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Giants Scutaro Proving a More Valuable Acquisition Than Pence
The cost was high in terms of prospects for the San Francisco Giants to land Hunter Pence from Philadelphia before last month’s non-waiver trade deadline. Marco Scutaro, who was brought in prior to the deadline from Colorado,... More of this article »
A’s Acquire Stephen Drew to Bolster Offense
The A’s are hoping that a change of scenery sparks the younger brother of J.D. Drew Strengthened with the return of left-hander Brett Anderson and right-hander Brandon McCarthy to what is one of the best starting rotations in... More of this article »
Seven Players Whose 2013 Options Will be Picked Up
In the off-season, Atlanta must decide whether they want to exercise a $12 million team option on the 28-year-old McCann or a $500,000 buyout. In the midst of a 1-for-23 slump that has dropped his average to .227, Brian McCann is hurting.... More of this article »
Brett Anderson Rejoins Already Deep A’s Rotation
The 24-year-old Anderson, who is 21-23 with a 3.66 ERA over three Major League seasons, underwent Tommy John surgery last July Already boasting the second-best starters’ ERA in the American League at 3.77, the Oakland A’s... More of this article »
Carl Crawford Set to Have Tommy John Surgery
For months, Carl Crawford has told the Boston Red Sox that he needs Tommy John surgery. Dr. James Andrews, Crawford explained, said in April that the procedure was inevitable. Instead of allowing the 31-year-old outfielder to undergo... More of this article »
Clemens to Pitch Again – For the Skeeters, Not the Yankees
Roger Clemens is returning to the mound. Will the New York Yankees be watching? Not likely since the 50-year-old right-hander’s agent Randy Hendricks told ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, “It’s a fun thing and let’s... More of this article »
Top Five Third Base Prospects In Baseball
Though he has not remotely made the same impact on his team as Manny Machado has with the Baltimore Orioles, Mike Olt provides the Texas Rangers with a defensively sound corner infielder with power who is getting his Major League indoctrination... More of this article »
Reds Rely on Team Concept in Votto’s Absence
Don’t let the fact they have the second-best record in the Major Leagues fool you. The Cincinnati Reds need injured first baseman Joey Votto to return if they are going to play deep into October. Yet what the club is accomplishing... More of this article »
Pedro Ciriaco’s Legend Growing in Boston
With a 4-for-4 performance in Boston’s 4-1 victory at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Ciriaco is batting .517 (15-for-29) against the Yankees this year. Don’t look for Pedro Ciriaco‘s name on any of the lists that rank... More of this article »
Castro Agrees to Seven-Year Extension with Cubs
Castro’s contract includes a $16 million option for an eighth year in 2020 along with a $1 million buyout that is part of the $60 million in guaranteed money A centerpiece in the Chicago Cubs’ rebuilding movement, 22-year-old... More of this article »
MLB – 7 Best Free Agent Bargains in Baseball
In spring training, the Red Sox envisioned an outfield patrolled by Carl Crawford in left, Jacoby Ellsbury in center and a platoon arrangement of right-handed hitting Cody Ross and left-handed hitting Ryan Sweeney in right. Injuries... More of this article »
Top Five Shortstop Prospects In Baseball
Veteran general manager Dan Duquette, who is in his first year with the surprising Baltimore Orioles, made a bold decision when he called up top prospect Manny Machado from Double-A Bowie and skipper Buck Showalter inserted the 20-year-old... More of this article »
Angels Could End Up Baseball’s Most Disappointing Team
Ravaged by a rash of injuries that most teams over the course of baseball history could not overcome, the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies are two of the most surprisingly bad clubs in Major League Baseball this season. Neither... More of this article »
Red Sox Place Felix Doubront on the DL
Doubront is a promising southpaw from Venezuela is 10-6 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP in 22 starts and 122.2 innings. One of the most reliable arms in what has mostly been a shaky Red Sox starting rotation, 24-year-old left-hander... More of this article »
Top Five Second Base Prospects in Baseball
At 5-foot-9, Kolten Wong has an edge about him that is reminiscent of diminutive Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. The 22-year-old Wong does not look like the prototypical pure athlete that scouts look for, but all he does is... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox Managerial Candidates – Speculation Swirling
CEO Larry Lucchino insists that the embattled Valentine will remain in his position through the end of the season. Drama and dysfunction surrounding Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine seems to escalate as the weeks pass, and even though... More of this article »
Cubs Looking to Extend Starlin Castro with Long Term Deal
Castro has a .276 average with 12 home runs, 58 RBI, eight triples and 19 steals ( Photo by the mel flickr) Days after it was learned that expensive veteran outfielder Alfonso Soriano cleared waivers and can be dealt to any team willing... More of this article »
Red Sox place Cook, Doubront and Miller on Trade Waivers
Doubront is 10-6 with a 4.70 ERA over 22 starts and 122.2 innings in his first full Major League season Felix Doubront isn’t going anywhere. Chances are, Andrew Miller isn’t either. Aaron Cook; however, could be joining... More of this article »
Top Five First Base Prospects in Baseball
A year before they acquired him from Philadelphia in the Hunter Pence deal at the non-waiver trade deadline in 2011, the Houston Astros coveted sweet-swinging first baseman Jonathan Singleton. In July 2010, the Phillies were in talks... More of this article »
Mariners King Felix – Keep Him or Deal Him for a King’s Ransom?
