MLBTR would like to send its deepest condolences to the friends and family of former Major League left-hander Brad Halsey, who died tragically in a climbing accident near his Texas home, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today writes. Halsey, just 33, spent three seasons in the Majors with the Yankees, Diamondbacks and A’s from 2004-06. He was one of three players traded from the Yankees to Arizona to acquire the legendary Randy Johnson.
As we keep the family and loved ones of Brad in our thoughts, here are a few notes from around the game…
- Hiroki Kuroda has yet to decide whether he wants to return for the 2015 season, tweets Jon Morosi of FOX Sports. At this point, Kuroda is weighing one more season in the Majors, one more season in Nippon Professional Baseball or retirement.
- Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez has recovered from knee surgery and will pitch in a winter league this year as he gears up for a comeback, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Rodriguez, who turns 36 in January, pitched just 26 2/3 innings for the Pirates this season before being released. He underwent knee surgery roughly a month later and said at the time that he had received some interest from other clubs. However, he preferred to correct a lingering issue in his knee that had been hindering him, in an effort to be as best-prepared as possible for the 2015 season.
- The Associated Press reports that Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera was charged with resisting arrest after police stopped him for suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana. While DUI charges are not planned, according to the report, Cabrera was cited for possession of marijuana in the car and could face up to a year in jail if convicted of a misdemeanor.
- The Phillies have no plans to move Cody Asche off of third base at this time, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki writes. While the idea of trying Asche in the outfield has been kicked around within the organization, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team decided at last week’s organizational meetings that Asche will remain at the hot corner. The plan next season is to platoon Asche and Maikel Franco if the team cannot move Ryan Howard this offseason. It seems that at some point, Asche or Franco will have to move off the position, but Amaro told Zolecki the team views both as third basemen right now. “Maikel Franco is a third baseman who plays some first base,” said Amaro.
Why don’t they just platoon Franco with Howard? One is lefthanded, the other is right.
Howard career OPS vs RHP = .955, vs. LHP = .733
$25 million dollars.
You don’t want to deter Franco’s devellopment, doing a platoon does this. Also, it’s quite obvious he needs more seasoning at AAA, his numbers there weren’t great nor were they at the MLB Level so, he is best served at getting better oppose to being on the bench 70% of the time. The guy is only 22, no need to rush him, you don’t want him to be a bust. EDIT: I just read the article and realized that they plan to platoon Franco at 3rd base next year……that’s going to be a mistake……why don’t they just let him work out his kinks at AAA? He is not going to get much playing time being the righty of the platoon plus, he just doesn’t seem ready to me.
Because Franco has a great arm and they don’t want to not use it by putting him at 1B. More than half of his defensive value comes from his arm (because he’s not fleet of foot), so if you move him over to 1B, he becomes a lot less valuable on defense. Leaving him at 3B (and platooning him with a guy who hits worse than Howard) maximizes his defense and offense. Although, I do agree with Draven, I’d start Franco at AAA next season (unless he comes out of camp mashing).
Cabrera has gone from All Star to All Time Loser in a matter of several months. PED use, marijuana chargers, resisting arrest; these aren’t good things to have on a record of any kind.
Nothing in his blood. No DUI. Dash cam will be interesting to see.
Should wandy Rodriguez pitched again
He’ll probably get a minor league deal if he wants one.
What team
I don’t know that. I’m sure several teams would offer him one, it’ll be up to him to decide which one to take, which’ll be the team that’ll most likely have an opportunity for him at some point at the MLB Level.
Maybe the braves can get wandy
Whats most interesting to me about the Cabrera arrest is that he is not being charged with DUI for driving under the influence because the blood tests were negative. He hadnt smoked it in the last month of so, but he did have under an ounce in the car. I have never heard if he was alone in the car or if someone was with him. Will be interesting to see the dash cam of the arrest once the trial starts.
RIP Mr Halsey ….at least he had his brief moment in the sun in the big leagues.
Wandy will be a low cost, low risk….and probably low yield signing for someone next year. Maybe the Toledo Mudhens.
Franco still has trouble hitting the off-speed pitch. If the Phils platoon him, that isn’t going to go away. He would be better off going down to AAA to work on hitting the off-speed pitch. Then, bring him up when he is ready.
Franco is probably better defensively than Asche. It would a sin to move him to 1B and waste his defensive value just because Howard isn’t any good anymore.