November 16th: On This Day

Posted on November 16, 2016 by dev@anthro.is

On this day in 1988, Jose Canseco was voted the 1st unanimous AL MVP since Reggie Jackson. Canseco was coming off an incredible year with the Oakland Athletics, with 187 hits, 124 RBIs, 42 home runs, and 40 stolen bases.

November 3rd: On This Day

Posted on November 3, 2016 by dev@anthro.is

On this day in 1987, the Oakland Athletics 1st baseman, Mark McGwire, won the AL Rookie of Year unanimously. During his rookie campaign, McGwire received an All-Star team nod and broke the MLB record for most home runs by a rookie with 49 HR.

McGwire would also finish sixth overall in the AL Most Valuable Player Award voting.

October 26th: On This Day

Posted on October 26, 2016 by dev@anthro.is

On this day in 2000, the New York Yankees defeated the New York Mets 4-2 in Game 5, putting the series at 4-1 to win their 3rd straight World Series championship. Derek Jeter was named the World Series MVP.

The Yankees were the first team in baseball to three-peat as champions since the 1972–1974 Oakland Athletics

August 22nd: On This Day

Posted on August 22, 2016 by dev@anthro.is

On this day in 1989, Nolan Ryan became the first major league pitcher to strike out 5,000 batters. Ryan got the strike out on a 3-2 pitch against Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics. After the strikeout, Ryan received a one minute, 25-second standing ovation from a sold outRangers crowd.

2016 MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: Lucroy Market Heating Up, Tigers Involved

Posted on July 28, 2016 by dev@anthro.is

The 2016 non-waiver trade deadline falls on August 1 this year, meaning it’s less than a week away now. We’ve already seen a handful of trades go down in recent weeks, most notably involving Aroldis Chapman, James Shields and Drew Pomeranz, and you can be sure many more are on the way.

To help you keep track of all the rumors and rumblings, we’ll log the day’s buzz right here, so make sure you check back often for the latest updates. Here’s a look back at Tuesday’s trade chatter.

Nationals looking for power

Update: 9:10 p.m. ET

OK, so this isn’t happening:

But it is noteworthy because while the Blue Jays obviously wouldn’t cough up Jose Bautista without a huge return that included immediate help to the big-league roster, this does illustrate that the Nationals want offensive help. Apparently they are ready to aim high and be bold about it, too.

Cubs have discussed Reddick

Update: 7:50 p.m. ET

A’s outfielder and free agent-to-be Josh Reddick is a prime trade candidate. We know Billy Beane’s A’s aren’t shy about dealing, and they are unlikely to re-sign Reddick this coming offseason. We also know that Reddick is an outstanding defender who is hitting .296/.373/.442 this season. And Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports that not only are the Cubs interested in Reddick, but that they have had talks with the A’s.

Morosi adds that the Indians, Dodgers and Giants are looking for outfield help, but only specified the Cubs when it came to Reddick.

Dodgers have interest in Davis

Update: 7:11 p.m. ET

Royals closer Wade Davis has arguably been baseball’s best relief pitcher for the past three seasons, and the Royals have a $10 million team option on him for next season, so it doesn’t seem overly likely that he’s traded. However, if they Royals get a huge package in return, maybe it would behoove them to move him. And if they do, the Dodgers would love to take him on, reports Jon Heyman.

The Dodgers already have a stud closer in Kenley Jansen, so this would be a knockout duo for the eighth and ninth innings.

Texas acquires Harrell, Alvarez

Update: 5:46 p.m. ET

The Rangers have acquired right-hander Lucas Harrell and lefty Dario Alvarez for minor league second baseman Travis Demeritte, both teams announced. Harrell and Alvarez are depth arms who will help the pitching-needy Rangers. Harrell can start, but Alvarez is a pure reliever. Demeritte, 21, is hitting .272/.352/.583 with 25 homers in 88 high Class A games. He played in the Futures Game over the All-Star break.

The deal continues the Braves‘ pattern of signing and flipping, writes CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder.

Lucroy talks intensifying

Update: 5:38 p.m. ET

According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, trade talks involving Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy are intensifying and offers are getting more serious. There’s momentum building towards trade prior to Monday’s deadline. Lucroy, 30, is hitting .301/.362/.486 (124 OPS+) with 13 home runs this season. His contract includes a no-brainer $5.25 million club option for 2017.

Detroit in on Lucroy

Update: 5:32 p.m. ET

The Tigers are among the teams that have talked to the Brewers about catcherJonathan Lucroy, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Detroit may not have the farm system depth to swing a trade for Lucroy, but you can’t blame them for trying. James McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia have combined to hit .202/.278/.356 on the season, so it’s easy to understand why the Tigers are looking to upgrade behind the plate.

M’s have reached out about Bruce

Update: 5:18 p.m. ET

The Mariners are among the teams to reach out to the Reds about outfielder Jay Bruce, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. Bruce homered in his fifth straight game Wednesday afternoon, so he is hot at exactly the right time. He’s doing a nice job boosting his trade value. Bruce came into Wednesday’s game hitting .271/.324/.567 (133 OPS+) with 24 homers in 94 games. His contract includes a $13 million club option for 2017.

