Cleveland Announces Rotation, Bauer Not in it

When Cleveland packed up their trucks and headed for Arizona, one of the few things they knew for sure was that their rotation was going to be good this season and that they would have a tough battle for the number five rotation spot. Throughout the course of the Spring, the battle turned into not just a competition for the number five spot, but the number four spot became up for grabs as well. With Josh Tomlin, Cody Anderson, and Trevor Bauer all in the mix, it seemed very likely that one of them would be placed in the bullpen and they would try to avoid sending any of them to the Minor Leagues. With Bauer as the front runner for the fourth spot, Cleveland hoped for the long awaited breakout season from the once highly regarded prospect. With the veteran but injury prone Josh Tomlin and young Cody Anderson competing for the fifth spot, it seemed likely Tomlin would land in the bullpen. The rotation wound up working out a bit differently than expected, however, and it will go as following:

1 Corey Kluber (2015 stats: 9-16, 3.49 ERA, 245 strikeouts. 2016 Spring Stats: 3-1, 2.21, 20 K's)

2 Carlos Carasco ('15: 14-12, 3.63, 216 K's. '16: 1-1, 4.00, 17 K's)

3 Danny Salazar ('15: 14-10, 3.45, 195 K's. '16 2-1, 6.33, 21 K's)

4 Cody Anderson ('15: 7-3, 3.05, 44 K's. '16: 1-2, 5.50, 15 K's)

5 Josh Tomlin ('15: 7-2, 3.02, 57 K's. '16: 1-0, 4.67, 19 K's)

Bullpen - Trevor Bauer ('15: 11-12, 4.55, 170 K's. '16: 1-0, 2.25, 19 K's)

While Bauer being in the bullpen may not last long, and it is surprising to see, it might be the best possible route. Anderson and Tomlin both excelled in brief 2015 rotation stints, while the 25 year old Bauer has struggled to find consistency and has had several control problems. In recent memory, bullpen stints have worked wonders in Cleveland. Carlos Carasco was a big pitching prospect for a number of years that was held back by poor performance, Tommy John, and suspensions, but ever since a 2014 bullpen role he has turned into one of the best starters in the American League. Only time will tell if Bauer sees similar results, but the Cleveland coaching staff certainly knows what they're doing with this move. Bauer joins closer Cody Allen, and reliever Bryan Shaw, Zach McAllister, Jeff Manship, Dan Otero, Joba Chamberlain, Ross Detwiler, and Dan Otero in the Cleveland bullpen. 

Carlos Santana Ready To Rock in 2016

While Carlos Santana certainly has not been the player Cleveland though he would be when he made his debut as a catcher in 2010, he has been the receiver of a lot of unfair criticism. He may not have traditional stat line of a player that jumps out at you, but it is in the lesser considered stat lines that his true value comes out. While his .231 batting average over the past two seasons wouldn't reflect it, Santana is one of the smartest hitters in baseball that can beat you in a number of ways. While yes, he is an inconsistent player, what he can do is consistently play in 150+ games, consistently draw as many walks as players like Joey Votto (539 career walks,resulting in a .365 on base percentage), provide a decent power threat (Career high 27 HR in 2011 and 2014, career low 18 in 2012), and has quietly become one of the games better clutch hitters (.261 with 68 RBI with runners in scoring position last season). However, what people like to jump on with Santana is the poor defense, the inconsistency, the low average, etc. and often fail to realize that he has been the one true power hitter in Cleveland throughout his career, and has been asked to do the majority of the heavy lifting in a sub-par Cleveland lineup. The truth is he is the kind of player that can carry an offense, but the kind of guy who compliments a solid lineup very nicely and that is when his best production will show. The pressure of being the player to carry the offense when you're not that type of player along with pitchers ability to pitch around you and let you take the walk rather than hit a homerun can really zap your offensive numbers. In 2014, Santana was 1st in all of baseball in walks (113) yet he was tied for 82nd in runs scored with 68, followed by 2015 where he was 5th in walks (108) and tied for 75th in runs scored (72). These numbers point to pitchers taking advantage of a weak lineup behind a guy they know can hurt them with his bat, and allowing him to walk and get stranded on the bases. 

