MLB pitchers might try safety hat liners next
year (Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 December 2012 04:16:38 PM. © MLB News Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Big league pitchers could experiment with protective hat liners next season, hoping they can absorb the shock of batted balls such as the ones that struck Brandon McCarthy and Doug Fister in the head.

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AP source: Geovany Soto, Rangers agree to $2.75M
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 December 2012 04:08:15 PM. © MLB News Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that catcher Geovany Soto is staying with the Texas Rangers and has agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract.

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Around the SaberSphere 12/3: The Winter Meetings,
Non-Tenders, Hall of Fame

post from Beyond the Box Score - All Posts on 03 December 2012 03:02:42 PM. © Beyond the Box Score - All Posts

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Dan Evan of Baseball Prospectus gives us some inside information on what the Winter Meetings are all about: Baseball Prospectus | 108 Stitches: Pulling Back the Curtain on the Winter Meetings

These are marathon, 15-to-18-hour days for most clubs, lasting well after midnight and sometimes deep into the night as they weigh their opportunities. It is a fun time to hear people voice their position and their philosophy as to why one opportunity is a better one than another. You have to know your staff; their decision-making style and personalities. Sometimes the quietest person carries the most weight.

Marc Hulet of FanGraphs lists off some prospects who could impact trades at this year's Winter Meetings: Six Prospects to Target in Winter Meeting Trades | FanGraphs Baseball

The MLB Winter Meetings are upon us and one things is certain: General managers will spend a great deal of time discussing potential trades. Below are six names that won’t be the centrepiece of any deals as B/C grade prospects but they still have value to big league organizations. They don’t belong in the same sentence as other top prospects that could be had in the right deal – like Royals outfielder Wil Myers or Diamondbacks pitcher Trevor Bauer – but they could end up being useful future big league contributors.

Chris Quick of ESPN discusses the value of the players who were non-tendered this year: Value to be found in non-tendered players - SweetSpot Blog - ESPN

Teams will non-tender players for a multitude of reasons -- injury, cost, and roster crunches are among the most popular -- but savvy teams will be able to cruise this new pool of free agents to find value. And make no mistake, there is value to be had among the recent crop of non-tendered players.

Joe Posnanski discussed how amazing the 2013 Hall of Fame class could really have been in the 2009 THT Annual. Joe and the Hardball Times were generous enough to re-print part of that piece: The greatest class of all time? (Part 1)--THT

But, for a few minutes, I would ask you to forget all that. This is a story about what Hall of Fame Induction Day 2013 might have been, had it not been for all those things I promised not to mention. If everything was a little different, Induction Day 2013 might have been the most amazing crossroads in baseball history.

Grant Brisbee of Baseball Nation looks back at the last two decades of the Pirates and free agency: The last two decades of the Pittsburgh Pirates and free agency - Baseball Nation

The 10 best Pirates free agents all fall into one of two categories: Players who did well on a one-year contract before leaving, and players who did well for a half-season before being traded away. At no point was there a franchise-changer or a long-term building block.

To those of you reading this who are in Nashville, get off your computer and enjoy the meetings!

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ings-non-tenders-hall-of-fame-pirates

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Baseball Card Show Purchase #6 2001 Topps
Mariano Rivera 50 Years Of Topps

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 03 December 2012 03:00:29 PM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

Baseball Card Show Purchase #6 – 2001 Topps Mariano Rivera ’50 Years Of Topps’ Mariano Rivera has been in the news recently as he signed a 1-year deal and will be coming back to the New York Yankees for the … Continue reading →

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AP source: Loney, Rays agree to $2 million deal
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 December 2012 02:37:51 PM. © MLB News Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says first baseman James Loney and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract.

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AP source: Napoli, Boston strike $39M, 3-year
deal (Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 December 2012 02:19:59 PM. © MLB News Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says catcher Mike Napoli and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $39 million, three-year contract.

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A-Rod needs hip surgery, will miss seasons start
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 December 2012 02:16:51 PM. © MLB News Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Alex Rodriguez will have surgery on his left hip and will miss the start of the season and possibly the entire first half.

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RHP Jason Marquis stays with Padres (Yahoo!
Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 December 2012 02:09:28 PM. © MLB News Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Right-hander Jason Marquis will stay with the San Diego Padres, reaching a $3 million, one-year deal Monday.

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Miami Marlins Farm Report: Kyle Jensen Torches
the Arizona Fall League

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The Arizona Fall League concluded two weeks ago. Here is how the eight Miami Marlins prospects performed.

Kyle Jensen, OF
.330/.390/.593 (30-for-91), 15 R, 7 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 6 BB, 23 SO, 1-for-1 SB

After hitting 24 home runs during the regular season, Jensen continued to display tremendous power in the AFL. He ultimately led the league in home runs and earned a berth to the AFL Top Prospects Team. He also improved on his 31 percent strikeout rate from Double-A, striking out in 24 percent of plate appearances.

Christian Yelich, OF
.301/.343/.387 (28-for-93), 13 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 5 BB, 17 SO, 3-for-4 SB

Despite his substandard performance, Yelich was also named to the AFL Top Prospects Team.

Grant Dayton, LHP
10 G, 12.0 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 7 BB, 18 SO

Dayton struck out an incredible eighteen batters in twelve innings pitched, or 35 percent of batters faced. That figure aligns closely with his numbers in Double-A Jacksonville this past year. He projects as a solid relief pitchers, with the upside of a setup man.

Jacob Realmuto, C
.221/.349/.369 (5-for-20), 1 R, 1 2B, 4 BB, 8 SO, 1-for-1 SB

Much to my dismay, Realmuto's regular season frustrations continued in the Arizona Fall League. The 21-year-old catcher walked in an impressive 16 percent of plate appearances, but struggled to make consistent contact.

Jake Marisnick, OF
.314/.380/.457 (22-for-70), 9 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 20 SO, 5-for-7 SB

While Marisnick's triple slash line looks respectable, it hides a statistically wonky performance. The newly acquired outfield prospect struck out an uncharacteristically high 25 percent of the time, while benefiting from a .420 batting average on balls in play. Additionally, he was hit by the pitcher five times in just nineteen games.

Michael Brady, RHP
9 G, 12.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 3 BB, 9 SO

Brady has never had much trouble putting up excellent numbers during his professional career, so it's no surprise he continued to do so in the AFL. The Marlins have shown a strong reluctance to promote the 25-year-old right-hander, despite his rock solid statistics and advanced age. He will likely start next year in Double-A or Triple-A.

Scott McGough, RHP
2 GS, 9 G, 16.0 IP, 2 ER, 12 H, 6 BB, 8 SO

Acquired in the Hanley Ramirez trade, Scott McGough is an interesting relief prospect. While only striking out eight batters in sixteen innings pitched, he finished with the second best earned-run average of any pitcher in the AFL. His mid-90s fastball and reliable slider should translate well to the upper minors next year.

Yordy Cabrera, SS
.286/.308/.349 (18-for-63), 8 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 15 SO

Cabrera failed to display and indication of improvement during his stint in the AFL. He walked twice in sixty-five plate appearances and showed almost no power. I don't have much faith in his bat at this stage. The only factor keeping Cabrera relevant today is his second-round pedigree.