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.