This Winter, Cleveland did not necessarily make the big move to improve their lineup that everybody was thinking they would, but they quietly did an incredible job of improving their lineup. Cleveland added veterans Mike Napoli, Juan Uribe, Marlon Byrd, and Rajai Davis, players like Kipnis and Brantley turning into stars, Lindor on the rise, and the expected bounceback from catcher Yan Gomes all make the Indians lineup a very deep one. While it may not be the most dangerous lineup out there, it is a much deeper lineup than we have seen in Cleveland in a long time. The lineup depth will help Sanatana see more good pitches to hit as pitchers start to consider the other hitters around him more, and that could lead to a jump in production. With Napoli and Byrd around, Santana also does not have to worry about being the teams big slugging cleanup hitter as much anymore. As if the relieved pressure on Carlos isn't already enough to point towards a better season, he worked out with Miguel Cabrera all winter, the best hitter on the planet. While working out with a star doesn't make you one, you have to think he picked up something that will help him out along the way. While often criticized by Cleveland fans, Santana has the potential to really change the way Cleveland fans view him in 2016, and maybe, just maybe, finally reach that 30 HR plateau.

Angels have acquired LHP Chris Jones from Baltimore

ESPN is reporting Angels have acquired left-hander Chris Jones from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for two minor leaguers.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler announced the deal Tuesday.

Chi Chi Gonzalez won't make Rangers starting rotation

 When Spring Training started, Chi Chi Gonzalez was the leading candidate to be the Rangers' 5th starter, now it doesn't appear like it. After been roughed up in nearly every spring training outing, Gonzalez has been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to start the season. Nick Tepesch on a minor-league deal has also been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. 

 This opens up the door for some competition between Nick Martinez, AJ Griffin, and Jeremy Guthrie to battle it out and determine the Rangers 5th starter.

Preview: Red Sox Bullpen

Koji Uehara

With the acquisition of Craig Kimbrel, Uehara will be the setup man despite his excellent play at closer. Uehara is getting older, but as he ages he is getting better. Last season, Uehara had a 2.23 ERA, 25 saves and a 0.92 WHIP. Uehara is a savvy veteran who has a lot of different pitches. Uehara is a strikeout machine, he has struck out 10 batters per nine innings since 2010. In that span, Uehara hasn’t had an ERA over 3.00 and he hasn’t had a WHIP above 1.00. Although he won’t be in his natural position, Uehara still has a lot to bring to the table for the Red Sox.

Junichi Tazawa

Tazawa seemed to run out of gas late last season. He finished with a 4.14 ERA, 56 strikeouts and a 1.33 WHIP. Tazawa had a 2.60 ERA through July, but he allowed 24 hits and 14 runs (9.22 ERA) to finish the season. Tazawa proved he can be a shutdown pitcher, but he also showed he can give up a flurry of runs. He’s had great seasons in the past and he has the arm to have one this season. With Kimbrel and Uehara he will be far removed from save opportunities.

Robbie Ross Jr.

Robbie Ross came from the Texas Rangers last season, and he struggled at the transition to the bullpen. He had a 3.86 ERA, 53 strikeouts and a 1.30 WHIP. Ross is still young and he has a lot of raw talent. He will usually come in at about the sixth or seventh inning. Ross is a hard throwing pitcher who can be a little wild. In a new year, he should have a much better season than last year.

Matt Barnes

Matt Barnes, not to be confused with the NBA player, will be bouncing around the rotation this season. For now, he has a spot because Carson Smith is out but once he returns Barnes will likely not be in the bullpen. Barnes had a 5.44 ERA with 39 strikeouts and a 1.65 WHIP last season. Barnes has struggled the past few years, as he is prone to giving up a lot of hits. Barnes will do fine as he fills in for Smith, but don’t expect him to stick around too long.

Craig Kimbrel

Kimbrel was acquired from the San Diego Padres in the offseason. He has consistently been one of the best closers in all of the MLB. Kimbrel had a 2.58 ERA, 39 saves and a 1.04 WHIP last season. The Red Sox needed a closer, and Kimbrel was their best answer. Kimbrel is a hard throwing pitcher, whose average pitch measures at 97 MPH. He also has a 41% strikeout rate ever since entering the MLB. Kimbrel has been red hot in the spring, and he hopes to continue the success during the season. 

Worried About The Blue Jays Pending Free Agents?.......Don't

All is good in Blue Jay land as we prepare for what may be our greatest season ever..... or not.  We've thought that before, but ridiculously bad things can always happen in baseball.  Nevertheless, they are well positioned to have a great season and hopefully another crack at the postseason.  After that, their two best players (I can't really say this anymore because after acquiring Josh Donaldson, he instantly became league MVP, but for years it was the case) Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion become free agents.

Most if not all Toronto Blue Jay fans have been hoping the team will sign these guys now to avoid potentially losing them later, but that hasn't transpired so far with our new management.  Nor will it.  Here's why........

