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The Oakland Athletics let infielder Jed Lowrie walk in free agency one year ago, but the team realized its mistake and made amends.   

The Astros confirmed they shipped pitcher Brendan McCurry to the Athletics in return for Lowrie on Wednesday. MLB.com’s Jane Lee first reported the deal.  

“I’m disappointed to leave Houston,” Lowrie said after the deal, via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. “I think the Astros are obviously a team headed in right direction.”

The utility man signed a three-year, $23 million deal with the Astros last winter. As a result, he’s slated to make $7.5 million next season before earning $6.5 million in 2017, per Spotrac. Lowrie also has a club option worth $6 million that triggers at the team’s discretion in 2018. 

“I signed the three-year deal here thinking I’d be here for those three years,” Lowrie said, via McTaggart.

The move is a logical one on the surface for an Oakland team in need of infield depth, as Lee noted: 

Last season, Lowrie batted .222 with a .312 on-base percentage while totaling nine home runs and 30 RBI. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Lowrie played 381.1 innings at third base and 153 innings at shortstop in his return to the Astros. 

However, Lowrie dealt with a thumb injury that forced him to miss three months spanning late April to late July. Combined with Carlos Correa’s astounding rookie campaign, Lowrie evidently became an expendable piece of Houston’s title-contending puzzle. 

Lowrie was traded from the Astros to the A’s once before in early 2013, so this is hardly uncharted territory for the eighth-year veteran.

Now back in the Bay Area, Lowrie will attempt to stabilize an Oakland defense that committed an MLB-worst 126 errors and posted a .979 fielding percentage—six points below the MLB average. 

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Major League Baseball has dominated headlines all week long thanks to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America revealing its annual selections for Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, MVP and the Cy Young Award, but the hardware handouts didn’t stop there.  

Friday night, MLB announced winners of the first-ever Esurance MLB Awards. However, unlike the BBWAA awards, Esurance voting was open to fans as well as a comprehensive group include “Hall of Fame players, club presidents and general managers, many of the industry’s everyday reporters, and the analytically inclined Society for American Baseball Research,” according to MLB.com’s Zachary Finkelstein. 

Furthermore, the 2015 Esurance MLB Awards opened up a slew of new categories—including several with a technological slant. Beyond awards like Best Major Leaguer, Best Everyday Player and Best Starting Pitcher, MLB included categories such as Best Social Media Post, Best Player-Fan Interaction and Best Trending Topic, among others. 

“To be recognized by fans, former players, broadcasters and front-office people, that means a lot,” former MLB star Luis Gonzalez said, per Finkelstein. “You’re being recognized by some of the elite people in the game of baseball.”

A complete list of categories and nominees can be viewed here, courtesy of MLB, while a select list of Friday night’s most notable winners is available below. Best Manager and Best Executive will be announced December at MLB’s winter meetings. 

The festivities started with the best defensive play of the season, and newly crowned American League MVP Josh Donaldson added to his trophy stockpile for his clutch diving catch into the stands, per MLB on Twitter: 

Donaldson beat out teammate Kevin Pillar for his wall-climbing home run robbery and Mike Trout for a similar achievement, but as Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer wrote, “of all the great defensive plays that occurred throughout 2015, Donaldson’s is the most likely to have lasting power.” 

Toronto proceeded to sweep the best play categories thanks to Jose Bautista’s mammoth momentum-shifting shot in Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers, per MLB: 

The National League finally got in on the action when NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta beat out Zack Greinke and AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel for Best Starting Pitcher. 

A year after posting what was then a career-best 2.53 ERA, Arrieta—who also won Best Breakout Player —locked in and tallied a staggering 1.77 ERA while pitching a league-high four complete games and tossing a league-best three shutouts. 

“I was locked in, and what I mean by that was my timing and my tempo and my delivery were as close to perfect as I feel they could be,” Arrieta said after winning the Cy Young, per ESPN.com’s Jon Greenberg.

Chicago kept its run going when NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant doubled down on the awards circuit by nabbing Best Rookie honors over fellow finalists Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor. 

The show was rounded out with MLB’s presentation of Best Major Leaguer, which was awarded to Best Everyday Player and NL MVP winner Bryce Harper. After becoming the youngest unanimous MVP in history, the 23-year-old capped off the most impressive year of his blossoming career with a couple more pieces of shiny validation. 

The Esurance Awards may not hold weight like the official BBWAA honors, their ability to involve a greater breadth of players for a wider range of achievements that really connect with fans shouldn’t be overlooked. 

