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The Opener: Hendriks, Spring Training, A’s

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As baseball’s preseason gets underway, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Will Hendriks sign?

Reporting yesterday indicated that All–Star closer Liam Hendriks has set a deadline of today for his free agency. Hendriks reportedly already has multiple offers in hand, and if he hasn’t signed somewhere today, the 35-year-old veteran figures to continue rehabbing Tommy John surgery on his own without signing on with a club in hopes of finding a deal over the summer once he’s ready to closer to game-ready. Hendriks has been among the sport’s most dominant relievers for half a decade now, with a 2.32 ERA and 2.19 FIP in 231 appearances since the start of the 2019 season. During that time, he’s collected 115 saves and struck out a phenomenal 38.3% of batters faced.

The right-hander made a triumphant return to the mound in May of last year after a months-long battle with cancer, but made just five appearances before going on the shelf with elbow inflammation in early June. Though he initially hoped the stint on the injured list would last only the minimum 15 days, he ultimately did not pitch again in 2023 and underwent Tommy John surgery in August, leading Chicago to decline his club option back in November. The right-hander makes at least some sense as a target for all 30 clubs given his dominance in recent years, though it’s unclear which teams will be willing to meet his asking price in the midst of his atypical free agency.

2. Day 2 of pitchers and catchers reporting:

With two-thirds of the league’s pitchers and catchers already reporting to Spring Training for their organizations, the final 10 clubs have set their reporting dates for today. The group of clubs kicking off spring activities today include the 104-win Braves and 101-win Orioles, both of whom are surely hoping for deeper postseason runs after having their incredible seasons cut short with a quick exit in the playoffs last year at the hands of the Phillies and Rangers, respectively. Also reporting today is a new-look Brewers team that lacks co-aces Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, as well as a Yankees club that added Juan Soto and Marcus Stroman to the mix on the heels of a disappointing 82-80 season.

3. A’s to meet with local officials in Oakland:

It was reported earlier this week that the A’s are set to meet with city and county officials in Oakland today to discuss a possible extension of the club’s lease at the Coliseum that would cover the 2025-27 seasons, while the club’s planned ballpark in Las Vegas is constructed. The A’s have been searching for an interim home over the past few months, a hunt that has led them to consider locations such as Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and even sharing Oracle Park with the Giants.

Oakland mayor Sheng Thao has previously indicated that the A’s wouldn’t be granted an extended lease in Oakland without major concessions, such as the club forgoing the “Athletics” name when it heads to Nevada. Still, the organization stands to benefit financially from either working out an extended lease in Oakland or sharing Oracle Park with the Giants due to the club’s TV deal only being valid for as long as the club is playing in the Bay Area. Today’s meetings could offer some clarity regarding the options the A’s have at their disposal as they search for an interim home with just over a year until Opening Day 2025.

MLBTR Podcast: Jorge Soler, Veteran Catcher Signings and the Padres’ Payroll Crunch

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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…

  • Which teams do you think have a chance to exceed expectations this year like the Diamondbacks and Reds did last year? (26:00)
  • Matt Chapman to the Cubs for one year and $27MM plus a $30MM mutual option for 2025 with a $3MM buyout, who says no? (30:40)
  • Does Carlos Santana make the Twins better? (34:00)

Check out our past episodes!

The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff.  Check out their Facebook page here!

Rays Anticipate Jose Caballero, Rene Pinto Taking Starting Roles

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Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander spoke with reporters yesterday at the opening of the team’s Spring Training camp. He addressed a pair of positions of relative uncertainty as the season approaches: shortstop and catcher.

At the former, Neander suggested the team anticipates José Caballero opening the year as the starter (link via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). Tampa Bay acquired the 27-year-old from the Mariners over the winter, sending outfielder Luke Raley to Seattle. Caballero had appeared in 104 games as a rookie, running a fairly modest .221/.343/.320 batting line with four homers over 280 plate appearances.

While Caballero doesn’t provide much power, he drew walks at a strong 10% clip. That allowed him to reach base fairly frequently and wreak havoc on the basepaths. Caballero stole 26 bags in 29 attempts and rated as an excellent baserunner overall. He also drew strong grades for his defense at both middle infield positions. Caballero spent more time at second base in Seattle in deference to J.P. Crawford but seems a good enough athlete to handle shortstop.

