|
 MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Crockett, Kyle
LHP Kyle Crockett enjoyed such a good rookie year, he probably
already has a spot in the bullpen for 2015. Drafted in the fifth
round of the 2013 draft, Crockett was in the major leagues less than
a year later. He went 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 43 appearances this
season.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Miley, Wade
LHP Wade Miley, who reached 200 innings for the second consecutive
season, is considered a "lock for the 2015 starting rotation,"
general manager Dave Stewart said the day after the regular season
ended. "You have to look at Wade," Stewart said. "You have to assume
(Josh) Collmenter and Miley are locks in our rotation. Miley was
8-12 with a 4.34 ERA in 33 starts and 201 1/3 innings. "It's a goal
you set for yourself, but it's not that big of a deal," Miley said
of his innings. "I want to maximize innings, throw as much as you
can. The more innings you throw, the more you benefit your club."
Miley set career highs in strikeouts (183) and walks (75).
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Collmenter, Josh
RHP Josh Collmenter pitched so well over his final seven starts that
he appears to have won himself a spot in the 2015 starting rotation,
general manager Dave Stewart said the day after the regular-season
ended. "You have (to) look at Josh," Stewart said. "I'm not the guy
to say because I'm not going to write the lineup, but you have to
assume Collmenter and (Wade) Miley are locks in our rotation."
Collmenter, 11-9 with a 3.46 ERA, led the D-backs in victories and
finished 10th in the NL in WHIP (1.13). He was 3-2 with a 1.26 ERA
in his final seven starts since Aug. 22, trailing only San Francisco
RHP Jake Peavy (1.17) and Pittsburgh LHP Francisco Liriano (1.23) in
that time frame.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Owings, Chris
2B/SS Chris Owings, SS Didi Gregorius, 2B Aaron Hill, 2B/SS/3B Cliff
Pennington and minor league SS Nick Ahmed give the team plenty of
depth in the middle infield, but general manager Dave Stewart said
it would take a special deal to move one as the D-backs look for
help in the starting rotation. "I'm not going to be going into the
market looking to actively trade one of our middle infielders,"
Stewart said, "(but) if it makes sense for our ball club, I'm going
to do what's best for the ball club. We need frontline starting
pitching. If it allows us an opportunity to get that, we'll have to
examine that. We're going to try to maintain what we have. We are
going to try to maintain our minor league system."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Gregorius, Didi
SS Didi Gregorius, 2B/SS Chris Owings, 2B Aaron Hill, 2B/SS/3B Cliff
Pennington and minor league SS Nick Ahmed give the team plenty of
depth in the middle infield, but general manager Dave Stewart said
it would take a special deal to move one as the D-backs look for
help in the starting rotation. "I'm not going to be going into the
market looking to actively trade one of our middle infielders,"
Stewart said, "(but) if it makes sense for our ball club, I'm going
to do what's best for the ball club. We need frontline starting
pitching. If it allows us an opportunity to get that, we'll have to
examine that. We're going to try to maintain what we have. We are
going to try to maintain our minor league system."
 -----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Hill, Aaron
2B Aaron Hill, 2B/SS Chris Owings, SS Didi Gregorius, 2B/SS/3B Cliff
Pennington and minor league SS Nick Ahmed give the team plenty of
depth in the middle infield, but general manager Dave Stewart said
it would take a special deal to move one as the D-backs look for
help in the starting rotation. "I'm not going to be going into the
market looking to actively trade one of our middle infielders,"
Stewart said, "(but) if it makes sense for our ball club, I'm going
to do what's best for the ball club. We need frontline starting
pitching. If it allows us an opportunity to get that, we'll have to
examine that. We're going to try to maintain what we have. We are
going to try to maintain our minor league system."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Pennington, Cliff
2B/SS/3B Cliff Pennington, 2B/SS Chris Owings, SS Didi Gregorius, 2B
Aaron Hill and minor league SS Nick Ahmed give the team plenty of
depth in the middle infield, but general manager Dave Stewart said
it would take a special deal to move one as the D-backs look for
help in the starting rotation. "I'm not going to be going into the
market looking to actively trade one of our middle infielders,"
Stewart said, "(but) if it makes sense for our ball club, I'm going
to do what's best for the ball club. We need frontline starting
pitching. If it allows us an opportunity to get that, we'll have to
examine that. We're going to try to maintain what we have. We are
going to try to maintain our minor league system."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin, Patrick
LHP Patrick Corbin (Tommy John surgery) is not expected to return
until May or possibly June of 2015 after missing all of the 2014
season as the D-backs take a conservative approach.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Hernandez, David
RHP David Hernandez (Tommy John surgery) will be 11 months out of
surgery when spring training opens in 2015, and he will be delayed
at the start of the season.
