Kuzul

Major League Baseball will ban “offensive” hazing in clubhouses, including having teammates dress as women, according to the Associated Press.

It has long been a tradition for teams to force rookies to dress in such outfits—often toward the end of the regular season after September call-ups. In October, the New York Mets rookies dressed as characters from A League of Their Own:

“Although it hasn’t happened, you could sort of see how like someone might even dress up in black face and say, ‘Oh, no, we were just dressing up,'” MLB vice president Paul Misfud said Monday, per Blum. “We’ve also understood that a number of players have complained about it.”

The new policy will prohibit “requiring, coercing or encouraging [players from] dressing up as women or wearing costumes that may be offensive to individuals based on their race, sex, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identify or other characteristic,” per Ronald Blum of the AP.

The rule change is part of the Anti-Hazing and Anti-Bullying Policy set forth by the league. Per Blum, the MLB Players Association agreed not to contest the ban. It will take effect Tuesday, when baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement is expected to be ratified.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Atlanta Braves added depth to their starting rotation Monday, agreeing to a minor league deal with left-hander John Danks, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported Danks will receive $1.5 million if he makes Atlanta’s major league roster.

The 31-year-old is coming off a dreadful 2016 season. He allowed 20 runs (18 earned) in four starts for the Chicago White Sox before they released him in May.

“The way my April went and the way the team is playing, I can’t fault anybody with the decision they made,” Danks said at the time, per the Chicago Tribune‘s Colleen Kane. “It’s a win-now league, and I wasn’t helping the team win.”

It was the end of a disappointing tenure for Danks in the Windy City. The White Sox signed him to a five-year, $65 million contract extension in December 2011, and he never finished the five subsequent seasons with an ERA lower than 4.71. According to FanGraphs, his 4.83 FIP is seventh-highest among qualified starting pitchers during that stretch.

Danks hasn’t been the same pitcher since undergoing shoulder surgery in August 2012. Whereas his average fastball velocity sat comfortably in the 91-92 mph range from 2007 to 2011, it hasn’t eclipsed 90 mph since his injury-shortened 2012 campaign, per Brooks Baseball:

Despite his issues, signing Danks is a worthwhile risk for Atlanta.

If the Braves determine his days as an MLB-caliber starting pitcher are over, then they didn’t make a significant financial commitment and they can offload him with little difficulty in the spring.

Should Danks emerge as a back-end rotation option, he’ll be a massive bargain. Andrew Cashner will likely be the Texas Rangers’ No. 4 or 5 starter, and he’ll be making $10 million in 2017.

After Rich Hill went from pitching in an independent league in 2015 to becoming the best free-agent pitcher this offseason, a comeback for Danks isn’t completely out of the question.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In October, Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila said the team would be active this offseason, and as the franchise shifts its focus, left-handed reliever Justin Wilson could be on the move.

Continue for updates.

Astros, Tigers Reportedly Discuss Wilson

Tuesday, Dec. 13

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported the Houston Astros have talked with the Tigers regarding a deal for Wilson.

Cubs Show Interest in Wilson

Monday, Dec. 12

Morosi reported the Chicago Cubs have inquired about Wilson’s availability.

Wilson Is Valuable Target Despite Down 2016

Wilson is coming off a somewhat disappointing 2016 season. He finished with a 4.14 ERA and a 3.18 FIP, both of which were down from his 3.10 ERA and 2.69 FIP in 2015, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Despite that dip, MLB.com’s Jason Beck reported Dec. 6 the Tigers were receiving a lot of interest in Wilson during the winter meetings.

The 29-year-old is under team control for the next two years, which will make him an attractive option for teams hoping to strengthen their bullpens. Beck noted the St. Louis Cardinals recently signed Brett Cecil for four years and $30.5 million, so Wilson would be a nice bargain given the market for relievers.

A few signs indicate Wilson’s luck will turn around in 2017 as well.

According to FanGraphs, opposing hitters batted .340 on balls in play against Wilson, which was ninth-highest among qualified relievers. Should his BABIP fall closer to his career average of .293, per FanGraphs, his ERA will rebound.

In addition, Wilson posted career bests in strikeouts (9.97) and walks (2.61) per nine innings (not including his eight-game 2012 season), so neither his control nor his command was a problem last year.

