caulfield12

https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/27/24353426/dodgers-2025-international-signings Dodgers still announce 29 intl signings from 7 different countries...including South Sudan.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/orioles-jorge-mateo-avoid-arbitration.html More small-scale Orioles spending...

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/kirby-yates-passes-physical-signs-one-year-deal-with-dodgers.html $13-14 million for Yates...another drop in the bucket Congrats to Kirby after being out the better part of three seasons with injuries...feels like four before last season with the Rangers. Was also on the Braves briefly.

https://www.mlb.com/news/is-dodgers-roki-sasaki-best-mlb-pitching-prospect-past-two-decades?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-the-show-25-cover-athletes Skenes G.Henderson Elly de la Cruz share MLB The Show game covers

Kind of embarrassing they're somehow ahead of the Guardians with such putrid, history-setting results... Can certainly understand why Twins fans are angry and want them to sell (following up 2023 breakthrough with zilch zero nada)., but they're still far and away the biggest AL Central payroll at roughly $140 million. Finally, Mets and Dodgers blowing everyone else away...can't see that changing much, not any time soon.

https://www.mlb.com/news/austin-hays-reds-contract The other problem with White Sox would be Hays is NOT a RFer. So he's either a DH/1B (pushing out Vaughn or moving him to DH/platoon) or you're making Benintendi your primary DH with Hays instead in LF. Of course that's ALSO where someone like Vargas or Ramos might end up getting at-bats, Baldwin too. In an ideal world...Baldwin is able to handle CF over Fletcher if he's not basically your utility infielder, which is the role that Josh Rojas has now seemingly pushed him out of.

"There was some thought to push Salas even deeper because of those concerns, but given his age and potential ceiling, we settled on keeping him in the Top 35 but behind other catchers with more exciting feedback in Dalton Rushing and Kyle Teel." https://www.mlb.com/news/top-100-prospects-who-sparked-debate-2025?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Not sure we need to bring presidential politics into this...our Filibuster section has long since passed away into oblivion with numerous casualties and hurt feelings left by the wayside.

https://www.cleveland19.com/2021/04/06/cleveland-indians-pitcher-makes-controversial-social-media-post-then-deletes-it/ The weird thing is we can't seem to get away from the story of Covid-19/vaccines and the Guardians...Clevinger Plesac (well his father through Cubs' broadcasting) Trevor Bauer and now Karinchak. All but Karinchak were pretty much banished by Francona from the organization...oh well I guess.

"Listening to Hot Stove on the MLB app this morning where Harold R, Matt V and Jon Lester were debating the various rumors involving Cease and King, when Harold says and I paraphrase, "the only move which could potentially make the Pads better would be to put Tatis on the market and hold onto both Cease and King." His reasoning, "pitching wins championships" and only by moving Tatis would the Pads be able to maintain their pitching for 2025, yet get a return which could also make them better in the long-term." gaslampball.com https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/1/28/24353543/good-morning-san-diego-sheel-seidler-comments-on-the-record The problem here is that Preller's too invested in Tatis as franchise foundational superstar AND there are zero guarantees they can sign Cease/Boras, King or Arraez before FA. The best thing would be to hold on until the trade deadline and then look for takers on Suarez and Cronenworth as well. SD right now fourth best in division behind SFG and AZ as well. Just no getting out from under Bogaerts deal...that's the one killing them performance-wise and also keeping payroll from being cut to below $200 million.

"After further negotiations (between FanDuel Sports and the Reds), the sides reached an agreement for 2025 that includes both linear and digital streaming rights and replaces the Reds-MLB arrangement. The streaming rights had not been included in the previous (existing) Bally contract. Team officials say the new agreement represents a "slight" increase in revenue over what was anticipated going with the MLB broadcast plan and presumably over FanDuel's last offer in November." So it clearly seems the best deals for most clubs are NOT there going with the MLB-produced and distributed broadcasts...MN Twins made similar decision/agreement recently.

