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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Guide From Friday
2012-01-07 10:54:00
We had 12 games to cover from Friday , so I'll just save the time writing an introduction. That time saved will be passed on to yoooouuuuuu with this edition being only three easy payments of $19.95 and 9/10 cents... Kidding of course. All the guys that gained value and Pick-N-Roll after the jump: Follow @MikeSGallagher Follow me to have all your fantasy basketball questions answered. Here's a quick list of some inclining-value guys that should be old news and are probably already owned (ranked left to right): Paul George, Anderson Varejao, Al Harrington, Jason Richardson and Nick Young, The following is a list of players that are available in 50 percent (or close to it) of ESPN leagues. They are arranged with the most valuable guy on top: 1. Iman Shumpert- 21 Shump Street is the hottest property of real estate on the waiver wire right now. 37 minutes, five steals, seven dimes and a three (on five attempts) are ridiculous for a rookie in one of the best fantasy offenses. Th...
More About: Basketball , Fantasy , Guide , Wire

Quick Hits: Rhodes, Kuroda, Ludwick, Padres
2012-01-07 07:15:00
Let's jump into the weekend with one last batch of news items.... Arthur Rhodes is close to deciding where he will play in 2012, reports Anthony Andro of Fox Sports Southwest (Twitter link).  Rhodes also confirms that he will play next year, making it 21 Major League seasons for the 42-year-old southpaw.  The Cardinals and Mariners have both shown interest in Rhodes this offseason. Some teams aren't convinced that Hiroki Kuroda will pitch in the majors next season and will instead return to Japan, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  Kuroda's asking price is reportedly $13-$14MM on a one-year deal, which is a slight increase from last month. Also from Heyman (via Twitter), Ryan Ludwick has received offers from at least four teams.  The Reds, A's and Giants have been linked to Ludwick this winter, though it's unknown if any of those clubs actually offered the outfielder a contract. Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune covers such Padres topics as a possible Carlos...
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Extension Candidate: Howie Kendrick
2012-01-07 06:48:00
Lack of batting titles aside, Howie Kendrick has developed into a solid homegrown star for the Halos.  The 28-year-old is coming off the finest of his six Major League seasons (a career-high 18 homers and a .285/.338/.464 slash line) and with free agency just a season away, the Angels are looking to lock Kendrick up to a multiyear extension.  The Angels have certainly not hesitated to spend money this winter, so let's examine how much it might cost them to sign Kendrick for the long term. Kendrick turns 29 on July 12 and is entering his last year of arbitration eligibility, where MLBTR projects he will earn around $5.2MM for his 2012 contract.  Rickie Weeks is a decent comparable; he was about to enter his age-28 season and his final round of arbitration last spring when the Brewers signed him to a four-year, $38.5MM extension that also included an $11.5MM vesting option for 2015 based on plate appearances.  A similar vesting option might be preferred by the Angels, given Kendri...
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Stephen Strasburg vs. Clayton Kershaw
2012-01-07 05:58:00
Over at The Hardball Times, Nick Fleder posted an article ranking his and two other writers' top 25 under age 25 Dynasty League Players. Several readers commented their surprise that all three writers had placed Stephen Strasburg ahead of Clayton Kershaw . The writer argued that Strasburg's upside was better than Kershaw's in the long term, and further suggesting that the 2011 season was as good as it would get for Kershaw. I wondered if this was true.Nick Fleder:Strasburg in my mind has higher upside that Kershaw. Yes, Clayton is incredible, but I doubt he?ll ever improve on his 2011 season, and he might regress a bit, where Strasburg might be able to pull several Kershaw 2011s, or potentially a better season. Higher K upside, similar WHIP upside, and as good a shot to put up 20 wins per year on the offensively-adept Nationals. I?ll back this up with some more numbers a little later. The case, I readily concede, can be made that Kershaw could be #1. Stanton, Harper, I?d ar...

