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Daily Clips

February 26, 2017

LOCAL

Salvy, O'Brien go deep in spring debuts

February 25, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan & T.R. Sullivan/



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Perez shines in Cactus League opener

February 25, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/



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Royals honor Ventura at Cactus opener

February 25, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/



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Moose not limited by knee, anxious to play

February 25, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/



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Salvador Perez homers, Royals open spring with 7-5 win over Rangers

February 25, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star



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A hot dog, hamburger and bacon concoction is available at Royals spring-training games

February 25, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star



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Royals, Rangers pay tribute to Yordano Ventura

February 25, 2017 By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star



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Moustakas edging closer to action after last year’s knee injury

February 25, 2017 By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star



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NATIONAL

Why wait? Scouting free agents for 2017-18 begins this spring

February 25, 2017 By Jim Bowden/

[pic]MLB TRANSACTIONS

February 26, 2017 •.



LOCAL

Salvy, O'Brien go deep in spring debuts

February 25, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan & T.R. Sullivan/



Peter O'Brien, acquired from the D-backs in the offseason, hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to lift the Royals to a 7-5 victory over the Rangers on Saturday afternoon in the Cactus League opener for both teams.

O'Brien's home run came off of Anthony Bass, who is trying to win a job as a middle reliever. This marked the first of five games this spring between the teams that share the Surprise training facility. In his return to the Rangers, Mike Napoli produced an RBI single in the third.

Two catchers headed for the World Baseball Classic enjoyed a strong first game. Royals catcher Salvador Perez, getting ready to play for Venezuela, went 2-for-2 with a run-scoring double and a three-run homer. The double came off Rangers starter Martin Perez, who will also compete for Venezuela. Perez allowed two runs on four hits in two innings.

Perez helped the Royals take a 5-0 lead in the third, but the Rangers rallied for five runs in the bottom of the inning. Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy capped the rally with a two-run double. Lucroy will participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA.

"He's a good guy, one of the best catchers in the game," Lucroy said of Perez. "It will be fun. We are all looking forward to it."

Royals rookie starter Josh Staumont, making his first Cactus League start, pitched a scoreless first inning although he walked two and threw 23 pitches. Staumont has routinely hit 100 mph with his fastball, but he topped out at about 95 on Saturday.

"I wish I had a little better command," said Staumont, the Royals' third-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. "I was standing a little too tall and cutting too much. Other than that, it was really nice to get out of there scoreless. There's no need in Spring Training to go out there guns blazing."

Royals Up Next: Third baseman Mike Moustakas, who missed most of last season after right ACL surgery, likely makes his first start of the Cactus League when the Royals play host to the Rangers at 2:05 p.m. CT at Surprise Stadium. Listen live on Gameday Audio. Right-hander Kyle Zimmer gets the start for the Royals.

Rangers Up Next: Shin-Soo Choo will start at designated hitter against the Royals. Choo, who played just 48 games for the Rangers last season, will be used at both DH and right field this spring. Right-hander Yu Darvish starts for the Rangers.. .

Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on .

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Perez shines in Cactus League opener

February 25, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/



It didn't take long for Royals catcher Salvador Perez to get in his spring groove.

Perez crushed a double and a homer, driving in a game-high four runs in the Royals' 7-5 victory over the Rangers in the Cactus League opener for both teams at Surprise Stadium.

"I just got lucky," Perez said. "It's just Spring Training. It doesn't count. I'll get happy when the lights go on [for the regular season]."

Perez doubled in Eric Hosmer in the first inning on a shot to left-center.

"It doesn't count," Perez said when asked if he was happy with his quick start. "We'll see later [in the regular season]."

Perez also drilled a long home run into the bullpen in the third inning.

"I thought Salvy swung the bat really well," manager Ned Yost said. "They all did. We had pretty good offense today."

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Royals honor Ventura at Cactus opener

February 25, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/



Minutes before the start of the Royals' Cactus League opener against the Rangers, the memory of Yordano Ventura was honored at Surprise Stadium.

