Vance Worley Joins Nationals' Pitching Staff

The Nationals certainly picked up an interesting arm in Vance Worley, whom they signed for $1 million (plus up to $1.65 million in incentives). He has experience starting and relieving, and while he's had his ups and downs as a starter, he's been pretty decent as a reliever. As such, he'll likely wind up in the Nationals' bullpen, but if there are enough injuries in the rotation, Worley could be a Plan C there. He could also be called on for spot starts. In summary, he'll essentially be what Yusmeiro Petit was last year. This does not solve Washington's issues at the back of the bullpen, but at least it's a step in the right direction. Worley was a starter from 2011-2014, but has split time between the rotation and the bullpen in 2015 and 2016. In his first go-around as a swingman, in 2015, he was much better as a reliever. Over eight starts, he was 2-4 with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP, but his ERA and WHIP dropped to 2.83 and 1.08, respectively, in his fifteen relief appearances. Such was the case again in 2016, when he was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over his four starts, but 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP in his 28 relief appearances. Overall, he was 2-2 with a 3.53 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP, which isn't all that bad pitching for the Orioles, who play in a hitters' park and a hitters' division. He's just 29, so an age-related drop off shouldn't be an issue, but his seven years of experience will certainly come in handy. For his career, the Sacramento native out of Long Beach State is 33-30 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP over 139 games (85 starts) for the Phillies, Twins, Pirates, and Orioles. His best season came in 2014, when he was 8-4 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over 18 games (17 starts) for the Pirates.

Transaction Roundup: 1/23/2017-1/29/2017

Free Agent Signings

Rockies signed Greg Holland (missed 2016, 2.42 career ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31) to a one year, $7 million deal (plus up to $8 million in incentives). Read more here

Angels signed Luis Valbuena (13 HR, 40 RBI, .260 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 31) to a two year, $15 million deal ($7.5 million per season).

Nationals re-signed Stephen Drew (8 HR, 21 RBI, .266 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 34) to a one year, $3.5 million deal (plus up to $1.2 million in incentives).

Cubs signed Brett Anderson (1-2, 11.91 ERA, 2.56 WHIP, 2017 Age: 29) to a one year, $3.5 million deal (plus up to $6.5 million in incentives).

Reds signed Scott Feldman (7-4, 3.97 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 2017 Age: 34) to a one year, $2.3 million deal.

Giants signed Nick Hundley (10 HR, 48 RBI, .260 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 33) to a one year, $2 million deal.

A's signed Adam Rosales (13 HR, 35 RBI, .229 AVG, 4 SB, 2017 Age: 33-34) to a one year, $1.25 million deal.

Rays signed Shawn Tolleson (2-2, 7.68 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 11 SV, 2017 Age: 29) to a one year, $1 million deal.

Rangers signed James Loney (9 HR, 34 RBI, .265 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 33) to a minor league deal.

Indians signed Austin Jackson (0 HR, 18 RBI, .254 AVG, 2 SB, 2017 Age: 30) to a minor league deal.

Cubs signed Jim Henderson (2-2, 4.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 2017 Age: 34) to a minor league deal.

Cubs signed Casey Kelly (0-3, 5.82 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 2017 Age: 27) to a minor league deal.

White Sox signed Anthony Swarzak (1-2, 5.52 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31) to a minor league deal.

White Sox re-signed Blake Smith (0-0, 6.23 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 2017 Age: 29) to a minor league deal.

Nationals signed Grant Green (1 HR, 7 RBI, .261 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 29) to a minor league deal.

Phillies signed Ryan Hanigan (1 HR, 14 RBI, .171 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 36-37) to a minor league deal.

Diamondbacks signed Josh Thole (1 HR, 7 RBI, .169 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 30) to a minor league deal.

Trades

Rays traded Logan Forsythe (20 HR, 52 RBI, .264 AVG, 6 SB, 2017 Age: 30) to the Dodgers for Jose De Leon (2-0, 6.35 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 2017 Age: 24-25). Read more here

A's traded Brett Eibner (6 HR, 22 RBI, .193 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 28) to the Dodgers for minor leaguer Jordan Tarsovich (9 HR, 32 RBI, .221 AVG, 7 SB at High Class A and AA, 2017 Age: 25-26).

Phillies traded Severino Gonzalez (1-2, 5.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 2017 Age: 24) to the Marlins for a player to be named later or cash.

A's traded Dillon Overton (1-3, 11.47 ERA, 2.26 WHIP, 2017 Age: 25-26) to the Mariners for minor leaguer Jason Goldstein (0 HR, 6 RBI, .279 AVG, 1 SB at AZL and Class A Short Season, 2017 Age: 23).