So that's what "a little bit" of payroll flexibility buys in baseball these days. Two weeks after a renegotiated local TV deal resulted in a bump in payroll, the Cincinnati Reds agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year, $5 million deal, pending a physical, a source confirmed Tuesday. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2025/01/28/reds-news-free-agent-signing-outfielder-austin-hays/77997987007/ Will have to pass physical on hanstring as well as calf and then serious kidney infection/complications.

Reds up to around $96 million in payroll...would be very close to second in the AL Central, Tigers at $97.7 million as of today according to Cot's. $97 million for Cincy if he meets his incentive requirements. Elly de la Cruz extension their top priority. Candelario and Nick Martinez strangely enough their two biggest contracts.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/reds-sign-austin-hays.html $5 million guaranteed plus another $1 million in incentives Would MUCH rather have the possible upside/trade value of this deal than ANY of Tauchman Slater Rojas or Martin Perez. Wasn't a crazy amount of money, either. And only a one year gamble. Not even sure Getz would or should be considering two year deals right now. Cincy with HoF-track manager Francona likely becomes the three way com favorite now for first in the Central with the Cubs and Brewers...

https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/benjamin-solak-backlash-josh-allen-criticism.html

Thorough?

K rate...

Here’s how Red Sox hitting coordinator John Soteropulos described to Laurila what the team wanted Campbell to work on: "His development program focused on two key objectives, improving ball flight and increasing bat speed. On the ball flight front, we identified specific bio-mechanical markers in his swing that needed refinement. The most significant factor affecting his bat path was the way his torso moved throughout the swing. Since the bat rotates around the spine, his excessive forward lean toward the pitcher created a steep bat path with low attack angles. We implemented a structured training program designed to address these inefficiencies, alongside other areas of focus.” ...They’re (Red Sox) embracing biomechanical analysis, which is the new frontier in player in development. If you go to John Soteropulos' Twitter page, there's a MASSIVE treasure drove of hitting, biomechanical and weight training related stuff. Robert Montgomery Montgomery Teel Quero Vargas Sosa Meidroth Ramos Wolkow...work with all those m'f'in guys.

Yes, that's why he and Ohtani were ranked but Yamamoto and next year 3B Murakami won't be...same as Ichiro at 27.

https://www.mlb.com/news/kristian-campbell-looks-to-make-red-sox-opening-day-roster They need to hire whoever worked with Campbell in the BOS sysytem to help out both Montgomery's for the White Sox... "Campbell has changed his swing since being drafted out of Georgia Tech, and when asked about it, he answered simply, “It’s been all about bat path.” He went on, “Instead of being flat, or straight down, I’m trying to hit the ball at a good angle. That’s what I lacked coming into pro baseball, hitting the ball in the air. I never really hit for power before last year.” The numbers bear that out. We don’t have batted ball stats for Campbell’s 2023 season at Georgia Tech, but in his 22 games in the Red Sox organization, he ran a 50% groundball rate. That number dropped to 43% in 2024. Not at all coincidentally, Campbell’s isolated slugging percentage rose from .162 to .228." https://talksox.com/news-rumors/red-sox-minor-league/kristian-campbells-rise-is-a-player-development-win-for-the-red-sox-r2269/ Talk about unlocking Romy Gonzalez's potential with launch angle...Roman Anthony as well.

Q: Why is it that a Japanese player posting from the NPB and following a free agent process is allowed to be listed on a Top 100 prospects list that can directly influence the drafting of whatever team signs them? The obvious example here is the Roki Sasaki posting, signing with the Dodgers who are already a front-runner and making the Top 100 list which then makes the Dodgers eligible for a PPI pick. It just seems like a very "have your cake, eat it, then eat the other guy's cake too" moment. Shouldn't MLB-level talent coming from an established baseball league, that follows a normal free agent process, be ineligible to be on a Top 100 Prospects list or even ineligible to be a rookie? https://www.mlb.com/news/top-100-prospects-list-reddit-ama?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Old friend Jake Lamb to Giants on milb deal. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/giants-jake-lamb-agree-to-minor-league-contract.html https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/padres-trade-rumors-michael-king.html Padres discussing King Cease Arraez trades...