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What’s Happening in Baseball Today
The First Pitch: February 13, 2025
The last remaining star free agent is off the market as Alex Bregman signs with the Red Sox for three years and $120 million. He’ll have opt-outs after each of his first two seasons.
The 30-year-old right-handed hitter brings solid defense to Boston after earning his first Gold Glove last year at third base for Houston, but where does he fit in with the Red Sox? All-Star hitter Rafael Devers is supposedly settled in at third, and rumor has it that Bregman may move to second—or Devers may see more action from the DH spot. The latter move may crowd out Masataka Yoshida, who served as the Sox’ primary DH last season.
It’s interesting to note: Bregman was drafted out of high school by the Red Sox in the 29th round of the 2012 draft, but he opted to go to Louisiana State before being taken in the first round by the Astros three years later.
While the Red Sox gain a solid asset, they lose another as Nick Pivetta agrees on a four-year deal worth $55 million with San Diego. It’s the first major acquisition of the offseason for the Padres, who had been very aggressive in each of the past two years.
The southpaw from Canada, who turns 32 on Friday, compiled a 37-41 record and 4.29 ERA over the past five years with the Red Sox. Although those numbers hardly shout “ace,” Pivetta did emerge as one of the Red Sox’ more reliable arms, used as both a starter and long reliever.
Another Canadian pitcher has a new home as Cal Quantrill signs with the Miami Marlins for one year and $3.5 million. The 30-year-old right-hander looked to have a promising future with Cleveland, producing a 23-8 record and 3.16 ERA from 2021-22; but he’s been far shakier in the past two seasons, finishing with an 8-11 record, 4.98 ERA and NL-leading 69 walks last year at Colorado.
No MLB season would be complete without Anthony Rendon making news for the wrong reason. This year apparently will be no exception; the oft-injured third baseman, in his sixth year of a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels, will be absent “long-term” after undergoing hip surgery. Over the past four years, Rendon has missed nearly 70% of all games due to a cavalcade of injuries, and his output when healthy has suffered greatly from his previous tenure at Washington.
Also going on the shelf for Opening Day is recently acquired Detroit pitcher Alex Cobb, whose own hip has been bothering him. This is nothing new; hip issues have dragged the veteran right-hander, who signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Tigers and having made only five appearances (two of those in the playoffs) last year with Cleveland.
It Was Whatever-Something Years Ago Today
1920: The Negro National League is founded by a group of eight men including the legendary Rube Foster. Unlike many other such circuits, the NNL will see long-term stability—and will eventually be recognized as a major league.
1964: Cubs second baseman Ken Hubbs, the 1962 National League Rookie of the Year, dies when a small plane he’s piloting crashes in inclement weather near Provo, Utah. Hubbs had statistically regressed during his sophomore year in 1963, but many believed a bright future still lay ahead for the 22-year-old.
You Say It’s Your Birthday
MLB home run leader from 2020 Luke Voit is 34; Texas pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is 35. Born on this date is ill-fated Angels closer from 1986 Donnie Moore (1954), four-time All-Star third baseman Sal Bando (1944), 1910s Washington Senators infielder Eddie Foster (1887), talented but crooked first baseman Hal Chase (1883), and third baseman who once gained credit for 60 sacrifice bunts in one season Bill Bradley (1878).
Shameless Link of the Day
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And Now For Something Completely Different From TGG Co-Founder Eric Gouldsberry
From 1975-78, my father, Ray Gouldsberry, took photographs of the original San Jose Earthquakes soccer team, an ingeniously marketed collection of colorful players embraced by a growing, sports-starved community which constantly sold out ancient, cozy Spartan Stadium. Shortly after my father’s passing in 2019, I took the negatives of all the precious, invaluable photos he snapped, scanned them, and put together Our Life & Times with the Earthquakes: Images and Memories from the Glory Days of San Jose’s Original Pro Soccer Team. It’s not only a tribute to the Earthquakes and the North American Soccer League, but to my father for capturing all the wonderful memories we shared during our time as season ticket holders of the team through its entire existence (1974-84).
Much like baseball’s Deadball Era, Our Life and Times with the Earthquakes looks at a similar era in soccer history when the game in America was boldly attempting to blaze its own trail clad in flamboyance and imperfection, giving the NASL vivid character. As with those early times of baseball, historical images from the NASL remain scarce and elusive, making Ray Gouldsberry’s photographic collection of the Earthquakes and other star NASL players all the more cherished.
Although the Earthquakes are the primary focus of Our Life and Times with the Earthquakes, the book also spotlights the vibrant and turbulent history of the NASL and its legendary list of stars such as Pelé, Giorgio Chinaglia and George Best (who briefly played for the Earthquakes), all through my father’s photos and the treasure trove of memorabilia I collected during those years.
Formatted at 8.25” x 8.25”, running 200 pages plus cover and containing over 200 photos, 100 images of memorabilia, and a foreword by former Quake and U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Johnny Moore, Our Life and Times with the Earthquakes is available for purchase on Amazon. Read and enjoy!
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To Whom It May Concern
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