The Rundown: Latest on Harper and Machado, Darvish On a Mission, MLB and MLBPA Exchange Proposed Rules Changes
A quick one today because I’ve a long commute ahead of me due to an awful ice storm. I’ll make it up to you all tomorrow.
Bryce Harper/Manny Machado News
Latest On Market For Bryce Harper https://t.co/NsveZJ1GSK pic.twitter.com/EUnoiS13Cp
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) February 5, 2019
Phillies fans have doubts that Harper or Machado would really want to play in Philadelphia.
Either Harper or Machado would be enormously impactful to the NL Central race. Imagine if the Cubs signed Harper and the Cardinals signed Machado?
Aaron Boone tells Yankees fans that they “should never say never” on the addition of either player.
Aaron Judge is willing to play a new position in order for the Yankees to sign Harper.
The true reason Machado and Harper are still available is that no team really wants to spend the money to sign them.
At least eight teams are still in on Harper if he would consider signing a short-term deal.
If Nolan Arenado is truly about to sign an extension with Colorado, the Yankees — and other teams for that matter — might want to amp up their efforts to sign Harper. Who would have thought next year’s free agents would freeze this year’s market?
The Yankees, Astros, Giants, and Cardinals could be Harper’s mystery teams.
Cubs News & Notes
Congratulations to @Dempster46, who will be inducted into the @CDNBaseballHOF on June 15! pic.twitter.com/hi6nvlQpOu
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 5, 2019
- Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel is not too happy with the “intolerance and ignorance” displayed by Joe Ricketts.
- Despite a string of solid performances from Jose Quintana, the Cubs will eventually regret giving up Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease. They are the White Sox’ top two prospects right now.
- Even though the team has yet to make an impact move this offseason, the Cubs still look like the team to beat in the NL Central.
- This year’s home opener could very well be the last for WGN-TV.
- The team released its spring training and regular season broadcast schedule yesterday.
- The initial plan for minor league pitcher Adbert Alzolay is to begin 2019 in the minors and probably not as a starter given the innings limit Chicago will impose on him this year. If he is to pitch for the Cubs this season, it would likely be as a late or midseason addition to the bullpen.
- Trevor Clifton leads a list of five minor league prospects who could see time on the Cubs big league roster this season.
- Lee Smith is still in awe regarding his induction into the Hall of Fame.
- A short-term prediction for the Cubs from Tribune writer David Haugh: Yu Darvish will resemble the ace the Cubs thought they were getting last winter for $126 million, solidifying one of the most reliable starting rotations in baseball.
- Darvish is very confident that he will return to being a top-of-rotation starter this season. He will rely more on his fastball and curve this year than his slider and cutter.
Wednesday Stove
Interesting stuff. I am not opposed to a National League DH, but I don’t think I’d favor a three-batter minimum for pitchers. It seems more and more like baseball is trying to take the game out of the hands of its managers.
Changes to defensive shifts is still on baseball’s rules committee agenda.
Baseball’s free agent freeze has been an embarrassment to the game.
Add the Phillies to the list of teams interested in J.T. Realmuto. They may feel like pursuing either Harper or Machado has become a bit of a lost cause.
Baseball’s luxury tax should have little impact on the signing of free agents, if any at all.
Curtis Granderson has agreed to a minor league deal with the Marlins.
Brandon Guyer has agreed to a minor league contract with the White Sox.
ChiSox starter Michael Kopech is throwing for the first time since he had season-ending Tommy John surgery in September.
Extra Innings
Ron Santo pizzas. Do you remember those?
“Slow Roller For This Batter” ~ Chicago #Cubs star Ron Santo rolls out some dough at his new pizza parlor! (February 4, 1966) #MLB #History pic.twitter.com/oM8bbb74j8
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) February 4, 2019
Wednesday Walk Up Song
Let it Go by James Bay. Harper to the Cardinals? As if.
