Innholdsfortegnelse for Friday, January 13 2017 i Baseball America

JANUARY 7, 1996 » IN THIS ISSUE: Astros lefthanded fireballer Billy Wagner is home in Houston at last. » ALSO: Baseball America names its Top 10 Prospects from the Arizona Fall League, led by Alan Benes, Darin Erstad and Jermaine Dye Three years after he was drafted No. 12 overall out of Ferrum (Va.), the 5-foot-11, 180-pound fireballer rose to the top of the Astros’ Top 10 Prospects. In 1994, Wagner ranked third behind 1992 No. 1 overall pick Phil Nevin and shortstop Orlando Miller. In 1995, Wagner was No. 2 behind outfielder Brian Hunter, who went on to a 10-year big league career, leading the AL in stolen bases twice. He fell to No. 12 in 1993 largely because he was a polarizing figure due to his small, raw-boned…

PHILADELPHIA From the moment Curt Schilling appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot, his candidacy screamed “borderline.” Supporters pointed to his dazzling strikeoutto-walk ratio and his postseason brilliance. Detractors cited his middling 216-win total and the absence of a Cy Young Award on his resume. Everybody settled in for the long haul with the expectation that his place in history would become clear over time. Few Hall watchers could have ever envisioned the acrimony surrounding Schilling rising to this level. Five years into his candidacy, Schilling has veered down a side road where career Wins Above Replacement totals and bloody sock October heroics are mere afterthoughts. Hard as this is to believe, he might have surpassed both Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens as a polarizing figure in the Hall of…

Ex-Rangers Hurler Barfield Killed John Barfield, a lefthander who pitched for the Rangers in 1989-91, was shot to death on Christmas Eve in Arkansas. He was 52. Police charged William Goodman, 59, with first-degree murder after a struggle that ended in Barfield’s death. Barfield, according to police, was dating Goodman’s estranged wife. Barfield was a native of Pine Bluff, Ark., and was an 11th-round pick of the Rangers in 1986 out of Oklahoma City University. Ex-Cal League Towns Find Indy Ball Home The independent Pecos League said it will have franchises in Bakersfield and Adelanto, Calif., in 2017, bringing professional baseball back to two markets that lost affiliated minor league teams. The Bakersfield Train Robbers and High Desert YardBirds are scheduled to begin play on May 26, 2017, against each…

We put the Prospect Handbook to bed while working on this issue of Baseball America, and while celebrating the holiday season, and wrapping up coverage of the Winter Meetings. Yeah, it’s a busy time of year. But it’s the most wonderful time of the year for BA as well. The Handbook distills the essence of what we do into 512 pages packed with information. It’s such an ambitious endeavor that, frankly, you have to wonder what we were thinking when we started it. I mean, does every team really have 30 prospects? No, they don’t. We’ve joked as a staff about some years running some clubs 50 deep and other clubs just getting 10 or 15 or 20 prospects. But it’s definitely more symmetrical to have 30 organizations with 30…

Third baseman Renato Nunez has ranked as one of the Athletics’ top 30 prospects since the native Venezuelan first signed with the organization in 2010 for $2.2 million. After progressing steadily through the minors since his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2011, Nunez hit a speed bump at Triple-A Nashville in 2016. More advanced Pacific Coast League pitchers took advantage of Nunez’s pull-heavy approach and lack of consistent contact. Nunez hit .278/.332./480 in 93 games at Double-A Midland in 2015, when he slammed 18 home runs to tie for second in the Texas League. He followed that by hitting just .228 in 128 games at Nashville in 2016, albeit with plus power. The 22-year-old hit 23 home runs in his first crack at Triple-A. Most troubling for…

PRESENTED BY BOWMAN The Reds’ rebuilding effort hit full speed in 2016. The organization hopes that it hit rock bottom with a 94-loss season and has now started the slow climb back to both respectability and contention in the National League Central. One characteristic of rebuilding teams is opportunity. Teams like the 2016 Reds have a surplus of at-bats and innings available for the taking, and ideally that playing time goes to young players—or at least less-noticed players who could turn into valuable big league pieces. In that regard, the Reds did find a measure success in 2016. The club had to play almost the entire year without two of its highest-paid players— catcher Devin Mesoraco and righthander Homer Bailey—which made even more at-bats and innings available. Cincinnati identified a…

