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JUPITER Freddy Galvis Jersey , Fla. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals are targeting March 14 for Yadier Molina first exhibition game appearance at catcher as the nine-time All-Star recovers from left knee surgery in December.The 36-year-old started limited catching of bullpen sessions on Wednesday and took batting practice. Molina will appear in games at first as a designated hitter, and manager Mike Shildt is hoping he can catch in that game against the New York Mets in two weeks.Molina is the only catcher on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster. Francisco Pena, last year’s primary backup, and Matt Wieters are at spring training with minor league contracts.“More than anything else, it was my first and only offer,” said the 32-year-old Wieters, whose deal was announced Wednesday.A four-time All-Star with Baltimore from 2009-16, Wieters spent the past two seasons with Washington. He hit .238 with eight homers and 30 RBIs last year Randal Grichuk Jersey , when he was sidelined between March 31 and April 12 with a strained left oblique muscle and between May 10 and July 9 with a strained left hamstring.“It will be exciting because this will be the first time I’ve competed for a spot on a roster since 2009,” Wieters said. “I’m excited to kind of see what kind of adrenaline I get in spring training, which I haven’t had in a while.”Shildt expects Wieters to make his St. Louis debut behind the plate early next week.“First of all he’s got a lot of experience,” Shildt said. “I also like the fact he’s been on winning teams, so he knows what that looks like.”Molina averaged 133 games behind the plate over the past three seasons.“I’ve watched him for a long as I can remember,” Wieters said. “There aren’t many catchers in this league I watched before I was playing in this league.” Dodgers see two players taken from their system"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 2019 Spring TrainingProspectsCommentaryNews and NotesProspectsDouble-A Tulsa DrillersMinor league rostersTwo Tulsa Drillers selected in Rule 5 DraftNew,389commentsConnor Joe and Drew Jackson were both members of 2018 Texas League title teamBycraigminamiUpdatedDec 13, 2018 Jose Bautista Jersey ,9:48am PSTShareTweetShareShareTwo Tulsa Drillers selected in Rule 5 DraftDrew JacksonSteve Saenz ~ Rancho Cucamonga QuakesLAS VEGAS — Two members of the Texas League champions Tulsa Drillers team were selected in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft on Thursday morning.Connor Joe and Drew Jackson were selected by the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies respectively in the first round of the Rule 5 Draft.Connor Joe hit .304/.425/.554 in 59 games at Tulsa and then finished the season at Oklahoma City where in 49 games, he hit .294/.385/.494.He also hit a total of 17 home runs in 2018.Interestingly, Joe was selected as a catcher and apparently he has been taking reps there during this offseason.Joe was originally traded to the Dodgers in September 2017 by the Atlanta Braves for future considerations.Drew Jackson, who had been acquired during Phillies manager Gabe Kapler tenure in the Dodger player development organization, hit .251/.356/.447 in 103 games at Tulsa in 2018.Jackson primarily played second base, though he also spent time at shortstop while also getting some games in the outfield. Right after the draft was concluded, it was announced that Jackson had been traded to the Orioles for International Signing Bonus money.The Orioles will still be held to the same restrictions as the original drafting team.The Dodgers will receive $100K for each player taken from their system.If at any point, Connor Joe and/or Drew Jackson is removed from their team’s 25-man rosters http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-curtis-granderson-jersey , any team can claim him and then they would have the same restrictions for having a Rule 5 draft pick on their active roster.If no one claims the player, the Dodgers can pay $50K back to that team and get the player back. The Dodgers can also decide not to take the player back and then those players can be sent down to the original drafting team’s minor league system.As for the Dodgers, they have a full 40-man roster so they were not able to make a selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft.And then, the Dodgers passed on taking anyone in the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

Both Nolan and Rockies owner Dick Monfort have expressed optimism that a deal could be reached soon"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Scaling the RocksPebble ReportRockpileRockies Game ThreadsRockies Fan ExperienceRockpileNolan Arenado and the Rockies might be closing in on a long-term dealNew Chad Bettis Jersey ,46commentsRockies news and links for Sunday, February 3, 2019MSTShareTweetShareShareNolan Arenado and the Rockies might be closing in on a long-term dealMonfort optimistic about long-term Arenado deal | MLB.comIn arguably one of the longest, darkest offseasons in recent history, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for Rockies fans and the organization itself regarding possibly the biggest question mark this franchise has faced—will Nolan Arenado sign a long-term deal?Well, Thomas Harding was able to catch up with owner Dick Monfort in Greeley on Saturday and Dick spoke on the matter with optimism that a deal would be worked out. Only time will tell, and a funky offseason that has left superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado unsigned certainly complicates matters, but this quote is still music to my ears:Not only that, but Monfort illuminated a topic that has been a thorn in Rockies fans’ sides for years—the franchise’s TV deal. Dick passes along good news though, in that the revenue will be jumping from $20M to $40M Jonathan Lucroy Jersey , and the organization will have some extra cash to help lock down Nolan confidently with “a number that we can get to.”Colorado Rockies: The honest truth about Nolan Arenado and his future | Rox PileIn this article, Kevin Henry offers his latest thoughts on the Nolan Arenado contract extension drama and points to three specific scenarios that could unfold. If we’re lucky, and by the sound of the way talks are progressing, we could see Nolan sign an extension in the coming weeks following his one-year arbitration-avoiding deal before the season starts, much like Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu did in the past. If not, there’s a real chance Nolan will test free agency following the 2019 season, if he’s not traded before then.As Kevin says, that’s a lot of “ifs.” What’s most important is that it appears Nolan wants to stay in Colorado, and the team wants to pay him to do so. Nolan is due for a huge payday, and he’ll get it one way or another http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , so as long as the Rockies keep winning and stay competitive, consistently reaching the Postseason, there’s a good chance Nado will go down as the greatest Rockie of all time.Arenado seeks more records after $26M deal | MLB.comNolan Arenado talked to Thomas Harding about his record-setting $26M deal for an arbitration-eligible player, and emphasized how confident he is in the direction the Rockies franchise is going. Harding also discusses the team’s “healthy” payroll on the rise, and paints an optimistic picture for the future of the franchise.What if Bryce Harper took a one-year deal? | Beyond the Box ScoreWhat could possibly overshadow Nolan Arenado signing a long-term contract with the Rockies, you ask? Well, not much, but maybe Bryce Harper signing a one-year deal with the Rockies, as well, and turning this team into an NL West powerhouse who could finally strip the Dodgers of their division title streak and play deep into the Postseason to compete for a World Series. Yeah DJ LeMahieu Jersey , I suppose that could do it...Bob Ellis of Beyond the Box Score argues that Harper would be best to sign a one-year deal during this bizarre offseason with a team ready to compete for a championship, and thus he could improve his stock for an even better pay day next year. Bob suggests six teams who could afford Bryce and benefit from a one-year deal, and ultimately suggests the Rockies would be the very best fit for both parties.Colorado Rockies poll: Fans want Carlos Gonzalez back in 2019 | Rox PileBecause of a Jon Heyman tweet, it has been rumored the Rockies are interested in bringing back Carlos Gonz谩lez on another one-year deal. Kevin Henry of Rox Pile held a poll and asked his Rockies fans followers on Twitter if they’d be interested in seeing CarGo back in purple in 2019. The results aren’t very surprising—if you’re sentimental, at least.For what it’s worth, I would not mind at all seeing CarGo back for another season with the Rockies. The key is how they use him. If he were platooning vs. right-handed pitchers, getting spot starts, and adding some left-handed power off the bench, then sure. He would be a valuable clubhouse leader, make Nolan happy again http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , and bring joy to the fanbase. In no situation, though, should he be taking at-bats away from David Dahl. Ian Desmond—sure—but in limited use, CarGo could be an incredible addition to this club. PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pirates avoided arbitration with reliever Michael Feliz, reaching an agreement on Friday on an $850,000, one-year contract.Feliz went 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA in 47 appearances for the Pirates in 2018 after being part of the trade that sent pitcher Gerrit Cole to Houston.Pittsburgh offered contracts to left fielder Corey Dickerson and reliever Keone Kela.Dickerson is likely due a significant raise over the $5.95 million he made this year. Dickerson hit .300 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs and earned the first Gold Glove of his career after being obtained from Tampa Bay on the eve of the regular season.Pittsburgh acquired Kela at the trade deadline in July. He went 3-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 54 appearances for Texas and Pittsburgh, earning $1.2 million. The Pirates ended his season early September as a precaution due to his workload. Kela’s 52 innings were his most since 60 1/3 as a rookie in 2015.