Let's start with Bautista.  By the time the Jays are hopefully playing playoff baseball, but certainly before he becomes a free agent, he will have turned 36.  Joey Bats had a little media scrum earlier in the Spring and was very firm and clear about how his next contract will be.  I didn't mind this at all.  He just doesn't want the media to talk about this all year long, and ruin what might or might not be his last season here, and maybe the team's best ever.  The message was that he wants to get paid fair market price.  For a guy who was a late bloomer, he's only had one big contract.  He's not hurting for money, but if you look at his numbers over that time, the Jays got a huge bargain.  If he signed right now, it would cost the Jays over $100 million, and they'd be paying him into his 40s.  Bautista brings a lot to the table.  A career OBP of .368, an average of 37 HRs over the last 6 years to name a couple.  He's a pretty good outfielder too.  But will he be into his 40s??  I don't know.  He already had some shoulder problems last year that marginalized his once cannon of an arm.  Will he bounce back?  Or is that his new arm?  Will the bat slow down?

What about Edwin?  Nice to have a guy that can average 40 HRs.  His days of playing first base are probably numbered.  He's really just a DH these days.  He's 33, so you almost think that if you signed him for 4 or 5 years, he might still be a decent player by the end of the contract, but his back is a little bit wonky for my liking if it was my money.  Not to mention that you have 2 other first basemen on your team that had really good seasons last year.  Would either of them hit 40 homers?  No, but for the amount you'd have to pay them, they might give you a good bang for the buck.  Seems depressing I know, but if they couldn't sign EE, and Smoak and Colabello had to play every day, it wouldn't be the end of the world I don't think.  If I was a fiscally conservative GM, I might have that rolling through my head.

The 2017 Jays already have $84 million committed to 5 players.  Bautista and Encarnacion are not among them.  So to add another $40 million plus (very modest estimate) just to get it up to 7 players seems very New York Yankeeish.    It's a lot of money.  Despite the fact that both players have said they would like to sign here, I'm not surprised that the Jays brass hasn't tried to sign them.  It's best to see how this season plays out.  They are both as good as they are going to be and therefore could command as much money right now as they would ever be able to get.  The price can't get any higher.  Signing either of them would be a good PR move, but there are enough good feelings going around with this team, that your PR is set for a while.  Nobody cried too hard when we couldn't sign David Price, so they shouldn't get too bent out of shape if we don't sign Bats and EE before the end of the season.

With all that in mind, here's what they should do.  Nothing.  Let the season play out recognizing that this is the best lineup you will ever have, and do everything in your power to win this year.  If they get off to a rotten start this season, and don't turn it around by July, trade both players and completely re-tool your minor league system.  If we are trending towards a playoff berth, keep both players and take your chances in the off season.  If one of them (Bautista in particular) has a down year, and it looks like it's because of aging, that might drive the price down and make it easier to sign him.  Essentially, you want this team to make the World Series so you can max out on your revenue.  If that happens, you can probably justify signing one or both of them to try to do it again.  What you don't want is to keep them both, and have the team narrowly miss the playoffs, or go out in the first round.  Then you probably won't bother signing them, but will get nothing for them.  Also you want to keep an eye on the contingency plans and see how they perform.  Could Colabello and Smoak be your full time guys?   Will Dalton Pompey be ready to excel in the majors as an every day player?  These factors could also inform that decision.

Whichever way it plays, I just hope that the Toronto media doesn't go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about this all season long.  Especially if the team is winning.  We've waited so long to have a team worthy of just talking about baseball games, and none of the other BS.  It would be a shame if they killed our vibe by giving us daily updates about the pending free agents.

Royals Announce Rotation

Royals announce Edinson Volquez to start Opening Night. The Royals' rotation will go Volquez, Kennedy, Ventura, Young and Medlen. Ned Yost said Medlen may be held out first time through. #ForeverRoyal -#RoyalNoah

Tim Collins to undergo Tommy John surgery

In what would be his first year back since having the surgery the first time, Tim Collins will need another Tommy John surgery. #ForeverRoyal #RoyalNoah

Cleveland Indians Notes: Third Base, Outfield, Napoli, Rotation, Possible Opening Day Lineup

While Juan Uribe has been limited to 12 Spring at bats due to visa issues, dark horse for the Opening Day third base job Giovanny Urshela has taken full advantage of the extra playing time. Uribe seemed to be a shoe-in for the every day third base job in April, but Urshela has made it a very difficult choice. In 16 games and 36 at bats, Urshela has cranked five homeruns while sporting a .306 batting average and driving in 12. While he is still likely to start the year in AAA, he has not made it an easy choice for the Indians management no matter how you slice it.

