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Will Venable Plans To Remain With Rangers

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Will Venable is happy where he is, at least for the time being. The Rangers’ associate manager has drawn interest from numerous clubs with managerial openings, but he has told those teams that he will remain with Texas, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. This comes just days after Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Venable was the “favorite” to succeed Terry Francona as manager of the Guardians. If that was indeed the case, Cleveland will have to change course.

Per Morosi’s report, the Guardians weren’t the only team with interest in Venable. While he didn’t reveal which other clubs had checked in, three others are currently looking for new managers: the Mets, the Giants, and the Angels.

After finishing his playing career in 2016, Venable briefly took a front office job with the Cubs the following year, signing on as a special assistant to then-president of baseball operations Theo Epstein. Soon after, he took on a coaching role instead, serving as the Cubs’ first base coach from 2018-19 and the third base coach in 2020. For the next two years, he worked as bench coach for the Red Sox, occasionally filling in as the skipper when Alex Cora was unavailable. Ahead of the 2023 season, Venable accepted a new job as associate manager for the Rangers, where he would work under Texas’ new manager Bruce Bochy.

Venable has previously interviewed for managerial openings with the Astros, Red Sox, Cubs, Giants, Tigers, and A’s, and presumably, he still has managerial aspirations for the future. Evidently, however, he is happy in his role with the Rangers for now. Not only does he get to learn from a three-time World Series-winning manager in Bochy, but given how well the Rangers have performed this year, it’s no surprise he wants to stick around.

 

White Sox Interested In Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield

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After a wholly disappointing 2023 season, the White Sox are already looking to the offseason ahead. New general manager Chris Getz is committed to improving the team for 2024, and considering just how much went wrong this past year, he has no shortage of areas to upgrade. As Bruce Levine reports for 670 The Score, the team has identified veterans Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield as two potential offseason targets, and the front office has discussed the possibility of trading for Perez and signing Merrifield “at length.” Getz and manager Pedro Grifol are quite familiar with both players, having worked with them in the Royals organization.

With Yasmani Grandal reaching free agency after the World Series, the White Sox will need a new catcher in 2024. The 25-year-old Korey Lee is an option, but the top prospect didn’t look ready for full-time big league action this year, going 5-for-65 in 23 games across August and September. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Edgar Quero had a solid year at Double-A, but the promising young backstop still needs more seasoning in the minor leagues. With that in mind, it stands to reason the White Sox would be interested in a veteran catcher. Perez could handle the position next year, but he could also step into a smaller role if Lee or Quero forces the issue.

However, while a veteran catcher makes sense for Chicago, Perez in particular is something of a strange target. He is coming off a rough year at the plate (.714 OPS, 86 wRC+) and behind the dish. As he heads into his age-34 season, it’s not hard to believe the eight-time All-Star is entering the decline phase of his career. What’s more, Perez is owed $42MM over the next two seasons, plus a $2MM buyout on his club option for 2026, which is a lot of money for a player who could be past his prime. If the White Sox want the Royals to eat some of his salary, they’d have to send back a more enticing return package. That would seem counterproductive for a team trying to build a contender.

For their part, the Royals are under no pressure to trade their captain. Freddy Fermin could take over behind the dish if Perez were dealt, but the Royals don’t need to part with their longest-tenured player just to get Fermin more playing time. In addition, former catcher MJ Melendez has comfortably settled into a corner outfield role. Kansas City entertained the possibility of dealing Perez at the deadline (and the White Sox were among those interested), but a deal never materialized. Presumably, it would take the perfect offer for the Royals to trade Perez, and it might take even more for them to trade him to a division rival.

Merrifield spent the first six-plus years of his MLB career with Kansas City before he was traded to Toronto at last year’s deadline. While he has an $18MM mutual option with the Blue Jays for 2024, the team is likely to turn down the option, making Merrifield a free agent after the conclusion of the World Series. The 34-year-old didn’t have as strong a season as his All-Star selection would have you believe, but he remains a productive and durable veteran player. As a versatile defender and talented baserunner, he fits the bill of athleticism the White Sox are supposedly looking for.

