Padres land Kimbrel in six-player trade with Braves

The San Diego Padres loaded with outfielders were looking to trade both Cameron Maybin and Carlos Quentin. They found a trade partner for both of them on Sunday in the Atlanta Braves. The Braves sent the Padres All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton, Jr. for outfielders Cameron Maybin, and Carlos Quentin along with prospects outfielder Jordan Paroubeck, starting pitcher Matt Wisler, and the 41st pick overall in the 2015 MLB draft.

The Atlanta Braves are currently in rebuild mode, after trading lots of their roster in the offseason. Including Jason Heyward, Jordan Walden, Evan Gattis, and Justin Upton (Justin is currently with the Padres, and the younger brother of Melvin Upton Jr). At times to rebuild and get a team to take on a bad contract you need to trade a good player to do that, which to me is what the Braves did to get rid of Melvin Upton Jr's contract. He didn't workout well for the Braves after signing a big contract as a free agent with them. So pretty much the Braves had to get rid of his contract somehow, and they found a way, even if that meant trading the best closer in the MLB in Craig Kimbrel.

For the Braves they add talent to their minor league system, which is something they need. Wisler becomes the Braves top prospect, and a good outfield prospect in Paroubeck.

Kimbrel, 26, looks to make the Padres a contender for the NL West. They've added lots of players to their roster in the offseason with the likes of Derek Norris, Wil Myers, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, and James Shields. The Padres are trying to make the playoffs for their first time since 2006, right now it looks like they could be a playoff team. Time will tell if that's true. They needed a closer, which they got in Kimbrel. He improves their bullpen a lot, which they already have a good bullpen. I think their next upgrade if they do make another move at some point should be at first base.

Kimbrel is entering his sixth MLB season, so far he's been a four time All-Star (2011-2014), NL saves leader (2011-2014), and rookie of the year in 2011. Also while as closer in 2011, he had 46 saves, that's the most for a closer as a rookie.

His career stats are: 15 wins, 10 losses, 1.43 era, 186 saves, 289 innings, 476 strikeouts, 294 games, and a whip of 0.90. The last four seasons he's had 46 saves, 42 saves, 50 saves, and last season 47 saves.

If the Padres fail to make the playoffs in 2015, their current manager Bud Black could be on the hot seat after the season. He was manager of the year for the NL in 2010, when he lead the Padres to a record of 90-72, only to finish in second place in the NL West. Black always seems to have the Padres do better than people say they will be. A lot of that is due to the fact he's never had much talent to work with, because the Padres have had ownership problems under him. He's only had two winning seasons with the Padres as their manager, 2007 and 2010.

As for myself I like the trade for both teams, it should help the Padres now, and the Braves in the future.

Indians Extend Kluber

The Cleveland Indians have gotten one of their top players starting pitcher Corey Kluber to a long-term contract. Kluber, 28, gets a five-year contract, that's worth $38.5 million. The deal also includes two team options, one for 2020 and the other for 2021. In the up coming seasons starting in 2015 he'll make $1 million, 2016 season $4.5 million, 017 $7.5 million, 018 $10.5 million, and in 019 $13 million. In the fifth year can go from $13 million to $17 million. The first option in 2020, is worth $13.5 million and can go to $17.5 million. His option in 2021, can go is $14 million and can go up to $18 million. His second option can be bought out for $1 million.

If the Indians decide to trade Kluber, then his new club will have to decide on both options within three days after the 2019 World Series. If that club were to decline the option, Kluber then must be given a $1 million buyout. Kluber also will receive a $1 million bonus if he's traded and his 2021 club option will convert into a vesting option if he were to be traded in 2020. The vesting option would call for him to pitch 160 innings and not finish the year on the disabled list (DL).

Kluber was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 2007 MLB draft. The Padres would then deal him to the Cleveland Indians in 2010, in a three-way trade that involved the St. Louis Cardinals. The Indians would send pitcher Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals, the Padres sent Kluber to the Indians and pitcher Nick Greenwood to the Cardinals. The Cardinals ended up sending outfielder Ryan Ludwick to the Padres.

