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Re: Articles
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 10:46 am
by civ ollilavad
nothing in that article that convinces me that Espino will be ready for a full 2024 but at least he's on the mound and throwing hard is step one or maybe step two.
Re: Articles
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 10:48 am
by civ ollilavad
Today's MLB.com list for each team is:
Prospects primed to break out in '24 -- one for each team
They note that "In last year’s edition, our biggest hit was Rays infielder Junior Caminero, who was ranked 17th in his farm system at the time and climbed to No. 6 overall by the end of 2023. We also listed Chase DeLauter (Guardians), Everson Pereira (Yankees), AJ Smith-Shawver (Braves), Luisangel Acuña (Rangers/Mets), Jett Williams (Mets), Cade Horton (Cubs), Dalton Rushing (Dodgers) and Samuel Zavala (Padres) as potential breakout performers, and each member of that list ended the year in the MLB Pipeline Top 100."
Cleveland's choice for this year:
Guardians: Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B (No. 7)
Velazquez offered one of the best combinations of hitting ability and power in the 2023 high school class, which is why the Guardians made him a first-round pick. The California prep product went 8-for-23 with two homers in his brief pro debut while displaying solid arm strength behind the plate.
Re: Articles
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 11:02 am
by civ ollilavad
On another list, the top 6 debuts of International signings in 2023, we strike out.
But our top signee did have a fine debut
Rated No. 28. on the predraft rankings was our Welbyn Francisca, SS, D.R.: Guardians+ ($1,375,000)
He hit 316/419/500 with 7 doubles 6 triples 3 homers. 24 walks 35 strikeouts. 11/18 in steals.
5-8 148 age 17. I grew after that age, perhaps he will too Predraft preview said:
Francisca shows advanced hitting abilities -- he has a chance to be a plus hitter -- and advanced run times. The switch-hitting teen out of the Dominican Republic has impressed scouts with plus instincts and great makeup. The twitchy athlete plays shortstop now, but he might be better suited for second base because of his skill set and average arm. There’s a chance he will develop some power because of his bat speed. Speed will be a big part of his game, and he could develop into a base stealer in the future. He trains out of the HYL Baseball Academy.
Rated no. 37 37. Yerlin Luis, OF, D.R.: Guardians+ ($850,000)
17 year old little OF [5-9 155] had quite an eye at the plate; he drew 54 walks in 179 plate appearances. His offensive line: 224/479/296. 42K were a lot. Stole 15 bases in 19 tries. The preview said of him:
Luis could become a plus center fielder if he continues to develop at a normal pace. The teenager from the Dominican Republic has a medium frame and well-proportioned build with room to grow. At the plate, he features loose hands to the ball with some quickness. There’s a slight upstroke to his swing and good bat-to-ball skills that result in hard contact. Overall, Luis, who trains with Julio Angel Pina, is fundamentally sound with good mechanics in the batter’s box. The addition of strength could add value to his overall upside.
Re: Articles
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 11:03 am
by civ ollilavad
Francisca rated CLE's No. 16 prospect by mlb.com with this writeup
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
Francisca received the largest bonus in Cleveland's 2023 international class, signing for $1,375,000 out of the Dominican Republic. Known for his hitting prowess, he immediately showed it off by going 5-for-7 with a home run, a triple, five runs and three RBIs in his first pro game in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. He has continued to rake throughout the season.
Though he's not very big, Francisca has a knack for making hard contact from both sides of the plate. He has a pull-heavy approach yet still manages to barrel the ball repeatedly and draws his share of walks. His combination of hitting ability and bat speed could produce 15-20 homers per season.
An average runner, Francisca plays quicker than his pure speed because of his instincts and aggressive nature on the bases. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, where he shows some range to both sides and solid arm strength. If he winds up moving, he should be able to fit the offensive and defensive profile at either second or third base.
Re: Articles
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 9:56 pm
by joez
GUARDIANS
Omar Vizquel says Guardians denied him a spot on the field for Manny Ramirez ceremony in Cleveland
Updated: Jan. 04, 2024, 12:09 p.m.
By Joe Noga
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Omar Vizquel wants a chance to get back into baseball’s good graces, but the former Cleveland shortstop is finding more doors closed than open to him after settling a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former Chicago White Sox minor league batboy.
