Big-money James? | FOX Sports

The talk of Shields and $100 million does not mean that he indeed will land such a deal. Third baseman Chase Headley reportedly received a four-year, $65 million offer from an unidentified club early in free agency but wound up re-signing with the Yankees for four years, $52 million.
Some executives, in fact, say they would be surprised if Shields topped $100 million, considering he is 33 and perhaps due for regression coming off eight straight 200-inning seasons.

The Giants must move Tim Lincecum to the bullpen - Beyond the Box Score

Is it time for the Freak to move to the pen?

MLB Hall of Fame 2015: How I filled out my ballot ...

Right off that bat I ruled out five listed players whom I’m 100 percent sure cheated – slugging greats Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Gary Sheffield and Sammy Sosa, and pitcher Roger Clemens, who won a record seven Cy Youngs…

My final cuts, in this order, were Alan Trammell, Carlos Delgado, Edgar Martinez, Larry Walker, Don Mattingly, Jeff Kent, Mike Mussina, Tim Raines and Lee Smith…

Cobb responds to Braves bonds appeal | www.myajc.com

$400 million for a baseball stadium.

Lawyers for Cobb County government say their plan to borrow nearly $400 million for the new Atlanta Braves stadium without a public vote is legal, because the bond issuance isn’t considered “debt within the meaning of the Georgia Constitution.”

Grant: Only thing HOF voters can be sure of is fans will be critical of their ballots | Dallas Morning News

Touchy, touchy.

According to the Internet — and the Internet is never wrong — I am part of one of the most despised official electorates in the country.

Toronto Blue Jays, catchers around MLB left confused, frustrated: Why plate-blocking rule is already ripe for overhaul | National Post

Block THIS!

Trade returns could have Braves sitting pretty | MLB.com

John Hart’s off-season work.

Haren not intending on joining Marlins « The Fish Pond

Dan Haren has informed the Marlins that his preference remains to pitch out West, and for a team that has Spring Training in Arizona. The 34-year-old California native had been weighing his options sinced he was traded to Miami from the Dodgers on Dec. 10.

If Miami cannot work out a trade, it is not clear yet if the 12-year big league veteran will retire.

Haren’s decision does not change the terms of the deal.

Giolito discusses 2014, his future in Q&A

An interview with the next big thing.

Johnson has high potential on and off the field | whitesox.com

Micah Johnson has big plans.

Yankees finally have the prospects to make something happen | FOX Sports

Ken Rosenthal thinks the Yankees are on the upswing.

School of Roch: Rasmus, Aoki and Ethier still among Orioles’ outfield options

Roch Kubatko runs through some Orioles outfield options.

Gray Area: Inside the Mafia-Run World of Baseball Match-Fixing in Taiwan | VICE Sports

Is he worth signing?

Last week, reports surfaced that the Los Angeles Dodgers were close to signing Tsao, now 33, to a minor league contract—a transaction that would hardly be notable if not for the fact that Tsao hasn’t pitched professionally since that 2009 season in Taiwan, a result of having been named in a match-fixing scandal in his home country. Tsao was banned for life from the CPBL despite a Taiwanese court having acquitted him of any charges.

Sunday Notes: Players as Fans, High School or College, Andruw Jones, more | FanGraphs Baseball

David Lauria’s latest.

Jerry Green: Hall of Fame voting is serious business

So Jerry Green didn’t vote for John Smoltz because of (wait for it)...Jack Morris!

Green Ballot: Craig Biggio, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Mark McGwire, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Gary Sheffield and Alan Trammell.

It must be noted that I did not vote for John Smoltz, who is likely to make it.

Again, these votes involve personal opinion. I do not consider any of my votes to be frivolous.

Smoltz won 213 games, mostly as a starting pitcher, and saved 154 as a ...

Schilling, Mussina better than Smoltz

The Schilling and Mussina vs. Smoltz debate has hit mainstream!