Waiver Claims

Indians claimed Richie Shaffer (1 HR, 4 RBI, .250 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 26) off waivers from the Reds.

Rockies Add Greg Holland to Back of Bullpen

The Rockies' new relief ace has an interesting new contract. Greg Holland is guaranteed $6 million in 2017, and he has a $10 million mutual option with the Rockies for the 2018 season as of now, with a $1 million buyout. However, if he pitches in 50 games (which he did in 2012, 2013, and 2014) or finishes 30 games (which he did in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015), his option becomes a $15 million player option, meaning he can accept the $15 million or move on to free agency. This year, he has multiple incentive clauses, so he can earn anywhere from $6 million to $14 million on his contract this season alone depending on his performance and usage. Next season, if he ends up with the $10 million mutual option and both teams pick it up, he can earn anywhere from $10 million to $18 million. Essentially, under this contract, he can earn anywhere from $7 million over one season to $32 million over two seasons. Before going down with Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2015 season, Greg Holland was one of the best closers in baseball, putting up a 1.86 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP over four seasons from 2011-2014, striking out 358 batters in 256.1 innings over 246 appearances. He struggled with lingering elbow problems before going down with surgery in 2015, so his 3.83 ERA and 1.46 WHIP weren't as flashy over 48 appearances. Still, Holland will be 31 for the entire 2017 season, and he will compete primarily with Adam Ottavino for the "closer" role, with lefties Jake McGee and Mike Dunn having an outside shot. Holland should be healthy for the start of the season. For his career, the right hander out of Western Carolina University has a 2.42 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, 145 saves, and a 430/125 strikeout to walk ratio over 309 appearances, all with the Kansas City Royals.

Dodgers Add Forsythe to Fill Second Base Hole

For a long time, the Dodgers were linked to Twins' second baseman Brian Dozier. Instead, they acquired Logan Forsythe from the Rays in exchange for prospect Jose De Leon. Forsythe will take over at second base, which was originally set to be manned by Enrique Hernandez, who hit just .190 last year. Forsythe isn't the same player as Dozier, but if you compare Dozier's inconsistent career numbers with what Forsythe has done in the past two seasons, you find that Forsythe isn't that much worse of a player than Dozier, despite the difference in prospect cost in a potential trade. Forsythe was mostly a backup in the early part of his career from 2011-2014, and he played like one, but 2015 and 2016 have been different stories. In 2015, he hit .281 with 17 home runs and 33 doubles over 153 games for the Rays, then he hit .264 with 20 home runs and 24 doubles over 127 games in 2016. According to Baseball Reference, he has been worth 8.4 WAR (wins above replacement) over the past two seasons, which is not far below Dozier's 8.9 and is significantly higher than Enrique Hernandez's 1.5 over the same span. Of course, Dozier's 6.5 WAR in 2016 alone dwarfs Forsythe's 3.4 and Hernandez's 0.1, but that is what makes Dozier's price go up. Forsythe is owed $7 million in 2017, and the Dodgers will hold an $8.5 million option for 2018. For his career, the former Arkansas Razorback has 55 home runs, 97 doubles, 34 stolen bases, and a .255 average over 618 games.

Meanwhile, the Rays got a pretty special arm in return for their second baseman. Jose De Leon is just 24 years old, but he will have every chance to crack the rotation in 2017, and should be a staple for a long time. With Drew Smyly being traded to the Mariners, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi hold the only guaranteed spots, though Blake Snell is very likely to snag the third spot. That leaves veteran Alex Cobb, Matt Andriese, prospects Jacob Faria and Jaime Schultz, and the rookie De Leon to compete for the final two spots. Cobb was very good in 2014 (10-9, 2.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP), but missed all of 2015 with Tommy John surgery and struggled in limited action in 2016 (1-2, 8.59 ERA, 1.77 WHIP). Andriese put up so-so results as a starter in 2016 (7-7, 4.80 ERA, 1.33 WHIP), but was much better in ten relief appearances (2.38 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 19/3 K/BB). That is where De Leon comes in. A 24th round pick out of Southern University in Baton Rouge in 2013, he has shot up prospect charts with his mid-90's fastball and tough changeup, seemingly striking out every batter he faced as he rose through the minors. In fact, in addition to his 3.35 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over four minor league seasons, he has struck out 446 batters in 330.2 innings while walking just 99. Reaching the majors for the first time in 2016, he had some difficulty but held his own in a small sample size, going 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP over four starts. It may be that Snell, Cobb, and Andriese take the three remaining rotation spots, but even if he doesn't make the rotation out of spring training, someone's bound to get injured or become ineffective, and De Leon will be right there to claim the spot. The incumbents better watch out, because behind De Leon, Jaime Schultz, Jacob Faria, Chih-Wei Hu, Brent Honeywell, Taylor Guerrieri, and Ryan Yarbrough all showed well at AA, AAA, or both last season, and could be knocking on the door soon.