The stadium flags flew at half-staff, as players and coaches from both teams stood along the foul lines to pay tribute to Ventura, who died last month in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.

Rangers players Carlos Gomez and Adrian Beltre placed a floral tribute on the mound.

After a video showed highlights of Ventura's career, Surprise city official Wayne Turner presented a plaque to Royals manager Ned Yost in honor of Ventura. The plaque will permanently remain on a stadium wall.

The plaque doesn't mean Ventura is in the Surprise Recreation Campus Hall of Fame, but he technically already is along with the rest of the 2015 World Series champion Royals.

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Moose not limited by knee, anxious to play

February 25, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/



There is always a pivotal time after ACL surgery when the player finally realizes he can trust his knee again.

That moment for Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas arrived last September as he was taking some grounders before a game at Kauffman Stadium. The infield practice came roughly four months after his procedure, and Moustakas was simply breaking up the boredom of rehab.

"I fell, I slipped," Moustakas said. "But then I got up and I was good to go. I thought, 'It's all right, and it's not going to tear again, so if it's not going to tear if I fall down, then it's good to go.'"

For a brief moment, Moustakas had concerns.

"My feet just came out from underneath me," Moustakas said. "I was on the ground and I'm thinking, 'I'm all right. Nothing happened.' I had complete trust in it from then on."

It has been a long road back for Moustakas since last May's scary collision in Chicago with left fielder Alex Gordon when the two chased down a pop fly. Moustakas had been off to a great start, hitting seven homers in the first six weeks of the season.

Now, Moustakas is anxious to get back to playing games. He did not appear in Saturday's Cactus League opener lineup against the Rangers, but he is expected to play on Sunday.

The plan is to go slow with Moustakas, alternating him between time at third base and at designated hitter.

"We got plenty of time," Moustakas said. "Lot of baseball to be played."

So far, Moustakas has felt no limitations in the field or at the plate.

"I don't even think about it [lateral movement]," Moustakas said. "It's good to go. All that stuff, it's all mental. Once I got over that, I was ready, good to go.

"Only thing I'm concerned about is seeing pitches and getting my timing back. I have all spring to get that down, so I'm not too concerned about it."

But Moustakas had one more telling moment.

"I stood in on Jason [Hammel] the other day, and he was making good pitches," Moustakas said. "He let a fastball in get away from him, and it almost hit me. I had to get out of the way, and that's good too. I'm good to go. It grazed my shirt. Inside pitch that I had to extend my knee on, get out of the way of it. Felt fine, it was good."

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Salvador Perez homers, Royals open spring with 7-5 win over Rangers

February 25, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star



Starting on Saturday afternoon, the Royals were set to play 198 baseball games in 219 days over the next 7 1/2 months.

The schedule includes 162 regular-season games and 36 here in the desert. The club began baseball’s annual slog by taking a look at a top prospect and enjoying an early power surge from catcher Salvador Perez.

Right-hander Josh Staumont, one of the organization’s rising young pitchers, made his first Cactus League start and threw a scoreless first inning while laboring with his fastball command. Salvador Perez collected a double and a three-run homer. Peter O’Brien broke a late deadlock by clubbing a two-run homer in a 7-5 victory over the Texas Rangers, the Royals’ neighbor here in Surprise.

Perez appeared unmoved by the performance — “Spring training doesn’t count,” he noted astutely — but the rest of the club dipped its collective toe into the competitive waters of real baseball. Well, the spring training variety.

The Royals opened the game with two runs in the top of the first against Texas starter Martin Perez. Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain shot back-to-back singles through the Texas infield. Eric Hosmer scored Gordon with a double to right-center field. Perez stretched the lead to 2-0 with a double to left-center.

“I liked our offense,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I liked the way we swung the bat. Sal had a good day. O’Brien with the big home run...”

