Peter Abraham (@PeteAbe) of the Boston Globe on the A’s signing of Rich Hill for the 2016 season…
Without other options, Hill signed with the independent Long Island Ducks and returned to starting for the first time since 2009. Hill struck out 21 in 11 innings for the Ducks and was signed to a minor league contract by the Red Sox.
After five starts for Triple A Pawtucket, Hill was called up to the majors. He was 2-1 with a 1.55 earned run average with the Red Sox. In 29 innings, Hill allowed only 14 hits and struck out 36 with five walks.
Steve Dilbeck (@stevedilbeck) of the LA Times highlights Clayton Kershaw and his efforts to fund MLB urban youth academy…
Kershaw, a Dallas native, made a personal donation to the project and will have one of the four new fields on the 17-acre site named after him.
The MLB Urban Youth Academies are designed to give inner-city youth an opportunity to grow up playing baseball and softball, either for free or at reduced costs. They offer instruction, camps and coaching clinics.
An indoor building will have six batting cages and offer classrooms for tutoring, college prep classes, college and career fairs, financial literacy and career workshops.
Gerry Fraley (@gfraley) writing for SportsDayDFW.com looks at the recent additions to the Rangers bullpen via trade…
What do you think about the player to be named later? Sounds like it is a significant piece, but I have a hard time believing SEA would throw anything else that would be a big factor?
Fraley: Keep in mind that Dipoto, as a new GM, has no ties to the players that he inherited. He can easily call a former high draft pick a bust because someone else selected that player.