In 2023, Merrifield split his time between second base and the corner outfield, and he could do the same for the White Sox in 2024. Chicago needs a second baseman, but shortstop Tim Anderson has suggested he’d be willing to move into that role. If Anderson is covering the keystone, Merrifield could fill a valuable platoon role in the corner outfield, covering for one of the White Sox’s many lefty batters (Andrew Benintendi, Oscar Colás, and Gavin Sheets) against left-handed pitching. Suffice it to say, he is a better fit for Chicago than his former Royals teammate.

Austin Slater Undergoes Elbow Surgery

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Giants outfielder Austin Slater underwent surgery on his right elbow today, the team announced (as reported by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle). He had a bone spur removed at the back of his elbow, as well as an ulnar nerve transposition to help relieve nerve pain. His rehab should take about four months, which means the 30-year-old would be ready to go next spring.

Slater took a couple of trips to the injured list this season with left hamstring strains, and he also missed time in September dealing with vertigo. Indeed, he has developed a bit of a reputation as an injury-prone player in recent years, spending time on the IL with hand, wrist, and groin injuries, as well as a concussion. His elbow issues have also caused him trouble for years, although he has been able to play through the pain. While he missed time this past spring training with elbow neuritis, he has never gone on the IL with an elbow injury.

One of the longest-tenured players on the Giants roster, Slater made his debut for San Francisco in 2017. He broke out during the shortened 2020 season, slashing .282/.408/.506 in 31 games, and he has remained an above-average hitter in the years since, albeit in a platoon role. Over the last three seasons, he has posted a 114 wRC+, largely due to his excellent performance against left-handed pitching. The veteran is also a versatile defender, capable of playing all three outfield positions, plus first base in a pinch.

Slater will be arbitration-eligible for the fourth and final time this winter and is projected to earn $3.6MM next year. He is set to reach free agency the following offseason, and with a healthy and pain-free elbow, he’ll hope to put up an impressive walk year in 2024.

Byron Buxton Replaces Alex Kirilloff On Twins’ ALDS Roster

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Major League Baseball announced that Byron Buxton has been approved as a substitute for Alex Kirilloff on the Twins’ roster before this evening’s Game 4 against the Astros. Kirilloff was removed from yesterday’s game with a shoulder injury, manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters (including Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic).

Buxton landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain in early August, and recurring knee trouble has kept him on the shelf ever since. He began a rehab assignment in late September, and following the conclusion of the minor league season, he continued to train with the Twins in hopes of making his return. Ultimately, the star center fielder was left off the ALDS roster, as he had not yet progressed to running the bases by the start of the series.

Balldelli explained that Buxton still isn’t back to full strength, but he is healthy enough to help the team in “smaller spurts” (as relayed by Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune). If nothing else, he should be available to pinch hit, so the Twins must feel the 29-year-old is ready to run the bases if need be. A former Gold and Platinum Glove winner, Buxton has been preparing to return to the outfield after spending the 2023 season as a designated hitter. However, if he isn’t 100% healthy, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be playing the field against the Astros.

Kirilloff missed approximately six weeks in the summer dealing with a shoulder strain but seemed healthy upon his return, slashing .273/.311/.455 with a 107 wRC+ over his final 18 games. Unfortunately, Baldelli says the shoulder strain has come back, and it has been affecting the first baseman’s swing. He has gone 0-for-9 with two walks thus far in the playoffs. It reached a point on Tuesday when the lefty could no longer swing at all, and he was replaced with a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.

Should his shoulder trouble subside, Kirilloff will be eligible to return for the World Series, presuming the Twins advance that far. Donovan Solano, who replaced him at first base last night, will get the start in Game 4 this evening, and Baldelli says he’ll be the primary first baseman going forward. Edouard Julien, who is in tonight’s lineup as the designated hitter, could also play first, potentially freeing up the DH spot for Buxton. Utility man Kyle Farmer can also play first base.

