- The Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim have the best player in baseball in their organization. They also have a farm system that is a complete disaster and not the most capable of MLB teams either. It's the first big debate of the coming season. Is it time to trade Mike Trout? Joe Giglio of NJ.com opines that the Phillies have the ammo to pull it off. It's not far fetched either. The Phillies have gone from a similar void of prospects to one of the richest farm systems in the game in a year. Though as of right now Angels owner Arte Moreno is not selling but don't be shocked if his tune changes after this coming season.
- Tony Phillips, super utility veteran of eighteen years in MLB, passed away this week. Spending the bulk of his career with Oakland and Detroit before becoming a journeyman in MLB and independent leagues, Phillips perhaps is best known for his his play to end the 1989 World Series sweep of San Francisco. The best obituary came from Dave Schoenfield of ESPN.
- Odubel Herrera and Kevin Pillar served as a one man outfield for their respective clubs last season who chose to punt defense on the corners writes Neil Weinberg of Fangraphs. Obviously there was more to the success and failure of each team last season yet where as the Phillies have evolved a bit on the corners, it appears the Blue Jays are comfortable staying the course defensively. Of course with their bats they can afford such a venture at this time.
- Barry Bonds showed up at Marlins camp this week and the new hitting coach for Miami appears (pardon the cliche) in the best shape of his life. One can only hope video shows up of him taking a few swings.
- The Yankees are acting like the Yankees this week. If you desire admission to see their new super bullpen in the flesh this season, you need an actual ticket, not the print at home ticket you can get on a second hand site. Yankees COO Lon Trost did not exactly spin it all that well on Boomer and Carton yesterday.
- Speaking of the Yankees super bullpen, it's not in the clear just yet as Aroldis Chapman says he'll fight any suspension handed down by MLB for violations of their new domestic abuse policy. In his favor, no charges were filed nor was Chapman arrested in this matter. Though MLB can still suspend Chapman pending the results of their own investigation in the matter. With ugly domestic violence situations in other sports leagues, it's important MLB get this one right.
- In what would probably classify as mostly Twins news, Nick Punto announced his retirment this week. In what seems like ancient history today, the utility infielder came up through the Phillies farm system. He never really amounted to much in the red pinstripes and was shipped off to Minnesota along with Carlos Silva in December of 2003 for LHP Eric Milton.
- Finally, this time last year Jenrry Mejia was going to be closer for the Mets. Today he has a lifetime ban from MLB after flunking a third PED test. Mejia was getting a collective dunce cap from virtually everyone who follows baseball when he failed the second test and rightfully so. I'm not sure even they would tell you at age 26, Mejia would fail his third PED test and be gone for good. It is a tale of truly wasted talent of a pitcher who appeared to have a good career in baseball ahead of him at one point.