PRESENTED BY BOWMAN As October proved it could do just fine without them and their archrival soared to heights not seen in generations, the Cardinals found comfort in something they did subtly and strategically, under the surface of the standings that turned so sour. With an abundance of draft picks and a capbusting spending spree on international talents, the Cardinals feel they replenished their farm system in 2016. General manager John Mozeliak referred to the system as the “deepest” he had seen in his tenure. What it lacked in advanced prospects, it had in impact talent percolating the lower ranks. The Cardinals believed they could maintain their place as a contender while making the transition to a younger roster, one that can close the gap on the new kings of…

Yankees Get Raided In Rule 5 NEW YORK The downside of building a robust farm system is that only so many players can be shielded from the Rule 5 draft. So it wasn’t a surprise when the Yankees lost four players in the major league phase of the 2016 draft. “We would like to have them all back, and losing four guys hurts,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “It’s a price you (pay) with for the system we’ve got.’’ The Yankees lost three relievers—Double-A righthander Tyler Jones (Diamondbacks), Double-A lefthander Caleb Smith (Cubs) and Triple-A lefty Tyler Webb (Pirates)— though perhaps temporarily if they don’t stick with the clubs that now control their rights. While the number of players taken from the Yankees wasn’t a surprise, the selection of low…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports NEW YORK Outfielder Desmond Lindsay did not get on the field with short-season Brooklyn until July 23 because of a hamstring strain he suffered in extended spring training, before the New York-Penn League team broke camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Linsday ultimately hit .297/.418/.450 with nine extra-base hits and 20 walks in 32 games. He started 29 games in center field and three more at DH. His on-base percentage would have ranked second in the NYPL behind only State College catcher Jeremy Martinez (.419), a Cardinals fourth-round pick from Southern California, but Lindsay fell well short of the required 205 plate appearances. He nonetheless reached base safely in all but two games in 2016 thanks to an…

Flexibility Could Help Knapp PHILADELPHIA No team added more young players to its 40-man roster in November than the Phillies. But while the addition of 11 prospects may be a sign of the rebuilding club’s improved minor league system, it could cost the team roster flexibility in 2017. “Much of our depth at Triple-A is going to be young prospects,” general manager Matt Klentak said. “That poses some challenges. You might have to promote a young player sooner than you’d like because of roster limitations. “But it’s also pretty exciting. Phillies fans are going to start to see more young players being called up in 2017.” Switch-hitting catcher Andrew Knapp could be a beneficiary of the tight roster. He is one of three catchers on the 40-man roster along incumbent…

Kopech Could Be The Key CHICAGO The White Sox held out for the best possible package of young talent for Chris Sale—and their patience paid off. Chicago received four top prospects from the Red Sox in the two clubs’ Winter Meetings exchange. Second baseman Yoan Moncada could make an impact in 2017, and the organization is high on outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe and righthanded reliever Victor Diaz. In time, 20-year-old righthander Michael Kopech might emerge as the key piece. “He’s an extreme competitor,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “You can see that from the physicality in his mound presence. His stuff is obvious with his plus-plus fastball and his slider. We project him out about as well as just about any minor league starter out there.” Kopech went 4-1, 2.25…

Kaczmarek Keeps Fighting KANSAS CITY Righthander Taylor Kaczmarek thought he had the flu, maybe mono, when he went to a doctor in May 2012. A blood test revealed a more serious condition: leukemia. That began nearly 31⁄2 years of treatment before the cancer went into remission in September 2015. “I went through so many different chemotherapies,” Kaczmarek said. “Some made me sick, some made me feel worse than others. I got spinal taps every so often. I had massive headaches you couldn’t do anything about.” The Royals made Kaczmarek a 40th-round pick in 2016 out of San Diego. He had been drafted twice previously, including by the Dodgers in the 50th round out of high school in 2010, about one week after he had been diagnosed with cancer. Kaczmarek, who…