SEATTLE (AP) — Aledmys Diaz has to take his opportunities when he can with the Houston Astros.Diaz responded to his first start at designated hitter this season Sunday by hitting a home run in the seventh inning that made the difference in Houston’s 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners Freddy Galvis Jersey , the ninth straight win for the Astros.Diaz was traded from the Blue Jays this winter. With stars nearly everywhere in the lineup, Diaz has served as Houston’s utility infielder, filling in at first, second and shortstop already. He’s been in the starting lineup three times in April, going 5 for 12 with two homers in those games.“He’s not getting to play a lot. He played almost every day last season, so the attitude has been great,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said. “He’s willing to do anything. Guys are rooting for him in there.”Gerrit Cole had a strong start for Houston, striking out 11 in six innings. Cole (1-2) gave up two runs on four hits, including a leadoff home run to Mitch Haniger, and did not walk a batter. Cole has pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts.Haniger’s homer, his fifth, extended the Mariners’ major league record streak to 18 games with a home run to start the season. Haniger also doubled and scored both Seattle runs.Cole and the Astros bullpen shut down the Mariners, who entered leading the majors with 7.29 runs a game. After Domingo Santana hit a run-scoring double in the third for Seattle’s second run, no other Mariners hitters reached base, with Houston retiring the last 19 Seattle batters.Hector Rondon, Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna each pitched a perfect inning in relief for Houston, with Osuna working the ninth for his seventh save.“Our whole bullpen is really good,” Cole said. “They’re not afraid to pitch in leverage or clean up your mess. As starters, we just try to minimize their workload as best we can.”There were some close calls for Osuna. Haniger appeared to start the ninth inning with an infield single, but was ruled out on replay. Santana had fans on their feet with a long drive down the right field line that went foul before striking out Randal Grichuk Jersey , and Daniel Vogelbach worked a full count before striking out looking to end the game.“It’s a game of inches. I thought Domingo’s ball had a chance there in the ninth to sneak around the foul pole. Just didn’t happen,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “We just went up against really good pitching this weekend.”Mariners starter Marco Gonzalez was trying for his fifth straight win to open the season, and looked on track early. Gonzalez allowed just one hit over the first five innings as Seattle opened a 2-0 lead.The Astros took over in the sixth. Singles by Tony Kemp, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman loaded the bases. Michael Brantley then drove in two runs with another single, trying the game and ending Gonzalez’s day.Brandon Brennan struck out the next two batters to end the inning. In the seventh, Diaz led off with his second homer, the first run Brennan (1-1) allowed after starting the season with 11 1/3 scoreless innings.IN CONTROLThis was the 10th time Cole has struck out at least 11 batters in his career. In six of those 10 games, Cole has also not allowed a walk.TRAINERS ROOMMariners: Placed starting LHP Wade LeBlanc on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 right oblique strain. LeBlanc is expected to be out four to six weeks. Seattle recalled RHP Erik Swanson from Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday. Swanson is expected to take LeBlanc’s upcoming spot in the rotation on Wednesday against Cleveland.ON THE MOVEThe Mariners traded C David Freitas to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league RHP Sal Biasi.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Colin McHugh (2-1, 2.65 ERA) makes his fourth start at Oakland on Tuesday. McHugh has one win against the Athletics this season, after his pitched six one-run innings on April 5.Mariners: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 4.15) is looking for his first major league decision in his fifth start as Seattle starts a three-game home series against Cleveland. With the deal done, at more diminished dollars than first rumored, it’s clear that if the young slugger can muster even a Carlos Lee career, the deal is a win for the White Sox"WhiteFanposts FanpostsFanshotsSections AnalysisGame RecapsGamethreadsMinorsOffbeatFull ArchiveExclusives South Side Sox Hall of FameCard of the MonthDeep DiveDigitsFlashbackFranchise FactsKnow Your EnemyMost Essential White SoxRace to the BottomSix Pack of StatsSouth Side SnapSouth Side StumperSSS Literary SupplementSuper Stats PackThe Game I’ll Never ForgetTwitterpatingUnder the RadarView From the Other SideWhite Sox on SB Nation HomeStoriesScheduleRosterStatsWhite Sox on Yahoo! HomeDepth ChartTransactionsMasthead MastheadMeet the Players!Links White Sox Web LinksSouth Side Sox standardsCommunity GuidelinesOdds Shop StubHub 鉁旳nalysisEloy Jim茅nezBreaking down the eight-year, $75 million Eloy Jim茅nez extensionNew,98commentsWith the deal done, at more diminished dollars than first rumored, it’s clear that if the young slugger can muster even a Carlos Lee career, the deal is a win for the White SoxCDTShareTweetShareShareBreaking down the eight-year, $75 million Eloy Jim茅nez extensionBig bux: The White Sox have inked Jim茅nez to an unprecedented extension Jose Bautista Jersey , before the slugger has had a single MLB at-bat.Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY SportsUPDATE: This story has updated, exact contract numbers. See also: The South Side Sox breaking news piece on Friday’s announcement.A week ago, H茅ctor G贸mez trickled out a tantalizing tweet:that led to this speculative piece addressing the value Jim茅nez would have to provide the White Sox to make this gamble of an extension pay off.A week later, G贸mez hit us again, second verse, a bit different from the first: Others, including ESPN’s Jeff Passan, have weighed in on the guaranteed end of the deal ($43 million):The details seem to be breaking out as $43 million for 2019-24, with 2025 and 2026 as option years that could close to double the contract’s value (~$20 million per year, presumably) to $77.5 million total.So, to review: An eight-year deal would buy out all of Jim茅nez’s arbitration years (under current rules, which may change with a new labor agreement), plus one additional season. It would keep him in Chicago through 2026, the slugger’s age-30 campaign.In 2018, 1.0 WAR was worth approximately $3.8 million. For the purposes of projecting halfway into the next decade, let’s set WAR value at $4 million. Let’s also presume that Jim茅nez maxes out his deal (incentives, option years) and earns the full $75 million over eight seasons.So in order to earn his contract, Jim茅nez would need to amass 18.8 WAR over the course of his first eight seasons in Chicago, or 2.4 WAR per season.I’ve picked two White Sox players from the past to overlay as Jim茅nez comps. On the pinch-me-I’m-dreaming side, Frank Thomas. As the “worst case” (no offense http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-curtis-granderson-jersey , KenWo), Carlos Lee. Both players brought big bats to the South Side, and not a whole lotta defense or baserunning. Thomas, a Hall-of-Famer, might be aiming awfully high, but don’t we all, deep down, hope against hope that Eloy could be the 21st Century Big Hurt? On the flip side, if all the White Sox get out of Eloy is eight years of El Caballo, well, it’s not a great sign for the rebuild. But still, it gives us a baseline measure.So, plugging Big Hurt’s numbers into Eloy’s contract:Yeah, a massive win for the White Sox. Using Thomas’ performance, Jim茅nez would amass 52.0 WAR in his eight seasons, close to triple the minimum expectation of 18.8 WAR. That leads to $208 million in value, and $133 million in surplus value.It should be noted that Thomas won two MVPs in his first eight full seasons, and finished among the top eight in MVP voting in his first seven seasons. Thomas made $33 million in his first eight major league seasons, which would translate roughly to $46.9 million in today’s dollars.Now, for El Caballo:If Lee is the worst-case outcome for Jim茅nez Marcus Stroman Jersey , the White Sox simply cannot lose on this extension. Eloy-as-Lee comes in at 20.0 WAR, still past the break-even mark. Eloy’s surplus value as Lee is $4.9 million, which is essentially one free All-Star season. Not bad.Lee never finished higher than No. 17 in MVP voting during those first eight years, making two All-Star teams in that span. Lee was paid just about $31 million for his first eight seasons, which translates to about $36 million in today’s dollars.Outside of the White Sox bubble, there’s some push-back on the nature of the deal:And that’s not unfair. Of course, Jim茅nez has secured his future, and his family’s, and his family’s family. But there’s little doubt that this deal will turn out to be Chris Sale-like if Jim茅nez can even come close to his potential as a Top 5 overall MLB prospect, with prodigious hitting skills. Put another way, Jim茅nez could turn out to be just half the player Frank Thomas was, and still give the White Sox a significant surplus on this contract.And if Jim茅nez turns out to be more along the lines of Lee, again, it may be a gut-punch to the rebuild, but won’t really “cost” the White Sox too much. This low-cost extension frees the White Sox up (theoretically, heh) to spend in a lot of other areas elsewhere in the future, tying up other prospects and luring free agents (cough).Giving $43 million to a guy who’s never seen a major league pitch is a gamble. But, after Chicago’s flailing offseason, it was a risk the team had to take.

