MLB.com
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Daily Clips
October 11, 2017
LOCAL
Core workout: Free-agent decisions loom in KC
Hosmer seems most likely player to return to club
October 10, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/
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The Royals’ farm system isn’t highly rated. Here are the best prospects of the bunch
October 10, 2017 By Maria Torres/KC Star
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Even with no playoffs, fans made Royals baseball’s second highest-rated team on TV
October 10, 2017 By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
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Former Royal Bret Saberhagen forced to flee California fire twice in one night
October 10, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
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MINORS
Blue Rocks Win Carolina League's Matt Minker Award For Community Service
Team Honored for the Fourth Consecutive Season
October 10, 2017 BY Matt Janus/Wilmington Blue Rocks
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Thank You, our 281,000+ Central Kentucky fans!
Legends Release Thank You and 2017 Year End Wrap Up Letter to Fans
October 10, 2017 Lexington Legends
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NATIONAL
John Farrell out after five seasons as Red Sox manager
October 10, 2017 By Scott Lauber/
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Jeter lands Denbo from Yanks as 1st major hire
Named Marlins' VP of scouting and player development
October 10, 2017 By Joe Frisaro/
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MLB TRANSACTIONS
October 11, 2017 •.
LOCAL
Core workout: Free-agent decisions loom in KC
Hosmer seems most likely player to return to club
October 10, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/
This could be the most eventful and busy offseason Royals general manager Dayton Moore has had since taking the job in 2006.
The Royals will have to make numerous decisions on pending free agents, including first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas, shortstop Alcides Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo Cain, right fielder Melky Cabrera, and pitchers Jason Vargas, Peter Moylan and Trevor Cahill.
The Royals must also decide on left-hander Mike Minor, who has a mutual option, and showed promise as a potential closer. The closer who lost his job, Kelvin Herrera, enters his final year of arbitration after making $5.325 million in 2017.
Moore has been adamant that he wants to keep the Royals a contender in 2018 and beyond.
1. Starting pitching: The Royals will have left-hander Danny Duffy and right-handers Jason Hammel, Ian Kennedy, Jakob Junis and Nate Karns back. But they will need more depth, and perhaps more quality, as 2017's second-half rotation breakdown exposed.
Possible free-agent fit: Vargas. It's unlikely Moore dips into the free-agent pool with anyone other than whom he knows at this point. Vargas started strong, got his first All-Star selection and finished strong in September.
2. Bullpen: The Royals have prided themselves for years in having a shutdown bullpen, and that element alone carried them to back-to-back World Series from 2014-15. But they are a long way from the famous HDH (Herrera-Davis-Holland) days. Herrera lost the closer job and a patchwork bullpen simply couldn't hold up in 2017.
Possible FA fit: Moylan showed he can defy age (38) and likely deserves another shot at returning. During one 25-appearance stretch, he posted a 0.47 ERA. Minor's emergence as a closer in September is intriguing for 2018. Whatever else Moore finds will be on a strict budget.
3. 1B, SS, 3B, CF: It all depends where Moore allocates his financial resources. The Royals already committed about $105 million (unofficially) for payroll in 2018 and figure to spend about $145 to 150 million. Raul Mondesi could step in for Escobar, Cheslor Cuthbert could take over for Moustakas and Paulo Orlando could replace Cain. There is no easy replacement for Hosmer.
Possible FA fits: The guess here is the Royals will do everything they can to keep Hosmer, who is the face of the franchise, a fierce competitor, a great teammate and someone who cares about the community. Hosmer, Moustakas and Cain seem likely candidates to get qualifying offers.
Gray areas
1. Corner outfield: It would seem logical to let Cabrera walk and have Jorge Bonifacio take over in right. And with two years left on Alex Gordon's deal, the Royals desperately need the type of production from him they got in September, when he finally opted for more of an opposite-field approach. At some point, Jorge Soler needs to show he can consistently hit Major League pitching.