Going into Spring Training, Cleveland knew they would have a very tough outfield battle on their hands, but they didn't know it was going to be as tough as it has been. While they expected Brantley to miss at least the first month and possibly the second of the regular season, and expected Abraham Almonte to be the every day Center Fielder, a lot has changed. Many also felt that the competition that they brought in to fill the Outfield holes was not enough, and somehow even that has changed. After Almonte got suspended for 80 games, the need for Outfield looked like it could destroy the Indians season all together. However, not only does it appear as if Brantley may be back for the April 4th opener, but they have a few outfielders who have been very impressive this Spring. The number one Outfielder who has been impressive, is red hot Tyler Naquin. Naquin came into Spring Training as somebody with an outside shot of making the club, and it was more than likely he would make his way onto the roster before the season ended but not on Opening Day. Again, a lot has changed. Naquin has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball this Spring, as evidenced by his two mammoth homeruns today, and his .447 batting average. This is finally the big break Naquin has been waiting for, considering he has spent the past four seasons in the Cleveland farm system being held back by nagging injuries. However, Naquin has not been the only outfielder to impress Cleveland this Spring, and he still has plenty of competition fighting for a spot. 30 year old Joey Butler, who has a nice season in Tampa Bay last year, has done well in Spring action despite his .233 batting average. While Butler hasn't been in the headlines as much as some other outfielders, he reminded Cleveland he is still around with a grand slam last Friday. Finally, the late arrival who is likely to land a spot, veteran Marlon Byrd. Byrd has been less than impressive on defense thus far, but is 3-8 with the bat and has a good track record. It will be a tough  decision for Cleveland to make, and Naquin, Butler, and Byrd among others have not made it easy, but Indian fans can feel a lot better about their outfield situation.

While some criticized the signing of veteran 1B/DH Mike Napoli, there were some who thought it would turn out as it has early in the Spring. Not only does Napoli appear to be healthier than he has been in a while and ready to bounce-back in 2016, he has become a big leader for a young Indian clubhouse. Napoli has quietly hit .455 with three homeruns and 12 RBI this Spring, and while we may not see the 2011 30 HR Napoli this year, we can expect good things.

The battle for the fifth rotation spot is neck-and-neck between Josh Tomlin and Cody Anderson, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. After optioning T.J. House to AAA Columbus, Terry Francona stated that he would like to use Tomlin as both a starter and reliever in April. However both Tomlin and Anderson were very good in small sample sizes last season, and have had somewhat rocky Spring camps. It would be very surprising to see both Tomlin and Anderson on the Opening Day roster, and it is something to watch very closely for the rest of the Spring. While the top four (Kluber, Carasco, Salazar, Bauer) seemed to be locked up, the fifth is still very much in question.

Since it looks as if Brantley is likely to be back on Opening Day, here is what I think the Opening Day lineup could look like. (Cleveland opens against Boston, while it has not been made official it is more than likely Price will start for Boston, this lineup is based off of the fact that he is a lefty)
1 Rajai Davis - CF
2 Francisco Lindor - SS
3 Michael Brantley - LF
4 Mike Napoli - 1B
5 Carlos Santana - DH
6 Jason Kipnis - 2B
7 Marlon Byrd - RF
8 Yan Gomes - C
9 Juan Uribe - 3B
If a righty were to start it might look something like this
1 Jason Kipnis - 2B
2 Francisco Lindor - SS
3 Michael Brantley - LF
4 Carlos Santana - DH
5 Mike Napoli - 1B
6 Yan Gomes - C
7 Lonnie Chisenhall - RF
8 Juan Uribe - 3B
9 Rajai Davis - CF

Urshela Flashing Signs of Developing Bat

The Cleveland Indians signed 36 year old Juan Uribe as a bridge to 24 year old Giovanny Urshela, due to the fact there was some question about Urshela's bat. Urshela has put up very nice offensive numbers throughout his minor league career (.268 with 56 HR across 623 games), but in his 81 game big league stint in 2015 his bat was not quite as strong. While he was held back a bit by nagging injuries, Urshela managed to hit just .225 to go along with 6 homeruns and 21 RBI, but did show flashes of being a solid hitter. His stellar defense is not a question, but with the Indians lineup in the shape that it is they cannot afford to trade the great defense for a bat with as much question behind it that Urshela has. Cleveland signed Uribe and expected to let Urshela develop his bat more in AAA for a good chunk of the 2016 season while Uribe manned third base in the big leagues. While that is still the plan, early on in the Spring Urshela seems to be figuring things out a bit quicker than expected. While yes, a few Spring games mean next to nothing, Urshela is absolutely raking in game action, and ripped his 4th homerun of the Spring today. As of right now (game still in progress), Urshela is hitting .346 with 4 homeruns and 10 RBI. While it still looks like Uribe will be the starting third baseman with Urshela in AAA, he is making his case for the Opening Day roster very well known.

