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 2/18/2015 MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Morton, Charlie
RHP Charlie Morton (right hip surgery in September 2014) had the
labrum repaired. Morton says he is ahead of scheduled in his
recovery and will be ready to begin the season in the rotation,
though it appears to be more of a 50-50 proposition, according to
the Pirates medical staff.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Alvarez, Pedro
1B Pedro Alvarez (stress reaction in left foot) played only once
after Aug. 26 last season but is completely healed and will have no
restrictions in spring training.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Kang, Jung-Ho
INF Jung Ho Kang is the only rookie likely to make the opening day
roster but the 27-year-old has plenty of professional experience as
he played for nine seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization,
including hitting .306 with 40 home runs in 117 games for the Nexen
Heroes last year. The Pirates signed Kang to a four-year,
$11-million contract as a free agent Jan. 16 and also paid a $5
million posting fee to the Heroes. While he will begin the season as
a utility player, it seems likely the Pirates will find a regular
spot in the lineup if Kang proves the power he showed in Korea can
translate to the major leagues.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Richard, Clayton
LHP Clayton Richard is confident his shoulder woes are behind him
and that he is ready to return to the big leagues. The left-hander
compiled a 46-47 record in six major league seasons with the Chicago
White Sox (2008-09) and San Diego (2009-13) while posting a 4.33 ERA
in 147 games, 129 of which were starts.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Polanco, Gregory
RF Gregory Polanco received a vote of confidence Jan. 27 when the
Pirates traded OF Travis Snider to Baltimore. Polanco was considered
the Pirates' top prospect when he was called up from Triple-A
Indianapolis last June. However, he fizzled after a hot start and
lost most of his playing time to Snider during the pennant race last
September. Polanco, though, goes to spring training as the clear
starter in right field. In 89 games last year, he hit .235 with
seven home runs and 14 stolen bases.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Billingsley, Chad
RHP Chad Billingsley (Tommy John surgery in April 2013, partially
torn flexor tendon) missed the entire 2014 season with the Los
Angeles Dodgers and underwent elbow surgery June 24. He will likely
begin this season on the disabled list and there is no definitive
timetable for his return.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Sanchez, Hector
C Hector Sanchez (concussion) proclaimed on the opening day of camp
that he's fully recovered from the dizziness that prematurely ended
his 2014 season and clouded his future as a catcher. Sanchez begins
camp battling C Andrew Susac for the backup catcher position.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Hudson, Tim
RHP Tim Hudson (right ankle surgery in January 2015) will be limited
for the first several weeks of camp as the Giants take a cautious
approach to the veteran's return. The club isn't 100 percent
convinced Hudson will be ready to make his first scheduled
regular-season start in April.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Lincecum, Tim
RHP Tim Lincecum got some good news on the opening day of Giants
camp Wednesday when Giants manager Bruce Bochy strongly suggested
the fifth spot in the starting rotation was his to lose. That said,
lose is what the former two-time Cy Young Award winner has done
about as much as any pitcher the last three seasons, during which he
has combined for a 32-38 record. He lost that fifth spot to long
reliever RHP Yusmeiro Petit last season, and this year has even more
competition being that Cain has returned to his slot early in the
rotation, pushing everyone down a notch. While he might start with a
leg up, Lincecum will compete with Petit and RHP Ryan Vogelsong for
that fifth spot this spring.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Cain, Matt
RHP Matt Cain succumbed to elbow and ankle injuries last season
after a 2-7 start with a 4.18 ERA in his first 15 trips to the
mound. The Giants hope surgeries to extract bone chips in both areas
help the workhorse write off 2014 as an aberration, but that would
be conveniently forgetting about Cain's 2013 season. The staff ace
in 2012 when he went 16-5 with a 2.79 ERA, Cain dropped off
significantly the following season, going just 8-10 as his ERA
ballooned to 4.00. The latter isn't far removed from his painful
4.18 mark last season, which has to make the Giants wonder: Are the
30-year-old's best seasons behind him? On a positive note, he
arrived at camp with no restrictions and appears healthy enough to
reclaim his No. 2 spot in the starting rotation. That's where he'll
be slotted from Day 1.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants McGehee, Casey
3B Casey McGehee has some big shoes to fill as the club's
replacement for popular 3B Pablo Sandoval. Based on 2014
regular-season numbers, however, it's possible the new Giant could
be every bit as productive as his much more expensive predecessor.
