't rest on laurels, disproves doubters

By Richard Justice | Archive11/24/12 7:00 PM ET

There was a time -- and not that long ago -- when some of us doubted Michael Bourn would ever be in this position. He's poised to make millions in free agency as an impact player at the top of the lineup and in center field, and the Nationals and Phillies are among several teams believed to be interested.

If that was all Bourn brought to the table, it would be plenty. In the last four seasons, he has averaged 93 runs, 54 stolen bases and a .348 on-base percentage. Still, in Bourn's case, there's much more.

He has one of those happy, infectious personalities that wears well during the grind of a baseball season. If Bourn has ever had a bad day, he has never let anyone know it.

He shows up with a smile and believes in the old-fashioned ideas of working hard and never taking anything for granted. Branch Rickey once said it's impossible to really know a player until you have him on your team. That's how it is with Bourn. Some team is going to get a first-rate player, but it's going to get an even better man.

OK, back to his journey, one that speaks volumes about his toughness and commitment to maximizing every ounce of talent.

For instance, in 2008, his first full season as an everyday player, he batted .229. I know, I know. Batting average doesn't tell the whole story. Didn't then. Doesn't now. In this case, it told enough. Bourn struck out 111 times that season, drew 37 walks and had a .288 on-base percentage.

He was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Brad Lidge from the Astros to the Phillies, and while Lidge was helping the City of Brotherly Love win a World Series, Bourn was fighting his guts out to prove he belonged in the Major Leagues.

When the Astros showed up at Spring Training in 2009, Lance Berkman tapped Bourn on the shoulder one day and invited him to join him for a post-workout round of batting practice in the indoor cages.

Over the next few weeks, they did this almost every day, mostly with Berkman talking and Bourn listening. Berkman had some mechanical suggestions, but the lessons appeared to be mostly mental.

Some of it was as simple as going to home plate with a game plan for both the situation and the pitcher. Some of it was about dealing with failure, that is, accepting that sometimes the pitcher wins the battle.

It's very tough to get a Major League Baseball player to dramatically change his approach once he has arrived. Regardless of the struggles, he figures he made it doing things one way and would be a fool to change.

That's especially true in Bourn's case, because he had the gift of blazing speed. Even if he never became a good offensive player, he had a gift that was likely to keep him in the Major Leagues for a long time.

But what Bourn showed the Astros that spring -- and what he has shown managers, teammates and others in the years since -- is that he burns to be great. One of the things teammates remember about him is how hard he works and how committed he is to improving every part of his game.

(I have a photo somewhere of a Houston Little League team that had Bourn, Carl Crawford and Jason Bourgeois on it. All three future Major League outfielders played the infield on that team. Yes, they won a state championship.)

In those first years in the Major Leagues, Bourn was not a great defensive player either. But he fielded hundreds of balls over the years, improved both his jump and his route to fly balls. He studied hitters, ballparks, the whole nine yards.

Since hitting .229 in 2008, Bourn has batted .288 in four Major League seasons. He has led the National League in steals three times, is a two-time Gold Glove winner and a two-time All-Star. He was 18th in National League Most Valuable Player balloting this season.

At 29, he's not as good as he believes he can be. He hasn't said that, but I know him well enough to know that there's some part of his game -- bunting, throwing, running, something -- that he's committed to improving this offseason.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, Bourn's 6.0 Wins Above Replacement number was tied with Chase Headley for sixth-best in the National League, just 1.2 points behind leader Buster Posey.

Whether you buy that number or not, there's no question some team is going to do a really smart thing in the next few weeks when it signs Bourn. That team is going to know it's getting a good player, but that's just going to be the beginning of what it'll be getting.

Napoli weighing options, including Rangers

By Evan Drellich / MLB.com | 11/24/12 4:00 PM ET

Mike Napoli met with the Mariners this past week, and the free-agent catcher/first baseman is still talking to the club he may leave, the Rangers.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told The Dallas Morning News on Friday that "lines of communication remain open" between his club and Napoli.

Now, team No. 3 has a chance to make its pitch, according to CBS Sports.

The Red Sox have a huge hole at first base after trading Adrian Gonzalez to Los Angeles in their house-cleaning blockbuster, and Napoli is expected in Boston to meet with Sox brass this weekend.

