IQ - Baseball Wiretap

Video: Biggest MLB Free Agent Contracts From Each Offseason Since 2000

Nov 18, 2017 6:20 PM

A decade later, Alex Rodriguez still owns the richest free agent contract in MLB history. Rodriguez also owns the third biggest contract with his landmark deal back in 2000 when he left Seattle for Texas.

The following video shows the largest free agent contract in each offseason dating back to 2000.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: IQ, Video

Discuss
Minor Changes Expected In Next Collective Bargaining Agreement

Nov 21, 2016 9:14 AM

Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on Dec. 1, but no one around the game is too concerned about a potential work stoppage.

The league and players union are focused on making tweaks rather than radical changes.

Both sides are believed to be in agreement about adding a 26th roster spot, more days off during the season and limiting September roster sizes.

Tyler Kepner/New York Times

Tags: IQ, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Diamondbacks Hire Jared Porter Away From Cubs

Nov 8, 2016 3:55 PM

The Arizona Diamondbacks have hired Jared Porter as senior vice president and assistant general manager.

Porter most recently served as the director of scouting for the Chicago Cubs.

Arizona replaced Bryan Minniti, who left to join the front office of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Steve Adams/MLB Trade Rumors

Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, IQ, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Phillies Hire Bryan Minniti As Special Assistant to GM

Nov 8, 2016 3:51 PM

The Philadelphia Phillies have hired Bryan Minniti as a special assistant to general manager Matt Klentak.

Minniti was the assistant GM with the Arizona Diamondbacks for seven years.

Steve Adams/MLB Trade Rumors

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, IQ, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Jerry Dipoto Not Planning Full Rebuild Of Mariners

Oct 3, 2015 8:28 PM

Jerry Dipoto does not plan on beginning a full-scale rebuild as he takes over the Seattle Mariners.

This means core players like Kyle Seager, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Felix Hernandez won't be shopped in trade talks.

“The greater likelihood is, we’ll focus on those four guys, and Taijuan Walker, as the core we’re trying to build around,” says Dipoto. “And we’ll have to be more creative in finding ways to augment that group, rather than using that group to build a new program.”

Charlie Wilmoth/MLBTradeRumors

Tags: Seattle Mariners, IQ, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

Discuss
Nine Top 100 Prospects Traded At Deadline

Aug 3, 2015 8:11 AM

Nine of the Top 100 prospects in Major League Baseball were traded before the deadline.

Daniel Norris, Brett Phillips, Jose Peraza, Jeff Hoffman, Jake Thompson, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro, Domingo Santana and Rob Kaminsky were all traded and ranked within the Top 100 of the MLB's top prospects.

A 10th player, Keury Mella, was the San Francisco Giants' top prospect and just outside the Top 100.

Jim Callis/MLB.com

Tags: IQ

Discuss
Bryce Harper's Success Coming From Hitting Outside Pitch

May 9, 2015 2:38 PM

Bryce Harper hit three home runs on Wednesday and two more on Friday, tying a MLB record with five homers in a two-game span.

Harper was in a 1-for-17 slump prior to this two-game run, in which he’s raised his season batting average from .245 to .284. 

 

The last two days, opponents have been more than willing to give that to him. Nineteen of the 24 pitches he’s seen were outer-half or off the outside corner and he's taken advantage with four out of the five homers coming on pitches to that area. Eight of his 10 homers this season have been on the outside.

In fact, 25 of Harper’s 29 hits this season have come against pitches to the outer half or just off the outside corner.

ESPN

Tags: Washington Nationals, IQ, Stats

Discuss
Brian Sabean Returning To Scouting Roots As Part Of New Deal

Apr 4, 2015 2:11 PM

Brian Sabean assumes a new title, executive vice president of baseball operations, and turns the GM reins to assistant Bobby Evans as part of his extension with the San Francisco Giants.

Sabean still will oversee the baseball department but will do more hands-on scouting, including internationally. He acknowledged the possible opening of the Cuban market is part of the mix.

“Yeah, and the possibility of an international draft,” Sabean said. “We have to find out if we’re set up for it. I want to know firsthand what our standing is in scouting against the rest of baseball. This will give me a way firsthand to evaluate that.”

Sabean, 58, who started his pro career on the scouting side, is looking forward to returning to his roots.

“It gets me out and about more,” he said of the reconfigured gig. “I know the shop’s being tended to. Boch, in his own right, could almost be like Whitey Herzog as a de facto general manager. And Bobby’s more than ready. It’s his turn to shine. Now I don’t have to be married, per se, to the major-league schedule.

“The international schedule is moving fast. I don’t see enough of our minor-league teams to draw my own conclusions. I hardly see any games before the June draft, which I used to do. Selfishly, I’d like to see some guys who could be in play trade-wise and free agents to be. This allows me to be more places.

 

“The quality control with this model, and other people have gone to it, is important now. The game’s changing so fast. It’s so competitive, and it all evolves around the talent acquisition.”

