News

Yoenis Cespedes

2/7/12 11:28 pm

Marlins president David Samson told Jayson Stark of ESPN.com that they could make an offer to Yoenis Cespedes on Wednesday.

Cespedes traveled to Miami on Tuesday and is expected to meet with the Marlins on Wednesday. “I don?t know how tomorrow will go,” said Samson. “But it would not surprise me if it ended with an offer.” The Cubs, White Sox, Orioles and Tigers are also believed to have serious interest, but it’s not known if Cespedes will meet with any other clubs while he’s visiting the United States.

Source: twitter.com

Tagged as: news, Yoenis Cespedes

Seong-Min Kim (Orioles)

2/7/12 10:47 pm

The Korean Baseball Organization has filed a letter of protest to MLB alleging that the Orioles broke protocol by signing 17-year-old left-hander Seong-Min Kim.

KBO told Reuters that they wanted an explanation why they were not informed the Orioles were talking with Kim. “Poaching our players like this makes it difficult for (South Korea) to keep its scouting rules tight and to develop our youth sports programs,” said Michael Park, the KBO’s operations manager. “We only have 50 high school teams and taking promising players away like this makes it very hard for Korean baseball to stay strong.” MLB is currently investigating the matter, but since this appears to be an unwritten rule-type situation, it’s hard to say what the fallout will be.

Source: msnbc.com

Tagged as: news, Orioles, Seong-Min Kim

Mitch Moreland (Rangers)

2/7/12 9:51 pm

Mitch Moreland (wrist) said he is “feeling great” and could be close to full strength going into spring training.

Moreland underwent surgery on his right wrist in November, but he’s already hitting four times a week and doing all of his conditioning. The 27-year-old is currently on track to be ready for Opening Day as the Rangers’ starting first baseman, but the club added Brad Hawpe and Conor Jackson on minor league deals this winter just in case there are any setbacks.

Source: mlb.com

Tagged as: Mitch Moreland, news, Rangers

Elvis Andrus (Rangers)

2/7/12 9:11 pm

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com report that the Rangers and Elvis Andrus have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year contract, pending a physical.

Source: twitter.com

Tagged as: Elvis Andrus, news, Rangers

Daniel McGrath

2/7/12 9:09 pm

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com was told by a major league source that the Red Sox have signed Australian left-hander Daniel McGrath.

McGrath’s team, the Doncaster Dragons Baseball Club, broke the news via their Twitter account. The 17-year-old left-hander was reportedly choosing between attending college in the United States or signing a contract with a pro team. Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe notes that McGrath stands at 6-foot-3 and reportedly possesses a good fastball. The Red Sox have yet to confirm the signing.

Source: weei.com

Tagged as: Daniel McGrath, news

Yoenis Cespedes

2/7/12 8:48 pm

According to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, Orioles executive director of international recruiting Fred Ferreira is scheduled to travel to the Dominican Republic in about 10 days to scout Cuban outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler.

Cespedes traveled to Miami on Tuesday after being granted a visitors visa and is expected to meet with the Marlins on Wednesday. Various reports have pegged the Marlins as the early favorites, but this process could drag on for a little while since the 26-year-old can’t officially sign a contract until he is unlocked by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Soler, 19, is also highly-regarded, but will likely begin his professional career at the lower levels of the minor leagues.

Source: masnsports.com

Tagged as: news, Yoenis Cespedes

Josh Hamilton (Rangers)

2/7/12 8:29 pm

Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports that the Rangers have hired Shayne Kelley as Josh Hamilton’s new accountability partner.

In fact, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said that Kelley traveled with Hamilton when he visited MLB and MLBPA doctors Monday in New York. His official title is a major league staff assistant, which makes sense given his diverse background. Not only has Kelley previously served as a college coach and minor league strength and conditioning coach with the Royals, he also served as the team chaplain at Alabama from 1996-99. He’ll take the role vacated by Jerry Narron, who left to take the Brewers’ hitting coach job this offseason.

Source: go.com

Tagged as: Josh Hamilton, news, Rangers

Alex Gordon (Royals)

2/7/12 6:07 pm

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports that the Royals and Alex Gordon appear close to avoiding arbitration with a one-year contract.

Gordon, who is arbitration-eligible for the third time this offseason, requested $5.45 million and was offered $4.15 million by the Royals when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. Negotiations on a multi-year deal are expected to continue once a one-year deal is reached. According to Dutton, the Royals are believed to have offered Gordon a four-year deal in the range of $30 million.

Source: kansascity.com

Tagged as: Alex Gordon, news, Royals

Bryce Harper (Nationals)

2/7/12 6:00 pm

Bryce Harper told Bill Ladson of MLB.com that he thinks he has a legitimate chance of making the Nationals’ Opening Day roster.

“I feel really positive about going to Spring Training this year,” said Harper. “I really feel I have a legit shot at making the club. We have a lot of guys coming in — veteran guys that could really teach me how to approach the game. … I’m really excited for this year. I’ve been working my butt off this offseason, getting ready to go out there and doing outfield stuff, working on running and jumping — everything that consists of trying to make this team. To have Davey on my side, that a very big plus going in there.” We wouldn’t expect him to say much different, but Nationals manager Davey Johnson has made it pretty clear that he wants the 19-year-old on the Opening Day roster. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo plans to keep an open mind about his status, but we still think he’d have to have a terrific spring to justify starting his arbitration clock so soon.

Source: mlb.com

Tagged as: Bryce Harper, Nationals, news

Dmitri Young (Nationals)

2/7/12 5:36 pm

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM, Dmitri Young will work out for the Pirates next week at the team’s spring training complex in Bradenton, Florida.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle will be present for the workout. Young, now 38, has slimmed down significantly in hopes of receiving a spring training invite somewhere, but he hasn’t appeared in a major league game since 2008. He worked out for the Phillies late last month, so perhaps he’ll get his chance.

Source: twitter.com

Tagged as: Dmitri Young, Nationals, news

← Previous Entries