As the offseason continues to move along, here are three things to keep and eye on throughout the day today:
1. Reported signings that could be made official.
Free agent deals are often reported before they’re officially complete and announced by the team. Delays in making things official are often due to the player’s physical not being done yet, or perhaps simply because the team wants to delay having to make a corresponding 40-man roster move. The recent holiday season could also play a role in delaying the physicals on such agreements. MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy tweets that Wade Miley’s one-year, $4.5MM deal with the Brewers, agreed upon yesterday, could have a short turnaround and become official as soon as today. Additionally, deals that still haven’t been made officially from last week, such as Arizona’s one-year, $4MM agreement with Evan Longoria and the one-year, $10MM deal between the Red Sox and Corey Kluber, could also be made official soon. All three organizations have full 40-man rosters, so they’ll need to make a corresponding move to open up space for their incoming free agent.
2. Could Cueto be nearing a decision?
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Padres and Marlins are “vying” for the services of veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto, with the Reds also interested in acquiring the 36-year-old. Cueto stands as one of the top free-agent pitchers remaining on the market following a solid season with the White Sox where he posted a 3.35 ERA (18% better than league average by ERA+) and a 3.79 FIP. Both the Marlins and Padres have been previously mentioned as interested in adding Cueto to their rotation; this being said, it’s somewhat notable that Rosenthal seems to indicate that the Padres and the Marlins are the frontrunners at this point ahead of Cincinnati, with whom Cueto spent the first seven and a half years of his career.
3. Two Cubs players are currently in DFA limbo.
Yesterday, the Cubs sent recently reliever Erich Uelmen, who had recently been designated for assignment, to the Phillies in exchange for cash considerations. While this move brings Uelmen’s DFA to a conclusion, Chicago still has two players in DFA limbo, with the results of their DFA unannounced: first baseman Alfonso Rivas and catcher P.J. Higgins. Rivas, who was designated to make room for a waiver claim of Anthony Kay, cannot reject an outright assignment to Triple-A, meaning he will likely stay in the Cubs organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers. Higgins, meanwhile, does have the option of rejecting an outright assignment, by virtue of the fact that he’s been outrighted previously in his career. He’ll have control of his own future should he go unclaimed on waivers following his DFA, which made room for the club’s signing of Tucker Barnhart.
Cueto is still a jerk for ending Jason Larue’s career
His career was over while he was still playing. At least he’s remembered for something. As a bonus he can say he’s all over YouTube.
And Cueto can be remembered as pansy who kicked a guy in the face with cleats.
This 100%! Regardless of how the brawl started, cleating someone who is trying to stop the fight is unforgivable. Probably the one signing that could make me stop watching the redbirds
Curious how that compares to being remembered as the guy who felt compelled to post offensive comments about an event from a dozen years ago, from which the parties who were actually involved have all reportedly moved on.
He’ll always be remembered for dropping the ball on the mound in Pittsburgh
Offensive? You’re delusional
So it’s delusional to find homophobic comments offensive? Goodbye.
Homophobic? Once again, delusional. You must live a fantastic life
I agree but in his defense, he was pinned up against homeplates netting/wall. Put yourself in a position where you have 50 grown men charging after you like a bar of soap. Fight back or Take it???
Had Cueto in the office last week and he told me wherever he winds up, I’m good on tickets. I told him I already get in free with my ambassador pass, but I’d shoot him a text if I ever forgot it.
Stop fooling yourself Milton.
Is this bit really supposed to be funny? I just don’t get it.
We will if he ends up in Cincinnati as I had hoped. Given the finalists though, probably will go for the bigger money SD will throw around. I don’t see him picking the Marlins unless he just wants to take his talents to hang out on South Beach.
Other than state income tax, I can’t say there’s anything better about Miami vs SD. Better weather, better baseball team, better fans, better golf courses, not as many rude former New Yawkers, etc.
Hard to believe Johnny Cueto can’t latch on with a contender after a great season in ’22, you’d think he would be looking to play with a team who has the potential to win a WS in ’23, and you’d think he’d had earned a fair deal after what has been an better than average career as a starter.
So San Diego?
The San Diego Padres. LOL!
I am guessing we have re-entered the slow point of the off-season. When Cubs DFA news hits “The Opener” there must not be much happening.
A little more realistically, it would probably benefit Higgins to stick in the Cubs organization. They have kept three catchers on their roster for many of the last years and his ability to fill in at 1b and 3b add value at two positions that they are pretty weak.
Coming back and being stashed in the minors until the season starts and 40 man roster gymnastics reopens would be beneficial if he doesn’t find a similar situation elsewhere.
If your choices are the Padres, the Marlins or the Reds…welcome to San Diego.
Not that simple. It really depends on what you want as a role. If you don’t care about your playing time and just want to leech onto a playoff team, then SD is probably the way to go. But if you still think you can contribute to an ML team and want to play as much as possible, then Miami and Cincy look more appealing.
he’ would defitnely get innings as a starter in SD. Especially after Darvish and Nick Martinez have commited to the WBC.
Can Cub fans clue in the rest of us re Higgens? An OPS+ of 95 in 221 PA seems pretty reasonable for a back-up catcher. Bad D / pitch framing? No love due to being a late round draft pick? Something else?
Defense is not that good behind the plate as well as pitch framing.
Higgins much like Contreras was a 3B when they drafted him and was switched to C later. He really was getting better every year but Ross and the FO must have felt he had reached a plateau to keep a guy who hasn’t caught a game in 3 years and has been constantly injured over him. So I doubt he comes back to the Cubs as since he can refuse an outright assignment they both will apparently move on. The Cubs had John Hicks at Iowa last year and he was good in AAA but he left so they will probably sign another guy like him soon, As there are some out there.
With all the Cubs young pitchers that are going to litter Iowa’s roster next year, I’m sure they’re going to want an older solid C running the show. A guy like Sandy Leon, Chrinos, or even Kevin Plawecki would make sense if they can’t find Major League jobs. Alfaro and Sanchez wouldn’t really fit the bill as they are regarded as lousy C’s anyway.
Bat is averagish which is good for a backup catcher. His defense and framing is awful though. -6 DRS in basically 25 games behind the plate…ouch.
More of a guy that can catch than a catcher. He played some 1B for the Cubs too, but obviously his bat doesn’t project well there.
Good article.
Boston needs to DFA Ort. He appears to be the worst player left of their 40-man roster.
He looks like the worst, but what would the advantage be of dropping down to 39 players on the 40-man roster? I assume he’ll be dropped whenever the Turner signing is official, but is there any advantage to doing so prior to the signing?
Yankees signed his mom to make cookies