In a story published Sunday, Vizquel told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that Major League Baseball and its clubs have wanted nothing to do with him after he settled the suit in June 2022. But now, the 11-time Gold Glove Award winner is finally ready to speak publicly.
Vizquel said he was never charged criminally, and though he has refused to apologize in public, he cannot offer many details because of the settlement.
“I wish I could have spoken earlier but my lawyer told me, ‘Do not say anything about it. Let the legal process play out. Your time to talk is going to come,’” Vizquel told Nightengale. “You see what happened. Justice spoke. There wasn’t something they could charge against me. There was nothing there. They took a look at everything. It was huge misunderstanding.”
Vizquel enjoyed a 24-year major league career for six different clubs and was the defensive wizard in the middle of Cleveland’s dominant run of playoff teams in the 1990s alongside legends such as Sandy Alomar Jr., Carlos Baerga, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Albert Belle. He totaled 2,877 hits and played in more games at shortstop than anybody else in history, including Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Luis Aparicio.
But following a domestic violence accusation from is ex-wife in 2020 and the harassment lawsuit the next year, Vizquel saw his own Hall chances drop dramatically after climbing as high as 52.6% on the 2021 ballot.
“Of course I would love to be in the Hall of Fame, who wouldn’t?” Vizquel told Nightengale. “But what’s most important to me is just giving back, staying involved in baseball, helping others achieve their dreams.”
Vizquel said his name has been removed from youth camps and instructional clinics where he frequently worked next to other former legendary infielders. He told Nightengale that he was not invited to be part of Seattle’s All-Star celebration of former players, and has not received interest from any Venezuelan teams regarding his offer to help during the upcoming Caribbean World Series in Miami.
The Guardians also denied Vizquel a chance to be on the field during the club’s hall of fame induction ceremony for Ramirez in August, he told Nightengale. Vizquel was invited to the celebration, but told he could not be on the field with Ramirez and former teammates Alomar and Baerga.
“It’s hard not to be in the game when you see all your friends doing different things in the game,” Vizquel told Nightengale. “I want to do that. I want to stay in the game, and obviously I think I have a lot to give back. It’s important for me to talk to the younger Venezuelan kids, go to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic. I have lot to give back to the game.”
The Guardians declined to comment on the report Tuesday.
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Re: Articles
Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2024 5:15 pm
by seagull
Re: Articles
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:58 pm
by rusty2
Jim Bowden the Athletic
Is there any chance the Guardians could go after Jorge Soler or J.D. Martinez on a one-year deal? Seems like a perfect fit if Josh Naylor is ready to play more in the field after his leg injury. — Jason F.
The Guardians need another big power bat to put in the middle of their lineup and their front office has told me they are looking for it to come from either a DH or corner outfield spot. Both Soler and Martinez as well as Justin Turner would be solid fits for their lineup.
Re: Articles
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 6:00 pm
by TFIR
Twins, Rangers, Guardians future in limbo as Diamond Sports bankruptcy hearing postponed: Source
By Evan Drellich
Jan 9, 2024
103
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A bankruptcy hearing Wednesday afternoon that could have brought some clarity around which MLB teams will be seen on Bally regional sports networks this season has been pushed back 10 days, according to a court filing Tuesday night. The delay appears a signal that the sides believe they have a chance to reach a deal on their own, if allowed extra time. But it also keeps three teams in particular — the Cleveland Guardians, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins — in a state of wondering about their TV revenue as free agency continues to unfold.
Diamond Sports, which has filed for bankruptcy, holds the rights to 11 MLB teams’ TV broadcasts in 2024 via its Bally-branded RSNs. MLB has asked the court to push Diamond to make decisions about which teams it will carry in 2024, and the sides have been negotiating a potentially mutually acceptable arrangement via a mediator.
The talks have focused on three teams, per testimony in court. Two are the World Series champion Rangers and the Guardians, teams that Diamond intends to continue broadcasting in 2024 only on revised terms.
The third team, people briefed on the proceedings said, is a club that Diamond previously broadcast, but technically does not have the rights to at the moment: the Twins. The Twins’ deal with Diamond expired following last season, but a new and revised arrangement has been under negotiation.
If Diamond carries the Twins again in 2024 and Diamond sheds no other MLB teams, Diamond’s count of MLB teams would rise back to 12. Diamond started the 2023 season with the rights to 14 clubs, before dropping the Padres and Diamondbacks midway through the year. That’s the scenario MLB and the teams are trying to avoid this year.