X factors
1. Money to burn? The Royals may have about $40 million or so to land perhaps two of their pending free agents. It also doesn't seem likely that Moore will go for a total rebuild. The GM already has been through that once in K.C., and a looming local TV deal after 2019 likely means the organization will want to keep the team competitive on the field the next two seasons.
2. Mondi time? With the potential of losing several free agents, the Royals need someone like Mondesi to step up and become an impact player, the way Francisco Lindor did in Cleveland. They got breakthrough seasons from Whit Merrifield, Bonifacio and Junis. It's Mondi's time.
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The Royals’ farm system isn’t highly rated. Here are the best prospects of the bunch
October 10, 2017 By Maria Torres/KC Star
It’s no secret the Royals’ minor-league system is one of the worst in baseball.
They started the year with the fifth-worst farm system, according to ESPN’s Keith Law. Not even signing Nick Pratto in the draft helped. They later added so little value by the non-waiver trade deadline that the Royals received no prospect points, which are awarded based on how many Top 100 prospects an organization has, from in its midseason rankings released in August.
It’s a little jarring to see how far the Royals’ minor-league system has fallen, especially when you consider that six years ago pundits were so high on Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, among others, that the Royals’ farm earned a record-setting 574 points from Baseball America.
Of course, those rankings bore fruit when the Royals clinched back-to-back American League pennants and won the World Series in 2015.
But now they’re on the verge of returning to the old normal, with little to show off as the rebuilding process likely begins anew.
Let’s take a look at the unheralded names of some potential future Royals.
The next Eric Hosmer?
First-rounder Pratto, already the Royals’ top prospect, is the heir apparent at first base.
But that’s way down the line.
Someone who might be ready sooner, though not by much, is 2012 international signee Samir Dueñez. He’s a lefty hitter who averaged .252 with 23 doubles, 17 home runs and 75 RBIs this year at Class AA Northwest Arkansas. His plate discipline is still years away — he drew 37 walks and struck out 116 times — but he is projected to deliver slightly above-average numbers as he matures.
Defensively, Dueñez drew a scouting grade of 50 and has shown some arm strength at first base. He’s the 13th-ranked prospect in the system, by ’s standards.
If they had to pluck someone out of the minors right now, Frank Schwindel might seem like the Royals’ best option. His power stroke was more pronounced after his promotion to Class AAA Omaha, where he had 17 home runs and 30 doubles in 99 games. Between Omaha and Class AA Northwest Arkansas, he hit 23 home runs, doubled 43 times and drove in 97 runs.
By the way, Pratto slashed .247/.330/.414 with 15 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 34 RBIs at Rookie-level Surprise. He was also 10 of 14 on stolen bases.
The next Mike Moustakas?
Hunter Dozier couldn’t really get his 2017 campaign going until August, after dealing with an oblique strain right out of spring training and a broken wrist most of the summer. It’s hard to say he’s next in line if Moustakas doesn’t come back next year.
But the future picture at third base becomes a little clearer when you account for Class A Lexington player of the year Emmanuel Rivera.
He was a 19th-round pick in 2015 and batted .223 his first two professional seasons. But after being chosen Rookie of the Year in the Puerto Rican winter league last season, Rivera went to Lexington and led the South Atlantic League with a .310 batting average this year. He showed raw power with 27 doubles, five triples and 12 home runs. He drove in 72 runs and was 8 for 18 on the base paths.
Rivera is the 16th-ranked prospect in the Royals organization, with a defensive grade of 55 and “one of the strongest arms in the system” according to .
The next Lorenzo Cain?
The second-ranked prospect in the system is the left-handed Khalil Lee, a 19-year-old outfielder the Royals selected in the third round of the 2016 Draft. He needs some incubation time, especially after striking out a league-worst 171 times in Lexington. He only batted .237, but he drove in 61 runs and drilled 47 extra-base hits (including 24 doubles and 17 homers).
Lee’s 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame will lend itself well on the base paths, where he went 20 of 38 on stolen-base attempts, and in the field. He also received a 60 scouting grade, which is above-average, for his arm strength.
