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| The Braves team website noted Friday that there is little doubt manager Bobby Cox has adopted Charlie Morton as one his favorites. The 24-year-old right-hander, however, is a longshot to earn a spot in the Atlanta bullpen. Cox wants the young hurler to get more seasoning as a starter in the Minors. |
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| Mike Gonzalez , who underwent Tommy John surgery last May, took his first Spring Training work Friday, according to the team's official website.
Manager Bobby Cox was impressed with the bullpen session by Gonzalez saying, "You wouldn't have known Gonzalez was hurt either." Expecting Gonzalez to contribute before the All Star break is eternally optimistic. |
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| Mike Hampton, who threw live batting practice during the Braves' first workout for pitchers and catchers at Champion Stadium on Friday morning, was wearing a smile after successfully completing the workout without incident, according to the team's official website. Hampton has missed part or all of the past two seasons recovering from separate left elbow surgeries.
"This was a big step for me," Hampton said. "Every step I take from here on out is going to prepare me to start the season."
The good news is that Hampton's elbow hasn't provided any recent problems. However, there's still some concern about the hamstring that he strained in November while pitching the first inning of his first start in the Mexican Winter League. Hampton is currently projected to be ready for opening day, and be a member of the starting rotation. The jury is still out on where he's at after two seasons of R&R. Atlanta's Spring Training box scores will be watched closely in March. |
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| Santiago Casilla have yet to report to Spring Training, according to the team's official website. Casilla has a "visa issue," manager Bob Geren said. Casilla registered a 3-1 record, recorded two saves and had a 4.44 ERA in 46 games with the A's last year. His 9.24 K/9 is impressive and is a quality that organizations look for for when seeking eighth and ninth inning options. |
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| Angel Garcia , who has yet to report to Spring Training, is absent due to "personal reasons," according to the team's official website. Garcia, a Rule 5 draftee in 2004 by the Rays, has yet to live up to his big league potential and has no current fantasy value. Garcia has spent time in Spring Training with Minnesota, Arizona, Tampa Bay and Oakland. |
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| Keith Foulke took his first bullpen session of the spring, and did so with his old team, according to MLB.com.
The former A's closer, who was, for all intent and purpose, retired --impressed the A's in a scouting session before they signed him.
Justin Knoedler caught Foulke and thought the veteran threw well.
"He hit his spots, he threw about 40 pitches ...[and] he had some decent life on his ball," Knoedler said. Foulke, even with an untimely injury to Huston Street, has no fantasy value in traditional formats. |
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| Rich Harden threw his first bullpen session of Spring Training on Friday, and according to the team's official website, the results were positive.
Harden threw 40 pitches to Kurt Suzuki, keeping the ball down and the velocity high.
"He looked like Rich Harden when he's healthy," Suzuki said. "I'm pumped I can finally catch him."
Harden said after his bullpen. "He's (Suzuki) really good at getting me down in the zone, better than most catchers I've worked with," Harden's big league history is full of dominating performances, unfortunately his ability to stay healthy has been the bigger story during his career.
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| Right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, who'll likely be the Dodgers No. 4 starter, went through his first American spring workout as a major leaguer on Friday, according to a report from ESPN. When asked about the training difference between the two countries-, he said "it's shorter here." Spring Training in the States is nothing compared to that in Japan -- not concerning length of workout at least. A spring two hour workout is about how much time the Japan teams spend stretching, alone. |
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| J.J. Hardy, SS, Milwaukee Brewers | Friday 2/15, 7:06 PM CT |
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| J.J. Hardy's new one-year deal with the Brewers is reported to be for $2.65 million, this according to JS Online.
Hardy was asking for $3.05 million and the Brewers offered $2.4 million -- so compromise was found just $75,0000 below the median of the two figures, but certainly a nice salary increase from his $400,000 in 2007.
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| Erik Bedard, P, Seattle Mariners | Friday 2/15, 6:58 PM CT |
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| The details of the Erik Bedard contract with the Mariners, who both avoided a potential salary arbitration hearing, is reported to be a one-year, $7 million dollar package, according to the team's official website.
Bedard, who made $3.4 million last season, was seeking $8 million through salary arbitration while the Orioles offered $6 million. |
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| Chris Spurling was signed to a Minor League contract earlier this week, but did so without an invitation to Spring Training, according to the team's official website. Instead, Spurling will pass Maryvale, Arizona -- and land directly in the team's Minor League camp, Triple-A Nashville. Spurling posted a 4.91 ERA in 38 relief appearances for Milwaukee last year.