Napoli, 31, has a combined 54 home runs the past two seasons, and he can play catcher, first base or serve as a designated hitter. Whichever team signs him will likely look at him as a hybrid rather than an anchor at one of those positions.

The sticking point in negotiations could be the difference between a three- and four-year deal, according to ESPN. Napoli's done great at Fenway Park in 24 career games, including the postseason. He has a .307/.404/.733 line with nine home runs and 20 RBIs in 75 at-bats.

The Mariners, meanwhile, want a middle-of-the-order bat in an otherwise young lineup.

I don't really like the fact that Napoli is 31 but I wouldn't mind seeing Bourne and Napoli under my Christmas tree this winter. Santana can move to first and Gomes becomes Napoli's backup.

Successful teams build up the middle.

It would be a nice foundation to build around.

Which Pitching Prospects Will Wil (Myers) Yield for The Royals?

Myers' powerful year earns MiLBY

Outfielder knocks 37 homers, 109 RBIs to erase difficult 2011

Let’s keep this all very simple and put it in bullet-form. According to a report Friday from the venerable Jeff Passan:

•the Royals are willing to trade their top prospect — and, perhaps, baseball’s top prospect — Wil Myers

•the Royals will seek young, front-line starting pitching in any deal for Myers

•the Royals have discussed such a swap with the Rays, the D-backs, the A’s and the Mariners

As much as it might seem a surprise for a down-and-out, on-its-way-back team to be “dangling” or “shopping” such an impactful slugger with zero Major League service time, this news should not, in fact, come as a surprise. Let’s stay simple and explain why:

•the Royals appear set with their outfield to begin 2013 — and unwilling to make room for Myers (he could force the issue with a big Spring Training)

•the Royals appear set with an offensive nucleus of young sluggers (which includes the names Butler, Gordon, Moustakas, Hosmer, Perez — not Myers)

•the Royals do not appear set with their starting rotation (in no small part because prospects Mike Montgomery, John Lamb and Chris Dwyer have stalled in the Minors)

Which brings us to the Rays, the D-backs, the A’s and the Mariners. What Passan doesn’t tell us, I will. What he doesn’t tell us, of course, is which pitching prospects Kansas City might be targeting from each of these four potential trading partners. Let’s take them one at a time:

The Rays

•Major League rotation: James Shields, David Price, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, Alex Cobb/Jeff Niemman
CHRIS ARCHER

•Expendable prospects: Chris Archer (AAA), Alex Torres (AAA), Alex Colome (AAA), Enny Romero (High-A), Felipe Rivero (A), Taylor Guerrieri and Blake Snell (Low-A)

•The proposal for Myers: Chris Archer and Taylor Guerrieri for Myers

•Why it Wil/won’t work:

The Rays will be loathe to part with two elite hurlers and may insist on an Archer-and-anybody-but-Guerrieri package, but including their 2011 first-round draftee probably puts them ahead in the race to land Myers. And Tampa Bay might overpay (in its mind) to get a can’t-miss slugger that it can control contractually for the next six years. … Don’t discount Romero or Rivero, who like Guerrieri are far away from the Majors, but have very live arms.

The D-backs

•Major League rotation: Ian Kennedy, Trevor Cahill, Daniel Hudson, Wade Miley, Pat Corbin/Tyler Skaggs

•Expendable prospects: Trevor Bauer (AAA), David Holmberg (AA), Anthony Meo (High-A), Archie Bradley (A)

•The proposal for Myers: Trevor Bauer, David Holmberg and Anthony Meo for Myers and SS/2B prospect Christian Colon

•Why it Wil/won’t work: We’ve seen national reports that — before they were shot down — depicted the D-backs making and taking calls on Trevor Bauer. So this could be the trade makes the most sense: Arizona trades a pitcher it undervalues to Kansas City for a slugger it undervalues. Has there ever been a prospects-only deal that could also be a change-of-scenery-needed swap for both players? … I expanded my proposal above to include two more Arizona hurlers because we know that the D-backs are starving for a shortstop and that the Royals’ Colon, while not a plus defender at the position, can hit enough to play there. (And Colon is obviously blocked in K.C. by Alcides Escobar.)