Donald Dewees Jr. might be ready sooner, offensively — scouts say his instincts in center field are lacking. Dewees hit. 272 with 24 doubles, six triples, nine homers and 52 RBIs at Northwest Arkansas. He also stole 20 bases.
Dewees, also a lefty hitter, was acquired from the Cubs in February in exchange for right-handed pitcher Alec Mills.
The rest of the best outfield prospects are so inexperienced they played rookie ball this year:
Amalani Fukofuka (Rookie-level Idaho Falls/Lexington) slashed .271/.338/.396 with 21 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 47 RBIs. He was 33 of 41 on stolen base attempts.
Michael Gigliotti (Burlington/Lexington) slashed .320/.420/.456 with 13 doubles, four triples, four homers and 38 RBIs. He stole 22 bases.
The next frontline starter?
Rotation help may be the hardest for the Royals to come by, as health remains a concern for Kyle Zimmer. The Royals picked the righty No. 5 overall in the 2012 Draft but have yet to see substantial returns from their investment. Zimmer’s career was further waylaid this year by such ailments as shoulder soreness and arm fatigue, limiting him to 36 2/3 innings over 21 appearances (three starts).
So the onus might now fall on 23-year-old right-hander Josh Staumont, who the Royals chose in the second round in 2015. Staumont, ranked ninth in the farm system, progressed quickly through the system but ran into trouble this season. He assembled a 5.56 ERA over 26 games (25 starts) and 124 2/3 innings for Northwest Arkansas and Omaha.
That said, Foster Griffin, another right-hander, had an impressive 2017. He was 15-7 with a 3.35 ERA in 161 1/3 innings spanning 28 starts for Class A Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas. Griffin, the Royals’ sixth-ranked prospect, struggled in Class A ball last year, recording a 5.43 ERA in 132 2/3 innings.
On the way:
Emilio Ogando (Wilmington/Northwest Arkansas/Omaha) was 11-10 with a 3.72 ERA over 29 starts and 164 1/3 innings. He recorded 110 strikeouts and a 1.29 WHIP.
Scott Blewett (Wilmington) was 7-10 with a 4.07 ERA over 27 starts and 152 2/3 innings. He recorded 129 strikeouts and a 1.34 WHIP.
The next elite reliever?
Scouts were sure the Royals found the next Greg Holland when they drafted left-hander Richard Lovelady, a reliever with a mid-90s fastball, last year.
He jumped to Class AA within a year of making his professional debut and had a 1.62 ERA (12 runs in 66 2/3 innings) at Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas this season.
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Even with no playoffs, fans made Royals baseball’s second highest-rated team on TV
October 10, 2017 By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
No playoff season, but Kansas City still loved watching the Royals.
The Royals on Fox Sports Kansas City finished with the second-highest local-market television rating among major-league teams, posting an average of 8.46, or 78,000 households per game, in the Kansas City market.
Only Cleveland, which ran away with the American League Central Division championship, owned a higher local rating, at 9.22.
The Royals were baseball’s top local-market draw each of the past two seasons.
Can good numbers translate to a more lucrative television contract, providing additional revenue for payroll? Perhaps, but not before this year’s class of free agents — Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain, among others — hits the market.
The Royals’ contract with Fox Sports runs through the 2019 season, and The Star reported in May that preliminary discussions for a new deal have begun.
Forbes measured baseball broadcasts and reported 12 teams ranked first in their local markets in prime time during the season, topping the prime-time average of all other networks in those markets.
Baseball’s top five local-market draws: Cleveland, Kansas City, St. Louis, Boston and Baltimore.
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Former Royal Bret Saberhagen forced to flee California fire twice in one night
October 10, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
On Sunday, former Royals pitcher Bret Saberhagen participated in a dinner and reception that kicked off a fundraiser in northern California for three charities, including the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The main event was a celebrity golf outing on Monday in Santa Rosa, Calif., but Saberhagen never got the chance to play because of fires that have devastated the wine country area.
