Mets fans had a scare yesterday when projected Opening Day starter Jon Niese had to travel to New York to undergo an MRI after experiencing a dead arm. However, Mike Puma of the New York Post tweeted earlier today that the results of Niese's MRI were positive; doctors said his shoulder looked "perfect," and he will be able to resume throwing as soon as he returns to camp. Elsewhere in the NL East…
- CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury writes that 2014 could finally be the year that the Phillies trade Cliff Lee if they fall out of contention. Lee says that the concept of trade rumors don't matter to him: "I really don't care. There’s no sense really thinking about it. Honestly, it usually means a good thing. It means you’ve had success and other teams really want you." Lee's contract is guaranteed through the 2015 season and contains a vesting option for 2016.
- Rehabbing Phillies setup man Mike Adams threw his first bullpen of the spring today and said he felt great afterward, writes MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Adams felt some discomfort when throwing from flat ground on monday, but the Phillies' head trainer assured him it was ok. Adams, set to earn $7MM in 2014 after missing most of 2013, said he threw at about 85 percent intensity today and could be in the Phillies' bullpen sometime in April.
- Christina De Nicola of FOX Sports Florida spoke to Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill about his wealth of pitching prospects. Beyond Jose Fernandez, Nathan Eovaldi, Henderson Alvarez, and Jacob Turner, the Marlins also have minor leaguers Andrew Heaney, Justin Nicolino, Anthony DeSclafani, Adam Conley, Brad Hand and Brian Flynn. "Those guys are all starting pitchers, which is an envious position to be in," Hill said. "We're proud of our depth, happy to have it and just hopeful that they all develop into what we think they can be."
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo calls recent trade acquisition Felipe Rivero a "huge-upside left-handed starter," writes James Wagner of the Washington Post. Wagner spoke with Rivero about his transition from the Rays organization to the Nationals.
Of course the Marlins have a ton of prospects since 2006 they haven’t traded for anyone significant and have traded away: Josh Becket, Mike Lowel, Carlos Delgado, Dan Uggla, Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Miguel Cabrera.
At least be fair. They turned Beckett and getting old and overpaid (at the time) Lowell into Great years for them of Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez, then flipped them for Eovaldi and Alvarez at the very least and still holding pattern on a couple of others.
People are too hard on the Fish. I rarely speak up for them, but when it gets too harsh and easily stopped, I have to like here even though you and I seem to agree on many other topics here.
Willis + Cabrera for Miller + Maybin wasn’t considered a bad deal at the time.
They also acquired Omar Infante in the Uggla deal then dealt him with Anibal to get Turner back.
This list isn’t exhaustive, either. Also, it’s worth noting Delgado was traded between 2005 and 2006 seasons. I believe Beckett and Lowell were too.
By the same tolken, the Athletics regularly deal their star pitchers and they don’t get the flak Florida does- Mulder, Hudson, Haren, Blanton, Brett, Cahill, Gio, etc.
I thought I read “Rivera” in the title and got really scared.
“2014 could finally be the year that the Phillies trade Cliff Lee…”
again…
Then they can re-sign him in 2017
Given Mike Rizzo’s track record in scouting and developing pitching (particularly guys who aren’t headliners in trades), I feel pretty confident that Felipe Rivero has a future. Whether or not that’s a “superstar” as Livan Hernandez called him, I dunno.
Wow, I honestly forgot Mike Adams was still in baseball
And, 2014 might NOT be the year the Phillies trade Cliff Lee. See how that non-rumor works? You could say that same thing for about 60% of MLB players. This same rumor appears every year about this time.
They could have a harder time finding a new home for 65m in guaranteed money over the next 2 seasons for a 35YO SP, regardless of how well he starts out the season.
The amount of teams willing to absorb that contract and risk could probably be counted on 2 fingers.
Michael Pineda, Adam Warren, and Eduardo Nunez for Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon, and Jimmy Rollins?
Not sure if this is a troll post..
Why would it be a troll post? It is a proposal for a salary dump, which is what the Phillies want to do.
No they don’t. They don’t need to dump him. The only way they will trade him is if they get fair value for him. They WILL NOT dump him to get salary cap.
I don’t think the Phillies really care about a salary dump as they are about to get a huge influx of cash from their new TV deal. The Phillies will probably care about getting younger cost controlled players who are ML ready to go along with their aging core. The Yankees are nowhere close to having the package of players it would take to pry Lee away from Philly… the Red Sox on the other hand….
Man I wish the Jays would trade for Cliff Lee
Why? It’s not like Lee alone would make the Jays a contender. Also after last years trades there is very little left in the farm… it would take the rest of the kids to acquire him… then it become win now for the Jay because you are going to look like the Brewers very soon (Mediocre to bad ML team with a horrible farm system)
RAJ to AA: “Okay, you get a CYA winner and we get Travis d’…”
Steve: minor syntactical suggestion in re Niese. You might want to say ‘the results of Niese’s MRI were good news for the Mets’ or something similar. Saying ‘positive’ in re a medical exam/test has other implications.
The problem with any Cliff Lee, J Pap, Rollins, etc.. trade is that the Phillies do not eat salary. I believe Jim Thome was the last player they ate a portion of the salary. Maybe it’s just a 9 year cycle.