Kuzul

Despite Opening Day being less than a week away, the landscape of MLB could look significantly different before the first pitch of the 2015 season. Based off the latest speculation and rumors, we will try to diagnose potential landing spots for those names being churned through the rumor mill. 

Players like Alex Guerrero of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Welington Castillo of the Chicago Cubs have become excess to requirements with their current teams, but both remain capable of contributing to a major league winner. Which organizations could be in on their services? 

Elsewhere, left-hander Brian Matusz has pitched himself onto the radar of a handful of pitching-needy teams. Where might the southpaw end up before the start of the new season?

And with the addition of Yasmany Tomas, Mark Trumbo might be able to be had at the right price. Could a team in need of a power surge take the bait and deal for the slugger?

Let’s play matchmaker and see if we can come up with a few sensible deals. 

Begin Slideshow

A day at the ballpark doesn’t really need a perfect sales pitch. Baseball season is the flag-bearer of springtime, and there’s no better way to spend a warm summer night than sitting in the stands, watching your favorite MLB team while sipping on a cold beer.

But being an inherently good thing doesn’t mean it can’t be even better.

Everybody loves to get something for free, or get more of something for less money, so special promotion and giveaway events can turn an already great experience into an awesome one. Bobbleheads, games honoring those who serve, concerts and the always popular fireworks night are some of the ways MLB teams treat their fans.

However, just because a home game on the schedule is given the magical designation of “promotional” doesn’t mean that what’s being promoted is a good idea, much less worth the bigger crowd of promotion-crazed fans. People may love free stuff and extra perks, but everyone has walked away from a “free” giveaway (at least once in their life) wondering, “Why did I just do that?”

The 2015 MLB season is just around the corner, and with it a new slate of special promotional events and the coveted giveaways that, on a whole, are why spending a day or night at the ballpark is restitution for the winter that preceded it.

These are the best and worst MLB promotions of the 2015 season.

Begin Slideshow

Kris Bryant, arguably the best prospect in baseball and inarguably the crusher of more home runs than any other player this spring training, will start the 2015 season in the minor league. But don’t blame the Chicago Cubs—blame Major League Baseball.

After all, it’s the rules that made this decision entirely inevitable and anything but surprising.

The Cubs announced Monday they had sent Bryant to minor league camp despite his ridiculous .425/.477/1.175 triple-slash line and, count ’em, nine homers.

Bryant could have batted 1.000 and hit a home run every time up, and still, the 23-year-old righty slugger would have begun the regular season in Iowa instead of Chicago. And while it might seem like this makes no sense at all, it actually is a perfectly sound and logical call for the Cubs.

You see, a player’s service-time clock begins ticking as soon as he makes his MLB debut, and once a player accrues six years’ worth of action—or 6.000 in years and days—he becomes a free agent. But if a player is even a few days shy of that mark, it allows the club to pick up what essentially is an “extra” season of team control.

For the Cubs, the decision boils down to this: Miss out on two weeks of Bryant in April 2015…or miss out on Bryant for the entire 2021 season.

In other words, this question of whether Bryant should begin the year in the bigs really isn’t a question at all, given the importance of Bryant, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2013, to the rebuilding Cubs organization—and given the construction of the current collective bargaining agreement, which allows this path. 

No matter what Bryant’s agent Scott Boras argues:

That’s because everybody—the front-office executives, managers, coaches, players and media—knows that this is a no-brainer for the Cubs.

“Everybody is conscious of it,” New York Yankees lefty reliever Andrew Miller said, via Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. “Hey, we have a chance to make a lot of money in this game, but the rules are the rules. If that works in the Cubs favor, and the Cubs are a better team for that, they’re entitled to (use the rule to their favor). We negotiated that. It’s the reality of what our collective bargaining agreement says.”

Note: This statement is coming from a player.

But this decision is also a bad one for all parties involved.

Bryant will have to wait an extra year to reach free agency and score his first massive contract (unless he signs a long-term extension first). The Cubs could be second-guessed for not putting their best 25 players on the roster, particularly if they fall short of the playoffs by a game or three. The fans won’t get to see a potential superstar in the making at the outset of the season, when attention and attendance are often at their peak.

And we’ll all have to put up with more complaints and criticism from Boras, who admittedly isn’t wrong, either.

Meanwhile, Cubs president Theo Epstein has a point in claiming that Bryant needs more time to marinate in the minors, even though he’s undeniably one of the most talented players in the organization.

“I think it’s very rare that teams keep their 25 most talented players [out of spring training],” Epstein said during an on-air interview from a recent ESPN broadcast. “I like to call guys up for their major league debut in the middle of the season, when they’re in the flow of the game, the grind of the season and they’re comfortable.”

There’s some merit to that sentiment, but it’s also little more than lip service under these circumstances.

And it leads to an uncomfortable situation for everyone, not to mention awkwardly phrased quotes like this one from Cubs manager Joe Maddon, per ESPN.com news services: “[Bryant is] a brilliant talent. I’m not going to sit here and say things that are disingenuous. This guy is good. He’s going to be really good.”