Biggio is reminded of Killer B's in current Astros

By: Jordan Smith

Craig Biggio, the Houston Astros' first ever Hall of Famer is living the good life right now. A special assistant to GM Jeff Lunhow of the Houston Astros, perhaps one of the greatest 2B to ever play the game of baseball, and is also a coach to his kids' high school baseball team. Life is pretty sweet right now.

It was also pretty sweet back in the day when he was playing, especially when the Killer B's were in town. Biggio, Bagwell, and Berkman created a 3 headed monster in Houston that set the passion in the space city off and running in the 90's, the last few years before they moved downtown and out of the 8th wonder of the world.

"The excitement level from the anticipation of what you had last year to where we're at now, yeah it is exciting," Biggio said. "It reminds me a lot of the early '90s, where our team is kind of built now for success. Because you look at your core players that you have, they're good kids and good players, and they're young. They should be here for a while." (quotes courtesy of MLB.com)

Having watched the Astros rebuild firsthand, Craig Biggio said that it was really nice to see so much talent on the roster and having that feeling of a high level of enthusiasm around camp again.

"It's exciting to be back," Biggio said. "It's exciting to walk around town in Houston in the offseason and have people excited about your team again." (quotes courtesy of MLB.com)

What do yall think about the Houston Astros this season? Leave a comment below and be sure to click on one of the links below to find out more on your Houston Astros. Thanks for reading.

Houston Sports Beat

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Who Will Replace Peralta?

Good afternoon,
As we await today's game against the Washington Nationals, I received an update that the Cardinals may look into acquiring Nick Ahmed of the Arizona Diamondbacks to replace Jhonny Peralta as he recovers from a torn ligament in his thumb. This really struck my attention. Is it really necessary to trade a prospects or even a utility man for a mediocre short stop just for a couple months? No. The Cardinals acquired Jedd Gyorko in the off season, to bring depth for the Cardinals infield, especially at short. Also, the Cards have Aledmys Diaz, who has failed to disappoint this spring. There really isn't a need to send away in-house options for a short-term issue. Let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading! Give me a follow on Twitter! @STLCards18 

Braves thin roster at Spring Training

As camp wears on, the Braves active roster heading into the season begins to take shape.  While none of the moves made were particularly surprising, it may temper some of the excitement of the fans, and bring an uneasy reminder that the organization is, in fact rebuilding, and the prospects of the future are, exactly that the future.

Released:
Kyle Kendrick - Everyone saw that coming.  Kendrick struggled mightily this spring, and while I believe he will be picked up by another club, Atlanta is just too flush with pitching to spend a roster spot on the veteran.
Chris Volstad - In limited action this spring, Volstad did not make enough of an impression to keep a roster spot.

Sent to Triple-A Gwinnett:
Tyrell Jenkins - Still trying to figure out what to do with Jenkins, who was brought in as a powerful late-inning reliever, but has since been stretching in the minors to fill a rotation spot.

Also sent to AAA were: Daniel Castro (INF), Danny Barawa (RHP), Casey Kelly (RHP)

Sent to Double-A Mississippi
Marucio Cabrera - "The aimless fireball" as i've come to call him, he will continue to hone his control of his blazing pitches.  Best guesses put him still a couple of years away from donning an Atlanta uniform.

Sent to Minor League Camp:
Sean Newcomb: - Getting his first look in an Atlanta uniform, Newcomb failed to show the control the team was hoping to see, pitching ineffectively, issuing 6 walks over just 1.2 innings.  Look for that to be a focus point for him over this season, probably at AA.

Rio Ruiz - While Ruiz posted a .400 average this spring, third base is a bit of a logjam with veterans (Olivera, Beckham, Garcia, I actually discuss it here) that will all get some looks before him.  If he can put up big numbers in the minors though, look for him to maybe FINALLY get some time at Turner Field.

Also sent to minors camp:  Chris Ellis (RHP), Chase d'Arnaud (INF), Nate Frieman (INF), Madison Younginer (RHP), and David Holmberg (LHP)

Some other notes....

- Freddie Freeman indicated that it was not his wrist, but his hand that irked him during a check swing, and he is currently in the lineup today.  The Braves are understandably cautious with Freeman, so it will be interesting to see if this is the trend, where any discomfort will cost him playing time.
- The release of Kendrick opens up an opportunity for Jholys Chacin and Aaron Blair to crack the opening day rotation, both have had strong showings so far this spring, however Chacin's veteran status may give him the edge if they only take one to Atlanta.
- Mallex Smith could be closer to making the big club than initially thought, although I would not expect him to crack the opening day roster, all signs are pointing to a 2016 call up.
- Nick Swisher hasn't had a great start, and he will need to improve not necessarily with the hopes of a starting job, but to drum up some trade value for the team, who has been shopping him and Michael Bourn.  There is talk the Braves might just release him, but none of that has been confirmed.

