The Rangers are "making progress" on a deal with pitcher Jerome Williams, MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo tweets. Yesterday, a report indicated that, in the wake of the Derek Holland injury, the Rangers would look to add starting pitching depth, and Williams would certainly qualify. The righty posted a 4.57 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 169 1/3 innings for the Angels in 2013. Here are more notes from the American League.
- One reason the Red Sox signed A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year deal is that they did not want to sign a catcher to a long-term deal and block prospects Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez in the process, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal writes. Pierzynski and Swihart were at the same autograph signing in Boston on Saturday, but it's not likely they'll ever play for the Red Sox together. Swihart hit .298/.366/.428 for Class A+ Salem last season, and he'll likely be at Double-A in 2014, probably with Vazquez at Triple-A. MLB.com ranks Swihart the Sox' No. 10 prospect, with Vazquez at No. 15.
- Perhaps unsurprisingly, the independent Long Island Ducks have invited Alex Rodriguez to play for them in 2014, Mark Herrmann of Newsday reports. "While some MLB suspensions have been honored by the Atlantic League in the past, if Alex Rodriguez were unable to participate in the Major Leagues this season, we would be open to exploring giving him a chance to play, stay sharp and compete," says Ducks president and GM Michael Pfaff. Rodriguez plans to continue to fight his suspension, which prevents him from playing for the Yankees in 2014.
I guess the acquisition of Jerome Williams would show that the Rangers are indeed operating at their budget capacity.
Love my Rangers. Do not want to see this guy in the rotation. Even for only half a season.
Seems like a really low-risk deal. He may or may not be better than Tepesch, Ross, or Lewis this year, but I see no problem giving him a NRI with a shot to earn a spot.
I do not care if they sign him. I do not want him in the rotation. He does not miss enough bats and in our park that gets nasty.
You’re entitled to your opinion.
I know
Hopefully its for only half a season for you guys.
Hopefully its for only half a season for you guys.
Keep in mind that the Rangers are only looking for a half season starter and Williams might move to the bullpen and be a spot starter like Ogando has been in the past.
By the way, it was reported today that Holland’s injury was caused from horseplaying at home with his dog. I knew that it was going to be something like that with Holland.
Extremely annoying.
Are you implying that professional ball players shouldn’t be allowed to horse around?
He is implying that Holland is an immature, which he has proven time over that he is.
Oh, please. You could see last year how much he matured. He was almost as good as Yu. He would have been the best pitcher on probably 20 other teams.
I think it sucks too, but playing the “immature” card is pretty lame. It was a freak accident. It happens.
I did not say he had not made strides. He still acts like a 17 year old at times. I am not even sure why I replied to a comment that stated DH was almost as good as YD.
Not that WAR means everything, but Dutch put up 4.8 fWAR to Yu’s 5.0. Yu’s ERA was half a point lower, but their FIPs were pretty close.
He wasn’t that far off from Yu in 2013.
Good stat.
Interesting little PR move by our friends the Ducks there.
I like what they’re doing. I love going to Bridgeport Bluefish or Portland Sea Dogs games. Whatever gets them in the press is smart. Minor league baseball is a lot of fun.
Arod to the Ducks!!!!!!!!!!!! Make it happen!! Or he could play on my summer team, North Shore Tigers! I am willing to switch positions to have you on the team and paying 3B for us.
Arod is rich enough to set up his own league and compete against MLB. Start with 4 teams. Plenty of ex major league players who might take an ownership stake in lieu of salary. Players won’t have to worry about testing.
WBF WORLD BASEBALL FEDERATION!!!! The title would be championship belts for the whole team or knowing A-Rod a decorative scarf.
Hey, you leave decorative scarves out of this.
It can be like the XFL of baseball.
Exactly! How awesome would it be to see a catcher take a chair shot from the opposing manager as the guy on third steals home.
The main reason the Red Sox did not sign Pierzynski to more than one year has less to do with blocking their prospects, but instead more to do with Pierzynski and his age. Why lock into him for two years when they can just have him for one? As for their prospects, they might end up being good, but both are unknown. Vazquez turns 24 this year and will be playing in his first full year at AAA. Swihart might be the more interesting of the two, yet he’s not played above A ball. He certainly won’t be the starting catcher in 2015!
Pretty sure the implication was that the Red Sox didn’t pursue McCann, Saltalamacchia or Ruiz because each would’ve required longer term deals, and that’s the reason they went with Pierzynski instead.
” He certainly won’t be the starting catcher in 2015!”
I wouldn’t rule it out completely. Plenty of top level prospects jump from AA to the majors with just a brief, or no stopover at AAA. Bogaerts started last year at AA, and he’ll be starting in 2014.
If Swihart produces and shows he has the tools, there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t be on the scene next year. I’m not saying it’s LIKELY, but it’s far from a certainty that he won’t be the starter.
I’d like to see A-Rod in the Home Run Derby even if he is suspended all season, just for laughs.
Arod has been trying to duck things for a while now so it seems like a good fit.
Hiyoooo
This quacks me up.
The Ducks need to show some class and just forget about A-Rod. Baseball is better without him in it. Hopefully Minor League officials will come out with a statement that supports MLB and the MLBPA in their efforts to get PED’s out of Baseball.
A-Rod would put fans in the seats at a Ducks game.
The Ducks aren’t a part of Minor League Baseball, they’re independent. That’s why they have nothing to lose and everything to gain adding A-Rod
To be clear, I was lumping all leagues other than MLB into a category of “Minor Leagues” if that was confusing to you I apologize. The Independent Leagues just aren’t beholden to any one team, but the level of play certainly puts them in the minor league category.
I think that it is an empty gesture by the Ducks to get some press attention. A-Rod risks voiding the rest of his contract if he plays ball somewhere without permission of the Yankees, and the Ducks know it. If this were the last year of A-Rod’s contract, it would be different, but he has $61 million in salary due from 2015 to 2017 plus historic home run marketing bonus money up to $30 million, with the Willie Mays milestone bonus just six homers away.
I hope he never passes Willie Mays. It would be a huge shame.
Williams will get blown up at Rangers Ballpark. He always has. I wouldn’t do it.
He pitched 3 games at RBIA in 2013, and allowed 4 runs total (ERA of 2.45). 17 hits, but only 2 walks and only 1 dinger, and apparently stranded a lot of runners.
He did a lot worse in 2012, allowing 15 runs in 4 games (ERA of 9.88).