Or the fact that even new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was asked to weigh in on this controversy.

“Look, I don’t think the Cubs’ decision on what’s going to happen to Kris Bryant is really any of Mr. Boras’ business,” Manfred said, per Sullivan. “The club is in the best position, and the Cubs are in the best position, to decide what’s going to make them the most competitive over the longest period of time.”

All of the above taken into consideration, Bryant is not a completely and utterly finished product, even though some have already seemingly begun to design his Hall of Fame plaque.

His defense remains a work in progress, especially since he’s struggled with his throwing at third base at times this spring and has begun seeing action in the outfield, too. Bryant also has a propensity to swing and miss often, having struck out 27 percent of the time last season and 14 times in 44 exhibition plate appearances.

But Bryant has also done just about everything a young player can do in the minors, having hit .325/.438/.661 with a best-in-baseball 43 home runs between Double- and Triple-A in his first full pro season last year.

Bryant is primed to test himself in the majors. He’s ready for his big-league closeup. Now all we need is for MLB to find a way to solve this problem with the next collective bargaining agreement. That way, when the next Kris Bryant surfaces, the best course of action will involve having him on the field as long—and as soon—as possible.

“[Bryant’s strong spring performance] demonstrated clearly to everybody that he’s really close to being not just in the big leagues but to playing an important role on the team,” Epstein said, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. “His camp mattered. We’re more likely to get him sooner than later with how he’s playing and how close he showed [he is].”

Just not soon enough, thanks to MLB’s silly #ServiceTimeShenanigans.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Thanks to a new nursing suite, the Cincinnati Reds are making it easier for families to enjoy a night at the ballpark.

The Reds spent this offseason giving their stadium a bit of a makeover. With the 2015 MLB All-Star Game coming to Cincinnati, the team has upgraded the look of its concession stands and even added a new bar. However, the biggest upgrade went beyond the usual amenities.

On Monday, the Reds announced that they have added a nursing suite to Great American Ball Park:

This new nursing station will make it easier for fans to take care of their young children. Per the Reds’ Michael Anderson, via Better Off Red’s Jamie Ramsey, the nursing station will include “comfortable gliders, a kitchenette with a sink, ice and refrigeration, a private restroom, changing stations and lockers for storing your items during the game.”

Per ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell, Reds Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini said many fans had asked for the team to look at ways to make it easier to accommodate those who needed to nurse their children while at the game. The club decided to go all out in order to help its fans.

“It just didn’t make sense that we would put a couple chairs in the women’s bathrooms,” Castellini said.

For those of you who don’t want to miss a second of the game while taking care of your children, the Reds have you covered.

“We’ll also have flat-screen TVs so that they won’t miss the game, and there will be toys to play with if the three-year-old has to come with them,” Castellini said.

Some fans may not be able to go to the ballpark because they have young children. With the addition of the nursing station, the Reds have made it easier for families to spend a night at the stadium.

[Cincinnati Reds]

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Although the Cleveland Indians would like everyone to support them, they don’t get too upset about some of the negative things said about them on the Internet.

In fact, they like to have fun with that criticism. 

Taking a page from Jimmy Kimmel, the Indians took some time to read mean tweets. Nearly everyone in the organization—whether it be players, coaches, broadcasters or the front office—has been a target of criticism on Twitter. 

[MLB.com]

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Without question, the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout is the most valued player in fantasy baseball. Three of the four mock drafts studied for this article had Trout as the No. 1 pick. The reigning MVP is coming off a season that saw him lead the majors in runs scored and RBI.

His batting average dipped below .300, and he led the league in strikeouts with 184, but there’s no questioning his ability to put big numbers up for the Angels and your fantasy team.

Bleacher Report’s Jason Catania shared a draft he was involved in, and that was the only one of the group to have someone other than Trout go first.

In that draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw was the top pick. Kershaw is just 27 years old, and he’s already won three Cy Young Awards in the last four years. In 2014, he also won the National League MVP when he went 21-3. He led the league in wins, ERA (1.83) and complete games with six.

You can’t really go wrong with either man. Both are pretty clearly the top fantasy producers in the sport. They both seem impervious to down years, but quite honestly, with so many pitchers suffering arm injuries in this day and age, I’d always take the stud hitter with the top pick.

Let’s take a look at the top five picks for the four experts’ mock drafts I researched.

As you can see from the picks, others may have felt the same way about selecting a pitcher. Kershaw was selected as low as seventh in one of the drafts. 

The second-most coveted hitter is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen. Cutch’s consistency encouraged those selecting in the mock drafts not to let him slip past the fourth spot in any case. He’s never eclipsed the 100-RBI mark, but he’s almost a guarantee to hit .300 with at least 20 home runs.

In 2014, he hit .314 with 25 home runs and drove in 83. While not astronomical, Cutch’s stats are dependable, and he’s never missed more than 16 games in a season. 