In fact, Saberhagen twice had to flee the fires, and he described the evening to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. It started Sunday night at the Mayacama Golf Club.
“It was a crazy, surreal night,” Saberhagen told Slusser after he had arrived back at his home in Southern California. “I was out on the balcony at Mayacama when the power went out and sat down, and saw the moon come up. It was very nice. And then I saw the moon turn orange and it started getting lighter and lighter. I saw the fire coming over the ridge and I could hear propane and gas tanks popping.”
The Chronicle story says Saberhagen told former Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter (who lives in Johnson County now) and former Olympic gold-medal winning speed skater Dan Jansen about the fire. Just after midnight, everyone was told to evacuate, and Saberhagen left his golf clubs behind so he could fit Jansen and his wife into his car.
They eventually made it to a Best Western. At about 2:30 a.m., former Dodgers pitcher Eric Gagne was at the door and awoke Saberhagen.
“Eric was yelling, ‘Get up, get up,’ knocking at every door, and when I opened the door, smoke billowed in and I could see areas on fire,” Saberhagen told Slusser. “There was a telephone pole on fire, the grounds were on fire, ashes were flying all over the place, and what really scared me was that there was a gas station across the street.”
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MINORS
Blue Rocks Win Carolina League's Matt Minker Award For Community Service
Team Honored for the Fourth Consecutive Season
October 10, 2017 BY Matt Janus/Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks were honored by the Carolina League on Tuesday with the Matt Minker Community Service Award for the fourth consecutive season. The honorees were selected by a league-wide vote of club executives and owners.
"I could not be more proud of the entire Blue Rocks' organization," said managing partner Dave Heller. "I am especially happy for my partner and friend Clark Minker, since the community service award bears his late father's name. This is a great team award, and I am so delighted for everyone with the Blue Rocks who worked so hard all season long to earn this tremendous accolade. We take enormous pride in our standing within the Delaware community and this award is a public recognition of how special our relationship with the people of the First State is."
The Minker Award goes to the club that best demonstrates an outstanding, on-going commitment to charitable service, support, and leadership within its community. The award is named after the Blue Rocks' founder, who owned the club until his death in 2007. Minker, whose construction company built Frawley Stadium, is still the team's honorary president.
The Blue Rocks won the award thanks in large part to their numerous school programs, charitable endeavors and hospital visits.
As an organization the Blue Rocks work with area schools to promote academic achievement (DSEA Rocky's Reading Challenge), citizenship (Outstanding Student Program) and overall knowledge (Discover Baseball and Education Day). Frawley Stadium also hosts three youth camps each summer, teaching kids how to play the game of baseball.
The team helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for good causes through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Fight for the Gold, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and many other charities in 2017. Several times during the season the team's players and mascot also visited local hospitals, brightening the spirits of that facility's patients and their families.
"Matt Minker was instrumental in laying the foundation for the Blue Rocks and for the franchise's success in the years to follow," said Blue Rocks director of community affairs Kevin Linton. "It is fitting that this award represents his life's work and we are absolutely thrilled as an organization to honor his legacy for a fourth consecutive season by earning this recognition."
As the Carolina League's recipient of the Matt Minker Award, the Blue Rocks received the 10-team league's automatic nomination for the John Henry Moss Community Service Award, given out by Minor League Baseball at its annual national convention, to be held this December in Disney World.
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Thank You, our 281,000+ Central Kentucky fans!
Legends Release Thank You and 2017 Year End Wrap Up Letter to Fans
October 10, 2017 Lexington Legends
The Lexington Legends thanked their 281,000+ fans that came out to Whitaker Bank Ballpark over the course of the 2017 season today in a year end wrap up letter that was distributed via email to all Season Ticket Holders, Luxury Suite Holders, Corporate Sponsors and Individual Ticket Buyers. Legends President & CEO Andy Shea candidly recounts the many high points throughout the baseball season while ultimately thanking Central Kentuckians for their continued support of Lexington Legends Baseball.
