The First-Year Players Draft is less than three weeks away and the Houston Astros have the No. 1 pick for the second straight year after the Pittsburgh Pirates chose first in 2011. Let's check in on the progress of those two picks.
The Pirates tabbed right-hander Gerrit Cole with the top pick two years ago and the UCLA product started this season in Triple-A Indianapolis with a chance to hit the majors sometime in 2013.
In nine starts, Cole is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA and a 35-23 K/BB ration in 48 innings. He'd held batters to a .214 average, but the walks have contributed to the inconsistent outings, likely prolonging his stay in the minors.
The Pirates tabbed right-hander Gerrit Cole with the top pick two years ago and the UCLA product started this season in Triple-A Indianapolis with a chance to hit the majors sometime in 2013.
In nine starts, Cole is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA and a 35-23 K/BB ration in 48 innings. He'd held batters to a .214 average, but the walks have contributed to the inconsistent outings, likely prolonging his stay in the minors.
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Chicago White Sox GM Rick Hahn says he has no plans to dismantle his roster this summer, and adds that his clubs is out looking for players to acquire to make a run this season, writes Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. If that changes, however, things could get interesting on the South Side.
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With contending clubs such as the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox running into injury problems with their bullpens, one expectation is for them to hit the trade market and seek such a fix. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com asked one executive how that market is looking: "Non-existent," was part of the response.
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M's alternatives to Ryan 
May, 21, 2013
May 21
1:31
PM ET
By
Doug Mittler and Jason A. Churchill | ESPN.com
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The New York Mets appear to have a bright future overall, starting with All-Star third baseman David Wright and right-hander Matt Harvey. The club also boasts one of the top pitching prospects in baseball in Zack Wheeler, who could make his big-league debut sometime in 2013. Once position that's up in the air moving forward -- even in the present tense -- is first base.
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There are always ups and downs in baseball and just as there are struggling hitters this month, some have hit their stride and are putting up gaudy numbers over the first three weeks of May. Let's take a look at five of the hottest bats in the sport. Three of them are household names, but the other two may surprise, including the top name.
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More extensions for pre-arb players?
May, 21, 2013
May 21
11:41
AM ET
By Jason A. Churchill | ESPN.com
Anthony Rizzo, who began the season with less than a year of big-league service time, received a long-term contract from the Chicago Cubs last week, reported Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Clubs are flocking to the negotiating table to lock up their young players these days, so despite such a deal being unique, perhaps Rizzo's deal is just the start.
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The Miami Marlins do have talent. Most of it is either on the disabled list in the form of Giancarlo Stanton, or in the minors and goes by the name Christian Yelich. Yelich began the year on the disabled list himself, but Southern League pitchers wish he was still there.
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The Minnesota Twins could call on prospect Kyle Gibson to make his big-league debut Friday against the Tigers, writes Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The club options Pedro Hernandez to Triple-A, opening a spot in the rotation.
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Corey Hart has missed the entire Milwaukee Brewers season thus far, but appears to be making progress after running and taking full batting practice Monday, putting his injured knee to the test.
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Some hitters serve their struggles in April and when the weather warms up their bats warm up with it. That isn't always the case, however, and there's a specific group of regulars that have scuffled in May.
Rickie Weeks, 2B -- Milwaukee Brewers: .127/.262/.182, 18 G
Weeks has just one extra-base hit this month and has struck out 17 times in 65 plate appearances.
Rickie Weeks, 2B -- Milwaukee Brewers: .127/.262/.182, 18 G
Weeks has just one extra-base hit this month and has struck out 17 times in 65 plate appearances.
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Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond says his club will "use everybody" at closer, so if you're hoping for eventual fantasy value from right-hander Steve Cishek, you may have to wait a little while.
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San Francisco Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong is the latest victim of pitchers being forced to bat, taking a pitch off a finger that reportedly broke his pinkie finger and will keep him out for about six weeks.
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Since the start of the season, we have been keeping an eye on the market for free agent starting pitching for next winter. The upcoming batch already was considered a weak one to begin with, and a rash of injuries may make it even thinner, ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney wrote last week.
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