The Royals’ regulars exited in the middle innings. In the moments after departing, Perez showered and prepared for an afternoon off. As a small collection of reporters approached his locker, he preferred humor over indifference to the moment. It’s a long season, he said.

“Already?” joked Perez, who yanked his three-run homer off Texas pitcher A.J. Griffin in the third inning. “Already you guys are here? It’s only the first game, guys. I got lucky. That was luck. I got lucky.”

The Arms

For the Royals, the opener offered the first opportunity to evaluate the hard-throwing Staumont in a game situation. In his first appearance, he issued two walks and needed 23 pitches to work around the Rangers’ lineup in the first. His fastball, which can touch 100 mph, sat around 95 mph. He gave way to right-hander Jake Junis in the second.

“It’s the first time on a big-league mound against a big-league team in a big-league atmosphere,” Yost said. “I thought he did fine for his first outing.”

Staumont is working as a starter here in camp, though his power repertoire could make him a possible answer in the club’s bullpen. In the moments after his start, Staumont said he did not feel additional nerves. But he did struggle to command his fastball.

“I was staying a little [too] upright,” he said.

After Staumont left, Junis worked a scoreless second inning before allowing five runs in the third. It was the Rangers’ only offense.

“I thought Junis was good in the first inning,” Yost said. “He lost his arm slot in the second a little bit, which is pretty normal this time a year.”

The regulars

Third baseman Mike Moustakas was the only Royals’ starter to get the day off. The club is exercising caution in his return from a season-ending ACL injury. Cheslor Cuthbert started in his place and finished hitless in two at-bats. Whit Merrifield earned the start at second base and finished 0-for-2.

The young guys

Peter O’Brien replaced Brandon Moss at designated hitter and blasted a deep shot to right-center field in the eighth inning. The right-handed hitting O’Brien was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in an offseason trade and has displayed his raw power in the opening weeks of camp.

Shortstop Ramon Torres also racked up two hits after replacing Merrifield at second base.

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A hot dog, hamburger and bacon concoction is available at Royals spring-training games

February 25, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star



This doesn’t do much to solve the question that has plagued people for hundreds of years: is a hot dog a sandwich?

However, this particular creation is a sandwich and it is being sold at Royals spring-training games in Surprise, Ariz.

It’s name: The Triple Play Dog. It is a hot dog, wrapped with a hamburger, which is then wrapped in bacon. Seems right up Ron Swanson’s alley,* but I don’t know how many calories this thing has. Not sure I want to know, either.

*He’s the meat-loving, banana-hating character on “Parks and Recreation.”

Here is a photo of this particular food: (click link)

That photo in that tweet is from Josh Frigerio, a digital journalist for ABC 15 in Phoenix. He later tweeted that the Triple Play Dog costs just $8.75, which actually doesn’t sound like a bad deal.

Frigerio also shared a photo of some of the other choices at Surprise Stadium. There is the ever-popular Margarita, and another mash-up of food: macaroni and cheese and a bratwurst.

If you are going to see some Royals games at spring training, bring your appetite. And maybe an antacid.

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Royals, Rangers pay tribute to Yordano Ventura

February 25, 2017 By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star



Before the first pitch of the Cactus League opener at Surprise Stadium on Saturday, the Royals and Rangers paid tribute to Yordano Ventura, who died last month after a car crash in his native Dominican Republic.

The Royals lined up on the third base line, the Rangers along the first base line. Adrian Beltre and Carlos Gomez of the Rangers, fellow Dominicans, placed a bouquet of flowers on the mound.

Highlights from Ventura’s three plus major league seasons then played on the stadium’s video board, and the flags at the stadium flew at half staff.

A Surprise city official presented a tribute plaque to Royals manager Ned Yost. It will hang in Surprise Stadium along with other plaques that are dedicated to Royals’ players and the 2014 American League championship and 2015 World Series title teams.

