Dad's Timeout
-
Showing posts tagged baseball
-
Five Starting Pitchers that Should Interest the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles were one of baseball’s biggest surprises in 2012 thanks in large part to several unexpected pitching performances. Wei-Yin Chen and Jason Hammel formed a dependable duo at the top of Baltimore’s rotation. Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez emerged from the minor leagues to become the Orioles’ best pitchers down the stretch. In the rough and tumble American League East you can never have enough pitching. Here are five free agent starting pitchers that should interest the Baltimore Orioles.
Pin It Tweet -
Nationals Add Dan Haren to Stacked Rotation
The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with free agent pitcherDan Haren on a one-year contract reportedly worth $13 million. Haren struggled through injury and inconsistency with the Los Angeles Angels in 2012, posting a 4.33 ERA in 30 starts. The deal makes a great deal of sense for both Haren and the Nationals.
Pin It Tweet -
Cubs add Outfield Depth with Signing of Nate Schierholtz
The Chicago Cubs signed free agent outfielder Nate Schierholtz on Wednesday, December 6 to a one-year contract worth a reported $2.25 million. The 28 year old Schierholtz spent the first five and a half seasons of his big league career with the San Francisco Giants. Schierholtz was dealt to Philadelphia as part of a package of players to acquire Hunter Pence. Schierholtz is noted as plus defender in right field and could serve in a platoon role with the Cubs.
The signing of Schierholtz is just the first domino to fall in what could be a tumultuous season in the Cubs’ outfield.
Pin It Tweet -
Orioles Make the Right Call By Re-signing Nate McLouth
The Baltimore Orioles took their first big step towards repeating the magic of 2012 by agreeing to terms with outfielder Nate McLouth on a one year contract. McLouth will serve as Baltimore’s left fielder and likely hit either first or second in manager Buck Showalter’s lineup.
McLouth began the 2012 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates but was released in May after hitting just .140 in 34 games. McLouth signed a minor league deal with Baltimore and played well enough at Triple-A Norfolk to earn a chance with the Orioles. Nolan Reimold” opened the season in left field for the Orioles but he was quickly lost for the season to a neck injury. Showalter shuffled a bevy of underwhelming performers through left field before McLouth was summoned to Charm City in August.
Pin It Tweet -
MLB’s Winter Meetings Reveal Bizarro American League East
Baseball’s recently concluded Winter Meetings were largely uneventful. The big- ticket players like Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke are still on the open market, Justin Upton remains a Diamondback despite seven months of trade rumors, and Michael Bourn’s free agent options are dwindling by the day. The strangest aspect of all may be the news coming out of the American League East. After yapping about the luxury tax and fiscal restraint for a year, the Yankees may be putting their payroll where their mouth is.
Not only is New York shunning Hamilton and Greinke (at least in public) but the Yanks were also outbid for the likes of Russell Martin, Jeff Keppinger, and Eric Chavez. New York committed big money to Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Hiroki Kuroda last week. The 37-year-old Kuroda is the fresh-faced kid of New York’s high priced over the hill gang.
Pin It Tweet -
Lay off the Kansas City Royals
The perception that K.C. lost to Tampa Bay is premature.
The news of baseball’s latest blockbuster trade broke late on Sunday night, and Twitter exploded as details trickled out detailing the Kansas City Royals’ swap of top prospect Wil Myers and others to Tampa Bay for James Shields and Wade Davis.
In the minutes after the trade bloggers, armchair GMs, and prospect mavens hurled ridicule and insults in the direction of the Royals and GM Dayton Moore while celebrating the brilliance of his Tampa counterpart Andrew Friedman. The deal wasn’t a total shock as Shields to KC had been rumored for weeks. The Royals had already added Ervin Santana in a trade with the Angels and re-signed Jeremy Guthrie this offseason but still weren’t satisfied with the state of their starting rotation.
Pin It Tweet -
Potential Trade Destinations for Alfonso Soriano
The Chicago Cubs have made no secret of their intentions to rebuild the organization from the ground up. Trade rumors have swirled around nearly every Cubs veteran over the past year. The latest rumors are centering on left fielder Alfonso Soriano who had a resurgent 2012 season. Soriano is owed $36 million over the final two years of his contract. Here are the most likely trade destinations for Soriano.
The power-starved Astros are making the move to the American League in 2013. Soriano could serve as the designated hitter and middle of the lineup power source for the Astros for the remaining two years of his deal. A move to the American League would allow the defensively challenged Soriano to reduce the wear and tear on his oft-injured legs. Pitcher Bud Norris could interest the Cubs.
Pin It Tweet -
Five Hitters that Could Help the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles have had a relatively quiet start to the off-season. Too quiet in the minds of many Camden Yards faithful. After making the playoffs for the first time 1997 the Orioles have failed to extend their run of good fortune to the off-season. The Orioles lost first baseman Mark Reynolds to free agency when he signed with the Cleveland Indians. Baltimore has publicly stated that they intend to play Chris Davis at first base in 2013. Moving Davis to first base replaces Reynolds on the diamond but not in the lineup. The Orioles need another right handed hitter to pair with Wilson Betemit at designated hitter. Here are five hitters that could be good fits for the Orioles:
Michael Morse
Morse is currently penciled in as the Nationals’ first baseman for 2013.
Pin It Tweet -
What the Carlos Villanueva Signing Means for the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with free agent pitcher Carlos Villanueva. The deal will reportedly pay the right-hander $10 million. Villanueva had a breakout year with the Blue Jays in 2012 and was seeking a rotation spot to begin the 2013 season. The 29 year-old hurler began his career as a relief pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers but emerged as a dependable starting pitcher for Toronto over the past two seasons.
The terms of Villanueva’s contract give us a couple of clues regarding the Cubs’ intentions. Villanueva, who went 7-7 with a 4.16 ERA in 2012, gives Chicago the flexibility to pitch in the rotation or out of the bullpen.
Pin It Tweet