Capitalizing On Versatility CINCINNATI Brandon Dixon is officially listed as a second baseman, but in the Arizona Fall League he played only first and third base. Dixon played both spots in 2016 at Double-A Pensacola but recorded just seven starts at first and one at third. He also played all three outfield spots. At this point, farm director Jeff Graupe is reluctant to say what position the 25-year-old Dixon plays. “I think his versatility probably outweighs a one-position value,” Graupe said. Dixon attended the AFL for the second straight year in 2016. He played second base and center field in 2015 as a member of the Dodgers organization. The Reds acquired Dixon following the 2015 season as part of the three-team trade that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ HOUSTON A rotation headlined by two pitchers coming off injuries is the biggest question mark the Astros face in 2017. General manager Jeff Luhnow has the prospect capital necessary to deal for an upgrade, but what if the prospect coveted most in trade discussions is also a potential answer to their question? This is the risk the Astros would face if they parted with 21-year-old righthander Francis Martes, who not only is the organization’s No. 1 prospect but also among its closest to the majors. Though he is far from a finished product, the hard-throwing Dominican isexpected to debut at some point in 2017. “Francis Martes is getting close,” Luhnow said, “and I could see him following the…

Marlette Gets Back On Track SEATTLE Selected in the fifth round of the 2011 draft as a bat-first catcher, Tyler Marlette has always had talent, ever since his prep days in Oviedo, Fla. He hit so well in his first four seasons—. 289/.335/.458 in 872 at-bats—that he earned an invitation to big league camp in 2015, where he impressed then-Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon. Marlette failed to capitalize. Instead of a tearing up the high Class A California League at Bakersfield in 2015, Marlette hit just .216 but did rebound slightly after a June promotion to Double-A Jackson. “I definitely got exposed,” said Marlette, 24, of his 2015 season. Thus the Mariners, with their new front office, did not invite him to big league camp in 2016. “I wasn’t expecting (an…

Jones Tries To Stick In Pen PHOENIX Righthander Tyler Jones has been through enough in his baseball career that he doesn’t need help recognizing the opportunity he’ll have with the Diamondbacks this spring as a Rule 5 draft selection. “It’s a little bit easier to understand and grasp the opportunity when you’ve been grinding, so to speak, through the minor leagues and are just looking for an opportunity,” Jones said. “When they come, it’s easier to take advantage of that. I definitely didn’t take advantage of opportunities the same way when I was younger. Hopefully I learn from those mistakes.” Jones is 27 and has been released before, back in 2015 by the Twins, who drafted him out of Louisiana State in the 11th round in 2011. He has spent…

Gomez Moves Around Diamond SAN FRANCISCO Take a switch-hitting catcher, move him to third base and watch him thrive. That worked well for the Giants with Pablo Sandoval nearly a decade ago. It just might work again with 24-year-old Miguel Gomez. In November, San Francisco added Gomez to its 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft, after he hit a combined .330/.363/.519 with 17 homers and 67 RBIs in 109 games at low Class A Augusta and high Class A San Jose in 2016. Primarily a catcher and first baseman in his first four seasons, Gomez did not get behind the plate in 2016. He played 51 games at third base, 14 at first and eight at second. So is Gomez a candidate to become Sandoval 2.0 for…

Baseball Analyst, Senior Writer ESPN.com Sometimes in baseball, we need to look down, not up. We need to look south, not north. We need to turn our gaze away from the usual suspects—the Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees . . . aw, you know who we mean. So today, let’s stare at the basement. We know there’s hope for the teams that just finished in first place. But is there hope for the teams that just finished in last place? We exempted the Braves, with their new ballpark, and Twins, with their new front office. There are lots of questions about where the Athletics, Padres, Rays and Reds are going, how they’ll get there and how the new labor agreement could affect them. Athletics HOPE METER OFF THE FIELD: 3…

With the recent spate of minor league makeovers going to a level that it caught the eye of Minor League Baseball president Pat O’Conner, the Staten Island Yankees (New York-Penn) scuttled plans to change their name for the 2017 season. “We had a favored name, logo and branding plan. We were prepared to move forward but encountered obstacles that unfortunately delayed the process beyond industry deadlines. These delays also would have compromised the quality of the product we aim to bring our fans,” Staten Island Yankees president Will Smith said in a statement. “I always said that until there is a new name, we are the Yankees. That remains true today.” The Yankees’ short-season affiliate has used the Yankees name since the team began operating in 1999. But as more…