MLB teams had to wake up and get busy for at least a day this week http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , protecting their own -1.0 WAR guys from poachers."Here is a research project for anybody who is playing hooky today, starting their holiday weekend early. What player that was protected on any MLB team’s 40-man roster had the very worst WAR in 2018? The LAA candidate for this competition would be Kaleb Cowart.Have some Last-Taco-Before-Cranberries-HaloLinks:A Little Bit Of Angels NewsWelcome to the fold, Dustin Garneau. Take a seat on the opportunity bus next to Peter Bourjos.........In Rule 5 news, Rahul has all the details. The TL;DR version would be Jose Suarez, Luis Madero and Luis Rengifo protected... Jose Fernandez and Parker Bridwell DFA’d...and we can all celebrate the ongoing participation of Jabari Blash...........Trout Porn from BBR. Mike Trout and Mickey Mantle, clone WARs..........Everywhere In BaseballIt’s official. Adrian Beltre has retired. This is a big deal, people. At 95.7 bWAR Beltre was the 2nd-greatest active player in MLB. And, at the rate that Albert Pujols is going and sitting at 100 bWAR going into 2019, it’s not unreasonable to think that when the careers of Beltre and Pujols are in the books, Beltre ends up higher. And since neither Miguel Cabrera nor Robinson Cano are going to catch either, that would mean that Beltre could be the greatest position player not named Mike Trout you ever got to watch. Just look at his career batting history in animation. And now he is gone. And to think that I can recall the Dodgers losing him to Free Agency right after the first FA season player uptick I recognized. Vaya con Dios, amigo!..........Pedro Moura uses this announcement to recall a great moment with Garrett Richards..........C.J. Wilson also had an anecdote about touching Beltre’s head. @Dutch_Oven45 is Derek Holland, and Holland verified the event.........All that said, although he was a very great player, he was never my favorite player..........We had more awards yesterday, wrapping up the season. Khris Davis was named DH of the Year (that’s gotta hurt Boston fans).....and David Price and Johnny Venters were named Comeback Players of the Year..........Uh oh. That Seattle Mariners discrimination story just got beyond he said/she said. Now it’s THEY said, which is a lot more formidable...........Well that didn’t last long. Jenrry Mejia finally made it back from extensive drug suspensions by MLB, in time to make a couple of MiLB appearances for the Mets very late in the year. Less than 90 days after tha, boom, Mejia is released............And the players that Seattle got back? Crap. They alone pull the Mariners off the sea floor of farm system rankings. And we will have to deal with them all too soon..........Sorry, guys at The Athletic, but the only reason to cut back uniform creep would be to free up sleeve space for my idea of player recognition creep (All-Star, GG, MVP Todd Helton Jersey , CYA, etc.)............Meh, it’s only a title. Who needs a “General Manager” when you have all the guys above and below that position who are doing all the work a GM does, anyway? That, anyway, is the SF Giants take. The rest of us franchises must still be in elementary school.........Wanna be surprised? Get a taste of how WPA sifts through the 2018 season and pulls up the most singularly impactful At-Bats, none of which involve a Mike Trout or Mookie Betts..........Aha! Jeff Bezos is, like the Blob, seeks to expand ever so mightily into your very domecile, where you choose to enjoy MLB broadcasts. They are a bidder for all those FOX Regional Sports Networks...........Amazon is not the ONLY bidder, though. You or I might end up being a bidder via some random 401k fund, as many of the bidders are turning out to be private equity firms............Hot StoveRule 5 came and went with many surprises. The LAA news is above, but somewhat related to LAA would be the awkward outcome concerning C.J. Cron and the Tampa Bay Rays. Cron hit 30 home runs for the Rays in 2018, good for 12th in the American League. No first baseman in the AL hit more home runs. His 2.0 bWAR would tie David Fletcher for 6th among position players on the Halos. And yesterday C.J. Cron was DFA’d rather than held and protected on the TBR 40-man roster for Rule 5 purposes...........MLBTR has a full list of guys that were added to the 40-man of each team throughout MLB that was active............In case you did not consider the Astros to already be one of MLB superteams, what if they add Paul Goldschmidt?..........Oh, wow. Here is potential FA market player that I completely forgot about. What if the Brewers decide to go big while their window is still opening?............How about Bryce Harper in pinstripes....as a first baseman?..........That would certainly solve the fundamental problem of paying a guy $300 million with a lead glove..........If a James Paxton (who might be THE top pitcher to move this offseasons no disrespect to Patrick Corbin) can earn back a Top 30 MLB prospect, what the hell is a Noah Syndergaard worth?..............(By the way, the Yankees tried to uncork Jean Segura from Jerry Dipoto in that deal, too.)..........Looking for a pretty productive utility guy? Derek Dietrich of the Marlins was DFA’d............The Padres and Mariners are chatting about swapping Wil Myers for Jean Segura/Mike Leake.The Duffle BagHell yeah. Don’t throw it there again!............Field of Dreams site vandal gets probation, meaning he is free go drive over the site again any day now. Curious that “thousands of people visit the property every year, running around the bases and walking to the surrounding cornfields”, when hardly anybody does the same with that lovely baseball field in the park behind my house.........Why has their never been a Harlem Globetrotters of Baseball?.......... Rob Carr/Getty ImagesA handful of the offseason's top MLB free agents remain preoccupied with World Series aspirations. The hot stove, however, never stays off entirely.Before joining a stacked crop of stars on the open market http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , Manny Machado, Clayton Kershaw, Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton, Craig Kimbrel, Yasmani Grandal, Nathan Eovaldi, Brian Dozier and Hyun-Jin Ryu will look to pad their portfolios with an indelible October moment. As they play for glory, 26 teams are already planning for the winter.Those are only some of baseball's biggest names who will put the sport's recent lethargic spending to the test. Affluent organizations have patiently waited for this influx of game-changing talent, and a growing division of power could spark bidding wars among MLB's top contenders.Let's take an early stroll around the rumor mill to examine some free-agent chatter. Phillies in Mix for Manny Machado and Bryce HarperThe Phillies are expected to pursue Bryce Harper and Machado this offseason.Rob Carr/Getty ImagesAlthough their premature playoff hopes cratered with an 8-20 September, the Philadelphia Phillies remain poised to make major noise this postseason.Even when 2018 contention was a longshot, they opened their wallets to sign Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana. Before accounting for arbitration, those are the only players on the payroll set to make more than $9 million next year.That makes them a strong candidate to pursue the winter's grand prizes, Machado and Bryce Harper. While the former better fits their need for a shortstop or third baseman, FanCred's Jon Heyman said they may ultimately want to poach Harper from the rival Washington Nationals."Phillies people suggest they don鈥檛 think signing both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper is likely, but no one should rule it out," Heyman wrote. "They are expected to be the most aggressive team in bidding this winter. And while they have a strong connection to Machado, don鈥檛 be surprised if it鈥檚 Harper instead. Harper is a chance to stick it to the rival Nats, and his big finish made folks notice."Either one would represent a franchise-altering coup. While most players enter free agency beyond their prime, these superstar sluggers each have plenty of All-Star years ahead at age 26.Machado, who has played all but 11 games in the last four seasons, belted 33-37 homers in each of those campaigns and twice exceeded 6.0 WAR. He offers more consistency and a strong glove, especially if he accepts a permanent move to the hot corner.Harper's batting average has fluctuated wildly (.330, .243 Charlie Blackmon Jersey , .319, .249) over the years, but only five hitters have registered a higher on-base percentage (.388) since his debut in 2012. As showcased by his MVP campaign in 2015, he may still brandish the highest ceiling of anyone in the game.It'd be sweat to bolster their squad while weakening Washington in the process, but the Phillies should still make Machado their top priority. With minus-146Defensive Runs Saved(DRS), they played MLB's worst defense by a wide margin.The former Baltimore Orioles cornerstone can bolster their infield as a solid shortstop or Gold Glove third baseman. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the Phillies are first on his wish list, yet they have the resources to offer a massive, potentially record-setting contract to steer him away from the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.With a top suitor less likely to offer another enormous deal, Harper stays in D.C. to form a formidable outfield with Juan Soto and Victor Robles.Prediction: Machado signs a 10-year megadeal with Phillies; Harper stays with Nationals.Yankees Yearn for Patrick CorbinThe Yankees are reportedly interested in New York native Patrick Corbin.Denis Poroy/Getty ImagesBooted from the playoffs by the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees can oversee significantturnover to take the next step this winter. With southpaw starters J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia set to enter free agency, they will need to fortify their rotation behind Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka.Per Heyman, the Bronx Bombers "are expected to target" Patrick Corbin. There appears to be mutual interest, as the New York native spoke fondly of the possibility to USA Today's Bob Nightengale in April."It would definitely be great to play there," Corbin said. "I grew up a Yankee fan. My whole family are Yankee fans. My mom, my dad, my grandpa, everybody. Really, every generation of my family has been Yankee fans."Nightengale recently followed up with a tweet suggesting little has changed following Corbin's career year:Bob Nightengale BNightengaleThe biggest upset of the free agent period this winter is if the #Yankees DONT land free agent pitcher Patrick Corbin, who grew up in Syracuse, and is from a family with generations of Yankee fansThat's not including his asking price. The lefty boosted his market value substantially by submitting a 3.15 ERA and 246 strikeouts in 200 innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His 2.47 fielding independent pitching (FIP) ranked third among all qualified starters behind Jacob deGrom (1.99) and Trevor Bauer (2.47).Teams may hesitate to throw ace money at a 28-year-old with a 3.91career ERA who went underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014, yet the breakout looks legit. Only Max Scherzer generated a higher percentage of swinging strikes, and nobody induced more swings outside the strike zone.The Yankees need to keep pace with the American League powerhouses, and Corbin wouldslide perfectly into their rotation as an upgrade to Happ and/or Sabathia. He's also younger than fellow free-agent southpaws Kershaw and Keuchel http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , who will each turn 31 before 2019's Opening Day.The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, look poised to retool after missing the playoffs. A.J. Pollock is also a free agent, and ESPN's Buster Olney said the NL West squad will entertain offers for Paul Goldschmidt. Perhaps the star first baseman joins Corbin in the Big Apple.Prediction: Corbin signs with Yankees for five years, $90 million 'No Indication' Rockies Will Retain DJ LeMahieuThe Rockies have showed no signs of working to re-sign DJ LeMahieu, who will need to generate all of his value on defense away from Coors Field.Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesThe Colorado Rockies, who scored two runs in three National League Division Series losses, are in an unusual position of needing to bolster their lineup behind a fortified pitching staff. Those renovations may not include DJ LeMahieu.According to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, there's "no indication" the Rockies will try to retain the 30-year-old second baseman.Their reticence makes sense after rookie Garrett Hampson notched a .396 on-base percentage in 24 MLB games. Their No. 4-ranked prospect on MLB.com batted .311/.382/.462 in Double-A and Triple-A, so he could likely replicate or exceed LeMahieu's subpar 86 weighted runs created plus (wRC+).Either one of them would have to fend off top prospect Brendan Rodgers, a shortstop blocked by Trevor Story who could demand a major league spotlight next season.With a career 87.0 contact percentage, LeMehieu leveraged Coors Field to a .329 batting average, yet the 2016 National League batting champion sports a pedestrian .264/.311/.362 slash line away from Colorado's friendly confines. He may find an unforgiving market if the Rockies pass.Ignoring the two-time Gold Glover's defensive contributions, however, would also be a mistake. His 18 DRS trailed Kolten Wong by one run for the top spot among all second basemen.The Boston Red Sox rented Ian Kinsler for his glove, but he offset any defensive value by batting .242/.394/.311. While LeMahieu's offense will suffer away from Coors, the contact skills should prevent him from bottoming out entirely.Besides, the AL East champions already have plenty of offensive firepower in Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts. Replacing Kinsler with LeMahieu would preserve an elite double-play combination.Prediction: LeMahieu signs a three-year, $28 million deal with Red SoxAll advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rhys Hoskins has quite a knack for being clutch.Hoskins hit two solo homers http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-max-muncy-jersey , Odubel Herrera hit a two-run shot and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Monday night.Since the start of last season, Hoskins has 25 homers that have either tied a game or given Philadelphia a lead.“I don’t think I bear down more,” Hoskins said. “There’s a ton of confidence knowing in those situations if I keep my heart rate down and treat it like any other at-bat, good things can happen. And if it doesn’t, I have All-Stars behind me.”Kurt Suzuki and Brian Dozier went deep for the Nationals.Bryce Harper was 0 for 3 with a walk in his third game against his former team but helped prevent a run with a perfect relay throw.The Phillies are off to a 7-2 start.“I haven’t had a chance to say this but defense was the story of the game,” manager Gabe Kapler said.Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez allowed two runs and four hits in five innings in his first start this season. Seranthony Dominguez (1-0) tossed a perfect sixth, Adam Morgan and David Robertson each tossed scoreless innings.Pat Neshek pitched out of trouble in the ninth for his first save.Dozier led off the inning with a homer to cut the deficit to 4-3. Anthony Rendon followed with a double. But left fielder Andrew McCutchen ran down Juan Soto’s drive to left, Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to second and Suzuki flied out to right.Anibal Sanchez (0-1) gave up three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings in his second start against Philadelphia in five days.“Everything can change by a pitch,” Sanchez said.Hoskins, who hit a two-run homer a 2-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday, gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead in the sixth on his fourth homer. He took Justin Miller deep in the eighth to make it 4-2 .After circling the bases both times Mike Piazza Jersey , Hoskins did a series of choreographed handshakes with several teammates.“He’s selectively aggressive,” Kapler said. “Those balls weren’t clipped the way he can clip a baseball but they still had enough trajectory.”Washington took a 2-0 lead in the second after Soto lined a double and Suzuki ripped a homer to left.The Phillies tied it in the fourth when J.T. Realmuto hit a single and Herrera followed with a drive to the seats in right-center.Zimmerman was thrown out trying to score from first base on Suzuki’s hit in the fourth when Harper chased the ball down in right-center and quickly fired to shortstop Jean Segura, who threw a strike to catcher Realmuto.“That was awesome,” Velasquez said. “Bryce got it quick. Segura made a nice throw. Little things like that matter most.”Dozier’s homer was his first since signing a $9 million, one-year free agent deal. He totaled 76 homers between 2016-17 before disappointing last season with Minnesota and the Dodgers.SEEING REDSanchez has made four straight starts against Philadelphia going back to his final two outings with the Braves last season. He’s 5-10 career vs. the Phillies.TRAINER’S ROOMNationals: OF Michael Taylor (right knee/hip sprain) was activated from the 10-day injured list. OF Andrew Stevenson was optioned to Triple-A Fresno.Phillies: OF Roman Quinn (right oblique strain) will continue his rehab work in the minors, though the team hasn’t decided whether he will move up to face tougher competition.UP NEXTRHP Aaron Nola (1-0, 7.00 ERA) goes for the Phillies and RHP Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 2.84) starts for the Nationals in a matchup of aces Tuesday night. Nola, who finished third in NL Cy Young award voting last year, got roughed up in Washington last week, allowing six runs in three innings. LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodger Stadium mound just won’t look right on opening day without Clayton Kershaw standing on it.First base will also look pretty weird for the Arizona Diamondbacks without Paul Goldschmidt on the bag.For the first time since 2010 http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-max-muncy-jersey , Kershaw won’t be the Dodgers‘ opening day starter when they face the Diamondbacks on Thursday.And for the first time since 2011, Goldschmidt won’t be Arizona’s first baseman when a new season begins.Shoulder inflammation is sidelining Kershaw for at least a couple of weeks, sending the two-time defending NL champions into their quest for a third straight World Series trip without the superstar lefty who has been the cornerstone of their rotation for this entire decade.Kershaw’s streak of eight straight opening day starts was the longest in the history of a franchise established in 1883. He has won five of those starts, also a Dodgers record, and has posted a sparkling 1.05 ERA on opening days.For a little perspective, the Dodgers’ last opening day starter not named Kershaw was Vicente Padilla, who has been out of the majors for nearly seven years.That’s an awfully daunting legacy facing Hyun-Jin Ryu, who takes the mound for the Dodgers against the Diamondbacks. But the South Korean left-hander is looking forward to the honor against former Dodgers star Zack Greinke and the Diamondbacks.“It’s definitely special,” Ryu said through a translator after the announcement. “I wasn’t thinking about it, nor was it my priority.”Another celebratory opening day in Chavez Ravine matches two NL West rivals with playoff aspirations.While Los Angeles is a solid favorite to extend its streak of six consecutive division titles, the Diamondbacks have plenty of uncertainty behind the 35-year-old Greinke Chase Utley Jersey , who will make his third opening day start in his four years with Arizona.Although the Diamondbacks still have a solid talent base and promising prospects, they’re establishing a new identity this summer after the offseason departures of Goldschmidt and Patrick Corbin. Goldschmidt was traded to St. Louis before he could hit free agency, leaving the D-backs without their most popular player and a six-time All-Star.Arizona’s transition wasn’t helped Monday when Steven Souza Jr., Arizona’s probable cleanup hitter, stepped awkwardly on home plate and badly injured his left knee, sending him into season-ending surgery.“A really unfortunate situation for us and for him, but we’re going to be behind him,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “Moving forward, we’ve been built for this. We have some depth. We have a situation where some guys are going to get some opportunities to step in and get a number of at-bats and help us win baseball games.”The Diamondbacks also will see a familiar face in the home dugout: Outfielder A.J. Pollock signed with the Dodgers in January after seven big league seasons with Arizona, which drafted him in 2009.Los Angeles fans might take a while to warm up to the former divisional foe, particularly since Pollock arrived during the same offseason as the departure of Yasiel Puig http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-max-muncy-jersey , likely the Dodgers’ most popular player among the faithful.The game also should mark the official return of Corey Seager, who is back from two major surgeries and determined to resume his once-ascendant career.The Dodgers shortstop was the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in his first two big league seasons, but he played in just 26 games last season before he sprained a ligament in his right arm and had Tommy John surgery. He then underwent arthroscopic hip surgery last August, and he missed the entirety of the Dodgers’ second World Series run.Other than a few judicious additions, the Dodgers have largely the same roster that made two straight World Series, only to lose twice on its home field. The Dodgers’ depth and experience should provide the foundation for another strong season — particularly once Kershaw and injured Rich Hill return to their rotation.“We feel good about where we’re at,” Justin Turner said. “Everybody who’s healthy is feeling really good, and our pitchers are all trending up.”

