The prior week in MLB was about a team hugely bolstering their lineup, a Japanese superstar chooses his team. A coveted pitcher is off the market, and a pair of former players are Cooperstown bound.
Marlins Trade Stanton to Yankees for Castro And Two Prospects
Giancarlo Stanton is no longer a member of the Miami Marlins as they reportedly traded him to the New York Yankees, per Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
sources: yankees and marlins have a deal for giancarlo stanton
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 9, 2017
The Yankees will send infielder Starlin Castro as part of the deal, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
I reported #Yankees are sending at least Castro to #Marlins among veterans and prospects, but not their top ones
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 9, 2017
They will absorb between $260 and $273 million of the remaining $295 million left of Stanton’s salary, per Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network.
Hearing #Yankees taking vast majority of $295M owed Stanton. One source says $260M. Another says $273M.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2017
The Marlins won’t send any cash to the Yankees in the next three seasons as its conditional on Stanton not opting out after 2020, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
On Giancarlo Stanton: Per trade terms, #Marlins won’t send #Yankees any cash during the next three seasons, as payments are conditional on him *not* opting out after 2020. @Joelsherman1 was first to report this. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 10, 2017
The Yankees will also send minor league pitcher Jorge Guzman and shortstop Jose Devers to the Marlins, per Sherman.
The minor leaguers #Marlins are getting are Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers, who is Rafael Devers’ cousin.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 9, 2017
Stanton is one of the premier power hitters in MLB, and the Yankees will have a fearsome lineup next season that will include him and Aaron Judge.
This move for the Marlins was about financial flexibility as Stanton signed a 13-year, $325 million contract back in 2014.
The payroll for the Yankees will be extremely high over the next several seasons, but it will be worth it to have Stanton and Judge in the same batting order.
Shohei Otani Chooses Los Angeles Angels to Start Career
Shohei Otani has decided which franchise he’ll start his MLB career and that will be with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani’s agent Nez Balelo, described the decision, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times: “What mattered most to him wasn’t market size, but that he felt a true bond with the Angels. He sees this as the best environment to develop and reach the next level and attain his career goals.”
Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo: “What mattered to him most wasn’t market size, time zone or league but that he felt a true bond with the Angels. He sees this as the best environment to develop and reach the next level and attain his career goals.”
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) December 8, 2017
The addition of Otani gives the Angels another star to pair with outfielder Mike Trout, and it will provide a boost to a starting rotation which finished 12th in league with a 4.20 ERA last year.
Ohtani posted a 2.52 ERA in 543 innings as a pitcher and hit 48 homers in 403 games as a hitter.
The Angels held a press conference on Saturday to introduce Ohtani, and general manager Billy Eppler said that Ohtani wouldn’t play outfield for the team in 2017, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
Billy Eppler said Ohtani will not play OF this season.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) December 9, 2017
Angels skipper Mike Scioscia did say that the team does plan to use him as a two-way player, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
Scioscia: “We definitely plan on Ohtani being a two-way player. There’s no doubt about that.”
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) December 9, 2017
This doesn’t mean that Ohtani won’t get a chance to highlight his hitting prowess as the Angels can use him a designated hitter on days he’s not pitching.
Rangers Ink Mike Minor to Three-Year Deal
The Texas Rangers have taken one of the best relief arms off the market, by signing free agent Mike Minor to a three-year, $28 million contract, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.
Sources: Mike Minor’s three-year, $28 million deal with the Rangers includes a 10-team no-trade clause. Strong deal seeing as a year ago Minor looked like sunk cost in Kansas City.
And now shall the relief dam break.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 6, 2017
Minor was excellent last season for the Kansas City Royals, by posting a 2.55 ERA, 2.62 FIP, 1.02 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 77.2 innings.
The exciting part of the signing is that the Rangers are planning on using Minor as a starter. The left-hander was a starter for the Atlanta Braves from 2010-2014.
However, there is a significant risk with this plan. Minor was sidelined all of 2015 and 2016 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
He thrived with the Royals working out of the bullpen, and it’s possible that he could do the same in a rotation. The Rangers will have to be careful in monitoring his innings if he does begin next season in the rotation.
The addition of Minor was a solid move by the Rangers, regardless if he’s in the bullpen or rotation, as he was one best arm available in free agency.
Jack Morris And Alan Trammell Elected to Hall of Fame by Modern Era Committee
There will be at least two new members to the Baseball Hall of Fame next summer. Former Detroit Tigers teammates Jack Morris and Alan Trammell have been voted into Cooperstown by the 16-person Modern Era Committee.
Morris and Trammell will become the 21st and 22nd players in the Tigers history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
Morris and Trammell will become the 21st and 22nd players in Tigers history inducted into the Hall of Fame.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) December 10, 2017
Morris won 254 games over the course of 18 seasons, finished top five of the Cy Young five times, was named as an All-Star five times and his 3.90 ERA is the highest of any full-time pitcher in the Hall of Fame.
Trammell played with Morris in Detroit from 1977-90 and was with the Tigers for his entire career. He posted a lifetime .285 batting average with 185 home runs and 236 stolen bases.
He was a six-time All-Star that finished second in the 1987 American League MVP voting. Trammell will be remembered for being a terrific defensive shortstop.
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- Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.
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