MLB News & Notes (other than Cubs or Sox)

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

Makes sense. No one would associate David Eckstein as the means to get to anything valuable.

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

In lieu of a double post, here's video of a giant panda rolling in the snow.

 

 

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Br38Ld9giIo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Kid]

Somewhat off topic, but MLB Network had a really good documentary on the Expos tonight.  Worth checking out and I'm sure they'll rerun it a bunch.

[1060Ivy]

USA Today ranks Cubs starting rotation as best in baseball.

 

Surprised by the top ranking.  Off the top of my head would have guessed that the Mets, Giants, Nats, Indians, and Cards were better.

 

The writer's rationale for listing the Cubs rotation as #1 is the depth of the staff with Hammel and Hendricks being able to match up well against other teams 4 & 5's while Arrieta, Lester, and Lackey being able to take on others 1-3s,

 

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/01/mlb-best...ionals-mlb

[Butcher]

The Mets have to own the top spot. I'm not sure there's really a close second...

[rok]

Mets, Indians and Cards rotations definitely could be better, but disagree on the Nats and Giants, although they should be close to the same value as the Cubs. The biggest factor in my opinion is durability and depth. Not many rotations go 7-8 deep like the Cubs do if you include Warren, Wood, Cahill and Richard.

[Andy]

I would think the top 5 are interchangeable.

[nakedman1664]

Astros sign Fister to a one year deal.

[rok]

$7 mil isn't bad for a one year deal if he actually makes the rotation, but that could be a big waste if he repeats 2015 again. He hasn't thrown more than 164 innings since 2013 and only once after 2011.

[nakedman1664]

McGee and minor leaguers going to the Rockies for Dickerson.

[rok]

That was probably going to be close to the return for Soler. Interesting if we passed on McGee.

[Kid]

I'm very glad. McGee is a very good pitcher, but getting a middle reliever would have screamed selling low on Soler (without any particular reason to do so).

[rok]

Agreed. And unless the other pitcher(s) coming back to the Rockies isn't stud-level, that's a pretty blah return.

[funkster]

Definitely would not have been happy to trade him for McGee.

[1060Ivy]

Howie Kendrick returns to Dodgers with 2 year deal. Thought that Dodgers gave him a qualifying offer which he had turned down.