After breaking past their international bonus pool when the 2016-17 signing period opened on July 2, the Athletics have added their top international free agent of the season, signing 22-year-old Cuban righthander Norge Ruiz. His bonus is $2 million, and because the A’s will have to pay a 100 percent overage tax for exceeding their bonus pool, the total cost for the team will be $4 million. Ruiz is a polished pitcher for his age, so he could head to Double-A, though that assignment hasn’t been determined yet. At 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, Ruiz has solid stuff across the board that plays up because of his advanced feel for pitching, keeping hitters off balance with a wide repertoire of average to above-average pitches. Ruiz doesn’t overpower hitters, sitting at 89-92 mph…

BOSTON We are so familiar with prospects now that we were stunned when Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez went from the Nationals to the White Sox in a trade for Adam Eaton. Nevermind that one hybrid scouting-andanalytics general manager referred to Eaton as “one of the 15 best players in the game”; the deal was quickly and widely panned as an overpay by Washington general manager Mike Rizzo. Then, some began to dig deeper on Giolito’s status as one of the best pitching prospects in the sport and discovered questions about makeup and changes that were made to his delivery. So it might turn out to be as premature a judgment as the Diamondbacks’ assessment of Max Scherzer’s delivery. That same week, the Red Sox traded Baseball America’s Minor League…

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. Byron Buxton was a different player when he came back to the majors last September, his fourth big league callup after largely failing in his first three. While the numbers bear out improvement, Twins manager Paul Molitor said it was visible even beyond just the stat sheet. “I think for whatever reason there was a little more freedom of expression of his talent,” Molitor said. “Maybe not trying to impress and meet expectations and kind of really concentrate on just trying to enjoy the competition and using the gifts that he has. I think he would tell you that.” Buxton, BA’s No. 2 prospect going into the 2016 season, hit .287 with nine home runs and a 1.011 OPS in September. It was quite the contrast to…

Cionel Perez signed with the Astros for $2 million, but a letter signed by the 20-year-old Cuban lefthander expressed frustration and disappointment over the signing process. “I am happy to begin my professional career but I feel abused by this system,” Perez said in the letter provided by his agency, Octagon, addressed to Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association. Despite his frustrations with the process, Perez, in a separate statement to Baseball America, thanked the Astros organization. “I am very happy and I give many thanks to the Astros for giving me the opportunity to sign again, to represent their franchise and most importantly help me achieve my dream,” Perez said through his agency. “I know I have a great opportunity, and I will do my best to…

PRESENTED BY BOWMAN In the first full year of their organization overhaul, the Brewers had two primary goals. First, they wanted to be as competitive as possible under the circumstances and ignore all the preseason chatter about tanking. Considering how few experienced players were on the transitional 2016 squad and how many players (50) were used, the Brewers exceeded most expectations with a 73-89 record. The second objective was to identify as many keepers as possible. Much of the rebuilding plan revolves around the organization’s vastly improved farm system, but the Brewers hoped to find other big leaguers who could be contributors. Beyond Ryan Braun—the last man standing from the 2011 National League Central champs—manager Craig Counsell and his staff found players to take into the future. Shrewd offseason trade…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ BOSTON The Red Sox dealt Clay Buchholz to the Phillies primarily to shed the $13.5 million he is owed in 2017, yet the player Boston received in the exchange was one whom they targeted for an intriguing, if unusual, skill set. Second baseman Josh Tobias has a profile that doesn’t fit easily into any single category. He hit .297 as a Florida junior yet went undrafted, in no small part due to injuries as a sophomore and junior. A natural righthanded batter, Tobias began to switch-hit as a senior and produced a .355/.435/.524 line in 65 games. Philadelphia selected him in the 10th round of the 2015draft and signed him for just $10,000. Tobias’ squat, 5-foot-9 frame is…

Rays Make Rare Rule 5 Play ST. PETERSBURG For the Rays to make a pick in the Rule 5 draft for the first time since 2010, they had to have a good reason. Apparently, Kevin Gadea was good enough. The 22-year-old righthander from Nicaragua had reached only low Class A Clinton in his four seasons in the Mariners organization, but the Rays believe the converted infielder has a chance to make what would obviously be a big jump. “Our scouts saw him really good, and we’re excited to add him,” director of baseball development Peter Bendix said. “We saw him well throughout the (2016) season. He missed a lot of bats. We think he has a chance to help us in the bullpen. “We’ll take him into spring training and…

