After a brief delay that led to some speculation that perhaps one or two teams had held out, yesterday the news that we’d been waiting/dreading became official: All 120 teams invited into the New World Order had signed. If you’ll forgive me, a recap… Minor-league baseball as we know it is gone. Born in 1901 …
Well, no news so far about the minors at a macro level, just a tweet from the Senators confirming they’ve signed the PDC. But there was some news from Baseball America, as its annual prospect handbook has come off the presses. Truth be told, this is not a surprise. The boys in Durham explained it …
Ordinarily, there’d be some excitement now that the “Best Commercials of 2021” show is over. Usually, we’d be thinking “Pitchers and Catchers Report” in another week or so. Instead, we’re wondering what happens after today to the minors as we knew it. It’s the deadline for “The 120” to accept their PDL offers. Most are …
Ordinarily, this is revealed with the release of the handbook, which apparently is late or lost in the mail; hard to tell these days. Before we go further, ze list (last year’s ranking, if applicable): 1. RHP Cade Cavalli 11. SS Jackson Cluff (16) 21. RHP Tyler Dyson (17) 2. RHP Jackson Rutledge (3) 12. …
The horses finally made it through the last pass and arrived at the offices of Baseball America in the Old North State, delivering the edicts from New Amst…er, York on the bonding and de-bonding of the necessary evils, a.k.a. players. It’s only been eight weeks since the last missive. The Nationals of Washington signed the …
We’re almost done with the 13th month of 2020, the 11th of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, the first month of 2021, and the first pass on the 2021 Watchlist and Player Reports. As I noted last month, this is mainly the 2020 Watchlist with some editing and rearranging of the deck chairs. I’ve already ordered the …
Baseball America released its 2021 Top 100 Prospects List this week and the number of Nationals named was… ZERO. At first, I thought, “OK, so first time since this site started…” Nope. Even in the dark times of 2005-2009, there the likes of the Zimmerman(n)s (Ryan and Jordan) and Chris Marrero, not to mention—except I …
As predicted by multiple sources, the Nats did indeed sign 17-y.o. top IFA (#2 BA, #5 MLB) Armando Cruz to a $3.9M bonus, along with ten others: RHP Gustavo Rivas, 17 (Ven.) — $450K OF Enmanuel Ramirez, 17 (D.R.) — $200K RHP Doimil Perez, 17 (D.R.) — $200K RHP Genderson Zapata, 16 (Ven.) — $200K …
The international signing period begins today—delayed by the ongoing pandemic—and put down your beverage (or sit down lest you drop your phone): The Nats are expected to sign second-rated IFA Armando Cruz for $4 million. I’d say SS but take a look at the Baseball America Top 50 and they’re all shortstops. The soon-to-be-17-y.o. (tomorrow) …
If you need a break from yesterday’s stark reminder that, yes, it can happen here… well, maybe not. Baseball America passes along news that MLB has decreed—as expected—that Spring Training will be staggered: MLB and AAA players first, then everybody else. The upshot is that most of the minor leagues will be delayed in 2021. …