Morning News and Notes for Thursday Ben Gamel Jersey , February 14, 2019"Split Squad DayRoyals 17 - Indians 7- Cody Anderson gave up 4 runs in the first and the rout was on.Box Score Indians 9 - Brewers 3 - Trevor Bauer doing Bauer-y things. Jake Bauers with 5 RBI.Recap | Box ScoreOther Indians NewsFrancisco Lindor sees first spring training action for Cleveland Indians in minor league game - cleveland.com - Lindor reported no pain or setbacks after three at-bats in Wednesday's action.Lindor, Zimmer see first spring game action - “I knew I wasn’t going to go 100 percent, but I just went out there and played the game,” Lindor said. “I’m happy http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , I’m blessed. Today is a successful day. Check the box.”MLB preview 2019: The Cleveland Indians are heavy favorites in the AL Central again - Bless You Boys - Cleveland will almost certainly win their fourth division title in a row, but are they good enough to win in the playoffs?The Washington Nationals Take a Sipp | FanGraphs BaseballOn Wednesday, the Washington Nationals dipped into the leftovers pile of free agency and came away with LGFTlefty reliever Tony Sipp, formerly of the Houston Astros, who signed a one-year Mitch Haniger Jersey , $1.25 million deal, with a $2.5 million mutual option for 2020.Around the LeagueAstro caught cheatingLGFT Moe Berg gets the documentary treatmentIndians among Top 10 Defenses says MLB.comMLB to operate with one trade deadlineMiggy employs hidden ball trick Alexander’s season was full of ups and downs, walks were still a issue for the ground ball specialist.He did lead the team with 73 appearances on the mound."The Dodgers acquired left-handed reliever Scott Alexander as part of a three-team trade on January 4, 2018.Alexander started his 2018 season by walking nine in 11鈪?innings in 11 total games played in March and April.He was then optioned to Oklahoma City on April 29th.He pitched four scoreless innings in four games at Oklahoma City and was recalled to the Dodgers on May 9th.Alexander would stay on the 25-man roster for the rest of the season.Alexander led the team with 73 pitching appearances, one of those was his first start in his major league career.What went rightAlexander was again one of the best at getting batters to hit a ground ball.His ground ball rate was 70.9%.That was second to Brad Ziegler in the National League.He also did not give up a home run to a left-handed batter in the regular season.What went wrongAlexander repeated his 3.7 BB/9 IP from 2017.Also he had an ERA of 4.00 or higher in four of the six months he pitched in 2018.2018 particularsAge:29Stats:2-1 http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , 3 saves in 73 appearances.3.68 ERA, 7.6 SO/9 IP, 3.7 BB/9 IPGame of the yearScott Alexander made his first career start on May 19, 2018 against the Washington Nationals.It was in the second game of a doubleheader. Rich Hill had to leave the game due to a blister.Hill did get two strikes on Trea Turner before leaving.Alexander came in and got the strikeout.In fact, he struck out the side in the first inning.In the second Alex Colome Jersey , he gave up a walk that was followed by a ground ball which became a double play.Alexander would then record his fourth strikeout to end his night.Eventually, the Dodgers would rally to beat the Nationals 5-4 and sweep the doubleheader. ]Roster statusAlexander has 2.097 years of service time.He also has two options remaining.

Fresh off winning a World Series with the Boston Red Sox Boog Powell Jersey , free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel is generating a lot of interest on the open market.Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals are all possible suitors for Kimbrel.The Red Sox extended Kimbrel aqualifying offer, which would guarantee him $17.9 million in 2019 if he accepts it before the Nov. 12 deadline.Red Soxpresident of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters at Tuesday's general manager meetings he anticipates Kimbrel will turn down the offer."He may be calling around seeing what else is out there," Dombrowski said (h/t MassLive.com'sChris Cotillo). "You don't want to be caught by surprise when you're out there pursuing something real strong."The Phillies, Braves and Cardinals all ranked in the bottom half of Major League Baseball in bullpen ERA last season. The Cardinals have the most pressing need for a closer Giancarlo Stanton Jersey , as Bud Norris is a free agent.Kimbrel posted a 2.74 ERA with 42 saves, 96 strikeouts and 31 hits allowed in 62.1 innings for the Red Sox in 2018. The Red Sox are the favorites to win the World Series at +300.The Dodgers have the shortest odds (+500) of any team in the National League. The Yankees are flying a bit under the radar at 10-1 to win the World Series.There are 10 teams still left standing in the MLB. That number will get down to eight after Wednesday night, but for now all 10 of the remaining teams will believe they have a chance to go on a run and win the World Series.I’ve broken down each team’s strengths and weaknesses and provided a future play I like heading into the postseason.Oakland A’sWorld Series Odds: 20-1The A’s were a trendy sleeper coming into the year but they are still the surprise of this bunch. They posted an MLB-best 42-23 record in the second half and have the most underrated manager in the league, Bob Melvin.Somehow the Athletics made it this far with a rotation full of journeymen like Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Edwin Jackson and Mike Fiers.While those guys won’t strike fear into any lineup Derek Jeter Jersey , they have a fabulous bullpen led by Blake Treinen. Treinen was the game’s best reliever this season and is backed up by Jeurys Familia, Lou Trivino and Fernando Rodney.Melvin has plenty of weapons and he knows how to use them.The bullpen is the A’s biggest edge, but their offense is a strength. They finished with the third most home runs this season and their .329 wOBA was the fifth-best mark in the league.The A’s will be underdogs against the Yankees and if they get through that game, face an uphill battle in a highly competitive American League. They just don’t have a good enough rotation to win a series against elite offenses. Colorado RockiesWorld Series odds: 20-1Like the A’s, the Rockies will be underdogs in the Wild Card Game, hence the long odds.Nolan Arenado http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon headline the offense but the emergence of David Dahl in September has given Bud Black’s lineup even more length.Stuckey and Lo Duca: Our Favorite Betting Angles for the Rockies-Cubs NL Wild Card GameRead nowColorado always has a good offense, but this year they actually got good starting pitching. Kyle Freeland — who will start in the Wild Card Game — posted a 2.85 ERA in 33 starts, German Marquez has electric stuff and was brilliant in the second half and Jon Gray, when he’s on, can shut down any lineup.Get The EdgeLIMITED TIME OFFER - 60% OFFUnlock this article + all the EDGE benefitsTRY EDGE TODAYNow accepting&Already an EDGE member?聽Sign In

It's fair to say the 2018 season has not played out ashoped for Bryce Harper on a number of levels.On an individual level Lance Lynn Jersey , his numbers are down across the board from his standout 2017 level of production:2017:492 PA, .319/.413/.595, 29 HR, 87 RBI, 4.7 WAR2018:490 PA, .234/.378/.501, 28 HR, 71 RBI, 1.0 WAROn a team level, the Washington Nationals have limped along to a 58-56 record, leaving them third in the NL East standings and in danger of missing the postseason after they entered the year with lofty expectations.That being said, Harper is still a 25-year-old superstar with six All-Star appearances and an NL MVP award under his belt.He's also hitting .367/.457/.767 with three doubles, three home runs and seven RBI in 35 plate appearances in August, and starting to look more like the impact slugger we've seen in recent seasons.So where does that leave his free-agent stock?Buster Olney of ESPN offered up his take:"Since Harper began his career, there has been an expectation that he would approach a record-setting contract in free agency. But some executives wonder if Harper鈥檚 2018 struggles continue, a better option could be to take a shorter-term deal with an opt-out, to give Harper a mulligan and another launch year; after all, Harper is only 25 years old. 'That could work for him Mark McGwire Jersey , and for the Nationals,' one evaluator said."That could conceivably increase the chances of him returning to the Nationals.Executives from others teams speculated to Olney: "Adown year for Harper could increase the chances he returns to the Nationals鈥攂ecause they understand Harper more than other teams and understand that in those periods when he eases the paralytic pressure he places on himself, he is a dynamic force."The Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and all the other big-market teams capable of offering up the massive contract that's been speculated for years will still be in the mix.Prediction:Nationals re-sign Harper to a three-year, $120 million deal that includes an opt-out after 2019 and 2020.Manny MachadoJayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Dodgers landed the biggest trade chip on the market when they acquired Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles for a package of prospects built around toolsy outfielder Yusniel Diaz.There's no guarantee he's anything more than a rental, though.In fact, with Corey Seager expected to return at the start of next season and Justin Turner hopefully putting this season's injury woes in the rearview, an argument can be made that Machado doesn't fit into the team's long-term plans even if he was interested in sticking around.So where will the 26-year-old slugger land?The Philadelphia Phillies were one of the other teams that were hot on his trail before he was traded to the Dodgers, with Jayson Stark of MLB Network noting that