Acuna Down Under ATLANTA Ronald Acuna celebrated his 19th birthday doing exactly what he and the Braves hoped the center fielder would be doing in the Australian Baseball League, where he plays winter ball for Melbourne. The multi-talented Venezuelan earned a spot in the ABL all-star game, which occurred four days after Acuna’s Dec. 18 birthday. Through 20 games, he led the circuit with 27 hits and tied for first with 13 stolen bases (in 16 attempts). His .375 batting average ranked third while his .446 on-base percentage was good for fourth. That showing comes on the heels of a 2016 campaign in which Acuna was limited to 40 games at low Class A Rome because of a broken thumb that sidelined him from mid-May to mid-August. A fast start…

New Duo Will ‘Slide’ To Triple-A WASHINGTON Righthanders Kyle McGowin and Austin Adams, newly acquired from the Angels for big league shortstop Danny Espinosa, both depend on their sliders. “I like my slider a lot, but he has one of the nastiest sliders I’ve ever seen,” the 6-foot-3 McGowin said of the 6-foot-2 Adams. “He’s also a real hard worker and a great teammate.” The two have been teammates at high Class A Inland Empire and Double-A Arkansas over much of the past three seasons, and they could well be on the same staff at Triple-A Syracuse in 2017. Both 25-year-olds have high strikeout rates but also have battled to find command. Adams said he turned a corner in that regard in 2016, which helps explain why the Angels added…

Indians Look For Lefties CLEVELAND The Indians’ bullpen helped propel the club to its first American League pennant in 19 years. But the bullpen still had a flaw. That flaw: was the absence of a dependable matchup lefthander behind relief ace Andrew Miller. Miller starred in the Cleveland bullpen from the moment he was acquired from the Yankees in July. He won the MVP award of the AL Championship Series against the Blue Jays, and he was also the only lefthanded reliever to throw a pitch for the Indians in their 15 postseason games. During the regular season, the six lefthanders not named Miller who pitched in relief for the Indians combined for 38 innings and a 6.39 ERA. The Indians tried to remedy that situation by selecting 26-year-old lefthander…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ ST. LOUIS Former right fielder Rowan Wick, who delighted in showing off his right arm from the warning track, offered the best gauge to measure his conversion to pitcher. “I wouldn’t want to face me,” said Wick, 24. Wick thundered through short-season State College in 2014, when he hit a Spikes franchise-best 14 homers in just 119 at-bats. Class A ball proved less kind, and offspeed pitches undid his progress. The Cardinals moved Wick to the mound in the second half of 2015 after he hit .198 at high Class A Palm Beach with 38 percent strikeouts. So instead of feasting on fastballs, he triedfeeding them as a reliever. “For sure, I miss hitting,” said Wick, a lefthanded…

Filling Up On Shortstops MILWAUKEE The Brewers already had a farm system rich with shortstop prospects, but that didn’t stop them from adding Mauricio Dubon in a trade with the Red Sox. Milwaukee also picked up third baseman Travis Shaw and righthander Josh Pennington in the Winter Meetings deal that sent reliever Tyler Thornburg to Boston. A natural shortstop, the 22-year-old Dubon will have to find a way to fit in the Brewers’ rebuilding plan that already features one-time No. 1 prospect Orlando Arcia at that position. Dubon did see action in center field in the Arizona Fall League, and he played second and third base in the Red Sox system. “We have a developmental philosophy where we try to get all of our players, even our top prospects, exposure…

Hunter Picks Baseball ANAHEIM Torii Hunter Jr., the son of the fivetime all-star and nine-time Gold Glove Award winner, announced that he will end his Notre Dame football career and begin playing minor league baseball in 2017, a potential boon to a thin Angels farm system. The Angels selected Hunter, 21, in the 23rd round of the 2016 draft, fully expecting him to play two more seasons of college football, but “after long consideration and prayer,” Hunter said in a statement, “I’ve decided not to pursue a fifth year at Notre Dame, but rather follow a dream of playing professional baseball.” A wide receiver, Hunter caught 38 passes for 531 yards and three touchdowns during an injury-plagued junior season in which the Irish went a disappointing 4-8. Hunter, an outfielder,…