Before he scorched postseason opponents on a nightly basis as the
Giants' most destructive offensive force in the playoffs, Sandoval
batted just .279 with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs last season. McGehee
topped those numbers in two of the three categories (.287 average,
76 RBIs) in a far less potent Miami lineup, and while he hit only
four homers, his new home park in San Francisco is far more friendly
to gap power than splashy home run hitters.
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MLB Note - San Francisco Giants Pagan, Angel
CF Angel Pagan resides at the top of the Giants batting order, which
drive his team's offensive success. That's a bit scary to consider
when you recall the club won a championship in 2014 while Pagan was
laid up with a back injury. It's critical for Pagan to stay healthy
and get on base at or near the same clip (.338, 334, .342 on-base
percentage last three seasons) as before he got injured if the
Giants, who lost about 20 percent of their run production in the
free-agent exports of 3B Pablo Sandoval and OF/1B Michael Morse, are
going to take some of the pressure off their shaky pitching staff.
Pagan (back surgery in September 2014) will be monitored closely
after having missed 66 games last season. The addition of OF Nori
Aoki gives the Giants a potential replacement in the leadoff spot if
Pagan has to be brought along slowly.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Lee, Cliff
LHP Cliff Lee (left flexor pronator strain) was on the disabled list
for the final two months of last season did not require surgery, was
able to complete a normal offseason throwing program and will be
under no restrictions in spring training.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Revere, Ben
CF Ben Revere is one player the Phillies can seemingly build around
as a 26-year-old leadoff hitter with outstanding speed. He finished
fifth in the National League batting race with a .306 average last
season and his 49 stolen bases were the most by a Phillies player
since Juan Samuel had 53 in 1985. Revere (sore right ankle) had the
screws that were placed in his ankle in 2013 surgically removed last
October. Revere said the screws caused him to play in discomfort at
various points of the season, but is expected to report to spring
training pain-free.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Asche, Cody
3B Cody Asche will try to hold off 3B prospect Maikel Franco for the
starting job at the hot corner. Asche, 24, hit .252 with 10 home
runs in 121 games in his first full major league season last year.
After a slow start, the 22-year-old Franco wound up with a .257
batting average and 16 homers in 133 games with Triple-A Lehigh
Valley then hit .179 with the Phillies in a 16-game stint in
September.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Chen, Bruce
LHP Bruce Chen was a late addition to list of players brought to the
major league camp. The 37-year-old veteran has pitched for 10
different major league teams. Last year with Kansas City he was 2-4
with a 7.45 ERA in 13 appearances, seven of them starts. Chen signed
a minor league contract and is in camp as a non-roster player.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians McAllister, Zach
RHP Zach McAllister struggled as a starter last year, but by the end
of the season he had pitched himself into being a strong candidate
for a job in the Indians' bullpen in 2015. In 15 starts he was 3-7
with a 5.67 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP and an average of 2.3 strikeouts per
walk. However in a late-season trial as a reliever he made seven
appearances and was 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and a
strikeouts-to-walks ratio of 7.0.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Chisenhall, Lonnie
3B Lonnie Chisenhall was one of the weakest defensive players on an
Indians team that was statistically the worst defensive team in the
majors last season. But manager Terry Francona isn't ready to give
up on Chisenhall. "I think Lonnie can be a good defensive third
baseman," Francona said. "He has good reactions, a good body, and
plenty of arm."
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Bourn, Michael
OF Michael Bourn, who has been plagued by hamstring injuries in his
first two years with the Indians, worked with a track coach at his
home in Houston during the offseason and hopes to avoid a repeat of
his hamstring woes in 2015. "Michael understands that when he's on
base and creating havoc we're a better team," said manager Terry
Francona.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Swarzak, Anthony
RHP Anthony Swarzak could squeeze his way into the bullpen on the
Indians' opening day roster with a strong training camp. The
29-year-old right-hander signed a minor league contract with the
Indians after pitching in the big leagues with the Twins for the
last five years. In 50 appearances for the Twins last year, Swarzak
was 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA. In the last two years, he went 6-4 with a
3.71 ERA in 98 appearances for Minnesota. The Indians have been
looking for another reliever to add to their bullpen, or as bullpen
depth at Triple-A. Swarzak and LHP Scott Downs appear to be the two
strongest such candidates as non-roster players.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Lindor, Francisco
SS Francisco Lindor has been ticketed for shortstop on the major
league team ever since the Indians selected him with the eighth
overall pick in the 2011 draft. Lindor could be the Indians' best
all-around shortstop since the heyday of Omar Vizquel. The
21-year-old switch hitter hit .276 with 11 home runs, 62 RBIs and 28
stolen bases in a combined 507 at-bats at Triple-A Columbus and
Double-A Akron last year. Only 165 of those at bats came at
Columbus, so Indians officials have already stated Lindor will start
the 2015 season at Columbus to finish off his development. He is
expected to get the call to Cleveland at some point in the first
half of the season.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Moss, Brandon
OF Brandon Moss (hip surgery in October 2014) said his goal is to be
ready to go on opening day.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Swisher, Nick
DH/1B Nick Swisher (double knee surgery in August 2014) won't be 100
percent at the start of camp, but hopes to be ready by opening day.