The plaque in part reads: “On most days he could be found laughing and joking with his baseball family in the clubhouse. However, on days when he pitched that smile was replaced by a quiet confidence and an intense fire which he brought to the mound every start.”

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Moustakas edging closer to action after last year’s knee injury

February 25, 2017 By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star



Regaining trust in his torn ACL is part of the rehabilitation, and the process for Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas involved passing a couple of big tests, one last year, another recently.

Last September, some four months after he tore his right ACL in a collision with left fielder Alex Gordon while pursuing a pop foul, Moustakas slipped and fell while taking grounders.

He took a quick inventory and felt…fine.

“I just got up and I was good to go,” Moustakas said. “It’s not going to tear again. If it’s not going to tear when I fall down, I’m good to go.”

When it comes to lateral movement, Moustakas said, “I don’t even think about it.”

The second instance occurred earlier this week in spring training. Moustakas stood in against Jason Hammel and a pitch whizzed inside, grazing Moustakas’ jersey.

“Inside pitch that I had to extend my knee on, get out of the way,” Moustakas said. “It felt fine. It was good.”

The plan for Moustakas, who wasn’t in the lineup for Saturday’s Cactus League opener, is to appear in spring training games as a designated hitter every other day for eight days, said manager Ned Yost.

“Then we’ll look and see where he is,” Yost said. “He’s feeling good. He’s taking all his ground balls. It’s just smart to move him in slow a little bit, let him get some at-bats and go from there.”

Eventually Moustakas will grab some innings at third base. Cheslor Cuthbert, who took over the position when Moustakas was injured last year, started at third on Saturday.

Getting his timing back at the plate is Moustakas’ priority. That will come with seeing pitches.

“I have all spring to get that back down,” he said. “So I’m not too concerned about it…Other than that I feel good. I feel like we’re in a good spot.”

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Why wait? Scouting free agents for 2017-18 begins this spring

February 25, 2017 By Jim Bowden/



Major league scouts are ready for spring training coverage as exhibition games get underway. They will monitor veteran players’ health, evaluate prospects trying to make teams, and wander to the minor league complexes to get their eyes on opposing clubs’ prospects their teams might want in trades. But they will also begin their evaluations of next winter’s free-agent class.

The reason scouts start so early is because several of these free agents will become available in deals come this year's trade deadline. But next year’s class is also much stronger than this past winter’s, although it might not be quite as sexy as the group available after 2018, when young stars like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado might be the headliners.

This next class will be highlighted by three top starters, a few middle-of-the-order bats and some high-end closers. Here’s a first look at the best potential free agents as teams start scouting them for the trade deadline and next season.

20. 3B Eduardo Nunez, San Francisco Giants: Nunez had his breakout year last year, hitting .288/.325/.432 with 24 doubles, 16 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season split between the Twins and Giants. His ability to play multiple positions, including second base and the outfield, increases his value. If he can repeat last season’s performance, the 2016 All-Star will become a sleeper free agent.

19. SS Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals: The free agent market lacks middle infielders, which should bode well for Escobar. His low career OBP (.297) will hurt his value, but his defense is special. He made two World Series appearances with the Royals and his strong postseason play could make up for any shortcomings. Escobar is represented by Paul Kinzer, who's also Edwin Encarnacion's agent. After Encarnacion's offseason adventures this past winter, don't be surprised if Escobar signs early in the free-agent process. With J.J. Hardy being a free agent, the Orioles could be a good fit for Escobar, as could the Nationals if they move Trea Turner to second and Daniel Murphy to first.

18. RF Jay Bruce, New York Mets: Bruce has hit 30 or more home runs in four of the last six seasons, including 33 last year. He has won two Silver Slugger awards and been to three All-Star Games, is a great clubhouse presence, and holds his own in right. His only real problem in his career has been the long slumps that have prevented him from taking his game to the next level.