the Baltimore front office did some extensive scouting on a number of the top prospects in the Philadelphia system.Even after signing Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana last offseason, the Phillies payroll still stands at just over $102 million. That's 23rd in the majors, according to Spotrac.Compare that to the 2014 season, when the Phillies ranked third in baseball with a payroll over $175 million, and it's clear they have the resources to offer up the megadeal that Machado will be seeking.If there's a dark horse in the race to land Machado, it might be the Miami Marlins, as Ely Sussman of SBNation speculated.Machado grew up in the Miami area, and the Marlins have plenty of money to spend after slashing payroll this past offseason. While replacing the contract of Giancarlo Stanton with another massive long-term deal for Machado might seem like a contradictory move, Machado is two years younger and doesn't have the same injury history as Stanton.Prediction:Phillies sign Machado to an eight-year http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , $304 million deal.Josh DonaldsonTom Szczerbowski/Getty ImagesOh, what could have been for both Josh Donaldson and the Toronto Blue Jays.Donaldson was one of baseball's truly elite players from 2013 to 2017. During that span, he racked up an impressive 31.3 WARwhile taking home 2015 AL MVP honors and finishing in the top five in the voting two other times.Even in an injury-plagued 2017 campaign, he still posted a 147 OPS+ with 33 home runs in 113 games en route to a 4.8 WAR season.Unfortunately, he's been unable to shake a nagging calf injury this season that has been sidelined since May 28. He's played in just 36 games and was hitting a less-than-stellar .234 with a 107 OPS+ at the time of the injury.As a result, he likely cost himself a good chunk of change on the free-agent market, while simultaneously costing the Blue Jays an incredibly valuable trade chip.There's still a chance he returns healthy before the Aug. 31 waiver-trade deadline and shows enough that the Blue Jays are willing to flip him for a decent return.General manager Ross Atkins told reporters that the team had "a lot of discussions" about Donaldson leading up to the deadline. So it stands to reason that if he can get back on the field, interest would only increase.If they don't find an offer to their liking, a qualifying offer is a given and the Blue Jays would then be able to recoup some prospect talent through the draft.But might Donaldson consider accepting the offer?The 32-year-old is making $23 million this season, and the qualifying offer last season was worth $17.4 million, so it would likely mean a marginal pay cut.However, it would give Donaldson a chance to rebuild his value without rolling the dice on a free-agent market that has been wildly unpredictable in recent years.Otherwise, he might be inclined to settle for a one-year deal with a second-year player option, which would be an attractive roll of the dice for more than a few teams.Prediction:Indians sign Donaldson to a two-year, $50 million deal that includes an opt-out after 2019.Other Notable Free-Agent Hitters:IF Asdrubal Cabrera (PHI), DH Nelson Cruz (SEA), 2B Brian Dozier (MIN),C Yasmani Grandal (LAD) http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , CF Adam Jones (BAL), 2B Jed Lowrie (OAK), RF Nick Markakis (ATL), CF A.J. Pollock (ARI), C Wilson Ramos (PHI)All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesAs the Boston Red Sox have jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2018 World Series, J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts have emerged as the favorites to take home the Fall Classic's MVP honors.Martinez and Betts lead the field, with Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi following closely behind, per OddsShark:OddsShark OddsSharkUpdated odds to win #WorldSeries MVP (5Dimes):Martinez +250Betts +300Benintendi +400Bogaerts +1000Price +1500Bradley Jr. +2000Devers/Machado +2500Kimbrel +3000Puig +3500Turner +4000Kemp/Muncy +5000Porcello/Bellinger +5000Sale/Vazquez +5000Kershaw +10000No real surprises there.Betts has helped set the table for Martinez and Co. The Boston leadoff hitter is 4-for-8 with a walk, a double, a stolen base and three runs scored.Hitting at the top of the lineup means his focus is on getting on base rather than power numbers鈥攁nd he has proven very valuable in that regard thus far.Martinez has been showing he is worth every penny of the five-year, $110 million contract he signed last offseason by following up a spectacular regular season with a strong start to the World Series. Through the first two games, the slugger is 3-for-7 with one walk, four RBI and a double.His series has been highlighted by a clutch go-ahead hit in Game 2:It's important to note that Martinez is currently dealing with an ankle injury he suffered in Game 1. PerESPN, Boston skipper Alex Cora would not commit to Martinez being in the lineup on Friday. Then again, losing the designated hitter could also affect the World Series MVP chase. Betts may shift to the infield and play second base to clear room in the outfield for Martinez if the slugger is healthy.Both Martinez (.330 average, 43 home runs and 130 RBI) and Betts (.346 average, .438 on-base percentage Paul DeJong Jersey , 32 home runs and 80 RBI) are in the mix for the American League MVP award this season as well.Benintendi has gone 4-for-8 with one walk, one double and one RBI (and an impressive catch) through the first two games, and 2018 ALCS MVP Jackie Bradley Jr. has been unable to carry over his momentum from the previous series, going just 1-for-7 against Los Angeles so far.David Price (+1500) comes in at fifth after throwing six innings of three-hit, shutout baseball in a 4-2 victory in Game 2. Entering the 2018 postseason, he faced long odds to be considered for the award, given his teams lost each of his first 10 career postseason starts. However, he is 2-0 in his last three starts this postseason, with Boston winning all three games.There are six Red Sox players on the list before the first Dodger shows up, with Manny Machado coming in at +2500. The midseason acquisition is just 2-for-7 in the series, but he leads Los Angeles with three RBI.Los Angeles first baseman David Freese was named the 2011 World Series MVP after playing the role of hero for the St. Louis Cardinals. He has once again shown up on baseball's biggest stage, leading his team with a .600 average (3-for-5).Of course, a series never truly gets underway until the road team wins a game. Boston successfully protected home-field advantage at Fenway Park, and now, the series shifts to Dodger Stadium. That means the pursuit of the World Series and of the MVP award will be taken up a notch.

MIAMI (AP) — Justin Smoak’s first career pinch-hit homer was one memorable drive.Smoak capped Toronto’s five-run ninth inning with a grand slam http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-shelby-miller-jersey , sending the Blue Jays to a 6-5 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.“It’s awesome, man,” Smoak said. “In that situation, down the whole game, to be able to come big for your team, it’s what it’s all about.”Toronto trailed 5-1 heading into the ninth. The Blue Jays loaded the bases on Danny Jansen’s one-out infield single before the Marlins replaced Kyle Barraclough with Drew Steckenrider (4-4).Aledmys Diaz then struck out looking, but Devon Travis forced in a run with a walk and Smoak drove Steckenrider’s 0-2 pitch over the wall in right for his 22nd homer.It was Smoak’s second slam this season and No. 3 for his career. It was the first pinch-hit grand slam for Toronto since Reed Johnson accomplished the feat against Boston on July 1, 2005.“I had no clue who he was, I’ve never faced him before,” Smoak said. “Down 0-2 Chris Owings Jersey , honestly I was trying to battle there. I put a good swing there.”Joe Biagini (3-7) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win and Ken Giles worked a shaky ninth for his 19th save. Miami put two runners on before Austin Dean fouled out and Magneuris Sierra lined to left, ending the game.After the game was over, Toronto announced it had traded slugger Josh Donaldson and cash considerations to Cleveland for a player to be named. Donaldson, who won the AL MVP award in 2015, has been limited to 36 games this season because of injuries.Miami wasted a solid performance by Dan Straily in its fourth consecutive loss. Starlin Castro went 3 for 3 for the Marlins, and Brian Anderson doubled and walked twice.Straily allowed four hits, struck out four and walked one in eight innings. He pitched six scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory over NL East-leading Atlanta in his previous start.“This is a tough one to take,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “Dan pitched a quality game all day and then to just not be able to close it out there. Obviously, frustrating for everyone.”Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez was charged with five runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. It was his second start after missing two months because of a contusion on his right index finger.The Marlins jumped in front with three runs in the fourth. Derek Dietrich and J.T. Riddle had run-scoring singles, and Dean drove in Castro with a groundout.RBI singles for J.T. Realmuto and Castro extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth.WALK THIS WAYIt took 93 plate appearances but the speedy Sierra reached on a walk for the first time since he was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans on July 24. He was walked intentionally to load the bases Archie Bradley Jersey , and Straily struck out to end the fourth inning.SLIPPERY BATToronto slugger Kendrys Morales lost his bat on a swing-and-miss in the sixth inning, with the lumber flying high above the Blue Jays dugout. The elevated netting prevented the bat from landing in the stands.TRAINER’S ROOMBlue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (back) joined the team in Miami and manager John Gibbons confirmed he will start the second game of the series Saturday.Marlins: OF Garrett Cooper had right wrist surgery. Cooper, the Marlins’ opening-day right fielder, originally hurt his wrist when he was hit by a pitch in the second game of the season. He returned July 6 before having another setback 10 days later.UP NEXTBlue Jays: Estrada (7-10, 5.18 ERA) lasted two innings in his previous start against Philadelphia on Sunday.Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (5-9, 4.91 ERA) is 4-3 with a 1.86 ERA in 11 home starts this season. ST .PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Khris Davis helped Oakland win another close one.Davis led off the 10th inning with his major league-leading 42nd homer, and the Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Friday night.“I’ve always said he’s one swing away from winning a game for you,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s developed a knack for hitting good pitching and hitting dramatic homers late in games.”Oakland improved its majors-best record in one-run games to 29-12 and extended its lead for the second AL wild card to nine games over the surprising Rays. Tampa Bay has 16 games left.The A’s remained 1½ games behind the New York Yankees for the first wild card. The Yankees beat Toronto 11-0.“We’re competing for a spot. Every game is precious,” Davis said.Davis’ drive to center off Jaime Schultz (2-1) was his 40th this season as a designated hitter. He joins David Ortiz has the only DHs to have 40 or more homers.Davis set an Oakland record with his 16th homer in the seventh inning or later.The A’s had just three hits against nine Tampa Bay pitchers.“Today stunk just in the fact that we had an opportunity and we didn’t capitalize Curt Schilling Jersey ,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “It’s tough to pull negatives from what this group has done and how they performed tonight.”Blake Treinen (7-2) went two scoreless innings for the win.Matt Chapman doubled for the first A’s hit with one out in the fourth and scored on Matt Olson’s single.Tampa Bay tied it later in the fourth when Tommy Pham extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a pop-fly double into shallow center field and crossed the plate on Joey Wendle’s base hit.“They didn’t give us much,” Rays third baseman Matt Duffy said. “A close, hard-fought game.”Oakland reliever Shawn Kelley worked out of a second-and-third, no-out jam in the sixth.“That was a Houdini inning,” Melvin said.Athletics starter Edwin Jackson allowed one run and four hits in five innings.Reliever Diego Castillo opened the game for the Rays and struck out four over two perfect innings.Sergio Romo retired all three batters in the ninth in his second appearance for the Rays since Aug. 25. He recorded a two-out save on Sept. 4 at Toronto.The Athletics are 12-5 in extra innings.“It’s fun baseball that we’re playing right now and every day it’s a different person coming through in clutch situations,” Jackson said.MAKING A CASE FOR CYThe Rays have put out a handbill supporting Blake Snell’s AL Cy Young Award bid titled “Attack of the Cy Zilla!” It includes a quote from Boston manager Alex Cora saying Snell has “been great against everybody.” Red Sox lefty Chris Sale is also a contender. Snell, whose nickname is Snellzilla, leads the majors with 19 wins.TOUGH LOSSESTampa Bay is 25-29 in one-run games. … It was the Rays’ 14th loss when allowing two runs or fewer, which is most in the majors.NUMBERSChapman has 23 doubles and 38 extra-base hits since the All-Star break. … Oakland C Jonathan Lucrory threw out two runners on stolen base attempts. … Athletics RF Stephen Piscotty had his 14-game hitting streak end after going 0 for 4.TRAINER’S ROOMAthletics: RHP Trevor Cahill (upper back) will miss his next scheduled start. “He had a trigger-point injection,” Melvin said. “Hopefully that alleviates it.”Rays: Duffy (lower back) started after being out of the lineup the previous three games. “I don’t think the pain is completely out of there but he wants to be in there Luis Gonzalez Jersey ,” Cash said.UP NEXTTampa Bay and Oakland, two of the primary teams using relievers as openers to start games, will employ the strategy against each other for the first time Saturday night. “It’s just trying to take advantage of what you have,” Melvin said. Tampa Bay will go with RHP Ryne Stanek (2-3), while Oakland counters with RHP Liam Hendriks (0-1).

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a safe and wonderful day. What will I be doing? You mean besides writing up some Power Rankings? You know http://www.thebroncosfootballauthentic.com/connor-mcgovern-jersey-authentic , the usual: Driving 2 1鈦? hours south to crappy ass Penrose to visit the family. Booking another vacation because why not? Keeping the TV on in the background to trick my mind that I’m not all alone. You know, the usual. On a serious note, the season is all but wrapped up and I’m not sure if this will be the last Power Ranking of the year or not as after this week, some teams will be resting starters while some teams will be depending on others to seal their playoff fate. After this week’s games, you can basically just go up and down the standings to get the true rankings of teams. Besides, only 12 teams can play anyways, so there isn’t much reason to rank all 32, right? Have a safe and happy holidays everyone. If you’re in one of the following cities between now and end of January, hit me up, I might be in a city near you: Los Angeles, New Orleans (for their Divisional game), Miami, Washington DC, and Denver naturally. I’ll be in Portland area likely February or March. Yes, Pete loves to take long weekend vacations. What the hell else am I gonna do with my time? Pretend I know all 10,000 college kids declaring for the draft? 1. New Orleans Saints:The NFC playoffs roll through New Orleans, and so too shall I. Yep, Jan 11 - 15th I’ll be in town. I don’t think they’ve lost all year when I’ve been there, and I don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon. Unlike the Broncos, the Saints actually win when I’m there. Then again, they don’t have a worthless head coach, so... there is that. 2. Los Angeles Rams:The Rams are on shaky ground, but so too are all the teams heading into the playoffs. I’m not sure if the Rams will be one and done, or blaze through the playoffs, destroying every team that faces them. They look fragile, but something inside of me says they can turn it on in an instant.3. Baltimore Ravens:I’m not sure how good the Ravens are, but they’re suddenly looking like the most complete team in the AFC.4. Seattle Seahawks:Like the Ravens, I’m not sure how good the Seahawks are Womens Jake Butt Jersey , and I know they dropped a game a few weeks ago, but this team has some grit and resolve to them. They’re getting pretty scary all of a sudden.5. Los Angeles Chargers:Yes, they lost to the Ravens, but they still have a shot at the #1 seed with the Chiefs pulling a Chiefs and losing in December (and likely January it looks).6. Chicago Bears:They’re still winning, but I’d like for them to look more well rounded against lesser competition. Still, January in Chicago will not be a fun place to play if you’re Seattle and/or Minnesota or whoever else might be passing through.7. Dallas Cowboys:They wrapped up their division for the first time in how many generations? Kidding kidding. Lets see if they can win a playoff game before we go crowning them anything.8. Kansas City Chiefs:Oh how the once mighty have fallen. I just don’t get it KC. I thought this was the year you didn’t pull the usual tank job in December and then January. Sure, January has yet to happen, but damn! You do realize that in order to stop getting the history thrown in your face like a drink after using a lame pick up line, you gotta actually do something to change it, right?9. Houston Texans:As is the theme of these Power Rankings, all the teams are flawed. Demaryius Thomas is gone with an Achilles, and that is a big loss for a team that already has too many injuries at the Wide Receiver position. Still, you have DeShaun Watson, and he can heal a lot of wounds.10. Indianapolis Colts:I wish I could put them higher, but they had to rally to beat the Giants at home! 11. New England Patriots:Look, the Patriots are always a tough out in the Playoffs, but if I’m heading into Foxboro (they might end up the #2 seed), I’m not exactly dreading playing them. They have “one and done” written all over themselves.12. Pittsburgh Steelers:The Steelers have fallen from the #2 seed and a first round bye, to out of the playoffs without a miracle of miracles. I believe the Browns have to beat the Ravens AND Indy needs to tie with the Titans. I mean, the first one is possible, but rooting for a tie? That’s just absurd. On the flip side, I sure would love Mike Tomlin in Broncos gear roaming the sideline on game days!13. Cleveland Browns:What more can be said about Baker Mayfield? He has the Browns winning again. There’s entire generations of Browns fans that haven’t seen this happen yet.14. Minnesota Vikings:Again, they can beat teams with losing records, and the next up is the Bears, which according to my eyeballs and the fact that existence exists, aren’t a sub .500 team. Chalk this up as a good ol defeat. Will this eliminate this pretender of a quarterback from playoff contention yet? 15. Philadelphia Eagles:Foles got dinged up, just like The Dude’s car. How bad is it? And will he be ready next week?16. Tennessee Titans:Technically the Titans are still alive. I’m not sure if they need help even if they beat the Colts, but the fact that the aren’t in means they aren’t in the Top 12.17. Green Bay Packers:Well Womens Justin Simmons Jersey , their offense finally started clicking, but when you realize it was against the Jets and that the Jets gave them all they could handle, well, you just