Transaction Roundup: 1/16/2017-1/22/2017

Free Agent Signings

Orioles re-signed Mark Trumbo (47 HR, 108 RBI, .256 AVG, 2 SB, 2017 Age: 31) to a three year, $37 million deal ($12.3 million per season). Read more here

Blue Jays re-signed Jose Bautista (22 HR, 69 RBI, .234 AVG, 2 SB, 2017 Age: 36) to a one year, $18 million deal. Read more here

Phillies signed Michael Saunders (24 HR, 57 RBI, .253 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 30) to a one year, $9 million deal. Read more here

Brewers signed Neftali Feliz (4-2, 3.52 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 2 SV, 2017 Age: 29) to a one year, $5.35 million deal (plus up to $1.5 million in incentives).

Rangers signed Tyson Ross (0-1, 11.81 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 2017 Age: 30) to a one year, $6 million deal.

A's signed Trevor Plouffe (12 HR, 47 RBI, .260 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 30-31) to a one year, $5.25 million deal. 

Padres signed Trevor Cahill (4-4, 2.74 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2017 Age: 29) to a one year, $1.75 million.

Rockies signed Alexi Amarista (0 HR, 11 RBI, .257 AVG, 9 SB, 2017 Age: 28) to a one year, $1.25 million deal.

Rangers re-signed Josh Hamilton (missed 2016, 200 career HR, .290 AVG, 2017 Age: 35-36) to a minor league deal.

Rangers signed Dillon Gee (8-9, 4.68 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31) to a minor league deal.

A's re-signed Ross Detwiler (2-4, 6.10 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31) to a minor league deal.

A's signed Alejandro De Aza (6 HR, 25 RBI, .205 AVG, 4 SB, 2017 Age: 33) to a minor league deal.

Trades

Reds traded Dan Straily (14-8, 3.76 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 2017 Age: 28) to the Marlins for Austin Brice (0-1, 7.07 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2017 Age: 24-25) and minor leaguers Luis Castillo (8-6, 2.26 ERA, 1.00 WHIP at High Class A and AA, 2017 Age: 24) and Isaiah White (1 HR, 17 RBI, .214 AVG, 5 SB at Class A Short Season, 2017 Age: 20).

Rays traded Mikie Mahtook (3 HR, 11 RBI, .195 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 27) to the Tigers for a player to be named later.

Waiver Claims

Angels claimed Juan Graterol (0 HR, 3 RBI, .286 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 28) off waivers from the Diamondbacks.

Stories Behind the Stars: Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte

Yordano Ventura

On Sunday, star pitcher Yordano Ventura passed away in a car accident, the same day as former infielder Andy Marte. One of the game's fiercest competitors, Ventura often ran into controversy on the field, but very few pitchers were as gifted on the mound as he was. He quit school at age 14 to join the workforce, as his divorced mother needed extra money to raise him. Ventura's fiery demeanor on the mound came from always being one of the smallest, and often youngest, guys on the field growing up. However, he managed to stand out in a big way. His gifted right arm could hurl baseballs in excess of 100 miles per hour, and at 17 years old, he was signed by the Royals despite weighing just 140 pounds. He quickly outplayed his $28,000 signing bonus, going 0-1 with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP over ten games (five starts) with the Royals' Dominican Summer League team in 2009. He pitched well again in 2010, made it through Class A in 2011, and mastered High Class A in 2012. He had his breakout season in 2013, still aged just 21-22, as he went 8-6 with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP over 26 games (25 starts) at AA Northwest Arkansas and AAA Omaha, striking out 155 batters in 134.2 innings. Called up to the big leagues at 22 years old, he went 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over three September starts, with his fastball being clocked as high as 102.8 miles per hour. Making the team out of Spring Training in 2014, he did nothing but dominate, going 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 31 games (30 starts). Ventura would continue to dominate in that postseason, but his biggest start came in Game Six of the World Series on October 28th. Two days earlier, his good friend Oscar Taveras had died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic, and this was the first game played after Taveras' death. Dedicating the game to Taveras, Ventura pitched seven shutout innings on just three hits, pushing the Series to Game Seven, where the Giants ultimately won. Ventura wasn't as good in 2015, but still put up a solid season, going 13-8 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He struggled in the postseason and lost his only World Series start, but the Royals defeated the Mets anyways. In 2016, Ventura was inconsistent, finishing 11-12 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP over 32 starts, which set a career high. In his third to last start, on September 19th, he threw a complete game against the White Sox, going nine innings for the first and only time in his career. Still just 25 years old, the hurler had much to look forward to in his career and life that was tragically cut short. One of the game's most exciting young pitchers finished his career 38-31 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP over 94 games (93 starts), winning a World Series in 2015. 

