Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-20-2018

Bridgeport Times, February 20, 1918:

Clark Griffith yesterday received a contribution to his bat and ball fund from the Juno Islands, the most outlying possession of the United States. The Junos came under Uncle Sam’s protection with the Philippines. The money was cabled by a company of United States marines who are stationed there. They said: “We civilized these cannibals with baseball. Accept this to help civilize Germany.”

I’m not saying this isn’t true. I’m just saying I can’t seem to find ...

Arizona Diamondbacks set to sign Jarrod Dyson | MLB.com

I’m a little surprised the Giants didn’t sign him.

A baseball source has confirmed the deal is worth $7.5 million [two years], and a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that Dyson’s deal includes performance bonuses each year: $50,000 at 100 and 125 games played; and $50,000 each at 350, 400 and 450 plate appearances.

The Sabermetric Movement’s Forgotten Foremother - The Ringer

Her work was truly ground breaking. I learned about r.s.b in the middle 90’s and was a big fan of Defensive Average. Baseball lost a great mind when her interests and responsibilities took her away from the game.

“I thought DA was a very interesting system that advanced our understanding of defense during that time,” Tippett says via email. Before spending 13 years with the Red Sox, Tippett developed the computer baseball sim Diamond Mind, which relied on Defensive Average ratings for a few ...

J.D. Martinez reportedly has deal with Red Sox

Reportedly front-loaded at $25 million each of the first two years. The free agent market was held up for this?

The prolonged courtship of slugger J.D. Martinez has paid off for the Red Sox, as MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reported via sources that the sides have reached agreement on a five-year, $110 million contract that includes opt-outs after the second and third years of the deal.

MLB announces pace of play initiatives | MLB.com

I don’t see a pitch clock. Of course, they can just enforce the current rules.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-19-2018

Bridgeport Times, February 19, 1918:

An overseas professional baseball organization to be composed of six clubs and to be known as the Anglo-American League has been launched, according to W.A. Parsons, who was in [Bridgeport] yesterday on a hunt for players.
...
London, Paris and Brighton are sure of places in the league. Three clubs will be located at camps—with representation likely for Aix-les-Bains and Vichy, recreation centres for American troops. The league will play a five-month season, ...

For Yankees and Gleyber Torres, it’s about wins, not money | Newsday

We will see.

So do the math. If Torres’ major-league debut were delayed by 16 days or more, he would fall short of that critical full season, enabling the Yankees to squeeze an extra year from him before his salary begins to skyrocket through arbitration and then free agency.

For those in charge of talent compensation, such as general manager Brian Cashman, paying less for a longer period of time would seem to be the optimal course of action, as the Cubs did with Kris Bryant in 2015.

And yet ...

OTP 19 February 2018: Does Buster Posey Have a Post-playing Career in Politics?

Buster Posey is one of the most accomplished catchers in baseball history. At 30 years old, he already has a Hall of Fame resume.

In eight full seasons with the Giants, Posey has won National League Rookie of the Year, NL MVP, four Silver Slugger awards, a Gold Glove, and is a five-time All-Star. While he still has plenty of years left, Posey has naturally thought a bit about what he would like to do once his playing days are done.

But, politics? Well, kind of.

Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson Thinks Tim Tebow Will Play in the Major Leagues

Tim Tebow could be playing baseball at the highest level in the Mets organization sooner than many expected.

Position players, pitchers and catchers are already in Port St. Lucie, Fla. and if it hasn’t already joined them, Tebowmania is sure to be coming their way as well. On Sunday, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said he thinks Tebow “will play in the Major Leagues,” according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Huntington reacting to Josh Harrison wanting the Pirates to show they’re committed to winning.

Players play.

Neal Huntington reacting to Josh Harrison wanting the Pirates to show they’re committed to winning.

Complete coverage at @DKPghSports https://t.co/Z6lrWCZKJG pic.twitter.com/Xlq4j806Wd

— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) February 18, 2018

Eric Hosmer surprised Red Sox didn’t pursue him | The Kansas City Star

His actions don’t match Marrero’s info. If he really believed in himself and wanted to play for a contender, he would have signed a three- or four-year deal with a contender for a higher AAV. Hosmer’s priority, though, was clearly getting the most guaranteed money. I don’t begrudge him for it but, in the short term at least, he’ll be playing in a lot of meaningless games.

Now, the overall dollars on the deal aren’t bad. $21 million a year for five years then $39 million over the last three ...

Twins trade for Jake Odorizzi | MLB.com

The Twins took a major step toward solidifying their rotation late Saturday night, acquiring right-hander Jake Odorizzi from the Rays for shortstop prospect Jermaine Palacios, the club announced.

Padres, Eric Hosmer agree to terms

The Padres got their man.

The team and free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer have agreed to a deal, two sources said Saturday night.

The average annual value of the eight-year deal is $18 million, the largest monetary commitment in Padres history.

The Padres had said they would be creative. The $144-million contract is believed to be front-loaded, which might make the opt-out more attractive for Hosmer.

OT - 2017-18 NBA thread (All-Star Weekend to End of Time edition)

I estimate only 10-12 Primates care about the NBA, none of whom can be bothered to curate their own thread to avoid detracting from what this site is really about:  eliminationist rhetoric and precognition.

Rob Manfred Might Have Just Made a Mistake | FanGraphs Baseball

Pfft.