Last season, he had a breakout season. Leading the American League (AL) in wins with 18, along with pitchers Jered Weaver and Max Scherzer . He struckout 269 batters, which was good for second-best in the MLB, only behind David Price who had 271 strikeouts. He finished the 2014 season 18-9 with an era of 2.44. His era ended up being third best in the league. Those stats helped him win the 2014 AL Cy Young Award.

Kluber is entering the fifth MLB season, so far in his career his stats are: 31 wins, 19 losses, 3.34 era, 450.1 innings, 464 strikeouts, 75 games, 70 starts, and a whip of 1.21. He also has three complete games, and 1 shutout.

It's a good move by the Indians, getting one of their core players signed to a long-term contract. He should be able to improve for the Indians.

Twins and Dozier agree to contract extension

The Minnesota Twins and second baseman Brian Dozier have agreed to a four-year contract extension, the deal wipes out his remaining years of arbitration eligibility. The contract is worth $20 million. This season he'll make $2 million, after that $3 million in 2016, $6 million in 2017, and $ 9 million in 2018. After the 2018 season he would become a a free agent.

Dozier, 27, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in June 2009, out of Southern Mississippi, in the 8th round of the MLB draft (overall he pick no.252). He'll be 28, in May. He's entering his fourth MLB season in 2015. He hasn't won any awards yet, but he has turned himself into a pretty good home run hitter in his career so far.

Last season was his best out of his first three seasons. He hit .242, with, 112 runs, 145 hits, 23 home runs, 71 rbi's, 21 stolen bases, and 89 walks. And while he didn't end up as an All-Star, he did make some records for the Twins franchise. The 112 runs were the 2nd most in a season, since Chuck Knoblauch had 117 runs scored in 1997. Dozier also had a 20/20 season (which is where a player has 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season), that was the first time since 2004 a Twins player did that. In 2004, that player was Torii Hunter (who signed back with the Twins in the off-season, after leaving them after 2007). He was the 13th player in the Twins franchise history to have a 20/20 season.

And in April, 2014 he scored 25 runs that month. That broke a record that had stood for 18 years for the Twins, it had been set by Hall of Famer and current Twins manager, Paul Molitor.

Over his first three seasons his career stats are: 387 games played, 217 runs, 355 hits, 77 doubles, 6 triples, 47 home runs, 170 rbi's, 44 stolen bases, 156 walks, and a batting average of .241.

Will Dozier continue to improve? Maybe, he has a shot to improve if he stays healthy. It's a good deal for the Twins. He's pretty much has become a fan favorite on the Twins team too.

St. Louis Cardinals 2015 Season Preview

Offseason Additions: Jason Heyward, Jordan Walden, Mark Reynolds, Matt Belisle, Michael Ohlman, Ty Kelly, Dean Anna, Carlos Villanueva, Marcus Hatley, Miguel Socolovich, Jose Gonzalez

Offseason Subtractions: Daniel Descalso, Mark Ellis, Tyrell Jenkins, Justin Masterson, Shelby Miller, Jason Motte, Pat Neshek, Audry Pérez, A. J. Pierzynski, Jorge Rondón

Point team prediction: 88-90 win range, 1st place

Starting rotation should be fun to watch if healthy. Pretty much you need Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, and John Lackey healthy. I think both Wainwright and Lackey will be healthy. It may take time to see if Wacha is healthy or not, if he isn't, you have Marco Gonzales who started 5 games last season, who could take his spot or if he were to get hurt. The no.5 spot is Carlos Martinez to lose.

Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha, John Lackey, Carlos Martinez.
If anyone has trouble or gets hurt in the minors you have Marco Gonzales,  Tim Cooney, Tyler Lyons, and maybe Zach Petrick ready.

Bullpen, I don't see the Cardinals going with three lefties. Right now the three lefties are Randy Choate, Sam Freeman, and Kevin Siegrist. If Sam Freeman does well in spring training, I could see him and Siegrist as the two lefties out of the bullpen, with the Cardinals cutting ties with Randy Choate, even though he's owed $3 million. The Cardinals have cut players who they owed money to in the past like Ryan Franklin, and Ty Wigginton. Sam Freeman is also out of options. So if he were to be sent to Memphis, he would need to clear waivers first. I have a feeling if that were to happen some team would claim him.