Naquin Impressing In Tight Cleveland Outfield Race

While the Cleveland outfield situation is not looking too bright as of right now, they may have a surprise candidate emerging as a guy who can not only make the roster but make a nice impact. Tyler Naquin is a 24 year old outfielder who has battled injuries while working his way through the minor leagues, but is now healthy and raking in Spring Training. While yes, it's only been seven games, and yes, Spring Training doesn't count for much, Naquin has emerged as possibly the top candidate for one of the Indians outfield spots. In 15 at bats, Naquin is hitting .467, and is tied for third for the most hits by any player thus far. Obviously, this small of a sample means absolutely nothing, but he has clearly been at a higher level than others contending for a spot. For example, Cleveland seemed fond of the idea of Collin Cowgill make the club, but he has managed to hit a meager .067 with one homerun. Time will tell if Naquin makes the team, but I believe he has put himself into a perfect position to do so thus far.

Jairo Diaz to Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Rockies right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a partially torn UCL, reports Tom Harding. Jairo, 24, will for sure miss the 2016 season and possibly the beginning of the 2017 season. 

As MLBTR notes, Diaz was expected to compete for a spot in Colorado's bullpen, but he will have to wait at least one more season to do so. His fastball and slider can reach the high 90's, but he has struggled with control problems and doesn't generate a lot of swings and misses. 

He was acquired from the Angels in the Josh Rutledge trade and threw 19 innings of 2.37 ERA ball last year at the major-league level. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, but didn't enjoy the same success, pitching to the tune of a 4.18 ERA in just over 60 innings. 

Spike Owen is Rangers' interim 3B coach for Tony Beasley

Spike Owen will fill in as the 3B coach for Tony Beasley while Tony undergoes chemotherapy treatment. It is unknown how long Beasley will be out but he has said that he will try to help out the club as much as he can. Owen is the manager at Hickory, the Rangers' Class A team. He has been in the organization since 2009, he has worked as a minor league infield coordinator and on the staff at Triple-A Round Rock. The plan is for Beasley to have 4 chemotherapy treatments every two weeks during spring training

Rockies Notes: Betancourt, Raburn

FEBRUARY 26: RHP Rafael Betancourt announced his retirement, Gerardo Boscan reported. Tom Harding reports that Rafael will consider becoming a coach. As MLBTR notes, Betancourt was open to pitching in 2016 but only if he received a major-league guarantee. Given his age (40) and recent struggles (6.18 ERA in 2015), it's understandable why he didn't find what he was looking for. He also missed the 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery.

Overall, Betancourt had a strong 12-year career with Cleveland and Colorado. Pitching a significant amount in hitter-friendly Coors Field, he managed to record a career 3.36 ERA in nearly 700 innings. He also recorded 75 saves, serving as the Rockies closer from 2011-13.

We here at Everything MLB Inc. congratulate Rafael on a tremendous career and wish him the best of luck in life after baseball.


MARCH 4: The Rockies and outfielder Ryan Raburn agreed to a minor-league deal, Jon Heyman reported. Heyman notes that Ryan will earn $1.5MM if he makes the major-league roster and can request his release if he doesn't make the club by March 28.

As MLBTR notes, Raburn gives manager Walt Weiss another option in what's already a crowded outfield. The starting trio of Gerardo Parra, Charlie Blackmon, and Carlos Gonzalez all hit left-handed, so Raburn can provide a right-handed hitting option off the bench. He has a track record of crushing left-handed pitching, including a .325/.415/.589 slash line with 8 homers last season vs lefties.

Kolten Wong Signs Five-Year Extension

Just before the Cardinals' exhibition match-up vs Florida Atlantic on Wednesday, the team and second baseman Kolten Wong agreed to a five-year, $25.5MM extension that will keep the Hawaii native in St. Louis until 2020. The deal includes a $12.5MM option for the 2021 season, but doesn't include any no-trade protection.

Kolten, 25, enjoyed his first season as a full-time regular in 2015 and had an excellent first half. He tired down the stretch (as did shortstop Jhonny Peralta), due in large part to the lack of a suitable middle infield backup. The team traded for infielder Jedd Gyorko this past offseason, so St. Louis will look for its middle infield duo to have strong seasons throughout the summer.

In all, Wong slashed .262/.321/.386 with 11 HR and 61 RBI. He was also among the team leaders with 15 stolen bases. Kolten is an excellent baserunner and has a Gold Glove in his future, so he and the Redbirds look for him to keep improving and have an even better season in 2016.