Read more here

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article343428/Yordano-Ventura-has-the-stuff-dreams-are-made-of.html

Andy Marte

To those who follow prospects closely, Andy Marte will always be the great one who almost was. Originally signed by the Braves at 16 years old, his all-around abilities were undeniable. After a brief debut with Rookie level Danville in 2001, the Braves put him at Class A Macon in 2002, where at 18 years old, he was almost four years younger than his average competition. Still, the teenager hit .281 with 21 home runs and 32 doubles over 126 games, then put up similar numbers as a 19 year old at High Class A Myrtle Beach in 2003 and as a 20 year old at AA Greenville in 2004. Universally considered one of the top prospects in baseball, he hit .275 with 20 home runs and 26 doubles over just 109 games at AAA Richmond as a 21 year old in 2005, earning a call-up midway through the season. Though he hit just .140 with three extra base hits in 24 games, everybody knew there was more to come. He was traded to the Red Sox and then the Indians in 2006, and in 50 games, he played fairly well (especially for a 22 year old), batting .226 with five home runs and 15 doubles. Unfortunately, he wouldn't get much better from there. He played just 20 major league games in 2007, batting .193 with one home run, and by 2008, the 24 year old's stock was significantly down. Over 80 games with the Indians, the most he would ever play, he batted .221 with three home runs and eleven doubles. Cleveland traded for Mark DeRosa in 2009, and in 47 games, Marte hit just .232 with six home runs and six doubles. However, he hit so well in AAA that year that the Indians gave him another shot in 2010, but in 80 games, he hit just .229 with five home runs and seven doubles. Bouncing around in the minor leagues, he ended up in independent baseball in 2013, but in 2014, he was able to climb back into the major leagues. In six games with the Diamondbacks, he hit .188 with a home run. On August 6th, he appeared in his final major league game, striking out against the Royals' Greg Holland to end the game. In an odd twist of fate, the starting pitcher that day for the Royals was none other than Yordano Ventura, who was in the middle of the best season of his career. Marte returned to the minor leagues and eventually ended up in the Korean Baseball Organization, where he played the last two seasons. For his career, Marte hit .218 with 21 home runs, 45 doubles, and six triples over 307 games. 

Trumbo Returns to Baltimore

The Orioles' winning last season was based off of big time home run power, and right at the center of that was MLB home run leader Mark Trumbo. Now, he's headed back to Baltimore for three years and $37 million. It is unclear where he'll play positionally, but he does have experience in the outfield corners as well as first base. Another option could be DH, where Pedro Alvarez hit last year. It is no secret that Trumbo's poor outfield defense hurt the Orioles last season, but as MLB.com writer Mike Petriello pointed out, he's not half bad at first base, and could provide significantly more value there. With the hole at DH (Chris Davis and Trey Mancini are slated to split time at first base and DH), it makes the most sense to put him there. Offensively, Trumbo had a huge season in 2016, batting .256 with 47 home runs and 27 doubles over 159 games. Much of that may be due to Camden Yards' home run-friendly dimensions, as he hit 25 home runs in 291 at bats there versus 22 in 322 at bats elsewhere. He also had a very interesting second half, clubbing 19 home runs but batting just .209 in his final 70 games. It will be interesting to see how the streaky Trumbo rebounds in 2017 and beyond. For his career, the Southern California native has 178 home runs, 145 doubles, and a .251 average over 849 games.

Bautista Returns to Toronto

Though Edwin Encarnacion walked, the Blue Jays brought back one of the most feared power bats in baseball, Jose Bautista. He didn't get the long term deal he was hoping for, but beyond the $18 million guaranteed for the 2017 season, it includes a $17 million mutual option for 2018 and a $20 million vesting option for 2019, meaning it could end up being a three year, $55 million deal. The 36 year old is coming off his worst year since his 2010 breakout, but power is so hard to find these days that he still has significant value. His 22 home runs last season marked the seventh straight season that he has reached that total, and in the same span, he's never had a slugging percentage below .452 (2016) or an on-base percentage below .358 (2012 and 2013). His return will put him back in right field alongside center fielder Kevin Pillar and Melvin Upton Jr. While familiar faces Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki, Devon Travis, and Russell Martin will share the lineup card with him, there will also be some new names, most notably Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce. Even without Encarnacion, the return of Bautista means that the Blue Jays' offense will still be among the best in baseball. For his career, Bautista has 308 home runs, 267 doubles, a .255 average, and 60 stolen bases over 1519 games.

