2016 Hall of Fame ballot released
The Hall of Fame ballot for 2016 was released Monday with 15 newcomers including Trevor Hoffman and Ken Griffey, Jr. Four former Braves are among the first-timers: Anderson, Glaus, Hampton, and Wagner. Alan Trammell and Mark McGwire are in their final year of eligibility.
The first-timers:
Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus, Luis Castillo, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds, Troy Glaus, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Hampton, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Mike Lowell, Mike Sweeney, Billy Wagner, Randy Winn
Holdovers:
Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Lee Smith, Edgar Martinez, Alan Trammell, Mike Mussina, Jeff Kent, Fred McGriff, Larry Walker, Gary Sheffield, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Nomar Garciaparra
Who makes it? Who gets snubbed? Discuss!
Twins win bid to negotiate with Korean slugger
The Twins were announced as the winners in the bid to negotiate with Korean first baseman Byung-ho Park on Monday with a bid of $12.85 million. In nine years of KBO play, Park hit .281 with 210 HR and 604 RBI, much of that in the last four years. He topped out at .343/.436/.714, 53 HR, 146 RBI in 2015. He's described as strictly a 1B/DH type who has a big swing which results in a lot of strikeouts; this puts the Twins in a bit of a bind as Joe Mauer's the current first baseman. Park has a trademark bat flip, but apparently he won't do that anymore.
Jose Reyes arrested for alleged domestic abuse
Jose Reyes was arrested Tuesday in Maui for an alleged incident involving his wife on Halloween in which he shoved her into a sliding glass door. Reyes was released on $1000 bail and was ordered to stay away from his wife for three days. The Rockies then released an official statement.
Colorado Rockies statement regarding Jose Reyes: pic.twitter.com/bCeMxRzune
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) November 10, 2015
MLB implemented a domestic abuse policy in August, so we'll see what type of discipline is handed down. If there's any justice in the world, the Rockies would do well to sever all ties with him. There's no room for people like that on a ball club.
Lance Lynn to miss 2016 following TJ surgery
Lynn had been a reliable starter for the Cardinals, but underwent Tommy John surgery on Tuesday and thereby will miss all of the 2016 season. Their current starters include Wainwright, Wacha, Martinez, and Garcia. John Lackey is a free agent and will likely reject the qualifying offer, so the team will either look inward or to the free agent market.
Craig Kimbrel traded to the Red Sox
Seeing as how our old buddy Frank Wren is Boston's new Senior VP of Baseball Operations, this isn't much of a surprise. The Padres unloaded Kimbrel on the Red Sox for four prospects: outfielder Manuel Margot, infielders Javier Guerra and Carlos Asuaje, and left-handed pitcher Logan Allen. The Red Sox will assume the remainder of Kimbrel's contract, which has two years and an option remaining. Margot is the centerpiece of this deal, being Boston's third best prospect in 2015 as ranked by Baseball Prospectus. Many at OTM argue that the Sox overpaid for Kimbrel. This trade comes a day after the Padres sent Joaquin Benoit to Seattle.