Full letter released to fans below:
Dear Legends Fans:
Thank you, our 281,000+ Central Kentucky fans! We capped off our 17th season with the prestigious distinction of 2017 Community Service Organization of the Year, awarded by the South Atlantic League! This incredible accomplishment would not have been possible without the tremendous community support in a variety of ways. Over 100 special events were held at Whitaker Bank Ballpark throughout the 2016-2017 season - bringing in over 84,000 additional fans - like the KHSAA State Baseball Tournament, Eastern Kentucky University baseball games, High School and Middle School baseball games, non-profit charity walks, concerts, luncheons, a wedding and various business meetings!
Not only is Whitaker Bank Ballpark a community asset for non-Legends events, but we also have the philosophy on giving back while being immersed in all aspects of our community. We donated close to $1.1 million back into the Lexington and Central Kentucky regions throughout the course of the 2017 season, with Big L making over 200 appearances at schools and charity events.
Both art and sports are important pieces of the Legends culture and history and the 2017 season saw us continue our artistic efforts while broadening our impact and fan base throughout the season. We hosted the first ever Lexington Philharmonic concert on the baseball field and featured new artwork at the Whitaker Bank Ballpark, from local artists-the Trinity Gay Mural by Dani Greene and the Electrical Box Painting Project completed by students at Cardinal Valley Elementary School. We also held Community Yoga in the outfield of Whitaker Bank Ballpark, brought Dancing with the Students classes to students at Crawford Middle School, partnered with local arts council LexArts to reward smART Card holders with Legends tickets for donating to arts organizations, and sponsored the Explorium of Lexington's Educational Interactive Arts and Science Summer Camp.
The Legends have also been memorialized at the new Junior Achievement BizTown through a large art mural installation in the Town Square, to remind students of the importance of the sports industry. Additionally, the Legends began a new education program for schools in Fayette County, similar to our Hit the Books Reading Program, with the focus directed on STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) related learning.
On top of these incredible accomplishments outside of the ballpark, we also had a wonderful season of full of 70 fun and exciting home games. We saw two sellout Education Day games with over 7,300 students from around Central Kentucky who experienced an interactive learning game, with topics such as STEM and Character Building/PBIS (Positive Behavior Instructional Supports). We welcomed other family pets like pigs, chickens, horses and cats to the ballpark and celebrated family date nights with Princess and Super Hero Nights. The Tim Tebow effect resulted in three consecutive sellouts when the Columbia Fireflies came to town, we celebrated the historic Hatfield & McCoy Feud with a season long promotion with the West Virginia Power and the City of Pikeville, created an amazing new partnership with the Calipari Foundation to bring our fans a Coach Cal Bobblehead series and specialty jersey, and partnered up with Tempur Sealy and Sleep Outfitters to give 100 kids brand new beds and bedding through our Pajama Party and Bed Donation Event.
There were many accolades to be had on the field for the Legends. Andre Davis, Justin Camp and Anthony Bender were named SAL Pitchers of the Week. First baseman Chris DeVito, catcher Meibrys Viloria and outfielder Khalil Lee were named SAL Players of the Week. Pitchers Grant Gavin and Jace Vines earned a trip to the SAL All-Star game in Columbia, SC and outfielder Kort Peterson was also named to the team, but was promoted to Wilmington before the All-Star break. After an outstanding season at the plate, third baseman Emmanuel Rivera was named to the annual South Atlantic League All-Star team and won the SAL batting title with a .310 average.
As a team, the Legends finished in the top three in the league in several offensive categories: second in runs (256), doubles (258), RBI (593) and total bases (1,830); third in home runs (111), stolen bases (155) and slugging percentage (.398); and tied for third in batting average (.258). As usual, there were no shortage of former Legends making their MLB debut this season. Luke Farrell and Jake Junis (both Legends pitchers in 2014), Cam Gallagher (Legends catcher in 2013) and Ramon Torres (Legends second baseman in 2013-14) each made their MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2017. The number of former Legends to reach the big leagues now stands at 78.