-----------------------------------------------
 MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Bradley, Archie
RHP Archie Bradley remains the top prospect because of his stuff --
a mid- to-high-90s fastball and a developing breaking pitch despite
an up-and-down season in which he was shut down for a month with
elbow soreness that did not turn into anything more dramatic. The
seventh player taken in the 2011 draft, Bradley has the power arm
that plays at the top end of a rotation once he learns location.
There are rotation spots open in 2015, but he will not be rushed.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Garcia, Avisail
RF Avisail Garcia was supposed to have a breakout season. But that
was not the case for the 23-year-old Miguel Cabrera clone whom the
White Sox acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline in
2013. Garcia impressed in 42 games with the White Sox following the
trade, hitting .304 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 168 at bats.
After a solid spring training, Garcia got just eight games into the
2014 season before tearing the labrum in his left (nonthrowing)
shoulder diving for a line drive in Colorado. He was hitting .267
with two homers and four RBIs in 30 at bats when he was injured.
Garcia then surprised the team by returning from surgery Aug. 16,
but struggled. He hit .239 with five home runs and 25 RBIs in his
final 38 games and struck out 37 times. Much will be expected of him
again in 2015.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Rodon, Carlos
LHP Carlos Rodon, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft out of
North Carolina State, was every bit as good as advertised. The
hard-throwing lefty rocketed through the minors once the White Sox
hammered out a contract with his agent, Scott Boras. Rodon started
in rookie level Arizona League before quickly making jumps to High-A
Winston-Salem of the Carolina League and then Triple-A Charlotte to
finish the season -- skipping right over Double-A Birmingham.
Displaying an impressive three-pitch mix of fastballs, changeups and
sliders, Rodon racked up strikeouts and put himself on the fast
track to the major leagues. He appeared in nine games across three
levels (six starts) and compiled an impressive 2.92 ERA with 38
strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. General manager Rick Hahn said Rodon
will begin training camp with the chance to earn a starting spot in
Chicago, but could also find himself in the bullpen for a stretch,
like ace LHP Chris Sale did as a rookie.
 -----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Abreu, Jose
1B Jose Abreu hit .317 with 36 home runs and 107 RBIs, finishing
fifth in the majors for RBIs and tied for fourth in home runs.
Considering his admission that such a long season wore on him, you
have to wonder what kind of numbers he can attain when fully
prepared for such a grind. "Any time a guy gets into his first year
and has the impact that he had, you're very excited to see what
comes of it," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "I don't see --
just his mechanics, who he is and everything - you can sit here and
say next year might be not as good. But with his work ethic and
everything that he brings to the table on a daily basis, I see him
staying consistent. I feel very fortunate that he's in the middle of
our lineup."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Viciedo, Dayan
LF Dayan Viciedo will be one of the discussion topics for White Sox
management this offseason. He is arbitration eligible, but the Sox
might opt not to offer it to him and make him a free agent after
another disappointing season at the plate. Viciedo played 21 more
games than he did in 2013, yet his 58 RBIs in 2014 were just two
higher and his secondary numbers dipped considerably, including his
batting average, which fell from .265 to .231. Viciedo's defense in
left field has also been suspect, at best. Viciedo had a paltry .686
OPS, but manager Robin Ventura doesn't really see him as a Chicago's
new designated hitter for a separate reason. "You just feel detached
from the game and you're into your own little at-bat," he said.
