MLB Bullets Heard A Rumor

I just woke up from the end of the draft. How are the Cubs doing?

• There have been a lot of great young ballplayers starting their major leagues this season. And no, it's not just your imagination. There really are more this year than in years past. Ben Lindbergh tries to figure out why this is.
• One player who has been around so long that we forget how young he still is is Bryce Harper. Harper must be feeling old today as yesterday, for the first time as a professional, Harper faced a pitcher younger than he was.
• Buster Olney starts the "Harper to the Yankees" talk. (ESPN Insider) The Yankees are going to be so good in 2020 with Harper, Mike Trout, Carlos Correa, Kris Bryant and Giancarlo Stanton all playing for them.
• As the draft ends, the next date on the MLB calendar is the start of the international signing period. While many in the game are advocating for an international draft to the point where some have called it "inevitable," Jayson Stark points out that there are several logistical and, more importantly, political obstacles to overcome before there can be an international draft. Stark points out that an "international draft" would really just be a "Dominican Republic and Venezuela" draft, and the governments of both countries would vigorously fight the establishment of a draft in their countries.
• Enrique Rojas studies what might happen to the Dominican baseball academies if an international draft were established.
• Jaimie Sanchez takes a different look at baseball in the Dominican Republic, as she examines how the dream of major league baseball is hampering efforts to educate young Dominican men and prepare them for life after baseball. She talks to two former players who washed out long before reaching the majors about their life now. But she also take a look at the efforts of Junior Noboa and the Arizona Diamondbacks to incorporate a high school education into their baseball development program. It's a short film that is really worth your time.
• Scott Boras is upset that the MLB Network seemingly refused to mention his name during their telecast of the MLB Draft. It certainly was strange to see the analysts dance around Boras' name during the broadcast, mostly refusing to utter it out loud, although Jonathan Mayo did refer to "Lord Voldemort" at one point. It can't have been a coincidence.
• In the 24th round of the MLB draft, the Marlins drafted Octavio Arroyo from San Ysidro High School in California. Normally that would go pretty unnoticed by anyone except for hardcore draftniks and Marlins fans, but Arroyo is a special case. Arroyo was deported to Mexico in March. Eli Saslow has the story of this rather unusual pitching prospect and the obstacles he faces getting back to the US.
• The MLB Network has launched a streaming service, which includes all programs including live games televised on the network. You still have to subscribe to a content provider that carries the MLB Network, but now you can at least watch on the go if you want to.
• There was a minor trade as the Yankees sent reliever David Carpenter to the Nationals for a minor leaguer.
• The Phillies are trying harder to deal Jonathan Papelbon.
• Two teams the Phillies have reportedly spoken to are the Blue Jays and the Cubs.
• I'm not sure the Blue Jays need Papelbon. Toronto hasn't recorded a save since May 4. They have a winning record of 18-16 over that time.
• And then there is this rumor. The Phillies reportedly asked for Taijuan Walker or James Paxton in exchange for Ben Revere, but Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has flatly denied the story.
• Bill Baer reminds us that we need to be skeptical about what we read this time of year about trades.
• Jeff Sullivan explains what you should do when you hear a silly trade rumor.
• The Mets and the Brewers are reportedly talking about a deal that would send Aramis Ramirez to Flushing.
• The Dodgers are looking to acquire an elite starting pitcher this summer.
• Dave Cameron doesn't think many teams will be selling this summer, and that will make prices very high.
• Anthony Castrovince looks back at deals that were minor last offseason but look pretty major now.
• Don Mattingly: An appreciation.
• Matthew Trueblood wonders if the title hopes of the St. Louis Cardinals went down when Matt Holliday went down.
• David Schoenfield thinks the Pirates are still title contenders in the NL Central.
• Reds shortstop Zack Cozart is out for the season with a knee injury.
• Erik Bedard halted his rehab assignment and announced his retirement.
• Will Leitch gives the most entertaining player for each MLB team.
• His choice for the Twins was Torii Hunter, mostly because of this epic tantrum Hunter threw when he was ejected from a game on Wednesday.
• Benches cleared in yesterday's Braves/Padres game after Matt Kemp got hit by a pitch. Even better, Kemp got tackled by the home plate umpire.
• David Ortiz says he's not washed up, but he's not going to start against left-handed pitchers anymore.
• Albert Pujols hit home run number 537, passing Mickey Mantle on the all-time list.
• Ken Rosenthal wonders if the Angels would move their fences in to help Pujols and Trout. Then he explains why they won't do it.
• President Obama challenged the Racing Presidents to a race.
• Finally, there are a lot of silly minor league uniforms, but this one may be the silliest. Or the coolest. The Altoona Curve will wear "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" uniforms, complete with a red cardigan sweater.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.