On another note Carlos Villanueva is in camp on a minor league deal. He's capable of pitching out of the bullpen, and making spot starts. Pretty much all he needs to do to earn a spot in the bullpen is show that he can pitch. It's a smart signing, when he's a pretty good pitcher out of the bullpen. He can eat innings along with Matt Belisle. Both Villanueva, and Belisle are capable of making a bullpen start if need be too. Last season while out of the bullpen Villanueva had an era of 2.64. 2.99 FIP, 24.1 K %, 6.8 BB % in 58 innings. I also think he can serve as a mentor for Carlos Martinez in someways, because both of them are from the Dominican Republic.

That's not too bad to have two innings eaters out of the bullpen. As for closer Trevor Rosenthal, he should be better. The Cardinals and him pretty much know what pitches he needs to work on. And if he gets overworked and needs a day off, Jordan Walden can take a day or two closing.

Trevor Rosenthal, Jordan Walden, Kevin Siegrist, Sam Freeman, Seth Maness, Matt Belise, Carlos Villanueva.

Starting lineup, should be better. Just because offense had a down year, doesn't fully mean all the players will have another down year. The MLB as a whole had an offense drought. It wasn't just the Cardinals. Jason Heyward could end up being what the Cardinals needed. Kolten Wong should be able to improve more in 2015, he should what he's capable of. And pretty much is a spark plug to the Cardinals offense.

As for the bench pretty much the true locks are Tony Cruz, Mark Reynolds, and Randal Grichuk. Is Peter Bourjos still safe with Stephen Piscotty being close? He almost made the team last season out of spring training. Who ever wins that spot, leaves one bench spot left. Pete Kozma (out of options), Ty Kelly, Dean Anna, Greg Garcia, and Aledmys Diaz could be options for the last bench spot. If I had to pick someone to win it, for now it would be Ty Kelly. I even kind of think Diaz could end up being in the MLB sometime in 2015. What if he were to have a great camp though?

Sleeper: Jason Heyward

I think him getting out of Atlanta will help him out, and get his career taken off. He still has the talent to be the player people think he is capable of being. I think the Braves messed him up pretty much hitting him all over the lineup, when players usually like sticking in one spot. That seems to be where players do best in, once they find one spot. Look for Heyward to bat 2nd in the Cardinals 2015 lineup.

Fantasy Stud: Yadier Molina

I went with him last season, and I'll go with him again. He's lost 20 pounds already this offseason, so that should help him stay healthy. I still think if he had been healthy last season, his numbers would have been better.

Rookie to watch for: Stephen Piscotty, he should be in the MLB at some point in 2015. Could he be in the MLB to stay once he does come up? Time will tell. 

All in all this team will still be competing for the NL Central title again. They still have the right tools in place to win the NL Central, even with the Cubs making moves. The NL Central should be fun this season, for the first time in while.

Cardinals land Heyward, in blockbuster move

After the death of future star Oscar Taveras, the Cardinals were in search of a new need for their 2015 team. A starting right-fielder, which last season combined the Cardinals at that position hit .237.  They found one on Monday when they traded starting pitcher Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins to the Atlanta Braves for right-fielder Jason Heyward and relief pitcher Jordan Walden. Heyward is the best right-fielder not named Giancarlo Stanton.

The Braves brought him up when he was 20-years-old, back in 2010. That season he ended up an All-Star in his first MLB season, and hit 18 home runs with 72 rbi's. After 2010, he pretty much has battled injuries. In 2012, he re-found his power though and hit 28 home runs with 82 rbi's. Last season, he seemed to show some flashes of being healthy again playing in 149 games (his most since 2012, when he play 158). His power may not have been there much last season, but he did show signs of speed stealing twenty bases, and hitting again .271. He hit only 11 home runs, which was a career low. He ended up getting 155 hits, his second most in his career.

