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Darren O’Day: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent P

After another excellent season for the Baltimore Orioles, Darren O’Day will be the most sought-after free-agent reliever this winter.  

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O’Day Won’t Be Cheap for Prospective Buyers

Wednesday, Nov. 18

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, O’Day is seeking a contract for four years that will pay him between $28 million and $36 million overall. 

He’ll probably get it. O’Day, 33, finished 6-2 with a 1.52 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, 82 strikeouts, six saves and 18 holds in 65.1 innings pitched. He’s the top option in a weak free-agency pool for relievers and has been consistently excellent in his four seasons with the Orioles.

Some teams may want to convert him to a closer if they are paying him that type of money, but he’s ideally a setup man. If a team wants to lock down the eighth and the ninth innings and already has a reliable closer, O’Day could be the difference between a good bullpen and a great one.

 

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Jose Fernandez Trade Rumors: Latest News and Speculation on Marlins SP’s Future

Jose Fernandez has proven to be one of the best young pitchers in baseball, but the Miami Marlins may entertain trade offers for him this offseason.  

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Marlins Reportedly Will Deal Fernandez This Offseason

Tuesday, Nov. 17

According to Craig Mish of SiriusXM, there is a “growing sentiment around baseball and internally with the Marlins” that the team will trade Fernandez. 

However, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reported Fernandez is “not being shopped or discussed to be shopped.”

Chris Towers of CBSSports.com noted, “Trying to justify trading Jose Fernandez from a baseball perspective is just silly.”

Fernandez is only 23 and has gone 22-9 with a 2.40 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 336 strikeouts in 289.0 innings pitched over three seasons. He is under club control until 2018 (he’s arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason), and his best seasons appear to be ahead of him, so trading him seems illogical.

On the other hand, injuries have become a bit of a concern, as he’s already had Tommy John surgery and missed a month of this season, after returning from that surgery, due to a right biceps strain. But the bigger issue is Miami’s current feud with Fernandez’s agent, Scott Boras, which escalated last week.

“[Boras] will not be involved in any discussion as it relates to Jose Fernandez,” team president David Samson said when discussing Fernandez’s workload for next season, per the Associated Press and ESPN.com. “We will be in touch with the doctors and Jose as we formulate a plan.”

If the Marlins don’t sign Fernandez to a long-term contract extension or ultimately trade him, it seems likely the feud with Boras will be the cause. The Marlins may have a history of making sweeping changes for cost-cutting purposes, but trading a 23-year-old future ace would be surprising, unless other factors—like the presence of Boras—play a major part.

 

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Craig Kimbrel to Red Sox: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction

After just one season with the San Diego Padres, closer Craig Kimbrel has been traded to the Boston Red Sox in a five-player deal.

The Padres confirmed Kimbrel was traded Friday to Boston for Manuel Margot, Logan Allen, Carlos Asuaje and Javier Guerra. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported the Red Sox were acquiring Kimbrel. 

Kimbrel, 27, was brought to the Padres last spring in the trade that also saw Melvin Upton Jr. join the team, which finished the makeover San Diego underwent last offseason. 

“We needed to get quality back in exchange for Craig. Red Sox came back as a likely fit. They have a lot of depth we wanted to get in to,” Padres GM A.J. Preller said, via the team’s Twitter account. “We feel like we got guys that will be a part of a championship team in the future.”

The Padres struggled mightily in 2015, though Kimbrel wasn’t the reason for that. The four-time All-Star finished the year 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 87 strikeouts and 39 saves in 43 save opportunities.

There have been rumblings the Red Sox were looking to acquire relief help, though Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reported Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman was the object of their desire. 

“The Red Sox are among the teams with what one major league source described as ‘great interest’ in Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman,” Abraham wrote.

Boston’s new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is continuing a pattern he established in recent years with Detroit. He has been aggressive in trades, moving minor league pieces to bolster the big league roster. 

The Red Sox bullpen ranked 26th in ERA last season, so an upgrade was necessary if the team wanted to improve upon its 78-win campaign. 

Kimbrel’s wicked stuff and high strikeout rate make him one of the game’s most potent options in the ninth inning. Add in the fact that he’s under contract for the next three years (with a team option in 2018), and Boston dramatically improved with this deal for the foreseeable future. 

 

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Mark Melancon Trade Rumors: Latest News, Speculation on Pirates RP’s Future

Mark Melancon was the top closer in the National League this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but in a weak market for closers in free agency, he’s expected to garner some interest from teams looking to bolster their bullpens in a trade.  

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Melancon Reportedly on the Trade Market

Tuesday, Nov. 10

On Tuesday, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that, “According to two rival GMs, the Pirates’ Mark Melancon, the top closer in the National League this year and winner of the Trevor Hoffman award, is also out there for the taking.”

“Everyone’s closer is available,” one unnamed general manager told Heyman. “People, especially the young GMs, have no fear of trading their closer.”

