When the United League Rookie of the Year results dropped, most expected Arizona Diamondbacks ace Scott Karl to walk away with the award. After all, he didn’t just pitch like a top rookie—he pitched like one of the best starters in the entire league. And yet, the voting panel went a different direction, handing the trophy to Washington Senators catcher Jason Kendall. Kendall is a phenomenal young player. This isn’t about discrediting him....
Bill Swift has left the building—and by the sound of it, the Cardinals couldn’t pack his bags fast enough. The 34-year-old right-hander was dealt to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Toronto’s 1997 4th round pick, a return that’s about as uninspired as it gets for a pitcher who once looked like an ace. Let’s backtrack. Swift arrived in St. Louis midway through the 1991 season and immediately looked like a steal, going 9-1 with...
The Carlos Delgado saga is officially over. The Toronto Blue Jays have traded their 23-year-old franchise cornerstone to the Texas Rangers in exchange for two future first-round picks and a pair of prospects. The trade:To Texas Rangers: 1B Carlos Delgado (ML)To Toronto Blue Jays: 1996 TEX 1st round pick, 1998 TEX 1st round pick, SP Alberto Reyes (AAA), CF Rich Becker (AAA) From the Rangers' side, the logic is easy to follow. After years of...
There’s a saying among gardeners: if you don’t water the roots, don’t be surprised when the tree stops growing. Carlos Delgado wasn’t just planted in Toronto—he blossomed there. Developed from within, nurtured through the early lean years, and finally emerging as one of the most productive offensive players in the Doubleday Baseball League. And yet, after nearly being uprooted without warning, it’s no wonder the fruit is starting to...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. Colorado Rockies Acquire CL Scott Radinsky from Los Angeles Dodgers for a 1995 2nd-Round Pick The Rockies don’t need to overhaul their bullpen — but they do need to finish games with a little more certainty. Despite a playoff-caliber roster, Colorado’s middle relief has been shaky, and too many late leads have...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. Montreal Expos Acquire RP Pedro Martinez and a 1997 4th round pick from San Francisco Giantsfor a 1995 3rd round pick The Montreal Expos don’t need a splash. They just need stability. Fresh off finishing with the second-best record in the league, the Expos are entering 1996 with a loaded roster. Their early exit from the playoffs was...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. SEATTLE PILOTS ACQUIRE 1B KENT HRBEK FROM BALTIMORE ORIOLES FOR LF BUTCH HUSKEY Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to go all-in on experience—and when to cut bait on upside. The Seattle Pilots, fresh off a 1995 campaign in which they missed the playoffs, make a calculated move by acquiring veteran slugger Kent Hrbek from the...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. PROPOSED TRADE: OAKLAND ATHLETICS TRADE LHP JAMIE MOYER TO ST. LOUIS CARDINALS FOR A 1996 3RD ROUND PICK It’s time for the Oakland Athletics to cash in. Jamie Moyer’s quietly solid 1995 season (12–13, 3.92 ERA, 236.2 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 1.9 WAR) was a throwback to his earlier Seattle form. After years of turbulence—including a 4–24...
It’s a headline fit for a tabloid, but the Toronto Star’s recent piece — “Big Bats, Bigger Egos” — strikes at something very real: the Toronto Blue Jays are at a crossroads. The clubhouse chemistry is fizzing like a shaken soda can, and Carlos Delgado — the most dangerous young bat on the roster — is suddenly on the chopping block. Let’s be clear. Trading Delgado would be a seismic move — not just because of what he brings...
The 1995 New York Mets were one of the best teams in baseball. Let’s get that out of the way. They won 101 games, finished 2nd in the East, led the league in batting average, slugging, and total runs, and boasted a rotation that featured three 15-game winners and a bullpen with a sub-3.30 ERA. And yet, their season ended short of the World Series. Again. Now, as they enter the offseason, the question isn’t whether the Mets were good. They...