Astros To Acquire Evan Gattis

Oh, Rio, Rio, dance away from the Rio Grande.

The Astros have reportedly agreed to acquire Braves catcher/outfielder Evan Gattis. In return, Atlanta will acquire a trio of prospects: righties Michael Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman as well as third baseman Rio Ruiz.

For Houston, it is not entirely clear how the team would use Gattis… Gattis stepped things up with a .263/.317/.493 line and 22 long balls last year in 401 turns at bat.

Of course, Gattis also comes with an attractive contractual ...

Royals, Ned Yost agree to one-year contract extension: ‘That’s all I wanted,’ he says

The longest-tenured manager in Kansas City Royals history wound through the terrain of Georgia on Tuesday afternoon, headed for a familiar destination. Earlier in the day, the Royals solidified his standing in the organization in the form of a contract extension through 2016. Now he was bound for his friend Jeff Foxworthy’s property to indulge in the final days of deer-hunting season.

Hollywood Reporter: TV Broadcaster Challenges MLB’s Secret $25 Million Deal With Washington Nationals

The motion to vacate the arbitration ruling is largely premised on the role that Proskauer Rose played. The law firm represented the Nationals during the arbitration, but allegedly has conflicts — it has been involved in many MLB matters including the antitrust lawsuit over TV deals that is about to be presented to the 2nd Circuit. It represented the Mets in the Bernie Madoff affair, the Tampa Bay Rays in salary disputes with players, and much more.

In fact, on Monday, MASN told the judge ...

Countdown of the best 25 GMs - #23

For the 32 seasons before John Hart was promoted to general manager in September 1991, the Cleveland Indians never finished closer than 11 games from first in a full season.  And they certainly didn’t appear to be making progress; in 1991 the team lost 105 games, finished last in the league in runs and ninth in runs allowed, and drew the fewest fans in the league for the third year in row.  Hart had his work cut out for him.

The ‘Parks and Recreation’ premiere had another baseball-themed Easter egg

Last season, Parks and Recreation tickled baseball nerds by introducing the law firm of Babip, Pecota, Vorp, and Eckstein. This season, it has grown:

Wright vows to make up for last season during intense training program | New York Post

He’s in the best shape of his life!™

Pace of game on agenda at this week’s baseball owners’ meetings - Newsday

I hope nobody gets arrested at the party.

This week’s quarterly meetings for the 30 MLB owners will double as a retirement party for Bud Selig, whose 23-year tenure as commissioner officially ends Jan. 25.

The sabr law firm made another appearance on “Parks and Recreation” last night | HardballTalk

Winshares?

Hey Duda. The death spiral of relative values. | Rotoman’s Guide

This article is making me tier up.

Toronto Blue Jays want grass in the Rogers Centre: An inside look at the difficult growth process it requires | National Post

It’s really isn’t simple.

New Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh expects big year from Chris Davis - Baltimore Sun

Chris Davis is a good buy-low candidate.

“There were times when he hit [a bunch of] home runs in a month and hit .360, and it was like, this guy’s like Babe Ruth compared to Triple-A. I know it’s the minor leagues, but I’ve seen it on the baseball field, so when he hit 50-plus home runs, it wasn’t like, ‘Wow.’ And I don’t expect it every time, either, but at the same time, it’s something he’s capable of doing.”

While he understands that his connection with Davis will be a storyline, Coolbaugh ...

Document from ‘45 for sale, dismisses black baseball players - NY Daily News

The document, submitted by Yankee president Larry MacPhail to a committee appointed by New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1945 to study baseball’s color line, said black athletes simply didn’t have what it takes to play in the big leagues.

“There are few, if any, negro players who could qualify for play in the major leagues at this time. A major league player must have something besides natural ability,” MacPhail’s report said just two years before Robinson led the Dodgers to ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-14-2015

Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss quoted in the Pittsburgh Press, January 14, 1915:

“If Rube [Waddell] were living, he could go on the [witness] stand and swear that he was once traded for a Pittsburg stogie. Yes, it’s true.

“Rube was with the Pirates at the time, and we were tired of him. Clarke gave him to Chicago, and he came to the office to see me about it. He said he was perfectly willing to go to the Windy City, but he wanted half of the purchase money.

“‘Here, take it all, Rube,’ said I, ...

Changes coming to MLBPA agent certification | FOX Sports

I am not sure I get the bachelor degree requirement. What if a former player, who has MLBPA and CBA knowledge and experience, decides he wants to be an agent? He can’t? Does Dave Stewart have a degree?

But policing these rules has been a difficulty. Despite clearly stated rules that a bachelor degree is required for certification, there’s a high-profile agent that has recently been outed as lacking that all-important section on his resume. Perhaps he has demonstrated “sufficient knowledge” to be ...

Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart says he won’t add a catcher

From what I saw in AFL games, O’Brien has a long way to go to become a major league catcher.

After saying last week the Diamondbacks would be comfortable going into the season with their current catchers if a better option didn’t present itself, General Manager Dave Stewart took it a step further Tuesday, saying the club will not make an addition, in large part because of the development of prospect Peter O’Brien.

“I’ve decided that I’m not going to pursue another catcher,” Stewart said. “I ...

2015 FAN Projections! | FanGraphs Baseball

Here’s your chance to join the Fangraph’s human projection system and find out how it feels to be part of the machine.

