The Phillies are targeting big-time free-agent outfielders and baseball people expect them to be in the mix for Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz and possibly Curtis Granderson according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The Phillies have a team built around superior starting pitching and veteran infielders, Heyman writes. But have a clear weakness in the outfield, where they got sub-par...
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Andy Martino of the Daily News calls the Mets offseason strategy “complicated”. Why? Because they are at least as interested in pursuing trades as they are in signing free agents, and that takes time. For the past two offseasons, the Mets’ initial business has been obvious: In 2011, they had to deal with Jose Reyes, and last year, they had to sign David Wright and decide whether to...
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Early Tuesday morning, Buster Olney reported that the Los Angeles Angels would be willing to trade Mark Trumbo or Peter Bourjos in exchange for pitching. Angels beat writer Alden Gonzalez also includes infielders Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar as pieces the Halos would deal for pitching. This is a road that the Mets have been down before and an actively debated one among Mets fans. While I’m not...
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On Thursday, the MLB Network announced that they’ve hired Ron Darling as an analyst for the 2013-2014 Hot Stove Season. Darling, fresh off his stint as a postseason analyst for TBS, has become a very hot commodity in the broadcast world. His savvy insights and keen intellect serve him well as an analyst and he always comes off looking like the smartest guy in the booth. The two-time Emmy...
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Second baseman Mark Ellis and left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano became free agents Thursday as the Dodgers declined to exercise their options for next season. The steady-fielding Ellis became expendable when the Dodgers signed Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero to a four-year, $28-million contract. Guerrero is expected to replace Ellis at second base. Ellis, 36 and a Gold Glove finalist, batted...
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