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| Fernando Nieve, according to the team's official website, is still suffering from a minor hamstring pull that occurred during a conditioning session at Minute Maid Park. Nieve has plenty of time to pamper his hamstring as he is rehabbing a surgically repaired elbow. The starter, underwent Tommy John surgery last May, rendering him a fantasy non-factor until the 2009 season.
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| Paul Estrada was feeling some soreness, tenderness, in his right arm on Thursday, according to the team's official website. The injury isn't considered serious and manager Cecil Cooper said he'll "go slow" with most of injured in the early sessions of Spring Training. |
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| Erik Bedard, P, Seattle Mariners | Friday 2/15, 5:25 PM CT |
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| Erik Bedard avoided arbitration on Friday and agreed to a one-year contract with his new employer, the Seattle Mariners.
According to the Sports Network, Bedard was recently named the club's opening day starter. |
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| Chien-Ming Wang lost his arbitration hearing against his employer, the New York Yankees, on Friday, according to the team's official website.
Wang was awarded $4 million instead of the $4.6 million he was seeking. It's difficult to understand how the two sides couldn't find common ground on the 600K difference. After four arbitration hearings the owners have jumped out to an early lead with a first inning Grand Slam: Owners 4 - Players 0. |
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| Manager Dave Trembley has been raving about Ramon Hernandez, who showed up to camp in terrific shape. "He expects to have a big season and we expect that, too," Trembley said in the Baltimore Sun. Trembley added: "I asked him to come here in shape and he has. Just from the first two games that he's been here, he's got a little more bounce in his step. I think he understands that this is a big season for him." Hernandez dealt with injures and had poor production last year, but he seems primed for a bounceback campaign. |
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| Fernando Cabrera, who had cleanup surgery on his elbow over the winter, won't be ready to pitch anytime soon. It's not clear when he'll be ready to toe the rubber, but he definitely won't be ready by opening day, according to the Baltimore Sun. Cabrera could excel out of the pen if he learns how to harness his terrific stuff. This is obviously a roadblock in his development. |
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| Manager Jim Leyland won't write it in stone, but he pretty much has named Justin Verlander his opening day starter, according to the Detroit News. "I think he's earned it," Leyland said. Verlander won 18 games while posting a 3.66 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 183 Ks last year. He'll turn 25 next week and should just get better and better. |
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| Ivan Rodriguez is in the last year of his contract with the Tigers and says it's up to the team whether or not he returns to Motown for another year. "It's their decision," Rodriguez said in the Detroit News. "I'd like to stay here, but as of right now, I'm going to be here for one year. I'll play my best and try to help this team get to the playoffs." Pudge is entering his 18th season in the big leagues, but he's not thinking about retiring even if the Tigers don't bring him back. "Everybody needs to realize that I was one of those lucky guys who came up when I was 19 years old," he said. "Everybody thinks that because I'm in my 18th season, I'm old. I'm only 36. I'm still going to play a lot of ball. The way I take care of myself and the way that I work, I know I can play a lot of baseball. The fact that I've played a lot of years in the big leagues doesn't mean anything." |
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| Brett Tomko, P, San Diego Padres | Friday 2/15, 2:49 PM CT |
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| Brett Tomko was able to take part in his regular throwing session Thursday. He had been slowed earlier in the week by a sore back, according to the Kansas City Star. Tomko will be competing for a spot in the Royals rotation, though club officials have indicated that he'll have to pitch his way out of the No. 4 spot. |
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| Jason Bay, LF, Pittsburgh Pirates | Friday 2/15, 2:46 PM CT |
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| Jason Bay could report to spring training as soon as this weekend, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Position players don't have to report until next Tuesday, but Bay has spent the offseason strengthening his right knee, and rules allow injured players to report early. The outfielder will be trying to rebound from a disappointing 2007 campaign. |
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| Curt Schilling arrived at spring training Thursday, ready to begin the rehab process on his right shoulder. Although the veteran didn't speak to reporters, GM Theo Epstein did provide a bit of insight into Schilling's rehab. "He'll be rehabbing and strengthening for at least six to eight weeks. Then we'll see where we go from there," Epstein said in the AP. Schilling isn't expected to come back before the All-Star break, though Epstein didn't want to put any sort of specific timetable on a return. "It's way too early to put any kind of timetable on it. It's just step-by-step," Epstein said. "He's at the very beginning of the process." |