Heyward right now is 25-years-old and will be a free agent after the 2015 season. Is Heyward starting to re-find his power slowly? I think time will tell, the Braves weren't going to be able to re-sign him. He's won two Gold Glove awards 2012, and 2014. He still is capable of power, and is still young. With Heyward in place the Cardinals should have one of the best defensive outfields again in the MLB.

His career stats in five seasons are: 681 games played, .262 batting average, 367 runs, 644 hits, 84 home runs, 292 rbi's, and 63 stolen bases.

What does Walden add? He looks like he will replace current free agent Pat Neshek. Walden has two more years of team control, and is 27-years-old. He's a former closer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, back in 2011, when he saved 32 games. He was an All-Star that season. He's been known to be a shutdown guy in late innings. Last season, he had an era of 2.88, with 3 saves and 20 holds.

His career stats in five seasons are: 231 games, 12 wins, 13 losses, 211.2 innings pitched, 38 saves, 254 strikeouts, 3.10 era, and a whip of 1.23.

To me it looks like a good move for both teams. The Braves needed pitching, and the Cardinals needed a starting right-fielder. Will there be a winner in this trade? To me time will tell, if Heyward isn't kept then the Braves are clear winners. I think the Cardinals wouldn't trade for Heyward if they didn't think that they could re-sign him beyond 2015.  And in Walden the Cardinals have someone who can close, if closer Trevor Rosenthal needs a day off.

Orioles and Hardy agree to contract extension

The Baltimore Orioles and shortstop J.J. Hardy agreed to a three-year contract extension, which includes an option for the 2018 season. The contract is worth $40 million. Hardy, 32, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2001 MLB draft, he was picked 56th overall. He would play five season for the Brewers, from 2005-2009.

In the offseason heading into the 2010 season, the Brewers traded Hardy to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Carlos Gomez. He would only spend one season playing for the Twins, before being traded to the Orioles for minor league pitchers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. It's safe to say that Hardy ended up finding a home in Baltimore after being traded by the Twins.

2011 was his fist full season with the Orioles, and he ended up hitting .269, with 30 home runs and 80 rbi's. He's won two gold gloves with the Orioles, in 2012 and last season 2013. He's also been an All-Star two times in his career 2007, and 2013.

This season, Hardy's power has dropped. It's the first time in three seasons, he didn't hit 20 or home runs. Instead, he hit .268, with 9 home runs, and 52 rbi's. His defense has still been there though, he led all American League shortstops in defensive value (20.4) and defensive runs saved (10).

He's a great player for the Orioles to make sure they have kept, he's proven to be one of their leaders on defense and at times with his offense.

Overall Hardy has played ten seasons in the MLB. His career stats are: 1,259 games played, .261 batting average, 1,234 hits, 606 runs scored, 167 home runs, and 579 rbi's.

If he had it free agency this
December, Hardy could have been one of the most target free agents.

Cardinals land John Lackey from Boston

On Thursday the Cardinals were busy on trade deadline day. They picked up starting pitcher John Lackey from the Boston Red Sox, along with prospect LHP Corey Littrell for right fielder Allen Craig and starting pitcher Joe Kelly. I'll get to Lackey and the others soon. As for Littrell he seems like a good pitcher for depth, he's young and right now in 19 games and 18 starts he's 5-5 with an era of 3.60, he's pitched 100 innings in his seconds minor league season. He has 91 strikeouts and 38 walks. In his future he could be best as a middle reliever or a back end of the rotation type of guy. That's if he reaches the MLB, his stats seem like he has a chance.

Littrell can reach 89-92 on the radar gun, besides his fastball; he throws a curveball, cutter, and a change up. He was ranked the the Red Sox 36th best prospect at the time of the trade.

As for John Lackey, the Cardinals get a starter who has been a big game pitcher in his career, he's not scared to speak his mind. He'll battle on the mound. In 2013, Lackey became the only starter to win to clinching World Series games for two different teams (the Los Angeles Angels in 2002, and Boston Red Sox 2013). The Red Sox signed Lackey as a free agent in December, 2009. The contract was a five-year deal worth $82.5 million. In the contract the Red Sox put a clause in his deal that said if he missed any season due to an injury, they'd have a club option for $500,000 in 2015.

