Thread: MLB 2012 Off Season News, Notes & Transactions

Josh Hamilton Press Conference - ESPN Dallas

Josh's press conference

Originally Posted by DodgerKing

Josh Hamilton Press Conference - ESPN Dallas

Josh's press conference

I've seen this several times so far ...

This is very sad and I hope he gets thru this round and is strong thruout the rest of his battle ...

Brad Penny signs for the highest contract ever given to an American pitcher. $4.5 million base and $4.5 million in incentives...for 1 year.

Originally Posted by salsadancer7

Brad Penny signs for the highest contract ever given to an American pitcher. $4.5 million base and $4.5 million in incentives...for 1 year.

In Japan I presume??

Originally Posted by cosmo_kramer

In Japan I presume??

Yes.

According to this website, they have the scoop of what the new Miami Marlins Stadium will look like.


MLB 12 The Show Video - Marlins Park - Operation Sports

I took advantage of the tour that was given for prospective season ticket buyers(bought only a partial) and the place looked close to it minus the grass(will be put in sometime this week if not already) and the tank. All the seats were in and the skyboxes were in(minus the electronics and the appliances).

And the wait continues!

Cespedes not legally able to sign yet

Posted on: February 6, 2012 3:12 pm

By C. Trent Rosecrans

Yoenis Cespedes is not yet able to sign with a big-league team, Cespedes' agent, Adam Katz, said on MLB Network Radio on Sunday (via MLive.com).

"I have had several Cuban players before, but I've never gone through this process before and it is onerous and unpredictable," Katz said. "You just have to breathe into it and not have too many expectations."

Although Cespedes has been declared a free agent by Major League Baseball, the 26-year-old center fielder can't finalize a contract with an MLB team until he is "unblocked" by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Katz said. Katz and Cespedes are waiting on that action to sign a contract and report for spring training. Katz said he was confident Cespedes would be ready to play for a team when camps start -- but he was still cautious.

"I'm not going to predict or poke the bear in the zoo or have any expectations," Katz said. "We have some optimism and we'll see."

The Marlins, Tigers, White Sox, Cubs and Orioles are reportedly the most interested in Cespedes.

Cespedes not legally able to sign yet - CBSSports.com

Excellent read on all the young starting pitching that was traded last year.


Ranking Gio Gonzalez, Michael Pineda other young pitchers traded - Tom Verducci - SI.com

The most interesting comments were made about Gio Gonzalez:

Gonzalez, who turned 26 in September, has been traded four times within six years, led the AL in walks last year and has a 4.32 ERA outside of the cavernous Coliseum in Oakland. But Gonzalez is lefthanded and for two straight years has won at least 15 games with an ERA below 3.30. Do you know how many pitchers also can say that? Only one: CC Sabathia.

This is GREAT news because ALL of the teams that have leagues in the Caribbean deserve to participate.

Return to Caribbean Series possible for Cuba

Country last participated in 1960; door open for 2013 event

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 02/02/12 3:40 PM EST

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- More than fifty years after the country's last appearance in the Caribbean Series, Cuba could return to the Caribbean Confederation and participate in next year's event in Mexico.

On Thursday, Caribbean Confederation commissioner Juan Francisco Puello said he is leading a delegation to Cuba next month to present a proposal to the island's sports authorities in an effort to bring them back to the series.

"We are thinking about including Cuba in some way," Puello said. "We believe they will be a big factor in the next Caribbean Series in Hermosillo [Mexico]."


This year's Caribbean Series takes place at Quisqueya Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (AP)
An original member of the Caribbean Confederation, along with Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, Cuba played host to the first Caribbean Series in 1949, one year after the federation was formed.

From 1949 to 1960, Cuba won the title seven times. In '59, Fidel Castro took over in Cuba and declared it a Communist nation, ending its participation in the Caribbean Series after '60.

"It will depend on them," Puello said. "In regards to Cuba, people are mistaken. We never shut the door. It was them who didn't want to come for various reasons. Now, we are working on a proposal in this case to see if we can get them excited about returning to the Caribbean Series."
Puello added that Panama, Nicaragua and Colombia will not join the Caribbean Federation in the near future, because the leagues have struggled economically and could not host a Caribbean Series any time soon.

"In regards to those leagues, if you can't take care of your own house, you can't take on another," he said. "Nicaragua, Colombia and Panama have economic problems internally. Solve your problems internally. If those leagues are functioning well economically, we will open the doors to the Confederation."

Return to Caribbean Series possible for Cuba | MLB.com: News