Daily Clips
December 11, 2017
LOCAL
KC's path could clear up over 4-day Meetings
Royals in search of 'undervalued' players, will listen to any deal
December 10, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
NATIONAL
Morris, Trammell honored by calls to the Hall!
Former teammates elected to class of 2018 by Modern Era Committee
December 10, 2017By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com
Cubs reportedly nearing deal with Morrow
December 10, 2017By Carrie Muskat/MLB.com
Feeney remembered at leadership symposium
MLB preserves executive's legacy, aims to create more opportunities for women
December 10, 2017By Richard Justice/MLB.com
MLB TRANSACTIONS
December 11, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
KC's path could clear up over 4-day Meetings
Royals in search of 'undervalued' players, will listen to any deal
December 10, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Perhaps one of the most anticipated Winter Meetings for the Royals unfolds Monday morning.
Will the Royals go for a total rebuild? Will they sign free agents Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas and push to contend again in 2018?
Much of the Royals' future could be decided in the next four days.
The Royals ended the 2017 season with nine potential free agents, and already one of them, promising closer and potential starter Mike Minor has agreed to a deal elsewhere (Texas).
The Royals still hold out hope they can possibly re-sign one or two from their core group and have been targeting Hosmer. But the truth is they also could be staring at a rebuild, which means they could be using these four days near Orlando to go bargain shopping.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore is looking forward to the challenge.
"This is where we rely on good scouting," Moore told MLB.com. "We will look for players who are undervalued. Our scouting system has done this in the past with guys like Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton. That's where we are right now."
The Royals already have begun the process, signing free-agent right-hander Wily Peralta, the former Brewer. Peralta possesses a 96-98 mph fastball, and the Royals view him as another power arm to the bullpen and possible swingman.
The Royals also signed former Dodgers farmhand Scott Barlow, a 24-year-old right-hander who had Tommy John surgery earlier in his career but posted a 6-3 record and a 2.10 ERA at Double-A Tulsa last season.
With Minor's departure, Moore will be looking for potential closer types, even though they still have right-hander Kelvin Herrera, who lost the closer's job to Minor in September. Moore also will be on the search for rotational depth.
The Royals have backup plans in the event they lose shortstop Alcides Escobar (Raul Mondesi), center fielder Lorenzo Cain (Paulo Orlando), Moustakas (Cheslor Cuthbert) and even Hosmer (prospect Hunter Dozier).
Moore also said the Royals could be in position to make blockbuster deals to improve the club's farm system, and that could mean dealing anyone from left-hander Danny Duffy to second baseman Whit Merrifield to catcher Salvador Perez.
"Truthfully, we have to look at all possible alternatives in our position," Moore said. "We have to listen to any deal that makes sense."
That could set up a wild ride over the next four days of Meetings, which conclude on Thursday with the Rule 5 Draft.
Don't forget that Moore has used past Winter Meetings to set the table for major deals that unfolded shortly after the Meetings wrapped -- the Zack Greinke deal in 2010 and the James Shields-Wade Davis deal in 2012.
NATIONAL
Morris, Trammell honored by calls to the Hall!
Former teammates elected to class of 2018 by Modern Era Committee
December 10, 2017By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com
What could wind up becoming a loaded 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame class begins with a 1984 Tigers two-fer that ends two long and agonizing waits for Jack Morris and Alan Trammell.
Morris, the hero of the Twins' Game 7 triumph in the 1991 World Series and winner of 254 regular-season games in his 18 seasons, and Trammell, the four-time Gold Glove winner and MVP of the '84 Fall Classic, were teammates on the last Tigers team to win it all, and they will be joyously joined again in Cooperstown next summer. In the first big news from baseball's Winter Meetings this week, Morris was named on 14 and Trammell on 13 of the 16 ballots cast by the Hall's Modern Baseball Era Committee on Sunday. A candidate had to appear on at least 75 percent of ballots to gain entry.
"I've got to believe, in a crazy sort of way, that this is the sweetest way to go in," Morris said. "To go in with a guy who meant so much to me and, in my opinion, was overlooked."
Trammell and Morris were among 10 candidates on the Modern Era ballot, which includes those whose most significant career impact was realized between 1970-87. They became the first living players to be elected into the Hall by a small committee since Bill Mazeroski in 2001.
"Overwhelmed," Trammell said. "My mind is a whirlwind. I thought that Jack was well-deserving and in my opinion should've been in a few years ago. But nevertheless, it's an honor to go in with Jack and whoever is inducted from the writers' ballot. It's going to be a great class. I'm honored to be a part of it."
