Listen, we know it’s tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day, and trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk isn’t easy. It’s okay, though, we’re going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning, and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end.
Say hey, baseball: Yoan Moncada wants to sign soon
Thursday morning’s baseball includes Yoan Moncada’s desire to get his career going, the James Shields’ market, and the official 50 Cent baseball card.
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Yoan Moncada is officially a free agent, and you can expect bidding for his services to ramp up soon. That works just fine for Moncada, who almost immediately after being declared a free agent told MLB.com that he wants to sign soon, and with a team that can get him to the majors as quickly as possible. Basically everyone in the game wants Moncada -- who has first-overall pick talent, were he only eligible for the draft -- but not everyone has what it takes to have him: most of the league is just lustfully checking out a teenager from afar and wow have you ever thought about how weird it is that scouts do that for a living? Sports!
The teams that do have what it takes and are considered the favorites are the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Tigers. All four are rich and have no issue spending money when money is the answer to their problems. All four could use Moncada, though, the Red Sox could use him the least given their outfield and three-fourths of their infield are locked up as a unit for the next four years minimum. Buster Olney wrote that this fact might lead them to be less desperate in their negotiations than the competition, but make no mistake, talent is talent, and the Sox will still try to acquire Moncada even if there is no place for him. They’ll deal with that logjam when it needs to be unjammed, and not a moment before.
The A’s could always surprise everyone, and not just because Billy Beane is known for that sort of thing. They came out of nowhere to nab Yoenis Cespedes a few years back, and since Beane only hates holding on to first-round picks, would likely be delighted to add a high-priced international free agent to his farm system. The Cardinals are also a threat, especially since they never did spend big on a pitcher this winter. We won’t have to wait very long to find out which of these places Moncada will land, not with his desire to participate in spring training going public two weeks before camps open.
- The Phillies are trying to trade Jonathan Papelbon, but haven’t had much luck. That’s probably because they aren’t talking to the team who needs him more than anyone else.
- Hey there Seahawks fans, we’re not sure how you wandered in here, but have you considered rooting for your local baseball team, the Seattle Mariners? You see, a “mariner” can be a sailor, but also a baseball player such as “Felix Hernandez.” They could be both, perhaps, but this is just theoretical, and somewhat besides the point.
- The Rockies could be good, if only they were healthy. Hey, miracles happen sometimes.
- If you’ve ever wanted to see Madison Bumgarner drink a beer with Khal Drogo while Drogo is dressed like a Dickensian reimagining of Slash, have we got the photo for you.
- 50 Cent’s horrendous ceremonial first pitch should be remembered forever, and with that in mind now has its own official baseball card.
- Not everyone is still waiting for Eric Hosmer to show that MVP promise people attached to him as a prospect.
- The Reds traded Mat Latos because they couldn’t afford to extend him, but James Shields is cheaper, and the Reds could use him.
- Speaking of Shields, it’s expected he’ll sign this week, but it won’t be with the White Sox.
- The Royals shouldn’t extend Lorenzo Cain, if only because they’re going to get the very best of him while he’s under contract now.
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