[Griever20]

With the Winter Meetings done, center field, second base and Aaron Nola sorted, we focused on an are that I always love to focus on. Relief prospects. Paying $8M to Betances is fine for now, $5.1M for Kahnle is fine for now, $9.5M for Claudio is fine for one of the best lefties in the game... but I want to follow that generation up with young prospects from our minors...

Alex Spears is fine with a 3.04ERA in AA, but one year away from being an impact arm. Our first-rounder Mike Franklin(21, 0.5/3*) destroyed is right arm after posting a 2.40ERA in 15IP in A-... in like, he tore his labrum in his shoulder... game over. Maybe we can trade some surplus AAAA prospects for some arms?

Transactions:

December 21st – In a quickly orchestrated deal, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired 3B Shervyen Newton(22, 1.5/2.5*) from the Rangers in exchange for R RHRP Tony Darland(23, 2.5/5* HS, 2.5/4.5* OSA).

Newton was an international amateur free agent signed by the Mets in 2015 and claimed off waivers by Texas in April 2021.

Tony Darland on the other hand was Toronto's 1st rounder in 2020, 10th overall. He was played as center fielder a lot, but we really want him as a pitcher as he throws 97-99 with a good, soon great changeup and decent movement... and iffy control.

December 22nd – And the Rangers continued the reliever bonanza as they acquired A+ LHRP Josh Kearns(22, 1/4* HS, 1.5/4.5* OSA) from the Cardinals in exchange for AAA 2B Richie Palacios(24, 2.5/3*, .317-17-71 .896OPS AAA).

Palacios was a 3rd rounder in 2018 that developed nicely, but I call bull**** on his chances of batting .300+ with 15HR in the majors year in and year out... and he is not quite a defensive juggernaut.

Karns was 3-6 26SV 3.56 with 73K in 55.2IP in A+ and is maybe the best LHRP prospect in the minors right now. The 22-year old was the 20th pick in the 2020 draft.

January 1st – Trevino is still out there... but does not want to talk with us right now... and he was gone for a dime one day later.

January 17th – We claimed 2B Derian Cruz(23, 0.5/2.5*) off waivers from Atlanta and smuggled him through waivers himself. They signed him as an international free agent in 2015, and won a couple of Gold Gloves in the minors... we have made good value with those claims recently as they became good trade value.

February 17th – Good news from the medical department. Aaron Nola responded well to Kevin Harmon's treatments and the work with German medical magician Müller-Wohlfahrt(I made the contact) and should be available around the start of April for a rehab assignment.

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In Other News:

December 30th – RHRP Michael Feliz(28, 4.5*) will join the Giants on a big 3y/$48.7M deal. The 28-year old was 8-2 33SV 2.10 100K in 64.1IP, won the NL Reliever of the Year in 2020 and is a 2x All-Star.

December 31st – The 2020 champs from Minnesota bolstered their outfield by signing LF Christian Yelich(30, 3*) for 4y/$46.4M. The 3x Silver Slugger, 2x All-Star and 2014 NL Gold Glover hit .266-12-65 .737OPS with MIL last year.

January 2nd – The Red Sox splashed out a 5y/$50M contract for 2B Arturo Trevino(28, 4.5/5*). The Cuban reportedly turned down a bigger deal by the Rangers and a mystery team to join Boston.

January 2nd – 2B Javier Baez(29, 3*) resigned on a 5y/$40.5m deal with the Cubs. He is a 2x Gold Glover and hit .256-17-74 .710OPS last year.

January 19th – With 99.3% of votes, SS Alex Rodriguez joined the Hall of Fame today in his first year of eligibility. The now 46-year old TV expert, 10x Silver Slugger, 2x Gold Glover, 14x All-Star and 3x MvP is a career .295/.380/.550 hitter with 696 home runs, 2086RBIs and 3115 hits in 2784 games.

January 19th – Joining him will be an old foe... 1B/DH David Ortiz(41) collected 90.5% of votes to join the Hall of Fame with a Red Sox cap. The 7x Silver Slugger and 10x All-Star is a career .286/.380/.552 hitter with 541 home runs, 1768RBIs and 2472 hits in 2408 games.