As the social media experience becomes more and more integral to fans’ experiences season in and season out, don’t be surprised if the awards evolve into a bigger piece of the league’s hardware showcase. 

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The Baseball Writers’ Association of America pared down the list of American League MVP candidates to Lorenzo Cain, Josh Donaldson and Mike Trout, and Donaldson secured the coveted hardware Thursday night to close out a compelling race. 

Major League Baseball’s official Twitter account relayed confirmation of the BBWAA’s selection, while Bleacher Report congratulated the 29-year-old on his honor. 

A complete look at the 2015 AL MVP voting can be viewed below, courtesy of BBWAA.com: 

According to MLB Communications on Twitter, Donaldson joined George Bell as the only Blue Jays players to win MVP. MLB Communications added that Trout, Barry Bonds, Yogi Berra and Stan Musial are the only players to finish in the top two of MVP voting four years in a row. 

The Blue Jays won the AL East in 2015, and Donaldson was a major reason why. Not only was his production gaudy, but it also came at the perfect time, as Toronto surged through the season’s second half en route to the franchise’s first division title since 1993. 

Overall, Donaldson clubbed a career-high 41 home runs and drove in an MLB-best 123 RBI. Toronto’s third baseman also batted a rock-solid .297 while totaling a .568 slugging percentage, which was the best mark of his career by nearly 70 points. 

“He does everything,” Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura said, per the Associated Press (via USA Today). “He hits for power, he gets on base, he plays defense. There’s just a lot of things to like about him as a player. And knowing that Toronto hasn’t been in there the last few years, he goes over in his first year and they just become a different-looking team.”

Following the All-Star break, Donaldson was simply brilliant. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Donaldson posted a .302 batting average, .615 slugging percentage and 1.011 OPS over the season’s second half. The MVP was particularly absurd in August, when he batted .324 while the Blue Jays posted a 21-6 record over a crucial late-season stretch. 

Considering Donaldson smashed his previous career-bests from power and run-production standpoints, it’s no wonder he was able to throttle to the head of the MVP pack in conjunction with the Blue Jays’ run up the standings. 

And therein lies one of the components that separated Donaldson from Trout. Although Trout posted arguably the gaudiest overall stat line in baseball, Donaldson put up his numbers for a team that was in the title conversation through September and into October. 

An American League Championship Series loss to the Kansas City Royals hurt, but by that point, Donaldson’s true worth was established and reinforced several times over.

Keeping pace with Trout in the coming years will be difficult for the soon-to-be 30-year-old, but Donaldson’s 2015 campaign was a revelation for a Toronto team on the rise. 

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The 2015 National League MVP field was comprised of three players from teams that missed the playoffs, but their performances in the face of disappointing campaigns were impossible to ignore. 

After the Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper, Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto and Arizona Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt emerged as finalists, Harper was unanimously selected as the NL MVP Thursday night by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, per MLB on Twitter. Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller noted Harper is the youngest player in league history to be named MVP in unanimous fashion.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Harper became the first player in franchise history (including the team’s days as the Montreal Expos) to capture MVP honors.

A complete look at the voting results can be viewed below, courtesy of BBWAA.com:

ESPN Stats & Info added another staggering fact regarding Harper’s historic season:

Considering the BBWAA’s official ballot doesn’t provide any specific guidelines regarding voting qualifications as they relate to overall team success, it’s hard to argue with the final decision.

“There is no clear-cut definition of what Most Valuable means,” the ballot reads. “It is up to the individual voter to decide who was the Most Valuable Player in each league to his team. The MVP need not come from a division winner or other playoff qualifier.”

Harper was the favorite all along, so it’s no surprise the Nationals outfielder ran away with NL MVP honors despite Washington’s late-season collapse.

To put things simply, here’s a rundown of categories in which Harper topped National League charts, per Baseball-Reference.com:

• Runs scored (118)
• Home runs (42)
• On-base percentage (.460)
• Slugging percentage (.649)
• OPS (1.109)
• OPS+ (195)
• Wins above replacement (9.9)
• Runs created (161) 
• Offensive win percentage (.855)

“He’s got an unbelievable eye,” Nationals pitcher Drew Storen said, per ESPN.com’s Eddie Matz. “As a pitcher, you try to expand the strike zone and miss the barrel. But he’s letting guys come to him and make mistakes, and he’s capitalizing on them.”

Harper was also a wins above replacement machine.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, Harper and Mike Trout tied for No. 1 overall in MLB with 8.9 offensive wins above replacement, while the NL MVP pulled even with Los Angeles Dodgers ace Zack Greinke at No. 1 with a cumulative WAR total of 9.9.

