Top News:
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Mock Draft 4.0: June 4 — Jim Callis' Last Attempt To Line Up Talent In Unpredictable Year — The Astros' public position with the No. 1 overall pick is that they're looking at five players and may not make their decision until shortly before they officially go on the clock at 7:09 p.m. Eastern tonight.
RELATED:
Keith Law / ESPN:
2012 MLB Mock draft 4.0 — Consensus has Astros taking Appel No. 1; Buxton goes No. 2 to Twins — This is it ... sort of, since I'll update this over the course of the day on Monday if any new information emerges. As always, everything here is based on information gleaned from industry sources.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, River Avenue Blues and Bucs Dugout
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
2012 Mock Draft — A weak talent class and a new collective bargaining agreement have made the 2012 draft the most unpredictable in recent memory. Further confusing things are huge wild cards early on, especially the Mariners at three and the Royals at five.
Dave Perkin / Sports Illustrated:
Buxton, Zunino follow Appel in SI.com's 2012 MLB mock draft
Buxton, Zunino follow Appel in SI.com's 2012 MLB mock draft
Discussion:
MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com and Bucs Dugout
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Draft day begins with no clear-cut top pick
Draft day begins with no clear-cut top pick
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Bombers Beat, HardballTalk, Talking Chop, Lookout Landing, Hit and Run, Let's Go Tribe, Diamond Hoggers and The Crawfish Boxes
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Red Sox Take Deven Marrero — The Red Sox have two first-round picks, and with the first at No. 24, they went for a shortstop from Arizona State. — That worked out well for the Red Sox in 2004 with Dustin Pedroia, and they hope it works again with Deven Marrero.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
WHY THE RED SOX ARE STILL ON THE HUNT FOR STARTING PITCHING
WHY THE RED SOX ARE STILL ON THE HUNT FOR STARTING PITCHING
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Niese to get heart procedure during ASG break … NEW YORK — Jon Niese came away from an examination with team doctors Monday satisfied he had no significant heart issue, but the New York Mets left-hander expects to undergo a minor surgical procedure during the All-Star break to correct a heartbeat that occasionally becomes irregular.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
Craig, Cardinals stop 5-game skid, beat Mets
Craig, Cardinals stop 5-game skid, beat Mets
Discussion:
ESPN and Viva El Birdos
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Niese strikes out career-high 10, Mets beat Cards
Fox Sports:
Expect surprises this trade season — Only one rule applies during trading season: — Don't assume anything. — At this time last season, hardly anyone thought the Rockies would trade Ubaldo Jimenez. In 2010, few predicted that the Angels would get Dan Haren.
Discussion:
Philly.com and HardballTalk
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Yankees Go For Ty Hensley — The Yankees have a farm system loaded with position players at the lower levels. They were expected to seek lefthanded pitching this spring, but Oklahoma prep righthander Ty Hensley was too attractive for them to pass on at No. 30.
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts and The LoHud Yankees Blog
The Heater Feed:
Rays pick Clemson 3B Richie Shaffer in first round (No. 25 overall) — Update 10:22 p.m. Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said 3B Richie Shaffer was the “best value” at their pick, raving about his power, makeup and defensive versatility. — Scouting director R.J. Harrison …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Nick Hurm / Cincinnati Reds:
Pedro Borbon dead at 65 — Former Reds pitcher Pedro Borbon has died at age 65 of complications from cancer, according to his business agent Charles Sotto. — Pedro Borbon was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2010. — Borbon is the Reds leader in career pitching appearances with 531 …
Discussion:
NESN.com, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets select Gavin Cecchini as the 12th pick in the 2012 draft — The Mets have selected 18-year-old SS Gavin Cecchini as the 12th overall pick in the 2012 first year player draft. — Cecchini is committed to attend the University of Mississippi beginning this fall, and was named Louisiana Baseball Player of the Year this week.
Discussion:
Baseball America, SoxProspects News and Amazin' Avenue
Wayne Coffey / NY Daily News:
Former NY Mets GM Jim Duquette donates kidney to young daughter, Lindsey, to fight rare disease, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis — Father steps up to plate for his 10-year-old girl — MLB analyst Jim Duquette, formerly GM of the Mets, donates a kidney to his 10-year-old daughter Lindsey.
Discussion:
NESN.com and MetsBlog.com
Zoo With Roy:
Zoo With Roy's Awesome Emma Interviews Cole Hamels — Wait what Awesome Emma and Cole Hamels and a ZWR Microphone?! Oh you know. — So last week The Hamels Foundation (which does absolutely amazing work that will resonate for generations) sent out a press release noting a tremendous project/donation …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com