What a year! Opening Night for the 2018 Season is April 5, 2018 against the Charleston RiverDogs. Please join us again next year as we welcome our 6 millionth fan.
Have a happy, safe and STACHETASTIC offseason!
Sincerely,
Andy Shea
President & CEO
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NATIONAL
John Farrell out after five seasons as Red Sox manager
October 10, 2017 By Scott Lauber/
John Farrell is out as manager of the Boston Red Sox.
After steering a relatively young team to the first back-to-back division titles in franchise history but also consecutive first-round playoff knockouts, Farrell will not return for the final year left on his contract, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced Wednesday.
In dumping Farrell now, Dombrowski agreed that the team needs a new voice in the clubhouse and a fresh public face. Despite another first-place American League East finish, the Red Sox grew increasingly unpopular this season. Prime-time television ratings on New England Sports Network dropped 15 percent below ratings last year, which was David Ortiz's final season.
Within the past few days, ownership came around to the idea that Farrell was partly responsible. Farrell posted a 432-378 record over a roller-coaster five-year tenure that included a World Series championship in 2013 and two last-place finishes. He is the only Red Sox manager to win three American League East crowns and ranks sixth on the club's all-time wins list.
But Farrell also became a punching bag for frustrated fans and talk-radio chatterboxes. While all managers get second-guessed for in-game moves that don't pan out, Farrell came under greater scrutiny than many. Conspiracy theorists maintain that he would have gotten fired in 2015 had he not missed the final six weeks of the season to undergo cancer treatment.
This year, in particular, was challenging for Farrell. Regarded previously as a players' manager, there was a perception that he lost respect from some veterans who doubted he had their back. Left-handed pitcher David Price, for one, seemed to treat Farrell with derision by calling him "Manager John."
Farrell dealt with several brushfires this season. There was a beanball saga against the Baltimore Orioles in April and May in which Red Sox pitchers repeatedly failed to exact revenge for a hard slide into second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who in turn appeared to take sides against his teammates for their attempts at retaliation. In June, Price humiliated broadcaster Dennis Eckersley on the team plane, an incident that didn't produce any apologies to the Hall of Fame pitcher from uniformed personnel, including Farrell.
On the field, though, Farrell masterfully handled the bullpen en route to 15 extra-inning victories and coaxed the most out of an offense that slugged the fewest home runs in the league by preaching relentless opportunism on the bases. In his final on-field act Monday at Fenway Park, he got ejected from Game 4 of the American League Division Series for protecting Pedroia in an argument with home-plate umpire Mark Wegner. Then, Farrell advised bench coach Gary DiSarcina to leave Sale in the game in the eighth inning. Sale gave up the game-tying homer to Houston's Alex Bregman.
But after that season-ending loss, several players pledged support for Farrell.
"He gave me every opportunity to succeed," ace pitcher Chris Sale said. "I can say the same for everybody on this team."
Said star right fielder Mookie Betts: "He's done a great job in managing personalities and put us in a position to win. He listens to us and he talks with us. Those dynamics he fits well."
Dombrowski is now able to appoint a manager of his choosing. Upon taking charge late in the 2015 season, Dombrowski inherited a cancer-stricken Farrell. And although Dombrowski never publicly hinted at dissatisfaction, even complimenting Farrell last week after the Red Sox clinched the AL East, he also was never effusive in his praise.
Dombrowski has hired only two managers in the past 12 seasons. Jim Leyland, with whom he worked with both the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers, is steadfastly retired. Brad Ausmus, one potential candidate to replace Farrell, was recently fired by the Tigers after a 98-loss, last-place season.