The A’s

•Major League rotation: Brett Anderson, Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone, A.J. Griffin, Bartolo Colon/Brandon McCarthy (free agent)

•Expendable prospects: Dan Straily (AAA), Brad Peacock (AAA), Sonny Gray (AA), A.J. Cole (High-A)

•The proposal for Myers: Dan Straily and Brad Peacock for Myers

•Why it Wil/won’t work: What do Billy Beane and Co. in Oakland have going for them? They may be the lone club of the four that can offer Dayton Moore two Major League-ready, top-of-the-rotation pitchers. The Royals could insist on the more-proven A.J. Griffin or the higher-ceiling Cole, but it’s hard to imagine them not being at least instrigued by a Straily-Peacock combo. … One flaw in this proposal is really two: Peacock, for all of his stuff, had a 6.01ERA at Triple-A this year, and it would behoove GM Moore to wonder if he is too much like another exiled Athletic right-hander: Vin Mazzaro.

The Mariners

•Major League rotation: Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, Hisashi Iwakuma, Blake Beavan, Erasmo Ramirez

•Expendable prospects: Danny Hultzen (AAA), Taijuan Walker (AA), James Paxton (AA), Brandon Maurer (AA), Jordon Shipers (A)

•The proposal for Myers: Danny Hultzen and Jordan Shipers for Myers

•Why it Wil/won’t work: Of the four, this deal has the most obstacles to getting done. The Mariners will offer Danny Hultzen, the Royals will want Taijuan Walker, and the Mariners will not want to counter with the logical next best thing: Hultzen AND James Paxton. And I don’t blame them. The M’s MLB rotation is thin, and all three members of the Hultzen-Walker-Paxton trio will probably be needed in Seattle by 2014. Pulling off this transaction would be as gutsy as that Michael Pineda-for-Jesus Montero memory of last offseason.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Toronto Blue Jays to host National Amateur Tournament at Rogers Centre

Press Release Toronto Blue Jays


The Toronto Blue Jays will host an elite national amateur tournament (Tournament 12) at Rogers Centre from September 20-24, 2013.

The goal of the tournament is to showcase the best college eligible amateur baseball players in the country to professional scouts from all teams and educational institutions across North America. The tournament will feature 12 teams from across Canada, including three from Ontario; two from each of British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta; one team representing the Maritimes; and one team representing Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The final squad will be a Blue Jays Scout Team comprised of players from all provinces.

“The creation of Tournament 12 is a first for amateur baseball in Canada. It is an opportunity to showcase the elite baseball talent that exists in our country. If, through this tournament, we help provide the opportunity for Canada’s best to further their education through baseball or pursue their professional aspirations, then the efforts of all involved have been well worth it.” – Stephen Brooks, Senior Vice-President, Business Operations, Toronto Blue Jays.

Legendary Blue Jays Hall of Famer #12 Roberto Alomar will act as the Honourary Tournament Commissioner.

“It’s a tremendous honour to be associated with such an important event for amateur baseball in Canada. This tournament will provide young Canadian players with an excellent opportunity to showcase their talents and I’m very excited to be associated with such an important venture.” - Alomar

Each club will feature 22 players and four coaches, with all rosters selected by the Toronto Blue Jays Scouting Department. There is no age restriction, however all players must have college eligibility. Interested managers and coaches can apply to participate at bluejays.com/baseballacademy. Applications for players will be accepted in the new year once managerial and coaching staffs have been determined.

Steven Wright: Did the Boston Red Sox Quietly Trade for the Next Tim Wakefield?

By Doug Mead

About the only thing I know about Steven Wright is that he says some things that really make no sense at all.

Things like:

"I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol."

"Don't you hate when your hand falls asleep and you know it will be up all night?"

"I invented the cordless extension cord."

Oh, wait...we're not talking about that Steven Wright?

My bad.

Fans of the Boston Red Sox probably know the comedian known as Steven Wright very well—he was born and raised in eastern Massachusetts.

But the Steven Wright that the Sox traded for? Not so much.

The one identifying feature about Wright is the fact that he throws a knuckleball, which is what Sox fans can relate to, having watched Tim Wakefield spin his magic at Fenway Park for 17 seasons.

Wright was dealt for Lars Anderson, a once-heralded hitting prospect who never quite developed into the hitter that Boston expected, and was seemingly stuck behind Adrian Gonzalez at first base and in the outfield, where at least six or seven players were listed on the depth chart in front of him.