Hauschild Gets His Chance ARLINGTON Mike Hauschild has been in the game long enough to know that soon-to-be 27-year-olds who don’t light up radar guns typically aren’t selected in the Rule 5 draft. So the righthander fully expected to be in Florida for spring training with the Astros, where he was on the cusp of big league duty after a second straight season with a sub-3.50 ERA. But the Rangers need arms to compete for big league starts after trading away a rotation’s worth of prospects the past two seasons. Hauschild will be one of them. Texas used a Rule 5 draft pick to select Hauschild, Houston’s 33rd-round pick out of Dayton in 2012. The change in career paths, albeit potentially temporary because of Rule 5 restrictions, came as a…

Almonte Wows In First Year DENVER Righthander Yency Almonte thrived in his first season in the Rockies organization, making Colorado’s decision to add him to the 40-man roster rather easy. “He throws a plus fastball that he runs up to 98 (mph),” farm director Zach Wilson said. “He pitches at 94-95 (mph). And it’s got sink, and it’s sink that he can control. Right now, he’s still working on his command and it’s coming . . . and his competitive nature, his drive and his will to get better is a separator.” Acquired from the White Sox for reliever Tommy Kahnle in November 2015 and originally drafted by the Angels in the 17th round in 2012, Almonte went 8-9, 3.71 in 22 starts at high Class A Modesto, averaging 2.5…

Stetson hired Steve Trimper to be its head coach. Trimper has been a head coach for the last 18 seasons, first at Manhattan and for the last 11 seasons at Maine. Trimper takes over the Hatters from Pete Dunn, who announced his retirement in December after 37 seasons as head coach. Dunn will fulfill the final year of his contract as head coach emeritus, focusing on fundraising and community relations. In a statement, Stetson athletic director Jeff Altier said Trimper was the “complete package.” “He has been successful on the field at both Maine and Manhattan, but he has also had a tremendous impact in other areas,” Altier said. “He has an outstanding record of developing young men, both academically and athletically, to reach their full potential. He is an…

If a pitcher has three plus pitches, he’s in great shape no matter how bad his fourth pitch is. Few pitchers take the mound with four pitches they are comfortable throwing night in and night out. The pitcher might be locating the curveball one night, but he lacks the feel for the changeup he wants or the slider isn’t biting. In fact, depending on which pitch is fringe, it might make the most sense just to junk it. If a pitcher has a plus fastball, slider and changeup (or curve and change), it doesn’t make sense to do a hitter a favor and throw the second breaking ball when he has a true plus breaking ball as an option. But a pitcher who has a fringy changeup, a plus fastball…

DENVER In the 15 months since the Mariners hired Jerry Dipoto as general manager, he has overseen such a thorough roster overhaul that second baseman Robinson Cano, third baseman Kyle Seager and catcher Mike Zunino are the only holdovers in the starting lineup. Oh, and Zunino was sent back to the minors at the start of last season after Dipoto picked up veteran Chris Iannetta for a one-year stay to give Zunino time to refine his offensive skills. Dipoto has completely remade a bullpen that doesn’t include any players who were in Seattle when he became the GM on Sept. 28, 2015. He has also added two members of the projected 2017 Opening Day roration, Ariel Miranda and Nathan Karns. And he has been busy this winter looking to add…

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. The 2016 season was an eventful one for Minor League Baseball. Most significantly, the realignment of the Carolina and California leagues—an endeavor a decade in the works—finally came to pass when High Desert and Bakersfield were contracted out of the Cal League. Elsewhere, stadium issues stymied Hartford’s move in the Eastern League. Players continued their lawsuit against Minor League Baseball in search of higher wages, and the league responded by establishing a Political Action Committee to help fight that legislation and any others. The rebranding craze also reached a peak, and team names, with plenty of accompanying grumbling from executives and fans, got zanier and zanier. Baseball America’s Josh Norris sat down with Minor League Baseball president Pat O’Conner during the Winter Meetings to discuss those issues…

PRESENTED BY BOWMAN As slogans go, “When it happens” seemed fairly boastful considering the Cubs had not won the World Series since 1908. The slogan became a mantra throughout the Cubs organization when Theo Epstein took over as president of baseball operations and brought general manager Jed Hoyer and assistant GM Jason McLeod from the Padres to rejoin him. The trio had helped end Boston’s misery by winning two World Series for the Red Sox and stocking the organization with many of the pieces that won Boston’s 2013 title. By 2013, the Cubs were in the midst of their rebuild—they drafted Kris Bryant second overall that year—but still in teardown mode in the big leagues. By 2015, most of the pieces were in place and Chicago won 97 times and…

