Baseball Digest Daily

AFL Championship
Phoenix Desert Dogs 6, Grand Canyon Rafters 2

Final News and Notes
Seven players on the two rosters of the AFL championship are first-round draft picks (Tulowitski, Walker, Powell, Lubanski, Maier, Bass, and Dumatrait) … 86 of the 200 players on MLB playoff rosters this past post-season were AFL Alums … 24 of the 50 player who played in the World Series were AFL Alums … The Desert Dogs were the only AFL team to finish with a winning record (20-11) ... Dog 1B Chip Cannon (TOR) led the AFL in HR (11) and RBI (29), and finished 4th in hitting (.352) … Desert Dog RHP Kyle Yates (TOR) led the AFL in strikeouts with 25 … 400 Club: Javelina SS Yunel Escobar (ATL) finished the season at.407, the lone AFL player to hit above .400 in 2006… Desert Dog SS Ben Zobrist (TB) reached base safely in all 27 of his games played in the regular season and finished 3rd in the league in hitting (.366) and on-base-percentage (.469).

2006 Superlatives
*Chip Cannon (PHX/TOR): Led the AFL in home runs (11), RBI (29), and slugging (.714). He finished 2nd in on-base percentage (.474) and 4th in hitting (.352)

Kevin Frandsen (SCT/SF): Recipient of the Arizona Fall League's 2006 Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award. He finished 1st in the league in on-base percentage (.480), 2nd in hitting (.388), 3rd in slugging (.588).

*Ben Zobrist (PHX/TB): Zobrist reached base safely in all 27 of his games played this fall. He finished 3rd in hitting (.366) and on-base percentage (.469), and led the league in runs scored (29).

Yunel Escobar (JAV/ATL): Led the league in hitting (.407) and finished 4th in on-base percentage (.463)

*Kyle Yates (PHX/TOR): Finished the regular season 2-0, with a 1.13 ERA in 24.0 IP. Led the league in strikeouts (25) and opposing batters hit only .224 against him.

Billy Sadler (SCT/SF): Named AFL pitcher-of-the-week for 10/16-10/21. Finished the fall 2-0 with 3 saves and a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings pitched. He struck out 22 batters and opposing hitters hit .184 against him.

Leonel Rosales (SAG/SD): Led the AFL in saves with 7 and finished with a 2.57 ERA in 14.0 IP.

Ryan Braun (SCT/MIL): Led the league in extra-base hits (16) finished 2nd in slugging percentage (.641) and tied for 2nd in home runs (6), and tied for 3rd in RBI (25)

Eric Patterson (MESA/CHC): Eric led the league with 15 stolen bases (in 17 chances) and tied for 6th in hitting at .345

Amaury Marti (SAG/STL): Tied with Patterson for 6th in hitting (.345) and hit 4 home runs with 14 RBI. He also was 4th in slugging percentage (.571)

Michel Abreu (MESA/NYM): Michel was 2nd in the AFL in home runs with 6 and tied for 3rd in RBI with 25.

Trevor Crowe (JAV/CLE): Finished 4th in on-base percentage (.449) and 8th in batting (.329)
Jason Jaramillo (SAG/PHI): Hit .379 (25-66) during the fall to lead all catchers. He posted 17 RBI in 17 games played.

Kevin Kouzmanoff (JAV/SD): Traded form the Indians to the San Diego Padres during the AFL season, Kevin remained a member of the Javelinas and finished with a .382 batting average (21-55) in 15 games played.

Mark Reynolds (SCT/ARI): Mark made the 2006 AFL leader boards in RBI (2nd -26), home runs (T4th- 5), on-base percentage (5th- .564), extra-base hits (T3rd - 13), and hitting (10th - .327).

Jesse Chavez (GCR/PIT): Jesse had possibly the best fall of any pitcher, going 3-0 with 4 saves and recording a 0.64 ERA in 14.0 IP. He yielded only 1 ER and allowed a total of 6 hit, while striking out 11.

Troy Tulowitzki (GCR/COL): Hit .329 with 10 RBI in 22 games this fall after hitting .291 with 13 home runs and 61 RBI for Class-AA-Tulsa

Kory Casto (SAG/WSH): Hit .302 with 17 walks for the Saguaros this fall after a 2006 season in which he hit 20 home runs and drove in 80 runs for Class-AA-Harrisburg

Mark McLemore (MESA/HOU): Mark stuck out 8 of 9 batters in his last start vs. the Desert Dogs on 11/13. He finished with the season with 16 strikeouts.

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Catalanotto Signing on with Texas

by Joe Hamrahi on Sun 19 Nov 2006 05:43 PM EST

Free-agent outfielder Frank Catalanotto is close to agreeing to a three-year contract with the Rangers. The deal is expected to include a club option for a fourth year. And again, the deal is contingent on Catalanotto passing a physical.

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Soriano Headed to Chicago?

by Joe Hamrahi on Sun 19 Nov 2006 03:39 PM EST

Free agent Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms on an eight-year, $136 million contract, a high-ranking Major League Baseball official said on Sunday. The deal is contingent on Soriano passing a physical.

I'm sure we will hear a lot more about this on Monday. We will pass along all the details we can gather including some direct from the Cubs press conference.

Just a little commentary here...

There's been a lot of buzz about how bad a deal this is for the Cubs. But if the Cubs can afford Soriano, and money isn't a huge object to them, then I don't see the big deal. And who's to say that Soriano won't put up even bigger numbers in Chicago with the wind blowing out!