It’s a similar profile to Taylor Walls, another highly-regarded defender with minimal offensive upside. Walls, a switch-hitter, is coming off a .201/.305/.333 line with eight homers in 349 plate appearances. He was successful on 22 of 23 stolen base attempts. Walls could push Caballero for the job once he’s healthy, although he’ll begin the season on the injured list after undergoing surgery to repair a labrum tear in his right hip last October. Walls is a little behind schedule but isn’t expected to be sidelined too deep into the season.

(Neander said the team didn’t have any update on Wander Franco, who was reinstated to the roster in a procedural move at the beginning of the offseason. MLB is still awaiting the results of the legal process in the Dominican Republic after Franco was accused of sexual abuse of a minor.)

Beyond Caballero and Walls, Tampa Bay has a pair of well-regarded young infielders who could push for shortstop reps during the season. Junior Caminero is widely viewed among the top five to 10 prospects in the sport. Osleivis Basabe has never been that highly touted but is generally seen as one of the better talents in the Rays’ system.

Caminero made the jump directly from Double-A to the majors at the tail end of last season. He had a monster .324/.384/.591 showing as a 19-year-old between High-A and Double-A a year ago but has yet to play a Triple-A game. Basabe appeared in his first 31 MLB contests last season. He struggled to a .218/.277/.310 showing. The 23-year-old had a stronger year at Triple-A Durham, hitting 296/.351/.426 through 94 contests.

The Rays have 12 listed infielders on their 40-man roster, although the majority of the group is better suited for positions other than shortstop. By contrast, they’re the only team carrying one catcher. René Pinto is the only backstop currently on the major league club. While they’ll obviously add someone else by Opening Day, Topkin writes in a separate piece that the Rays are happy with Pinto as their primary catcher.

Pinto, 27, had an intriguing 39-game stint last season. He connected on six homers in only 105 plate appearances. His 34:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio isn’t encouraging, but there’s a limited bar to clear offensively at catcher. The Rays, like many teams, tend to emphasize defense at the position. Pinto’s blocking metrics were subpar in limited MLB action, but he drew solid grades as a pitch framer and showcased plus arm strength.

Alex Jackson and Rob Brantly are in camp as non-roster invitees and have MLB experience. Logan Driscoll and Nick Meyer also received invites to Spring Training but have topped out at Triple-A. One of Jackson or Brantly would likely secure the backup job out of camp. Neander indicated the team would keep an eye on the market for depth additions but suggested they’re content with Pinto as the starter.

Phillies, Zack Wheeler Have Opened Extension Talks

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The Phillies have begun extension discussions with Zack Wheeler’s camp at Wasserman, the star righty told reporters (link via Matt Gelb of the Athletic). Talks are in the early stages and there’s no indication a deal is imminent.

Philadelphia has made no secret of its desire to retain Wheeler beyond the 2024 season. MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki wrote in December the Phils considered an extension a priority. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski went on record to confirm that last week.

Wheeler, who turns 34 in May, is entering the final season of a five-year free agent contract. The club’s $118MM investment over the 2019-20 offseason has been one of the best free agent acquisitions of the past few years. Wheeler has turned in a 3.06 ERA over his first four seasons in Philadelphia. He has appeared on Cy Young ballots in three of them, including a runner-up finish in 2021. Only Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcántara and teammate Aaron Nola have thrown more innings since the start of 2020.

The former #6 overall pick didn’t show many signs of slowing down a year ago. Wheeler took a full slate of 32 starts and worked 192 innings. While his 3.61 ERA was his highest as a Phillie, that partially reflects a spike in offense around the league. Wheeler’s 26.9% strikeout rate matches his prior season’s output. He walked only 5% of opponents and finished 13th in MLB in innings. Wheeler induced swinging strikes on a career-best 13.3% of his offerings and averaged a robust 95.9 MPH on his four-seam fastball.