He would later end up having Tommy John surgery and ended up missing the 2012 season. He was able to pitch his way back after having Tommy John surgery. So, he's strikeouts always have been about the same in his career, except for the 2011 season. He also gets lots of credit from people for the Red Sox success in 2013.

Now for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly. It's sad to see both leave. We all need to know that in sports it's always a business. So fan favorites who mean a lot to a team do get traded. Just because they get traded doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Craig was one of the best RBI' machines over the last couple of years. For whatever reason his power seems to be on the decline. And the Cardinals have someone named Oscar Taveras who has been waiting to play full-time.

Taveras mastered triple-A, so why send him to back to Memphis, when there's pretty much nothing left for him to learn? If you had been in a GM shoes what would you all have done if you had to find playing time for Taveras in the MLB? The Cardinals weren't going to trade him, even though there were rumors about him being traded. There's always rumors, teams even wanted Matt Adams? Would you have traded Adams, who's the Cardinals best hitter? I wouldn't have.

I hope Craig does well in Boston, I wish him luck. It's time for Oscar Taveras to play full-time, he has it in him to be a good player. Any GM would have been in a hard situation deciding what to do with both Taveras and Craig. In the end both are starting, so that should be good for both players.

Joe Kelly he's young, but still learning and can improve. Why did the Cardinals trade him you might ask? Easy, they wanted to upgrade their rotation. They need pitchers who can eat innings if they want to make the playoffs. Ever since Michael Wacha got injured and landed on DL, pitchers not named Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn haven't been going deep into innings. That has made the bullpen become overworked. You don't need a bullpen overworked, when trying to get a playoff spot.

Kelly can help the Red Sox, it was kind of like spring training again for him though. And that's because he's just getting off the DL, and refinding his pitches. He was getting killed in his last four starts, with an era of 7.32 combined for those starts. So, does it make sense to let Kelly stay starting or find pitching who can help make the playoffs or decide to tank it and miss the playoffs?

In Lackey, they get a proven starter who can eat innings and at this point is better than Kelly. Would I have liked to see Kelly stay? Yes I would have. But the Cardinals goal is to always make the playoffs isn't that the goal every season? After all no one knows what will happen in the playoffs once a team gets in. This team have the offense to scoring runs, and can hit. I think the team needed a wake up call somehow and someway. Teams need wake up calls at times, even if it means shaking up the roster.
Allen Craig had been struggling. And didn't seem to be helping the team much, when given chances to see if he could bounce back. Maybe it's because he needs a new team to refind his power. If that's the case, Craig should do well in Boston.

In the end we can be glad the Cardinals are trying to do their best to make the playoffs. And trying to fix one of their main problems which has been starting pitching, ever since Wacha landed on the DL. Keep in mind the rest of the teams like the Pirates and Brewers didn't do much to try to improve, even though the Brewers got a nice player in Gerardo Parra. Other than that the other teams didn't improve. I think those teams sent a message that the trade market is too high.

And if the Cardinals need to add a little offense they still can make a trade in offense, which I could see happening. That's if teams prices drop on players. A lot of the reason to why prices are so high on players is because there are two wild cards now, so there are lots of teams who think they can make a playoff push. So teams now days tend to want to play it out and see if they can make a playoff push.

Just to name a few August trades from the past who ended up helping the team are: John Axford, Larry Walker, and Woody Williams. At least the Cardinals didn't panic and trade the farm for a rental for a few months. When there's no guarantee that the player would stay. And you don't want to give up a prospect you could regret in the future, Micheal Brantley is a perfect example of that who comes to mind. I'm sure the Brewers wish they never traded him.

All in all this should turn out to be a good trade for both teams. The Cardinals also have a ton of pitching depth who could be ready for the MLB soon. One of those pitchers who isn't far off is Marco Gonzales, just to name one of them.