And can we stop with the talk about disbanding the MLBPA. Do you know who would get hurt by such an irresponsible action? EVERYBODY!

Jason Vargas, Mets agree to two-year deal

The New York Mets and starting pitcher Jason Vargas have reached agreement on a two-year, $16 million deal, a source confirmed to ESPN on Friday.

The deal, which is pending a physical, includes a club option for 2020, an MLB source told ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-16-2018

Harrisburg Telegraph, February 16, 1918:

Rumors of an important deal affecting the New York and Detroit American League clubs were current to-day following a lengthy conference between Miller Huggins, the new Yankee manager, and Frank Navin, president of the Detroit club. It was generally believed that the deal involved the transfer of “Ty” Cobb to the New York club. It is understood that President Ruppert, of the New York club, would be willing to pay a price never heretofore spent for a ball ...

Red Sox Speak Out Against WEEI

After saying that some of the station’s opinions were “offensive and out of line” last year (a statement that received criticism from WEEI hosts), the Boston Red Sox are once again expressing their displeasure with their flagship radio broadcaster. President and CEO Sam Kennedy said the team had a “growing level of concern” with WEEI, and also claimed the seemingly neverending parade of incidents that get people riled up was “exhausting,” per the Boston Herald.

WEEI has been ...

Source: Red Sox, Eduardo Nunez agree to deal

The Red Sox have agreed to a deal with super-utility man Eduardo Nunez, pending a physical, a source told MLB.com on Thursday.

The Red Sox, sticking with team policy for uncompleted free-agent negotiations, have not confirmed the deal. The length of the contract is unknown.

Cardinals needing more sleep

Reset the alarm clocks and hit the snooze button for an extra hour of sleep, practice has been moved back for the St. Louis Cardinals.

“That’s not necessarily so we can get a later dinner reservation,” explained Mike Matheny this morning. “As we went through our sleep trackers last year, our guys were getting less than seven hours of sleep a night–seven good hours on an average. That’s just not enough for what we’re asking of them once they come out here, especially after we ...

Chase Utley’s Role Continues Changing

Plus he gives a great World Series parade speech.

Utley’s upside is the “clubhouse presence” he brings, as has been widely reported since he first showed up in LA in mid-2015. As a should-be Hall of Famer, Utley possesses “gravitas and dedication that rubs off on his teammates,” which might be expected of a 39-year-old with his 16-year resume. Six trips to the All-Star Game and a World Series ring are highlights on his reel. With those days gone, his role will likely revolve making ...

‘I Need a Miracle Every Day’: Jake Peavy Picks Up Pieces of a Shattered Life | Bleacher Report

“When you’re in the baseball world, you’re in a bubble,” Peavy says, speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully on this chilly January morning. “You get to where the San Francisco Giants’ baseball game that day is the biggest thing in the world.

“There’s a lot of life going on around you that you can be blind to if you’re not careful.”

Two days into San Francisco’s 2016 spring training camp, the bubble burst: Peavy learned that a financial advisor to whom he had entrusted his retirement ...

Orioles sign Cashner to two-year, $16 million deal (updated) - School of Roch

The Orioles now have three confirmed starting pitchers.

The club has reached agreement with right-hander Andrew Cashner on a two-year contract worth a guaranteed $16 million, according to multiple sources. The deal is done and the club is expected to announce it shortly.

Cashner joins a rotation that includes Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. One spot is expected to be filled internally.

The contract includes a $10 million vesting option for 2020 if he totals 360 innings over the next two ...

Marcus Stroman Unhappy After Losing Arbitration Case

Players shouldn’t be shocked by the process. I’d blame the agent.

If you get more than 50% on this impossible quiz, you’re a throwback MLB expert | MLB.com

I got 9/10. Missed #4. Darn it.

Tigers’ Wood nearly lost finger in crossbow misshap

Manager Ron Gardenhire couldn’t resist.

When he found out that left-hander Travis Wood had nearly split the index finger on his right hand in two in a crossbow malfunction, he quipped, “He’s got a split-finger pitch now.”

Dave Dombrowski: ‘Names of prominence’ may become available by trade

“I go out every morning, I have a cup of coffee, I sit at a Dunkin Donuts and I bet you I have about 10 people a day that talk to me,” Dombrowski said. “It’s really split. So your pulse, you must hear that and probably that’s a louder voice but people are very supportive: don’t do anything if you think it’s unwise.”

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-15-2018

[Mount Vernon, Ohio] Democratic Banner, February 15, 1918:

There is one prominent hoarder in Detroit, who doesn’t care who knows it. His name is Charles Navin and his father, Frank, owns the Detroit baseball club. Charles is the secretary of the team and he is vigorously on the scent of the cent. He is collecting pennies by the quart.

Secretary Navin has a good reason for his activity. There will be a war tax of eight cents on baseball passes this season and a tax of ten percent on paid ...

Tito Francona, a Former Baseball All-Star, Dies at 84

Tito Francona, a former All-Star who played for 15 seasons in the major leagues and was the father of Terry Francona, the Cleveland Indians’ manager, died on Tuesday night at his home in New Brighton, Pa. He was 84.

Phillies 3B Maikel Franco eyes bounce-back year in 2018

It started with getting in better shape. Team officials told him he needed to do so, “but I knew it, too,” he said. He has reported to camp early. His midsection is noticeably trimmer and his upper body looks strong. His weight, he said, is between 218 and 220 pounds. He ended last season at 232.