Winter Activities Brochure was distributed in the The Journal and Retailer last week. Registration begins tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. Give the Gift of Life.
Category: Major League Baseball
Chad Bettis now cancer-free, prepares for spring training
File – In this Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, file photo, Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis is shown in the team’s dugout in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Denver.
Foster takes the road much traveled
Major League Baseball umpire Marty Foster speaks to Dudley and Julie Ricketts of Monmouth, Ill., during the annual Burlington Bees Banquet on Friday at Pzazz. Sylvia Thomas, of Fort Madison, purchases a raffle ticket from game staff members Molly Cockrell and Stephanie Walker during the annual Burlington Bees Banquet on Friday at Pzazz.
Mariners acquire Gallardo from Baltimore for Seth Smith
In this Sept. 15, 2016, file photo, Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo throws to a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Baltimore.
White Sox claim OF Garcia; Coats DFA’d
The White Sox claimed outfielder Willy Garcia off waivers from the Pirates on Friday and designated outfielder Jason Coats for assignment. Garcia was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Dec. 31 after spending all season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where the 24-year-old hit .245 with 30 doubles, six home runs and 43 RBIs.
Nats add Watson to pro scouting department
The Nationals have hired De Jon Watson, the D-backs’ former senior vice president of baseball operations, to their pro scouting department as a special assistant to general manager Mike Rizzo. Watson spent the past two seasons overseeing Arizona’s scouting and player development departments.
Report: White Sox sign Geovany Soto to a minor league deal
Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reports that catcher Geovany Soto has signed with the White Sox on a minor league contract. According to Levine, Soto has a “great shot” once the White Sox configure their 40-man roster.
Yankees’ Sanchez, Giants’ Cruz among Thurman Munson winners
Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and Mets infielder Wilmer Flores will receive the Thurman Munson award. The former Yankees captain died in a plane crash in 1979 while practicing takeoffs and landings at an airport close to his home near Canton, Ohio.
Andrew Benintendi Poised to Become MLB’s Next Rookie Superstar
This winter, most of the Boston Red Sox -related headlines have been about prospects leaving town. Most notably, the Red Sox shipped a gaggle of young talent to the Chicago White Sox in the Chris Sale trade, including five-tool Cuban There are still blue chips left on Boston’s table, however.
Blue Jays Morning Brew: Prospects, Podcast, 2016 memories
It’s the first Monday morning of 2017, so as everyone arrives bright-eyed to work and thinks warmly of their holiday credit card bills, here are some Blue Jays stories to get you caught up and feeling fine. The first podcast of 2017 recaps the big stories from the holiday break – Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.
Atlanta Braves: Why the rush to add a catcher?
Sep 27, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers hits a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports The Atlanta Braves already have three catchers with big league experience and don’t expect to contend in 2017.
Should Cleveland Indians move Danny Salazar to the bullpen? Hey, Hoynsie
Do you have a question that you’d like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here or Tweet him at @hoynsie. Hey, Hoynsie: I know how hard it is to find quality starting pitching so this question mighty seem crazy.
Oakland A’s 2016 review by position: Good bullpen, bad 2B and CF
As we continue our look back at a forgettable 2016, we must search for different ways to illustrate how bad the Oakland A’s were. Maybe if we check enough angles, we’ll learn something new! Here’s how they compared with the rest of the league at each individual position, ranked by bWAR.
Miami Marlins: Jason Hammel is an Intriguing Option
… Hammel’s stuff is declining after he was left off the Cubs postseason roster, according to John Perrotto of FanRag Sports. The market is down on Hammel, who only saw his ERA go from 3.74 to 3.83 from 2015 to 2016, but his FIP indicated that the …
Blue Jays next-level depth: Wil Browning, Murphy Smith
Relievers Wil Browning and Murphy Smith are coming off big years in the upper-minors for the Toronto Blue Jays In an ideal world, the Toronto Blue Jays – and every other team – would make it through 162 games using 25 players. In reality, that’s never the case.
Brian Dozier
To trade him or not to trade him? I really hope we don’t. In my honest opinion, I think it would be very stupid to trade him. Please vote on my poll to let me know what you think. Should we keep him? Yes or No? Go ahead and vote!
Arizona Diamondbacks: Starting Rotation is the Biggest Key in 2017
The Arizona Diamondbacks were one of the more disappointing MLB stories in 2016, and three starting pitchers may be their biggest 2017 keys to success. After winning the National League West Division crown in the 2011 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks fell to a .500 finish in each of the next two seasons.
Scully’s swan song season a memorable one
Vin Scully’s final year of broadcasting brought smiles, tears and unforgettable poignant memories … and that was just in the announcing booth. Since Harry Truman was president, every generation of Dodgers fans adored Scully.
Top five Phillies prospects: Crawford, Alfaro fuel optimism
… pick Mickey Moniak. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2iACmYP Throughout the offseason, USA TODAY Sports Weekly will be profiling the top five prospects from each major league team as part of its Organizational Reports series. 1. …
Hall of Fame case: Trevor Hoffman will find the Mo to get in
Hall of Fame case: Trevor Hoffman will find the Mo to get in The erstwhile all-times saves leader stacks up favorably with his contemporary. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2hq08bT USA TODAY Sports is examining the most intriguing cases on baseball’s 2017 Hall of Fame ballot ahead of the Jan. 18 election results.
Colorado Rockies: What Does the Alexi Amarista Signing Mean?