Felix Hernandez didn’t have to throw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday to prove he is arguably the most dominant starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. “King Felix” as he is known in baseball... More of this article »
Nationals Could Regret Shutting Stephen Strasburg Down
Fueled by the best record in the majors at 73-45 and boasting the best pitching staff is baseball statistically, the Washington Nationals are one of the game’s most compelling stories in 2012. Fan interest is high because the... More of this article »
Red Sox Fans are Fed Up with Drama and Dysfunction
I’m fed up with almost everything about Boston Red Sox baseball in 2012. As a professional baseball writer whose passion for the game started as a 7-year-old in the mid-’70s, most of the features I author are objective,... More of this article »
Top Five Catching Prospects in Baseball
Starting pitching, it is said, is the key to building a contender in Major League Baseball. That is true, but equally important is a catcher who has proficient defensive abilities and savvy game-calling skills. Many Major League teams... More of this article »
Tigers Prospect Nick Castellanos Learning from Al Kaline
Blocked by the slugging Miguel Cabrera at the Major League level, Detroit Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos is trying to make the transition from third base to the outfield. He was recently given assistance from a legend in Al Kaline,... More of this article »
Melky Cabrera Suspended 50 Games – Positive Testosterone Test
“My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used,”Cabrera said in a statement issued by the MLB Players Association. In the midst of a breakout season, Melky Cabrera was racing towards a... More of this article »
Astros Depth at 2B – Jose Altuve and Delino DeShields Jr
In the midst of an extensive rebuilding project, first-year Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow is upgrading the team’s organizational depth at every position, which he hopes will lead to difficult decisions down the road. One... More of this article »
MLB – Baseball’s Best Starting Rotations
If the regular season ended today, the Major League Baseball playoffs would feature the following teams: The New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles in the American League; and Washington,... More of this article »
Brett Wallace Hopes Trade Odyssey Stops in Houston
Oklahoma City is the fourth PCL team for which he has played, and this year he batted .300 with 16 home runs, 57 RBI and an .885 OPS over 310 at-bats. For a first round pick (selected 13th overall by St. Louis in 2008) and a former... More of this article »
Diamondbacks – Loaded with Starting Pitching Prospects
Since rejoining the Diamondbacks on August 1, Corbin is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts. Though they are just 58-57, the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves 4.5 games behind the deadlocked Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco... More of this article »
Red Sox Trade Kelly Shoppach to Mets
Clearing a spot for 25-year-old top prospect Ryan Lavarnway to get more playing time behind the plate, the Red Sox traded veteran catcher Kelly Shoppach to the Mets for a player to be named later. Lavarnway – who hit .295 with... More of this article »
Seven Players Whose 2013 Options Won’t Be Picked Up
As September nears, and pennant race heat intensifies, it is becoming clearer what Major League teams will do in the off-season with players who have club options. Some decisions are tough. For example, Kansas City closer Joakim Soria... More of this article »
A Look at Six Trade Deadline Deals
Hunter Pence ripped a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 9-6 win over Colorado and maintain their one-game lead over Los Angeles in the National League West. It was... More of this article »
Red Sox to Activate Andrew Bailey
In three rehab outings at Triple-A Pawtucket, Bailey has allowed one baserunner and owns four strikeouts in 3.1 innings. It is human nature to swiftly judge a Major League Baseball trade based on the first season’s results. Those... More of this article »
Red Sox Adrian Gonzalez Rebounds Post All-Star Break
The 30-year-old San Diego native has a .393 average (42 of 107) with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 107 at-bats since the all-star break. Including his numbers from 2011 and this season, Adrian Gonzalez is batting .326 with 40 home... More of this article »
Mets Prospects Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey – Reasons for Optimism
Middling through a 54-60 season – good for third place in the National League East, 16.5 games behind the Washington Nationals – the Mets are brimming with optimism. The reasons were on display this weekend – in Queens... More of this article »
Ryan Vogelsong – NL Cy Young Contender Through Perseverance
Vogelsong has a 10-5 record, a National League-leading 2.27 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP and a .215 opponent’s batting average San Francisco Giants teammates know not to disturb Ryan Vogelsong on days he is scheduled to start. Usually, the... More of this article »
Which Top Prospects will Join Machado, Olt in the Majors?