I mean, if the Red Sox can pay $50 million just to negotiate with a pitcher who has yet to set foot in this country...

This appears to be the market we're dealing with. Some people think the Cubs should have gone after JD Drew instead. Well, all reports have JD and Scott Boras looking for $15 + million a year as well. Maybe JD has been more consistent over the long run, but he's also been injured a heck of a lot more, and not exactly the model teammate. I mean, over the last 6 years, he's reached 400 at bats (or 500 PAs) just 3 times.

One other thing about Soriano...for those of you who have read John Dewan's Fielding Bible last year and know about the +/- system, John and the BIS crew rated Soriano a +15 for his play in LF. That's tied for second among all LFs in baseball. I spoke to John last week and he and his scouts who watch thousands of video replays had nothing but extreme praise for the way Alfonso handled left field.

Just some food for thought before you rip apart a deal we haven't even seen yet. Head on over to the BDD blog if you want to talk about Soriano and his new contract!

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Sunday Morning News and Notes

by Joe Hamrahi on Sun 19 Nov 2006 01:17 PM EST

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the retirement of third baseman Bill Mueller and have hired the 11-year Major League veteran as a Special Assistant to the GM.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have named Jim Hickey Major League Pitching Coach, it was announced yesterday by Andrew Friedman, Rays Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. Hickey replaces Mike Butcher, who has accepted the position of Major League Pitching Coach with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The Angels have signed Justin Speier to a four-year, $18 million free-agent contract.

The Mets are close to signing free-agent outfielder Moises Alou to a one-year contract with a club option.

The Reds have agreed to a 3 year, $14 million contract with free agent SS Alex Gonzalez, pending a physical.

Eric Byrnes, who is expected to move from center field to left and replace departing free agent Luis Gonzalez, said he doesn't expect to receive a multiyear contract offer from the Diamondbacks and can envision himself being traded next summer, despite leading the club in home runs (26) and stolen bases (25) in 2006.

Luis Gonzalez, a free agent, has drawn interest from several clubs, and his representatives met with officials from the Indians, Reds, Giants, Dodgers and Rangers during GM meetings in Naples, Florida.

The Braves also are reportedly working out a deal to bring pinch hitter Daryle Ward back next season. Ward is the only one of five Atlanta free agents who is likely to return. Atlanta probably will part ways with RHP John Thomson, RHP Danys Baez, C Todd Pratt and OF Brian Jordan. Ward led all major-leaguers with 22 pinch hits for Washington and Atlanta last season.

SS Yunel Escobar won the Arizona Fall League batting title by hitting .407 in 22 games for the Peoria Javelinas.

2B/SS Alex Cora and the Red Sox made official the two-year pact that they agreed to at the start of November.

Dontrelle Willis said he has been exercising his left arm and hopes in 2007 to log his third consecutive season of at least 200 innings. Willis lasted just 1 1/3 innings Oct. 3 in his final start of the season because of a sore left triceps. "I felt some pain, and (the Marlins) said it's not worth it. They're looking out for my best interests," Willis said. "Sometimes you just get fatigued, but I'll be ready to go next year."

2B Brandon Phillips, expected to get a trial at shortstop during spring training, led the 2006 team in hits (148) and multi-hit games (36). The move would make room for the re-signing of free agent Rich Aurilia to play second base regularly or to put INF/OF Ryan Freel at second if the club can sign or trade for a starting right fielder.

SS Troy Tulowitzki was voted the No. 1 prospect in the Arizona Fall League in Baseball America's survey of managers and scouts.

RF Jeremy Hermida is expected to be ready for spring training after being hobbled by sore right ankle last season. GM Larry Beinfest said Hermida is "getting ready to resume activity."

Former Red Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace, whose contract wasn't renewed after last season, has been hired as the Astros' pitching coach.

The Astros have had talks with the Rockies about acquiring former Baylor RHP Jason Jennings. The Rockies would like INF/OF Chris Burke in return to play center field, and closer Brad Lidge's name also has come up in the conversations.

1B Casey Kotchman, recovering from mononucleosis, would like to play winter ball, but it has not been determined where he will play.

Ryan Braun, the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2005, was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Arizona Fall League by Baseball America.

J.J. Hardy is recovering nicely from the ankle injury that ended his 2006 season in mid-May. He is still projected to be the starter at that position next season.

Steve Trachsel, who won 15 games for the Mets last season, will not be pursued by the team despite its pitching questions. Trachsel fell out of favor with two poor outings in the postseason.

Daric Barton, the top hitting prospect in the organization, was hitting .462 in the Dominican Winter League. Barton missed most of the 2006 season with a freak elbow injury. He could be a DH option for the A's in 2007, although probably not by Opening Day.

Kevin Frandsen helped his chances of being an everyday player next year by hitting .398 in the Arizona Fall League. It was the second-highest average in the league. He was tops in on-base percentage at .490. It appears unlikely the Giants will re-sign 2B Ray Durham.

Edwin Jackson was moved to the bullpen during a disappointing 2006 season split between the Devil Rays and Triple-A Durham, and there was talk of trying him in the closer's role. But Jackson went back to starting when he went to Venezuela for the winter, and he was doing well for Magallenes. In four starts, Jackson was 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA. He was holding hitters to a .217 average, and he had struck out 12 in 18 2/3 innings.

The Blue Jays remain hopeful they can re-sign CF Vernon Wells to a contract extension before spring training. Wells is signed through 2007 and is eligible for free agency following the season.

John Patterson, who missed most of last season with a forearm injury that required surgery, said he's progressing great and will begin throwing soon.

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