Please note this posting contains two positions.

Position Title: Amateur Scouting Fellow

Primary Purpose
The Indians Fellowship program is designed to accelerate the pace of development and impact for high-potential candidates. Fellowship roles are focused on complex challenges, developing new approaches, tools and techniques to meaningfully drive the organization forward.

The Cleveland Indians are seeking two Fellows to join their Amateur Scouting department. Each Fellow will work collaboratively with the amateur scouting staff. Fellows will operate as an extension of the front office staff and be a resource for scouts and Baseball Operations. Fellows will be expected to manage the collection of multiple data streams on amateur players to prepare the organization for acquisition opportunities.

The ideal candidate will be curious, creative, open-minded, and excited to work in a collaborative and rapidly-changing environment. The candidate will have exceptional interpersonal skills and execute the organization’s vision through passion, resourcefulness, curiosity and strategic thinking. They will take the initiative to perform research that advances the Indians’ procedures and philosophies, especially on the draft.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Baseball Technology:

• Operate bat/ball tracking technology and other sports science technology.
• Manage video process from all opportunities to assess players, including but not limited to games, workouts and events.
• Manage the corresponding data and video collection process.

Support Scouting Operations:

• Assist scouting staff with the organization and execution of the scouting process through thorough data collection.
• Assist scouting staff with player workouts.
• Assist scouting staff with various administrative and information-gathering tasks.
• Provide holistic player assessments.
• Understand and apply organizational philosophies to all phases of the scouting and information-gathering processes.

Role Requirements and Preferences
Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrated passion for at least one of scouting, baseball analytics, sports science, hitting or pitching analysis and/or biomechanics, strength and conditioning, motor learning, or other baseball related field.

Skills:

• Organization: Ability to create, maintain and execute a schedule with precision and agility.
• Work Ethic: A relentless drive to collect more and better information.
• Passion: Demonstrate a clear passion for the game, teammates, the organization and learning.
• Resourcefulness: Utilize organizational resources to develop and understand organizational philosophies.
• Self-awareness: Understand your skillset, understand your biases, and recognize your areas of development.
• Strategic Thinking: Employ a problem-solving mindset and strategic thinking.

Job Requirements:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of advanced baseball statistics and publicly available research.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• This position will require travel to games, workouts, and events across the country.

Standard Requirements:

• Reads, speaks, comprehends and communicates English effectively in all communications.
• Represents the Cleveland Indians in a positive fashion to all business partners and the general public.
• Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationship with members of the Front Office.
• Ability to act according to the organizational values and service excellence at all times.
• Ability to work with multicultural populations and have a commitment to fairness and equality.
• Ability to walk, sit or stand for an entire shift.
• Ability to work extended days and hours, including holidays and weekends.
• Ability to move throughout all areas and levels of the Ballpark.
• Ability to work in a diverse and changing environment.
• Occasional physical activity such as lifting and carrying boxes up to 25 lbs.

To Apply
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here.

Position Title: Baseball Operations Fellow

Primary Purpose
The Indians Fellowship program is designed to accelerate the pace of development and impact for high-potential candidates. Fellowship roles are focused on complex challenges, developing new approaches, tools and techniques to meaningfully drive the organization forward.

The Cleveland Indians are seeking multiple Fellows to join their Baseball Operations department. Each Fellow will work full-time with one of the Indians’ minor league affiliates and report to both the Player Development and Baseball Operations departments. Fellows will operate as an extension of the front office staff and be a resource for both players and coaches. Fellows will be expected to manage the collection of multiple data streams. Fellows will gain exposure across multiple departments and have access to and be encouraged to use a suite of internal, proprietary resources.

The ideal candidate will be curious, creative, open-minded, and excited to work in a collaborative environment. The candidate will have exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to present complex topics to a wide range of audiences. They will take the initiative to perform research in the areas of their choosing that advances the Indians’ player development procedures and philosophies.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Baseball Technology:

• Operate bat/ball tracking technology and other sports science technology.
• Manage pre-game and in-game video process.
• Manage the corresponding data and video collection process and assist with interpretation.

Research and Development:

• Collaborate with coaching staff and player development staff to monitor player goals and player progress.
• Perform ad hoc research and analysis, both at the request of staff and independently.
• Communicate findings and insights to Minor League Coaches, Players, and Player Development and Baseball Operations Department.

Coaching Staff Support:

• Assist Minor League field staff with pre-game on-field activities.
• Assist Minor League field staff with Advance Scouting process.
• Assist affiliate staff with various administrative tasks.