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| The terms of Brandon Phillips' new deal have been announced. The second baseman will receive $27 million over four years, and the Reds have an option for a fifth year. If Phillips is traded, the option becomes mutual and would bring the total value of the contract to $43.25 million, according to the AP. Phillips became the second second baseman in major league history to join the 30-30 club last season. |
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| The Houston Chronicle reported Friday morning that the team was victorious in their arbitration case against newly acquired closer Jose Valverde. The ex-Diamondback will receive $4.7 million instead of the $6.2 large he was seeking. |
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| The A's signed Matthew LeCroy to a minor-league deal Friday. He basically takes the roster spot of Jeremy Brown, who retired. LeCroy will compete for the backup job behind the plate, but he's likely to start the year at Triple-A. |
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| The A's announced Friday that Jeremy Brown has decided to retire, according to MLB.com. Brown is more famous for his inclusion in the book "Moneyball" than for anything he's done in his professional career. He had three hits in 10 at-bats in 2006, his only big-league action. He put together a .276-14-58 line at Triple-A Sacramento. |
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| Paul Byrd, P, Cleveland Indians | Friday 2/15, 12:20 PM CT |
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| Paul Byrd is still awaiting word from the commissioner's office on whether or not he'll face any kind of punishment for his use of HGH. "At this point, I'm still awaiting their decision in regards to the past and in regards to the future," he said in the AP. "That is really all I can say." Byrd admitted he had purchased HGH from 2002-05, saying he did so for a medical condition and under a doctor's supervision. |
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| The Giants plan on hitting Bengie Molina cleanup this year. The catcher doesn't feel any added pressure hitting in the spot that had been reserved for Barry Bonds. "I think they have the right guy in me because I don't think about it," Molina said in the AP. "I just see it like I have to stand up at the plate, look for my pitch and hit it hard somewhere. That's the only thing I'm going to try to do. I'm not going to try to hit more home runs or less home runs, but drive in runs with hits. I'm straight up going to be myself." Molina is a nice offensive catcher, but the fact that he's in line to hit fourth just gives you an idea how pathetic the Giants lineup is. |
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| The Rockies may not have won the World Series, but they did win their arbitration case with reliever Brian Fuentes. Fuentes will receive a $5.05 million salary this year instead of the $6.5 million he requested, according to the AP. |
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| Dioner Navarro will report late to the Rays camp, as he is still in Venezuela tending to his ill mother, according to the Tampa Tribune. The team isn't sure when Navarro will arrive. |
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| Coco Crisp, CF, Boston Red Sox | Friday 2/15, 11:03 AM CT |
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| Most assumed that Coco Crisp would have been traded by now, and it's still likely he will be dealt. But he's still on the roster and manager Terry Francona said "I don't know" when asked whether Crisp or Jacoby Ellsbury would be the starting center fielder, according to the Boston Herald. "It's not Opening (Day) tomorrow," said Francona, perhaps hinting that even he envisions Crisp being traded. The manager was very complimentary when asked about Crisp, though. "I think it's somewhat important for our staff and the ballclub to not lose sight of what Coco gave us last year," he said. "He played center field about as good as you can, and he played banged up probably when he shouldn't have sometimes. It got to a point where we felt we needed to make a change in the playoffs. When that happened, Coco handled it with grace, which we appreciated." It's possible Ellsbury will start the year in Triple-A if Crisp isn't dealt before the opener, but expect Coco to be wearing a different uniform by then. |
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| Drew Macias, OF, San Diego Padres | Friday 2/15, 10:01 AM CT |
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| The Padres designated Drew Macias for assignment Friday. Macias would have competed for a bench job this spring, but he wasn't going to make any noise in fantasy, regardless. The Pads could stick him at Triple-A if he clears waivers. |
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| The Mets inked Brady Clark to a minor-league deal Friday. Clark can play all three outfield positions, but his best shot at playing time would be the right-handed part of a platoon in right field with Ryan Church. |
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| Kameron Loe isn't being considered for a spot in the Rangers rotation, according to the Dallas Morning News. Loe had a 5.35 ERA in 23 starts last year and a 5.40 ERA in five relief outings. In 2005 he was much better as a starter, posting a 2.70 ERA in eight starts and a 4.17 ERA in 40 relief appearances. |