Works Cited
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/03/cardinals-to-extend-kolten-wong.html

Brave New World Part I: Position Players

With the first week of Spring Training winding down, we've gotten a look at some of the exciting future stars of the organization.  Sean Newcomb, Dansby Swanson, Ozzie Albies, and Aaron Blair are just some of the early looks we've gotten (Including a historic debut for Mallex Smith), but those plot lines will be addressed next week, when we have more time to see these prospects.  For now, we'll do what Braves fans do best right now... Day Dream.

For the first of this two part series, we'll look at the starting position players that could reasonably be on the 2018 opening day roster.  Obviously lots can happen, and i've given a lot of preference to players currently in the Braves system (Catcher being the only out of house acquisition), and with such an active front office, most of this will probably be wrong.  But hey, guy can dream right? 

Catcher - Jonathon Lucroy:  This would not be the first time the all-star catcher had been tied to Atlanta, but this time an exchange seems more possible.  The difference now is that the Brewers have conceded they are in rebuild mode, and Lucroy has stated he wants to play for a contender.  He will have many suitors, but the Braves could offer the most competitive minor league package to a team who is very light on pitching in the farm system.

First Base - Freddie Freeman. I don't think anything more needs to be said on this topic.  He's going to be the 1st baseman for the forseeable future.

Second Base - Ozzie Albies: Timing is an advantage for Albies, because he will have another year in the minors to learn a new position, while Dansby Swanson secures his own spot at shortstop.  His plus contact skills but lack of punch in the bat profiles better at 2nd anyway.  Either way, expect plus defense up the middle no matter which player is on which side of the bag.

Shortstop - Dansby Swanson: The Marietta, GA native will assume the field general position either late 2016 or early 2017, and will also take up the center mantle of the franchise.  His plus contact, gap power, formidable speed and soft hands in the field gives him all the tools to be a Jeter for the next generation.

Third Base - Hector Olivera: It is reasonable to think that 2018 will see the (then mid 30's) Cuban move back to his home position at the hot corner.  He should provide a strong presence towards the bottom of a speed heavy lineup, with lots of RBI opportunities.  His defense will need to stay at least serviceable to avoid a platoon situation, and that will probably be the most intriguing factor here.  It is believed with some of the mechanical adjustments he has made (and will continue to make) are positive changes to adjust to MLB pitching.

Outfield: Nick Markakis, Mallex Smith, Braxton Davidson:  The biggest reach here is Davidson, while he has shown some promise (power, defense), he still has a lot to work on (plate discipline, bat speed) before reaching the show.  Since we're in my daydream though, let's just say that he finds his way up and into left field.  Markakis's veteran leadership is key, and while he will be heading to the end of his career (by 2018), he will still provide a strong bottom of the order bat and good defense in right (although one could see him and Davidson switching spots).  Smith provides a true leadoff hitter with blazing speed and smart base running instincts, setting the table for a contact and speed heavy lineup.

A lineup could look something like this..

1. Mallex Smith
2. Ozzie Albies
3. Dansby Swanson
4. Freddie Freeman
5. Jonathon Lucroy
6. Hector Olivera
7. Braxton Davidson
8. Nick Markakis

Next Week... We look at the pitchers!