Wright was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the second round of the 2006 MLB draft, and when he was drafted from the University of Hawaii, the knuckleball was not a part of his repertoire.

Wright made it to Triple-A in 2009 but was unable to replicate the success he achieved at the lower levels, being sent back down to Double-A ball on two separate occasions.

After finding himself back at the lower levels again in 2010, Wright realized he needed to make a change if he was going to live out his dream of reaching the majors.

He started "messing around" with the knuckleball, originally intending to use it as an out pitch. Now, some two years later, it's his bread and butter.

For his entire major league career, Wakefield thrived with using just one pitch—a knuckleball. His path to the majors was a bit different from Wright's, however. Drafted originally as a first baseman by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988, Wakefield quickly found out that hitting at the professional level as opposed to the amateur level was quite a bit different.

Wakefield began tinkering with a knuckleball in 1989 and was converted to a pitcher by the Pirates in 1990, making his pitching debut in Single-A ball. Two years later, Wakefield helped lead the Pirates to the NL East division title, posting an 8-1 record and 2.15 ERA down the stretch, and then winning two games in the NLCS to boot.

Three years later, after floundering while trying to find his way with the knuckler, the Pirates released Wakefield, who was then picked by the Red Sox. Seventeen years later, he retired just six wins shy of the Red Sox record for wins all-time, trailing only the great Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

Before Wright's trade to the Red Sox on Tuesday, Rob Leary, a former Red Sox coach now serving as the Indians' minor league field coordinator, reached out to Wakefield, asking him to have a conversation with Wright.

Now, Wright will have much more access to Wakefield, who now serves as a studio analyst for NESN, the Red Sox's cable television network.

There's no question there was a method behind this trade. Wright was 9-6 with a 2.49 ERA in 20 starts for Double-A Akron, and will now report to the Red Sox Double-A affiliate, the Portland SeaDogs.

Wright sees this as a clear opportunity to realize his dream and follow in Wakefield's footsteps.

"We just talked on the phone a little bit before my last start," Wright said. "It was nice to pick his brain.

Red Sox fans are lamenting the lack of moves made by the Sox front office before the trade deadline, with the Sox pulling off only one deal, picking up reliever Craig Breslow from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Matt Albers and Scott Podsednik.

While the trade for Wright certainly seems minor in comparison, it could pay dividends in the end.

It certainly did in the case of Wakefield.

Boston's newest knuckler pitched well enough in his one start with Double-A Portland, but has done very well while with Triple-A Pawtucket to end the regular season. Wright started four contests for the PawSox, averaging five innings per outing, while keeping the ball in the park, the walks under control, and the ball missing enough bats to strikeout three times as many batters as he walked.
Wright is 27, and no sure thing in the majors, or even in Triple-A.

But knucklers can take some time to get going, if they go at all, and Wright is no exception. Not to get too crazy about what Wright could become, but former Red Sox hurler Wilbur Wood didn't become a successful starter with the knuckler until he was 29 years old and in his dozenth professional season. Tim Wakefield didn't get a stable gig until he was 28, same with Tom Candiotti. R.A. Dickey, the game's current premiere (and okay, only) knuckler, didn't really figure things out until he was in his mid-30s. Wright isn't necessarily going to turn into any of those guys, but there's reason to be patient with knucklers. Just in case they do become one of them.
Red Sox Prospect Steven Wright: Continuing Baseball’s Knuckleball Tradition

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Andrew Martin

Successful knuckleball pitchers are about as common in baseball as a Triple Crown winner, and they are always in danger of going extinct. R.A. Dickey is the only current major league pitcher regularly throwing the pitch, but he could soon have a fellow adherent if Boston Red Sox prospect Steven Wright has anything to say about it.

The right-handed Wright grew up in Moreno Valley, California and attended college at the University of Hawaii. He parlayed an excellent junior season in 2006- where he went 11-2 with a 2.30 and earned second team All-American status- into getting picked by the Cleveland Indians in the second round of that year’s MLB Draft.

Initially a starter, Wright had moderate success in his first few professional seasons before converting to the bullpen, highlighted by a 10-0 record with the Akron Aeros in Double-A in 2009.