Rangers Among Teams Interested In Brad Hawpe
2012-01-07 05:10:00
10:10pm: The Rangers are one of the teams interested in Hawpe, reports MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  Hawpe is seen as insurance should current first baseman Mitch Moreland (also a left-handed batter) suffer a setback in his return from wrist surgery.  A Rangers contract would represent a homecoming for Hawpe, who was born in Fort Worth. 7:35pm: Brad Hawpe could be close to signing a minor league contract with one of three clubs that have shown interest in the 32-year-old, reports MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.  Hawpe underwent Tommy John surgery last summer and says he is healthy and ready to return to the field. Hawpe signed a one-year, $2MM deal with the Padres just over a year ago but struggled badly in 2011, hitting just .231/.301/.344 in 216 plate appearances for the Friars.  San Diego unsurprisingly declined its $6MM club option on Hawpe for 2012, instead buying out the contract for $1MM. Hawpe hit .288/.384/.518 with 99 home runs between 2006-2009 as member of the Rockies.  He h...
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AL West Notes: Dipoto, Hamilton, Mariners, Beane
2012-01-07 04:40:00
Here's the latest news and notes out of the AL West ... The Angels have reached their payroll limit and any further moves will have to come via the trade market, GM Jerry Dipoto tells Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles.  Dipoto says the club would need "a fairly compelling reason" to trade either Kendrys Morales or Mark Trumbo, but "there are scenarios you could envision." Dipoto tells Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times that the Angels' signing of infielder Jorge Cantu isn't a sign that the Halos have new concerns about the health of either Morales or Trumbo. Josh Hamilton 's hard-nosed style of play (and subsequent injuries) will make it hard for the outfielder to earn top dollar either in free agency or from an extension with the Rangers, writes MLB.com's Lyle Spencer. The Mariners recently turned down inquiries about Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda from Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  This doesn't really represent a ...
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Cubs, Kerry Wood Progressing Toward One-Year Deal
2012-01-07 04:38:00
9:38pm: A potential deal between Wood and the Cubs is "far from done," a source tells ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link).  Wood is in talks with "multiple teams" about a 2012 contract. 12:29pm: The Cubs and free agent reliever Kerry Wood are making progress on a one-year, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweets. The Cubs and the SFX client have not completed a deal, however. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein recently said he'd be greatly disappointed if the Cubs don't re-sign Wood. The right-hander signed a below-market $1.5MM deal last offseason but is said to want a market value deal this winter. Wood posted a 3.35 ERA with 10.1 K/9, 3.7 BB/9 and a 35.8% ground ball rate in 51 innings for the Cubs in 2011. He's 34, but remains a flamethrower; his average fastball checked in at 94.4 mph last year.
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Angels Sign Jorge Cantu To Minor League Deal
2012-01-07 03:11:00
The Angels have signed Jorge Cantu to a minor league contract, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).  Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier today that the two sides were close to an agreement. Cantu, who turns 30 on January 30, posted a .194/.232/.285 slash line in 155 plate appearances for the Padres last season before being released and finishing the year with the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs.  Cantu has played mostly first and third base in his Major League career and is still capable of playing second on a limited basis.  Cantu isn't far removed from a very productive stint with the Marlins (a .283/.336/.462 line and 45 homers in 2008-09) and gives the Angels a more powerful option at third than incumbent Alberto Callaspo.  Cantu could also provide backup for Albert Pujols at first, given that Mark Trumbo is still recovering from a stress fracture in his foot and Kendrys Morales' health is a question mark after missi...
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NL Central Notes: Cubs, Rizzo, Cardinals, Lee, Heisey
2012-01-07 02:57:00
Here's the latest from the NL Central ... Cubs GM Jed Hoyer wants to add more depth to his pitching staff, reports MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.  "At this point, we're still very much in the process of gathering as many quality arms as we can, and we'll put those pieces in place as we get closer to Spring Training," Hoyer said.  "We have worked hard, and we continue to work hard, and hopefully we'll have even more starting-pitching acquisitions....We want to go seven, eight, nine deep in the rotation and we hope to replenish the bullpen as well." ESPN's Keith Law gives the Cubs the "slight edge" in today's Anthony Rizzo-for-Andrew Cashner trade.  Law says he would rather have Rizzo than Yonder Alonso, who the Padres acquired from the Reds last month as part of the package for Mat Latos. The Cardinals announced Derek Lilliquist will become the team's new pitching coach, with Dyer Miller taking Lilliquist's old job as bullpen coach.  The moves may or may not be perman...