When healthy, Kirilloff was an important bat for the Twins this season, hitting 11 home runs in 88 games and posting career highs in all three triple-slash categories. However, due to his shoulder problems, he’s been a bit of a black hole in the lineup during the playoffs. Solano has been a dependable contact hitter for years, and he posted a career-best .369 on-base percentage this season in his first campaign with Minnesota. It should help to have his bat in the lineup as the Twins face elimination throughout the rest of the ALDS. Buxton is more of a wild card – it’s hard to know what to expect from the former All-Star after so much time off – but at his best, he’s a major power threat and a valuable asset on the bases.

Red Sox Place Kaleb Ort On Outright Waivers

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The Red Sox have placed right-hander Kaleb Ort on outright waivers, reports Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe (Twitter link). The team will presumably wait until the waiver process is resolved before announcing the move.

Ort finished the regular season on the 60-day injured list, as he didn’t pitch after July 4 because of elbow inflammation. There is no IL over the offseason. The Sox would’ve needed to reinstate Ort onto the 40-man roster within five days of the conclusion of the World Series. They’ve decided against doing so.

There’ll likely be an indication within a day or two whether another team placed a claim. In either case, his time in the organization is likely coming to a close. Ort would have the requisite service time to declare minor league free agency at the start of the offseason even if he goes unclaimed.

Boston acquired Ort from the Yankees over the 2020-21 offseason in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. The Aquinas College product pitched in parts of three seasons for the Sox, tallying 51 2/3 innings through 47 MLB appearances. He worked to a 6.27 ERA with slightly worse than average strikeout (20.9%) and walk (10.2%) rates. He consistently fared better in the minors, posting a sub-3.00 ERA in parts of three years at Triple-A Worcester. That included a 2.88 mark across 40 2/3 frames for the WooSox in 2022, when Ort punched out an impressive 31.5% of opposing hitters.

Yankees Notes: Boone, Steinbrenner, Lee

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Yankees brass has yet to conduct their annual end-of-season press conference since the schedule concluded on October 1. General manager Brian Cashman is still expected to meet with reporters at some point before the offseason gets underway, although that still hasn’t been scheduled.

Some hints about the direction are beginning to emerge, however. Most notable is the future of Aaron Boone, who appears likely to return for a seventh season as manager. Andy Martino of SNY first reported last week the Yankees planned to retain Boone. Martino indicated that Boone would take part in meetings between organizational higher-ups scheduled for last week in Tampa. As part of a reader mailbag this morning, Brendan Kuty of the Athletic also shot down the possibility of the Yankees firing Boone.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner confirmed to Newsday’s Neil Best that Boone and Cashman were among a little over a dozen team officials participating in last week’s meetings, which spanned three days. As part of a panel, Steinbrenner told reporters those discussions got “heated at times” but called them “constructive” and “healthy.” The owner alluded to some pending changes in the organization’s operating philosophy but didn’t elaborate further beyond saying that “some (would be) more subtle than others.”

Martino reiterated this afternoon those changes aren’t expected to include a dismissal of Cashman or Boone. In a separate article at SNY, he noted the Yankees have yet to determine whether to make a public announcement about Boone’s return. The manager is already under contract for next season on a deal that also includes a ’25 club option. As a result, the Yankees could simply retain him without firmly addressing his future in a media session.

In any event, all signs point towards the organizational leadership remaining in place. That includes Steinbrenner, as the 53-year-old reaffirmed during the panel discussion that his family has no plans to sell the franchise (link via Ronald Blum of the Associated Press). The Steinbrenner family has owned the Yankees since 1973. Hal Steinbrenner pointed to a desire to continue involving his son, niece and nephews in ownership to a large extent moving forward but made clear there’s no especially notable ownership change coming in the near future.

