Sports

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports About a yr in the past, I wrote about how umpires have improved at calling balls and strikes all through the pitch monitoring period. They have gotten a complete lot higher, particularly at figuring out strikes. While everybody appreciates a extra constant and correct zone, that has made issues a bit tougher for hitters total. More importantly, their progress didn’t look like it was displaying any indicators of slowing down. With the 2023 season within the books, it’s time to test in on whether or not that’s nonetheless the case. The methodology right here is straightforward: test to see if Statcast agrees with the umpire’s choice for every referred to as ball and strike. This isn’t an ideal technique, as a pitch proper over the guts of the plate is a a...

The Astros acquired infielder/outfielder Trey Cabbage from the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday in change for right-hander Carlos Espinosa. Cabbage, 26, spent his total 2023 season within the Angels system, making the vast majority of his appearances with Triple A Salt Lake. The left-handed hitter -- who ranked because the No. 26 prospect within the Angels' system, per MLB Pipeline -- batted .306 with 25 doubles, 30 house runs, 89 RBIs, 32 stolen bases and a .975 OPS in 107 video games with Salt Lake, incomes MiLB.com Organizational All-Star and Pacific Coast League Post-Season All-Star honors. With Salt Lake, Cabbage appeared at first base (58 video games), proper subject (17 video games), middle subject (4 video games) and left subject (4 video games). He additionally made his Major Leagu...

Matt Blewett-USA TODAY SportsAre you, or have you ever ever been, ready to make choices about main league crew personnel? Do you want buying and selling? Have you ever held a dime and wished it had been two nickels, or vice versa? If so, keep the place you're, stay calm, and Jerry Dipoto shall be calling you quickly to make some offers. Like this one: MLB righties Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa together with prospects OF Gabriel Gonzalez and RHP Darren Bowen is the 4 participant return for Polanco, per sources. Believe money can also be concerned. https://t.co/GQDKtwaogh — Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) January 30, 2024 Prospects! Relievers! Reclamation tasks! Everyday regulars! This one has just a little little bit of every little thing. But it’s extra sophisticated than that, as a...

ANAHEIM -- The Angels made a transfer to complement their outfield depth, agreeing to phrases with veteran outfielder Aaron Hicks on a one-year deal well worth the league minimal of $740,000, the workforce introduced on Monday. The Angels had been ready so as to add Hicks cheaply as a result of he’s nonetheless getting paid by the Yankees after inking a seven-year, $70 million extension in 2019. Hicks was launched by New York final May however is being paid $9.78M in each 2024 and '25 and is due a $1 million buyout in '26. Hicks, although, bounced again after signing with the Orioles, hitting .275/.381/.425 with seven homers, seven doubles and 31 RBIs in 65 video games for the AL East champions.  Hicks, 34, can be a neighborhood product of Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif., ...

Carson Williams is a high-profile prospect in a fertile Tampa Bay Rays farm system. Drafted twenty eighth general in 2021 out of San Diego’s Torrey Pines High School, the 20-year-old shortstop is No. 20 in MLB Pipeline’s recently-released Top 100, and he may even rank prominently when our personal checklist comes out subsequent month. His 2023 manufacturing offered ample proof of his plus instruments. Playing primarily at High-A Bowling Green, and with cups of espresso on the Double-A and Triple-A ranges, Williams walloped 23 house runs whereas placing up a 130 wRC+. Erik Neander was effusive in his reward when giving a synopsis of the younger infielder throughout November’s GM Meetings. “Incredible physical potential in all aspects of the game, both sides of the ball,” Tampa Bay’s ...