As MLB’s offseason continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. What’s next for the Blue Jays?
The Blue Jays are reportedly in agreement with right-hander Yariel Rodriguez on a four-year deal worth $32MM. The 26-year-old hurler is set to undergo a physical in the United States in the near future, though he’s currently waiting for a visa that would allow him to enter the country. Once that’s sorted out and Rodriguez is officially signed the club will have to make room for the righty on its 40-man roster, which is currently at capacity. In the meantime, Toronto appears likely to turn its attention to addressing DH, where they’ll need to replace the strong production Brandon Belt offered last season. The Blue Jays have been connected to plenty of slugging bats this offseason including Joc Pederson and J.D. Martinez. The addition of a big bat at DH could help the club boost an offense that is at risk of taking a step back in 2024 as currently constructed.
2. Will the recent activity on the starting market continue?
With plenty of teams still on the lookout for starting pitching and all signs pointing to the likes of Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery taking their time in free agency, Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently suggested that the next tier of free agent starters could begin to see some activity in the coming days. Heyman highlighted arms such as James Paxton, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Michael Lorenzen while noting that clubs like the Pirates, Nationals, Red Sox, Orioles, and Padres could all be players in this tier of free agency.
It wouldn’t necessarily be a surprise to see activity on the pitching market over the next few days, seeing as it’s been the most active area of the market in recent weeks. Including the reported deal Rodriguez, a look at MLBTR’s Contract Tracker shows that Rodriguez is the sixth free agent starter that’s agreed to a multi-year deal since Yoshinobu Yamamoto landed with the Dodgers just before Christmas, joining the quintet of Lucas Giolito, Sean Manaea, Shota Imanaga, Marcus Stroman, and Jordan Hicks.
3. Yankees signing to be made official:
The Yankees made the aforementioned Stroman signing official yesterday and designated outfielder Oscar Gonzalez for assignment to make room for the veteran righty on their 40-man roster. It won’t be the only 40-man roster move the club makes in the coming days, as their signing of right-hander Luke Weaver has not yet been made official. The club could simply look to designate another player on its roster for assignment, as they did with Gonzalez, though an alternative solution could be working out a minor trade with another club to acquire non-roster talent in exchange for a player towards the back of the club’s 40-man.
Nothing Burger
baseball-reference.com/players/b/burgeja01.shtml
Wouldn’t surprise me if the Yankees trade Ben Rortvedt. I believe he’s out of options and trans are always looking for catchers with good framing skills. Jeter Downs could also be a straight cut.
*Teams*. Not sure what trans are seeking.
Attention lol
Probably seeking pitchers, not catchers.
I think they might keep Downs, not a lot of solid Ss depth outside of Oswaldo.
Not a lot of solid depth in Downs either
Oh he’s bad, but he can catch and throw.
The Yankees have lots of depth at SS in the minors….didn’t really understand why they got Downs, other than maybe to piss off the Red Sox, but he’s very expendable.
They can use Carlos Narvaez instead.
Wait for a VISA? Nobody else does why should a pro ball player have to enter the country legally? Just come up through the border get money free health care a phone a scooter etc. best lick going right now.
Wow, you’re informed.
I hear they get a free pony too.
Unfortunately, if TJT is dumb enough to believe that propaganda, they might not understand sarcasm.
Pro Pagan dah! You mean David or José Pagan?
How about you quit your job and cash in on this lucrative opportunity?
If tor plays budget game still then they need to go pay solar and hope he can hit 30+ homers. If not, beli is the better option. He’d fit in great in that lineup. Either way, they better go get an impact bat ! Even if Vlad and bichette both bounce back to full form they lost a lot out of that lineup
Hey MLBTR why don’t you take a 4 day weekend. Just suspend the site. There’s no transactions happening anytime soon. NFL playoffs have taken over. Then when you reopen Tuesday you can maybe have some work to do besides list Minor league transactions and players signing overseas for the 3rd time. Worst offseason since Ohtani signed.
Is anyone else concerned that this might become the norm going forward with all these massively long deals and extensions going on? Players used to hit free agency multiple times in their careers, but these days the best players are one and done. After a while there may be nothing available in free agency except Journeymen and players hitting FA for the first time.
Jan 18. 29 of the mlbtrs top 50 signed. 20/31. So 10 of final 19 haven’t signed. Plus 3 decent honorable mentions. Approaching 3 months. Less than 5weeks. 30 teams so how many teams haven’t even signed 1 top 50 FA in near 3months time? Brewers have the honorable mention Miley at least. 0 top 50. Dodgers signed multiples so multiple teams have done nothing to help their team thus far this offseason. Yikes.
Suuuuuuuuure wish the action would pick up. It’ll probably be this “trickle” (extremely slow) effect all the way through ST from the way it’s looking. I wish Detroit would take a flier on Mondesi. If he can finally stay healthy, I think he’d do very well in our IF.
Wow, Mondesi huh? Sort of an obscure, long injured player there that most people don’t even think about.
Yeah…as a Tigers fan, I remember him having a good bat, great against us, with lots of speed, but he can’t stay healthy. He wouldn’t cost much and I don’t think Veirling will hit enough and Keith is an unknown. Though I have hope for him.
Nice – As a Red Sox fan I remember him well …. never made an error, never struck out, and paid only $3M by Bloom ….. ahh, memories ….
I told you all when the offseason started, the Bally’s fiasco would cause a lot of guys to be unsigned or not getting what they want. Just waiting for Tony Clark to start yelling collusion.
Jays should trade for Arraez and then add a left-handed hitting bat to DH. Need to get more balanced still.
Pretty sure Miami has no plans to trade Arraez. He’s their best player and they are attempting to win now.
Even better! As a non-fan of the Jays, I would love it for them to drastically overpay to acquire Arraez. It would make the offseason more interesting, at least
I just saw a report the other day that the Marlins are willing to move Arraez but that doesn’t mean they will. The Marlins are like the Rays, they will listen to offers for anyone at any time
Jays should have pulled off that Jose Ramirez trade when they had the chance. He would have been such a perfect fit.
Jays would deal Tiedemann. Like they dealt Moreno.
But they need A bat. A really, really good bat. Lefty, righty, just be really food.
Awesome, another blue jays update..snooze
Any news on Clevinger, his second half was decent. Would you include him in the list of James Paxton, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Michael Lorenzen?
Clevinger is probably a few team’s last resort, based on his last two controversies.
You’d absolutely include Clevinger on that list.
They should get rid of Jeter, Downs, and Ben Rortvedt they don’t need them. They are both expendable.
Atkins stinks. His obsession with “run prevention” is killing the team. Defense is good but there are diminishing returns on “run prevention” and you need offense from somewhere.
?? Why not replace Brandon Belts production with Brandon Belt?? Wish the Giants would try the same
If the Red Sox can’t make a 3,4 or 5 yr commitment for Jordan Montgomery, I would have to say you are truly letting your fans down. You have an opportunity to sign a guy that’s a proven commodity. His wife works at a local Boston Medical facility. Toss in a couple of Opt-outs, Including a deposit of $500,ooo toward a condo near her workplace. Think outside the box for once
Morosi is simply click bait. He has no real perspective on anything. Almost every single “prediction” of his this off season has been wrong. He listed FIVE teams who were gonna get Teo and LAD wasn’t one of them. Sportswriters just skate by w no accountability because they cover fun and games content, but it would be nice for some accuracy
The Yankees always have major problems with the 40 man roster. Do other teams have this issue? Should MLB increase to 45??