Minor Moves: Bryan Anderson
2014/02/minor-moves-bryan-anderson.htmlThe Reds have signed catcher Bryan Anderson to a minor-league deal, Baseball America's Matt Eddy tweets.
Quick Hits: Free Agents, Braves, Ortiz, Lester, Rays
2014/02/quick-hits-free-agents-ortiz-lester-rays.htmlBaseball America's Matt Eddy recaps the week's minor league transactions.
Quick Hits: Burres, CBA, Int’l, Rangers, Astros
2014/02/quick-hits-burres-cba-international-rangers-astros.htmlInternational spending is on the rise despite the new bonus pool system, writes Baseball America's Ben Badler.
Commenting Policy
2014/02/commenting-policy-2.htmlCurrently, permissible links in the comments are limited to MLB.com, Cot’s Baseball Contracts, FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, and MLB Trade Rumors.
Blue Jays Notes: International Signing, Extensions, Currency
2014/02/blue-jays-notes-international-signing-extensions-currency.htmlHere are a few notes out of Toronto: The Jays put some traded-for international spending money to use today in signing Dominican righty Hansel Rodriguez for $330K, explains Ben Badler of Baseball America.
Minor Moves: Brian Bixler, Matt LaPorta
2014/02/minor-moves-matt-laporta.htmlLaPorta was the 7th overall pick of the 2007 draft and twice a Baseball America top-30 prospect, but has managed only a .238/.301/.393 line in 1,068 MLB plate appearances between 2009-12.
Minor Moves: Cole Kimball, Omir Santos
2014/02/minor-moves-cole-kimball-omir-santos.htmlWe'll round up some minor moves from the day here: The Yankees have signed righty Cole Kimball to a minor league deal, reports Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
Freddie Freeman And The Changing Extension Market
2014/02/freddie-freeman-and-the-changing-extension-market.htmlMasahiro Tanaka just commanded one of the biggest contract commitments ever made to a player ($175MM with posting fee included) despite having never thrown a pitch in North America.
East Notes: Marlins, Orioles, Yankees
2014/02/east-notes-2.htmlThe choice between the promise of millions of dollars in America and remaining in Cuba isn't a simple one for many Cuban athletes, writes Dan Le Batard in a piece for ESPN the Magazine.
Dodgers Nearing Deal With Cuban Shortstop Arruebarruena
2014/02/dodgers-nearing-deal-with-cuban-shortstop-arruebarruena.htmlThough Arruebarruena batted .320/.367/.520 in 306 plate appearances in Cuba from 2011-12, Ben Badler of Baseball America spoke with multiple scouts at the time of his defection and noted that many questioned whether Arruebarruena could manage a .220 average or .300 OBP in the Majors.
Rays, Nats Discussing Trade Involving Lobaton, Karns
2014/02/rays-nats-discussing-trade-involving-lobaton-karns.htmlBaseball America rates him at the back end of the club's top ten prospects, after several other young arms.
Nationals Acquire Jose Lobaton For Nate Karns
2014/02/rays-to-acquire-nate-karns-from-nationals.htmlBaseball America placed him at the ninth spot among the Nationals' top ten prospects.
International Notes: Diaz, Despaigne, Dodgers, Caribbean Series
2014/02/international-notes-diaz-despaigne-dodgers-caribbean-series.htmlCuba sent a team to the Caribbean Series in Venezuela for the first time since 1960, writes Baseball America's Ben Badler (subscription required and recommended).
Rangers Sign Tommy Hanson
2014/02/rangers-to-sign-tommy-hanson.html4 prospect (by Baseball America) heading into the 2009 season, and in his first three big league seasons (2009-11), Hanson posted a sterling 3.28 ERA with 8.4 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 and a 40.6 percent ground-ball rate.
Minor Moves: Robinson, Knapp, Egan, Morillo, Garrison, Wrigley, Geer, Johnson
2014/02/minor-moves-knapp-egan-morillo-garrison-wrigley-geer-johnson.htmlHere are some of today's notable minor moves -- a rather interesting group on the whole -- all courtesy of Baseball America's Matt Eddy unless otherwise noted: Catcher Chris Robinson will retire, tweets Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com.
Phillies Notes: Rollins, Montgomery, Draft Picks
2014/02/phillies-notes-rollins-montgomery-draft-picks.htmlIn reaction to Fitt's report, Scout.com's Kiley McDaniel says the Phillies "destroyed all trust" between teams and agents in the draft process and Baseball America's Jim Callis feels this "should be" cause for non-senior college players and agents to be careful about dealing with Philadelphia (both links to Twitter).
Quick Hits: Buxton, Heyward, Padres, Saunders
2014/02/quick-hits-buxton-heyward-padres-saunders.htmlBaseball America's John Manuel picks out some of the best and worst rankings from the past 24 years of BA's Top 100 Prospects lists.
Mariners Could Deal Infielder Before Opening Day
2014/02/mariners-could-deal-infielder-before-opening-day.htmlStill, Franklin is entering just his age-23 season and is no stranger to appearing on Top 100 prospect lists, having multiple appearances on those produced by Baseball America, MLB.com, ESPN's Keith Law and Baseball Prospectus.
Phillies Accuse Two 2013 Draftees Of NCAA Violations
2014/02/phillies-accuse-two-2013-draftees-of-ncaa-violations.htmlBaseball America's Aaron Fitt is reporting that the Phillies notified the NCAA that a pair of their 2013 draftees -- fifth-rounder Ben Wetzler and sixth-rounder Jason Monda -- were both in violation of the "no agent" rule after both players elected to return to their respective colleges for their senior seasons.
Blue Jays Claim Liam Hendriks, Designate Brent Morel For Assignment
2014/02/blue-jays-claim-liam-hendriks-designate-brent-morel-for-assignment.htmlHowever, the Australian hurler was once a well-regarded prospect in the Twins system, ranking sixth and seventh on the Baseball America's Top 10 Twins prospects lists from 2010-11.
Phillies Rumors: Draft, Gonzalez, Franco, Adams
2014/02/phillies-rumors-draft-gonzalez-franco-adams.htmlOregon State official Steve Clark said today that "it is our understanding the Phillies reported it," tweets Aaron Fitt of Baseball America.
Minor Moves: Whelan, Richmond
2014/02/minor-moves-whelan-richmond.htmlThe Tigers have signed righty reliever Kevin Whelan, Baseball America's Matt Eddy tweets.
Dodgers Sign Erisbel Arruebarrena
2014/02/dodgers-erisbel-arruebarruena-agree-to-terms.htmlThough Arruebarrena batted .320/.367/.520 in 306 plate appearances in Cuba from 2011-12, Ben Badler of Baseball America spoke with multiple scouts at the time of his defection and noted that many questioned whether Arruebarrena could manage a .220 average or .300 OBP in the Majors.
NL Central Notes: Reds, Cubs
2014/02/nl-central-notes-reds.html5 prospect in the game by Baseball America, may be looking for a new agent.
NL East Notes: Phillies, Harvey
2014/02/nl-east-notes.htmlCommenting for the article, Scott Boras noted that "anyone in America can have an attorney –- a representative –- for a complicated negotiation, except an athlete who signed a letter of intent to an NCAA institution." It's time for a change in the rules, Boras argues, as "teams annually solicit and participate in a process where they're knowingly violating NCAA rules and jeopardizing the student-athlete eligibility." Here's more from around the NL East: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.