Wheeler is under contract for $23.5MM for the upcoming season. An extension would surely come with larger annual salaries for 2025 and beyond. Long-term extensions for pitchers covering their mid-30s are rare, as one might imagine. Over the past five seasons, the only starter to sign an extension covering at least three years at age 33 or older is Yu Darvish. Last February, the Padres inked Darvish to a surprising five-year, $90MM pact covering his age 37-41 seasons.

That’s not a great comparison point for Wheeler, who is three years younger than the San Diego righty was at the time. An extension would take effect in his age-35 campaign. As shown on MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, two pitchers — Max Scherzer and former teammate Jacob deGrom — have secured nine-figure free agent deals at that age. deGrom landed a five-year, $185MM guarantee from the Rangers at 35 last winter. Scherzer secured a three-year, $130MM pact from the Mets covering his age 37-39 campaigns in November ’21. The $43.333MM average annual value was a record at the time; it’s now tied for second after being matched by Justin Verlander and topped by Shohei Ohtani.

Wheeler hasn’t matched the levels of dominance turned in by deGrom and Scherzer at their best. He has a far better durability track record than deGrom, though, and he’s a couple years younger than Scherzer was when he signed with New York. Those pitchers had the benefit of open market bidding. Wheeler won’t have that in extension talks with Philadelphia, but it’d very likely take something approaching free agent prices for him to sign early.

“I just want to be paid [based on] how I’ve done, what they expect out of me,” he told reporters (including Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “It’s not all about the money to me, either. I took less to come here and be in a good spot and be happy and for my family to be happy. I do want — what’s the right word? — I want what I feel like I’ve earned. … Market value. There you go.”

Wheeler has a solid case for a four-year deal that pushes well into nine figures. He has a better track record than the likes of Sonny Gray and Chris Bassitt, each of whom secured three-year deals covering their age 34-36 campaigns. Gray landed $75MM from the Cardinals this winter, while Bassitt inked a $63MM pact with the Blue Jays a year ago.

The Phillies haven’t been shy about making long-term commitments, although they don’t have anyone making more than $28MM annually. Each of Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Nola, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber and Taijuan Walker are on the books for at least $18MM per season beyond next year. The deals for Turner, Harper, Nola, Castellanos and Walker stretch at least into 2026.

Roster Resource projects the organization’s 2025 payroll around $171MM; they’re at approximately $187MM in luxury tax obligations. The base tax threshold for the ’25 season will be $241MM. A Wheeler extension would likely push their tax number past $215MM, potentially north of $220MM. They’re set to exceed the threshold for a third straight season in 2024, so they’d be subject to the maximum penalties for repeat payors in ’25 and beyond. That hasn’t been a stumbling block for owner John Middleton in recent years. A Wheeler extension would all but ensure they’d pay the CBT for at least a fourth consecutive season in 2025.

There doesn’t seem to be a firm deadline for a deal to get done. Wheeler suggested he’d be amenable to continuing talks beyond Opening Day but noted he’s taking a “hands-off” approach to negotiations between the team and his agents.

White Sox Sign Mike Moustakas To Minor League Contract

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The White Sox announced the signing of veteran infielder Mike Moustakas to a minor league deal. He’s in camp as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training. The Boras Corporation client would lock in a $2MM salary if he makes the Opening Day roster, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today (X link). The deal contains an additional $2MM in performance incentives.

Moustakas will try to play his way onto an MLB roster for a 14th straight season. The left-handed hitter debuted with the Royals in 2011. He was teammates in Kansas City with Chris Getz, who is now leading baseball operations in Chicago. Moustakas had a strong eight-year run with the Royals, earning a pair of All-Star nods and helping the franchise to its World Series title in 2015.

After two seasons in Milwaukee, he inked a four-year, $64MM free agent deal with the Reds. Cincinnati released him 75% of the way through that contract. Moustakas hit .216/.300/.383 for the Reds, battling heel and calf injuries along the way. Cincinnati ate the final $22MM on his deal last season.

The three-time All-Star inked a minor league contract with the Rockies shortly after his release. He made the Opening Day roster and turned in a solid .270/.360/.435 performance in 47 games. That was enough for the Angels to send a minor league pitcher to Colorado to add Moustakas to a reeling infield mix in the middle of June. He didn’t maintain the offensive pace he’d shown at Coors Field, though. Moustakas hit .236/.256/.371 over 65 contests as the Halos fell out of contention.