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MLB Note - Detroit Tigers Cabrera, Miguel
1B Miguel Cabrera was cleared for non-impact baseball activities on
Feb. 18, and he can begin hitting and throwing. The Tigers hope
Cabrera will be ready to play on Opening Day. Cabrera's surgically
repaired right ankle was examined by Dr. Robert Anderson on Feb. 17
after a CT scan and was deemed healed enough to move forward in
rehabilitation. The next step is for Cabrera to begin running on an
anti-gravity treadmill.
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Rosario, Wilin
C Wilin Rosario lost his arbitration case Feb. 18, and he will make
$2.8 million in 2015. Rosario asked for $3.3 million, but the
three-person arbitration panel in St. Petersburg, Fla., chose the
team's number instead. Rosario, who turns 26 on Feb. 23, made
$502,000 in 2014, when he hit .267/.305/.435 with 13 homers and 54
RBIs.
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MLB Note - Pittsburgh Pirates Burnett, A.J.
RHP A.J. Burnett is back with the Pirates, having signed a one-year,
$9.5-million contract as a free agent in November after spending
last season with Philadelphia. Burnett led the major leagues in
losses in 2014 when he went 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA in 34 starts after
going a combined 26-21 with a 3.41 ERA in 61 starts with the Pirates
over the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Burnett, though, pitched with a
sports hernia over the final five months of last season with the
Phillies and the Pirates are encouraged that he was still able to
pitch 213 2/3 innings and average 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings
despite the injury.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Hollands, Mario
LHP Mario Hollands (left elbow flexor strain) missed the last 3 1/2
weeks of last season but did not require surgery and is confident he
will be fine after an offseason spent strengthening the elbow.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Francoeur, Jeff
OF Jeff Francoeur was once one of baseball's rising stars, driving
103 runs in 2006 and 105 in 2007 for Atlanta in his first two full
major league seasons. However, Francoeur is now considered a "4A"
player at 31, not quite good enough to play regularly in the major
leagues but too good to be playing in the minor leagues. Francoeur,
though, has played in just 91 major league games over the last three
seasons. He will get a chance to resurrect his career with the
Phillies as he could wind up being the right-handed-hitting side of
a platoon in right field with Grady Sizemore.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Kipnis, Jason
2B Jason Kipnis (left ring finger surgery in December 2014) probably
won't play in the early spring training games, but could be ready by
the start of the regular season.
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MLB Note - Cleveland Indians Sturdevant, Tyler
RHP Tyler Sturdevant was suspended for 50 games without pay on Feb.
18 by the Office of the Commissioner after a positive test for an
amphetamine in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and
Treatment Program. The suspension came on the first day for Indians
pitchers and catchers to report to spring training. An amphetamine
is considered a stimulant under baseball's drug policy. Sturdevant,
29, is on the roster of the Indians' Triple-A Columbus team. He
split time last year between Columbus and Double-A Akron, posting a
2-2 record with eight saves and a 2.65 ERA in 46 appearances.
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MLB Note - Kansas City Royals Hosmer, Eric
1B Eric Hosmer and the Royals avoided arbitration, reaching
agreement Feb. 18 on a two-year, $13.9 million contract. The deal
includes a $5.65 million salary in 2015 and $8.25 million in 2016,
the second and third years of Hosmer's arbitration eligibility.
Hosmer, a two-time Gold Glove winner, was seeking $6.7 million and
the Royals offered $4.6 million when arbitration figures were
exchanged in January. He made $3.6 million in 2014. The 25-year-old
had a career-low nine home runs and 58 RBIs while batting
.270/.318/.398 last year. He missed a month of the season with a
broken hand. However, in the postseason, Hosmer rebounded for 20
hits and 12 RBIs in 15 games during the Royals' run to Game 7 of the
World Series.
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