"There are some guys that enjoy it and that's something they get
accustomed to, but I don't think Dayan really enjoys it."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Flowers, Tyler
C Tyler Flowers is arbitration eligible this offseason and doesn't
come with an expensive price tag. The question is whether the White
Sox will to continue with him as their starting catcher. He had a
decent stat line after catching 124 of the 127 games he played.
Flowers hit .241 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs, but the White Sox
might see if there are better external options they can get this
offseason. "I think he's had a nice comeback," manager Robin Ventura
said. "Catching-wise, I've been very happy with pitch calling,
things like that, being able to call the game, helping the pitchers
out when he can. Offensively I think he's had a nice little
comeback. He got off to a good start then buried himself for a
little while. Now, I think if you look at the quality of his
at-bats, they've been better."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago White Sox Noesi, Hector
RHP Hector Noesi went from struggling reliever with the Seattle
Mariners and then Texas Rangers to a likely spot in the White Sox's
rotation in 2015. In fact, Noesi might be the lone right-handed
starter if LHP Carlos Rodon earns a rotation spot. Noesi, who's
arbitration eligible, will likely be re-signed. After the White Sox
claimed him off waivers in late April from the Rangers, he lowered
his ERA from 14.21 to 4.75 in Chicago, where he made 28 starts.
"He's done well," manager Robin Ventura said. "You see where he
started and now where he's at, his improvements since the time we
got him. He was only throwing four or five innings when we first got
him. But he's done enough to be in the equation."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Cahill, Trevor
RHP Trevor Cahill has one of the best two-seam fastballs in the
game, and when Cahill arrived via trade in 2012, some compared him
to D-backs icon Brandon Webb. But that's where the comparisons
stopped. Cahill was so ineffective early this season that he was
bumped from the rotation in mid-April, then sent to the minors two
months, before returning at the All-Star break. Nothing seemed to
work. On a staff that needed someone to step up after left-hander
Patrick Corbin suffered season-ending Tommy John surgery in March,
Cahill was 3-12 with a 5.61 ERA.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Arizona Diamondbacks Goldschmidt, Paul
1B Paul Goldschmidt made his second All-Star team while cementing
his status as one of the games superstars, albeit without much
fanfare. Goldschmidt slashed .300/.396/.542 with 39 doubles, 19
homers and 69 RBIs. He tied for fourth in the NL in doubles despite
playing only 109 games before suffering a fractured fourth
metacarpal in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch Aug. 1, and
would have been second in OPS and slugging but was 23 plate
appearances short of qualifying. And there's this -- the D-backs
were 16-36 after his injury.
He took batting practice on Sept. 27, the penultimate day of the
regular season, and is expected to be 100 percent in spring
training.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Cashner, Andrew
RHP Andrew Cashner was 3-1 with a 2.87 ERA in his final seven starts
of the season. The most important part of that is that Cashner made
seven straight starts without incident after missing 54 games while
on the disabled list from June 19 to Aug. 23 with the combination of
left shoulder soreness and a nerve issue in his neck. It was
Cashner's second trip to the disabled list this season and his
career as a starter was been interrupted by injuries.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Grandal, Yasmani
C/1B Yasmani Grandal, 25, had 25 RBIs in his last 38 starts this
season, leading the Padres to believe he will return to form in
2015. Grandal's troubled 2013 season (he missed the first 50 games
with a PED suspension) ended in a homeplate collision that led to
the reconstruction of the ACL in his right knee. Grandal caught 73
games this season and made 36 starts at first. He hit .241 with six
homers and 21 RBIs in 116 at-bats as a first baseman, although
Grandal -- as well as Padres manager Bud Black -- views his best
position as catcher. While playing mostly first, Grandal hit .291 in
September with four homers and 14 RBIs. "I think the last month of
the season showed what Yazi can do when he feels 100 percent," said
Padres manager Bud Black.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Alvarez, R.J.