Role Requirements and Preferences
Education & Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrated passion for at least one of scouting, baseball analytics, sports science, hitting or pitching analysis and/or biomechanics, strength and conditioning, motor learning, or other baseball related field.
• Conversational Spanish or better a plus

Skills:

• Organization: Ability to create, maintain and execute a schedule with precision and agility.
• Work Ethic: A relentless drive to collect more and better information.
• Passion: Demonstrate a clear passion for the game, teammates, the organization and learning.
• Resourcefulness: Utilize organizational resources to develop and understand organizational philosophies.
• Strategic Thinking: Employ a problem-solving mindset and strategic thinking.

Job Requirements:

• Experience with SQL and statistical software (i.e. R, Python, Stata, SAS) a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of advanced baseball statistics and publicly available research.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• This position will be based at an affiliate and will include travel to away games.

Standard Requirements:

• Reads, speaks, comprehends and communicates English effectively in all communications.
• Represents the Cleveland Indians in a positive fashion to all business partners and the general public.
• Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationship with members of the Front Office.
• Ability to act according to the organizational values and service excellence at all times.
• Ability to work with multicultural populations and have a commitment to fairness and equality.
• Ability to walk, sit or stand for an entire shift.
• Ability to work extended days and hours, including holidays and weekends.
• Ability to move throughout all areas and levels of the Ballpark.
• Ability to work in a diverse and changing environment.
• Occasional physical activity such as lifting and carrying boxes up to 25 lbs.

To Apply
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Cleveland Indians.

Up against a deadline to either accept or refuse San Francisco’s qualifying offer, free agent reliever Will Smith signed a three-year, $40 million pact with the Atlanta Braves. Smith’s deal with Atlanta will pay him $13 million in each of the next three seasons, with the Braves retaining a club option for either a fourth season at $13 million or a $1 million buyout.

Now two seasons into his return from Tommy John surgery, Smith’s 2.66 ERA and 2.71 FIP to along with 3.2 WAR in 118 and a third innings in 2018-2019 firmly established him as the best free agent reliever available this winter. While on paper Aroldis Chapman electing to stay with the Yankees could have established a better negotiating environment for Smith, teams just aren’t in love with closers the way they were 10 or 15 years ago. Being in the next tier of relievers down from his fellow left-hander, and with the loss of a draft pick attached, Smith was unlikely to do much better; his deal exceeds Kiley McDaniel’s three year and $36 million estimate as part of our Top 50 Free Agents list, as well as the crowd’s median projection of three years and $30 million.

The Braves entered 2019 as a serious contender, but one with a bullpen problem. In our 2019 Positional Power Rankings, Atlanta’s pen ranked 18th in baseball. The team’s relief issues never reached the same level of notoriety as those of their division rivals in DC, but Atlanta’s corps was 20th in baseball in WAR over the first half of the season, prompting them to trade prospects Joey Wentz and Kolby Allard for Shane Greene and Chris Martin, respectively. Also acquired at the deadline was another member of the Giants’ bullpen, Mark Melancon.

With Greene, Melancon, and Luke Jackson all returning in 2020, the addition of Smith gives the Braves a deeper group than when they started the 2019 season. It would make sense for Smith to get first dibs on save opportunities, but if fellow lefty Sean Newcomb is given a chance to start in 2020, the team may very well decide they’re better served leaving Smith in a more flexible role that allows him to be used tactically against left-handed hitters.

The loss of Smith, when added to the plethora of relievers traded in July, leaves the Giants with a rather thin bullpen. However, that team has 99 more pressing problems than holding late-inning leads to worry about. We’ll have more on the Smith signing up on the site soon.

Job Title: Intern, Baseball Analytics

Department: Baseball Operations
Reports To: Director of Analytics
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Job Classification: Hourly/Non-Exempt

Position Summary:
The Analytics Intern will assist Baseball Operations decision-making through the analysis and facilitation of baseball information. The specific day-to-day responsibilities of this position will vary depending on the baseball calendar, but will revolve around analyzing and troubleshooting baseball data. A competitive candidate will be an excellent communicator and possess an established foundation of analytical skills. The position will report to the Director of Analytics.

Essential Functions:

• Facilitate information flows and effectively communicate analytical products across departments.
• Expand upon Marlins analytical strategy by creating new applications and reports.
• Improve and refine existing processes for the Baseball Operations Department.
• Perform ad-hoc research projects as requested.
• Present analysis and research results in a complete, concise, and engaging manner.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to self-direct.
• Demonstrated baseball research, experience visualizing data, and/or strong technical acumen.
• Ability to communicate baseball analytics concepts to individuals with diverse baseball backgrounds, including coaches, scouts, and executives.
• Understanding of and passion for the game of baseball.
• High level of familiarity with the current state of baseball research.
• Ability to work extended hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays from February – October 2020.