Boston Red Sox may have to sell low on Jackie Bradley Jr. | masslive.com

The false urgency some writers try and project onto teams is seemingly everywhere. The Red Sox don’t *need* to do anything with Bradley this year. Doing so would be trading low on him. He can play in Pawtucket or make the team as a 4th/5th outfielder this year. The team can decide what to do with him in the future.

It’s too bad the Red Sox don’t have any room for him. He’ll show up to spring training and say that he’s fighting for a spot on the major league roster, that he has to show ...

Beyond the hot foot: Enjoy 10 of the greatest clubhouse pranks in MLB history | MLB.com

Baseball players have a lot of downtime.

Still no Angels in the Baseball Hall of Fame

“We don’t lose sleep over it,” said Mead, vice president for communications and a former assistant general manager. “But it would be nice to go to Cooperstown and see the A. That day will come.”

The day came for another early 1960s expansion team, the Houston Astros, when Craig Biggio was elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Biggio will be the first player to wear an Astros cap on his plaque, a long wait for a team that joined the majors in 1962, as the Colt .45s.

The Angels are ...

Charlie Day Says Wade Boggs’ Incredible Drinking Ability Has Been Grossly Underreported

LORD PALMERSTON!

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia finally makes its triumphant return tomorrow night, and since we’ve already over-analyzed the season ten episode titles and teaser clips, we know that the first episode, “The Gang Beats Boggs,” involves the gang attempting to beat Wade Boggs’ record of drinking an impressive 60+ beers on a cross-country flight.

Promoting the season premiere, Charlie Day stopped by The Tonight Show last night and revealed to Jimmy Fallon that they ...

Five reasons the Mets should sign Yoan Moncada

Reasons any team should sign Yoan Moncada: 1) he has talent; and 2) they have money.

New Red Sox scouting director on lookout for next Kevin Youkilis - Sports - The Boston Globe

With the 7th pick in the 2013 draft, the Red Sox selected P Trey Ball. To this point, the pick is questionable. He’s still early in his development, though, so maybe this will work out for them.

Of course, Rikard won’t just be in charge of searching for hidden gems later in the draft. For the second time in three years — but just the third time in nearly half a century, thanks to their dismal 2014 season — the Sox hold one of the top 10 picks (No. 7) in this year’s draft.

“It’s an ...

Kill the win - Beyond the Box Score

I am quite fond of the win; l don’t want it killed. It’s like viewing an old picture from a faded beauty. She may not be what she once was but I still remember her affectionately.

Early 2015 MLB Draft Rankings - Minor League Ball

An early draft list.

Diamondbacks still interested in James Shields, despite tight budget

As for Shields, Stewart said he has spoken multiple times with his agent, Page Odle, to “work on groundwork.” Shields’ market has been murky, although there was a report last week of him receiving a five-year, $110 million offer. On Monday night, FOX Sports reported that offer came from a team with which Shields did not want to sign.

Stewart said he believes Shields likes what the Diamondbacks are doing as an organization.

“I think James is a throwback guy by the way he goes about his ...

Additional Benefits to Brewers Timeless Ticket Announced

Doug Melvin: “I decided a long time ago that I had to find an adult. A very rich, extravagant adult, to whom I could tell all my most precious roster-making secrets.”

The Timeless Ticket consists of a brass ticket personalized with an engraving of the owner’s name. Only 1,000 of the items will be produced… The cost of the ticket (which includes the brass engraved ticket and the actual ticket to the game of the owner’s choosing) is $1,000.

This unique opportunity allows the owner to redeem ...

Turning Back the Clock – The Hardball Times

Game length is a problem. I work. Staying up late to watch a game is something I just can’t do on a regular basis. It’s even worse going to the ballpark. When the game gets done around 10 PM, I’m home from Fenway about 11:00-11:30 PM. Add in an extra hour, though, and I’m struggling to get up in the morning.

There is one matter, though, that was a problem when Selig became acting commissioner, and has grown unchecked into something approaching a crisis. The game on the field is taking too long, ...

A Quick Attempted Measure of Team Depth | FanGraphs Baseball

This has been a subject I’ve been looking at recently. It seems like it’s the new in thing in team building. Can’t get great players? Stock your bench with really good backups to try to pick up extra value when injuries crop up.

So if you’ve been wondering why Steamer seems to like the Red Sox so much, depth is a huge reason. It’s not just the talent at the top of the roster. It’s that, when a starter isn’t playing, someone else pretty good should be playing. Most obviously, you can see ...

Sabathia expects to be healthy for Spring Training | MLB.com

Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, on the comeback trail from knee surgery, told the New York Daily News on Friday that he is experiencing no pain and expects to be ready for Spring Training. Sabathia was in New York attending a boxing event put on by Roc Nation Sports, the agency that represents him.

Diamondbacks Agree To Sign Yoan Lopez - BaseballAmerica.com

Cuban righthander Yoan Lopez has agreed to sign with the Diamondbacks for $8.25 million.

Lopez is 21, so he is subject to the international bonus pools. The Lopez signing puts the Diamondbacks well beyond their allotted pool space for the current 2014-15 signing period, which means that, along with a 100 percent tax on their pool overage, they will not be able to sign anyone for more than $300,000 for the next two signing periods, starting with the 2015-16 signing period that begins on July 2. ...