RHP R.J. Alvarez, 23, made nine straight scoreless appearances (two
hits and three walks allowed against nine strikeouts in 7 1/3
innings) through the end of the season after allowing a run on a hit
and two walks in two-thirds of an inning in his major league debut
on Sept. 3 against Arizona. Alvarez was one of four prospects
acquired by the Padres in the July 19 trade that sent closer Huston
Street to the Angels. The Padres believe Alvarez has the potential
to be a major league closer. With RHP Kevin Quackenbush already
closing games this season and Alvarez on the way, it could prompt
the Padres to trade Joaquin Benoit for offensive help this winter.
-----------------------------------------------
[to top of second column] |
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Amarista, Alexi
SS Alexi Amarista, 25, is now being discussed more as the Padres
shortstop than a utility player. Amarista hit .253 with a .299
on-base percentage in 72 games as a shortstop this season with four
homers, 28 RBIs and 22 runs scored as a replacement for the troubled
Everth Cabrera. Amarista started the season's last 43 straight games
at short and made only three errors. Although his September average
was .229, it was higher than the .135 composite of the past two
seasons and he had two homers and 15 RBIs. General manager A.J.
Preller mentioned Amarista as a strong shortstop candidate moving
forward, another indication that Cabrera's days as a Padre could be
numbered. Cabrera finished the 2013 season serving a 50-game
suspension for his role in the Biogenesis scandal. While rehabbing
from his second trip to the disabled list this season with left
hamstring strains, Cabrera was arrested on a DUI charge (marijuana)
on Sept. 3.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Gyorko, Jedd
2B Jedd Gyorko, 26, hit .260 since returning from the disabled list
on July 28 after missing 44 games with plantar fasciitis. He had
five homers and 27 RBIs since his return in 222 at-bats. However,
before going on the disabled list, Gyorko had five homers and 24
RBIs in 221 at-bats. The biggest differences between the two halves
was batting average (.162 before the injury with 18 fewer hits) and
on-base percentage (.347 in the second half with 18 more hits and 12
more walks). Gyorko, who finished with a .210 average, figures to
start at second or third next season.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Bautista, Jose
RF Jose Bautista led the team with 35 home runs and 103 RBIs,
batting .286/.403/.524. He is the second player in franchise history
to have three seasons with 35 or more homers; 1B Carlos Delgado did
it five times. Bautista also runs the bases smartly and plays a top
right field, supplying highlight-reel catches. His arm is strong and
accurate, and can turn what looks like a single into a 9-3 out at
first, helping him compile 12 outfield assists this year. Bautista
will willingly play first base or at third if needed. He started 11
games at first base and five in center field.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Reyes, Jose
SS Jose Reyes did well enough offensively, if a .328 on-base
percentage for a leadoff batter is acceptable. He finished the
season .287/.328/.398 with nine homers, 51 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.
However, his defense, whether in the form of bad throws or ground
balls that slipped past him, was well below the standards of a
player of his salary and stature. He made 19 errors, his range was
limited, and his other fundamentals were lacking, leading to miscues
that did not show in the error column. His saving grace was a strong
arm. Reyes was hampered by nagging shoulder and hamstring woes, and
artificial turf at Rogers Centre does not help. The Blue Jays will
try to find ways to keeping his fresher next season, like more days
off and perhaps some use as designated hitter. A change in position
might be best, but that seems unlikely.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Sanchez, Aaron
RHP Aaron Sanchez, 22, was called up July 22 to help shore up the
bullpen, and he exceeded expectations. He retired the first batter
he faced in 21 of his 24 outings, and he went 2-2 with a 1.09 ERA
and three saves. There is a temptation to use him as a closer next
season if, as expected, RHP Casey Janssen leaves as a free agent.