Suggested Education & Experience:

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in a field that emphasizes analytical problem solving skills, such as mathematics, computer science, engineering, law, or medicine.
• Understanding of advanced forecasting techniques is strongly preferred.
• Meaningful work experience with Tableau, SQL Server, R, and/or Python is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of the governing documents of Major League Baseball, such as the Official Baseball Rules, is strongly preferred.
• Ability and desire to learn other programming languages as needed.
• Baseball/softball playing experience is a plus.

To Apply:
Please apply with your resume, cover letter, and other supporting materials (relevant past projects) on TeamWork Online here.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Miami Marlins.

Title: Analyst, Baseball Research & Development

Department: Baseball Operations
Reports To: Director, Baseball Research & Development
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Location: San Diego, CA or Remote (Work from Home is accepted)

Job Summary:
The Padres are looking to grow their Research and Development team and bring in individuals with a passion for baseball and winning through data-driven decision making. Through both collaborative and individual work, members of their team will impact every part of the R&D process: idea and question generation, data exploration and analysis, development of decision making tools utilizing analyses, and communication of results to decision-makers and other staff. Ideal candidates are those that are excited to challenge the status quo, improve how the Padres organization makes decisions, and contribute to the continual development of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop statistical models and perform general quantitative analysis dealing with player valuation, player development, and strategic decision making.
• Collaborate with other members of the baseball operations department in the development process.
• Investigate ad hoc research projects as requested.
• Effectively present completed projects and communicate new insights to decision makers and other staff.
• Maintain a knowledge of the latest data analysis techniques and data sources to aid in the continual development of the department.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:
Must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA) in a job related area or 2+ years of related work experience.
• Proficiency in computer programming. Experience with R, Python, SQL, and Stan preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems in a data-driven way.
• Creativity to brainstorm new avenues of research for the department.
• Strong work ethic and attention to detail with the ability to balance multiple projects.
• Passion for baseball and familiarity with current baseball research.
• Comfortability with and ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to a non-technical audience.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime as needed.
• Consistent, punctual and regular attendance.
• Professional image and demeanor.
• Strong ability to work with others in a collaborative, respectful manner.
• Excellent time management, interpersonal, verbal and written communications, decision-making, and organization skills.
• Minimum physical requirements: able to travel to and gain access to various areas of the ballpark for prolonged periods of time during games and events; able to lift and transport up to 25 pounds.
• As a condition of employment, the job candidate(s) must successfully complete a post-offer, pre-employment background check and drug screening.

To Apply:
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here. Remote candidates will be considered and are strongly encouraged to apply, though some travel will be necessary.

The San Diego Padres are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the San Diego Padres.

Job Title: Amateur Scouting Analyst, Research & Development

Department: Baseball Operations

Role:
The Chicago Cubs are seeking an amateur scouting analyst to join the Research and Development group in Baseball Operations. This role will focus on providing data-driven support to the Chicago Cubs’ amateur scouting department in preparation for the Rule 4 draft, in addition to providing analytical evaluation of amateur prospects. The analyst will work closely with the entirety of the R&D department to develop methods to improve the effective understanding and application of data, and disseminate analytic insights throughout the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Research, develop, and test methods and models for the purpose of amateur player assessment and acquisition
• Effectively present analyses through the use of written reports and data visualization methods to communicate relevant findings
• Work with web development team to integrate new statistical analyses, models, and data visualizations into Cubs web applications
• Incorporate new analysis into existing data processes to improve automated reporting
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve data quality issues
• Conduct in-depth evaluations of amateur prospects
• Examine and leverage data streams from new technologies that offer innovative data solutions
• Represent the R&D department in amateur scouting discussions

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in an quantitative field such as statistics, engineering, applied math, physics, quantitative social sciences, computer science, operations research
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with SQL and at least one statistical programming language (e.g., C, Python, MATLAB, or R)
• Working knowledge of advanced baseball statistics
• Familiarity with advanced statistical modeling techniques
• Previous experience working in baseball, particularly with amateur drafts, strongly preferred

To Apply:
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here.

Response Expectations:
Due to the overwhelming number of applications the Cubs receive, they unfortunately may not be able to respond in person to each applicant. However, they can assure you that you will receive an email confirmation when you apply as well as additional email notifications whether you are selected to move forward for the position or not. Please note, the Cubs keep all resumes on file and will contact you should they wish to schedule an interview with you.