Michael Saunders Gives Phillies Outfield Badly Needed Boost

The Phillies added a big power bat in Michael Saunders for one year at $9 million. Saunders will join an outfield filled with question marks alongside center fielder Odubel Herrera. Right now, Howie Kendrick (.255/.326/.366 last year), Aaron Altherr (.197/.300/.288), Roman Quinn (just 15 MLB games), and maybe even Nick Williams (no MLB experience) are set to battle for the other two spots, but Saunders can give the Phillies some certainty. He is coming off a career year, one in which he batted .253 but set career highs with 24 home runs, 32 doubles, and a .478 slugging percentage over 140 games for the Blue Jays. Unlike most high strikeout, left handed power bats, Saunders has no problem hitting left handed pitching (.275/.358/.569 last year), which means the Phillies won't have to worry about a platoon partner. His bat will help support middle of the order hitters Herrera, Maikel Franco, and Tommy Joseph. For his career, the Canadian has 75 home runs, 114 doubles, a .235 average, and 55 stolen bases over 702 games.

Transaction Roundup: 1/9/2017-1/15/2017

Free Agent Signings

A's signed Santiago Casilla (2-5, 3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 31 SV, 2017 Age: 36-37) to a two year, $11 million deal ($5.5 million per season).

Rays signed Colby Rasmus (15 HR, 54 RBI, .206 AVG, 4 SB, 2017 Age: 30-31) to a one year, $5 million deal (plus up to $2 million in incentives).

Diamondbacks signed Chris Iannetta (7 HR, 24 RBI, .210 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 34) to a one year, $1.5 million deal.

Twins signed Ryan Vogelsong (3-7, 4.81 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 2017 Age: 39-40) to a minor league deal.

Diamondbacks re-signed Rubby De La Rosa (4-5, 4.26 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 2017 Age: 28) to a minor league deal.

Reds signed Louis Coleman (2-1, 4.69 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31) to a minor league deal.

Phillies signed Cesar Ramos (3-3, 6.04 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 1 SV, 2017 Age: 32-33) to a minor league deal.

Diamondbacks signed Reymond Fuentes (0 HR, 5 RBI, .317 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 26) to a minor league deal.

Twins signed Nick Tepesch (0-1, 11.25 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 2017 Age: 28) to a minor league deal.

Diamondbacks signed J.J. Hoover (1-2, 13.50 ERA, 2.20 WHIP, 1 SV, 2017 Age: 29-30) to a minor league deal.

Nationals signed Neal Cotts (missed 2016, 3.96 career ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 2017 Age: 37) to a minor league deal.

Trades

Braves traded Mallex Smith (3 HR, 22 RBI, .238 AVG, 16 SB, 2017 Age: 24) and Shae Simmons (0-0, 1.35 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 2017 Age: 26) to the Mariners for minor leaguers Luiz Gohara (7-2, 1.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP at Class A Short Season and Class A, 2017 Age: 20-21) and Thomas Burrows (0-1, 2.55 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 6 SV at Class A Short Season, 2017 Age: 22).

Rays traded Drew Smyly (7-12, 4.88 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 2017 Age: 27-28) to the Mariners for Mallex Smith (3 HR, 22 RBI, .238 AVG, 16 SB, 2017 Age: 24) and minor leaguers Ryan Yarbrough (12-4, 2.95 ERA, 1.11 WHIP at AA, 2017 Age: 25) and Carlos Vargas (7 HR, 35 RBI, .242 AVG, 2 SB at DSL, 2017 Age: 18).

Dodgers traded Micah Johnson (0 HR, 0 RBI, .167 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 26) to the Braves for a player to be named later.

Waiver Claims
Rays claimed Jason Coats (1 HR, 4 RBI, .200 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 27) off waivers from the White Sox.

A's Bolster Bullpen with Santiago Casilla

The A's have made sure that the bullpen will be a point of strength in 2017, as Santiago Casilla (3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) joins Sean Doolittle (3.23 ERA, 1.05 WHIP), Ryan Madson (3.62 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), Ryan Dull (2.42 ERA, 0.87 WHIP), John Axford (3.97 ERA, 1.45 WHIP), and Liam Hendriks (3.76 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), among others. Casilla, Doolittle, Madson, and Axford all have experience closing games, and Casilla's thirteen major league seasons will be the most out of the group. He isn't elite, but he's been a steady presence at the back of the San Francisco bullpen since he signed there in 2010, putting up a 2.42 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over his seven seasons in the City by the Bay. Before San Francisco, he actually pitched six seasons with the A's, so he's no stranger to the green and gold. The 36 year old did have his worst season in recent memory last season, as his 3.57 ERA was his highest since his 5.96 ERA way back in 2009 with the A's. However, it is worth noting that his component ratios were excellent in 2016, as his 65/19 strikeout to walk ratio (3.42 to one) over 58 innings was his best ever. The A's got him on a two year deal worth eleven million dollars, so he'll be 38 by the time he's a free agent again. For his career, the Dominican Republic native is 38-26 with a 3.19 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 127 saves over 566 appearances for the A's and Giants.