17. RHP Michael Pineda, New York Yankees: We all love his stuff and potential, and we’re all disappointed in his lack of consistency and actual performance. He’s 28 years old this year, and if he’s ever going to put it together, the timing couldn’t be better for him with free agency on the horizon.

16. RHP Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles: Tillman has been consistent the last four years, winning 11-16 games and pitching more than 170 innings in each of those seasons, and his strikeout rate per nine innings last season was his best since his All-Star year of 2013. However, he had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder in mid-December after suffering discomfort in his throwing shoulder. It appears he won't be ready to start the season, and this injury will be monitored closely by scouts now that the red flag has been raised.

15. RHP Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals: Lynn won from 12 and 18 games every year from 2012 to 2015, with ERAs and FIPs under 4.00 every year. He also pitched 175-plus innings in each of those years. He has recovered from his Tommy John surgery, and if he can get back to his previous level he could end up in the top 10 of this list.

14. 3B Todd Frazier, Chicago White Sox: Frazier’s power has been trending upward, as he’s hit 29, 35 and 40 home runs the last three years. The problem is that his OBP and strikeouts are going in the opposite direction as shown by his .302 on-base percentage and career-worst 163 strikeouts last season. The two-time All-Star has become homer-happy as he tries to pull everything. Hopefully, he’s learned from this offseason’s example that power doesn’t pay anymore -- free agents Chris Carter and Mike Napoli did not do well despite great power years. Frazier must hit the ball the other way and give up some power for a better OBP if he really wants to cash in next fall.

13. DH Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians: Santana is a career .365 OBP hitter who works the count and draws walks. What separated him last year was belting 34 home runs as well. He’ll do fine in free agency despite being more of an American League-only player best-equipped to DH.

12. C Matt Wieters, Washington Nationals: Wieters just signed a two-year, $21 million dollar deal with the Nationals that will pay him $10.5 million each season. However, if can play to his potential in 2017, he is expected to use an opt-out clause to go back into the free-agent market, which could be much more fruitful for him next offseason. Catchers who can hit .260 with 17-22 homers while throwing out 35 percent of runners are rare, and while he doesn’t score high in the framing department, he does get high grades for his targets, and pitcher ERAs have been much lower when throwing to him.

11. RHP Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays: Estrada led the AL in batting average against and finished 11th with a 3.48 ERA. His tremendous fadeaway changeup and pinpoint control has allowed him to lead the league in hits per nine innings each of the last two seasons. If he can stay healthy and repeat last year’s All-Star performance, he’ll cash in next November.

10. Closer Seung-Hwan Oh, St. Louis Cardinals: Oh became one of the better closers in the NL last year after taking over from Trevor Rosenthal. Oh finished with 19 saves, a 1.92 ERA and a stunning 103 strikeouts in 79⅔ innings. His 2.13 FIP is as impressive as his 0.96 WHIP. His average fastball was 93 mph, and his slider was as nasty as his wipeout split-fingered fastball.

9. 3B Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals: Moose had his best season in 2015 when he hit .284/.348/.470 with 34 doubles and 22 home runs while playing stellar defense and taking part in his first All-Star Game. And he helped the Royals win the World Series. Moustakas had season-ending ACL right knee surgery last June after he collided with teammate Alex Gordon in a May 22 game. He will need to prove that he’s healthy and that 2015 wasn’t a fluke.

8. CF Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals: Cain had his best season in 2015 when he hit 16 homers and stole 28 bases while making his first All-Star Game and finishing in the top three in MVP voting. The problem with Cain is that he has played over 135 games in a single season only once in his career and has hit 10 home runs or more only once. He also has a long track record of injuries and stints on the disabled list. That dearth of consistency will work against him in free agency, but if he can repeat his 2015 performance he might be able to follow in the footsteps of Michael Bourn, Melvin Upton and most recently Dexter Fowler and end up with a solid contract.

