Martinez, Hamilton Down With Injuries: Hot Stove 2/7

News

The Top 50 Prospects list was announced, with Twins outfielder Byron Buxton being named number one in baseball. Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant followed up at number two, with Astros shortstop Carlos Correa slotting in at number three. The top Nationals prospect was pitcher Lucas Giolito, who landed at number six.

Top Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada has been cleared by the MLB and the federal government to sign with any team. It is likely that Moncada will break Yoan Lopez’s record for the largest bonus ever given to an amateur player.

Tigers DH Victor Martinez injured his knee and may undergo surgery. There is no timetable yet for his return.

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will undergo shoulder surgery and is questionable for Opening Day.

Former infielder Dave Bergman passed away at 61 years old. Over a 17 year career from 1975-1992, Bergman batted .258 with 54 home runs and 289 RBI, serving as a part-time first baseman on the 1984 World Champion Tigers.

Free Agent Signings

Rockies signed Kyle Kendrick (10-13, 4.61 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 2015 age: 30) to a one year, $5.5 million deal.

Phillies signed Chad Billingsley (missed 2014, 81-61 career, 3.65 ERA, 2015 age: 30-31) to a one year, $1.5 million deal.

Rangers signed Ryan Ludwick (9 HR, 45 RBI, .244 AVG, 0 SB, 2015 age: 36-37) to a minor league deal.

Rockies signed John Axford (2-4, 3.95 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 10 SV, 2015 age: 32) to a minor league deal.

Red Sox signed Alexi Ogando (2-3, 6.84 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 1 SV, 2015 age: 31) to a one year, $1.5 million deal.

Brewers signed Neal Cotts (2-9, 4.32 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 2 SV, 2015 age: 35) to a one year, $3 million deal.

Brewers signed Chris Perez (1-3, 4.27 ERA,1.36 WHIP, 1 SV, 2015 age: 29-30) to a minor league deal.

Reds signed Paul Maholm (1-5, 4.84 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 2015 age: 32-33) to a minor league deal.

Yankees signed Scott Baker (3-4, 5.47 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 2015 age: 33) to a minor league deal.

Braves signed Eric Stults (8-17, 4.30 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 2015 age: 35) to a minor league deal.

Red Sox signed Dana Eveland (1-1, 2.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 1 SV, 2015 age: 31) to a minor league deal.

Cardinals signed Carlos Villanueva (5-7, 4.64 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 2 SV, 2015 age: 31) to a minor league deal.

Rays signed Ronald Belisario (4-8, 5.56 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 8 SV, 2015 age: 32) to a minor league deal.

Rangers signed Nate Schierholtz (7 HR, 37 RBI, .195 AVG, 4 SB, 2015 age: 31) to a minor league deal.

Braves signed John Buck (1 HR, 6 RBI, .225 AVG, 0 SB, 2015 age: 34-35) to a minor league deal.

Blue Jays signed Ramon Santiago (2 HR, 17 RBI, .246 AVG, 2 SB, 2015 age: 35) to a minor league deal.

Mariners signed John Baker (0 HR, 15 RBI, .192 AVG, 0 SB, 2015 age: 34) to a minor league deal.

Padres signed Wil Nieves (1 HR, 7 RBI, .254 AVG, 1 SB, 2015 age: 37) to a minor league deal.

Rockies signed Omar Quintanilla (0 HR, 3 RBI, .207 AVG, 0 SB, 2015 age: 33) to a minor league deal.

The Rockies added relievers John Axford, David Hale, and Gus Schlosser, as well as utility man Omar Quintanilla, but their biggest acquisition of the week was right hander Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick has pitched his entire twelve year professional career with the Phillies organization, and he has spent the last eight with the big league club. The 30 year old will slot into the young Colorado rotation behind ace Jose De La Rosa and ahead of young pitchers like Jordan Lyles, Tyler Matzek, and Jhoulys Chacin. By pitching in hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park for eight years, the ground ball-inducing Kendrick should be ready to spend half his games in notorious Coors Field. He has a 5.26 career ERA at Coors, which is much higher than his 4.42 overall mark, but experience at the high altitude should help. The Houston native may be best remembered for his big rookie year with the Phillies in 2007, when he came out of nowhere to go 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP over 20 starts. More recently, he had a big 2012, going 11-12 with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP over 37 games (25 starts). Last year wasn’t as great of a season, as he went 10-13 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over a career high 32 starts. For his career, Kendrick is 74-68 with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP over 226 games (185 starts). His 185 starts are actually 16th in Phillies history, and his 74 wins rank 23rd.

Trades

Braves traded David Hale (4-5, 3.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 2015 age: 27) and Gus Schlosser (0-1, 7.64 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 2015 age: 26) to the Rockies for minor leaguers Jose Briceno (12 HR, 50 RBI, .283 AVG, 8 SB at Class A, 2015 age: 22) and Chris O’Dowd (5 HR, 48 RBI, .271 AVG, 23 SB at High Class A and AA, 2015 age: 24).

Orioles traded Steve Lombardozzi (0 HR, 2 RBI, .288 AVG, 1 SB, 2015 age: 26) to the Pirates for cash considerations.

Marlins traded Arquimedes Caminero (0-1, 10.80 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 2015 age: 27-28) to the Pirates for cash considerations.

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Teams followed in this update: Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers

If your team is not included, please leave a comment.
HR: home runs. RBI: runs batted in. AVG: batting average. SB: stolen bases. ERA: earned run average. WHIP: walks/hits per innings pitched. K’s: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage

Zack Silverman