Don Baylor to be named the Dbacks’ new hitting coach

By Craig CalcaterraOct 25, 2010, 3:59 PM EDT
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Don Baylor — recently let go by the Rockies — has agreed to terms with the Diamondbacks to take over as their hitting coach.  Baylor had hoped to be considered for a manager job, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.  I imagine part of it is that he’s always been perceived as a decent hitting coach and never knocked anyone’s socks off when he was manager. And that he hasn’t managed for eight years. Alas.

Apropos of nothing, I had a reason to be looking back at Baylor’s playing career recently, and was rather shocked to see that he stole 52 bases one year.  I remember Baylor as a portly DH first and pretty darn portly manager second, so the image of a speedy Baylor — that apparently existed just before I started to become really aware of what was going on in baseball — has been knocking around my head all week, struggling to gain

 

Dodgers acquire Manny Machado from Orioles for five minor leaguers

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By Bill BaerJul 18, 2018, 7:01 PM EDT
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The Orioles and Dodgers finally completed the trade involving Manny Machado, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports. The Orioles will receive five prospects from the Dodgers: Yusniel Diaz, Dean Kremer, Zach Pop, Rylan Bannon, and Breyvic Valera.

Machado, 26, is in the final year of his contract, so this is currently a rental for the first-place Dodgers. Machado ended the first half batting .315/.387/.575 with 24 home runs, 65 RBI, 48 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 413 plate appearances. In Los Angeles, he will handle shortstop, allowing Chris Taylor to move over to second base.

MLB Pipeline rated Diaz as the Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect and No. 84 across baseball. Kremer was No. 27 in the Dodgers’ system and Bannon was No. 28.

Diaz, 21, is considered the centerpiece of the trade. The outfielder hit .314/.428/.477 with 20 extra-base hits, 30 RBI, and 36 runs scored in 264 plate appearances at Double-A Tulsa this season.

Kremer, 22, was selected by the Dodgers in the 14th round of the 2016 draft. He spent most of his season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga before earning a promotion to Tulsa earlier this month. Overall, in 17 starts, the right-hander posted a 3.03 ERA with a 125/29 K/BB ratio in 86 innings.

Pop, 21, was selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2017 draft. He has spent his season between Rancho Cucamonga and Single-A Great Lakes. Overall, he compiled a 1.04 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 13 walks in 43 1/3 innings of relief.

Bannon, 22, was selected by the Dodgers in the eighth round of the 2017 draft. With Rancho Cucamonga this season, the infielder batted .296/.402/.559 with 20 home runs and 61 RBI in 403 PA.

Valera, 26, has appeared in 20 games at the major league level for the Dodgers this season, batting a meager .172 with a .445 OPS in 34 PA. Valera has versatility, having played second base, third base, and corner outfield this year while also having experience in center field, shortstop, and first base.