The other nine MLB teams that Diamond holds the rights to are the Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers.
As of now, Diamond intends to operate through 2024. Whether it continues in some form beyond 2024 isn’t yet known.
Amazon, which owns a prominent streaming service, has shown interest in investing in Diamond, but Diamond holds only five MLB teams’ digital streaming rights: the Brewers’, Marlins’, Rays’, Royals’ and Tigers’. MLB and Diamond have long been at odds over the value of various MLB teams’ digital rights, and MLB would rather deal directly with Amazon than give Diamond increased digital rights in the long term, people briefed on the talks said. The New York Post reported Monday that MLB told Amazon that if it wants additional digital rights, such a deal would have to come directly with MLB.
The rescheduled hearing is set for the morning of Jan. 19 in Houston.
Required reading
Re: Articles
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 6:04 pm
by TFIR
The Guardians need another big power bat to put in the middle of their lineup and their front office has told me they are looking for it to come from either a DH or corner outfield spot. Both Soler and Martinez as well as Justin Turner would be solid fits for their lineup.
I can tell you the D'Backs are looking at the same 3 guys.
Re: Articles
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 3:25 pm
by rusty2
Robert Murray
@ByRobertMurray
·
1h
Source: Shane Bieber, Guardians settle at $13.125 million, avoiding arbitration.
Re: Articles
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 7:02 pm
by seagull
Salary fixed. Makes him more tradable.
Re: Articles
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 10:22 am
by joez
MLB Doesn't Think the Guardians Will Win A Title Anytime Soon
The Cleveland baseball championship drought is entering year 76. The MLB thinks it's going to get much longer.
By Thomas Erbe | 1/12/24 8:00 AM EST
In 1948, Lou Boudreau took Cleveland to the pinnacle, taking down the Boston Braves in 6 games to win the franchise's second World Series Championship. Since then, they've reached the Fall Classic four more times, losing every single one. It has been 75 long, painful years for fans watching baseball in The Land.
The 2016 campaign was Cleveland's latest close call. They had a 3-1 lead on the Chicago Cubs going into Game 5, feeling like the drought was just about over. But the Cubs had other plans, storming back and winning Games 5, 6, and 7 to end their own drought of 108 years.
There's nothing happening that indicates 2024 will be the year to end the losing feeling for Cleveland, but MLB and their writing team feel the city will be waiting much longer than just one year.
MLB doesn't have the Guardians in the World Series for at least a decade
The MLB social team posted this graphic on all their social media platforms, predicting the next 10 World Series winners and matchups. Noticeably missing from every matchup through 2033 is the Cleveland Guardians.
To expand on that, the only club from the AL Central they have even making a World Series is the Detroit Tigers in 2031. They predict they will lose to the Cubs.
The Guardians are a team that every year they could win the division or lose 100 games -- no one really knows. But now that legendary manager Terry Francona has retired and newcomer Stephen Vogt is taking over, there is even more unknown.
The Guardians may see this graphic come across their timelines and look to prove those who made this prediction wrong.
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Re: Articles
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 10:29 am
by joez
3 players who priced themselves out of Yankees' budget (yes, really) with arbitration deals
By Adam Weinrib |1/12/24 8:00 AM EST
Ramon Laureano
The Yankees' outfield went from barren to overflowing with the acquisitions of Alex Verdugo, Juan Soto and Trent Grisham ... though it's worth noting the departures of Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney and Willie Calhoun mean the next line of defense is slightly weakened (or, at least, will include some different names than last season, which isn't a bad thing).
That means New York could be grabbing for flyers as the year drags on and injuries pile up. Don't expect that list to include Ramon Laureano, though, who's been a rumored Yankees trade target/defensive specialist since his Oakland days.
Laureano went to Cleveland last summer, and ultimately settled with the Guardians this year for $5.15 million back in November. The Yankees surely believe they'll be able to beat or match Laureano's production internally, especially for a $2.5 million deadline hit.
Shane Bieber
Shane Bieber fan? So are the Guardians, apparently.