end up finding yourself ranked 17.18. Atlanta Falcons:You don’t get much love when you beat a team that shut down their QB for the year. The Falcons are the bridesmaid, not the bride.19. Jacksonville Jaguars:They finally won, but it was against that pretender ass team called the Dolphins. Miami is fools gold, just like a Broncos win against the Raiders.20. Miami Dolphins:When I look at the Dolphins, all I can think about is that damn Cyndi Lauper song “True Colors”... just without all the lovey dovey nonsense.21. New York Giants:Even in defeat, this team is showing that they can get it done every once in a while. I just don’t get it. Are they really a young QB away? Are they a crap team that gets lucky? Are they a good team that just plays bad? 22. New York Jets:Holy Sam Darnold, where did that come from? 23. Detroit Lions:You got waxed by Kirk (don’t call him Kurt) Cousins. At home! 24. Washington Redskins:I’m amazed they are as competitive as they are with who they keep trotting out on the field week after week. I’d say it’s possible good coaching, but I’m a Broncos fan, so I wouldn’t know what that looks like anymore!25. Carolina Panthers:Congratulations Colorado’s own Christian McCaffrey for setting the all time RB catch record with a game to go. 26. Cincinnati Bengals:Typically losing to the Browns would be cause for a punchline to a joke, but not this year, and probably not for many years to come.27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:You gave Dallas a run for their money. I wish you won, because the Broncos need to move on up that draft order.28. Buffalo Bills:Eh, you win some and you lose some. You have a few decent pieces to build around, but I’m not sure you’ll be a serious team for a few more years. Although, I hear you have a lot of cap room, which can be the great equalizer.29. San Francisco 49ers:Week after week I’m stunned at how competitive the Niners are. Again, this is what amazing coaching can do for a team. Do you think Elway wishes he had that decision to make all over again?30. Oakland Raiders:Farewell Jokeland. Thanks for messing up so bad that you gave us better draft position and you worse. We can always count on you for doing the absolute dumbest thing for your franchise. And beating the Broncos ranks right up there. 31. Arizona Cardinals:Where are all the “Elway should have taken Rosen” fans now? Speak up! 32. Denver Broncos:2 minutes to go... at the 5 yard line. A chance to go up by 20. So what does Oakland do? Do they just go up by 20 with a touchdown? Oh hell no! They “Mercy Rule” us because we’re so pathetic that in a messed up way, kneeling at the 5 yard line is an even bigger slap in the face of this “we are the New Raiders... we are the New Browns... we are the New Lions” franchise. Pathetic Denver, Pathetic. I know I said you’d lose in multiple articles this week, but you straight got chumped. When the Raiders feel so sorry for you that they just kneel? Yeah, you’ve hit rock bottom. Welcome to the laughing stock of the NFL. A couple weeks ago I looked at the question of who could be gone if Elway had a fire sale. Demaryius Thomas has been the guy to garner all the headline attention and for good reason, but here’s a list of other names management could explore dealing. This isn’t necessarily a list of players I’d advocate for moving so much as a list of guys who aren’t likely contributing to the next Broncos team that is seriously contending for Super Bowls. If winning (big) is all that matters in the NFL, it’s fair to wonder if they’re more valuable as trade chips. Bradley Roby Darian Stewart Tramaine BrockEmmanuel SandersMax Garcia Billy Turner Derek Wolfe Domata Peko Shelby Harris Zach Kerr Brandon Marshall Todd Davis Then there is Matt Paradis, Shane Ray, and Shaquil Barrett. If Elway isn’t sold on resigning any of them getting any potential value at this point would be a boon. It’s unlikely Denver suddenly deals all the above names Authentic Von Miller Jersey , but the fans clamoring for a blowup need to realize those are the guys that could reasonably move if it did indeed happen. A few trades from the above and the 2018 Broncos go from “good bad team” to dumpster fire pretty quickly. The schedule is a mixed bag going forward with the Chargers, Steelers, and Bengals games looming large. Even the Texans look scary, although the fact their team looks more like a M.A.S.H unit definitely helps Denver’s chances. It’s entirely possible for the Broncos to claw their way back to a respectable 8-8 if things go right, outside of those toss up tough games there remains dates with the 49ers, Browns and Raiders. In many ways, tomorrow marks a crossroads for Elway as much as this year’s roster. If the 2018 offseason was a short term fix to chase respectability Tuesday’s trade deadline is a chance to finalize that decision. Picks are nothing more than potential but if I’ve learned anything about the NFL draft it doesn’t hurt to have as many lottery tickets as possible. If Elway is looking to make a move up and grab a Quarterback like Justin Herbert in 2019, those extra picks would come in handy. With a 30-year old journeyman under center, the Broncos have to be considered the absolute lowest he’d fall in next year’s draft, if he declares.Even with the Thursday Night beating in mind, It remains an open question if Josh Rosen would have been the smarter long term move at 5 last year. There’s a certain part of me that will admit it made sense for the chemistry of the team to grab a veteran and an immediate impact defender like Brandon Chubb. The rookie looks like a franchise building block, just as Courtland Sutton, Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay do.That may be what hurts the most about Keenum. If he looked anything like the signal caller he was for the Vikings, Denver would be competing with the Chiefs for the division. Instead they moved from the dregs of the league to outer fringe. It’s painful, but don’t let the trees cause you to miss the forest. Keenum has at least solidified the 2018 quarterback position enough that other talent on the offense has shown through. That wasn’t the case in 2017. What that does going forward is allow management to identify the parts of the roster that are worth building around for 2019 and 2020.On to the linksDenver Broncos: 3 winners, 6 losers in 30-23 loss to Chiefs - Mile High ReportOne big takeaway from Broncos loss to Chiefs is play calling - Mile High Report‘Self-inflicted wounds’ infuriate Broncos after dropping second tough loss to Chiefs - Mile High ReportDenver Broncos: John Elway’s legacy at risk; must find a franchise QB - Mile High ReportI may need to dodge a rock or two for this, but I’d venture an opinion that Elway has already directly harmed his own legacy. As a GM he decided to roll with Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch two straight seasons instead of signing a starting caliber quarterback in free agency. Whether you agree or disagree with Colin Kaepernick’s stance against police brutality, Elway could have signed him. He didn’t.Demaryius Thomas addresses impact of trade rumors as deadline nearsPlayers attracting interest ahead of trade deadline - NFL.comNew England Patriots emerging as trade partner for Demaryius Thomas - Mile High ReportNFL Week 8: Redskins rising, Rams relentless, more | SI.comAudibles at the Line: Week 8 | Football OutsidersNFL Week 8 Grades: Saints earn high mark for road win; Jameis Winston gets an ‘F’ for interception meltdown - CBSSports.comNFL trade deadline: 7 deals for players that top teams should makeLincoln Riley: I don’t have the NFL itch right now – ProFootballTalkA quick look at the TexansHouston Texans Injury News: The Latest On Will Fuller, Johnathan Joseph, Zach Cunningham - Battle Red Blog2 of the 3 definitely won’t play against the Broncos.Injury Aftermath: Week 8 | Football OutsidersA look around the rest of the WestChiefs’ Patrick Mahomes off to historic start to season - NFL.comEverywhere I’ve looked this season the media has been praising Mahomes and every time I see a Broncos fan response to it is that they’re tired of it. May need to get used to it. He’s going to be around for a long, long time.Kansas City Chiefs beat Denver Broncos: 12 winners and 12 losers - Arrowhead PrideColts-Raiders announcer drops perfect ‘Billy Madison’ reference after Jack Doyle TD - SBNation.comDerek Carr answers his critics but Raiders’ defense requires he be ‘perfect’ - Silver And Black Pride49ers-Raiders Could Be Worst Prime-Time Game in NFL History - NBC Bay Area49ers-Raiders will test Bay Area’s diminishing patience Thursday night | NBCS Bay AreaThe Rivers run deep this year - Bolts From The BlueReport: Joey Bosa not close to returningIt says a lot about the Chargers and Rivers that they’re winning without their best player.A look around the rest of the leagueJameis Winston’s Future With the Bucs | Over the CapCould Winston pique Elway’s interest? Latest NFL Trade Deadline Rumors: Collins reportedly on trading block | SI.comRams are one win away from having a stranglehold on the NFC – ProFootballTalkSaquon Barkley has a good shot at 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving – ProFootballTalkGiants call lack of O-line protection ‘unacceptable’ - NFL.comMyles Garrett: Browns had wrong approach on D - NFL.comReport: Gregg Williams expected to be Browns interim – ProFootballTalkAdrian Peterson passes Tony Dorsett as NFL’s No. 9 all-time rusherRyan Tannehill throwing, no word on status for Week Nine yet – ProFootballTalkEric Reid expounds on his Malcolm Jenkins “sellout” remarks – ProFootballTalkRussell Wilson: Seahawks team reminds me of 2012 - NFL.comNFL considering idea of ‘London Season Ticket’ featuring multiple Jaguars games - CBSSports.comIn case you missed “Mock Draft Monday”Denver Broncos: 3 & Out with The Draft Network’s Benjamin Solak - Mile High ReportSikkema’s 2019 Mock Draft 3.0 - The Draft Network2019 NFL mock draft: Will the Giants finally land a new QB? - SBNation.com