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Five Pitchers Bound To Decline in 2012
2012-01-07 02:17:00
Joe Mays. This is the name that forever springs to mind when the subject of decliner candidates is brought about. More specifically, his name comes to mind when discussing individuals (i.e. me) who can't recognize pitchers who are obviously going to decline. This was the case with Mays, back in 2001, and from his example, I learned some hard lessons in how to pick out pitchers who are simply in the middle of one-year-wonder seasons. In '01, Mays, then a 25-year-old starting pitcher with Minnesota, finished up a terrific, Cy Young-worthy campaign, going 17-13 with an ERA of 3.16 (he led the league in ERA+). His breakthrough year led me to my first fantasy championship and the halo effect surrounding him, and my then-complete misunderstanding of pitcher peripheral numbers, led me to at one point refuse to include him in a trade for...wait for it...Randy Johnson. Yes, typing those words will probably result in added months of therapy. Naturally, Mays's fantastic year was a complete ...
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Yoenis Cespedes Rumors: Friday
2012-01-07 00:58:00
Here's the latest on Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes... A source says Cespedes' eventual contract will be in the range of four years and $32MM, writes MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.  "Several teams have backed away" from Cespedes' original goal of an eight-year, $60MM contract.  Frisaro says the Marlins are among the teams still very interested in the Cuban prospect. Also from Frisaro, Cespedes is tentatively expected to establish residency in the Dominican Republic on January 15, and then the outfielder will petition Major League Baseball for free agent status. The Tigers have been relatively quiet this offseason, "intensifying speculation" that the team is waiting on Cespedes to become available, reports James Schmehl of MLive.com.  With Delmon Young, Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch pencilled in as Detroit's starting outfield, the Tigers could have to make another move should they sign Cespedes, or just give him limited playing time to ease his transition to the Major Lea...
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More Alex Than Elvis...5 Players Who Will Help Your Team Avoid a Mid-Season
2012-01-07 00:35:00
I want to introduce you to some guys who will be on absolutely no ones draft boards to start the year, but may come in handy once injuries strike (either your team, or theirs). These guys should only be considered as mid-season pickups in the vein of Alex Presley last year or Jose Tabata the year before. To answer your question yes, there is a Pirate on this list and no, they are not all Pirates. They are all minor leaguers, and most are not uber prospects (there will not be any of the Hosmer or Montero types in this group), but they are people who can contribute while you sweat out an injury. Read on… Kirk Niewenheis - OF - Mets - Nieuwenheis was a 3rd round pick in 2008, and profiles more as a fourth outfielder type. He can play all three spots in a pinch but should probably be relegated to a corner due to fringe-average speed. He won’t be much of a power hitter, but I see him getting some time in the Mets disjointed outfield in 2012, if he performs at all in Tripl...
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Porcello Opts Out Of Contract, Becomes Arb-Eligible
2012-01-07 00:28:00
Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello has opted out of his contract and is now eligible for salary arbitration, reports James Schmehl of MLive.com.  The 27th overall pick of the 2007 draft, Porcello signed a four-year, $7.285MM pact (plus club options for 2011 and 2012) as his first Major League contract.  Porcello, however, had the right to opt out of the final year of that contract and in doing so, the Tigers are spared the no-brainer decision of exercising their $1.344MM option on Porcello for next season.  Detroit still has the righty under team control through the 2015 season. This move was widely expected and became even more of a sure thing once Porcello qualified for Super Two status and gained an extra year of arbitration eligibility.  Matt Swartz's MLBTR-exclusive arbitration model projects Porcello to earn a $4.2MM salary through arbitration this winter.  Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said he hadn't exchanged figures with Porcello's representatives about a 2012 contract. Po...
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Mets To Sign Ronny Cedeno
2012-01-06 23:22:00
The Mets have agreed to sign free agent shortstop Ronny Cedeno to a one-year deal, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The deal is worth $1.2MM and includes many incentives, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Peter E. Greenberg & Associates represents Cedeno, who figures to provide depth behind Ruben Tejada in New York. The Pirates declined Cedeno's option earlier this offseason, after he posted a .249/.297/.339 line in 454 plate appearances. The 28-year-old posted a strong 6.8 UZR/150 at shortstop this past season, though his career mark of -1.6 UZR/150 is slightly below average. The Red Sox and Pirates were linked to Cedeno earlier this offseason, while the Mets had interest in free agents such as Jack Wilson and Ryan Theriot.