The Chicago Cubs and its affiliates are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusion and employing a diverse workforce. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Chicago Cubs.

Yesterday, the Toronto Blue Jays added former Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Chase Anderson to their pitching rotation in exchange for first base prospect Chad Spanberger. Anderson, who had an $8.5 million dollar club option for 2020, was not a compelling choice for the Brewers given how steeply his performance dropped off after his standout 2017 campaign.

The Blue Jays get a middle-to-back of the rotation pitcher who started at least 25 games and pitched more than 141 innings through four seasons in Milwaukee, and struck out at least 105 batters in each of his six seasons in the majors. Despite not being able to replicate his performance from two seasons ago, Anderson was able to triple his pedestrian 0.3 WAR in 2018, posting 1.2 WAR in 2019 with an ERA and FIP in the fours. While the National League Central is no slouch, the American League East will produce a much stiffer level of competition for Anderson, who will need one of his best pitches from 2019 if he wishes to improve in 2020.

Last season, Anderson used his cutter more than he had in his previous five, throwing it harder than he ever had. It was his most improved pitch in 2019 and a very handy one at that. He cut his wOBA on the cutter by 100 points while drawing more swings out of the zone. Anderson also saw an increase in his cutter swinging-strike rate, and his contact in the zone went down:

Anderson’s cutter is more of a complementary pitch, meaning it’s not an out pitch and he doesn’t necessarily throw it when he needs strikes. He mixes it well with his four-seam fastball to left-handed hitters in almost every count, with two-strike counts the exception, while to righties, Anderson typically goes four-seamer heavy (at least 50% across all counts) with his cutter usage is divvied up with the changeup and curve.

Of pitchers who threw a cutter at least 14% of the time (minimum 110 IP), Anderson’s was rated second-best in 2019:

Pitch Info valued the pitch at -1.1 in 2018 and he was able to increase its effectiveness to a 1.7 last season.

Here’s a glance at Anderson’s cutter metrics and pitch action:

So what’s behind the significant improvement this year? Anderson made no adjustments to the cutter’s spin axis, his grip, or arm slot. The extra velocity with a slightly elevated spin rate, from 2340 in 2018 to 2382 in 2019, helped add an additional two inches of ‘rise’ to the pitch.

The two pitches Anderson paired with his cutter the most were the changeup to left-handed hitters and his four-seamer to righties. The changeup to cutter sequence creates a pretty decent tunnel, as seen in the GIF below.

Given that the velocity spread between the four-seamer and cutter was only around 4 mph, it wasn’t an ideal combination and likely didn’t do much to boost the cutter’s effectiveness.

Anderson’s cutter isn’t dominant but it’s a valuable asset in his arsenal. It helps pick up the slack on his changeup and curveball, and can create a nice pitch-shape change when subbed in for his fastball. Anderson is moving to a division that hit the cutter with essentially the same success (.313 wOBA) as the NL Central (.319 wOBA) did in 2019, so it’s reasonable to think the pitch can still be effective so long as he uses it the same way next season as he did in Milwaukee.

Title: Developer, Baseball Systems

Department: Baseball Operations
Reports to: Director, Baseball Systems
Location: San Diego, CA
Status: Full-time, Exempt

Job Summary:
The Developer, Baseball Systems is primarily responsible for designing and developing user interfaces for different personnel in the Baseball Operations Department. This position requires substantial experience with various software programs, in addition to a strong understanding of statistical baseball terminology.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with R&D group to build out best-in-class system infrastructure, including data warehousing, data integrity, lifecycle management of critical statistical processes
• Collaborate with development team and Baseball Operations personnel to design and implement user interfaces across multiple platforms for different audiences
• Create responsive design visualizations to distill and present information using both static reports and interactive user interfaces
• Contribute on all phases of projects, including but not limited to: design, documentation, development, and deployment
• Continued development and enhancement of team workflow and process

Skills:

• Fluency with related web development skills including Python 3.x, Javascript, HTML/CSS, responsive web design, frameworks such as AngularJS, D3.js, and other web viz kits
• Fluency with SQL and RDBMS design, preferably PostgreSQL, and NoSQL solutions such as Mongo, CouchDB, etc
• Deep Familiarity with the Linux operating system
• Working knowledge of iOS development, including Objective C & Swift
• Familiarity with statistical concepts relevant to baseball, including player evaluation and in-game strategies
• Working knowledge of statistical software, including R & Python data packages such as numpy and pandas
• Proven ability to distill large data sets into tidy, responsive UI designs

Job Requirements:
Must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (BA) preferably in Computer Science or Information Systems, or equivalent job experience
• Minimum of five (5) years working in a structured software development lifecycle
• Demonstrated passion for baseball
• Proficiency in stated web development technologies
• Consistent, punctual and regular attendance
• Professional image and demeanor
• Strong ability to work with others and supervisors in a collaborative, team environment.
• Excellent time management, interpersonal, verbal and written communications, decision-making, and organization skills
• Able to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, holidays and extended hours as needed
• Minimum physical requirements: able to travel to and gain access to various areas of the ballpark for prolonged periods of time during games and events; able to lift and transport up to 25 pounds
• As a condition of employment, the job candidate(s) must successfully complete a post-offer, pre-employment background check and drug screening.