SF keeping tabs on KC?

Update: 2:58 p.m. ET

The Giants are among the teams keeping tabs on various Royals players prior to the trade deadline, reports Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. Crasnick mentions Edinson Volquezand Wade Davis as possible targets. I’ll speculate that Luke Hochevar could be in the mix as well. Volquez and Hochevar will be free agents after the season.

Rays to keep starting pitchers?

Update: 2:49 p.m. ET

There is a “growing sense” the Rays will keep their young starters rather than trade them at the deadline, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. “I think they’ll take it to the offseason. They’ll get a lot of information now. They’ll find out who’s really serious, and then they’ll take the month of August to really scout that organization and see who they have a good fit with,” said a rival official to Crasnick. The Rays have rightiesChris Archer and Jake Odorizzi and lefties Matt Moore and Drew Smyly to market.

Phils want top prospect for Hellickson

Update: 2:40 p.m. ET

The Phillies want “one of your top five prospects” for righty Jeremy Hellickson, reports ESPN’s Jayson Stark. If no one meets their asking price, the team plans to keep him and make him the qualifying offer, ensuring they receive a draft pick if he leaves as a free agent after the season. Hellickson, 29, has a 3.65 ERA (112 ERA+) in 125 2/3 innings this season and just might be the best available starter on the market.

Sox still looking to add pitching

Update: 1:40 p.m. ET

Pitching help, specifically bullpen and back of the rotation depth, has been the focus of recent Red Sox trade talks, reports CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam. Boston has already added one starter (Drew Pomeranz) and one reliever (Brad Ziegler), but with three late-inning relievers on the DL (Craig Kimbrel, Koji Uehara, Carson Smith) and a revolving door of fourth and fifth starters, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

Several teams in on Pearce

Update: 12:19 p.m. ET

Several teams are in on Rays utility man Steve Pearce, including the Indians, reportsJoel Sherman of the New York Post. He is very likely to be dealt prior to Monday’s deadline. Pearce, 33, is hitting .313/.386/.530 (148 OPS+) with 11 doubles and 10 homers in 57 games around a hamstring injury this season. He can play first base and the two corner outfield spots, and be an emergency options at second and third as well. Pearce is on a one-year contract that will pay him $4.75 million in 2016.

SF still after Cashner

Update: 11:37 a.m. ET

The Giants are still in active trade talks with the Padres about righty Andrew Cashner, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com. Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto have been excellent all year, but Jeff Samardzija has struggled for a few weeks now, and veterans Jake Peavy and Matt Cain have been hit or miss (mostly miss) as the fourth and fifth starters. Cashner would provide some depth.

Shields a trade candidate?

Update: 11:34 a.m. ET

White Sox right-hander James Shields is available, reports Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. Shields has a 5.17 ERA (79 ERA+) in 10 starts and 55 2/3 innings with the ChiSox overall, but he threw 7 2/3 shutout innings against the Cubs on Tuesday (CHW 3, CHC 0), and has a 1.71 ERA in his last six starts and 42 innings. Also, the Padres are paying $22 million of the $42 million owed to Shields from 2017-18, so he’s not too expensive by veteran starter standards.

Nats still looking for bullpen help

Update: 9:25 a.m. ET

The Nationals are still looking for bullpen help after losing out on Aroldis Chapman, reports ESPN’s Jayson Stark. Jonathan Papelbon blew a two-run lead in Tuesday night’s walk-off loss (CLE 7, WAS 6). Stark says the Nationals are in on Andrew Miller,Wade Davis, and David Robertson, but the prices are prohibitive. Also, Washington does not want to surrender top prospects Lucas Giolito, Trea Turner, and Reynaldo Lopez.

Teams wanted to see Cashner pitch one more time

Update: 9:16 a.m. ET

Despite reports the Padres were closing in on a deal and were possibly going to trade Andrew Cashner prior to Tuesday’s start, he took the ball and held the high-powered Blue Jays to three runs in six innings (TOR 7, SD 6). Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says teams wanted to see Cashner pitch one more time before agreeing to a trade, which is why he started Tuesday. San Diego could conceivably have him make one more start (Sunday at home against the Reds) before Monday’s trade deadline, though that seems like all downside between the injury risk and the potential for a poor start.

Story provided by Eye on Baseball staff

Three Under-The-Radar Pickups Who Have Helped Cubs During Historic Start

Posted on May 9, 2016 by dev@anthro.is

Over the weekend the Cubs reaffirmed their dominance of the baseball world with a four-game sweep of the Nationals, who went into the series with baseball’s second best record at 19-8. Chicago is now 24-6 on the young season. Their +102 run differential is the best ever through 30 games.

The Cubbies are only the 10th team in history to win 24 of their first 30 games, and the first to do so since the 1984 Tigers started the season 26-4. Those other nine teams averaged 103 wins and five went on to win the World Series. Two others won the pennant. History says the Cubs are a serious World Series contender, but you didn’t need history to tell you that.