If the Tigers want to stay competitive, trading Wilson may not be in their best interest since middle relievers can be a valuable asset for a contending team. Should Detroit’s fortunes take a tumble, though, he’d be a luxury rather than a necessity, thus making him a natural trade chip in the middle of the season.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Relief pitcher Kenley Jansen reportedly re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Bowden reported the contract is for five years and worth $80 million. Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports later reported Jansen chose the Dodgers over better offers from other clubs and has an opt-out clause after three years. The deal does not include a no-trade clause, per Rosenthal. 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the Washington Nationals were willing to pay as much as $5 million more than the Dodgers.

Jansen, 29, was excellent for the Dodgers in 2016, compiling 47 saves in 53 opportunities to go along with 104 strikeouts, a 1.83 ERA and 0.67 WHIP in 68.2 innings pitched. It was his fifth straight season with 25 or more saves and his third straight season with at least 35 saves.

He’s established himself as one of baseball’s better closers, ensuring a big payday was coming this winter. But he hinted at a desire to stay before the 2016 season concluded.

“L.A.’s nice. L.A.’s great. L.A. gave me the opportunity. L.A. converted me when I failed as a catcher,” Jansen told Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball in September. “I’m grateful about it and will never forget L.A. But at the same time, we’ll have to see what’s good for the family.”

Ultimately, Jansen decided remaining in Los Angeles was the right move—and the Dodgers benefited.

Jansen will once again solidify the ninth inning for the team, meaning the Dodgers should again have an excellent pitching staff. If he can replicate his phenomenal form from the 2016 season, the Dodgers will have secured one of the best signings of free agency and should be a postseason contender again in 2017.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

As the Texas Rangers look to get over the hump and win their first World Series, infielder Jurickson Profar may be surplus to requirements should the Rangers prioritize short-term success over their long-term outlook. 

Continue for updates.

Rangers, Nationals Discussed Profar Trade

Monday, Dec. 12

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that Texas had talked with the Washington Nationals about a trade involving Profar. Rosenthal added the Rangers hoped to land right-hander Joe Ross. The Nationals eventually went in a different direction and traded for center fielder Adam Eaton.

Starting pitching is one of Texas’ biggest weaknesses, so using Profar as a trade chip to address the problem makes sense. 

And for as much potential as Profar has, his departure would alleviate the Rangers’ infield logjam. Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and Rougned Odor aren’t going anywhere, which leaves first base as the only realistic position for the 23-year-old.

With 12 home runs and a .341 slugging percentage in 184 career MLB games, Profar doesn’t boast the power to be a productive offensive first baseman.

The Rangers may instead look to Joey Gallo, who hit 25 home runs in Triple-A last year. Mike Napoli and Edwin Encarnacion are available in free agency as well.

Profar’s career hasn’t quite met expectations after Baseball America ranked him the top prospect in MLB in 2013.

A change of scenery may help him get his development back on track. Having battled shoulder problems in 2014 and 2015—which limited him to 12 games during the two seasons combined—he’ll also benefit from having a full spring training without any questions over his health.

Given his defensive versatility—he played five positions during the course of 2016—Profar could be an important player for the Rangers in 2017, but Texas is smart to at least examine his trade value if it can add a veteran starting pitcher.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Washington Nationals continued their busy week Saturday, trading infielder Danny Espinosa to the Los Angeles Angels. 

Baseball America’s Josh Norris first reported the news, which Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports confirmed.

The Angels officially announced the deal, which will bring Espinosa to Los Angeles in exchange for right-handed pitchers Austin Adams and Kyle McGowin.

Espinosa has not kept his unhappiness with the Nationals a secret. The team acquired outfielder Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox in a trade Wednesday, which will likely push Trea Turner to Espinosa’s normal position at shortstop.

With Daniel Murphy coming off an MVP-caliber season at second base, Espinosa became the odd man out in Washington.

Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reported Espinosa expressed his frustration over the move by skipping the team’s Winterfest event, which features fan and player interactions.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo left the door open for Espinosa’s return during the winter meetings, however.

“Well, it leaves us with a lot of options,” Rizzo said, per Castillo. “We have positional flexibility, or we continue to have positional flexibility and we will make those decisions down the road as we see fit.”

Andrelton Simmons, one of the best defensive players in Major League Baseball, already mans shortstop for the Angels.

Los Angeles is, however, desperate to find an option at second base. The Angels got a collective .235/.275/.345 slash line with 10 home runs from the position last season, per Baseball-Reference.com. 

Espinosa is an upgrade in the power department. He hit a career-high 24 home runs in 2016, though his .209 batting average marked the fourth time since 2011 that he’s failed to hit better than .240.

