Updating the Hottest Questions of 2015 MLB Spring Training, Week 5
We are now just two Sundays away from the start of the 2015 MLB season, after a long, eventful offseason.
Many of the spring's more pressing on-field questions have already been answered at this point in camp, but a handful of off-field issues have arisen to become talking points for many across the league.
That includes Kris Bryant, arguably the most discussed player in spring training. Despite an impressive start in the preseason, all signs indicate that the talented prospect will begin the season in Triple-A. Will the Chicago Cubs' handling of Bryant create conflict with the MLB Players Union?
Gambling problems, both past and present have captured the attention of those in baseball circles as well. What's the latest with Miami's Jarred Cosart and the probe into his alleged gambling? And will new commissioner Rob Manfred continue to take a strong stance on the controversial Pete Rose?
For the answers to these questions, please continue reading!
What's the Latest with Jarred Cosart's Gambling Probe?
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Jarred Cosart of the Miami Marlins was in the news for all the wrong reasons this week, as the 24-year-old found himself at the forefront of a gambling probe by MLB.
The probe stems from alleged direct messages on Twitter between Cosart and the gambling aficionado @GhostFadeKillah. That particular Twitter user posted direct messages purportedly between he and Cosart, which can be seen here courtesy of Tom Elfrink of the Miami New Times.
Cosart quickly deleted his Twitter account, but other Twitter accounts tying him to the alleged accusations continued to surface. The Miami right-hander told Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald that anything that happened after his official account was deleted was not him and that he is following MLB protocol and allowing MLB security to handle the situation.
Other details have emerged, as Elfrink and the Miami New Times were able to get in contact with @GhostFadeKilluh. The Twitter user stated that the conversation between him and Cosart actually took place in December, which indicates that Cosart could be lying about his account being hacked.
Cosart was traded to the Marlins from Houston last season, posting a 3.69 ERA between both stops. He figures to be a key cog in the Miami rotation, but it'll be interesting to see how MLB handles a modern-day betting scandal.
Does Hector Olivera Fit into the Dodgers' 2015 Plans?
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The Los Angeles Dodgers capitalized on their deep pockets again this week, signing Cuban infielder Hector Olivera to a six-year deal.
That commitment is worth $62.5 million, but Olivera may not even be considered for a roster spot in L.A. this season.
The Dodgers will start the season with Juan Uribe, Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick at third, short and second, so Olivera's services may be better suited for 2016. Both Kendrick and Uribe become free agents at the end of the season, and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has reported that Los Angeles views Olivera as an "excellent fit" for its 2016 roster.
Rosenthal goes on to say that the Dodgers plan to use the beginning of 2015 to assess Olivera's baseball condition and elbow. He states that L.A. believes Olivera's future is at third base, although he can play a variety of different positions.
If any of the three roadblocks in Olivera's way were to take a step back, you would figure it to be the 36-year-old Uribe. But the veteran third baseman is coming off a season in which he posted a 120 wRC+, according to FanGraphs, so any slip in form may still be a few years away.
One of Olivera's top qualities was his expected ability to contribute immediately upon his arrival in the big leagues. But the soon-to-be 30-year-old seems destined for some seasoning in the minor leagues before his long-awaited major league debut.
Will the Texas Rangers Add Another Starting Pitcher?
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The Texas Rangers hoped for a bounce-back year in 2015, but those aspirations have taken a massive blow with the season-ending injury to ace Yu Darvish. With Derek Holland facing his own injury concerns, the Rangers are hunting for another reliable hurler to add to the fold.
According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Rangers have inquired about the services of the left-handed Brad Hand of the Miami Marlins. Spencer also notes that Rule 5 selection Andrew McKirahan has drawn the eye of a handful of pitching-needy teams.
As for Hand, the 25-year-old is out of minor league options and would be placed on waivers if he doesn't make the big league squad. Hand is a former second-round pick in 2008 and has been used as both a starter and reliever in his young career. He posted a 4.38 ERA for the Fish last season, starting 16 games and logging over 110 innings.
Hand posted a ground-ball rate of 50 percent, which should increase his value in that bandbox of a ballpark in Arlington. He's also exceptionally tough on same-sided hitters, holding left-handed hitters to a .219 average in 2014, as noted by FanGraphs.
The Rangers wouldn't have to overpay for a hurler like Hand, because the Marlins have little use for him in their crowded rotation. His ability to pitch out of the bullpen and as a starter would provide Texas with a versatile arm that improves the staff at a low cost.
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Should New Commissioner Rob Manfred Reinstate Pete Rose?
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We all know the sad story of Pete Rose, baseball's hit king who was unceremoniously banned from MLB by then-commissioner Bart Giamatti after betting on the game back in 1989. But according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Rose has requested that his ban be lifted by new commissioner Rob Manfred.
Rose was denied entry back into baseball circles by former commissioner Bud Selig, but the fresh face of a new regime may give the former Cincinnati Reds manager some hope that he can still see his face enshrined in Cooperstown during his lifetime.
Heyman mentions that Manfred has not indicated which way he leans on the Rose matter, but that he would like to take the time to review the report of both Giamatti and John Dowd, the investigator who filed the paperwork on Rose's betting scandal all those years ago.
B/R's own Zachary Rymer doesn't have a horse in the race, but thinks that Manfred could mark his place in history by allowing Rose to be reinstated.
Rose constantly denied his role in any betting transgressions, until infamously swallowing his pride and admitting in 2007 that he bet on the game and his own team. While his banishment from baseball was a huge black eye for MLB at the time, Rose has paid for his sins and his punishment has deterred any significant baseball gambling probes since. Well, until this week.
No matter what Manfred decides, the reaction from the public will be evenly split. He's shown that he isn't afraid to enforce controversial decisions, evidenced by his pace-of-play changes. He just might be the authority figure to give Rose the redemption he so desires.
How Will the Players Union Handle the Kris Bryant Situation?
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Kris Bryant figures to be the latest prospect to fall victim to the dreaded service-time argument, but his level of visibility could push the players union to advocate for changes with the current collective-bargaining agreement expiring in 2016.
Bryant is the No. 2-rated prospect in baseball by MLB.com, and has produced compelling evidence that he's ready for the big leagues this spring.
After leading the minor leagues in homers, extra-base hits, total bases, slugging percentage and OPS in 2014, Bryant has mashed again during the first few weeks of camp. The 23-year-old leads all hitters in homers this spring with nine, while hitting .464 and posting an OBP of .531.
The issue is that the Cubs won't seem to be making a "baseball decision" if they start Bryant in Triple-A, but rather a financial one.
He's done nothing but improve in the minors, he's crushing the ball this spring and there are no roadblocks ahead of him on the Chicago roster. The Cubs, understandably, want that extra year of service from Bryant, but his agent Scott Boras could file a grievance if he's not on the Opening Day roster.
ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes has reported that union head Tony Clark is keeping a watchful eye on how the Bryant saga unfolds. Clark's hope is that every team breaks camp with the best players on the field, and he's paying attention.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has gone on the record as saying he believes the players union should fight the service-time issue, using Bryant's case as a springboard for reform. A change in the free-agent/arbitration process would go a long way to alleviating some of these headaches, and Bryant's situation might be the start of such change.
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