Between Colorado and Los Angeles, he finished the season with a .247/.293/.392 line. His 386 plate appearances and 12 home runs were his highest tallies since his 2019 campaign in Milwaukee. While he stayed healthier than he had in the preceding few seasons, it was his third consecutive below-average year. Dating back to the start of 2021, Moustakas is a .227/.291/.372 hitter in nearly 900 plate appearances.

A longtime third baseman, Moustakas saw some action at second base in Milwaukee and early in his Cincinnati tenure. He has barely played the middle infield over the past three seasons. Moustakas split his defensive work almost evenly between the corner infield positions a year ago.

Chicago has Andrew Vaughn and Yoán Moncada penciled in as the corner infield tandem. The latter had a pair of injured list stints related to back soreness last season. The Sox have the light-hitting pairing of Nicky Lopez and Paul DeJong slated for up-the-middle work. Getz recently indicated they viewed improving the middle infield defense as a priority. It seems unlikely Moustakas would get much consideration at second base, but he could battle for a spot as a bench bat who rotates through the corner infield.

Kenley Jansen Dealing With “General Lat Soreness”

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Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen will be delayed in camp by what chief baseball officer Craig Breslow described as “general lat soreness,” as relayed by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (X link). The four-time All-Star isn’t yet throwing, although he has been cleared to take part in other drills.

There’s nothing to suggest the issue is particularly serious or even threatens Jansen’s availability for Opening Day. It could be a small complicating factor in trade discussions that Boston has regarding the veteran righty, however. The Sox are reportedly open to offers on each of Jansen, Chris Martin and John Schreiber. Jansen’s name has been floated most frequently among that group, largely a reflection of his $16MM salary for the upcoming season. Jen McCaffrey of the Athletic reports that, as of Wednesday evening, the Sox weren’t close to a Jansen deal.

Breslow acknowledged the team could field trade interest on the veteran reliever yesterday. “Where we stand is he’s on this team, he is an All-Star-caliber closer who’s had an incredible career, and we’re happy for that,” he told reporters on Tuesday (link via Speier). “We have talented players on our team that are potentially of interest to others. But as of right now we’re excited about what he brings, what the back end of our bullpen brings, and the depth that we have down there.”

Jansen has generally avoided arm injuries throughout his career. He has had a few injured list stints over the years related to an irregular heartbeat and had a minimal IL stay last September for virus reasons. He was otherwise healthy in 2023 and pitched 51 times. In 44 2/3 innings, he worked to a 3.63 ERA. Jansen struck out 27.7% of opposing hitters and averaged 94.3 MPH on his cutter — his highest average velocity in a decade.

A’s Sign Scott Alexander

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The Athletics announced the signing of free agent left-hander Scott Alexander to a one-year contract. Left-hander Ken Waldichuk, who’s recovering from a flexor strain and UCL sprain, has been transferred to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man roster spot. Alexander, a client of Apex Baseball, is reportedly guaranteed $2.25MM. The deal includes up to $300K in performance incentives and an unspecified assignment bonus in the event of a trade.

The 34-year-old Alexander is the third recent member of the Giants pitching staff to head across the bay to Oakland, joining righty Ross Stripling and lefty Alex Wood. Stripling was traded to the A’s earlier this month in a deal that sent 2023 sixth-rounder Jonah Cox back to the Giants. Wood inked a one-year, $8.5MM deal at that same time. They’ll both pitch out of the rotation, whereas Alexander figures to head to the Oakland bullpen.

Alexander spent the past two years in the Giants’ bullpen and has appeared in parts of four seasons with the Dodgers (where he was also teammates with Stripling and Wood) and another three with the Royals as well. He sports a career 3.29 ERA in 270 2/3 big league innings, though last year was a down season that saw the southpaw turn in a career-high 4.66 ERA in 48 1/3 frames for San Francisco.