We all know how the Cubs acquired their cornerstone pieces. Jake Arrieta came over from the Orioles in what is already one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history. Jon Lester was signed as a big money free agent. Kris Bryant was the No. 2 pick in the draft. Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell were acquired in trades with the Padres and Athletics, respectively.

You don’t win 24 of your first 30 games by being a stars and scrubs team, however. The Cubs are so dominant because of their depth. They have stars and great role players. Many of those role players were easy to overlook at the time they were acquired, but they’re paying big dividends now. Here are three under-the-radar pickups who have helped the Cubs get to where they are.

The Player: Kyle Hendricks
Acquired: From Rangers with Christian Villanueva for Ryan Dempster in July 2012.

The Rangers acquired a starting pitcher from the Cubs at the trade deadline in both 2012 and 2013. In 2012 it was Dempster, and in 2013 it was Matt Garza. Chicago received a total of six young players in those two trades, and Hendricks is going to go down as the best rather easily.

The 26-year-old right-hander has made 50 starts with the Cubs over the last three seasons, and in those 50 starts he has a 3.45 ERA (112 ERA+) and a 1.12 WHIP in 289 1/3 innings. His +5.1 WAR since the start of 2014 ranks 52nd out of the 955 pitchers to face at least one batter in the big leagues. He’s been on par with guys like Carlos Martinez (+5.2), Tyson Ross(+5.1), and Francisco Liriano (+5.0).

Hendricks was never considered a top prospect because he doesn’t fit the mold of a top prospect. He was an 8th round pick in 2011 and his primary fastball, a sinker, has averaged only 87.9 mph according to PitchFX. Hendricks succeeds by mixing his sinker with a Bugs Bunny changeup:

Thanks to his ability to limit walks (career 2.0 BB/9), get ground balls (51.1 percent), and record a league average-ish number of strikeouts (7.4 K/9), Hendricks is an excellent back of the rotation starter for the Cubs behind their veteran horses, specifically Arrieta, Lester, and John Lackey.

The Player: Tommy La Stella
Acquired: From Braves for Arodys Vizcaino in November 2014.

La Stella, 27, is another player who was never a top prospect despite a career .320/.404/.471 batting line with more walks (143) than strikeouts (106) in 307 minor league games. He was an 8th round pick in 2011 and appeared to be a classic ‘tweener. A guy without enough defense for the middle infield and not enough pop for a corner.

The Braves gave La Stella a long look in 2014 — he hit .251/.328/.317 (84 OPS+) with one home run in 93 games — before shipping him to the Cubs after the season. With Chicago, La Stella has hit .307/.375/.509 (137 OPS+) with three home runs in 52 games, including .362/.444/.660 (189 OPS+) in the early going this season.

Between the bat and his solid defense at second and third base, La Stella has already been worth +1.2 WAR to the Cubs. He gives manager Joe Maddon the kind of versatility he loves too. These days La Stella is starting at third base against righties with Bryant sliding into the outfield. A lefty bat who can work the count and play multiple infield position sure is a nice bench piece.

Vizcaino, by the way, is an excellent reliever with the Braves. He has a 2.42 ERA (162 ERA+) with 12 saves and 73 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings for Atlanta. Both teams have walked away from this trade happy.

The Player: Pedro Strop
Acquired: From Orioles with Arrieta for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger in July 2013.

Strop was “the other guy” in the Arrieta trade and he’s almost certainly the biggest name among the three players in this post. He had a very nice year with the O’s in 2012 (173 ERA+), but he struggled big time early in 2013, pitching to a 7.25 ERA (57 ERA+) with 15 walks in 22 1/3 innings.

Like they did the Arrieta, the Cubs bought low on a live arm in Strop and hoped to get him back on track. It sure worked. With Chicago, the 30-year-old Strop has a 2.59 ERA (150 ERA+) with 213 strikeouts in 177 1/3 innings. Since 2014, his first full season in Chicago, he ranks 25th among all full-time relievers with +3.1 WAR. He’s right there with Koji Uehara(+3.2), Tyler Clippard (+3.1), and Cody Allen (+2.9).

This is going to go down as one of the most infamous and saddest sports tweets in Twitter history:

Arrieta has made that trade historically lopsided. (Feldman and Clevenger combined for +1.2 WAR with the O’s. Arrieta was worth roughly that in April alone.) Strop shouldn’t be forgotten though. He’s emerged as a dominant setup man the last three seasons.

Like every team, the Cubs are only going to go as far as their stars will take them. At the end of the day, players like Arrieta, Lester, Bryant, and Rizzo will do the heavy lifting and determine whether this club can snap the franchise’s 108-year championship drought come October.

That said, players like Hendricks, La Stella, and Strop should not be overlooked. They were under-the-radar pickups who are contributing to the Cubs in a big way right now. Those three represent the depth that makes this team so great. It’s not just the stars that make the Cubs dominant. Their role players are excellent as well.

Kyle Hendricks is one under-the-radar player who contributes to the Cubs in a big way. (USATSI)

Story provided by Mike Axisa

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