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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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| 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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| 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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| 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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| 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 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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| 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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| 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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| 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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| 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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| 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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