It’s mock draft time, or has been for awhile, but anyway, the latest for both Baseball America’s John Manuel and former Baseball America’s and current mlb.com’s Jim Callis are live. John Manuel Jim Callis Manuel has the Astros taking Brady Aiken first, followed by Alex Jackson to the Marlins, Tyler Kolek to the White Sox and Carlos Rodon to the …
Yoan Moncada: The Next Great Cuban Defector?
Since it has become socially acceptable to speculate on which Cuban great will be the next to play in the Major Leagues, allow me to throw in my two cents: Yoan Moncada. Unlike Alfredo Despaigne’s case, there’s good reason to think it could happen soon. Yoan Manuel Moncada is a switch-hitting second-basemen who played for Cienfuegos alongside Jose Abreu and …
Alfredo Despaigne Returns to Cuba
In the past week, there have been rumblings about Cuban outfielder Alfredo Despaigne possibly playing in the United States. None of it makes much sense. Despaigne is one of the best players in Cuba. He’s a short outfielder with an extremely quick bat, a corner outfielder who could probably play regularly in majors. Last year, Despaigne started playing in Mexico …
Javier Baez OK after leaving yesterday’s game
Javier Baez hit a grounder to shortstop yesterday and landed awkwardly on 1st base. He left the game and we were told by Hawk and Stone it could be career altering. They're full of shit and it's good to hear Baez is doing OK with just a bruise to his heel. “It’s happened before,” Baez said Saturday. “I can’t wear …
Starlin Castro out 7-10 with hamstring injury
Starlin Castro will be sidelined for the next 7 to 10 days after suffering a hamstring injury yesterday. The good news is that rather than getting an extended glimpse at Javier Baez playing shortstop, the Cubs may go with Emilio Bonifacio and Darwin Barney. How excited are you now? I'm sure we'll see Baez at shortstop, but I'd hope he'd …
Mets, Red Sox, Others Interested in Cuban Defector Ernesto Molinet
Ernesto Molinet is a 29 year-old first baseman who defected at some point after the 2013 Cuban National Series. Like Daniel Carbonell, Molinet's defection has mainly gone unnoticed in the press. Even Spanish-language accounts are difficult to find. Someone needs to direct his agent to Jesse Sanchez's twitter account. It's possible that Molinet "retired" early in Cuba and received permission to travel …
Mike Olt says his vision is OK now
The Cubs are hoping Mike Olt can, at some point, take over 3rd base and put up some of the impressive numbers he did prior to 2013. He had a horrible season in the minor leagues last year and it's been blamed on a vision problem that he had after a concussion last winter. He says he's fine now. “I …
More Jeff Samardzija trade rumors
I thought the Jeff Samardzija trade rumors were put to sleep for at least a few months, but Gordo is back with more of them. Last we knew was that he had two years left on his contract, the two sides remained at a standstill with regards to a contract extension and that he probably wouldn't be traded before the …
Yankees, Blue Jays Interested in Cuban Defector Daniel Carbonell
Last October, center fielder Daniel Carbonell Arredondo and infielder Orlando Perez Darias defected from Cuba. As far as I can tell, their defection has yet to be reported in the American press. Carbonell played for Camaguey in the Cuban National Series from the 2009-10 season through ’12-13. He was suspended last August prior to his successful defection. Carbonell is currently residing in …
There Will Not Be an International Draft Until 2017 (At Least)
The articles I cited earlier today reference the Yankees' fear that an international draft will be instituted soon, and that it's driving their current desire to sign everyone. ESPN NY: The Yankees are apparently willing to take the financial plunge because of fears baseball will soon institute an international draft similar to its amateur domestic draft, an area in which the Yankees have …