If you’re looking for a pitcher and can’t get Kershaw, who should be next on your list? In all four of the examined drafts, the Seattle Mariners’ Felix Hernandez was the second pitcher taken. King Felix was only 15-6, but he had an American League-leading 2.14 ERA. With better run support and bullpen work, he could have easily been a 20-game winner.

Fantasy owners don’t care much about his bullpen. Thus, he’s a hot commodity.

Sleepers

Jorge Soler

Part of doing well in fantasy baseball is about drafting a breakout star. The Chicago Cubs’ Jorge Soler has the look of a guy ready to explode. Soler wasn’t taken before the seventh round in any of the four drafts. 

Super prospect Kris Bryant is getting all of the attention during spring training, but Soler is quietly hitting .333 with three home runs. Cubs manager Joe Maddon gave Soler a huge compliment with a lofty comparison. Per Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago, Maddon said:

“He’s a beautiful man, though. I really, really enjoy the way he is. Really, I mean, he’s like Vladimir (Guerrero) with plate discipline. That’s what he is.”

His spring training success follows up a 24-game run with the big club in 2014 where he hit .292 with five homers and drove in 20. With most of the pressure and attention on Bryant—whenever he reaches the majors—Soler should be able to continue to prove why he’s such a great prospect in his own right.

Think about snatching him up at some point between the fifth and ninth rounds. If he stays healthy, this could be a huge year for the 23-year-old Cuban.

Collin McHugh

I know he plays for the Houston Astros, but Collin McHugh was pretty solid in 2014. Because of his team’s inability to score runs, he was only 11-9, but he had an ERA of 2.73 and he struck out 157 batters in just 154 innings.

Still, the earliest he was taken in any draft was the ninth round in the FFToolbox mock. That’s pretty insane. 

Last year was McHugh‘s first full season in the majors. Obviously, it’s possible he falls off a bit and incurs a sophomore jinx, but that can be said for just about any pitcher who hasn’t put together a proven track record of excellence.

McHugh is one of those guys you’ll select and your buddies will be like, “Who?” Later in the season, their tune might change when he’s become one of your most consistent performers.

Other researched mocks: Brad Pinkerton of Sporting News and Sports Illustrated.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Whether you’ve played before, won a million dollars or have never even heard of DraftKings before now, MLB daily fantasy is for you. Anyone who loves the sport and knows how the game works can succeed with a little time and effort.

Daily fantasy is a huge deviation from regular fantasy baseball in several aspects. Filling out a roster is based on a fixed salary cap of $50,000 per 10-man roster. Each owner chooses two pitchers, a first-baseman or designated hitter and all eight other positions to make a complete lineup.

Once an applicable lineup is set, owners can enter myriad different contests including head-to-head, 50/50 and multipliers on a daily basis. Hence the name daily fantasy, where no day is the same and lineups are constantly changing.

Now that the standard rules are out of the way, here’s a look at some advice to dominate in DraftKings MLB leagues this year.

Begin Slideshow

Heading into spring training’s final week, most teams around baseball have a pretty good idea which 25 players will comprise their Opening Day rosters. The next seven days are more about players rounding into shape—and hopefully avoiding injury—than anything else.

But those 25-man rosters have yet to be etched in stone, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that crazy things can—and will—happen when we least expect them.

From top prospects holding out hope that they’ll get a chance to experience Opening Day in a major league park to veterans praying to the baseball gods that they’ll be traded somewhere they can play regularly, a handful of players still in camp have much to gain—or lose—over the next seven days.

Let’s take a look at five of the more notable names whose immediate futures remain in flux.

Begin Slideshow

It was an exciting MLB offseason with no shortage of big-money signings and blockbuster trades, but at this point, it’s fair to assume everyone is ready for the regular season to finally get underway.

Things officially kick off this coming Sunday with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals meeting on Sunday Night Baseball, with the rest of the league getting underway the following day.

So as we get set to usher in another new season, it’s time for one last look at how all 30 teams stack up heading into 2015.

These power rankings are based on how the teams look heading into the start of the season, and also on expectations for the season as a whole. That said, these are not necessarily predictions of where everyone will be when the 2015 season wraps up, but instead an overview of how things look right now.

For a look at my complete win-loss predictions for 2015, I’ll direct you to an article from last week.

Essentially, this was the last chance for some entirely subjective shuffling on my part before the regular season begins and we have some actual results to determine who moves where in the rankings.

Note: Included is my projected 25-man roster for each team. Players not currently on the 40-man roster are noted in italics, while players with rookie eligibility (per Baseball-Reference) are indicated with an (R).

Begin Slideshow

Ever wonder what a batter sees when a 90 mph four-seam fastball is barreling to the plate?

Check out this helpful infographic of how different pitches appear to hitters. From the slider to the curveball, you can see what the baseball looks like as it approaches the plate. As a side note, the red dot that shows up on the slider is pretty interesting.

Not too sure how much this will help your game, but it’s very cool nonetheless.

[Twitter; h/t Ann Frazier]

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com