According to published reports , the Colorado Rockies have signed Alexi Amarista to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2018 season. The Rockies have not officially confirmed this report yet but, if it’s true, let’s take a look at what this means for the team.
Yankees top prospect Clint Frazier talks biggest offseason improvement
Yankees top outfield prospect Clint Frazier has posted workout videos this offseason that have probably made some big leaguers feel soft and flabby. But the 22-year-old said his greatest progress hasn’t come in the weight room, but between his ears.
The Boston Red Sox were right to avoid signing Edwin Encarnacion
After a season full of speculation and on-going rumors in the offseason the Edwin Encarnacion to the Boston Red Sox narrative was put to bed on Thursday after the Indians locked up the slugger. Encarnacion signed for a guaranteed $60 million over three years with a $25 million option and $5 million buyout.
Over/Under: 2017 Boston Red Sox ZiPS Projections
Following the Buchholz to Philadelphia trade, the 2017 Red Sox roster looks to be set barring any unforeseen moves by Dave Dombrowski and the front office. With that in mind, I thought it best to get an early start on projections season and take a look at how Dan Szymborski views the team .
Steady Eddie: A look back at five big moments over Encarnacion’s time in Toronto
Edwin Encarnacion’s strong run with the Toronto Blue Jays ended this week when the veteran slugger agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Cleveland Indians. The ball eventually landed in the second level of seats at Rogers Centre to give the Blue Jays a 5-2 walkoff victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the 2016 American League wild-card game on Oct. 4. The Blue Jays went on to sweep the Texas Rangers in the AL Division Series before falling to Encarnacion’s new team in five-games during the AL Championship Series.
Orioles have interest in free-agent outfielder Rajai Davis
Orioles new catcher Welington Castillo visits Camden Yards to talk about how excited he is to join the team. Orioles new catcher Welington Castillo visits Camden Yards to talk about how excited he is to join the team.
Indians outbid A’s, agree to terms with slugger Edwin Encarnacion
Capping a year in which they came within one victory of winning the World Series for the first time since 1948, the Indians agreed to terms with the veteran slugger on a $60 million, three-year contract Thursday night. The deal includes a club option for 2020 that, if exercised, would make it worth $80 million over four years.
White Sox: Jose Abreu Needs to Start 2017 Strong
Lack of offense was a major concern for the White Sox last season. Part of that problem was Jose Abreu’s slow start.
Cubs won it all just in time for many long-time fans
In this Nov. 4, 2016 photo provided by the Strobel Family, Cubs fan Helen Weithman, celebrates the Chicago Cubs World Series victory at her home in Glen Ellyn, Ill. A lifelong Cubs fan Weithman, 98, who according to family was slipping away until the Cubs made it to The World Series, “She really came alive when it started and they had the Cubs games on,” said the daughter, Kathleen Strobel.
New York Yankees: Jorge Posada Good, But Not Good Enough for Hall of Fame
Jorge Posada, the catcher for the New York Yankees during the run they had in the 1990s and 2000s, appears on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. His inclusion on the ballot gives members of the BBWAA another opportunity to make one of those borderline calls on who gets in and who doesn’t.
Boston Red Sox What the stats say about Clay Buchholz’s Red Sox career
Sign up for Boston Globe’s 108 Stitches newsletter and be entered to win a four-pack of tickets to the Red Sox home game on August 28th. Get everything baseball, straight from the desk of Alex Speier.
Boston Red Sox What the stats say about Clay Buchholz’s Red Sox career
Sign up for Boston Globe’s 108 Stitches newsletter and be entered to win a four-pack of tickets to the Red Sox home game on August 28th. Get everything baseball, straight from the desk of Alex Speier.
Lining Up the Dodgers
Andrew Toles is a better match for the leadoff role and more than one of my colleagues expects Dave Roberts to go that route. But I don’t buy the notion that Andre Ethier will see much action in right field going forward, and he shouldn’t.
Lining Up the Dodgers
Andrew Toles is a better match for the leadoff role and more than one of my colleagues expects Dave Roberts to go that route. But I don’t buy the notion that Andre Ethier will see much action in right field going forward, and he shouldn’t.
Miami Marlins May Be Surprise Team of 2017
The National League East is expected to come down to the New York Mets or the Washington Nationals next year. However, the Miami Marlins may surprise both teams and make a push for the division.
Miami Marlins May Be Surprise Team of 2017
The National League East is expected to come down to the New York Mets or the Washington Nationals next year. However, the Miami Marlins may surprise both teams and make a push for the division.
Jhoulys Chacin joins Padres, who keep Clayton Richard
Richard, 33, was 3-4 with a 3.33 ERA this year for the Chicago Cubs and Padres. He also pitched with San Diego from 2009-13.
What can we expect from the Angels bullpen in 2017?
Depending on how you rank them, the Angels fell somewhere in the 9th-12th spot for AL bullpens in 2016. Basically, the Angels bullpen was in the bottom 3rd of the American League despite having some shining moments .
Red Sox trade pitcher Clay Buchholz to Phillies
There was David Price last offseason and Drew Pomeranz mid-year. By the time Chris Sale was acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the winter meetings this month, Boston had seven starters to choose from – most of them more consistent than Buchholz, and a few of them on better deals.
San Francisco Giants: What Can We Expect from Jimmy Rollins?
The San Francisco Giants have signed shortstop Jimmy Rollins to a minor league deal. What type of performance can we expect? Just yesterday, the San Francisco Giants signed shortstop Jimmy Rollins to a minor league deal.