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is in the process of compiling ballots for its 2018 class, which will be announced at 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 24 on MLB Network. With both Trevor Hoffman and Vladimir Guerrero having appeared on north of 70 percent of ballots last year, and with first-time candidates Chipper Jones and Jim Thome among those with particularly compelling Cooperstown cases, this could be a grand group going in together July 29.
It is the inherent goal of the smaller Hall voting committees, which were revamped from the former Veterans Committee process in 2016, to give added consideration to those whose careers and impact might not have been given their just due on the BBWAA ballot. Both Morris and Trammell spent a full 15 years on the BBWAA ballot (the cutoff has since been amended to 10 years) without getting in. Trammell's highest vote percentage had been 40.9 in his final year of eligibility in 2016, while Morris maxed out at 67.7 percent in his second-to-last year of eligibility in 2013.
The reward for both men finally arrived in their first year of consideration by a smaller committee.
"You appreciate it so much," Morris said. "I think I have a better understanding of what it all means now than I ever would have on the first ballot. I know the emotions some of those guys are going through who didn't make it. I thought every guy had a legitimate chance. They had reasons to be considered, for sure. I hope there's no animosity because I made it, because I certainly was pulling for them."
With 12 votes required for entry, former catcher Ted Simmons received 11 votes, former MLB Players Association leader Marvin Miller received seven and Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker and Luis Tiant each received fewer than seven votes (the Hall did not reveal their exact tallies).
The 16-member Modern Baseball Era Committee was comprised of Hall of Fame members George Brett, Rod Carew, Bobby Cox, Dennis Eckersley, John Schuerholz, Don Sutton, Dave Winfield and Robin Yount; Major League executives Sandy Alderson, Paul Beeston, Bob Castellini, Bill DeWitt and David Glass; and veteran historians Bob Elliott, Steve Hirdt and Jayson Stark.
"To have the Hall of Famers during our era vote for us is very meaningful," Trammell said. "It means a lot. It's very humbling."
Trammell played all 20 of his MLB seasons with the Tigers, from 1977-96, including the first 14 seasons of his career as a teammate of Morris. In the '84 World Series against the Padres, he hit .450 (9-for-20) with a double and two home runs to earn MVP honors. He also hit .364 and homered in that year's American League Championship Series against the Royals.
"[A scout once told me] if you play good defense and you hit .250," Trammell said, "you'll play in the big leagues for a long time."
Morris pitched for the Tigers, Twins, Blue Jays and Indians from 1977-94. He threw a no-hitter during that aforementioned '84 season, shutting down the White Sox on April 7 at Comiskey Park. In his epic Game 7 performance in 1991, he outdueled the Braves' John Smoltz, a 2015 Hall of Fame entrant, over 10 scoreless innings in a 1-0 win that clinched the Twins' second World Series title in four years.
"There's no question it's one of my defining moments in baseball, because it was the only Game 7 that I pitched," Morris said. "I knew the importance of it, but I was also at the apex of my career both mentally and physically. I've never pitched a game where I had better focus, and I don't know why. I had the best mindset I've had in my entire career."
The Hall cases for both Morris and Trammell have generated plenty of discussion over the years. Interestingly, Trammell was a darling of the advanced analytical community, while Morris' credentials were often touted by those with more of an "old school" bent. Trammell had a career Wins Above Replacement mark of 70.4 (as calculated by Baseball-Reference.com), just behind that of likely Hall of Famer Derek Jeter (71.8) and just ahead of that of Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Bobby Wallace (70.2). Morris' 44.1 career WAR pales in comparison to that of the average Hall of Famer, but his lofty win total, 175 career complete games and Game 7 gem were his strongest selling points.
After all the debates and deliberations, Morris and Trammell go in together. Teammates then and classmates now.
Cubs reportedly nearing deal with Morrow
December 10, 2017By Carrie Muskat/MLB.com
The Cubs may be close to finding their next closer. According to MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman, the Cubs are finalizing a deal with free-agent right-hander Brandon Morrow. The Cubs would not confirm the report.
Morrow, 33, is coming off his best season since he was converted to a full-time reliever, posting a 2.06 ERA over 43 2/3 innings with the Dodgers. He set career-highs in strikeout rate (29.1 percent) and WHIP (0.92) while not giving up a home run all season. Morrow's 240 xwOBA was ninth-lowest among relievers with at least 100 batters faced.
The Cubs have been in the market for a closer since Wade Davis filed for free agency. Morrow has some closing experience, saving 16 games for the Mariners in 2008-09. The right-hander does have electric stuff and his fastball averaged 97.7 mph last season.