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| If Jeff Clement doesn't win the everyday job behind the plate, he'll likely begin the year at Triple-A. "We won't carry Jeff Clement as an extra catcher," manager John McLaren said in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "If we carry him, it's got to be as an everyday player. With his talent, there's too high a ceiling for him. He needs to play." McLaren did say that Clement is capable of beating out Jose Vidro for the DH job, and with Kenji Johjima cemented at catcher, that would be the only way he'll make the opening day roster. The team isn't considering moving Clement to first base. "With his bat, he could DH," the manager said, referring to Clement. "We're very happy with Vidro as our DH and with Kenji as our catcher. But we like surprises, too." Johjima is a free agent after this season, and Clement is in line to take over for him in '09. We don't see the talented youngster being a fantasy contributor until then, but crazier things have happened. |
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| Felix Pie, CF, Chicago Cubs | Friday 2/15, 9:42 AM CT |
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| The center field job is Felix Pie's to lose, according to the Chicago Tribune. Pie is confident he'll win the job despite his struggles last year. "The pitchers here are much better, more intelligent," he said. "[But] baseball is baseball. The more time I had up here, the more I learned. This will be the best year of my career." Sam Fuld will compete with Pie in spring training, but Fuld figures to back up at all three outfield spots. |
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| Kosuke Fukudome is capable of playing center field, but manager Lou Pinella plans on sticking the Japanese import in right and leaving him there. "I think we'll put him in right, put [Alfonso] Soriano in left and we'll figure out what we do in center," Pinella told the Chicago Tribune. |
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| Kerry Wood, P, Chicago Cubs | Friday 2/15, 9:28 AM CT |
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| Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol and Bobby Howry will compete this spring for the closer job, but indications are that Wood is the favorite to land the gig, according to the Chicago Tribune. Wood told the Tribune Thursday he didn't know if it took a different mentality to be the closer. "I never pitched the ninth inning, [other than] the last inning of the season, when I gave up a 500-foot homer," he said, referring to Stephen Drew's blast in Game 3 of The NLDS. "Obviously, it's different and there's a different mind-set, but any time you're late in the game, I think it's important." We think Marmol would be the better choice for the Cubbies, but Wood certainly is capable of succeeding in the role - assuming he stays healthy. |
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| Erick Aybar, SS, Los Angeles Angels | Friday 2/15, 9:23 AM CT |
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| Erick Aybar, who will compete with Maicer Izturis and Brandon Wood for the starting job at short, made a whopping 17 errors in 58 games, including the playoffs, in the Dominican Republic over the winter. But manager Mike Scioscia isn't concerned. "He wasn't as consistent as we know he can be, but we have every confidence he's going to play shortstop at a very high level," Scioscia said in the LA Times. "But we obviously have to see it on the field." Scioscia can say he's not concerned, but Aybar's poor winter-league showing certainly won't put him in the good graces of his manager. |
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| Ervin Santana is expected to arrive a few days late to spring training because of visa issues, according to the LA Times. Given that Santana will compete with Joe Saunders for the fifth spot in the rotation, this news isn't completely irrelevant, as the righty needs to take advantage of every chance he gets on the mound. If Santana does lose out on the starting job, he'll probably begin the year in the bullpen. |
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| Barry Zito, P, San Francisco Giants | Friday 2/15, 9:12 AM CT |
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| Manager Bruce Bochy said just last week that he wasn't sure yet who would start for the Giants on opening day. But he's now apparently settled on Barry Zito over Matt Cain. "Matt is still young. He'll be an Opening Day pitcher," Bochy said in the San Francisco Chronicle. "This year, we just felt Zito should have that start. I think as much as anything this is something he earned with the way he pitched at the end of last season. Barry, he's accustomed to it. It makes sense to send him out there opening day." Cain is easily the superior fantasy option of the two hurlers, but the veteran usually gets the nod over the youngster in this kind of competition. |
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| Byung Hyun Kim has been offered a minor-league deal by the Giants, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Kim is thought to be holding out for a a big-league contract from someone, but there isn't anyone beating down the door to sign a guy who posted a 6.16 ERA last year. |
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| Young stud Jarrod Saltalamacchia will compete with Gerald Laird for the starting job behind the plate for the Rangers. "It's open," manager Ron Washington said in the Dallas Morning News. "It's going to be a healthy competition." If Salty doesn't win the everyday job, he's expected to begin the year in the minors, leaving Adam Melhuse to back up Laird. |
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| Chad Tracy, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks | Friday 2/15, 9:00 AM CT |