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Angels, Jorge Cantu Nearing Deal
2012-01-06 23:19:00
The Angels are nearing a deal with free agent infielder Jorge Cantu, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Wasserman Media Group represents the 29-year-old. Cantu hit 28 homers in 2005 and 29 homers in 2008, but has struggled to produce at the plate since then. Cantu signed with the Padres for $850K about a year ago, but they designated him for assignment and the Rockies picked him up. He posted a .194/.232/.285 line in 155 plate appearances for San Diego, appearing at first, second and third base. Cantu, a right-handed hitter, has hit lefties and righties at a nearly identical clip over the course of his eight-year career.
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Nationals Notes: Ankiel, Rodriguez, Hernandez, Coffey
2012-01-06 23:15:00
Most of the current chatter surrounding the Nationals focuses on a certain free agent first baseman, but as Amanda Comak of the Washington Times explains, the team also seeks bench and bullpen help. Here are the details: The Nationals haven?t ruled out bringing Rick Ankiel back, partly because they like his defense and influence in the clubhouse. We shouldn?t expect the Nationals to re-sign Ivan Rodriguez or Livan Hernandez , Comak writes. The door has been ?closed? on Hernandez, as the team no longer has room on its roster or openings in its rotation. There's a 50-50 chance free agent reliever Todd Coffey returns to the Nationals, tweets MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Ladson says the Brewers still have interest in Coffey, who has also drawn interest from the Angels and Mets.
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Heyman On Rizzo, Rangers, Webb, Jackson
2012-01-06 22:42:00
The Cubs acquired Anthony Rizzo from the Padres today, but they weren?t the only team with interest in the first base prospect. The Indians, Blue Jays and Rays also had some interest in Rizzo, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Here are more notes from Heyman (they all go to Twitter): The Rangers would like to lock Mike Napoli, Josh Hamilton, Mike Adams and Colby Lewis to extensions if possible, according to Heyman. Ian Kinsler and Derek Holland are among the Rangers? other extension candidates. Brandon Webb started throwing again in late December and his arm is ?strong and loose,? according to his agent. Webb signed with the Rangers last offseason, but didn't pitch at the Major League level and underwent right shoulder surgery in the summer. He hasn't appeared in an MLB game since April of 2009. The Orioles have interest in Edwin Jackson , according to Heyman. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun explained in December that Jackson's upside intrigues the Orioles.

By the Numbers: Skill changers worth watching
2012-01-06 22:23:00
Who improved in certain areas in 2011 and who might be able to sustain that improvement going forward? Al Melchior identifies a handful of players with positive skill indicators worth taking note of in his By the Numbers .
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Red Sox, Mariners Interested In Maholm
2012-01-06 21:45:00
The Red Sox and Mariners are among the teams interested in Paul Maholm, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Cubs and Orioles are still in on the free agent left-hander and the Pirates remain in touch with him. The Padres have also been linked to Maholm, a Bo McKinnis client. Maholm, 29, posted a 3.66 ERA with 5.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and 49.9% ground ball rate in 162 1/3 innings for the Pirates in 2011. He spent the end of the season on the disabled list recovering from a shoulder injury and the Pirates chose a $750K buyout over a $9.75MM club option in October. The Red Sox could use rotation depth behind Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard. The Mariners, who locked up Hisashi Iwakuma yesterday, are open to the idea of adding another veteran arm if the price is right, according to Rosenthal.

Rosenthal On Garza, Turner, Madson, Lee
2012-01-06 21:31:00
The Cubs have traded Sean Marshall, Carlos Zambrano and Andrew Cashner in recent weeks. Could Matt Garza be next? Ken Rosenthal of FOX breaks down the market for Garza and offers more rumors from around the league: Cubs execs Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are alarmed by the lack of minor league talent in their own system, so trading Garza might appeal to them. The Yankees, one possible suitor for the right-hander, have had concerns about Garza?s ability to handle New York in the past, Rosenthal reports. Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has said he?s not looking to trade Jacob Turner, but Rosenthal hears the young right-hander is available in the right deal. A contender like the Cardinals could make a surprise play for Ryan Madson, but the market for the free agent closer currently looks thin. Agent Scott Boras may wait until Spring Training to find a deal, as he has done in the past. Free agent first baseman Derrek Lee expects to land a full-time job, Rosenthal reports. I examine...

