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Red Sox Reach Agreement with Edward Mujica
The Boston Red Sox and relief pitcher Edward Mujica agreed to a two-year deal with $9.5 million. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports originally reported the deal. Mujica, a 29 year-old righthander, is coming off a year where he saved 37... More of this article »
Seattle Mariners Aggressively Pursuing Robinson Cano
The Seattle Mariners may have topped the New York Yankees‘ offer to free agent second baseman Robinson Cano according to Anthony McCarron. Cano has dropped his asking price into the $250 million range, but that is still... More of this article »
Pittsburgh Pirates Explore Options at First Base
The Pittsburgh Pirates are exploring their options at first base. While the club thinks that Mike Napoli would be an ideal fit, they may not be able to meet his contract demands. According to Jayson Stark, the Pirates have inquired... More of this article »
Paul Konerko Re-Signs with Chicago White Sox
Veteran first baseman Paul Konerko decided to put off retirement, as he signed a one-year deal worth $3 million to return to the Chicago White Sox for his 16th season. Ken Rosenthal originally reported the signing. Konerko is coming... More of this article »
Miami Marlins Reach Agreement with Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Catchers are flying off the free agent market. The Miami Marlins reached an agreement with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reported the signing. Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN reports that it is a two-year... More of this article »
Oakland A’s Acquire Craig Gentry from Texas Rangers
The Oakland Athletics acquired outfielder Craig Gentry from the Texas Rangers for outfielder Michael Choice. Jeff Passan originally reported the deal. Reliever Josh Lindblom will also go to the A’s, and minor league... More of this article »
Baltimore Orioles Are Interested in Nelson Cruz
After trading closer Jim Johnson to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jemile Weeks, the Baltimore Orioles freed up about $11 million for their 2014 payroll. The Orioles already have two solid outfielders in Adam Jones and Nick... More of this article »
Washington Nationals Swindle Detroit Tigers, Grab Doug Fister
The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitcher Doug Fister from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for infielder Steve Lombardozzi, lefty reliever Ian Krol, and pitching prospect Robbie Ray. The deal was originally reported... More of this article »
Oakland Athletics Reach Agreement with Scott Kazmir
The Oakland Athletics signed free agent pitcher Scott Kazmir to a two-year deal worth $22 million. An all-star pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2006 and 2008, Kazmir had fallen on hard times from 2009-12. Arm injuries had robbed... More of this article »
Avoid Ervin Santana – Breaking Down The Numbers
Free agent pitcher Ervin Santana is seeking a $100 million deal. That’s unlikely to happen. For various reasons, Santana is the riskiest pitcher in the free agent market. Pitchers tend to be risky, especially those on the wrong... More of this article »
Edwin Encarnacion’s Fantastic Year for Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion had another great year with the bat in 2013. He posted a .272/.370/.534 line with a 148 wRC+ that was 6th in the AL. This was on the heels of a 2012 season where Encarnacion managed a 151... More of this article »
Cardinals Matt Carpenter and His Playoff Woes
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter had a great regular season. The former 13th round draft pick put up a .318/.392/.481 batting line. He led all second basemen in batting average and on-base percentage, and trailed... More of this article »
David Ross Key to Red Sox Victory
The Boston Red Sox downed the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 Monday night. Starting pitchers Jon Lester and Adam Wainwright each dominated, combining for 17 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 24 swings and misses. The game took just three hours. Red... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox: Felix Doubront’s Quality Outing
Yet another crazy game. Last night ended on a walkoff obstruction call, this one ended on a pickoff play. Never before had a playoff game ended on one of those plays. Horrible decision making once again played a big role. St. Louis... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox’ Quintin Berry Is a Speed Demon
Boston Red Sox pinch runner Quintin Berry is playing for his third different team in 2013. On Opening Day, the Detroit Tigers sent Berry down to Triple-A. After putting up a .168/.278/.234 line, he was designated for assignment... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox’ Koji Uehara Continues Run of Dominance
Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara was named ALCS MVP after closing out a 5-2 comeback victory over the Detroit Tigers Saturday night. Uehara threw six scoreless innings in the series, with nine strikeouts and no walks. Uehara’s... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox’ David Ross Does the Little Things
After signing a two-year deal last offseason, Boston Red Sox 36 year-old catcher David Ross only played 36 games this year, due to a couple concussions. Nevertheless, he’s started two games in each of Boston’s playoff... More of this article »
St. Louis Cardinals Relievers Bringing Heat in NLCS
Despite posting a .134/.190/.175 batting line through the first four games of the NLCS, the St. Louis Cardinals have a 3-1 series lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their bullpen has played a large role in the series. They have surrendered... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox’ Mike Napoli Hits Big Home Run
Somebody finally scored off Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. In the 7th inning of Game Three of the ALCS, Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli drove a fastball into the seats in left center field. The home run would... More of this article »
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, Dazed and Confused
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig had a sensational 2013 regular season. After a June callup, Puig set the baseball world on fire, posting an otherworldly .436/.467/.713 line in his first month. He didn’t maintain... More of this article »
Lets Not Forget, Tigers Justin Verlander is Still Dominant
A lot has been made of the Oakland Athletics’ decision to start Sonny Gray in Game Five over Bartolo Colon, who had the second-lowest ERA in the AL this year. I fully agree with the Athletics’ decision for the simple... More of this article »
Cardinals David Freese’s Homerun Off Pirates Gerrit Cole
The St. Louis Cardinals downed the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 Wednesday night. The biggest play of the game was third baseman David Freese hitting a two-run homer off of Pirates starter Gerrit Cole in the second inning to give... More of this article »
Rays Jake McGee and His Fastball
Tampa Bay Rays left-handed relief pitcher Jake McGee has one pitch, a fastball. Okay, he also throws a “cutter”, but he uses the fastball on 93% of his pitches in 2013, the highest rate of any pitcher in the MLB. It’s... More of this article »
Pittsburgh Pirates Gerrit Cole’s Devastating Slider
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie hurler Gerrit Cole will start Game 2 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. The rookie hurler posted a 3.22 ERA in 117.1 innings, with a 21.3% strikeout rate and a 6.0% walk rate. His FIP of 2.91... More of this article »
Dan Uggla Left Off Atlanta Braves NLDS Roster
Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez announced Wednesday that second baseman Dan Uggla would not be joining the team for the division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Uggla, playing in the third year of a 4 year/48 million... More of this article »
Red Sox Clay Buchholz – Is He Back?
Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz had a magnificent first half. In 84.1 innings at hitter-friendly Fenway Park, he had a 1.71 ERA, the lowest figure in the MLB. Opponents managed a mere .535 OPS against Buchholz, which is slightly... More of this article »
Alex Cobb to Start Wild Card Game for Rays
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb is set to start the Wild Card Game for the Rays. Despite missing two months after being struck in the head with a line drive off the bat of Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer on June... More of this article »
Is Sonny Gray the Oakland A’s Best Pitcher?
Oakland Athletics rookie pitcher Sonny Gray has had an immediate impact on the A’s rotation since making his first major league start August 10. The 2011 first-round draft pick has a 2.67 ERA across 10 starts and 64 innings.... More of this article »
Cleveland Indians Ubaldo Jimenez’ Turnaround in 2013
I previously wrote about how Corey Kluber has been a big key to the Cleveland Indians’ turnaround 2013 season. Similarly important has been the second-half performance of Ubaldo Jimenez. The Indians hurler has the lowest... More of this article »
Phillies Cliff Lee – An Amazing September
Philadelphia Phillies lefthander Cliff Lee had himself quite a September. In 39.0 innings, the 35 year-old hurler had a 1.85 ERA and 1.55 FIP. Most impressively, he tallied 54 strikeouts against just 1 walk, for a 54/1 K/BB ratio.... More of this article »
Corey Kluber’s Emergence Big Key for Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are on the verge of securing a wild-card berth, which would be their first playoff appearance since 2007. The Indians have depended in no small part on some unexpected contributions from their starting rotation. Scott... More of this article »
Can Vidal Nuno Crack the Yankees Rotation in 2014?
Vidal Nuno is a survivor. The 26 year-old lefthander out of NAIA Baker University was drafted in the 48th round by the Cleveland Indians back in 2009, becoming the first player drafted from his alma mater. Most players selected... More of this article »
San Diego Padres Burch Smith: Power Arm, Raw Prospect
Burch Smith was selected in the 14th round by the San Diego Padres in 2011. The big righthander from the University of Oklahoma had previously attended Howard Community College. Before being selected by the Padres, Smith was drafted... More of this article »
Washington Nationals: Tanner Roark Analysis and Projection
Washington Nationals rookie righthander Tanner Roark has flourished after an August 6 callup. After putting up a 1.19 ERA over 9 games and 22.2 innings in the bullpen, Roark earned his first major league start September 7th. He won... More of this article »
Texas Rangers A.J. Pierzynski’s Historic Season
Texas Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski currently has 11 walks. His 2.2 BB% is the lowest in the MLB. By comparison, pitchers have walked in 3.2% of their plate appearances in 2013. Pierzynski has never walked very frequently, but... More of this article »
Red Sox News: The Quietly Excellent Shane Victorino
Guess who leads the Boston Red Sox in bWAR? Ok, it’s Dustin Pedroia with 6.1, but Shane Victorino is just a hair behind. The 32 year-old outfielder has 6.0 WAR in 180 fewer plate appearances. After a somewhat disappointing... More of this article »
Adam Wainwright Channels Cliff Lee, Beats Rockies with Arm, Bat
Adam Wainwright channeled his inner Cliff Lee against the Colorado Rockies, using both his arm and his bat to take down the Rockies 4-3. While his two-way performance wasn’t quite as dominant as Lee’s, it deserves recognition... More of this article »
What Can the Phillies Expect from Domonic Brown in 2014?
Domonic Brown had a torrid first half for the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting 23 homeruns. Before the All-Star break, the 25 year-old outfielder had a HR/PA rate of 6.0% and a HR/Contact rate of 8.0%. His HR/FB ratio of 22.5% was 9th... More of this article »
Cardinals Fans Don’t Get Too Excited About Joe Kelly
It’s not outlandish to say that Joe Kelly has been a godsend for a struggling St. Louis Cardinals rotation. In 14 starts he has a 9-2 record and 2.14 ERA. His second-half ERA is more than two runs lower than that of Adam Wainwright.... More of this article »