Alexander has never missed many bats, instead relying on a sinker that’s produced a mammoth 68.4% ground-ball rate to help him neutralize opposing lineups. He battled command issues earlier in his career but has reined in the walks over the past three seasons, issuing a free pass to just 4.7% of his opponents during that time. He’s also recorded a 14.5% strikeout rate that ranks among the lowest in the league. Even with the lack of punchouts, fielding-independent metrics feel Alexander’s 3.56 ERA dating back to 2021 is generally in line with his skill set. He touts a 3.47 FIP and 3.53 SIERA in that time, both right in line with his earned run average.

Throughout his career, Alexander has shown a noticeable platoon split. Left-handed hitters have mustered a miserable .218/.274/.311 batting line against him through 442 plate appearances, while right-handed hitters have turned in a far better .275/.349/.377 slash.

With this signing, Alexander joins righty Trevor Gott and fellow southpaw Sean Newcomb as the most experienced relievers in the Oakland bullpen. The Giants tended to use him in lower-leverage spots and even deployed Alexander as an opener on eight occasions in 2023, but he’s worked in higher-leverage spots in the past, including a 2018 season that saw him pile up a career-high 21 holds for the Dodgers. Given the youth and inexperience in Oakland’s bullpen, Alexander ought to get some more leverage opportunities with the A’s than he did with the Giants. Flamethrowing 25-year-old Mason Miller, who made his MLB debut in 2023, is perhaps the favorite to take the closer’s role in 2024 after GM David Forst announced he’d work out of the ’pen this coming season, but Alexander could be a notable piece of Oakland’s setup corps in 2024.

Martín Gallegos of MLB.com first noted that Alexander had a locker in the Oakland clubhouse. MLBTR’s Steve Adams reported the sides had agreed to a major league deal. The Associated Press reported the $2.25MM base salary and the bonuses.

Yankees Sign Lou Trivino To Major League Deal

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The Yankees announced they’ve brought back right-hander Lou Trivino on a one-year deal with a club option for 2025. Outfielder Jasson Domínguez was placed on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Trivino, a client of Pro Edge Sports Management, is guaranteed $1.5MM for the upcoming season. The club option is valued at $5MM. The deal also contains various escalators and performance bonuses.

His 2024 salary reportedly increases by $100K for every fifth appearance between 15 and 35 games, potentially reaching $2MM. Hitting those same thresholds would also escalate the value of next year’s club option by $200K, pushing the option value to $6MM if Trivino pitches in 35 games this year. If the Yankees exercise the option, Trivino could earn another $400K in 2025 based on games finished that season.

Trivino, 32, was acquired by the Yankees at the 2022 deadline in the same deal that brought Frankie Montas to the Bronx. He was excellent in pinstripes, posting a 1.66 earned run average over 25 appearances after that trade. His 10.8% walk rate in that time was a tad high but his 23.7% strikeout rate was solid and his 51.7% ground ball rate very strong.

The Yanks kept him around for 2023 by agreeing to a $4.1MM salary, avoiding arbitration. Unfortunately, it would prove to be a lost season for the righty. He was diagnosed with an elbow sprain during Spring Training and began the year on the injured list, ultimately requiring Tommy John surgery in May.

The Yanks could have retained him via arbitration again for 2024, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting another $4.1MM salary after he missed the entire 2023 campaign. The Yankees non-tendered him instead, sending him out to free agency. They’ll circle back at a lower cost and tack on the option to potentially keep him in the fold for 2025.

Domínguez is going to be out until the summer due to his Tommy John rehab. Trivino himself could move to the 60-day IL if he is on the 40-man. Given that Tommy John rehab generally takes 14 months or longer, he likely won’t be able to rejoin the club until the summer himself. But once healthy, he could provide a nice boost to the relief mix. The club has an affinity for ground ball pitchers and he would certainly qualify. In his 285 career appearances, Trivino has a 3.86 ERA, 24.5% strikeout rate, 10.6% walk rate and 47.4% ground ball rate.

The New York Post’s Greg Joyce first noted that Trivino was in the Yankee clubhouse. Andy Martino of SNY confirmed the sides had reached an agreement. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the $1.5MM guarantee, the $5MM option value, and the various incentives/escalators.

