Notes: Numbers Game, MiLB Draft; Kelly Nixes Mets, Oldies On the Move, MLB News

Pretty boring times…

Notes:

• For those who read the roster tea leaves via the numbers issued by the team, here’s an update of new 40-man digits: Michael Chavis #2, Rodolfo Castro #14, Oneil Cruz #15, Greg Allen #24, Yoshi Tsutsugo #25, Canaan Smith-Njigba #28, Tucupita Marcano #30, Bryse Wilson #32, Zach Thompson #39, Jared Oliva #41, Hoy Park #44, Travis Swaggerty #50, Roberto Perez #55 and Jose Quintana #62.
• Shelty’s’ bench coach Don Kelly, 41, was on the Mets list to interview for its manger vacancy, but withdrew his name.

• The Pirates selections in the minor league Rule 5 draft were LHP Zach Matson, 26, (Rockies), RHP Nic Laio, 24, (Rangers) and corner IF/LF Jacob Gonzalez, 23, (Giants). The relievers are high-K, high-ERA development projects; Gonzalez is a 2017 second round pick who hit .250 last year in AA. The system lost RHP Steven Jennings to the Yankees and OF Jonah Davis to the Cardinals. Jennings, 23, is a back-end starter prospect (9-1/4.99 across three levels in ’21) whose forte is command while Davis is a 24-year-old who hit .205 between the AA Curve and Hi-A ‘Hoppers last year. BTW, the MLB part of the draft hasn’t been scrubbed; it’s been postponed until the end of the lockout, whenever that may be.
• The journey continues for Big John Nogowski – the former Pirates 1B was selected by Braves in the Rule 5 Draft after spending 2021 with St. Louis and San Francisco, sandwiched around his Pittsburgh era.
• 2017-2020 Bucco 1B/OF Jose Osuna agreed to a guaranteed three-year/$5.1M deal with $900K more dangled as incentives with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Joey O hit .261 with 14 homers for the ’21 Japanese League champions.
• The Rockies have hired Clint Hurdle as a special assistant to the GM, focusing on player development. It’s a homecoming: Hurdle managed Colorado from 2002-09 and to its only World Series. Before that, he was the team’s hitting coach on both the major and minor league levels.

• Jacob Cruz, former Pirates and Brewers assistant hitting coach, has joined the San Francisco Giants staff as assistant hitting coordinator. Christian Marrero replaced him here last season.
• Bob Nutting unloaded one his side hustles, the Seven Springs/Laurel Mountain/Hidden Valley resort group, to the Vail Group for $125M.
• New Hall of Famers: The Golden Days winners were Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva. Danny Murtaugh, Maury Wills and Wampum’s Dick Allen fell short in the vote, Allen just by one ballot. The Early Days selections were Buck O’Neill and Bud Fowler. Longtime Gray player/manager Vic Harris fell three votes shy of earning a spot.
• The major league phase of the Rule 5 draft has been postponed indefinitely. The minor league portion (AA players selected to be placed on AAA rosters) will still take place as scheduled on December 9th.