Messy Outfield Situation in Cleveland Could Lead to A Poor Season

There has been a lot of publicity concerning the Cleveland Indians star player Michael Brantley, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and will begin the 2016 season on the disabled list. The injury was already viewed as something that could really hurt the Indians chances this season considering their lack of outfield depth, and they could really use some help now after Abraham Almonte tested positive for Boldenone and was suspended for 80 games. Cleveland feels they have the right pieces to fill in until Brantley returns, who is well ahead of schedule in the recovery process, but many have their doubts. The loss of Abraham Almonte is not as big of a hit, considering there was certainly some questions as to what he could accomplish this year, but it doesn't help. Almonte, 26, has been in and out of baseball for the past 3 seasons (166 MLB games from 2013-2015, 258 minor league games), and has never really reached a very high level of success. In 2013, Almonte hit .264 with 2 homeruns in 25 games for Seattle, .230 with 3 homeruns in 2014 between 27 games in Seattle and 32 with San Diego, and .250 with 5 homeruns in 2015 between 31 games with San Diego and 51 with Cleveland. In those 51 games with the Tribe, Almonte hit .264 with 5 homeruns, 9 doubles, 20 RBI, and 6 steals, which gave Cleveland hope that he could be a platoon player or possibly an every day outfielder. Now that two out of three outfielders Cleveland wanted in their Opening Day lineup are out, let's take a look at who can step in.
Lonnie Chisenhall made a change from third base to the outfield last season, and Cleveland was very impressed by how quickly and smoothly the transition was made. Chisenhall will without a doubt be the starting right fielder in 2016, but there are some questions about his consistency. Lonnie has struggled to stay in the big leagues over his career due to his sometimes stellar sometimes cellar play. After a demotion to AAA last year (Which is when he made the switch to RF), Chisenhall came back and impressed a lot of people. In the month of August, Chisenhall played 23 games and hit .403, and his second half numbers totaled to .288 with 25 RBI. Chisenhall did not just impress with his hitting however, as he ranked second among right fielders and fifteenth among all outfielders in defensive runs saved (11) while only playing in 51 games (106 total games, 51 as an outfielder). As he goes into his age 27 season, Cleveland feels pretty confident that he will contribute for a full season on both sides of the ball this season.
Newcomer Rajai Davis was originally signed as a platoon option, but it looks like the veteran speedster will now be forced into an every day role for a good portion of the season. Davis is now 35, and what they get from his bat is questionable, but they can expect a .250-.265 average to go along with 20 doubles and 20-30 stolen bases. Davis has hit as high as .305 (2009), and once reached 50 steals (2010) in a season. While he is obviously not the huge MVP candidate that Cleveland so desperately needs in the outfield, Davis will hopefully add some depth to the lineup and make a nice impact with his speed.
Players battling for spots:
Zach Walters was acquired for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera in July of 2014, and has since battled injuries and lack of contact. While they believe the power is in the tank, the strikeouts have been very evident and it might not be such a good trade-off (47 strikeouts in 118 at bats with Cleveland between 2014 and 2015). Walters does have a lot of versatility, but when you hit below the Mendoza line and can't make contact, you aren't helping yourself.
Joey Butler is known in Cleveland as the guy who broke up Carlos Carrasco's no hitter with two outs to go at Tropicana Field in 2015. Now, the 29 year old has become good friends with "Cookie" Carrasco and is vying for a job on the same team as him, In 2015, Butler did very well with Tampa Bay, hitting .276 with 8 homeruns and 30 RBI in 88 games. I view him as one of the best possible options to fill in at least until somebody returns, but he is obviously not the number one guy you want out there.
Robbie Grossman has spent the last three seasons in Houston, and is now fighting for a job with Cleveland. In 190 career games Grossman has been less than impressive, hitting .240 with 11 homeruns and 63 RBI. In 2014, Grossman played a career high 103 games and hit .233 with 6 homeruns.
Collin Cowgill seems to be a popular option among Terry Francona and the Indians front office. Cowgill's bat has never been there (308 career games, .236 average, 12 homeruns), but the Indians like his speed and defense. The team seems to like him, but I would not feel confident at all if the Tribe have him playing every day at any point this season.
Michael Choice was once one of baseball's top outfield prospects, but he is now with his third organization and has not seen any success so far. He is 26 years old, and has done well in the minor leagues, but it just has never translated to MLB success. I would sincerely doubt he has much of a chance to make the big league team.
Shane Robinson is a 31 year old outfielder who has played 351 games over parts of six seasons, and has a career average of .237 to go with 5 homeruns. As with most of the Indians choices, he has a weak bat but likable defense.
Will Venable is probably the most likely option to be in left field on Opening Day. In 2013, Venable broke out with a .268 average and blasted 22 long balls. However, Venable has fallen off since his breakout year, and gone back to the player he was priod to 2013. In 2014, Venable hit .224 with 8 homeruns, and .244 with 6 in 2015 between San Diego and Texas. Cleveland hopes to see flashes of 2013 from the 33 year old, and perhaps for him to fill in until Brantley returns then become a platoon player.
Outside the box candidates
Tyler Naquin is currently the organizations number 9 prospect, and we may see him make the jump to the big leagues on Opening Day. Naquin has been held back by injuries in his minor league career, but has potential to provide a very nice average, plus speed, and good defense. While he won't make the debut splash that Francisco Lindor did last season, he could wind up producing very well in Cleveland this season.
James Ramsey was acquired for Justin Masterson two years ago, and could be ready to take the step into the big leagues. From 2012-2014 Ramsey showed off an all around game in the minor leagues, but struggled in AAA last season hitting just .243. The 26 year old was expected to reach the MLB last season, but failed to do so.
Jose Ramirez is now the super utility player for Cleveland, and it is remotely possible we see him in the outfield a few times this season. Ramirez has been an infielder most of his career, but is starting to pick up the outfield a little bit to increase his versatility.
No matter how you look at it, Cleveland has a serious lack of outfield depth that could seriously harm them. Should they be in contention at the deadline, they do have a strong farm system they could deal from to add a big bat, but as of right now lack of production from the outfield could be their downfall.