PRESENTED BY BOWMAN The Pirates had a turn-back-the-clock season in 2016. That didn’t produce a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings in Pittsburgh. After three consecutive postseason appearances, the Pirates finished 78-83 and in third place in the National League Central. They ended up a whopping 25 games back of the divisionwinning Cubs. The year was reminiscent of many of the 20 consecutive losing seasons the Pirates suffered through from 1993-2012, with the season taking on a tryout camp atmosphere at times. A dozen players made their major league debuts with the 2016 Pirates, including eight who were drafted and signed by the organization. Four starting pitchers who ranked among the preseason Top 30 Prospects made their big league debuts: righthanders Jameson Taillon (18 starts), Chad Kuhl (14) and Tyler…

Orioles Keep Crichton BALTIMORE The Orioles decided not to add righthanded reliever Stefan Crichton to the 40-man roster in November, which left him exposed to other teams in the Rule 5 draft. Baltimore never wanted to lose him but rolled the dice that other teams would pass. They were relieved when he wasn’t selected. So far, Crichton is giving the Orioles every reason to value him in the organization. Crichton, a 23rd-round pick in 2013 out of Texas Christian, allowed only one unearned run over his first eight appearances in the Arizona Fall League. One bad outing in his next-to-last appearance, when he surrendered five runs, inflated his ERA to 5.54. The Orioles took the risk of exposing Crichton to more teams’ scouts via the AFL. “The decision to send…

Blue Jays Land Priority Target TORONTO Glenn Sparkman will get a chance to win a job in the Blue Jays bullpen in 2017 after the righthander was selected from the Royals system in the major league phase of the annual Rule 5 draft. The 20th-round pick from Wharton (Texas) JC in 2013 threw 60.1 innings across four levels in his first season back from Tommy John surgery in 2016. He finished at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and went 2-7, 5.22 in 16 starts overall with a 65-to-10 strikeout-towalk ratio. Like righthander Joe Biagini, the 2015 Rule 5 pick who assumed a high-leverage relief role for the Blue Jays in 2016, Sparkman has yet to pitch above Double-A but may have the stuff to survive. “The arrows and needles were pointing right…

Gould Engages His Power MIAMI When J.J. Gould was a teenager, he had a drum kit in his room, but his parents begged him to wait until they left the house on an errand before he started banging away. These days, the biggest noise Gould is making is with his bat after slugging 18 home runs in 2016. He hit nine in 202 at-bats in his senior season at Jacksonville and then nine more in 238 at-bats in his pro debut after the Marlins made him a 24th-round pick. The 6-foot, 190-pound Gould played mostly third base at short-season Batavia then shifted to shortstop at low Class A Greensboro following a promotion. The Marlins have big plans for the 23-yearold in 2017. “At instructional league,” Gould said, “our infield coordinator…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ MINNEAPOLIS The high Class A Florida State League season was five batters old in 2016 when lefthander Stephen Gonsalves gave up his first home run. That was actually an improvement over his 2015 debut, when he surrendered his first homer to the third batter he faced. But the Twins don’t mind because the 22-year-old Gonsalves has a healthy reaction to the sudden setbacks: He simply stops allowing them. “It’s news when someone tags him deep. He goes weeks without (allowing) a home run,” vice president for player personnel Mike Radcliff said. “If you watch him pitch, you can see why. His ball just gets in on hitters. Nobody can square him up.” The 2013 fourth-round pick out of…

Ravenelle Seeks Proper Gear DETROIT The Tigers are not sure where righthander Adam Ravenelle’s fastball will settle. They just know—whether it’s 95 or 98 mph—that it will be a good one. A 24-year-old reliever, Ravenelle has been clocked as high as 101 mph, but the Tigers don’t expect him to throw that hard consistently. The key to his success will be finding a velocity that allows him to command his fastball consistently. “It’s about command,” farm director Dave Owen said. “It’s about commanding his pitches in the strike zone—up, down, in, out. He’s going to have to figure out what speed that is. Is it 98 (mph)? Is it 96? Is it 95? . . . “I think once Adam figures out where he’s going to fall as far as…