Harper also batted a career-best .330, which was light-years better than his previous high of .274.

“In ranking second in the NL in batting average (.330; the Marlins‘ Dee Gordon was first at .333), and first in both on-base percentage (.460) and slugging percentage (.649), Harper narrowly missed winning the ‘slash’ Triple Crown,” Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller wrote. “Only three players as young as Harper have ever won the ‘slash’ Triple Crown: Cobb (1909), Williams (1941) and Stan Musial (1943).”

Washington’s stretch-run struggles could have conceivably put a dent in Harper’s chances, but his overwhelming edge in so many statistical departments at such a young age made the Nationals outfielder a logical choice.

Still just 23 years old, Harper is the kind of disruptive force capable of etching his name into MLB record books year after year while his peers are left to marvel at the historic achievements.

However, Harper would undoubtedly love nothing more than to experience success beyond the MVP hardware. The Nationals still haven’t reached the National League Championship Series since Harper arrived in the nation’s capital, and a disappointing 2015 season forced some wholesale changes to the team’s coaching staff.

With Dusty Baker now at the controls in the clubhouse, Harper will attempt to mesh with his new manager and lead the Nationals to the prosperity they’ve been destined for since his ascent to superstardom.

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Russell Branyan, a former Major League Baseball player who suited up for 10 teams over the course of 14 seasons, was arrested Monday evening for allegedly breaking into the home of his ex-wife, Jill Branyan, on Oct. 30.  

According to the warrant from Davidson County in Nashville, Tennessee, Branyan was arrested after the following events allegedly transpired: 

The defendant made entry into the residence of the victim without having the legal authority. The defendant and victim are divorced and the victim is the legal resident. The defendant entered while the victim was asleep and removed various items from the home. The defendant also tampered with the thermostat inside of the home, making it extremely cold. The defendant acknowleded [sic] to the witness that he had removed the items from the residence and now wanted to return them. All events took place in Davidson County Tennessee.

The warrant indicates Branyan was charged with felony aggravated burglary, which is a Class C charge in Tennessee. 

Branyan had a previous run-in with the law in 2008, when he was charged with domestic violence against his then-wife, per Joey Morona of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.     

According to filings from Shaker Heights Municipal Court, Branyan pleaded no contest to the domestic violence charge two days after entering a not-guilty plea. He was subsequently ordered to participate in one year of a first-offender program, which included counseling. 

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The Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly been selected as one of the participants to play in a potential spring training game in Cuba after winning a drawing by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, according to the Tampa Bay Times‘ Marc Topkin. 

MLB still needs to receive clearance to hold the game in Cuba, but if all the procedural boxes are checked off, Tampa Bay will be in line to make the trip. 

“Obviously, the federal government has some significant influence on whether that’s going to take place, and there are issues that need to be solved before that can happen,” Manfred said Tuesday, according to the New York Times‘ Billy Witz. “But I’d like to say yes to that.”

According to the New York Times‘ Michael S. Schmidt, the Rays will face the Cuban national team in the capital city of Havana if the game is eventually held. 

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Ian Desmond rejected his $15.8 million qualifying offer from the Washington Nationals, per MLB.com’s William Ladson, and suitors are already starting to emerge for the free-agent shortstop.

Continue for updates.

Padres Interested in Desmond

Friday, Nov. 13

Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported the news and provided a key update shortly after Desmond passed on the Nationals’ offer:

“Desmond has draft-pick compensation attached to him after receiving and then turning down the qualifying offer,” NBC Sports’ Bill Baer noted. “As a result of finishing with one of the 10 worst records in baseball in 2015, the Padres’ first-round draft pick is protected, so they would give up a second-round pick instead.”

Desmond spent the first seven years of his career in the nation’s capital, but he may be looking for a change of scenery ahead of the 2016 season.

The 30-year-old struggled throughout the 2015 season, batting a career-worst .233 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI, but Desmond’s .292 and .280 averages during the 2012 and 2013 campaigns, respectively, highlighted his tremendous offensive capabilities.

After San Diego shortstop Alexi Amarista batted a putrid .204 with a .257 on-base percentage last season, it’s not hard to see why the club is looking for an upgrade in the infield.

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Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons was rumored to be headed to a club in the National League West as recently as Wednesday, but Simmons has instead been shipped to the Los Angeles Angels. 

The Braves announced the deal and provided the details, stating they received shortstop Erick Aybar, pitching prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis and roughly $3 million in return. The Angels are also set to receive catching prospect Jose Briceno from the Braves. 

