The San Diego Padres know the key to a good photo day—and they know it has nothing to do with baseball.
All it takes is puppies. More specifically, puppies in costumes.
For their photo day, the Padres had players take pictures with dogs dressed up in random outfits. Of course, the focus then became the puppies and not the players. But it was totally worth it, right?
Definitely worth it.
[San Diego Padres, Alysha Tsuji]
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The free-agent market was slow to unfold this offseason, leaving a number of high-profile players unsigned heading into the new year.
Most of the significant dominoes have now fallen as spring training is underway, but there are still a handful of potential impact players searching for a new home here at the end of February.
Ian Desmond is the top name still sitting out there, but he’s by no means the only position player looking for work, as a former home run champion and a World Series MVP are also available.
On the pitching side of things, we have a two-time Cy Young winner in Tim Lincecum headlining the remaining crop, while a few former All-Stars are also in need of new deals.
We’ve highlighted the top 10 free agents that teams can still snag in an effort to upgrade their rosters before Opening Day.
If Vladimir Guerrero is elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, he will do so wearing a Los Angeles Angels hat.
Per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, Guerrero said “since there is no team in Montreal,” he would “probably” opt for an Angels hat on his plaque if he joins the list of legendary players in Cooperstown, New York.
Guerrero will be among the first-time eligible players for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017. He had a stellar run with the Angels from 2004-09, which included the American League MVP Award in 2004, when he hit .337/.391/.598 with 39 home runs and 126 RBI.
Yet there’s no arguing Guerrero’s best seasons came when he was with the Montreal Expos from 1996-2003. He was one of the most dynamic players in the sport, posting back-to-back 30-30 seasons in 2001-02, and he finished one home run shy of joining the exclusive 40-40 club in 2002.
In addition to Guerrero’s ability with the bat, he had one of the best throwing arms of any right fielder in recent memory.
The already-crowded Baseball Hall of Fame ballot (with holdovers such as Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Barry Bonds) will add Guerrero, Ivan Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Jorge Posada, among others, next year.
Guerrero is perhaps the most intriguing candidate on that list. He boasts a career slash line of .318/.379/.553 with 449 home runs, 181 stolen bases, nine All-Star selections, the MVP Award and five other top-10 finishes in MVP voting.
Regardless which hat Guerrero wears if he gets elected, he was a superstar for more than a decade and belongs in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.
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No more big checks need to be signed. Negotiations have concluded. Though it may murmur quietly in the early stages of spring training, free agency is essentially over.
But that doesn’t mean that teams are done adding to their rosters. It only means it won’t be as simple as writing a check.
Now if a team wants to add, it will need a trade partner—and the assets to shop.
To identify those teams, they must be among the contenders. Any club in a rebuild will be looking to accumulate assets (translation: prospects) and not trade them away.
Instead, teams eyeing a World Series in 2016 might be willing to part with young, talented prospects to bolster their chances. We know the majority of the transactions come closer to the trade deadline, but the negotiations start now.
Teams will make calls, trying to determine which clubs are willing to trade which players. The marketplace has its constant ebb and flow. And regardless of the level of competition in the marketplace, whichever team holds the most assets is at an advantage.
Who might those teams be? You’ll have to wait for the season to progress. Or you can just read on.
The contract for Kansas City Royals catcher and 2015 World Series MVP Salvador Perez doesn’t expire until after the 2019 season, but he’s already thinking about a new deal.
Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star is reporting there are signs that the 25-year-old Perez and the Royals will come to an agreement on a new contract before Opening Day.
“I want to be George Brett,” Perez said, per Mellinger. “I want to be like Frank White, like Alex Gordon. One of those guys. Because this team gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues.”
A three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, Perez hit a career-high 21 home runs last year during the Royals’ run to their first world championship in 30 years.
During the Royals’ five-game win over the New York Mets in the World Series last year, Perez batted .364 with two doubles.
Rafa Nieves, Perez’s agent, told Mellinger the two sides have made progress and that there’s a 50 percent chance they’ll get a deal done before the Royals begin their championship defense April 3 against the Mets at home.
Mellinger noted when he becomes a free agent, Perez will be 29 years old—the same age at which Brian McCann signed an $85 million deal over five years. If Perez continues producing at the same rate, he could be in line for a figure greater than $100 million.
Perez has already become a cornerstone for the Royals. When the time comes, whether it be before Opening Day or when his deal expires in 2019, Perez has shown he’s worthy of a new contract.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. Contract info courtesy of Spotrac. Follow Danny Webster on Twitter.
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What does a pitcher need to win the Cy Young Award?
This list will undoubtedly feature some of the top arms in the game. Several of the pitchers here have won the award before, while others have come close—but not close enough.
The top pitchers in baseball also have that certain pitch that they throw as well as anyone in the game—a true go-to pitch to get that elusive third strike. Clayton Kershaw has arguably the best curveball in the game, while Felix Hernandez’s changeup has fooled many a hitter. Chris Sale’s slider is as dominant as either of the former two pitches.
Cy Young contenders not only have a go-to pitch but also have the consistency and situational awareness to win games. This gives them the ability to win those 1-0 and 2-1 games that simply “good” pitchers can’t always win.