Cubs Plan To Divest Stock CHICAGO The Cubs spent four years building a farm system that helped them reach the top of the heap. Now they plan to use it to acquire what they need to stay there. “Look, we knew this day was coming,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said after the Cubs traded one of this front office’s original core prospects, young slugger Jorge Soler, to get acquire closer Wade Davis at the Winter Meetings. “One of the reasons we’ve invested heavily in position players in the draft, international markets and trades is because they’re good bets to return value,” he said. “We’ve identified a core of guys we really believe in, who have gotten here and helped us win a championship already. “And we feel like…

Five’s A Crowd PITTSBURGH Despite the presence of four lefthanded relievers on the 40-man roster, the Pirates selected another one in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Pittsburgh chose 26-year-old lefty Tyler Webb from the Yankees and will bring him to big league camp, where he will compete with veteran southpaws Tony Watson, Antonio Bastrado, Felipe Rivero and Wade LeBlanc. Webb spent 2016 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he recorded a 3.59 ERA in 72.2 innings to go with 10.2 strikeouts and 2.8 walks per nine innings. He allowed 67 hits. “We felt like, of the guys available in the draft, he was the guy most available to come compete to help the club win,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “He fits in our mix well.” Webb handcuffed…

Naile Enjoys Busy Year OAKLAND Righthander James Naile’s mom just would not leave him alone with her calls from back home in Missouri. The phone kept buzzing in his pocket, and James just kept ignoring it. Sallyanne would not relent. Finally, James broke down and took the call. “Did you hear the news?” she asked excitedly. No, he had not. So she refused to tell him. She ordered him to look on social media to learn the source of her excitement. Naile then fumbled around his phone to find that he had been named the Rawlings Gold Glove winner for minor league pitchers. That’s quite an achievement for a 20th-round pick in 2015 from Alabama-Birmingham who still is building arm strength after Tommy John surgery. “It was very incredible to…

For statistics, organization reports, prospect lists and recent drafts, check out: baseballamerica.com/t/organization-reports/ LOS ANGELES Outfielder Alex Verdugo enjoyed his time abroad. He really enjoyed it. “That was by far one of the best experiences of my life,” said Verdugo, who went to Japan as part of Team Mexico for a four-game series of exhibitions in preparation for the World Baseball Classic. “Going over there, it was just so different than anything I’ve ever been opened up to—the culture, the people, how they are and how they act and how much respect they treat you with. “And they are nuts about baseball. There were probably 30,000 people in the stands . . . and they did not sit down. The 20-year-old also got to spend time with Dodgers star Adrian Gonzalez.…

Ruiz Follows Hoffman Model SAN DIEGO Padres icon Trevor Hoffman moved from shortstop to the mound as a Reds minor leaguer and eventually became the National League’s all-time saves leader. Padres prospect Jose Ruiz can take inspiration, having moved from behind the plate to the mound in 2016. San Diego’s development staffers thought enough of the 22-year-old righthander that they added Ruiz to the 40-man roster in November, even though he had thrown just 12.1 professional innings. “He has asserted himself as a legitimate major league relief prospect for us at some point in the future,” farm director Sam Geaney said. Geaney said Padres instructors, wowed by Ruiz’s arm strength, had toyed with the idea of having him give pitching a try. Finally, last June, with Ruiz still struggling as…

Transactions involving minor league players, i.e. those not on 40-man rosters, covering the period Nov. 19-Dec. 22. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Signed RHPs Erik Davis, Brooks Hall, Keyvius Sampson and Asher Wojciechowski and OFs Oswaldo Arcia, Kelly Dugan, Reymond Fuentes and Jason Pridie. Re-signed 3B Travis Denker. ATLANTA BRAVES: Signed RHPs Manny Barreda, Rhiner Cruz, Navery Moore and David Richardson; LHPs Andrew Albers, John Danks and Adam Kolarek; 1B Balbino Fuenmayor, 3Bs Alay Lago and Colin Walsh and OFs Lane Adams and Emilio Bonifacio. Released RHPs Caleb Beech, Taylor Cockrell, Tyler Greene and Britt Robertshaw; Cs Trey Keegan, Ruben Perez and Collin Yelich; 3B Jordan Edgerton and OF Elias Arias. Traded RHPs Chris Ellis and John Gant and 2B Luke Dykstra to Cardinals for LHP Jaime Garcia. Traded RHP Tyrell Jenkins and…