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| Chad Tracy, recovering from knee surgery, has been hitting in the batting cage for the past month and is expected to be cleared to start running in a week or so, according to the Arizona Republic. It's possible Tracy might not be ready at the start of the regular season, but he should be able to play a few weeks in, at the latest. |
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| The Royals could use backup catcher Miguel Olivo in left field some this year. "You might look out there and see a simulated bunting game without anyone at their primary position," manager Trey Hillman said in the Kansas City Star. "You might see Miguel Olivo in left field. It could happen because I like to create options. It gives us flexibility. He can run a little bit... and Miguel tears up left-handed pitching." Olivo has a .291 career average against left-handers and a .220 career average against right-handers. He was already in line for a couple starts per week. Perhaps he'll get a few starts in left, as well, making Olivo a viable AL-only play. |
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| Jeremy Bonderman is feeling healthy now after dealing with a strained elbow at the end of last season. "I feel good," Bonderman told the Detroit News. "I've thrown off the mound three times this week. I've let it go. And I feel good. I'm just going to get ready (for the regular season) and not rush things. I'll be ready when we break camp." The right-hander has a new changeup that he hopes is more effective than his previous version of the pitch. "It's like a four-seam change-up," he said. "I get the feeling of the ball coming off my hands. Maybe that's all I needed." Bonderman will be trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2007 season that saw his ERA shoot up over 5.00. He'll be slotted into the No.2 spot in the rotation behind Justin Verlander. |
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| The Rays' medical staff and coaches will sit down with the oft-injured Rocco Baldelli on Monday and try to lay out a plan for how they'll use the outfielder this spring, according to the Tampa Tribune. "We're going to take it very slowly," manager Joe Maddon said. The team likely will have Baldelli focus mostly on his hitting and limit his time in the outfield, as he figures to see most of his playing time at DH early in the year. |
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| Shawn Riggans is the favorite to come away with the Rays' backup catcher job, according to the Tampa Tribune. He'll face competition from non-roster veterans Mike DiFelice and Josh Paul. Riggans has hit just .154 in his brief stints in the big leagues, but he's put up some decent numbers in the minors. He could have some AL-only value if Dioner Navarro gets hurt. |
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| With Joba Chamberlain slated to set up Mariano Rivera and LaTroy Hawkins in line for the seventh inning, the Yankees could deem Kyle Farnsworth expendable, according to the NY Post. Of course, that's assuming another team is willing to take on Farns' $5.75 million salary and mediocre production. |
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| Pitching coach, Mark Connor, told the Rangers official team website on Thursday, that pitcher Brandon McCarthy has "...put on weight and strength. All the things we asked him to do this winter he appears to have done." McCarthy is slated to be the team's fourth starter behind right-handers Kevin Millwood, Vincent Padilla and Jason Jennings. |
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| Willie Eyre , who underwent Tommy John surgery last August, reported with the pitchers and catchers and is currently in camp on a Minor League contract, according to the Rangers official website. Eyre will need most of the season to rehab from his August TJS, and while he is not officially on the Spring Training roster, the Rangers afforded the veteran a spot in the Major League clubhouse with the rest of the team. |
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| Joaquin Arias, who missed the 2007 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, is throwing again according to the team's official website. The versatile Arias, is not expected to be ready when the Rangers open their Spring Training schedule later this month. Arias is a natural shortstop but the Rangers will use him at third, second and even in the outfield if necessary. |
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| The Rangers official team website reports that the club has six catchers in camp -- two of which are competing for the starting job. Gerald Laird, who was the Opening Day backstop in 2007, will fight it out with Jarrod Saltalamacchia this spring. Laird is the stronger of the two defensively, while the switch-hitting Saltalamacchia has the better bat -- supposedly. Saltalamacchia is entering his first full season and during his 2007 starts, threw out less than 10 percent of the runners attempting to steal second base. |
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| Brandon Phillips agreed in principle to a long-term contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night, according to the Dayton Daily News.
The terms and length of the agreement were not yet available. Phillips, who plays what most media outlets consider a shallow fantasy position, second base, is being drafted as the top second baseman in many early Mock Drafts. Phillips is going before the Yanks Robinson Cano and the Phillies Chase Utley -- whom are the big three at their position. |
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