At the time of the trade, Newcomb and Ellis ranked first and second, respectively, among Los Angeles’ prospects, per MLB.com. 

Joel Sherman of the New York Post explained how the move benefits the rebuilding Braves:

ESPN.com’s Buster Olney provided his immediate take on the blockbuster trade:

MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez provided an inside look at how the move stands to impact the Angels: 

Over the past four seasons, the 26-year-old Simmons established himself as one of MLB’s most polished defensive shortstops. 

After Simmons recorded 5.4 defensive wins above replacement during the 2013 season, per Baseball-Reference.com, he posted 3.9 during the 2014 campaign and another 3.5 as the Braves floundered in 2015. 

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Simmons has saved a league-best 113 runs over the past four seasons—21 more than Jason Heyward (92). 

Braves first base coach Terry Pendleton told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s David O’Brien:

There’s another level to his arm. I would compare it to watching Deion Sanders play football. You know when everybody else is running down the field and they’re in slow motion and he’s in fast forward when they show him run. That’s what it looks like at times (with Simmons). So yeah, he’s got another level to that throwing arm of his.

And while Simmons has been simply breathtaking in the field, he’s struggled with consistency at the plate. That said, his batting average ticked up to a respectable .265 in 2015 after it dipped to a career-worst .244 in 2014.

Sherman noted the Braves weren’t necessarily pleased with Simmons’ progression as a hitter:

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal offered another look at how the trade materialized from Atlanta’s perspective: 

Signed to a seven-year, $58 million deal, Simmons still represents a fine value, considering he still has so much room to grow at 26 years old.

According to Spotrac, he is due $6.1 million next season before his annual payments escalate to $8.1 million in 2017, $11.1 million in 2018, $13.1 million in 2019 and $15.1 million in 2020.  

Although his bat has been shaky at times, Simmons is well worth the gamble for the Angels. Los Angeles is seeking to return to the postseason and make a statement following a down year, and it can do just that by plugging Simmons into a lineup that already features Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, among others. 

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A.J. Pierzynski’s first season with the Atlanta Braves was a resurgent one, so it’s no surprise the team acted swiftly to bring the veteran catcher back on a short-term pact. 

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Pierzynski and the Braves have agreed to terms on a one-year deal to keep the backstop in Atlanta. The New York Post‘s Joel Sherman confirmed the report.      

Pierzynski’s in the twilight of his career, but if last season was any indication, he’s got some gas left in the tank for a rebuilding Braves team. During the 2015 campaign, the 38-year-old catcher batted .300 with a .339 on-base percentage and .769 OPS in 113 appearances. 

“It’s fun to play,” Pierzynski said before the All-Star break, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. “I still like playing. It’s still enjoyable to compete and see what you can do. All of these guys now are young and so full energy, so when you get a little older you have to figure out when to conserve it and when to use it.”

More than anything, Pierzynski’s ability to provide a strong presence in the clubhouse could be of value to the Braves as they get set to develop young talents throughout the 2016 season. 

As Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s Chuck Garfien explained, Pierzynski’s one of the most seasoned players to ever suit up behind the plate: 

It would be unfair to expect Pierzynski to produce at the plate like he did a season ago, but those statistical gains should be secondary at this point.

The catcher will be a tremendous resource for Atlanta’s stable of young pitchers as the Braves get primed to make a leap in 2017, and the wisdom he imparts should help accelerate the rebuild just a bit. 

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Starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo is coming off a strong 2015 season with the Texas Rangers, and he’s generating plenty of interest on the open market as a result. 

Continue for updates. 

Diamondbacks Among Clubs Interested in Gallardo

Wednesday, Nov. 11

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported the news and mentioned Arizona is one of “many teams” eyeing up the free agent. 

The interest certainly makes sense. Arizona finished ninth in the National League in team ERA last season, per ESPN.com. Additionally, Diamondbacks pitchers mustered just 69 quality starts, which ranked 11th out of 15 NL clubs. 

After getting traded to the Rangers by the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason, Gallardo strung together an impressive campaign highlighted by a 13-11 record and career-best 3.42 ERA (minimum 20 starts). 

The 29-year-old also struck out 144 batters, which would have ranked second on the 2015 Diamondbacks behind only Rubby De La Rosa. Not surprisingly, Gallardo’s stock is surging after he posted a career-best 4.1 wins above replacement—a tally that trumped his previous best by 1.2, per Baseball-Reference.com. 

Arizona certainly has a need for a rock-solid arm like Gallardo in the middle of its rotation, so it will be fascinating to see how much the franchise is willing to spend in order to secure his talent. 

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