Tiger Tales: A Detroit Tigers Blog: Tigers Infield Worst in MLB in Preventing Hits On Ground Balls

Lee Panas looks at the Tigers infield defense.

Sabermetrics: Past, Present and Future « Talkin’ Softball

A somewhat recent and incomplete history of sabermetrics.

Evaluating the Prospects: San Diego Padres | FanGraphs Baseball

The first look I’ve seen about the impact of the Padres trades on their farm system.

What the Padres Have, and Might Have, in Brandon Maurer | FOX Sports

Given that Maurer was all but finished as a starter in Seattle, there’s no guarantee he can start with San Diego. He might simply not be up for it, or he might simply not be able to achieve a sufficient level of consistency. If Maurer can’t start, he can relieve, and he can relieve well, in a prominent role. But if Maurer can start? The A’s didn’t think Ross could start. Ross is, today, a big reason why the Padres think they could field a 2015 playoff team. The Padres no longer had much of a ...

A look at Zobrist and MLB’s best utility players. | SportsonEarth.com : Paul Casella Article

Hanley Ramirez isn’t a utility player. It’s silly to list him as one.

Hanley Ramirez, Red Sox

Ramirez is a newcomer to this category. He has spent nearly his entire career at shortstop, playing 1,077 games at the position, while making only 98 appearances elsewhere—all at third base. That, however, didn’t stop the Red Sox from listing him as a left fielder after signing him to a four-year, $88 million contract this offseason.

It remains to be seen how exactly Ramirez will fare in the outfield, ...

Here’s Why Gary Sheffield Will Never Be Elected to the Hall of Fame

He may have looked like “The Natural” when he debuted as a 19-year old with the Brewers, but in the end too much of what Sheffield accomplished came about in “unnatural” ways.

Two quibbles with Bill Deane’s HOF election predictions

Apparently, Neyer believes that one or more of Johnson, Martinez, or Biggio used.

10 problems with Jose Canseco’s predictions for 2015

4. @BarackObama wins lead role in new NBC sitcom Old Urkel

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) January 2, 2015

Problem: The rights to Family Matters were originally owned by ABC, then CBS bought them. No way is that valuable series being sold to NBC. Sorry, not happening.

5. Peace in middle east. Israel accepts trade of 200 miles of Ocean for West Bank Palestine nation. Jerusalem new UN city state

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) January 2, 2015

Problem: Peace in the Middle East would be amazing, ...

MLB’s most interesting people in ‘15

Which executives, managers and players will drive the MLB narrative in the coming season? Here’s a look at the 15 most interesting people in baseball heading into 2015:

1. Rob Manfred
After an extended run as Bud Selig’s most trusted aide, Manfred takes center stage in late January as baseball’s 10th commissioner. He’ll try to maintain the momentum that has made baseball a $9 billion industry while setting an agenda on pace of play, changes in the draft and free-agent compensation system, and ...

The crowded Hall of Fame ballot - Beyond the Box Score

By the numbers.

Melotticus Presents - The Atlanta Braves Top 20 Prospects - Minor League Ball

A look at the Braves top prospects. Rather than using stars for the ratings, it would be better is the writer used the standard 20-80 scouting scale.

Kearns’ full life defined by more than baseball | mariners.com

A nice look at the life of scout Bill Kearns.

Here’s 10 picks for Hall of Fame | Boston Herald

John Tomase Tweeted his article with this lead in.

In my final column for the Boston Herald, I reveal my Hall of Fame ballot, so the Internet can tell me I’m a moron.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-2-2015

Chicago Eagle, January 2, 1915:

Thirty-five deaths and 918 injuries were caused by baseball during 1914, according to figures made public by a sport writer who kept a tabulation of the season’s records.

Of the players who died from injuries 20 were hit by pitched balls, five were struck by bats, four were in collisions, four overexerted themselves, one was hurt sliding into a base, and one was killed in a fight.

Injuries to amateur players are classified as follows: Broken limbs, 314; ...