Despite those limitations, Espinosa addresses one of the biggest concerns for the Angels, and they didn’t have to give up anything of significant value to obtain him.

Adams is a 25-year-old who spent most of last season at Double-A, and he struck out 61 in 41.1 innings against younger competition. McGowin was rocked in Triple-A, posting a 6.11 ERA in 22 starts with 144 hits allowed and 46 walks in 116.1 innings.

Espinosa got what he wanted, for the most part, as the Angels will likely give him every opportunity to play each day. His ability to hit for power projects well in a lineup that features Mike Trout, Cameron Maybin, Kole Calhoun, C.J. Cron and Albert Pujols.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Minnesota Twins minor league pitcher Yorman Landa died early Saturday morning following an automobile accident in his native Venezuela. He was 22.

Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com passed along the news, including a statement from the Twins via chief baseball officer Derek Falvey:

The Minnesota Twins are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of Yorman Landa early this morning in Venezuela. On behalf of the entire baseball community, we send our sincerest condolences to the Landa family as well as Yorman’s many friends, coaches and teammates.

Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press provided details about the accident from Daniel Szew, Landa’s agent, who stated the pitcher was the only person killed. He was riding in the passenger seat of a car driven by his father, and there were four or five people in the vehicle, which struck a fallen tree.

“The ambulance took quite a while to get there,” Szew said. “He was literally the nicest kid. He was my little brother.”

Landa joined the Twins organization as a 16-year-old prospect in 2010. He started his journey through the club’s minor league system in the 2011 Dominican Summer League and reached the Florida State League at the Class A Advanced level this past season.

The right-handed reliever made 31 appearances out of the Fort Myers Miracle bullpen in 2016 and finished with a 3.24 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 41.2 innings.

He earned a spot in the league’s All-Star Game in June, and David Dorsey of the News-Press noted at the time the pitcher was thrilled.

“It’s good to play with them, because they’re the best in the league,” Landa said.

Landa made 130 appearances, including 26 starts, between the Twins organization and the Venezuelan Winter League from 2011 to 2016. He posted a 2.97 ERA and 1.33 WHIP while striking out 241 batters in 257.2 innings.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

After signing a free-agent deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, outfielder Dexter Fowler commented on the decision during his introductory press conference Friday. 

Fowler left the Chicago Cubs for the rival Cards, and according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, he inked a five-year, $82.5 million contract.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweeted a photo of Fowler in his new threads and noted why his number choice is significant:

While the Cubs seem poised to compete for championships on an annual basis for many years to come, Fowler believes the Cardinals will be in the mix as well, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune: “I can’t tell what the future has in line, but I feel this team has a chance to win the World Series. … Winning is addicting.”

The Cardinals finished 17 games behind the Cubs last season and missed the playoffs, but Fowler suggested the two teams are closer than the numbers indicate, per Gonzales: “(The Cardinals) weren’t that far away (in terms of competing with Cubs). We’re definitely close.”

Fowler nearly left the Cubs last offseason to sign with the Baltimore Orioles but changed his mind and returned to the Windy City in a move that helped him earn a championship ring.

The 2017 season will see Fowler go up against his former team, however, and he’ll do it often since they play in the same division.

Now that the 2016 All-Star has crossed enemy lines, he admitted that it will be a strange feeling when he goes up against the Cubbies, per Gonzales: “It will be weird, but I guess they’re our rivals now. They’re still my boys, but we’re out here to win.”

The 30-year-old veteran hit .276 with 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 84 runs scored and 13 stolen bases, but the Cubs would have been hard-pressed to retain him because of how much they paid Jason Heyward last offseason.

Since he may not have gotten fair market value from the Cubs, he trusted his instincts by joining the Cardinals, per Gonzales: “At the end of the day, you go with your gut feeling, and this was my gut feeling.”

Prior to missing the playoffs last season, the Cards had made five consecutive trips to the playoffs, including two World Series appearances and one championship.

St. Louis seemingly has an abundance of strong pitching with some question marks offensively, but Fowler’s near-.400 on-base percentage from 2016 should help significantly.

Fowler was undoubtedly a catalyst for Chicago’s offense next season, and the jump-start he provides could be enough to get the Cards back in the postseason in 2017.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Outfielder Dexter Fowler agreed to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, as first reported by USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale.

The deal is for five years and $82.5 million, including a full no-trade clause, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports on Friday. 