While the Yankees seem primarily focused on internal operating procedures at the moment, the attention will turn back toward the roster in the coming weeks. The offseason begins in a little under a month, with the outfield, third base and starting rotation among the questions facing the front office.

South Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is among the more intriguing free agents in a weak class for hitters. Kuty noted within today’s mailbag that the Yankees have scouted Lee during his time in the KBO, though the extent of their interest is unclear. The left-handed hitter turned 25 in August and is a career .340/.407/.491 hitter over parts of seven seasons with the Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes. He’s coming off a relative down year, posting a .318/.406/.455 line in 86 games before undergoing ankle surgery in July.

Francisco Lindor Undergoes Elbow Surgery, Expected To Be Ready For Spring Training

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The Mets announced this morning that Francisco Lindor underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow (relayed by Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News). He is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Lindor remained one of the sport’s most durable and effective players this past season. The switch-hitting shortstop appeared in 160 games and hit .254/.336/.470 across 687 plate appearances. He popped 31 home runs, 33 doubles and stole 31 bases while being thrown out on just four occasions. Paired with his consistently strong defensive grades, the four-time All-Star had another excellent year.

While the Mets were a major disappointment overall, Lindor looks likely to finish in the top 10 in MVP balloting for the fifth time in his career. He joined Ronald Acuña Jr., Bobby Witt Jr. and Julio Rodríguez as the only players with a 30-30 season. He continued to produce even as the team was out of the race, hitting .274/.355/.460 in the second half.

Assuming his rehab goes as planned, Lindor will head into next spring as one of the league’s top shortstops. He’ll be a key contributor for the Mets as they look for a rebound showing in 2024 under a new front office and manager. Lindor is under contract for $32MM annually for another eight seasons.

MLB Trade Rumors Podcast: The Mets’ Front Office, TJ for Alcantara and the D-Backs Extend Their GM

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The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.

This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…

Plus, we answer your questions, including…

  • What does Atlanta do with Vaughn Grissom? (14:00)
  • Where should the Phillies put Bryce Harper next year? (16:25)
  • What do the White Sox do if they intend to compete next year? (19:10)

Check out our past episodes!

  • Mariners To Spend? Tigers To Contend? And Managerial Vacancies – listen here​
  • Free Agent Pitching Dark Horses, Padres To Cut Payroll, and If The Angels Should Rebuild — listen here
  • Front Office Changes in Boston and New York, and the New Rays Stadium Agreement — listen here

The Opener: Rangers, Division Series, Padres Chat

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As the playoffs continue, here are three things to look out for today…

1. Rangers moving on, potentially getting stronger:

The Rangers’ rollercoaster season it at a high point. After leading the West for much of the year, they faded in the second half and had to settle for a Wild Card spot. But they’ve gotten red hot at the right time, sweeping the Rays and now the Orioles to move on to the ALCS for the first time since 2011.

They could have some reinforcements in store for that upcoming series, which will be against either the Astros or the Twins. Both Max Scherzer and Jon Gray have a chance to return from their injuries and join the club, depending on how things progress in the next few days, with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic laying out the details.

2. Division Series continue:

With the Rangers-Orioles series now done, there are three battles still going, and all three will be continuing today. The Braves and Phillies kick it off at 4:07pm Central, with each club hoping to win today and take a 2-1 lead into Game 4. The Astros and Twins follow at 6:07pm, with the Twins on the brink after losing Game 3 last night. Then the Diamondbacks will look to complete a sweep of the Dodgers, with Game 3 of that series starting at 8:07pm.

3. Padres chat:

MLBTR’s Offseason Outlook has been chugging along at a steady clip, with each club getting its own live chat as well. Yesterday, Anthony Franco took a look at what’s ahead for the Padres after a disappointing season and with some potential pay cuts on the horizon. If you have any questions about how that will play out, he will be hosting a chat specific to that club at 3:15pm Central. You can click here to leave a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to participate live or read the transcript of the chat after it’s completed.

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