7. Closer Wade Davis, Chicago Cubs: Davis developed into one of the game’s best relievers in 2014 with the Royals. He had a 9-2 record and a 1.00 ERA while punching out 109 hitters in 72 innings as he set up closer Greg Holland. Then Davis replaced the injured Holland in 2015, finishing with a staggering 0.94 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 67⅓ IP. Last year he pitched in 45 games with a career-high 27 saves and a 1.87 ERA while dealing with injures. The two-time All-Star was traded to the Cubs this offseason. If he’s healthy and can replicate his 2014 and 2015 seasons, he’ll be looking at a free-agent contract somewhere between the $62 million Mark Melancon got from the Giants and the $80 million Kenly Jansen received from the Dodgers.

6. RF Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies: GM Jeff Bridich has made it clear that he wants Carlos Gonzalez to remain with the Rockies and wants to sign him long term, and the feeling is clearly mutual for Gonzalez. However, the Rockies have yet to make a significant contract offer. That could change in March, but if there is no extension by Opening Day, it’s safe to assume he’ll get to free agency. His slash line of .330/.390/.618 at home and .260/.315/.448 on the road in his eight seasons with the Rockies will certainly be factored into his contract offers in free agency.

5. OF J.D. Martinez, Detroit Tigers: Martinez went from being released by the Astros after the 2013 season to being a Silver Slugger and All-Star for the Tigers in 2015, when he belted 38 home runs with 102 RBIs. His counting stats regressed in 2016 because he played in 38 fewer games, but his on-base percentage was a career-high .373. This year will be important for him, to determine whether he gets paid in free agency as a 20-homer hitter or a 35-homer, 100-RBI producer. If the Tigers fall out of the race by July, teams like the Dodgers, Giants and Blue Jays will speed-dial Detroit to try to acquire him for the stretch run.

4. C Jonathan Lucroy, Texas Rangers: Lucroy is clearly one of the best overall catchers in baseball and is coming off one of his best offensive seasons yet, hitting .292/.355/.500 with 24 homers. He’s solid at calling a game and framing pitches and can stop the running game as shown by his throwing out 36 percent of opponents’ stolen-base attempts last season. His market is expected to be strong.

3. 1B Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals: Hosmer has already been to two World Series, won three Gold Gloves, and played in an All-Star Game. He is just 27 years old and is entering his prime years. Hosmer is coming off one of his best seasons for power, belting a career-high 25 home runs. There are big-market teams that have a long-term need at first base -- the Red Sox, Phillies, Nationals, Rangers and Mets. Hosmer is such a great clubhouse presence and complete player that he’s starting to separate himself as next offseason’s best free-agent position player.

2. RHP Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs: Arrieta was the best pitcher in baseball in 2015, leading the NL in wins, complete games and shutouts while winning a Cy Young Award. He was strong again this past year, finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young voting after posting a 3.10 ERA and 190 K’s in 197⅓ innings pitched. He’d like to stay with the Cubs, but with agent Scott Boras representing him it’s more likely he'll go to free agency before signing an extension with the Cubs. If Arrieta has another strong season in 2017, he’ll be looking at a record contract.

1. RHP Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers: Darvish was an All-Star in his first three years in the majors. 2013 was his best year; he posted a 2.83 ERA with a league-leading 277 K’s and finished second in the AL Cy Young voting. He missed the end of the 2014 season and all of 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but returned last year for 17 starts and a 3.41 ERA; his strikeout, walk and hit ratios were all similar to those from his first three seasons. He’s healthy and should have another Cy Young-type season in 2017. If he does that, he has the potential to land a contract worth $30 million per year.

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MLB TRANSACTIONS

February 26, 2017 •.



|TEAM |PLAYER |TRANSACTION |

|Atlanta |Christian |Acquired Off Waivers From from |

|Braves |Walker |Orioles, Baltimore |

|Baltimore |T.J. McFarland|Outrighted to Minors |

|Orioles | | |

|Baltimore |Paul Janish |Signed to a Minor League |

|Orioles | |Contract |

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