To Apply:
To apply, please complete the application that can be found here.

The San Diego Padres are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the San Diego Padres.

Our 2020 Free Agent Tracker is now live! There are currently over 200 players on the list, and several more will be added over the next few weeks as teams continue to clear space on their 40-man rosters. The tracker will be regularly updated throughout the offseason as qualifying offers are made, accepted, and rejected, and free agents find their new homes.

You can sort by a player’s handedness, either batting or throwing, age, 2019 WAR, and projected WAR for the upcoming season, as well as our crowdsourcing results, which include median contract total, years, and average annual value. You can also filter by status (signed/unsigned), previous team, position, and signing team, and export the data for your own analysis.

The Tracker can always be found in the RosterResource section of the site drop-down menu or within the RosterResource Depth Charts and Payroll pages, as seen at the top of the image below.

As always, we appreciate your feedback. If there are features you’d like to suggest for future versions of the tracker, feel free to drop them in the comments here.

The another season has come and gone, but our readers’ appetite for baseball and its attendant prognostication remains.

To that end, and to give us all something to get us through the lean months ahead, today FanGraphs released for your enjoyment the 2020 Steamer projections.
The work of Jared Cross, Steamer represents the first opportunity of the offseason to peer into the gauzy mists of the future. The prorated version of the forecasts (known as Steamer 600) is useful, too, as a sort of quick estimate of true talent.

What does one find in the numbers? Mike Trout is once again projected to be the best player in baseball, putting a comfortable distance between himself and the next-closest position player, Mookie Betts. Anthony Rendon, who ranks second on our Top 50 Free Agent list, forecasts to be the sixth best position player in the game, bested only by Trout, Betts, Alex Bregman, Francisco Lindor, and Christian Yelich, and by those last two only barely. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole, the No. 1 free agent available per our list, looks to be the best pitcher going into 2020.

What other revelations wait? Dive in and find out.

Position: Area Scout

Primary Purpose
Provide high-quality information on amateur players to prepare the organization for acquisition opportunities

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

• Relationships: Create and maintain strong relationships with players and their families, along with coaches and programs, to understand the player’s background and character.
• Evaluations: Provide player evaluations and rankings by using organization’s scouting principles
• Scheduling: Through preparation and prioritization, maximize opportunities for information collection
• Data Collection: Lead a thorough data collection effort on the player pool

How will they get it done?

• Info: Capture and document info quickly on players
• Communication: Consistently communicate with internal stakeholders to lead and execute the scouting process
• Teamwork: Commit to doing what’s best for the organization and acquiring the best players for the org

Leadership, Management, Development Responsibilities

• Management: Manage and lead a scouting process within the area on amateur players within a network around them
• Leadership: The organization will provide tools, resources and exposure for growth as an emerging leader
• Development Responsibilities: The organization offers resources dedicated to personal development through leaders, research and processes.

Goals/Objectives for the Position

• Player Pool: Cultivate a robust and well-rounded understanding of the player pool by using all available information and dynamically updating evaluations
• Org Philosophies: Learn and understand organizational philosophies to accurately assess what’s happening and why/how
• Feedback: Seek out feedback and use available resources to fuel development and increase understanding of players

Background
A demonstrated track record of curiosity and continuous improvement in the game, regardless of experience

Skills

• Baseball Acumen: An understanding of the evaluation process. A technical proficiency in player assessment
• Emotional Intelligence: Ability to manage emotions and time
• Communication: Clearly and concisely explain thoughts verbally and in writing
• Work Ethic: A relentless drive to collect more and better information
• Passion: Demonstrate a clear passion for the game, teammates, the organization and learning
• Resourcefulness: Utilize organizational resources to develop and understand organizational philosophies
• Self-awareness: Understand your skill set, understand your biases, recognize your areas of development
• Strategic Thinking: Employ a problem-solving mindset and strategic thinking

To Apply:
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Cleveland Indians.