Despite possessing a fastball capable of reaching 90 MPH, the Indians approached Wright in 2011 about adopting a knuckleball and returning to the starting rotation. He agreed and held his own, going a combined 4-8 with a 4.58 ERA in 25 games.

Wright was even better in 2012, going 9-6 with a 2.54 ERA in 25 starts with Akron, but received a surprise at the trade deadline when he was dealt to the Red Sox for Lars Anderson. By the end of the year he was pitching effectively in Triple-A, and on the cusp of realizing his dream of playing in the major leagues.

Although it is unlikely he will start 2013 in Boston, Wright represents intriguing pitching depth for the Red Sox; something they sorely lacked this past year. If his knuckleball continues to dance there is a great chance he will be pitching in Boston by the end of the season.

I recently had a chance to interview Wright and find out more how he continues the knuckleball tradition on his way to the majors. Check out more information on his career stats and also follow him on Twitter if you want to follow his progress through next season.

Steven Wright Interview:

Who was your favorite player when you were growing up, and why?: My favorite baseball players were Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan. I loved the way they pitched with such aggression. You can tell they were extremely focused and confident in their ability and I think that’s the way the game should be played.

What was it like playing baseball for the University of Hawaii?: I did not like playing for UH at first but it was because of being stuck on the island. Once I got to know the island and a great family in Hawaii Kai it made my experience at UH much more enjoyable. The traveling was fun but I think the type of atmosphere that the UH fans bring to the team and stadium really help me prepare to what it is like to play in front of a professional teams crowd.

Can you describe what your draft day experience was like?: Draft day was completely different for me than I would of liked it to be. I was sick with mononucleosis, so I was laying on my parents’ bed listening to the draft with my girlfriend (now wife) Shannon, and when they called my name I was trying to be excited and thrilled but I was so tired and sick from mono that I couldn’t really enjoy it as much as I would of liked. Either way it was a amazing feeling to hear your name called.

Please talk a little bit about the scrutiny and expectations you encountered as such a highly drafted prospect.: I honestly didn’t feel much. I know it was there with the fans and some of the other players, but I put more pressure on myself than anything in the media or in the front office. I felt that I needed to perform because the Indians thought so highly of me to pick me with their second pick. I did not get caught up in the hype of being such a high pick. I figured I cannot control what is being said, I can only control myself and what I do to prepare and perform.

How and when did you decide to adopt the knuckleball as your primary weapon?: I started throwing the knuck when I was 9 years old. Frank Pastore, who used to pitch for the Reds, threw one back to me and after that I was intrigued on how you can throw a ball with no spin. So I messed around with it and in 2010 I struggled in Triple-A, and when I got sent to Akron I was messing around in New Hampshire and Greg Hibbard and Jason Bere saw it and talked to me a little about it and suggested I use it as a out pitch. I did and it just progressed to what I am doing today.

Who has been your primary knuckleball tutor and how often do you have to touch base?: I have been lucky; I have worked with Tom Candiotti and Charlie Hough. I’ve talked to Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey. I even got to watch Charlie Haeger throw a bullpen last year and got to pick his brain a little. But the guys I go to with the most is kind of equal between Candiotti, Hough, Dickey, and Wakefield. I have used them all about the same. I try, when I have a question, to send a mass text to all and see what their adjustments or recommendations are and then I try them all and see which one works for me.

What was it like being traded to the Red Sox this past season, and what were the ensuing 24 hours like for you?: It was exciting, especially for me, because I was playing for Akron and we were in Portland, which is the Red Sox Double-A team. When Chris Tremie told me I had been traded I just packed up and walked over to the Portland clubhouse. The next 24 hours were crazy because I was now in the Portland dugout watching us play against Akron. It was kind of weird and exciting at the same time.

What is something about your career that you would like to do differently if you had the chance?: Right now I would say start throwing the knuckleball earlier. I think one thing is just to concentrate more on the working out and nutrition earlier in my life, like high school time. It’s such an important aspect of being a professional because of the long hours at the field and on the road, and just the season in general. The concentration on taking care of your body and learning about the nutrition side early on in life will help put yourself in a position to perform at your highest ability more times than not

It's a done deal. PC is going on as I post this.

Report: B.J. Upton agrees to five-year deal with Atlanta Braves
Associated Press / November 28, 2012



Free agent outfielder B.J. Upton and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a five-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal.