Bieber is entering his final year before free agency with the perception that he's damaged goods; he was hobbled with an elbow issue in 2023 and watched his numbers regress across the board. Nobody outside the Guardians organization knows him as well as Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake, who came from Cleveland, crafting a natural connection this offseason. The Yankees thinned out their pitching depth in the Soto trade. Why not build it back up by getting Bieber at a relative discount, considering his proximity to free agency and pre-walk year regression?
Then the Yankees traded for Guardians righty Cody Morris instead of expanding the talks into a bigger deal. Huh.
Are the Yankees afraid of Bieber's medicals? Are they offering a discounted package, while Cleveland's countering by valuing the righty more highly? Who knows? All we do know is that Bieber settled on Thursday at a $13.125 million sum for the 2024 season, which is likely a higher figure than the Yankees were expecting/are comfortable with.
The reason the needle has moved so little this offseason might just be teams waiting for arbitration numbers to finalize so they can know what the margins of their budget look like. Bieber was projected at $12.2 million and earned an extra $900,000. Silly, sure, but it seems to matter, especially for a former ace who's no longer a known quantity.
Willy Adames (and Corbin Burnes?)
It's unlikely the Brewers trade either Willy Adames or Corbin Burnes in the first place, considering the NL Central remains both weak and winnable, and Milwaukee -- and top prospect Jackson Chourio, who should be there Opening Day -- don't have much reason to throw in the towel.
Of course, any reason they do have is financial. Both Adames and Burnes will be free agents when 2024 ends, and after the Brewers were forced to non-tender Brandon Woodruff during his shoulder rehab, can they really stomach getting nothing for their next batch of walking stars?
Last winter, they chose to fight Burnes over $750,000, permanently tarnishing their relationship and likely sending him into free agency free of worries. This season, things went more amicably; Burnes and the Brewers surprisingly settled at $15.6 million, a hefty (but not unreasonable) price tag.
Milwaukee also settled with their Derek Jeter-loving shortstop; they'll be paying Adames $12.25 million. That's an unpalatable sum for the Yankees, who would prefer to pay Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza rookie scale to man the position. Maybe the Yankees will entertain one or both of these names in free agency (after Gleyber Torres leaves), but they likely won't do it now.
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Re: Articles
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 10:39 am
by joez
Latest On Diamond Sports Group Bankruptcy
By Anthony Franco | January 11, 2024 at 10:31pm CDT
Major League Baseball and Diamond Sports Group are continuing discussions about the broadcasting conglomerate’s ongoing bankruptcy. A hearing initially scheduled for Wednesday morning was delayed to Friday, January 19, according to Evan Drellich of the Athletic.
That suggests MLB and representatives for Diamond feel there’s still something to be gained from talks. At the same time, it moves ever closer towards Opening Day without a firm resolution for teams whose local broadcasting deals run through the Bally Sports networks.
As recently as last season, Diamond’s Bally Sports RSNs carried in-market broadcasts for 14 teams. The struggling corporation dropped its contracts with the Padres and Diamondbacks midseason, leading MLB to take over local broadcasts for those franchises. Bally’s contract with the Twins ran its course at the end of the 2023 season.
That presently leaves 11 teams* who have deals with Diamond for in-market broadcasting in 2024. However, Diamond has suggested it could abandon its contracts with the Guardians and Rangers this offseason unless the terms of those deals are renegotiated. Meanwhile, Drellich reports that Diamond and MLB are in discussions about a possible contract to carry Twins’ games for another season.
It is unclear if Diamond will operate in any capacity after the ’24 campaign. The Wall Street Journal reported last month the company was in discussions with Amazon about potentially selling streaming rights for a short-term influx of cash that could help keep Diamond afloat.
Latest On Diamond Sports Group Bankruptcy
By Anthony Franco | January 11, 2024 at 10:31pm CDT
Major League Baseball and Diamond Sports Group are continuing discussions about the broadcasting conglomerate’s ongoing bankruptcy. A hearing initially scheduled for Wednesday morning was delayed to Friday, January 19, according to Evan Drellich of the Athletic.
That suggests MLB and representatives for Diamond feel there’s still something to be gained from talks. At the same time, it moves ever closer towards Opening Day without a firm resolution for teams whose local broadcasting deals run through the Bally Sports networks.
As recently as last season, Diamond’s Bally Sports RSNs carried in-market broadcasts for 14 teams. The struggling corporation dropped its contracts with the Padres and Diamondbacks midseason, leading MLB to take over local broadcasts for those franchises. Bally’s contract with the Twins ran its course at the end of the 2023 season.