Melancon, 30, went 3-2 in 2015 with a 2.23 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 62 strikeouts and 51 saves in 53 save opportunities. He’s turned himself into one of the game’s finest closers for the Pirates over the past two years, with a combined total of 84 saves in that time.

The fact that Melancon is reportedly on the trade block is somewhat surprising. He’s become a reliable stopper for the Pirates in the ninth inning and has played a huge part in the team reaching the postseason the past three seasons. 

But if teams clamoring for help at the back-end of the bullpen are willing to overpay to land a player like Melancon, the Pirates certainly have to at least entertain the notion of dealing him. 

 

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Dallas Keuchel Wins AL Outstanding Pitcher at 2015 Players Choice Awards

After an incredible 2015 season, Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel was named the American League Outstanding Pitcher at the Players Choice Awards on Monday, MLB announced.

The Houston ace beat out Oakland Athletics standout Sonny Gray and 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner David Price, the other two finalists for the award.

Keuchel led American League pitchers in wins above replacement (7.2), WHIP (1.02), innings pitched (232.0) and wins (20), per Baseball-Reference.com. He also finished second in ERA (2.48) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (216).

He led the upstart Astros to the postseason, where the team nearly eliminated the World Series champion Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, though the Royals mounted an epic comeback in Game 4 and ultimately won the series. Keuchel was one of the best fielders at his position this season, too.

The 27-year-old has developed into one of baseball’s most unhittable aces over the past two years and, along with young stars such as Carlos Correa, is a major reason why Houston looks like it will be a contender for years to come.

 

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Zack Greinke Wins NL Outstanding Pitcher at 2015 Players Choice Awards

Zack Greinke was named the National League Outstanding Pitcher at the 2015 Players Choice Awards on Monday, MLB announced.

Greinke beat out his Los Angeles Dodgers teammate, Clayton Kershaw, and Jake Arrieta for the award—and was quite frankly dominance personified in 2015.

The 32-year-old veteran led the National League in pitching WAR (9.3), ERA (1.66) and WHIP (0.84). He was second in wins (19), fourth in innings pitched (222.2) and 11th in strikeouts (200). He helped lead the Dodgers back to the postseason and combined with Kershaw to give the team the most dangerous one-two punch atop a rotation in all of baseball.

And now, he’s in line to get paid in a big way, as he opted out of his contract with the Dodgers this offseason to become a free agent. The Dodgers had baseball’s highest payroll in 2015 and now will have to decide if they can afford to re-sign Greinke this offseason, as he’ll garner a huge paycheck on the market. 

Most of the top teams in baseball will probably make a push to sign the 32-year-old this winter. After his performance in 2015, he’ll likely be worth every penny.

 

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Albert Pujols Injury: Updates on Angels Star’s Recovery from Foot Surgery

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols will be sidelined from participating in baseball activities for multiple months after undergoing surgery on his right foot. 

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Pujols’ Timeline for Recovery Revealed 

Monday, Nov. 9

The Angels announced Pujols will be unable to resume baseball activities for four-and-a-half months as he recovers from the surgery, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. 

Pujols has had an up-and-down stint with the Angels since signing with the team before the 2012 season. He’s hit 30 home runs with the Angels just twice (2012, 2015) and exceeded over 100 RBI twice (2012, 2014) while failing to hit .300 or better since his time with the club. For the future Hall of Famer, his time in Anaheim has been a bit disappointing. 

In 2015, he hit .244 with 40 home runs and 95 RBI with a .307 OBP. 

Indeed, there isn’t much Pujols hasn’t accomplished. He was the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year, has won two Gold Gloves, six Silver Slugger awards and three MVP awards and has been voted to the All-Star Game nine times.

But it’s become pretty clear in the past several years that Mike Trout is the new star in Anaheim, to the point that pitchers have been pitching around Trout and taking their chances with Pujols. That’s certainly a new role for the slugger, though his power numbers this year suggest he’s been making pitchers pay for that strategy.

The injury will keep him on the shelf for most, if not all, of spring training, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be ready to play on Opening Day in 2016. 

 

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Curtis Granderson Injury: Updates on Mets OF’s Recovery from Thumb Surgery

New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson injured his left thumb sliding into a base during the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

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Granderson Undergoes Surgery on Thursday

Thursday, Nov. 5

According to DiComo, the Mets expect Granderson to be ready for Opening Day despite surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb.

Granderson, 34, hit .259 with 26 home runs and 70 RBI this season for the Mets, providing the team with a quality bat and a wealth of experience. He was an instrumental part of the team’s run to the World Series and will be relied upon again next year to help return the Mets to the postseason.

 

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MLB Trade Rumors: Breaking Down Buzz on Clay Buchholz and Starlin Castro

The MLB trade market may not really heat up until the big names in free agency are signed, sealed and delivered, but there are still rumors already making the rounds about several players.

Let’s break down some of the juicier buzz. 