The Red Sox could look within the organization at popular former catcher and team captain Jason Varitek. Other possibilities could include DiSarcina and Houston Astros bench coach Alex Cora, a hot managerial prospect who played for the Sox from 2005-08. Dombrowski also has a longstanding relationship with Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who recently turned 73 and hasn't managed since 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
If anything, observing Farrell seems to have given Dombrowski an appreciation for the intensity of managing in Boston. It requires a thick skin and the ability to shrug off criticism. And it isn't for everybody.
"Managing is a tough job, period. I think it's a tougher job here than maybe anywhere else," Dombrowski said recently. "The scrutiny you receive -- being in the game as long as I've been in the game, I'm amazed somewhat [by] the scrutiny aspect of it. And then when I look at the names behind [Farrell's] desk, the number of pictures and how few guys have stayed a long time, it just shows you it's a tough job."
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Jeter lands Denbo from Yanks as 1st major hire
Named Marlins' VP of scouting and player development
October 10, 2017 By Joe Frisaro/
The first significant hire by new Marlins chief executive officer Derek Jeter has a tie to the Yankees.
Miami on Tuesday announced Gary Denbo as its new vice president of scouting and player development. The 56-year-old is one of the main architects in building the Yankees' farm system into one of the deepest in the Major Leagues.
Denbo had been the Yankees' vice president of player development since 2014, but Monday was his last day with New York. He now will work alongside Jeter and Michael Hill, who is returning as the Marlins' president of baseball operations.
Bringing in Denbo comes a week after the Marlins were sold by Jeffrey Loria to a group led by Bruce Sherman and Jeter. The official closing on that $1.2 billion transaction came on Oct. 2. The next day, Sherman was introduced as Miami's chairman and principal owner and Jeter assumes the title of chief executive officer.
"We're rebuilding it," Jeter said during a news conference on Oct. 3. "We're putting the right people in place. Everything is strategic, and we have a plan for what we're doing. But at the same time, we have to have patience."
Prior to moving on to Miami, Denbo spent the past eight seasons with the Yankees, the last three as vice president of player development. A former Minor League player, Denbo has 31 years of experience in various coaching, scouting and front office capacities, including two stints as Major League hitting coach.
Miami has endured eight straight losing seasons and comes off a 77-85 campaign, finishing 20 games behind the Nationals in the National League East and 10 games off the pace for the second NL Wild Card spot.
Jeter and Denbo have a long history together. Denbo has spent more than two decades with the Yankees in a variety of positions, managing Jeter in the Minor Leagues and serving as the Yankees' hitting coach in 2001.
The Marlins are seeking to upgrade their organization at all levels. Their farm system has been thinned through the years, and Denbo was instrumental in stockpiling the Yankees' system to become one of the best in the Majors. Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Greg Bird and Clint Frazier are among the young players on the Yankees' roster who have risen through the system.
All of the Yankees' affiliates, with the exception of one Rookie league club, reached the playoffs in 2017. Their three highest level clubs -- Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Double-A Trenton and Class A Advanced Tampa combined for a 263-153 (.632) record.
Like Jeter, Denbo makes Tampa home.
When Jeter was struggling at the plate in 2011, he spent time with Denbo in Tampa during a June stint on the disabled list and worked on his swing, hitting .331 for the remainder of the season after returning on July 4.
Jim Hendry, a special assistant to GM Brian Cashman, has been rumored to be a candidate to join the Marlins, possibly as GM, but a source said there has been no contract between the two parties.
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MLB TRANSACTIONS
October 11, 2017 •.
|TEAM |PLAYER |TRANSACTION |
|Texas |Paolo Espino |Outrighted to Minors |
|Rangers | | |
|Texas |Phil Gosselin |Outrighted to Minors |
|Rangers | | |
|Texas |Will |Refused Minor League |
|Rangers |Middlebrooks |Assignment - Free Agent |
|Texas |Jared Hoying |Outrighted to Minors |
|Rangers | | |
|Texas |Will |Outrighted to Minors |
|Rangers |Middlebrooks | |
|Texas |Phil Gosselin |Refused Minor League |
|Rangers | |Assignment - Free Agent |
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