Mariners Acquire Drew Smyly for Mallex Smith, Prospects

In acquiring Drew Smyly, the Mariners have made another big addition to their rotation. The 2017 rotation, comprising of Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton, Drew Smyly, and Yovani Gallardo (with Chris Heston in case of injury), now looks very different than 2016's Hernandez, Iwakuma, Paxton, Taijuan Walker, Wade Miley/Nathan Karns lineup. Smyly is one of the most talented young left handers in baseball today, but he has never quite been able to put it all together for a full season. He came closest in 2014, when he was 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over 28 games (25 starts), though it wasn't the 30 start/200 inning season you look for. A torn labrum limited him to 12 starts in 2015, where he was 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, but again, not a full season. He did manage to stay healthy for all of 2016, but he never quite got going, finishing 7-12 with an unsightly 4.88 ERA, though his 1.27 WHIP was much stronger. The home run hurt him, as his 32 allowed placed sixth in the major leagues, so maybe a move to a pitchers' park like SAFECO in a pitchers' division like the AL West will help him put it all together for that big season we've been waiting for in 2017. For his career, the former Arkansas Razorback is 31-27 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 156 games (85 starts).

The Rays brought back a trio of players for Smyly, most notably outfielder Mallex Smith. Smith, who was acquired from the Braves by the Mariners just minutes earlier, is a speedy center fielder but an innate ability to get one base. Even without power, that on-base/speed combination can be deadly. In his four full minor league seasons, Smith never put up an on-base percentage below .367 and stole at least 57 bases in each season. Reaching the bigs in 2016, he struggled at the plate, hitting .238 with a three home runs over 72 games, but his 9.3% walk rate wasn't bad at all, especially for a 23 year old rookie. He also went 16-24 in stolen base attempts (67%, could be better but not bad for a rookie). As you read in the Colby Rasmus article, the Rays' outfield is pretty crowded at the moment, but Smith has an opportunity to break through. Just 23 years old, he could has a ceiling similar to Denard Span. A Tallahassee native, it's always to see a player move to his hometown team. Also going to Tampa is another North Florida native, Ryan Yarbrough began his college career at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida, where he was a teammate of Smith's. Yarbrough then spent another two years at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, so he didn't begin his pro career until he was 22 years old in 2014. He's moved quickly through the minors, spending all of 2016 at AA Jacksonville, where he was 12-4 with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 25 starts. He struck out just 99 batters in 128.1 innings, but he also just walked 31, showing major league-ready command. The 25 year old is likely a back-end starter, but he could crack the rotation as early as this season, especially with Smyly vacating a spot. Lastly, Carlos Vargas is about as far from the majors as they get, as he doesn't even turn 18 until March. He spent 2016, his first pro season, with the DSL Mariners, where he hit .242 with seven home runs, eleven doubles, and a very strong 35/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 62 games. Just his power/plate discipline combination will enough to help him ascend through the low minors, making him a very intriguing prospect as far as kids go (he is just 17 years old). Obviously, the fact that he's just 17 years old and has just that 250 plate appearance sample means we can't be all in yet, but the Dominican shortstop has had a solid start to his pro career.

Rays Add Rasmus to Crowded Outfield

Last year, coming off a season where he batted .238 with 25 home runs for the Astros, Colby Rasmus gambled and accepted Houston's $15.8 million qualifying offer in the hopes that he could improve his stock for the next offseason. Unfortunately, he hit 15 home runs while batting just .206 over 107 games, missing much of August after ear surgery. The Rays outfield now looks fairly crowded, especially after the acquisition of Mallex Smith (see below), with Corey Dickerson, Kevin Kiermaier, Steven Souza, and Mikie Mahtook vying for playing time in addition to Rasmus and Smith. Still, Rasmus is just 30 years old, and he does a little bit of everything well. He's got some power, doesn't clog the bases, and plays above average defense. The 2015 postseason hero (where he batted .412 with four home runs in six games) will look to re-establish his stock in the competitive Tampa outfield. For his career, the Alabama native has 156 home runs, 175 doubles, a .241 average, and 34 stolen bases over 1037 games.

Transaction Roundup: 12/23/2016 - 1/8/2017

I'm back from Israel, so here is the slightly longer transaction roundup

Free Agent Signings

Indians signed Edwin Encarnacion (42 HR, 127 RBI, .263 AVG, 2 SB, 2017 Age: 34) to a three year, $60 million deal ($20 million per season).