The person said the deal is expected to be announced Thursday once Upton passes his physical.

The 28-year-old Upton hit .246 with 28 homers, 78 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases for Tampa Bay last season. He will replace free agent Michael Bourn as the Braves center fielder.

Upton’s home run totals have increased in three straight seasons, but he has hit below .250 with more than 150 strikeouts in each of his last four seasons.

Pettitte staying

Andy Pettitte is staying with the New York Yankees next season.

The lefthander signed a one-year deal worth $12 million, putting baseball’s biggest postseason winner back in pinstripes.

Pettitte turns 41 in June. He retired after the 2010 season, then decided to come back this year and signed a contract guaranteeing $2.5 million.

DeCinces indicted

Former Orioles third baseman Doug DeCinces and three others were indicted on insider trading charges for allegedly profiting from information prior to the takeover of a Southern California medical device company. DeCinces was charged with 42 counts of securities fraud and one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 17. Prosecutors said DeCinces received information from an official at Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. regarding a takeover offer by Abbott Laboratories. Authorities say DeCinces made about $1.3 million after he bought stock in Advanced Medical Optics and sold it soon after Abbott’s tender offer was publicly announced. DeCinces last year agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission . . . The Reds signed Jonathan Broxton to a three-year, $21 million contract, giving the NL Central champions a potential closer and a chance to reconfigure their starting rotation. Broxton came to the Reds last July in a trade with Kansas City and was part of their push toward the playoffs. He filled in as the closer when Aroldis Chapman came down with a tired shoulder and had four saves in six chances overall with a 2.82 ERA, impressing the Reds. The Reds have told Chapman to prepare for next season as a starter, although they haven’t committed to Broxton as the closer . . . The Royals traded righthander Vin Mazzaro and first baseman Clint Robinson to the Pirates for minor league pitchers Luis Santos and Luis Rico.

Alex Meyer, 22, is ranked 50th among MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects. (Mike Kuhn/SportStar Designs )


Top prospect Meyer shipped to Twins

Nationals trade 2011 first-round draftee for outfielder Span

By Andrew Pentis / Special to MLB.com

The Nationals want to repeat as a contender, and the Twins just want to be good again.

Those two motives led to the swap of 22-year-old Washington pitching prospect Alex Myers for in-his-prime outfielder Denard Span. The trade was announced by the teams Thursday afternoon in advance of next week's Winter Meetings.

Meyer, who was the Nats' second first-round draftee in 2011 and their second-ranked prospect last season, immediately became the No. 1 pitching prospect in the Twins' Minor League system. He dominated the Class A and Class A Advanced levels in his first pro season, recording a 10-6 record and a 2.86 ERA in 25 starts. He also struck out 139 batters in 129 innings before Washington shut him down.

Picked 23rd overall out of the University of Kentucky, Meyer brought with him to the pros an inconsistent delivery in a superlative repertoire. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound right-hander, seen towering over Futures Game manager and Hall of Famer George Brett on the mound in July, has an unusual collection of pitches -- a "no-seam" fastball that ranges 93 to98 mph, a spike curveball and a circle-changeup. He told MiLB.com in September that he planned to add a more traditional four-seam heater to the mix this winter.

Span, who will be 29 come Opening Day, gives the Nats the ready-made leadoff man and center fielder they coveted this offseason. A first-round pick of Minnesota in 2002, Span reached the Majors for good in 2008. He enjoyed a strong campaign this year, batting .284 with 46 extra-base hits and 17 steals while bringing his usual brand of strong defense.

To get their man, the Nats sacrificed another elite prospect. Nearly a year ago, on Dec. 23, general manager Mike Rizzo traded four talented farmhands -- pitchers Tommy Milone, A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock as well as catcher Derek Norris -- to the A's for proven starter Gio Gonzalez. Lucas Giolito, a 2012 first-round pick who will miss 2013 due to Tommy John surgery, becomes Washington's top-ranked pitching prospect.

The Twins' talent pool was already deep, thanks to a group of position players led by third baseman Miguel Sano [is a Dominican Prospect League grad] and outfielders Aaron Hicks and Byron Buxton. Meyers slots well in front of hurlers Adrian Salcedo and Jose Berrios, who like Buxton was a 2012 first-rounder.