NL Central Notes: Cardinals, Luhnow, Pirates, Poreda
2011/12/nl-central-notes-theriot-luhnow-pirates-poreda.htmlIn the Triple-A portion of today's Rule 5 draft, the Pirates selected Aaron Poreda, tweets John Manuel of Baseball America.
NL Central Notes: K-Rod, Pena, Phillips, Pirates
2011/12/nl-central-notes-k-rod-pena-phillips-pirates.htmlThe Astros have some quality prospects, but John Manuel of Baseball America writes that their farm system still needs major help after years of bad drafts.
Minor Moves: Bianchi, Threets, Gallagher, Atilano
2011/12/minor-moves-mike-rivera-alberto-gonzalez.htmlThe Athletics have signed left-hander Erick Threets to a minor league deal, tweets Matthew Eddy of Baseball America…
Quick Hits: Pujols, Wilson, Beltran, Bergesen, Lane
2011/12/quick-hits-pujols-beltran-bergesen-lane.htmlAll I can do is prepare myself and be ready for whatever comes my way." Baseball America's Matt Eddy reports that the Diamondbacks have signed former Astros outfielder Jason Lane as a left-handed pitcher.
Indians To Sign Felix Pie
2011/12/indians-to-sign-felix-pie.htmlPie, 26, ranked among Baseball America's Top 100 prospects each year from 2003 to 2007, but has never become a full-time player in the bigs.
Mets Claim Jeremy Hefner; Sign May, Olson
2011/12/mets-claim-jeremy-hefner-sign-may-olson.htmlBaseball America ranked him 15th among Padres prospects prior to the season, noting that his "three average offerings and feel for the strike zone make him ideally suited to fit in the back of a rotation." May, 27, hit .238/.330/.427 in 286 Triple-A plate appearances this year for the Diamondbacks' and Royals' affiliates.
International Notes: Darvish, Soler
2011/12/international-notes-darvish-soler.htmlDarvish, who believes the posting system is unfair, would prefer to play for a West Coast team, Passan reports. Some teams prefer Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler to Yoenis Cespedes, Jim Callis of Baseball America writes.
Red Sox Acquire Melancon For Lowrie, Weiland
2011/12/astros-acquire-kyle-weiland.htmlA third-round pick in 2008, Baseball America ranked Weiland 20th among Red Sox prospects prior to the season.
MLB, MLBPA To Talk International Acquisitions
2011/12/mlb-mlbpa-to-discuss-international-player-acquisitions.htmlDevelopment opportunities for undrafted and unsigned players in Latin America.
Minor Moves: Rangers, Lindsay, Texeira, James
2011/12/mets-sign-chuck-james.htmlThe Padres released utility man Eric Patterson, tweets Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
Bill Smith To Remain With Twins
2011/12/bill-smith-likely-to-remain-with-twins.htmlIn that role, he would oversee Latin America development and plans for the team's Spring Training facility.
Minor Moves: Baxter, Blanco, Orioles, Michaels
2011/12/minor-moves-castillo-ekstrom-simons.htmlThe Rockies signed catcher Wilkin Castillo and right-handed relievers Mike Ekstrom and Zach Simons to minor league deals, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (on Twitter).
NL Central Notes: Reyes, Astros, Molina, Pujols
2011/12/nl-central-notes-reyes-astros-molina-pujols.htmlThe Cardinals not only won the World Series, but they've also been named Baseball America's 2011 Organization Of The Year… Louis organization has taken top honors since Baseball America instituted the award in 1982
Weiner: Teams Want International Draft “Right Now”
2011/12/weiner-owners-want-international-draft-right-now.htmlWeiner and other MLBPA representatives outlined a number of goals focusing on protecting and helping Dominicans and other Latino players, but they face a growing rumble of criticism about the committee's makeup and its perceived plans for Latin America.
Quick Hits: Beltran, Vizquel, Pirates, Gio
2011/12/quick-hits-beltran-vizquel-pirates-gio-rule-5-draft.htmlThe Tigers should keep pursuing Gio Gonzalez, writes John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press, even though he doesn't think the Tigers would deal the Athletics' asking price of prospects (Jacob Turner, Drew Smyly and Nick Castellanos) "for any one player." The Rule 5 draft is losing relevance and could soon be abandoned "in history's dustbin," writes Baseball America's John Manuel.
Reds Acquire Latos For Alonso, Grandal, Volquez
2011/12/reds-acquire-mat-latos-for-alonso-others.htmlThe Reds took Alonso seventh overall in the 2008 draft, and he's ranked in Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects each of the past three seasons.
Reactions To The Mat Latos Trade
2011/12/reactions-to-the-mat-latos-trade.htmlBaseball America ranked the 23-year-old as the 10th best prospect in the Reds' farm system.
Indians Sign Andy LaRoche
2011/12/indians-sign-andy-laroche.htmlHowever, he was long considered a top prospect, having ranked among Baseball America's top 20 prior to both the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
AL East Notes: Upton, Red Sox, Kuroda, Gio, Bard
2011/12/al-east-notes-upton-red-sox-kuroda-gio-bard.htmlBaseball America published their choices for the Rays' top ten prospects today, and though there are some surprises, the name atop the list isn't one of them.
Nationals To Acquire Gio Gonzalez
2011/12/nationals-to-acquire-gio-gonzalez.htmlPeacock (#3), Cole (#4) and Norris (#9) all rank among the Nationals' top ten prospects, according to Baseball America's latest rankings.
Reds Acquire Sean Marshall For Travis Wood, Others
2011/12/cubs-to-send-sean-marshall-to-reds-for-travis-wood.htmlBaseball America ranked Sappelt and Torreyes as the Reds'20th and 22nd best prospects in last year's Prospect Handbook, respectively.
Athletics Interested In Jorge Soler
2011/12/athletics-interested-in-jorge-soler.htmlSoler is younger and more talented than the Rangers' Leonys Martin, wrote Baseball America's Jim Callis, so he figures to beat Martin's $15.6MM contract.
Diamondbacks Sign Cuban Left-Hander
2011/12/diamondbacks-sign-cuban-left-hander.htmlThe Diamondbacks signed Cuban left-hander Alexander Carreras for $400K, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
Red Sox Notes: Kalish, Bailey, Reddick
2011/12/red-sox-notes-bailey-reddick-head.htmlRed Sox director of player development Ben Crockett told FanGraphs' David Laurila that Head can hit despite the fact that "he's not going to win any beauty contests." Jim Callis of Baseball America told Laurila that Head's stocky frame makes him difficult to project.
Cubs Sign Yasiel Balaguert And Carlos Martinez
2011/12/cubs-sign-yasiel-balaguert-and-carlos-martinez.htmlThe Cubs have signed Cuban prospects Yasiel Balaguert and Carlos Martinez, reports Baseball America's Ben Badler.