The Blue Jays insist that his talent points to a future as a
top-half-of-the-rotation starter, possibly an ace, and he will be
given the chance to open next season in the rotation, which appears
to be the right call. "He's done a wonderful job this year in the
bullpen, and it's easy to say, well, he can (close)," general
manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "I'm a firm believer if you're a good
starter, especially a front-end starter, you've got a good chance of
being a good reliever. Aaron is going to come into spring training
and be stretched out as a starter. That's certainly the plan."
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Happ, J.A.
LHP J.A. Happ started the season on the disabled list, made his
first three appearances in relief and made his first start May 5.
Once he became fully comfortable with a slightly lower arm slot that
gave his pitches more side-to-side movement, he became an important
cog in the rotation. He was better in the second half of the season
but did not always get the results, going 7-5 with a 4.91 ERA before
the All-Star break and 4-6 after the break despite a 3.56 ERA. He
did win his final start of the season to go 11-11 to give the Blue
Jays five pitchers with more than 10 wins -- RHP R.A. Dickey, 14-13;
LHP Mark Buehrle, 13-10; RHP Drew Hutchison, 11-13; and RHP Marcus
Stroman, 11-6.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Lawrie, Brett
3B Brett Lawrie was limited to 70 games because of injuries. He
broke a finger, returned and then strained a left oblique muscle, an
injury that put him out for the rest of the season. He played
excellent second base and third base, and the infield defense
slipped in his absence. His range at third base helps cover up for
the lack of range of SS Jose Reyes. Defensive issues were a key
failing for the Blue Jays. "It'll naturally get better when Brett is
out there," manager John Gibbons said.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Spangenberg, Cory
INF Cory Spangenberg hit .290 with two doubles, a triple and two
homers in 62 September at-bats. Best position is second, where Jedd
Gyorko lives. But Gyorko's natural position is third. Padres manager
Bud Black calls Spangenberg, 23, "hitterish." Aggressive from the
left side. Good speed. Might be lead-off prospect if he draws more
walks.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Maybin, Cameron
CF Cameron Maybin, 27, is contracted through 2016 off a multi-year
contract the Padres wish they hadn't given him in 2012. After losing
almost all of 2013 to injuries, he drew a 25-game suspension this
season for the use of an unapproved drug to treat his ADD disorder.
He hit .235 in 251 at-bats with one homers and 15 RBIs. One of worst
of the bad contracts hanging over Padres.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - San Diego Padres Rivera, Rene
C Rene Rivera started the season as catching specialist for righty
Andrew Cashner. Soon he was also catching -- and getting clutch hits
-- for right-hander Tyson Ross. Then he was catching almost every
day. Rivera had the lowest catcher's earned-run average in the major
leagues and he threw out the most runners (29) in the National
League with a 33 percent success rate. He also hit .252 with 11
homers and 42 usually timely RBIs.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Baez, Javier
SS Javier Baez is brimming with talent but still needs to adjust to
major league pitching and learn more patience at the plate. He
struck out more than 90 times in 215 at-bats.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Castillo, Welington
C Welington Castillo has been adequate behind the plate and batted
.237 plus hit a career-high 13 home runs and 46 RBIs. But could the
Cubs bring in a more established catcher? Pittsburgh's Russell
Martin is reportedly in the conversation.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Coghlan, Chris
LF Chris Coghlan found some redemption in Chicago after four
previous seasons of struggle in Miami. He appeared in 125 games --
three short of his career high -- and hit .283 with nine home runs,
28 doubles and 41 RBIs.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Castro, Starlin
SS Starlin Castro ended the season sidelined and wearing a
protective boot after suffering a serious ankle sprain. But even the
early end couldn't dampen a comeback year that saw him hit .292 with
a career-best 14 home runs and 43 multi-hit games.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Soler, Jorge
RF Jorge Soler had a fabulous career start, reaching safely in 18 of
his first 20 career games and hitting safely in 17 of those. He was
also the first Cub to collect 18 RBIs in his first 17 games since
Mandy Books in 1925. Soler also quickly adjusted to major league
pitching and closed with a .292 average with five homers and 20
