Dodgers Sign Brendan HarrisBy Steve Adams [November 18 at 4:41pm CST]The Dodgers have signed Brendan Harris to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes has learned. Harris, a client of RMG Baseball, will earn $700K if he makes the Major League club.Harris, 33, appeared in 44 games for the Angels and totaled 117 plate appearances in 2013, slashing .206/.252/.355 with four homers. His appearance in Anaheim marked his first big league action since 2010 with the Twins, where he was a semi-regular player for parts of the 2008-09 seasons.Harris was one of the players Minnesota acquired from the Rays in the Matt Garza trade, and he enjoyed reasonable success between Tampa and Minneapolis as a part-timer from 2007-09, hitting .272/.328/.400 with 25 homers in 390 games. Harris has experience at all four infield positions, and he's logged 899 or more innings at third base, shortstop and second base. __
totally agree 3 years? sorry bubba, we've been down that road already i'd almost (emphasis on almost) rather promote seager prematurely than lock him out for 3 more years 1 year with a 2nd year option and huge incentives... take it or leave it fat boy!
So, Young at 3b next year???? Curious, with all the talk about Kemp to Texas for Andrus. Anyone know anything about the Rangers #2 prospect last year Mike Olt? He is a 3b and according to Baseball America # 22 over all.
He was traded to the Cubs in the midseason deal that brought Garza to the Rangers. Mike Olt is really bad and doesn't have a shot of even being decent. imo.
I say trade two outfielders not named Puig and sign CHOO ... And pay Juan Uribe, his relationship with Yasiel could be priceless. MLB network reports he's looking for a 3 year deal :-\
misc rumblings... The Dodgers have received "moderate to moderate-plus" trade interest in Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, an official tells Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown. We heard last week that the Dodgers were open to offers for Kemp, Ethier or Carl Crawford in order to free up payroll space and a spot in the outfield. Brown's piece outlines the Dodgers' offseason priorities, beginning with Yasiel Puig and Clayton Kershaw. Juan Uribe is looking for a three-year contract, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). The Dodgers are interested in bringing Uribe back but not at that length, which Heyman admits is "probably a stretch." Indeed, Tim Dierkes said that Uribe would be weighing one- or two-year offers in MLBTR's free agent profile of the third baseman. The Dodgers would be better off trading to upgrade their rotation than signing a free agent hurler, ESPN Los Angeles' Mark Saxon opines. "With the exception of [Masahiro] Tanaka, it’s an exceptionally flawed market for free agent starting pitchers and it seems like the Dodgers are more than aware of that. Much as they’d like to improve their rotation, they might be better served to sit this one out," Saxon writes. __
I agree with the third point, and pretty much the entire notion of sitting out on everything with the exception of elite talent. I'd look at guys like Headley, Andrus and Tanaka, and if not just bring back our guys and maybe add a back of the rotation guy and a utility guy. None of the mid tier guys strike me as guys I'd want to pay 10+ million dollars for multiple years.
meh... http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Erisbel_Arruebarruena Cuban Shortstop Arruebarruena DefectsBy Zach Links [November 19 at 11:18am CST]Promising Cuban shortstop Erisbel Barbaro Arruebarruena has left his home country to try and sign with a major league team, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. Arruebarruena is known for his tremendously sharp defense at the shortstop position, drawing comparisons to Jose Iglesias in the field.Arruebarruena, 23, has played in Serie Nacional for six seasons, so his bonus will not be subject to the international bonus pools once he receives residency in a third country and is cleared to sign by the U.S. government and MLB. He could be closing in on that crucial step as Cuban reporter Ibrahim Rojas tells MLBTR that Arruebarruena defected to the Dominican Republic.Earlier this year, Baseball America ranked Arruebarruena the No. 10 World Baseball Classic prospect not signed with an MLB team. Badler writes that the shortstop is a below-average runner but he makes up for it with a quick first step and solid instincts that give him good range. Scouts have called Arruebarruena a magician in the field, but he'll have to step things up at the plate.In related news, Rojas tells MLBTR that 19-year-old pitcher Javier Gonzalez, 22-year-old pitcher Jorge Hernandez, and 25-year-old outfielder Dayron Varona have left Cuba. __
un mas...:fiesta: Raicel Iglesias Defects From CubaBy Steve Adams [November 19 at 1:26pm CST]NOVEMBER 19: Iglesias has now established residency in Mexico, tweets MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez. The next step in his process will be gaining clearance from the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and from Major League Baseball to sign with MLB teams.NOVEMBER 6: The number of recent Cuban defectors continues to grow, as reports from Diario de Cuba and the Havana Times have indicated that right-hander Raicel Iglesias has successfully defected from the country. Ibrahim Rojas of CMHS Radio Caibarién tells MLBTR that Iglesias is currently in Mexico.Iglesias, 23, was detained on his first attempt to defect after running out of food and water while hiding in the mountains. In his second effort, which reportedly took place on Oct. 9, he successfully fled the country by sea. Iglesias is said by Ben Badler of Baseball America to possess a 92-95 mph fastball with a swing-and-miss breaking ball but questionable control. Badler feels that Iglesias would likely have to begin his pro career in the U.S. by starting in the minor leagues.Because Iglesias is 23 years old and has more than three years of professional experience, he can sign for any amount and will not count against a team's international signing pool. __
Wonder what Arru... will cost. I'm guessing he wants to be a starter, could be an interesting piece to add to the bench or have spend the year in ABQ and see what our coaches can do with his bat. With the hitting this team is putting together around the diamond, we could probably afford to hide a mediocre bat in the lineup if it means elite D up the middle. We have Seager, but after that the minors are bare on infield depth.