The criteria for this list are mostly comprised of those elements, in addition to how well they can command those pitches and truly dominate their starts. Previously winning the award (or coming close) is a big help as well.
You’ll notice that each slide is accompanied by a video of the pitcher, showing him dominate or complete some sort of amazing feat. These are crucial elements in the making of a Cy Young-caliber pitcher.
For the sake of this list, there is no league bias. Obviously, there is a separate Cy Young Award for the American and National Leagues, and typically one emerges as the more competitive race. However, this list is simply about individual abilities and will stand independent of league affiliation, although I will give my prediction for the Cy Young Award winner in each league when the corresponding player’s slide appears.
Now, let’s take a look at the most likely candidates to win the Cy Young this season.
The Cleveland Indians‘ depleted outfield has taken another hit, with Abraham Almonte receiving an 80-game suspension.
On Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reported Major League Baseball suspended the outfielder for failing a test for performance-enhancing substances.
Per Tom Withers of the Associated Press, the Indians said in a statement that they were “disappointed” upon learning of Almonte’s suspension.
The Indians acquired Almonte from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline last season. He appeared in 51 games for the team, hitting .264/.321/.455 in 178 at-bats. He also provided solid defense in center field, with FanGraphs crediting him with two defensive runs saved in 481.1 innings.
Losing Almonte for half of the season is a devastating blow for the Indians, who were already coming into 2016 with major outfield questions. Left fielder Michael Brantley had shoulder surgery in November, which could keep him out for at least the regular season’s first month.
The situation in right field is fluid, with Lonnie Chisenhall and Collin Cowgill possibly platooning. Cleveland did sign Rajai Davis, who has experience at all three outfield positions, early in the offseason.
Even though Almonte wasn’t a lock to end up as Cleveland’s starting center fielder, he was an option for manager Terry Francona to choose from.
Now, Francona and the Indians front office will have to get more creative with their outfield mix. The American League Central figures to be one of MLB’s most competitive divisions next year, so any setback is huge.
The good news is that MLB announced Almonte’s suspension early enough for Cleveland to see which outfielders separate themselves from the pack during spring training.
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Veteran relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt announced on Friday that he will retire from baseball, according to GBSports.com’s Gerardo Boscan.
Betancourt spent 12 years in the majors with the Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies and had a career ERA of 3.36.
Of his 12 years in the league, Betancourt posted a sub-3.00 ERA six times, mostly as a middle reliever and set-up man. He was the Rockies’ closer in 2012, where he posted 31 saves.
His best season came in 2007 with the Indians when he allowed just 13 runs in 79.1 innings (1.47 ERA) with 80 strikeouts and just nine walks.
He was also on the mound the last time the Indians won the American League Central Division.
The Indians made the ALCS, but lost to the Boston Red Sox that year. It was one of just two times that Betancourt made the postseason in his career.
He joined the Rockies during the 2009 season and continued to contribute. In 2010, he put up a season in which he struck out 89 batters in 62.1 innings pitched with just eight walks.
Betancourt developed his fastball to become one of his main out pitches as he was able to put enough movement on the pitch to stifle hitters.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer reminisced about that fastball while bidding Betancourt farewell:
According to MLB.com’s Rafael Cremonesi, Betancourt wants to stay involved with the game “in some form”. Given his ability to stay in the league for over a decade as a pretty effective reliever, his kind of experience could be good in developing young pitchers and getting them major league-ready.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com
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Veteran outfielder Shane Victorino signed with the Chicago Cubs on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training on Friday, according to Bruce Levine of WSCR. Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com confirmed the report.
Victorino, 35, struggled in 2015, playing in just 71 games between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels. He hit .230 with one home run, seven RBI and 19 runs scored, his worst numbers since very early in his career.
Injuries have plagued Victorino in his later years, as he’s missed 263 games in the past three years.
But the two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion is an experienced presence in the clubhouse and can play all three outfield positions in a pinch, making him a nice fourth or fifth outfielder for the Cubs.
Among a slew of talented young players on the roster, Victorino can be a real asset off the field, serving as a mentor for young outfielders Jorge Soler, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber.
Victorino’s prime years are well behind him, but if he can stay healthy, he should still be a nice player coming off the bench for Chicago.
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While there isn’t much for fans to pay attention to during the early days of spring training, Yoenis Cespedes has given everyone something to watch in his own personal car show at New York Mets camp throughout this week.
On Tuesday, he turned heads with a Polaris Slingshot. Then it was a Lamborghini, followed by a slick Alfa Romeo. Now, he has gone even bigger.
Cespedes got everyone’s attention by tweeting out a teaser Thursday:
On Friday, he followed through by arriving in his customized Jeep:
Does Cespedes have a favorite car? According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the outfielder prefers his latest ride above the rest:
Although the Jeep may be his favorite, he chose a different set of wheels as “the most fun”:
Some have ripped Cespedes for dropping hefty chunks of change on all of these cars. But let’s not forget he also just signed a three-year, $75 million deal this past offseason. And as DiComo points out, the cars aren’t making a huge dent in Cespedes’ bank account:
Also, luxury cars are something he has worked hard for:
Cespedes has performed well enough to earn himself a large contract. If he wants to spend some of his money on fun cars, that’s certainly his right.
[Twitter, Instagram]
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