CarterHud

           The Washington Nationals have signed 2B/LF Howie Kendrick to a two year, $7 million deal. Kendrick\’s services were acquired by the Nats as a rental in July of 2017.

           Acquiring Kendrick was a surprise to many late in 2017. But, injuries happened, and Kendrick came in handy. His ability to play infield and outfield helps a lot, as versatility is growing in baseball today. A deal that pays a player $3.5 million a year is a huge bargain is baseball today.

            Kendrick, 34, hit .315, with nine homers, 41 RBIs and 12 steals in 334 Plate Appearances for the Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies in 2017. In his MLB career for the Nats, Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels, Kendrick has a batting average of .291, with 104 homers, 636 RBIs and 123 stolen bases in 5791 Plate Appearances.

             The Houston Astros have acquired RHP Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for 3B Colin Moran, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Michael Feliz and OF Jason Martin.

             Coming off a world series victory, the Astros added another ace to their pen. Coming off the worst year of his career, Cole will fit in as the Stros third starter, behind Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel, and in front of playoff heroes Lance McCullers and Charlie Morton. Cole, who was thought by many to be going to the New York Yankees, but was nearly dealt on Wednesday, but now Houston was able to land the former 1st overall pick.They didn\’t give up their 2nd best prospect, Forrest Whitley, but instead their 5th best prospect in Moran. Musgrove was just going to be their 5th/6th starter without Cole, and their 6th/7th with him. Martin and Feliz aren\’t big names, and were mainly throw-ins.

              Cole, 27, had a 4.26 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 196 strikeouts in 203 innings in 2017. In his MLB career, all in Pittsburgh, Cole has an ERA of 3.50, a 1.22 WHIP and 734 strikeouts in 782.1 innings.

              For the Pirates, I don\’t really get why they\’d do this trade. They get Moran, their future third baseman, but they also got a 5th starter in Musgrove, a long reliever and Feliz and a minor leaguer in Martin. That\’s it for the guy they drafted 1st overall in 2011. They could have gotten OF Clint Frazier from the Yankees, which is a better deal for them straight up. Moran is just two years younger than Cole and has a whopping seven for 34 in his MLB career.

             Moran, 25, had a .364 batting average with a homer and three RBIs in 12 Plate Appearances for the Astros in 2017. In his short MLB career, all in Houston, Moran has a .206 batting average with that homer and five RBIs in 37 Plate Appearances.

            Musgrove, 25, had a 4.77 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 98 strikeouts in 109.1 innings in 2017. In his MLB career, all for the Astros, Musgrove has a 4.52 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 153 strikeouts in 171.1 innings.

            Feliz, 24, had a 5.63 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 70 strikeouts in 48 innings. In his MLB career, all in Houston, Feliz has a 5.13 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 172 strikeouts in 121 innings.

           Martin, 22, has a .269 batting average, 50 homers, 238 RBIs and 74 stolen bases in 1936 career minor league Plate Appearances.

            I think the Astros win this trade. They get an ace, for WAY less than an ace shall cost. Man, I feel like all the sellers are getting ripped off this off-season. First the A\’s for Ryon Healy, then the Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton, then Miami again for Marcell Ozuna, now it\’s the Pirates with Cole.

             The Tampa Bay Lightning have waived RW J.T. Brown. If he clears waivers Brown will be assigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL.

             When asked about the move, GM Steve Yzerman said it was about \”creating roster flexibility\”. Brown isn\’t having a great 2017-18 on a great Lightning team, so it doesn\’t come by surprise that he was traded. Brown became famous earlier this season when he raised a fist to protest actions from police officers to African-Americans, like Brown. This protest started by former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, and has been continued on by many, many NFL players, and Oakland A\’s catcher Bruce Maxwell.

              Brown, 27, has scored one goal and three assists for four points in 24 games this season. In his NHL career, all for the Lightning, Brown has scored 19 goals and 42 assists for 61 points in 286 games.

             We have an MLB signing. This is NOT a drill. Yes, in a slow, slow MLB free agent market, the Minnesota Twins have found their probable closer after signing RHP Addison Reed to a two year, $17 million deal. He\’ll compete with Fernando Rodney, another recent signing, for the ninth inning.

            Reed, one of the few players on the market with closing experience, was the Mets closer in 2017 before being traded to the Red Sox. He also was the closer for the White Sox (2012-13) and Diamondbacks (2014). The Twins had one if the worst bullpens in 2017, so adding Reed, along with Rodney and LHP Zach Duke should help.

            Reed, 29, had a 2.84 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 19 saves and 76 strikeouts in 76 innings for the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox in 2017. In his MLB career for the Red Sox, Mets, Diamondbacks and White Sox, Reed has a 3.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 125 saves and 425 strikeouts in 402.2 innings.

                The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired forward Anthony Duclair and D Adam Clendening from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for F Richard Panik and F Laurent Dauphin.

                The Blackhawks lack two things: depth and youth. They get that in Duclair. Yes, they trade Panik, who has played well with Jonathan Toews ever since coming to Chicago. Clendening won\’t get much NHL time, though.

                Duclair, 22, has scored nine goals and six assists for 15 points in 33 games for the Coyotes this year.  In his NHL career for the Coyotes and New York Rangers, Duclair has scored 35 goals and 46 assists for 81 points in 190 games.

                Clendening, 25, has two assists in five games for the Coyotes this year. In his NHL career for the Coyotes, Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks, Clendening has scored four goals and 20 assists for 24 points in 86 games.

                For the Coyotes, Duclair recently requested a trade, so the time had come to deal him. They are able to get an ok winger in Panik, and retain Dauphin, who was traded to Chicago in the Niklas Hjalmarsson trade.

               Panik, 26, has scored six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 37 games this year for the Blackhawks. In his NHL career for the Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, Panik has scored 53 points and 54 assists for 107 points in 300 games.

               Dauphin, 22, hasn\’t played in the NHL this year, and scored three goals, plus an assist for four points in 32 career games for the Coyotes.

              I think the Blackhawks win this trade. They unload Panik\’s big contract signed this Summer, and get a guy in Duclair who\’s seeking redemption. Dauphin isn\’t too big of a prospect, so it\’s not a big deal.