 

Clay Buchholz, SP, Boston Red Sox

Clay Buchholz is an interesting case study. On one hand, he has the intellect and the stuff to be an ace for the Boston Red Sox. But the 31-year-old’s long injury history has prevented him from reaching that status.

And that has teams around baseball wondering if Buchholz could be had for the right price.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, “Buchholz’s name is already rolling off the lips of some mid- to small-market teams who believe they could trade for him if the Red Sox have bigger fish to fry in pursuit of a true ace who can stay healthy.”

An unnamed American League general manager broke down the conundrum of bringing aboard Buchholz, via Cafardo:

Everyone is aware of his history, and the potential that he won’t make 80 percent of his starts, but for the price, a lot of teams will make inquiries to Boston about him.

Everyone knows the frustration level he brings, but we all know how good he can be also. He’s reaching that age where he’s learned how to pitch. Sometimes a player or pitcher gets a lot of injuries in the first half of their careers because they haven’t figured out what they need to do to stay healthy. There’s always the hope that Buchholz figures that all out.

If he can, he’s as good as anyone out there.

Buchholz went 7-7 with a 3.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 107 strikeouts in 113.1 innings pitched and 18 starts. The two-time All-Star has pitched 170 or more innings just three times in his career. 

The Red Sox don’t need to trade him, of course. After picking up his $13 million option on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN), the team could look to pick up a more reliable ace on the market like David Price or Zack Greinke and keep Buchholz to build a top-tier pitching staff.

Money might become an issue in that case, however, and moving Buchholz could free up funds and bring the Sox a nice young player or two in the process. 

 

Starlin Castro, 2B, Chicago Cubs

Starlin Castro has the very unfortunate case of being a good player who simply may not have a future in Chicago. The Cubs appear to have the middle of the infield locked down for years to come with Addison Russell and Javier Baez, making Castro the team’s best trade chip.

And, once again, they may look to cash in on it, according to Julie DiCaro of 670 The Score:

Of course, the Cubs have options. One particular option they’ve reportedly discussed, to make room for the trio of Castro, Russell and Baez is to move the young Baez to the outfield, according to Tony Andracki of CSN Chicago.

“The overriding policy is the more versatility, the better,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told Andracki, and manager Joe Maddon has never been accused of conventional thinking, so a move to the outfield for Baez seems possible.

Plus, he played all four infield positions during the regular season for the team, so he certainly seems to have the versatility and athleticism to make the move.

In that case, Castro would likely have a place—at least in the short term—at second base. He played well for the team this season, hitting .265 with 11 home runs and 69 RBI, giving the Cubs a nice bat to go along with the big boppers, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.

On the other hand, the Cubs have a wealth of young talent in the outfield, too, so the wise choice might be to simply move a player like Castro and upgrade a bigger need, like adding more quality arms to the rotation. 

Regardless, the team has options. And one of the most likely options still seems to be moving Castro in a trade.

 

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Kansas City Royals Parade 2015: Route, Live Stream and Expectations

The city of Kansas City and the Royals organization has had 30 years to plan a World Series parade. You can bet the party will be epic on Tuesday, when the World Series winners return home for their championship parade. 

The city announced that the parade will commence at noon CT, with the victory rally at 2 p.m., and will be covered on local television via Fox 4 and Fox Sports Kansas City. The city will also offer free shuttles and bus service to the downtown area.

 KMBC.com will also carry a live stream of the proceedings, per Len Jennings of KMBCKansas City.

Jeff Rosen of the Kansas City Star shared the route the team will take, meanwhile:

If the turnout for the parade is anything like the World Series ratings in the Kansas City area during the World Series, well, the downtown area will be bumping on Tuesday. Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star passed along those numbers:

Of course, the Royals themselves already started the party. Manager Ned Yost had the following to say after the game on early Monday morning:

Yost wasn’t done there, however:

It was probably the best cheeseburger he’s ever had. 

And it was one of the more special teams the city of Kansas City has ever had, too. Even George Brett—who led the way for the Royals’ last championship in 1985—would tell you that.

“They’d beat us,” he told Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star on early Monday morning when asked if the 2015 squad was better than his 1985 version. “They’re better than we were.”

You’d be hard-pressed to find too many people in Kansas City who would contradict anything from the mouth of a legend like Brett. 

And it’s hard to find a reason why anyone else would contradict him in this case. The core of this team was one magical Madison Bumgarner performance in last year’s postseason away from being back-to-back world champions. They orchestrated one epic comeback after another in October, generated runs with a tenacious yet disciplined approach at the plate and smart baserunning, locked down games with one of the league’s finest bullpens and got enough from their starting pitching staff to stay close into the later innings.

They carried themselves with a swagger not born of arrogance, but rather of an unwavering belief that they could, and would, win any game, no matter the circumstances or deficit. Eight comeback wins and a World Series title later, the Royals earned the right to swagger through downtown Kansas City.

And you can bet an entire city can’t wait to toast them as they do. Enjoy the party, Kansas City—after 30 years of dreaming about this celebration, your wait is finally over. 

 

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