Frank Cusumano of KSDK Sports in St. Louis reported a physical is scheduled for Friday.

Fowler, 30, was a crucial member of the Chicago Cubs as they won their first World Series title since 1908, hitting .276 with 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 84 runs and 13 stolen bases in 125 regular-season games. He was solid in the postseason as well, hitting .250 with three home runs, six RBI, 11 runs and a stolen base in 17 games.

But the Cubs are loaded in the outfield, with Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist and Albert Almora Jr. available. Heyward and Almora are capable of manning center field duties, so re-signing Fowler was never likely to be a priority for the reigning champions.

That allowed St. Louis to snag Fowler, who should not only improve the team’s defense but also provide consistent production toward the top of the lineup. Additionally, his postseason experience will be valued in the clubhouse.

Fowler was a key ingredient in the Cubs’ title-winning season. Now, the Cardinals will be hoping he’s the addition that puts them over the top as they seek another championship themselves.

One of the primary areas of need for the Cardinals was an upgrade in center field, so Fowler will check off that box. Fowler’s signing should also fan the flames of the team’s heated rivalry with the Cubs, and his addition makes the Cardinals a threat in the NL Central.

Fowler’s signing won’t be as flashy as some of the other names out there, but he was exactly what the Cardinals needed this offseason.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Lost in the shuffle of the Boston Red Sox‘s winter-meetings activity is the return of Pablo Sandoval to the lineup after he appeared in just three games last season.

Looking back on his lost 2016, Sandoval acknowledged in a joint interview with ESPN.com’s Scott Lauber and ESPN Deportes’ Marly Rivera that he started to take things for granted.

“My career had fallen into an abyss because I was so complacent with things that I had already accomplished,” Sandoval said. “I did not work hard in order to achieve more and to remain at the level of the player that I am and that I can be.”

Sandoval was able to squeeze a career’s worth of accomplishments into his first seven seasons with the San Francisco Giants. He was part of three World Series-winning teams in 2010, 2012 and 2014. He also earned a spot in two All-Star Games and was the World Series MVP in 2012.

His success did not translate to the American League when he signed with the Red Sox prior to the 2015 season, however. He hit .245/.292/.366 in 126 games during his first year with the team and lost the starting third base job to Travis Shaw in spring training ahead of the 2016 campaign.

His 2016 season ended before it began, as he had six at-bats over three games before being ruled out for the year with an ailing shoulder that required surgery in May.

“Things definitely happen for a reason,” Sandoval said. “[The surgery and rehab process] have helped revitalize that fire in me to win again.”

There is photographic evidence to suggest Sandoval is not just talking a big game, with Dan Roche of CBS Boston passing along this image from Alvaro Hernandez:

Sandoval touched on his new routine to get in better shape and keep the weight off:

I have been following a really strict routine that has taken a lot of dedication from my part. It has not been easy to wake up every single day at 6:30 in the morning to then head to the gym and start a full day of work. But you have to have that kind of dedication if you want to achieve the goals you have set for yourself.

Weight has been an issue for Sandoval throughout his career.

During an April appearance on Toucher and Rich (via Samer Kalaf of Deadspin), CSN New England’s Sean McAdam reported the Giants made special arrangements at hotels so he couldn’t order room service.

Looking ahead to 2017—with the Red Sox among the favorites to win the World Series after securing the American League East title last year and adding Chris Sale to the starting rotation in a trade with the Chicago White Sox—Sandoval knows the task in front of him.

“I am not taking anything for granted,” Sandoval said. “I am here to work hard. I’m not thinking about the position or not. I am starting from scratch, and I am here to show what I can do on the field.”

In addition to extending his career by getting into better shape, Sandoval said the birth of his child earlier this year has also served as an inspiration:

Watching ‘Baby Panda’ grow up and that he gets the opportunity to see his father play in the majors for seven, eight more years, to get back to the success I had, that’s my motivation every day. The people that I surround myself with now and my family, they are the key to my success. This has been a life lesson.

Sandoval has been one of the most criticized and scrutinized players in Major League Baseball since signing with the Red Sox, which is one of the pitfalls of playing in one of the biggest baseball markets in the country.

Things fell apart for Sandoval in 2016, but the upside of rock-bottom is that it leaves nowhere to go except up. He’s taking the physical steps to be in position to contribute for the Red Sox next season.

The one big hurdle left for Sandoval to clear is mental, which won’t offer a definitive answer until the games start in April.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com