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.

Brandon McCarthy seeks to re-establish himself in Braves rotation

“If I’m on the training table today, nobody’s going to come talk to you. Nobody cares how long you’ve been around; you have to be out there, you have to be with them, you have to be pitching. They have to know that you’re going through the same things that they’re going through. Being available, being healthy is a big part of it, and I don’t have enough of a person to come out the other way, where you can just lead through any situation.

“I’ve got to be functional, I’ve got ...

Jeter lieutenant confident Marlins can be ‘great’ again | New York Post

Captain’s Camp has been instituted with the Marlins just like the Yankees, with Denbo pointing to the all-around success of young players like Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, saying of the catcher, “He developed not only his baseball skills, his mental skills, his personal skills so that he learned how to compete and all of a sudden he showed up in New York, going from a guy who had a lot to learn about the game to a guy that was dominating the game. Greg Bird is the same kind of guy he was ...

Joplin-based professional baseball team taking name submissions

President of Ventura Sports Group, Wayne Schuster, says they are looking for a team name that is unique, represents Joplin’s history, and that will create a mascot who local children can embrace. Schuster says they’ve already received more than 200 name submissions and will continue to receive them until March 15th.

This is apparently a team in the Southwest League, a new league planning to start play in 2019. Joplin has had pro teams before: the Miners and the Blasters, as well as a college ...

DII baseball: Former Cy Young winner Jack McDowell begins a new era at Queens (NC)

So, how did the Stanford graduate and former west coast guy wind up on the small Charlotte, N.C. campus at Queens?

“I married a Wilmington [N.C.] girl,” McDowell said. “We moved here about six years ago. I found out through a friend of mine that Queens was starting up a baseball program. I live a half a mile from the campus, so I contacted them. Our Athletic Director, Cherie Swarthout, told me, ‘thanks for your interest, but we’re not looking to add baseball at this time.’ I was ...

Ex-A’s right-hander Jarrod Parker retires after career derailed by injuries

At just 29, Jarrod Parker is officially retiring from the game in which he fought so hard to stay after two hideous elbow injuries. He told The Chronicle this week that all that remains is the paperwork.

“I’m not entertaining any offers, let’s put it that way,” Parker said. “I’m just working through the logistical stuff.”

Not surprising, but still kind of a shame. He was a hell of a pitcher before his elbow fell apart.

Padres pitcher Jose Torres facing domestic violence charges

Padres reliever Jose Torres was arrested in December after a dispute in which he allegedly brandished a semiautomatic handgun.

The incident occurred in the home Torres shares with his wife in Phoenix and is being handled as a domestic violence case, according to court documents.

According to the probable cause statement contained in the court report, Torres knocked a door off its hinges and punched a hole in another door. He also pointed the gun at the victim, according to the report.

Torres ...

Rays pitchers Chris Archer, Brent Honeywell to each other: Put up and shut up

I heard Honeywell interview on MLB Radio this winter. He definitely sounds like he’s going to be a tough clubhouse presence. If he pitches as well as he’s capable, though, his teammates will deal with him.

This, eventually, may be a love story.

But even in expressing affection for the other on a Wednesday celebrating the two-in-one holiday of spring training opening and Valentine’s Day, current Rays top starter Chris Archer and potential future ace Brent Honeywell tossed more than verbal ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-14-2018

Bridgeport Times, February 14, 1918:

Before moving New York’s big baseball show from the Waldorf to the Walcott the National League went on record yesterday as condemning the practice of certain club owners in announcing that they have intentions of buying certain star players from certain other clubs.

This, of course, was aimed at Charles F. Weeghman, president of the Chicago club, for his alleged announcement in the case of Rogers Hornsby, the star shortstop of the St. Louis Cardinals.
... ...

Matt Kemp excited to be back with Dodgers

It’s all made up! Will he make it to the Opening Day roster?

“People make up things,” Kemp said. “If you ask the guys in this clubhouse I played with, I’ve never been a troublemaker. I don’t know where that came from. I don’t think the guys I played with have ever had a problem with me. People can make up what they want to think.

“If I have one regret from my first time here, it’s that I resisted moving to left field. You live and learn. It’s good to be back here. I got a whole new outlook on ...

Diamondbacks on track to unveil humidor in 2018

University of Illinois physics professor emeritus Alan Nathan estimated last year in a study published online by The Hardball Times that the Diamondbacks’ humidor could make an even bigger impact than at Coors Field, in part because the average relative humidity in Phoenix is far lower than in Denver.“I am very comfortable saying that, with the humidor running at 50 percent and 70 degrees, there will a reduction in home run production at Chase by 25 to 50 percent,”

So I’m guessing JD ...

Rosenthal: Welcome to our expanded coverage of major league baseball – The Athletic

I have occasionally posted stuff from The Athletic over the last few months. Sorry to tell the people who haven’t jumped on-board yet but I’ll probably be posting more stuff going forward. They just have too much talent to ignore.

I see local sportswriters lamenting the loss of newspaper jobs due to the Internet. Although I feel for them, the classic newspaper model is dying. The old classified ad cash cow is pretty much dead and it’s not coming back. People also just don’t buy newspapers ...