That presently leaves 11 teams* who have deals with Diamond for in-market broadcasting in 2024. However, Diamond has suggested it could abandon its contracts with the Guardians and Rangers this offseason unless the terms of those deals are renegotiated. Meanwhile, Drellich reports that Diamond and MLB are in discussions about a possible contract to carry Twins’ games for another season.
It is unclear if Diamond will operate in any capacity after the ’24 campaign. The Wall Street Journal reported last month the company was in discussions with Amazon about potentially selling streaming rights for a short-term influx of cash that could help keep Diamond afloat.
However, Diamond only holds streaming rights for five of the 11 teams with which it has a TV deal. MLB has been reluctant to provide further streaming opportunities. The New York Post’s Josh Kosman reported on Monday that MLB shot down discussions between Diamond and Amazon — potentially with an eye towards negotiating a separate streaming deal with Amazon directly.
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Re: Articles
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 3:21 pm
by rusty2
joez wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 10:29 am
3 players who priced themselves out of Yankees' budget (yes, really) with arbitration deals
By Adam Weinrib |1/12/24 8:00 AM EST
Ramon Laureano
The Yankees' outfield went from barren to overflowing with the acquisitions of Alex Verdugo, Juan Soto and Trent Grisham ... though it's worth noting the departures of Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney and Willie Calhoun mean the next line of defense is slightly weakened (or, at least, will include some different names than last season, which isn't a bad thing).
That means New York could be grabbing for flyers as the year drags on and injuries pile up. Don't expect that list to include Ramon Laureano, though, who's been a rumored Yankees trade target/defensive specialist since his Oakland days.
Laureano went to Cleveland last summer, and ultimately settled with the Guardians this year for $5.15 million back in November. The Yankees surely believe they'll be able to beat or match Laureano's production internally, especially for a $2.5 million deadline hit.
Shane Bieber
Shane Bieber fan? So are the Guardians, apparently.
Bieber is entering his final year before free agency with the perception that he's damaged goods; he was hobbled with an elbow issue in 2023 and watched his numbers regress across the board. Nobody outside the Guardians organization knows him as well as Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake, who came from Cleveland, crafting a natural connection this offseason. The Yankees thinned out their pitching depth in the Soto trade. Why not build it back up by getting Bieber at a relative discount, considering his proximity to free agency and pre-walk year regression?
Then the Yankees traded for Guardians righty Cody Morris instead of expanding the talks into a bigger deal. Huh.
Are the Yankees afraid of Bieber's medicals? Are they offering a discounted package, while Cleveland's countering by valuing the righty more highly? Who knows? All we do know is that Bieber settled on Thursday at a $13.125 million sum for the 2024 season, which is likely a higher figure than the Yankees were expecting/are comfortable with.
The reason the needle has moved so little this offseason might just be teams waiting for arbitration numbers to finalize so they can know what the margins of their budget look like. Bieber was projected at $12.2 million and earned an extra $900,000. Silly, sure, but it seems to matter, especially for a former ace who's no longer a known quantity.
Willy Adames (and Corbin Burnes?)
It's unlikely the Brewers trade either Willy Adames or Corbin Burnes in the first place, considering the NL Central remains both weak and winnable, and Milwaukee -- and top prospect Jackson Chourio, who should be there Opening Day -- don't have much reason to throw in the towel.
Of course, any reason they do have is financial. Both Adames and Burnes will be free agents when 2024 ends, and after the Brewers were forced to non-tender Brandon Woodruff during his shoulder rehab, can they really stomach getting nothing for their next batch of walking stars?
Last winter, they chose to fight Burnes over $750,000, permanently tarnishing their relationship and likely sending him into free agency free of worries. This season, things went more amicably; Burnes and the Brewers surprisingly settled at $15.6 million, a hefty (but not unreasonable) price tag.
Milwaukee also settled with their Derek Jeter-loving shortstop; they'll be paying Adames $12.25 million. That's an unpalatable sum for the Yankees, who would prefer to pay Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza rookie scale to man the position. Maybe the Yankees will entertain one or both of these names in free agency (after Gleyber Torres leaves), but they likely won't do it now.
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No doubt written by a fan without a clue !
