J.A. Happ’s signature trait has never been more valuable TAMPA — J.A. Happ had a bad 2019. Let’s get that out of the way upfront. Because Happ also had a valuable season. Not every 4.91 ERA is created equal. The ability to pitch five innings and give up three or four runs does not mean…
DetailsRed Sox Hire Jerry Narron As Bench Coach The Red Sox have hired Jerry Narron to serve as Ron Roenicke’s bench coach, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive. More to come. Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/red-sox-hire-jerry-narron-as-bench-coach.html
DetailsSan Diego Dispatches: Hurt, Schmitt Make Strong Impressions on the Mound SAN DIEGO — For three years, Kyle Hurt has been one of the most tantalizing prospects on the West Coast. Scouts have been enamored with his fastball that reaches into the mid-90s, a sharp-breaking slider and devastating pull-the-string changeup. But they have also had…
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SWAG SPRINGS ETERNAL: We’re Back When I saw Randy Johnson holding a venti and dropping knowledge at A’s camp, that was the official WE’RE BACK moment for me. The boys are buzzin’, the birds are chirpin’, Spring is here. Ahead of WPW’s annual Cactus League loop, there was just too much swag coming out of…
DetailsEx-Yankees prospect is on wild journey to opera stardom: ‘Real comeback story’ Dwight Gooden knew. Dr. K had gotten tipped off that the 29th-round pick of the 2003 draft by Yankees, a rookie 5-foot-8 second baseman from Long Island, had a secret talent. So during one of the long bus rides across Florida for the…
DetailsHow Jacob deGrom can pull off daunting Hall of Fame challenge Jacob deGrom has passed Tim Lincecum on the way to Johan Santana, with Roy Halladay as the destination. This is deGrom’s Hall of Fame path. He is trying to make up for a late start to his major league career and evolve from impressive…
DetailsNL Central Notes: Pirates, Reynolds, Newman, Cardinals, Goldschmidt, Flaherty The Pirates are more likely than not to land outside the playoff picture in 2020, but they’ve not given up the notion of wreaking some havoc on the NL Central this year. To do so, however, Bryan Reynolds and Kevin Newman will need to avoid the dreaded…
DetailsWhite Sox Sign Leury Garcia The Chicago White Sox signed Leury Garcia to a one-year, $3.5MM guaranteed deal today, per MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. The deal includes a $3.25MM base salary for 2020 with a $3.5MM team option for 2021. The White Sox can decline next year’s option with a $250K buyout. Garcia’s deal takes the…
DetailsWhite Sox Sign Aaron Bummer To Five-Year Extension The Chicago White Sox are signing Aaron Bummer to a five-year, $16MM contract extension, tweets USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. The deal also includes two option years that could raise the overall value to $29.5MM, per Nightengale. Nightengale notes that it’s the “largest extension given to a non-closer…
DetailsThe Brewers’ Infield Picture Those following the Brewers at a distance may not have paid much attention to their tempered approach to the offseason. It’s easy to look at their winter and see a modest collection of stopgaps to stanch the roster bleed of departing vets like Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas. Look a littler…
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