Highlights from BaseballAmerica.com: John Manuel Chat: New York Yankees Top
2012-01-06 21:11:00
BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: New York Yankees Top 10 Kyle (St Louis): How many of your top 10 do you believe are worthy of making the top overall 100? John Manuel: I'm thinking the top five players, from Montero to Mason Williams, all make it. I thought I had four in my personal top 50 but double-checked and realize I left Gary Sanchez out of the top 50 this year, after running him way up last year. Big bat, lots of maturing yet to do. Kelly (St Cloud, MN): In last year's scouting report of Betances, you mentioned the possibility of him becoming a RP. Is this still a good possibility, or are the Yanks set on him starting? John Manuel: They seem to still want him to start. He'll never have refined command, and the bigger worry is that his 2010 season looks like the aberration. He had about 2.5 BB per 9 in '10 and was back around 5 per 9 in 2011, like he had been previously. I mentioned AJ Burnett in his writeup, not as a comp but as a simil...
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Atlanta?s Shortstop Problem
2012-01-06 20:15:00
It?s incredibly difficult to be worse than Alex Gonzalez was in 2011. I mean, I bet you could. Yeah, you. I know I could. We don?t get paid to play baseball, though. Somehow, Alex Gonzalez did last season and showed his gratitude by hitting .241/.270/.372 in 593 plate appearances. He did hit 16 home runs. ...
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Cubs Acquire Anthony Rizzo
2012-01-06 20:02:00
The Cubs have acquired first baseman Anthony Rizzo and right-hander Zach Cates from the Padres for right-hander Andrew Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na, the teams announced. The move provides the Cubs with a potential long-term first baseman and makes room for another first baseman in San Diego. ?The acquisition of Yonder Alonso provided us the flexibility to make this trade and acquire a quality, young power arm in Andrew Cashner,? Padres GM Josh Byrnes said. ?We are happy to add a pitcher with the pedigree of Cashner and an outfielder with the athleticism of Na.? The Cubs are presumably out of the running for free agent Prince Fielder with the acquisition of Rizzo. Bryan LaHair will open the season as the Cubs' everyday first baseman and Rizzo will play at Triple-A, GM Jed Hoyer said, tweets Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Rizzo, 22, debuted with the Padres last year, posting a .141/.281/.242 line in a 153 plate appearance cameo. He spent most of the season ...

Fantasy Hockey 2011 - Super Sleepers
2012-01-06 18:39:00
Jason Demers goes on streaks. 3 points in 3 games is no exception. San Jose is a dangerous offensive unit, with Demers averaging nearly 17 minutes a game and playing on the 2nd PP unit, he's worth a look. The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of injuries on the back end, letting Brayden McNabb get a good look playing big minutes. He hasn't disappointed. An offensive blueliner may not stay up in the NHL all year once healthy Sabres return, but he's definitely worth noting. Speaking of returning Sabres, Jochen Hecht is healthy again and has been inserted into the number one line in Buffalo in between Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville. If you are looking for immediate points, look no further. He's been mentioned before by myself in previous weeks, but Drayson Bowman is someone you should take note of. The Hurricanes don't look like they will be a fixture in a playoff race thus continuing the rebuild in Raleigh. Look for a few veterans to be moved, while Drayson continues to climb the dep...
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Potential Teams For Remaining Designated Hitters
2012-01-06 18:25:00
Johnny Damon, Vladimir Guerrero, Hideki Matsui, Magglio Ordonez and Luke Scott highlight the list of unsigned designated hitters. Jorge Posada and Manny Ramirez are also out there and Bobby Abreu and Alfonso Soriano could become available in trades. Some would say free agent first baseman Prince Fielder is well on his way to becoming a DH, but he?ll presumably sign as a first baseman.  The market for designated hitters tends to favor buyers and this year is no exception. Here's a look at the American League teams with possible DH openings: Rays - When the offseason began, Andrew Friedman spoke about his intention to add offense without sacrificing defense. The Rays have an opening at DH, the one spot in the lineup where defense doesn't matter at all. The Rays will likely add a bat or two before Opening Day, perhaps a DH. Blue Jays - Edwin Encarnacion finished the 2011 season strong and projects as the Blue Jays' DH heading into 2012. Orioles - The Orioles appear ...