John Shea/San Francisco Chronicle

Tags: San Francisco Giants, IQ

Discuss
Dodgers' Admiration For Friedman Grew With Price Trade Talks

Oct 17, 2014 5:55 PM

The Los Angeles Dodgers discussed a David Price trade with Andrew Friedman this season and were impressed by their dealings with him. Those negotiations only heightened the Dodgers' admiration for Friedman.

Friedman left the Tampa Bay Rays to become president of baseball operations with the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Said one source: "They always asked for the right prospects. Not just the guys everybody knows, either."

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, IQ, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Red Sox Have Made Most Deadline Deals In MLB Since 2000

Sep 23, 2014 12:49 PM

The Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs have been the most active teams as the trade deadline since 2000.

The Red Sox have made 43 deals over the time period.

The Minnesota Twins have made the fewest with just 17.

Nick Cafardo/Boston Globe

Tags: Boston Red Sox, IQ

Discuss
Masahiro Tanaka Believes He's Capable Of 24-0 Season
Masahiro Tanaka has struck out 35 while walking two in his first four big league starts.

Ian O'Connor/ESPN

Giants Could Permanently Move Brandon Belt To No. 3 In Lineup
Brandon Belt led the Giants in OPS last season.

Henry Schulman/San Francisco Chronicle

Dodgers Break Yankees 15-Year Streak Of MLB's Highest Payroll
The Dodgers have a projected payroll of $235 million, while the Yankees will come in at $204 million.

AP

Mets Struggling To Attract Free Agent Hitters Due To Citi Field
The Mets brought the outfield walls closer to home plate after the 2011 season, but it still has the reputation as being a pitcher' park.

Kirstie Ackert/New York Daily News

Red Sox Could Stand Pat At Catcher With Ryan Lavarnway
The Red Sox had held internal discussions about standing pat at catcher and having Ryan Lavarnway splitting time with David Ross.

Scott Lauber/Boston Herald

Yankees Hope To Drop Payroll Below $189M Despite Planned Spree
The Yankees are expected to cut their payroll to $189 million while also spending $300 million this winter on longterm contracts.

Andrew Marchand/ESPN

Haren Becomes 13th Pitcher To Beat All 30 Teams
Barry Zito and A.J. Burnett are the only other active pitchers on the list.

A.J. Cassavell/MLB.com

Wheeler Doesn't Think He'll Be 'Savior' For Mets
Zack Wheeler will make his debut on Tuesday night against the Braves.

Adam Rubin/ESPN

Strikeouts Piling Up At Historic Rate In 2013
Yu Darvish leads all pitchers with 127 strikeouts through Sunday's action.

Nick Cafardo/Boston Globe

Matt Moore Improves To 7-0
Matt Moore has a 2.44 ERA and has a .172 batting average against him.

Adam Berry/MLB.com

Kershaw Throws Career-High 132 Pitches
It's only the fourth time in his career that Clayton Kershaw has topped 120 pitches.

David Schoenfield/ESPN

Ortiz: Slump Due To Injury, Not Boston Globe Story
David Ortiz was 1-for-20 before a three-run home run on Tuesday night.

Gordon Edes/ESPN

Cardinals Were Confident In Pitching Depth
Adam Wainwright, Jaime Garcia, Lance Lynn, Jake Westbrook and Shelby Miller have a 2.20 ERA, leading the majors through Friday.

Tyler Kepner/New York Times

Roughly Half Of Division Winners Since '96 In First Place On May 1
There have been 102 division champions since 1996 and 51 percent (53 clubs) were in first place on May 1.

David Schoenfield/ESPN

Giants Won't Participate In 'Arms Race' With Dodgers
The Giants are just one win away from their second World Series in three years and the Dodgers have new high-spending ownership.

Bill Shaikin/Los Angeles Times

Yankees Rule Out Moving Rodriguez To Shortstop
Alex Rodriguez won't be moved to shortstop to replace the injured Derek Jeter.

George Sipple/Detroit Free-Press

Rodriguez Not In Yankees' Lineup For Game 5
Alex Rodriguez is 8-for-24 against Jason Hammel in his career with four home runs and nine RBIs.

RealGM Staff Report

Ian Kinsler's Spot In Lineup May Have Ripple Effect With Rangers
How the Rangers decide to use Ian Kinsler next season will have a significant effect on how they approach other areas of the roster.

Richard Durrett/ESPN

Dodgers Leaning Towards Playing Hanley Ramirez At Shortstop
The Dodgers had the speedy Dee Gordon at short and Hanley Ramirez had moved to third while with the Marlins to make room for Jose Reyes.

Dylan Hernandez/Los Angeles Times (via Twitter)

Top-10 In Payroll Entering Season Could Yield Just Four Playoffs Teams
There has been almost no correlation between Opening Day payroll and likely playoff clubs this season.

Jeff Passan/Yahoo! Sports

News Archive