Don Gullett Passes Away

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The Reds announced that former big leaguer Don Gullett passed away today at the age of 73. “Don dedicated 24 years to this franchise as a player, coach and minor league instructor,” Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement. “An anchor on the pitching staff of one of the greatest baseball teams in history, his contributions to our rich tradition, our city and his community will never be forgotten.”

Born in Lynn, Kentucky in 1951, Gullett went on to be a three-sport athlete at McKell High School in South Shore, Kentucky, including excelling in baseball as a left-handed pitcher. He was selected by the Reds in the first round of the 1969 draft.

Despite being just 19 years old, he was able to make his major league debut with the Reds in 1970. That was the first of seven seasons he spent with the Reds, suiting up for them from 1970 to 1976. He appeared in 236 games for the Reds over that stretch, including 156 starts, logging 1,187 innings. He allowed 3.03 earned runs per nine frames in that time, with a record of 91 wins, 44 losses and also recording 11 saves.

This was a great era for the club, as the Reds won the National League West in five of those seven seasons. They won the NL pennant in four of them and hoisted the World Series trophy in 1975 and ’76. In the ’75 World Series, Gullett started the first game for the Reds and kept the game scoreless through six innings. But things came off the rails in the seventh, with the Red Sox scoring six and eventually holding on to win 6-0. Gullett got the ball again in the fifth game, with the series now knotted at two games apiece. He tossed 8 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs as the Reds won 6-2. After a travel day, three days of heavy rain delayed Game Six, which was eventually won by Boston thanks to Carlton Fisk’s legendary home run. In Game Seven, Gullett started and allowed three earned runs over four innings, with the Reds eventually emerging victorious 4-3.

In ’76, Gullett started Game One and allowed one run over 7 1/3, with the Reds eventually sweeping the Yankees. That was his last appearance as a Red, as he reached free agency and signed with the Yankees. In ’77, he made 22 starts for the Yanks with a 3.58 ERA. The Yanks won the East and got by the Royals in the ALCS, earning a spot in the World Series against the Dodgers. Gullett started Game One and went 8 1/3, allowing three earned runs, with the Yanks eventually winning 4-3 in 12 innings. He started again in Game 5 with the Yankees up 3-1 in the series but was lit up and didn’t get through the fifth. The Yanks lost that game but won the series in Game Six, with Reggie Jackson’s historic three-homer performance highlighting the clincher.

Gullett returned to the Yanks in ’78 but shoulder problems limited him to just eight starts in what would eventually be his final season in the big leagues. His playing career finished with him having a record of 109-50 after having tossed 1,390 innings with a 3.11 ERA. He added another 93 frames in the postseason with a 3.77 ERA while winning three straight World Series rings. Later in life, he served as the Reds’ pitching coach from 1993 to 2005.

We at MLBTR join the rest of the baseball world in sending our condolences to Gullett’s family, friends, fans and many associates through the game.

Phillies Designate McKinley Moore For Assignment

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The Phillies have made their previously-reported deal with right-hander Spencer Turnbull official, announcing that they have signed him to a one-year contract. To open a spot on the 40-man roster, fellow righty McKinley Moore was designated for assignment.

Moore, 25, has powerful stuff but serious control issues. Last year, he was able to make his major league debut, getting into three contests and tossing 3 1/3 innings. He averaged 97.2 miles per hour with his fastball in that time but issued five walks and allowed seven earned runs.

He was optioned to the minors and spent some time on the injured list down on the farm. He tossed 29 2/3 innings at different levels with a tiny ERA of 0.91, but paired his 38.4% strikeout rate with an 18.4% walk rate.

That’s generally been the recipe with Moore to this point in his career. He has split his minor league time between the White Sox and Phillies, switching orgs as part of the 2022 Adam Haseley trade. He has faced 605 hitters in the minors and struck out 199 of them, a strong 32.9% rate, but his 86 walks make for a 14.2% clip.

Despite those control issues, he is still young and has a couple of option years remaining. He could appeal to a club in search of some extra bullpen depth and perhaps a bit of patience for a long-term project. Matt Gelb of The Athletic relays that there is expected to be trade interest from other clubs around the league. The Phils will have one week to work out some kind of deal or pass Moore through waivers.

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