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Prince Fielder Rumors: Friday
2012-01-06 17:35:00
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said yesterday that first base is ?settled? in Washington, but acknowledged that Prince Fielder will make a major impact on his next team. The Nationals continue to be linked to Fielder, though they say they're content with Adam LaRoche at first base. Here's the latest on Fielder, with the most recent rumors up top: The Rangers have ?one eye? on Fielder, but locking up Yu Darvish remains their number one goal, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. If they sign Darvish, as expected, the chances of a deal with Fielder will drop. In some corners of the Nationals organization, there?s ?great skepticism? about a very long-term deal for Fielder, tweets ESPN.com?s Buster Olney. Owner Ted Lerner figures to have the final say in the matter.
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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Zambrano, Quentin, Garza
2012-01-06 16:48:00
On this date in 2006, the Diamondbacks came to terms with Justin Upton after making him the first overall pick in the 2005 draft. The signing deadline back then was the next year's draft, not mid-August. Upton received a $6.1MM bonus, the largest ever given out as part of a minor league contract for a drafted player at the time. He mashed his way to the big leagues less than two years later and already has two All-Star Game nods to his credit. Upton also finished fourth in the NL MVP voting this year after hitting .289/.369/.529 with 31 homers. Here are the first links of 2012... MLB Reports interviewed Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Rum Bunter interviewed Pirates second baseman Neil Walker. Baseball Time In Arlington looked at what went wrong with Daisuke Matsuzaka and what it means for Yu Darvish. The Cub Reporter will miss the always entertaining Carlos Zambrano. FishStripes says the Zambrano trade is about as even as possible. Bleacher Nation broke down the newest Cu...
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Fantasy baseball links...
2012-01-06 16:00:00
2012 Fantasy Outlook: Josh Beckett For me, Beckett is indeed very hard to evaluate. Baseball HQ has him as a $19 SP, Rotowire has his value at $17. What value to you place on Beckett this year? Coming off an injury riddled and largely disappointing 2010 campaign, Josh Beckett responded with a great 2011 season. He provided an immense amount of value for owners, posting near top-10 numbers among starting pitchers despite going as late as the 17th or 18th round of drafts. Looking ahead to the 2012 season, Beckett is a tough player to project for fantasy purposes MLB Rumors - MLB Trade Rumors, Free Agency Rumors and More - Rumor Central - ESPN Rosental tweeted Tuesday that many in the industry believe Boras wants an opt-out clause in Fielder's contract, perhaps like the one utilized by Yankees lefty CC Sabathia this offseason. Rookie Redux: Which 2011 Rookie Catchers Are Worth Targeting In 2012? | RotoprofessorRotoprofessor recommends Arencibia and Ramos, and avoids Conger. Which ...
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Alex Cora Likely To Play In 2012
2012-01-06 16:00:00
Free agent utility player Alex Cora is drawing interest as a player and as a coach, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports. The 14-year veteran will probably choose to play another year, according to Heyman. Cora posted a .224/.287/.276 line in 172 plate appearances for the Nationals in 2011, playing all four infield positions. The 36-year-old Boras Corporation client has a .243/.310/.338 career line since breaking in to the Major Leagues as a member of the 1998 Dodgers. As the 2011 ended, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reported that teams have inquired about Cora's interest in managing. Washington GM Mike Rizzo has interest in Cora as a future coach.
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Is Danny Valencia a Good Sleeper Target?
2012-01-06 15:15:00
In 2010, Danny Valencia established himself pretty quickly as a fan favorite in the Twin Cities as he hit .311/.351/.448 after being recalled from the minors on June 3rd. In just 322 plate appearances, he hit seven home runs, drove in 40 runs and flashed a pretty solid glove by UZR standards. He was no ...
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