RBIs.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Rondon, Hector
RHP Hector Rondon could have the staff closer spot locked down next
April after a performance that included 15 late-season saves and 29
for the year. Rondon finished 4-4 with a 2.42 ERA in 64 appearances
while striking out 64 and walking just 15.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Arrieta, Jake
RHP Jake Arrieta emerged as staff ace following the midseason trades
of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Arrieta, acquired in a trade
that send Scott Feldman to the Orioles last year, could well be the
2015 Opening Day starter. Arrieta (10-5) tossed a two-hitter and
struck out 10 in his final outing and had a one-hit complete-game
shutout his previous start in mid-September.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Hendricks, Kyle
RHP Kyle Hendricks figures to be in the starting mix in 2015 after
tossing eight quality starts this season, by far the most by Cubs
first-year pitchers. Acquired from Texas in July 2012, he was named
Cubs 2013 Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 13-4 between
Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. He recorded quality starts in
six straight outings from July 22-Aug. 18 and finished with a 7-2
record and a 2.46 ERA. Hendricks struck out 47 while walking just 15
in 80 1/3 innings pitched.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Jackson, Edwin
RHP Edwin Jackson had his second straight losing season with the
Cubs, going 6-15 with a 6.33 ERA in 140 2/3 innings pitched and 28
games. He was relegated to the bullpen late in the season and closed
the year with a scoreless inning in last Sunday's season finale in
Milwaukee, his first relief appearance since September 2011. Jackson
was 8-18 in 2013, his first Cubs campaign.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Bryant, Kris
INF Kris Byrant, a 22-year-old infielder, was named Baseball
America's 2014 Minor League Player of the Year. Bryant batted .325
with 34 doubles, one triple, 43 home runs and 110 RBIs in 138 games
between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. His 43 home runs led
all of minor league baseball as did his 78 extra-base hits, 325
total bases, a .661 slugging percentage and 1.098 OPS. Bryant never
came up to the Cubs as a September call-up but could be a factor in
spring training.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Chicago Cubs Rizzo, Anthony
1B Anthony Rizzo capped a comeback season by going 3-for-4 in last
Sunday's season finale in Milwaukee with his career-high 32nd home
run, good for second in the National League. He finished with a
career-best 150 hits plus a team-leading 78 RBIs while emerging as a
leader in both the clubhouse and on the field. Rizzo said that's a
role he embraces.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Cabrera, Melky
LF Melky Cabrera was a key player for the Blue Jays after struggling
in 2013 with a benign tumor in his back that was removed. Cabrera
batted .301/.351/.458 with 16 homers and 73 RBIs in 139 games this
year. His season ended Sept. 5 when he broke a finger on a pickoff
play at first. He can become a free agent this offseason, and
re-signing him is considered a key for the Blue Jays if they want to
contend in 2015. "Melky has sincerely expressed a desire to be
back," GM Alex Anthopoulos said. "He's expressed it, we're his first
choice. I don't think it's lip service, I think he's sincere on
that. We've absolutely expressed a desire to have him back, as well,
and that's a good starting point. Does it ensure or guarantee
anything? Absolutely not." Money and length of contract could be a
factor.
-----------------------------------------------
MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Pompey, Dalton
OF Dalton Pompey, 21, started the season at Class A Dunedin and
worked his way up to a September trial in Toronto. Pompey, who is
from adjacent Mississauga, Ontario, batted .231/.302/.436 in 17
games and showed flashes of brilliance in left and center field. He
will go to the Arizona Fall League for more playing time, and that
could determine his status with the big-league team for next season.
"I think Fall League performance is going to be important," GM Alex
Anthopoulos said. "This has been a nice two weeks of starting games
or whatever it is. ... It's nice to see, but I don't know that you
really put a ton of stock into it. Again, I put more stock into the
quality of the at bats. I think the Fall League is going to be a
little more important because he'll be in the league for a while,
some people might get to know him and adjust to him. Unless we do
something else, trade or add somebody, I would expect him to come in
and compete."
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
