Some news and notes from around the AL West…
- Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton is expected to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Monday, the club told reporters (including Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram). Hamilton underwent two surgical procedures on that same knee last year and has been bothered by soreness in the same joint this spring. According to assistant GM Mike Daly, the Rangers still “feel good that Josh is going to play,” and haven’t had any talks with the veteran about his future with the organization. Texas re-signed Hamilton to a minor league deal over the winter as the former AL MVP is attempting to revive his career after several injury-plagued down years, plus a lost 2016 that saw him play in just one minor league game.
- Andrew Bailey “never seriously considered leaving” the Angels in free agency this winter, the veteran reliever tells Pedro Moura of the L.A. Times. “I feel like, with where I’m at in my career and what I’ve been through, signing early and getting something done and focusing on getting ready for this year was more important to me than chasing something else,” Bailey said. Amusing, he didn’t actually realize he was headed for free agency until last September, as Bailey believed he was still arbitration-eligible; he just barely passed the required six years of service time to hit the open market. The righty pitched well after signing a minor league deal with the Angels last August, and showed signs of recovery from several injury-plagued years by tossing 43 2/3 innings in 2016.
- The Mariners were counting on their “big three” of James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen to anchor their rotation for years to come, though as Larry Stone of the Seattle Times observes, only Paxton is still on the M’s roster. Walker was dealt to the Diamondbacks in November as part of the multi-player deal that brought Jean Segura to the M’s while Hultzen is simply trying to resume his career in the wake of multiple arm injuries.
- Chris Devenski’s surprising rise from unheralded prospect to a major weapon out of the Astros bullpen gives Houston some pitching flexibility, ESPN’s Mark Simon writes. The ’Stros could utilize Devenski as one of their many setup options, a multi-inning fireman like Andrew Miller or potentially even as starting depth in the back end of the rotation. Over 108 1/3 innings as a rookie last season, Devenski posted a very impressive 2.16 ERA, 8.6 K/9 and 5.2 K/BB rate.
Not much to do with this post, but Cruz just hit another bomb, I know it’s just Spring Training but I think as long as he stays healthy he will have another huge year.
Not saying Cruz will be good or bad, but spring training stat mean absolutely nothing.
I’d think Devenski would be best either as a BOR starter or filling a fireman stopper role. I think the Astros have enough back end pen arms that set up role would not be needed
He came from a rich family and had his medical school paid for if he went to med school and didn’t play BB. Guess it doesn’t matter he can afford to pay for his own med school if he still wants to go. Could be like Dr Dan Doornick he played for the Seahawks went to school in the off season and finished when he retired. He now has a practice in Yakima Washington. Only difference is Dan was successful.
Hard to believe its been 6 years since Hultzen was drafted
According to assistant GM Mike Daly, the Rangers still “feel good that Josh is going to play,” <—-WHAT? Why? Nothing against Josh but the guy's body is just giving out on him. Too bad but it happens to every player eventually.
Good riddance to Hamilton.
Time to call it a career Josh… I believe that’s surgery #11 on his knees. I was so excited when the Angels signed you, and that just turned out to be the biggest misstep of a contract in recent years. CJ Wilson was at least serviceable for most of his contract, and Pujols has dropped off but he is still producing for our lineup. Josh was dead money.
Hultzen’s arm implosion has to be so painful for the Mariners. I remember watching that draft just “knowing” we were going to draft Anthony Rendon, and the pick happened, and everybody lost their mind. Lookout Landing was a comedy club when the pick happened. I’ll never forget that.
Yup, my buddy and I were all about them taking Rendon as well. Another moronic move by the M’s on a very long list of them…..
I almost understood not taking Rendon because of the injury but taking Hultzen made no sense. You knew they were going to have to over pay to get him to play. The management made so many mistakes it’s embarrassing to think about. Every team makes them but the M’s seem to have used their allotment for many years to come. Hopefully Dipoto isn’t continuing the trend most of his moves seem good a few are questionable.
I was too young to really understand baseball when Hultzen was drafted, can someone explain what all happened then. Because I had always thought that Hultzen was the clear cut #2 that any team would have drafted there.
For some reason my reply went above to the answer to the Hultzen question Kid. Look up there.
the craziest part about looking at that draft is that springer has never made an all star game
Anyone else notice how often teams that have a “big 3” or “triplets” pitching prospects how often they end up not working out. I know the Rangers thought they had that with only Volquez really becoming a serviceable major league pitcher. Then the Mets had Pulsipher, Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen and only Isringhausen had any real success.
Moral of the story: 1 pitcher will become too injured to pitch, 1 will not be good enough and 1 will be a success.
Even the A’s trio ended up that way: Zito lost effectiveness, Mulder got hurt and Huson was the most effective.
John Danks was one of the Triplets Texas had coming up with Volquez. Danks was pretty serviceable.
right….DVD……Thomas Diamond, Edison Volquez and John Danks. The White Sox got a couple good years from Danks and of course Texas traded Volquez to Cinci for Josh Hamilton and both players made the all star team so it was a good deal for both teams. Diamond never got there.
In the mid 60’s, before the common draft, they MLB had a “bonus rule” to prevent teams from signing too many young stars to big contracts. The rule was basically that you had to carry that player on your MLB roster or risk losing them on waivers. The Cardinals had three prospect pitchers: Nelson Briles, Steve Carlton and Dave Dowling. STL couldn’t afford to carry three rookie pitchers who were not ready for the show. So they kept Briles and Carlton and the Cubs picked up Dowling. STL choose wisely. Dave only pitched in two games (although he allowed only two runs in 10 innings) but Briles was a very dependable pitcher for a long time and of course Silent Steve is in the Hall of Fame