MLB news: Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox

It’s Saturday, and time to relax (and celebrate that we are one day closer to the start of spring training). While you’re kicking back (and hopefully staying warm), let’s take a look at some of the latest MLB news and notes, including an insider’s take on a highly regarded Pittsburgh Pirates prospect, and a trade between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox.

Pittsburgh Pirates news: Reason to worry about Henry Davis?

Former number one overall pick Henry Davis, currently ranked by MLB.com as the 57th-highest overall prospect, just earned an invitation to spring training. However, he struggled last season during an injury-filled campaign when he finally reached Double-A, posting a .207/.324/.379 slash line in 116 at-bats. He did bounce back in Arizona Fall League competition, slashing .260/.435/.440 in 50 at-bats, but is there some cause for concern for what’s to come?

ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel recently ranked Davis at number 68, and wrote, “Scouts are still concerned that he isn’t quite nimble enough behind the plate and his arm strength plays down due to execution, though a robot ump future would help. Davis is most likely a first baseman if catching doesn’t work out.”

I followed up with McDaniel and asked him if there was a reason for Pirates fans to worry about Davis and his future with an organization that seems to have better days ahead.

“I can guarantee you if you ask Pittsburgh, they would say and probably believe that Davis was the best guy on the board. There was the wrist injury, so some of the exit velos and power, which is like his selling point, wasn’t quite to the level you would expect it to be,” McDaniel said. “So you kind of have to ignore that a little bit and because that’s not there, you sort of assume there’s some projection in the offensive performance. You can just kind of take his stats at face value.

“But the question that was the question when Davis was drafted was, well, can he catch? If he can’t catch, is he at first base only? I had some scouts say, well, he might be able to play third. Is he going to bat? I think he can play left or right. Is he like catcher-DH rotation? Like what exactly is he?”

So … there’s a reason to worry? McDaniel says to pump the brakes on that thought.

“He got put in a position where if you just told me, without telling me what his season stats were, just that he was going to be injured and be in Double-A and not necessarily make a huge leap defensively, it’s like, oh, people are going to get worried and say he’s a bust because some of the other guys are ahead of him right now,” McDaniel said. “I would say don’t worry in general, but I also wouldn’t worry about this because I don’t think anything’s really changed. He got put in a position where it would be hard to look really good, given the setting of last season.”

MLB news: Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox make a trade

On Friday, the White Sox acquired right-hander Franklin German from the Red Sox in exchange for right-hander Theo Denlinger. Chicago designated right-hander Jason Bilous to make room on the roster for German.

It’s an interesting move by Boston as the 25-year-old German was the franchise’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season after posting a 2.72 ERA and an 0.91 WHIP over 49.2 innings (43 games) split between Double-A and Triple-A. Now, German will provide bullpen depth and options for the White Sox.

The 26-year-old Denlinger reached Double-A last season, throwing 38.1 innings over 32 games and striking out 49 while walking 18 in those frames. He also gave up six homers during that time, something he will look to lower with his new franchise.