In four games, Machado is 6-for-16 (.375( with three home runs, seven RBI, a 1.125 slugging percentage and a 1.500 OPS. (Photo by nflravens flickr) His team in the midst of a pennant race and desperately needing more production out... More of this article »
Fernando Rodney Shooting for Record Books in Tampa Bay
Rodney has a 2-1 record along with a 0.83 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP and a .176 opponent’s batting average. To some people, Tampa Bay’s Fernando Rodney is considered an odd bird, partially because he entertains teammates with bird... More of this article »
Scott Diamond Sparkles for Twins
Chances are, unless you follow the Minnesota Twins, Scott Diamond is the best starting pitcher in 2012 whose name you don’t know. The 26-year-old Canadian left-hander totes a 10-5 record and a tidy 2.91 ERA to the mound tonight... More of this article »
Can Lohse parlay 2012 Success into Buehrle-esque Deal?
Lohse is 12-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 24 starts with the Cardinals this season Could St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Lohse get Mark Buehrle money as a free agent this off-season? At first mention, the idea seems outlandish. After... More of this article »
Red Sox Clay Buchholz Dominant in Second Half
In his last five starts, Buchholz has been masterful. He is 2-0 and his 1.15 ERA is second to only Tampa Bay’s Matt Moore (1.05) in that stretch It is rare for a Major League starting pitcher to have such drastically differing... More of this article »
Reds Prospect Billy Hamilton Chasing Stolen Base Record
On Friday, 21-year-old Billy Hamilton swiped two bags for Double-A Pensacola (Fla.) giving him 135 on the season. Gradually, the art of the stolen base has seemed to fade from baseball. Cincinnati Reds shortstop prospect Billy Hamilton... More of this article »
Top Five 2012 AL Cy Young Award Contenders
If the season ended today, it is unclear who would take home American League Cy Young Award honors. Five AL pitchers appear to be leading candidates, including two former Cy Young winners – Seattle’s Felix Hernandez and... More of this article »
Jordan Zimmermann – Unlikely Cy Young Candidate
Zimmermann has a 2.35 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a .238 batting average against. Washington Nationals‘ right-hander Jordan Zimmermann doesn’t have a flashy record. At 9-6, there are 22 pitchers among the top 50 in the National... More of this article »
Will Middlebrooks – Midst of Ted Williams-esque Debut Season
Who is the only other player in Red Sox history to stroke 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in his first 73 games Major League games? Some guy by the name of Ted Williams. If it was any other season, chances are Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks... More of this article »
Mike Trout – Miguel Cabrera – Subjects of AL MVP Debate
One is a 29-year-old slugger who hits for average and power, and has belted more than 300 home runs in his 10-year Major League career. The other is a 21-year-old rookie who is a five-tool player who started the season in Triple-A. Meet... More of this article »
Longoria Sparks Rays – More Offense Needed for Post-Season Spot
Boosted by the left-handed arm of Matt Moore in their 7-1 win over Toronto on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays are staying in the American League wild card race with stellar starting pitching. They lead the AL with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.22... More of this article »
Indians to release Damon, Accardo
Johnny Damon and Jeremy Accardo will be free to sign with any team when they are released by the Cleveland Indians today, according to Jordan Bastian, who covers the team for MLB.com. The Major League veterans were designated for assignment... More of this article »