A's signed Rajai Davis (12 HR, 48 RBI, .249 AVG, 43 SB, 2017 Age: 36) to a one year, $6 million deal.

Angels signed Ben Revere (2 HR, 24 RBI, .217 AVG, 14 SB, 2017 Age: 29) to a one year, $4 million deal.

Reds signed Drew Storen (4-3, 5.23 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 3 SV, 2017 Age: 29-30) to a one year, $3 million deal.

Tigers signed Alex Avila (7 HR, 11 RBI, .213 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 30) to a one year, $2 million deal.

Royals signed Chris Withrow (3-0, 3.58 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 2017 Age: 28) to a minor league deal.

Marlins signed Kyle Lobstein (2-0, 3.96 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 2017 Age: 27-28) to a minor league deal.

Royals signed Bobby Parnell (0-0, 6.75 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 2017 Age: 32) to a minor league deal.

Marlins signed Javy Guerra (0-0, 5.68 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31) to a minor league deal.

Angels re-signed Cody Ege (1-0, 3.86 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 2017 Age: 26) to a minor league deal.

Marlins signed Brandon Barnes (0 HR, 8 RBI, .220 AVG, 1 SB, 2017 Age: 30-31) to a minor league deal.

Royals signed Al Albuquerque (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31-32) to a minor league deal.

Tigers signed Brendan Ryan (0 HR, 0 RBI, .077 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 35) to a minor league deal.

Rays re-signed Justin Marks (0-0, 1.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 2017 Age: 28) to a minor league deal.

Rays signed Michael McKenry (0 HR, 0 RBI, .000 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 32) to a minor league deal.

Trades

Orioles traded Yovani Gallardo (6-8, 5.42 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 2017 Age: 31) and cash considerations to the Mariners for Seth Smith (16 HR, 63 RBI, .249 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 34).

Mariners traded Nathan Karns (6-2, 5.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 1 SV, 2017 Age: 29) to the Royals for Jarrod Dyson (1 HR, 25 RBI, .278 AVG, 30 SB, 2017 Age: 32-33).

Diamondbacks traded Peter O'Brien (5 HR, 9 RBI, .141 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 26-27) to the Royals for minor leaguer Sam Lewis (3-1, 2.17 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 1 SV at Rookie, Class A, and High Class A, 2017 Age: 25).

Waiver Claims

Padres claimed Tyrell Jenkins (2-4, 5.88 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 2017 Age: 23) off waivers from the Reds.

Reds claimed Richie Shaffer (1 HR, 4 RBI, .250 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 26) off waivers from the Phillies.

Pirates claimed Nefi Ogando (0-0, 2.30 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2017 Age: 27-28) off waivers from the Marlins.

Angels claimed Blake Parker (1-0, 4.67 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 1 SV, 2017 Age: 31-32) off waivers from the Brewers.

Diamondbacks claimed Juan Graterol (0 HR, 3 RBI, .286 AVG, 0 SB, 2017 Age: 28) off waivers from the Reds.

Cubs claimed David Rollins (1-0, 7.71 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, 2017 Age: 27) off waivers from the Rangers, who claimed him from the Phillies, who claimed him from the Rangers, who claimed him from the Cubs, who claimed him from the Mariners. This is all over the course of 35 days.

Mariners, Royals Swap Nathan Karns and Jarrod Dyson

Having acquired Yovani Gallardo from Baltimore, the Mariners were able to ship Nathan Karns over to Kansas City, where he'll fit in a talented but unpredictable rotation with Danny Duffy, Yordano Ventura, Ian Kennedy, and some combination of Jason Vargas, Mike Minor, and possibly even Matt Strahm. Karns had a big breakout year with Tampa Bay in 2016, going 7-5 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP over 27 games (26 starts), but he took a step back in 2016, with his ERA and WHIP jumping to 5.15 and 1.48, respectively over 22 games (15 starts). His walk rate jumped from 3.43 to 4.29 per nine, with his hit rate jumping from 8.08 to 9.06. It should be noted, however, that his strikeout rate also climbed from 8.88 to 9.64. He dealt with lower back issues in 2016, which is a bad news for obvious reasons but could also be reason for optimism. Over the first two months of the season, comprising of ten starts, he went 5-1 with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, striking out 57 and walking 21 over 57.2 innings. It's hard to know exactly when his back started acting up without having been in the Mariners' clubhouse, but from June onward (12 games, of which five were starts), he went 1-1 with a 7.85 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP, striking out 44 batters but walking 24 over 36.2 innings. Notice the big jump in strikeouts (from 8.90 to 10.80 per nine), but also the big increase in walks (from 3.28 to 5.89 per nine). It's not clear whether the injury caused his struggles, or whether he began overthrowing later in the season and that led to the injury. Both reasons behind his struggles point to the same thing: that he is likely fixable for 2017. Karns is under team control for four more seasons. For his career, the Texas Tech alumnus is 14-9 with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over 54 games (46 starts).

