Saturday Rockpile: Several young Rockies participating in Venezuelan League, more
Purple Row —
... Franklin Morales, Jhoulys Chacin, Edgmer Escalona, Carlos Gonzalez, Daniel Mayora, and Kenny Perez are all representing the Rockies' organization there.
Chacin pitched yesterday and struggled through four innings, getting just 34 of 59 pitches over the plate and allowing two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two. In the same update, Carvajal also mentions that Morales almost surely will be used as a starting pitcher.
Buster Olney blog -- MLB -- This winter's large, lackluster free-agent market likely will be flooded ...
Olney On Potential Non-Tenders And Bradley
MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com —
In today's blog post at ESPN.com, Buster Olney indicates that there is belief among general managers that the "financial restructuring that has been occurring across the landscape is about to hit the arbitration-level players like a tidal wave." He mentions underperforming, but well paid players like Garrett Atkins and Kelly ...
Milton Bradley And Vernon Wells – Not Untradeable If They’re Swapped For Each Other
Can't Stop The Bleeding —
(Cubs GM Jim Hendry and Milton Bradley, back before they got to know each other)
When Buster Olney floats the possibility of an (admittedly unlikely) Oliver Perez-for-Milton Bradley swap. the circumstances are rather obvious ; the only way the Cubs will be able to <strike>jettison an obvious scapegoat </strike> escape their contractual obligations to their tempermental outfielder is if they take on an equally brutal salary in exchange. The Toronto Sun’s Bob Elliot quotes one unnamed Cubs insider as saying there’s some truth to rumors of a Bradley-for-Vernon Wells discussion (”"It’s early on, ...
A Few Odds and Ends
Palm Ball NW/Bleeding Blue and Teal —
Aroldis Chapman and Felix Hernandez
Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune:
The Aroldis Chapman market is going to be interesting to judge. The Mariners are the latest team to jump seriously into the bidding, possibly hoping to have another front-line arm so they can deal Felix Hernandez before he reaches free agency.
Rogers must have had a hard time figuring out how to open his article, because this is just stupid. The Mariners wouldn’t go after Chapman as a replacement for King Felix. The Mariners are kicking the tires on Chapman because he’s a good prospect, and good ...
Morning Prowl: 40-Man Roster Decisions, Placido Polanco's Market Value, and Van Slyke's Replacement
Bless You Boys —
... trade rumors (that have since been shot down), Buster Olney lists 10 bad contracts teams are carrying that could be a match for Bradley. One of them is a ...