Morrow was the Dodgers' setup man last season, although he did collect two saves in the second half. He also was used in 14 of Los Angeles' 15 postseason games, and in four games against the Cubs in the National League Championship Series, he gave up one hit, walked one and struck out seven over 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
Adding pitching has been the Cubs' primary objective this offseason. Starters Jake Arrieta and John Lackey as well as relievers Koji Uehara and Brian Duensing are all free agents, while the club non-tendered Hector Rondon.
The Cubs did make a qualifying offer to Davis and haven't ruled out his possible return. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he planned to talk to Davis' agent during the Winter Meetings, which officially open Monday.
Several reports this weekend also had free agent right-hander Addison Reed high on the Cubs' wish list.
Feeney remembered at leadership symposium
MLB preserves executive's legacy, aims to create more opportunities for women
December 10, 2017By Richard Justice/MLB.com
Katy Feeney blazed a quiet trail in baseball, opening doors, breaking barriers. She did this in the most basic of ways. By doing her job well. By treating others with respect.
She left an enduring legacy of kindness and charity, and her death last April at 68 left a gaping hole in the souls of the hundreds of people she touched during a lifetime in the sport.
"I still find myself picking up the phone to call her," her brother, Stoney Feeney, said Sunday. "What would Katy do?"
He told that story to a gathering of female executives from Major League Baseball and its teams during the first Katharine Feeney Leadership Symposium.
Amid a mixture of tears and laughter, some of the people who knew Katy best began an effort to preserve her legacy and to create more opportunities for women in the sport.
They did this by discussing their own experiences and listening to others. In this way, they were reminded that they do not walk their walk alone.
"We wake up everyday with news of horrible events regarding women's experiences in the workplace," said Dan Halem, MLB Deputy Commissioner and chief legal officer. "It's more important than ever that we have events like this to both empower women and meet each other and provide resources that will help you advance.
"Katy cared deeply about the role of women in baseball. She was one of the pioneers. She didn't really talk about that or trumpet that. She was more concerned each and every day with mentoring and helping other women achieve her level."
Representatives of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Executive Education did seminars on team building and inclusion in the workplace. And from all that, the hope is that these women will serve as sounding boards and role models for a new generation of women in baseball.
"What I hope this does is send a message to the rest of the industry how much the Commissioner values the role of women in baseball," said Jean Afterman, Yankees' senior vice president and assistant general manager.
"I've exchanged emails with most of all of these women," Afterman said. "Now knowing each other personally will make us stronger as a group. I hope we can learn from each other and go back perhaps more empowered and have more of a sense of community among all of us."
Katy's dad, Chub Feeney, was president of the National League from 1970-86 and an executive with the San Francisco Giants from 1946-70. His grandfather, Charles Stoneham, and great uncle, Horace Stoneham, owned the Giants for almost 60 years.
"Our dad's office was Candlestick Park," said John Feeney, another of Katy's brothers.
Katy Feeney's primary responsibilities at MLB were to help formulate the regular-season schedule and to coordinate some of the logistics at big events.
Beyond that, though, she and her best friend, Phyllis Merhige, another retired former MLB executive, did their jobs with such grace and efficiency that gender simply was not an issue.
"Katy was the strong, silent leader," said Kim Ng, MLB senior vice president for baseball operations. "I knew her for 25 years. She was never one to put herself out there in a very public way.
"But I think by the mere fact that she was out there among hundreds of guys during our jewel events, and be as professional as one would expect, she was always a great example of a woman doing extraordinarily well in this business."
And this event, Ng said, came at a particularly poignant time in the history of this country.
"It's long overdue," Ng said. "We're in 2017, and with some of the issues we've seen come to light in recent days, it's even more important for women to get together and be able to learn and feel empowered in their careers.
"A lot of these things are things that guys just don't realize until they experience it by our sides or by sitting across from us. I hope something all these women, including myself, get out of this is that there is this entire network of leaders out there in baseball that have experienced each other's pain in a lot of ways. It's empowering to hear how they deal with it."
For some, like Kathy Killian, Phillies vice president of human resources, simply meeting Ng, a groundbreaking executive in her own right, was inspiring.
"She's one of the most amazing superstars in baseball," Killian said. "To be able to share stories and connect with other women is one of the coolest things about this, and I hope it will continue. It's such an honor to be in this room."
At a time when the challenges women face in every industry have never been more clear, these women shared a common pride that baseball is committed to fair play and opportunity for all.
"A lot of brave and courageous women are really sharing some of the things they've experienced on a daily basis working in a male-dominated industry," said Ellen Hill Zeringue, Tigers' vice president of marketing. "I'm extraordinarily hopeful because this type of a seminar, this type of a gathering of women, proves that Major League Baseball is committed to helping women be a larger voice in baseball.