After dealing Seth Smith, the Mariners picked up the polar opposite left handed hitter in Jarrod Dyson, who, like Smith, is from Mississippi. While Smith is a lumbering power hitter with big splits, Dyson is a dynamic speedster who hits both left handers and right handers. He's got no power to speak of, but he does everything else well. He can run down anything hit his way in the field, and his career 85.4% stolen base success rate puts his speed in elite territory. While he may not hit for high batting averages, his .278 mark was a career high in 2016, and his ability to draw a walk helped him to a respectable .340 on-base percentage, also a career high. His lack of power keeps him out of the starting lineup, but no manager would complain about having Dyson available off the bench. For his career, the McComb, Mississippi native out of Southwest Mississippi Community College has seven home runs, 176 stolen bases, and a .260 batting average over 550 games, all with the Royals.

Baltimore and Seattle Swap Yovani Gallardo and Seth Smith

The Orioles signed Yovani Gallardo to a two year, $22 million contract before the season, but 2016 didn't quite go as planned, so they shipped him to Seattle. Gallardo is owed $11 million for the 2017 season, with a $13 million option on the line for 2018 and a $2 million buyout. The Orioles are sending to $2 million to Seattle as well, which means that the Mariners either have Gallardo for one year at $11 million or two years at $24 million. This move is important for the contending Mariners, as Gallardo (Mexico) will join a multi-national rotation that includes Felix Hernandez (Venezuela), Hisashi Iwakuma (Japan), James Paxton (Canada), and either Ariel Miranda (Cuba), Chris Heston, or Rob Whalen (both USA). Adding Gallardo gave the Mariners the opportunity to send Nathan Karns to Kansas City, and the deep rotation is now a strong point for the club. Though Gallardo struggled in 2016, he has been a consistent performer for the better part of a decade, going 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP over 33 starts for the Rangers in 2015. His 5.42 ERA and 1.58 WHIP were both career-worsts in 2016, and I am not too hopeful for a rebound. Gallardo struck out over a batter per inning in 2010 and 2011, one per inning in 2012, and much fewer in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. His walk rate more or less held steady from 2010-2015, and though his strikeout numbers fell in the 2013-2015 period, his results did not. That changed in 2016, when he walked 61 batters in 118 innings, good for a 4.65 BB/9 rate that is much higher than his highest mark from 2010-2015 (3.65 in 2010). If you want to look on the hopeful side, Gallardo has pitched in the hitters' parks of Milwaukee (2007-2014), Texas (2015), and Baltimore (2016) for his entire career, and the move to Seattle's SAFECO Field, a pitchers' park, will likely help settle down the 1.22 HR/9 that marked a career high in 2016. For his career, the Mexico (and later Fort Worth) native is 108-83 with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP over 270 games (267 starts). He'll turn 31 in February.

In return for Gallardo, the Orioles picked up Seth Smith, one of the better platoon bats in baseball. Aside from Adam Jones holding center field, managing the Orioles outfield in 2017 will be an interesting job. Smith, Hyun-Soo Kim, and Rule 5 draftees Aneury Taverez and Anthony Santander. Kim, Rickard, and Smith all have notable platoon splits, with Kim and Smith bashing right handed pitching and Rickard excelling against left handers. As of now, it looks like Rickard will platoon with Kim, who famously went completely hitless against left handed pitching over 22 plate appearances in 2016. If Rickard starts for Kim every time a left hander is one the mound for the opposing team, it leaves Seth Smith in the lineup. Smith slashed a very respectable .256/.351/.431 against right handed pitching in 2016, but hit just .167/.242/.233 in 30 at bats against left handers. For a contending team such as Baltimore, this is a big issue. Tavarez also performs better against right handers, and Santander, who is coming off of shoulder surgery, has never played above High Class A. Now putting the rest of the outfield aside, Smith is a great bat to have on the team. As I said, he mashes right handed pitching, providing consistent, double-digit home run power and high on-base percentages that will play up in Camden Yards. Last year, over 137 games for the Mariners, he hit .249 with 16 home runs and 15 doubles, though the 15 doubles were a career full-season low. His best recent year was 2014, when he hit .266 with 12 home runs and 31 doubles over 136 games with the Padres, slashing .270/.359/.455 against right handed pitching. For his career, the former Ole Miss star has 113 home runs, 426 RBI, and a .261 average over 1138 games. It should be noted that his defense is below-average at this point in his career.